FOLLOWING intervention from the Government on BCP Council’s contentious beach hut sale plans, a motion has been tabled  to ‘clean up governance’ of the local authority.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Millie Earl, deputy leader of the BCP Liberal Democrat Group, will be debated at the upcoming full council Meeting on Tuesday, September 13.

Cllr Earl said: “It’s sad really to need to bring a motion like this to Council but something has got to change - from thousands of pounds spent on reports by external consultants, government intervention on a plan to sell off our beach huts, meaningless directorships and a governance structure and constitution that has left the council with no choice but to borrow.”

READ MORE: BCP Council's budget discussed during scrutiny meetings

She added: “Residents deserve better from their elected representatives so I’m hoping all councillors will support these constructive measures to improve transparency and accountability on the BCP Council.”

The motion calls for:

  • A review of BCP Council’s financial regulations relating to hiring external consultants.
  • An amendment in the constitution to stop Cabinet Members holding directorships of council related businesses.
  • An external review of the constitution’s governance arrangements.
  • A report into alternative governance structures such as a committee system rather than a cabinet system.

It also asks that leader of BCP Council, Cllr Drew Mellor, ‘considers the appropriateness of holding both the position of Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder responsible for the finance’.

A proposed recommendation at a scrutiny meeting on Friday, September 2, calling for the splitting of the roles failed to gain sufficient support to be suggested to cabinet.

Cllr Mellor is currently the subject of a petition which now has more 1,700 signatures but despite repeated calls for him to resign he continues in his role leading BCP Council.

READ MORE: Resident's petition calling on council leader to resign surpasses 1,000 signatures

Seconding the motion, former Leader of BCP Council, Cllr Vikki Slade, said: “The last few years have been difficult for everyone, and it was expected that the formation of BCP Council would throw up some differences of approach.

“The next council will be elected in May and we need a fresh start with the council’s processes are seen to be transparent, that Councillors’ roles are clear, and that both members and the public can hold the administration to account.”

Councillor Mellor has been contacted for comment.