Wirral councillors say “We should not look like fools” after public meeting descends into chaos

Nov 18 2009 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

WIRRAL councillors say they want changes to the way large public meetings are held to stop them looking foolish.

Members of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee said the changes were necessary after a meeting last week to discuss school closures descended into chaos.

The special committee had been called to examine proposals to replace three Birkenhead schools with two new academies.

A large number of parents, pupils and staff supporting Ridgeway High – one of the schools threatened with closure if the plans go ahead – had attended the meeting to support the school.

That meeting ended in chaotic scenes as Labour and Lib-Dems claimed the vote on their motion had been wrongly counted. Both motions had called on the cabinet to look again at the proposals and to shut three schools in Birkenhead and create two academies but the Tory one had insisted Ridgeway remain open.

Chair Sheila Clarke said members “should never be put in that position again” and said future meetings should clearly separate the committee and members of the public and give the chair a microphone.