Calls to change meeting times are thrown out

Liberal Democrat councillor John Potter submitted a notice to the council, calling for a “modern and representative” local authority.

But the suggestion of setting up a special task group to look at moving the timings of meetings to allow “underrepresented councillors” to attend more easily were rejected by the other parties.

Coun Potter said: “The task and finish group recommendation won’t be able to solve every possible scenario of why people might struggle with being a councillor, but I firmly believe this chamber can be more representative of the community, and should be more representative of the community.”

But the suggestion was criticised by councillors across the chamber, with members arguing it did nothing to increase female or disabled representatives, and said it did not follow protocol for deciding topics for task and finish groups.

Labour councillor Roy Leeming slammed the proposals as “appalling and arrogant”, while Conservative councillor Trevor Hart said: “One size does not fit all.”

Counservative Councillor Christine Abram added that the notice of motion was “very self-indulgent”.

Council leader Coun Peter Rankin said politicians were “in demand” in evenings, and said: “You talk to any of us and we’ll all have our own ideas about what suits us in terms of meetings.”