A Gloucester city councillor stormed out of a meeting after being told to behave himself amid protests and shouting over questions being blocked. Long standing Conservative councillor Andrew Gravells called the situation “farcical” as he was only allowed to ask one follow-up question to the cabinet at their meeting on January 15.
The question time at such meetings is limited to 15 minutes but council Leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) allowed another ten minutes for opposition councillors to ask questions as several were present. He reminded those asking questions of the time limit and asked for them and the cabinet members responding to be concise.
“If we do that we might get through them all, otherwise we might have to cut it short. And I wouldn’t want to do that.”
However, after five supplementary questions from Community Independents group leader Alastair Chambers (Matson, Robinswood and White City) and three from Conservative Sajid Patel (Barton and Tredworth) Cllr Hilton said the time had run out.
He told Cllr Gravells he would allow one more question there and any other supplementary questions he wished to ask would be responded to in writing. Cllr Gravells asked why he only had one minute to ask his follow-up question.
Cllr Andrew Gravells said he had three or four supplementary questions he wanted to ask
(Image: Gloucester City Council)
“I’m sorry but your colleagues took up a lot of time asking supplementaries,” Cllr Hilton replied. “Which [question] do you want to use?”
Cllr Gravells said he had three or four questions. He said it would have been more courteous and helpful if Cllr Hilton had introduced the officers present in the council chamber at North Warehouse.
“That’s not my one question,” he said. I’ll take the first one on the list.
“I came in on New Year’s Eve and was absolutely disappointed to see so many rough sleepers during the day. There were some doorways with three or two people in.
“I don’t really understand the answer. I think it’s complacent, it’s not taking into account the seriousness of the issue.
“Sorry, Rebecca, that’s how I felt. I was coming into town…”
Cllr Hilton interjected to request he ask his supplementary question. But Cllr Gravells continued: “I’m absolutely disappointed I belong to a council… “
Council leader Jeremy Hilton told Cllr Andrew Gravells he could ask one question despite the time running out but any others he wished to ask would be responded to in writing.
(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
Cllr Hilton reiterated his request. “Can you ask the question, stop making a statement.”
He replied that his question was what more could be done to assess the number of roughsleepers during the day in Gloucester.
“Rather than just assuming that because they are here then they’ve got to be part of the same cohort who sleep rough at night,” Cllr Gravells said. “The two don’t follow…”
Cllr Hilton interjected to say he had asked his question and to allow it to be answered by Community Engagament cabinet member Rebecca Trimnell (LD, Westgate). Cllr Gravells asked the council to ensure his questions were dealt with first on a rota basis and said “this really is farcical.”
Cllr Hilton said: “Can you just behave yourself. You’re a well experienced councillor.”
At this point Cllrs Chambers and Patel started protesting from the public gallery. “With the greatest respect, you’ve asked your question, let the cabinet member respond,” Cllr Hilton said.
To which Cllr Gravells protested. “I don’t need any lectures from you Mr Hilton about asking me to behave myself. I do know how to chair a meeting and I do know what chairman’s discretion and leniency is which you apparently don’t”.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell asnwered Cllr Andrew Gravells question after his swift departure from the meeting
(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
There were further complaints and shouting coming from the public gallery saying the situation was “embarrassing” and “shocking”. The three councillors left the meeting with Cllr Chambers shouting “shame on you”.
Councillor Trimnell proceeded to answer the question and said it was unfortunate that Cllr Gravells did not stay to hear it. She explained that the situation with rough sleeping is very complex and that the council is taking the situation seriously and plans are underway to deal with the issue.
“You will see later in the cabinet there is a pilot project which is also coming up in April. This again will contribute to us doing more to do more regarding the individuals Cllr Gravells is talking about.”
Cllr Hilton said it was a pity the questioner did not stay to listen to the response.