NO CONFIDENCE PETITION DEBATE ON BCP LEADERSHIP My Opening Speech

Chair, I'd like to thank the Council for allowing me to speak and particularly to thank the support given by over 2,000 locals which meant the Council has no choice but grant our debate - the first petition granted such an honour. Thanks also, for backing from 1,000 petitioners from outside BCP who agree we deserve better leadership; demonstrating how widely its reputation is failing.

- It's time the Leader and Deputy resigned when the Levelling-Up Secretary accused them of abusing "a loophole to do dodgy deals which only benefit consultancy and accountancy firms" and petitioners' comments proving thousands have lost confidence in the leadership's competence, transparency and integrity.

- Stop the rush to bankruptcy, government bailouts, external audits and reviews, £60 odd million of overspending, doubling transformation budget, tripling debt, hidden reports and prioritising extravagant vanity projects, over basics like failing children's & high need services. 

- Stop inappropriate policies: like Barclays House, city status and skyline - all costly unwanted and unaffordable distractions, also shifting £7 million annually of current wages to spiralling transformation budget plus extravagant borrowing alongside the highest interest rate rise for 33 years, while cutting necessary services with "painful" savings.

- Stop voters' eight figure bankrolling of FuturePlaces private consultancy, despite risk, conflicts of interest, zero transparency and no accountability or profits.

- Stop scandals, featured in multiple publications, making BCP a laughing stock with even the Government labelling Council policies "dodgy" and Transparency International calling BCP the most corruptible English Council.

- Stop ignoring CFO Adam Richens' advice against risky plans, now with a totally avoidable Section 114 bankruptcy notice looming and new spending prohibited.

- Stop high risk, irresponsible, unpopular and inconsistent strategies. 1st freezing council tax rises while spending £70million of reserves, 2nd selling beach huts, 3rd the Government's Capital Directive bailout and the latest - cutting services and a fire sale of our assets in a falling market - unforgivable ineptitude from two financial & estate-agency "experts".

- Leaders' financial competence is also questioned by external auditors warning "the Council does not have arrangements in place for ensuring financial sustainability into the medium term and its ability to set a balanced budget for next year and beyond appears “increasingly fragile” and "economy, efficiency and effectiveness were significant weaknesses."

So high time this leadership started to face the music with our leadership debate, and steps down now.

To paraphrase Cromwell - Mellor and Broadhead “You have sat too long for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God go!”