How do we get a vote of no confidence against the main councillors of the ruling party for our city council?

Question

My local city council has been controlled by the same party since the mid 1980s.  The leading councillors of that party want to build a leisure centre in an inappropriate place in the centre of the city and reduce the size of the bus & coach station, which would share the site.  They also want to reduce traffic congestion so plan to raise the cost of parking and look into introducing a congestion charge. (They do not hold the portfolio for transports, which falls within the county council’s responsibility.)

The cost of the leisure centre was initially around £20m, then rose to £26-30m due to Brexit and is now thought to be £40m.  All this without the tender being awarded to a developer.  The cost so far to the council tax payers is already around £5m+.

They say that the local swimming pool is ‘past it’s sell by date’, as is the bus station.  Both come under the councils responsibility for upkeep and maintenance, which they haven’t done for approx. 15 years on the basis of this planned scheme.

Last weekend, at a Civic Society meeting the portfolio holder who is leading this development said that a refurbishment of the bus station had not been considered, but he wouldn’t be taking that suggestion back to the council.  The proposed pool will only be 25m and the venue would not be able to hold the galas that are currently held at the old swimming pool due to lack of space.  The swimming club would like a 50m pool with a much larger variety of features for a wider range of users.  The opposition party support this and have identified a site that has better transport links and others that can be improved and developed – keeping the pool users away from the city centre.  Again the portfolio holder said that it hadn’t been considered, nor would it.

We are the only local authority in the county to not have a sports facility or playing pitch strategy, so none of our local sports clubs can apply for grants from their individual sports governing bodies.

The council leader has been quoted on more than one occasion ‘if you want a 50m pool, you can always travel to………’  He and his main supporters seem to have complete contempt for anyone who doesn’t agree with them and refuse to listen to suggestions or ideas of the electorate.

What can we do to obtain a vote of no confidence?

Answer 1

If the council is a town council, you have the option of calling a town meeting. This should be held once a year anyway, but can be called at any time by six electors. A town meeting can pass whatever motions it sees fit, including a motion of no confidence in the council. However, motions passed at a town meeting are not normally binding on the council.

The alternative approach is a public campaign, perhaps including a petition. You could aim to set up a group to campaign for the changes you want, and seek publicity for your aims at every opportunity. If there is public interest, you may be able to influence the council that way.

Another possibility is to enlist the support of your local Member of Parliament.

Comments

As I understand it a town council is a parish council with a different name. Party politics are not supposed to exist in parish councils. From the tone of your question it seems to me that you are seeking to rid yourself of a particular party because it is not following a policy based solely on your wishes. If what is happening is legal and proper procedures have been followed that's tough. It's called democracy. If it is not legal and proper procedures have not been followed you must seek a judicial review. For example, if there really was no tendering, you might have a case. Consult a barrister. Some will act pro bono, to start with, and maybe charge when things get going. Otherwise, a storm of public protest and pressure groups are your only recourse, but it takes a great deal of time, money and determination.