Dudley councillor says democracy is ‘dead’ after school holiday fines debate blocked

Cllr Steve Edwards hit out after Mayor Cllr Hilary Bills rejected his notice of motion calling on the council to take a number of actions to help parents take children on holiday in term time without facing the prospect of a fine.

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The motion will not appear on the agenda at the next full council meeting after the mayor, who chairs the meetings, was advised by officers to reject it.

Cllr Edwards said: “My motion was simply asking the council and headteachers to ‘consider’ the positive benefits of family time and ‘consider’ authorising family holidays.

“I was not trying to force the council or headteachers into authorising family holidays as that is not within the power of the council.

“It appears the chair of the council takes advice from unelected officers and decides which motions to allow. Democracy is dead.”

The council says the motion was not in line with legislation and case law on school fines and motions are not allowed if they propose something unlawful.

Balvinder Heran, interim chief executive of Dudley Council, said: “Amendments were suggested by officers to the original draft motion but these were not accepted.

“In accordance with council procedure rules, the mayor was advised that the draft notice of motion is ‘out of order’ as it would create a situation in which the council would take decisions that would not be made on a lawful basis.”

Cllr Edwards, who sits as a member of the Dudley Independent Group on the council, insisted the council tried to stop him from voicing his opinion that working class families are disproportionately affected by fines.

He said: “The system needs an overhaul, it is a decision of one person with no appeal.”