Following concerns of a Plymouth resident over whether a public question on welfare cuts would be heard at today’s full council meeting, the situation has taken a new turn.
Mat Surtees, who raised the concerns, has confirmed his attendance. However, the Council has not confirmed that the question he agreed to submit will be asked.
Instead, a different version of the question, which Mr Surtees has not agreed to, appears on the latest paperwork.
At the time the concerns were raised, the published agenda for the meeting contained no record of Mr Surtees' question. Several councillors also reported being unaware of the question entirely and their paperwork making no reference to it.
Further confusion has arisen after it emerged that the public question has been changed again and now contradicts the Council’s previous position that the question had to "ask a specific member of the Cabinet".
Emails show Council officers advising Mr Surtees that his question needed to be directed to a named Cabinet Member and suggesting new wording. Mr Surtees agreed to the revised question directed at Councillor Evans.
However, the latest paperwork shows the question has reverted to being addressed to the Plymouth Labour Group without Mr Surtees agreeing to further changes.
The version now listed is not the wording he consented to, and it appears to breach the Council’s previous position on how public questions should be asked.
Wording suggested by Council officers, which Mr Surtees agreed with:
"Councillor Evans, do you agree that the Labour Government's cuts to welfare will significantly impact the people of Plymouth and are you prepared to publicly condemn the actions of government in relation to these cuts, in the same way that Labour councillors have done in other parts of the country?"
Updated question now listed on the paperwork (NOT agreed by Mr Surtees):
"I would like to publicly call on this Council to oppose and condemn the cuts to welfare by the Labour Government.
"In other parts of the country, Labour Councillors have responded by resigning from office in protest at these proposed actions.
"Will Plymouth Labour publicly condemn the actions of government?"
Was the last minute change made in an effort to prevent Councillor Tudor Evans from having to answer the question directly?
The latest development raises fresh concerns about the transparency and integrity of the Council’s public question procedures and whether residents’ submissions can be altered without their knowledge or consent.
The controversy comes as more than 25 Labour MPs say they will not support the government’s proposed welfare reforms, described by critics as the largest attack on the welfare state since the austerity years.
At the time of writing, it remains unclear whether the question Mr Surtees agreed to submit will actually be heard at today’s meeting.
How to Watch:
Politics Desk
Plymouth residents can either attend the upcoming council meeting in person by heading to the public gallery at the Council House in good time for the 2pm start, or watch live online.
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