Councillor Alan Franey
Swearing and heckling at Welwyn Hatfield Council’s budget meeting
By Paul Christian, Reporter
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
4:08 PM
FOUL-MOUTHED heckling threatened to overshadow the budget-setting meeting at Welwyn Hatfield Council last night (Monday).
Budget ‘spiteful’ and ‘short-sighted’
THE budget was condemned by Welwyn Hatfield Labour leader Kieran Thorpe and branded “short-sighted” by the Liberal Democrats’ Tony Skottowe.
Cllr Thorpe accused the council of localising the financial crisis with reductions to services.
He said the crisis of capitalism in the private sector had been felt most keenly in the public sector and the budget was an example of “central government ideology gone wrong”.
He slammed the “spiteful cuts” which would mean “putting up council house rents by eight per cent this year and eight per cent next year”.
He also attacked MP Grant Shapps for failing to shield Welwyn Hatfield from the cuts.
He said: “It’s just as well he [Mr Shapps] is not here as it’s been slippery enough today.”
Cllr Skottowe said he recognised the council was “facing a very difficult financial environment”, but accused the council of running down reserves and said the Conservative administration was “unable to see beyond its own nose”.
He asked: “Is there any sign of forward thinking besides keeping council tax down?”
And answering his own question he added: “No.”
Hard-left activists staged a demo outside the chamber in Campus West, WGC, handing out flyers urging people to “fight every cut”.
Their supporters also filled up the public gallery as the meeting got underway.
As Cllr Alan Franey, executive member for resources, delivered his budget speech there were howls of derision and booing.
On more than one occasion Welwyn Hatfield mayor Carl Storer threatened to empty the council chamber as the cries of “shame” and swearing drowned out the speakers.
Welwyn Hatfield Labour leader Kieran ThorpeOne angry mum complained after her young daughter, who was waiting for her in the council chamber, overheard a vile tirade of swear words hurled at Tory councillors.
Anger boiled over as Cllr Franey announced council house rent increases of 7.56 per cent for this year and 8.41 per cent next year, to catcalls of “disgraceful” and “shame”.
And the tension increased even further when Tory Cllr Steven Markiewicz spoke of the “dark days of Labour’s evil policies”, in slamming previous council tax rises under the party.
The ruling Conservatives blamed the £167bn structural deficit, bequeathed to the incoming Coalition at the national level, for cutbacks in the council’s budget, coupled with a lower grant settlement.
Tony SkottoweThe overall budget is £13,790,090 for 2012/13 – a 0.66 per cent contraction on the previous one.
Despite austerity measures, council tax was frozen for the third year in succession – the levy has not now risen by more than three per cent in the last six years.
Council leader John Dean admitted it was “not the budget we would have chosen to bring, it’s one the recession has brought on us.”
It was carried through by 32 Conservative votes to nine Labour members who voted against.
John DeanThe two Liberal Democrat councillors abstained.
As Cllr Carl Storer brought the meeting to a close, boisterous exchanges were still ringing out as he reminded people to get their tickets for this year’s mayor’s charity banquet and ball.
One man shouted from the public gallery that he’d buy a ticket rather than pay his rent, to which Cllr Storer quipped: “You’re not invited.”
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16 comments
Why have the rent increases got to be in line with the private sector.It just another attack on the working class by the torys
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wolfie smith
Friday, February 10, 2012
Why have the rent increases got to be in line with the private sector.It just another attack on the working class by the torys
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wolfie smith
Friday, February 10, 2012
Weren't the rent increases necessary to bring the rents into line with the private sector? If so, surely it would have happened regardless of who was in control? Even if you have differing opinions on who caused the current economic situation, I think everyone can accept it is real.
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jonmorris
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Once again WHT bashing the lefties and not mentioning the horrendous oain the torues will inflict. yes swearing has no place in political debate but i feel poverty abd cuts are more damaging to children.
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Lu13
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Epsylon - in response to you, apparently the child was sat with headphones on playing an electronic games device? If her parents were that bothered about her being introduced to politics, surely they would have insisted she didnt spend the time playing on a DS? Absolutely pathetic, and in the real world, children do hear words that we would rather they didnt, FACT OF LIFE. A particularly volatile meeting is most probably NOT the most sensible introduction to politics - common sense (Lacking at WHBC these days, as ever) is the best approach to use. In other words, use your head!!
