A vote of no confidence in the Mayor of Cheshire East Council will be held on Wednesday, 17th February, after a chaotic Handforth Parish Council meeting he attended went viral.
Millions of people have viewed clips of a planning and environment meeting held via Zoom on 10th December, after it was posted online last week.
The meeting, which quickly descended into chaos with members trading insults and removing each other from the call, attracted national coverage with the host Jackie Weaver having given dozens of interviews, including an appearance on Loose Women today (Wednesday, 10th February).
The motion, which has been proposed by Councillor L Wardlaw and seconded by Councillor J Saunders, claims that mayor Barry Burkhill's participation in that meeting has "brought this Council and his role within this Council into disrepute" as he "made no attempt to intervene as it became clear participants in that meeting were being bullied".
The motion goes on to state "The work that has been done at Cheshire East over the last 3 years with the cooperation and commitment of all Members and officers to transform its culture and reputation from one of bullying and intimidation has been undermined by this sad episode.
"The inaction of the Mayor could be seen as a demonstration of his complicity in the bullying that occurred, and this cannot be ignored if the integrity of the Brighter Futures Programme is to be maintained. The role of Mayor is one that should promote Cheshire East Council, its residents, and its businesses across the country.
"In accepting the role as representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Mayor should be mindful at all times of his reputation and of those he represents. Sadly, the recent highly publicised events have shown that this has not been the case for Cllr Mr Barry Burkhill.
"Motion In light of the above this Council resolves that it has no confidence in the Mayor and that his term of office as Mayor and Chairman of the Council will cease immediately."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
However, a few years ago I had an issue with the CEC planning department and Barry Burkhill ended up getting involved. He was a fantastic help and guided me through the process when I had to address the planning committee- Something that might otherwise have been quite daunting. I have to say that I found him to be a thoroughly decent bloke.
My personal experience is that Handforth residents could not ask for a more public spirited, genuine, hardworking and caring councillor to champion their concerns and expectations.
To more recent events. The whole outcry stinks and I now smell a conspiracy to oust Councillor Burkhill.
This started with the 'recruitment' of the mercenary from Shropshire by persons unknown (as yet) and continues with this Conservative witch hunt to take full advantage of this most distasteful episode. Politics at it's worst.
I look forward to the Council's wide ranging, forensic investigation and the leader's take on recent events. I am also interested to see the Independent Group's response to this vitriolic personal attack on one of their own.
Barry has been a great councillor and advocate for the area for a considerable number of years and this should outweigh what appears to be a contrived spat designed as part of a power grab by those opposed to independent representatives on the council.
Vote this motion down.
I'm very strongly in favour of independent representation at the local level and although I would go 'blue' in a General Election I'm sorry to say 'blue' at the local level IMHO has failed us big time here in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Handforth. So do the right thing HPC, stand down en bloc and should you feel you will get support, trust to your record and stand again in the upcoming elections - not a great deal will be lost to the community meantime since C-19 has disrupted much of our civic life anyway.
I can't speak for either Alderley Edge or Handforth but I was honoured to be elected as a Conservative member of Wilmslow Town Council from its formation in 2011 until 2019. During that time the Conservative led Town Council, with in most cases some welcome support from independent councillors, brought the Citizens Advice Bureau back to Wilmslow, built the much used toilets & refreshment kiosk in the Parish Hall car park, facilitated the return of the Rex Cinema, put planters round the town, engaged a handyman & supported the food bank at St Bart's Church (among other things) & kept the Town Council precept one of the lowest in Cheshire East.