Matthew Evans, former leader of Newport City Council has told Welsh Icons in an exclusive interview when we asked him about the new system of only allowing written questions at open meetings:
“As a former Leader of Newport City Council, I know that council meetings, and the “cut and thrust ” of debate, is an integral part of your job, or was…….Sadly the new administration, within weeks of taking control, have ripped up the rule book in a move more akin to Eastern European democracy in the 1970’s . They seemed quite content with the system when they were in opposition. Indeed they made full use of it, and I could be answering questions, without notice, for up to an hour and a half.
“Now you have to submit questions in writing at least a week before a full council meeting. You have no right to reply unless it is purely a matter of clarification, and there is also a strict time limit. The new leader says it brings “structure and order ” to the meetings, which incidentally now happen less often. How Orwellian ! I just think it is a sad day for democracy, and a victory for control over common sense”.
