County councillor right to speak

Question

We have county council elections going ahead in our area.  A local Independent candidate has just announced they are standing, and they have a good chance of winning.  Without going into all the background, it's fair to say this person could be described as the 'nemesis' of our current mayor - there is a lot of unpleasant history and they are a former councillor / mayor.  There was a private conversation after the last council meeting where the mayor suggested that, if this person wins, the council would stop inviting district and county councillors to the meetings, which we do today and routinely get some turning up to deliver reports in person and take questions.  I thought this was a legal requirement but apparently it is only a courtesy.  Has anyone seen this before?  Is it a decision for councillors or the clerk on whether to invite district and county councillors?

Answer 1

As with almost all issues - it is a decision for 'the council.' 

The clerk may compile the agenda (they do not "own" it - the council does), the chair may direct how a meeting progresses through the agenda, but it should be the council as a whole that makes fundamental changes to the construct of established practice.

If there is 'personal history' between the chair and the prospective new county councillor, then they need to grow up and be professional.  

The chair should not seek to prevent a ward councillor from communicating higher level info via a PC meeting (if that is established practice) - but the ward Cllr should not seek to progress personal issues via that route either.  Of course the current PC chair may not be in that role after the AGM...

Any such fundamental move to change established process should be proposed, voted and carried by a majority of Cllrs and then they can carry the responsibility for closing a legitimate communication channel between county and parish council parishioners.

Answer 2

The parish council can invite, or decline to invite who it chooses.  I always encouraged the input of councillors from other authorities but that does not alter the previous statement.

Answer 3

Ending the practice of inviting district and county councillors to your meetings would require an amendment to your standing orders if you are using the model document, as it includes a requirement to invite. Whilst you may decide not to invite, they might decide to attend anyway.