‘Corruption’ at highest level of BCP council brings vote of no confidence

Wherever we look at the moment power is corrupting people. The Tory government hold us all in contempt and the Conservative run council in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole also appear to be at it.

As reported by the BBC a couple of weeks ago two Conservative councillors were instructed to attend a vote even though they had covid. Although denied by the deputy Philip Broadhead many constituents do not believe him.

‘In the motion, which has been seen by the BBC, the group claims the Conservative administration and leadership brought the council “into local and national disrepute”.

The group said “this culminated in the appalling scenes” at the full council meeting on 26 April, when two Conservative councillors believed to have Covid voted.

The BBC understands the two councillors had informed the authority’s democratic services team that they had tested positive, but they were then phoned and turned up at the meeting, at which point a row started behind closed doors.

“This council therefore has no confidence in the current administration’s ability to provide the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with proper, responsible and reliable local government and seeks the removal from office of its leader,” the motion reads.’

Then Private Eye got involved.

And the whole ghastly turn of events has been detailed here by Adam on twitter.

It’s story time:
A land politically divided. Run by a controversial Conservative group. Where public services are visibly failing, and accusations of cronyism are growing.
No, not the UK. Welcome to the metaphor that is Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole Council.
Let me begin…
1/

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

Next week sees a Vote of No Confidence in BCP council leader Drew Mellor. It’s the first VONC since the last one, called 18 months ago by Drew Mellor.
There was another VONC 5 months before that, called by, um, Drew Mellor.
BCP Council was formed 3 yrs ago.
It’s been a ride.
2/

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

How did we get here? Last month a council meeting was abandoned after the Tory administration (allegedly) pulled in 2 Covid-stricken councillors to help them defeat a vote on scrutiny. Oh, the irony.
As reported by @JasonDailyEcho @Bournemouthecho:
3/https://t.co/B77lXp0D4Q

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

Oppo party @CIndependents then called a VONC, supported by all the other non-Con parties. Yes, just as in the national picture, it’s Tories vs Everyone Else down here.
But just like the Commons, the Cons have a majority in council, & *should* defeat the motion.
Right?
Well…
4/

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

Interesting times for council leaders Drew Mellor & Phil Broadhead. They love a good headline, and PB is known locally as Gameshow Phil (also Estate Agent Phil, and various other things I can’t repeat).
And recently they’ve had LOTS of media coverage.
But it’s all been bad.
5/

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

Take this for example: a slot in @PrivateEyeNews‘s Rotten Boroughs, for their “flagship project” FuturePlaces.
Phil Broadhead claims the report is “completely wrong”, despite the fact that all the info has come from his own council. Politicians, tchah.
6/ pic.twitter.com/cbiR18eo0L

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

The meeting itself, and the rancorous fallout, has finally won Mellor & Broadhead national acclaim. Reports are to be found on BBC among others, and even this snippet in the London Metro.
This is the most famous that BCP Council has ever been. Well done everyone, great work.
7/ pic.twitter.com/JfkwGUyh8F

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

Oh, there’s more. Has a split begun within the local Conservative group? Rumours abound that they might be moving to the next phase of in-fighting, just like the national government. And some long-term political figures seem to be getting quite a kicking…
8/

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

Example: lifelong Tory Ann Stribley was suspended by Drew Mellor for proposing a motion in support of Ukraine.
Bad, Ann.
But she’d responded to a call from Con Councillors Association to all Tory reps.
Hey, who’s chairman of the CCA? Um, Phil Broadhead.
9/https://t.co/gwggyinzcf

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

In the meantime, BCP Conservatives have spent the last few months fighting a bitter war with… local residents. Yes, Twitter has become the battleground between voters with questions and the mighty BCP Engagement team: led by, um, Phil Broadhead.
10/https://t.co/Cv0AXdSVLu

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

So it’s not going well. The VONC will probably be defended, but the local Tory coalition may well falter before 2023. Could the final blow be FuturePlaces? Or the “Big Plan”? Or the scheme to remortgage the council’s stock of beach huts to shore up its debt? Time will tell.
11/

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

In the meantime, there’s the 3rd confidence vote in 3 years to look forward to: Tuesday 10th May. Politics may be many things here, but dull it’s not….
12/12

— Adam (@Adam5of) May 7, 2022

As Adam states BCP have a 3rd confidence vote in three years. The moral of the story?

Constituents must never let local or national politicians get away with being dodgy or corrupt.

As soon as they try it do everything to get rid.

Douglas James

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