A bit of a kicking! Council leader admits his communication "could have been better"

                                         

Scene of last night's meeting - Grimsby Town Hall

"THIS meeting was called to give me a bit of a kicking, and I accept that. . . "

So said North East Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson at last night's special meeting of the authority.

He was in the hot seat for recent correspondence with Whitehall  in which he has apparently given the nod to a shake-up of local government which would  lead to the demise of NELC.

He continued: "I hold my hands up - I should have consulted with the council’s other political group leaders.

"Communication should have been better."  

Cllr Jackson - humble pie

During the Grimsby Town Hall meeting, lasting just over an hour, Cllr Jackson’s comments were preceded and succeeded by those from Opposition members who variously accused him of "total arrogance", a "stitch-up" and of being "unfit to lead the council".

Cllr Oliver Freeston who defected last year from the Conservative Group  to Reform UK told Cllr Jackson: "You got it wrong - you should apologise."

Cllr Matthew Patrick accused Conservatives colleagues of the leader, some of whom spoke in his, being "a bunch of chickens".

To chuckles, Cllr Karl Wilson, said he was "well up" for giving the council leader "a good kicking" and callied for him to say two "apparently difficult" words: "I apologise".

A less confrontational approach was adopted  by the Lib-Dem and Independent councillors, with Cllr Paul Bright of the former Group pledging not to "go chasing Cllr Jackson in search of a scrap".

On a recorded vote, councillors voted 21-16 in favour of a  resolution submitted by the leader of the Independents, Cllr Steve Holland.

This calls for Whitehall to be sent a new letter dissociating itself from the one signed by Cllr Jackson and insisting on due diligence on potential impacts before reorganisation of local government in Greater Lincolnshire proceeds.

* For the benefit of ratepayers, last night's  meeting was screened live over the internet.