People should get power of recall over standards failings

People must be given the power to get rid of councillors who consistently breach standards, says local Liberal Democrat councillor Alicia Marland. 

The Councillor has backed an amendment to a Council motion on better standards in public life which would put the power to get rid of misbehaving councillors in the hands of their voters, enhancing democracy, and reducing the risk of political interference.

Councillor Marland said: “The Government has run a consultation on this, and it was absolutely clear that people were concerned about the potential for this to be used for – as the Labour Government phrased it ‘vexatious politically motivated complaints’.

“As councillors, we serve the people. We are in a very privileged position to be their voice, and it is vital that at all times, we answer to them.” 

The amendment also covers a number of other areas which the standards process in Oldham currently fails to address; requiring an independent chair for the committee, rather than a council member appointed by the administration; and implementing best practice for code of conduct complaint handling. 

Councillor Marland added: “Members of the public have complained to me because they submitted complaints nearly two years ago, and where it hasn’t yet even been decided if there is a case to answer.

“It is clear that there is something getting in the way of complaints – or at least some of them – being resolved. We need an impartial, fair standards system, and not one where members are hauled over the coals purely because of their political allegiances.”