Clr Martyn Bolt accuses Kirklees Council of censorship

Sep 27 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A COUNCILLOR has accused unelected officers of censoring him.

Kirklees Council has refused to put Clr Martyn Bolt’s annual report on its website – because it includes criticism of the council and a former MP.

Instead officers have presented the Mirfield Conservative with a watered-down version for publication.

The Kirklees report is radically different to the original, with phrases like "debacle" replaced by "saga".

Clr Bolt said yesterday he would not sign-off the censored report.

"Their version doesn’t read like something I would write," he said. "I’m a forthright Yorkshireman who calls a spade a spade."

The deputy Conservative leader added he was concerned that unelected officers were telling him what to say.

He said: "In some cases I think officers forget how a council should be run. Councillors need to stick up for themselves and point out that we actually put our names forward for re-election every four years.

"If more councillors did that, Kirklees would be more democratic."

Clr Bolt handed in his annual report for 2009/10 to Kirklees in June.

All councillors are expected to submit a document for the council’s website outlining their activities in the previous year.

However, council officers sent Clr Bolt’s report back to him the following month with substantial changes.

The Conservative has refused to support the amended version, meaning it has not gone on the Kirklees website.

Clr Bolt’s original report criticises Kirklees for attempting to close Castle Hall School in Mirfield.

In January a Government inspector forced the council to drop the plan following an 16-month campaign by parents and councillors.

Clr Bolt described the proposal to close Castle Hall as part of "attacks" on education in Mirfield – but council officers changed this to "proposals".

He also described the council’s failed attempt to close the school as a "debacle", with Kirklees officers suggesting "saga" instead.

Clr Bolt’s original report included criticism of Shahid Malik, who served as Labour MP for Dewsbury from 2005 until this year’s General Election in May.

Mr Malik backed the campaign to keep Castle Hall open but Clr Bolt’s report accused him of using the issue for political ends.

Reference to "the MP" is removed from the censored version.

Clr Bolt also criticised the way Kirklees is run. His report says monthly council meetings are of "questionable value" given the power of the ruling Labour Cabinet.