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JPTAXI
Thursday, February 9, 2012
@ Epsylon. Democracy? That's a strange word to use where our council is concerned. I agree with your sentiments though. No wonder they dropped the In Business To Care line.
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RedAir1980
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Seems to me that they are determined to make up the deficit from the frozen council tax by hiking the rents up. Not that I'm being cynical of course. Be quite nice if they were as keen to improve the service they provide to us tenants as they are to take our money.
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RedAir1980
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Yet again, it will be the normal working class people who have to pay for the mistakes of rich bankers. 8.4% rise in council rents will send some people over the financial edge. Wage increases, if you are lucky enough to get one, will not be any where near this figure.
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wolfie smith
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
You've nicely summed up my problem with this article, Epsylon, you’ve read the article and come to that conclusion rather than focussing on the real issue of the huge budget cuts and rent rises. The real shame it that is the reality is there WAS no swearing that I heard, and as mentioned I was sat near to the child in question. That article also fails to mention that the “mum” was a Tory Councillor. Who presumably couldn’t wait to drag her child into a row about politics rather than defending herself to the public gallery. As you say, what a disgrace!
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James Broach
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
So the Council rents are going up by 16 per cent overall over the next 2 financial years. People who are working and are living in council properties have to dig down deep in their very small pockets again. If the council was not so short sight and let Tesco plan go ahead it would have surely help this town's finances. I am sick and tired of this local council just spending on consultants etc like they always seem to be doing this days and cutting back services in the meantime. The Council does not represent the local community they are a old boys club who are out for their selves. I would like to know what Mr Shapps has to say about this, probably not a lot
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QCGIRLIE
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Frankly I think it's shameful that certain people here seem to think it's acceptable for foul and abusive language to be used in public whether or not a child was present. I find particularly unsettling comments posted saying the child in question couldn't have heard it etc..... well she might or might not have heard but even if she didn'tcouldn't that surely doesn't make it acceptable? Heckling is a part of public life and indeed public speaking BUT.... lewd or simply crude language is not!! Let's separate this out - it sounds as if the behavior at this meeting was frankly deplorable and should have resulted in the public gallery being cleared. A frank, and even firmly worded, debate over the budget is indeed in order but I do NOT accept that it should naturally include lewd, crude and offensive language. I have 3 children and am keen that they grow up to understand the workings of democracy but it sounds as if, sadly, taking them to an open Council meeting in this town would serve only to educate them in foul and abusive languagebehavior?!! Congratulations to all those present (sarcasm) and I despair of those posting on here trying to claim the language and behavior was acceptable because the child "never once reacted" or, worse still "why bring your daughter into what was always going to be a volatile meeting?"!!!!! James Broach - perhaps her parent(s) brought her along in an attempt to demonstrate how British politics and democracy work..... sounds like you and others gave a truly SHAMEFUL display which I am sure will have a lasting impression on a young mind. What a disgrace!
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Epsylon
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
C for PM... And a bank balance of £25 million isn't earning as much interest as it was in better times! So was it such a good idea to reject Tesco's plan for Broadwater Road???
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commonsense
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Eight percent rent increases are outrageous!! This council is sitting on a bank balance of £25 million !! Surely the whole purpose of building up a surplus like this (only achieved by overcharging us in the first place) is to dip into it in the bad times!!
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Clarkson for PM
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The young girl in question was also heard to say "what swearing Mum?" when the mother complained. No mention of that, or that the mother in question was a Tory local councillor- if she was so incensed by the language, why bring your daughter into what was always going to be a volatile meeting? At least have her wait in another, safe area of Campus West if childcare was an issue- I'm sure there must have been someone around in Campus West that the Cllr in question could entrust with childcare for an hour. And yet, you have to actually read deep into the article to get even a remote idea (and even that gives it credit) as to the exact events of the meeting last night. What a one sided piece of reporting this is. Either I'm going senile, but I seem to remember the Tory Cllrs heckling as well?
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James Broach
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ask Kieran about this, he was at the same meeting but funnily enough, recalls it being very different from your 'article'? Responsible reporting? I dont think so (once more)
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JPTAXI
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
So this would be the child sat 5 seats to my left at the meeting (the only child in the chamber, so a good chance of that)- who spent the entire meeting with her earphones on playing on her Nintendo and never once reacted to what was going on in the chamber? I somehow doubt that she overheard that much. Shouldn't the real focus of this report be "get ready for 8% rent rises this year and next?"
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James Broach
Tuesday, February 7, 2012