This Council believes that collaboration between the local government bodies of Cambridgeshire must be built on mutual trust and confidence that we are working together in the interests of all residents.
This Council expresses its disappointment that, in December, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough chose to prematurely release to the press a preliminary report on mass public transport options in advance of its publication and long before it was shown to members of its co-commissioners, the Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Partnership.
The Council therefore requests that the Leader write to the Mayor to express its disquiet and its hope that he will act in future in a manner that helps to restore confidence.
Decision:
The following motion was LOST:-
This Council believes that collaboration between the local government bodies of Cambridgeshire must be built on mutual trust and confidence that we are working together in the interests of all residents.
This Council expresses its disappointment that, in December, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough chose to prematurely release to the press a preliminary report on mass public transport options in advance of its publication and long before it was shown to members of its co-commissioners, the Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Partnership.
The Council therefore requests that the Leader write to the Mayor to express its disquiet and its hope that he will act in future in a manner that helps to restore confidence.
Minutes:
Councillor Bridget Smith moved the following motion as set out on the agenda:-
“This Council believes that collaboration between the local government bodies of Cambridgeshire must be built on mutual trust and confidence that we are working together in the interests of all residents.
This Council expresses its disappointment that, in December, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough chose to prematurely release to the press a preliminary report on mass public transport options in advance of its publication and long before it was shown to members of its co-commissioners, the Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Partnership.
The Council therefore requests that the Leader write to the Mayor to express its disquiet and its hope that he will act in future in a manner that helps to restore confidence.”
In moving her motion, Councillor Smith noted that the mass public transport study had been jointly commissioned by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) and the Combined Authority and was therefore concerned that the Mayor appeared to have prematurely released information about the report to the press before it had been shared with GCP partners and questioned whether this represented a breach of the Code of Conduct. She further commented that the GCP had also issued a press release in advance of consideration by the GCP Joint Assembly and that the Joint Assembly had not even received the report, just a presentation upon it. She therefore called upon the Leader to raise these concerns with the Mayor.
The motion was seconded by Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer.
During discussion:-
· Councillor Kindersley expressed the view that the motion raised an important point of principle with regard to respecting confidentiality and not inappropriately disclosing information.
· Councillor Cuffley referred to earlier discussions during the meeting about the need for transparency and public engagement and commented that the statement had been positive in that it had showed that the Mayor supported the GCP and had provided information about a matter of public interest.
· Councillor Topping spoke against the motion.
· Councillor Manning referred more generally to information being made available in the public domain on matters of public interest.
· Councillor de Lacey felt that the release of the information was regrettable and supported the motion.
· Councillor Van de Weyer spoke in support of the motion and noted that despite the press release having been made 7 weeks ago, the report in question still had not been released.
Following further discussion both in support and against the motion and upon being put to the vote, votes were cast as follows:-
In favour (15)
Councillors Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Nigel Cathcart, Neil Davies, Tumi Hawkins, Sebastian Kindersley, Douglas de Lacey, Janet Lockwood, Cicely Murfitt, Deborah Roberts, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith, Edd Stonham, Aidan Van de Weyer and John Williams.
Against (24)
Councillors David Bard, Val Barrett, Ruth Betson, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Christopher Cross, Kevin Cuffley, Sue Ellington, Andrew Fraser, Roger Hall, Lynda Harford, Ray Manning, Mick Martin, Raymond Matthews, David McCraith, Charles Nightingale, Des O’Brien, Tony Orgee, Peter Topping, Richard Turner, Robert Turner, Bunty Waters, Tim Wotherspoon and Nick Wright.
Abstain (1)
Councillor Brian Burling
The motion was therefore declared lost.