'Poor value for taxpayers' money': Walsall Labour group leader slams major committee chair

Councillor Matt Ward says more proactive work needs to be done by the chair of the licensing and safety committee at Walsall Council.

The committee, chaired by councillor Kenneth Ferguson, decides on applications for licensable activities such as entertainment venues, sale of alcohol, taxis and private hire vehicles in Walsall.

As chair of the committee, councillor Furgeson receives nearly £12k in remuneration, in addition to the councillors’ basic allowance of £13k.

For the last municipal year, just four licensing and safety committee meetings have taken place.

Councillor Ward said: “The licensing committee should be proactive in its work. Last year, one of the meetings was six minutes long.

“We can’t go on paying that money for such a little work. Licensing definitely needs a stronger chair, so there is no doubt about that.

“The special responsibility allowance for licensing should be cut dramatically.

“You’ve only got to look at what other authorities around the country have done to bring in more night-time enterprises. It’s about multiple activities through the arts, and bringing in new bars and clubs in the town centre.

“I raised concerns months ago, with the council leader and the chief executive, about the lack of meetings and the lack of stuff that the licensing committee was doing.”

Councillor Ferguson responded: “It’s strange that councillor Ward has left it until the end of the municipal year to raise this issue, and as the chair, I have received no communications or concerns on this issue from the chief executive.

“I think this is a case of councillor Ward or others wishing to make politics for their own endeavours.

“Special responsibility allowances are agreed by the council following an Independent Review Panel every three or four years or when the council committee structure is changed.”

At the final meeting on April 2, several members raised concerns over the lack of items coming before the committee.

Councillor Suki Samra said: “This is a main regulatory committee, it’s very disappointing that a lot more information is not put before us.

“The agenda tonight is very weak, it’s been weak most of this municipal year.

“As a previous chair, I found these meetings to be thorough. We used to have some serious appeals which would come to the committee.

“I don’t know why that has dried up, I don’t know the last time this committee heard an appeal.”

Councillor Khizar Hussain said: “Over the years, we have had great volumes of applications coming into committee A and B.

“Most recently, in the last couple of years, there’s still a decline and we’ve had cancellation of committees.

“I’m a bit concerned because it never used to be a problem before. What’s gone on there?”

Councillor Aftab Nawaz added: “We’ve had some times where the committee has not met, or met and there’s only one issue to discuss.”

A council spokesperson said, “The allowance for the chair of the licensing committee is set by full council following recommendations by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), based on evidence from various neighbouring councils.

“The panel’s recommendations were approved by elected members at a meeting of full council in February 2021.”