Chaotic three hour long meeting descends into shouting as chairman forced out
Councillor Samantha Gethen chairing the meeting before she was forced out(Image: Solihull Council)
A councillor said she had been “publically humiliated” as she was stripped of chairing a key council scrutiny board.
The ousting of Coun Samantha Gethen from leading Solihull Council’s children’s services and education scrutiny board was the latest twist in a week-long saga.
The St Alphege councillor was only re-elected to the position in May but, as the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported on Tuesday, council leader Coun Karen Grinsell’s motion to remove her from the position passed.
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The motion was for the position to be reconsidered at the next children’s scrutiny meeting held on Thursday, July 10.
But at the beginning of another chaotic meeting Coun Gethen – who had quit the Tories to join a new Solihull independents grouping – said she wanted the matter moved to the next meeting.
After trying to move on Conservative Coun Richard Holt said he “objected”, saying the legal guidance had been for a vote to take place that night.
Conservative Coun Sally Tomlinson said: “The way in which the chairman was selected (in May) was an abject politicisation of children’s services – I would propose a different chair.”
Coun Holt added: “I give great respect to you (Coun Gethen) in terms of the work you have done but this scrutiny board has to reflect the political balance of power in the council.”
Coun Geth replied: “You can’t pass this, there is nothing (in the council constitution) to pass this.”
After the first of many adjournments a vote was taken with councillors voting by a majority for the chairman position to be reconsidered.
Councillors Alison Rolf, Samantha Gethen and Michael Gough have announced they have quit the Conservatives to form a new group on Solihull Council(Image: Councillor Samantha Gethen)
Coun Gethen then announced the matter would be referred to the governance committee.
“The motion asked for this to be reconsidered, we have but we will now move onto the agenda items,” the councillor said.
Conservative councillor Sardul Marwa then said: “You can’t make that decision – you are dictating” before the meeting descended into shouting.
Coun Gethen said: “I’m not happy with the way I’m being spoken to by several members of the board. Therefore I’m adjourning this meeting, goodnight.”
After getting up and leaving the chair the meeting resumed with deputy chairman Liberal Democrat Sarah Phipps chairing.
“I’m asking to pause this debate to allow us to get on with the business,” she said.
“We are going in circles, we are wasting public money, time.”
Solihull Council House(Image: Sam Greenway LDR)
Coun Holt said: “You are bringing the chair into disrepute here, you are the person waiting time.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Long said: “You’ll get your chair next time, we are talking one meeting, let’s just get on with it.”
Later council officer Andrew Kinsey, the authority’s legal services manager, appeared on the video screen.
“The constitution doesn’t have a specific provision that deals with the removal of chairs,” he advised.
“I can see you have agreed to reconsider – it is my advice it is put to the vote.”
Coun Phipps moved to a vote on removal of the chair – which she said “wasn’t covered in the constitution currently” – won on a vote of seven to six.
Coun Phipps and Conservative councillor Andrew Burrow were nominated with Coun Burrow elected new chairman 90 minutes into the meeting.
Coun Gethen then said: “I’d just like to say I feel after that public humiliation, and being shouted at by members of the Conservative Party, I’m going to leave the meeting earlier.”
Coun Burrow said: “I’m sorry to hear that.”
The rest of the business on the agenda was heard but at the end of the meeting – which lasted over three-and-a-half hours – the new chairman quipped: “I think we ought to go home now, or down the pub.”
