Blistering attack on Hulme
Reporter: Ken Bennett
Date published: 27 January 2009
A COUNCILLOR faced a blistering attack after claiming the council had not used its quality status to drive progress.
In a heated 45-minute session, infuriated colleagues accused Ken Hulme of ‘negativity’ after he questioned the role of the parish council.
He said the new quality status would enable the parish council to take over running of many local services — but it has done nothing.
Councillor John Hudson, who has held the chairman’s office four times, said: “I am upset and slighted.”
He said if there had been lack of progress it had been down to Oldham Council.
“I think in Saddleworth we have always balanced common-sense with truth. If we are going to have criticism let’s have it on a fair basis. I am most annoyed and deeply upset. I nearly resigned over this.”
Councillor Hulme retorted: “It’s a free country. It’s free speech and I stand by everything I wrote.”
Councillor Mike Buckley said they had been grappling with the issues of which services they could take on over the past 18 months.
“You can only go at the speed at which our partners move,” he added. “It’s frustrating and we want to see real power devolved locally.”
Councillor Brian Lord said Councillor Hulme was airing issues before they had been discussed with councillors. “Some information was unfair, untrue in parts, and certainly not the sort of comments you would expect from a body he is involved with.
“Over the last two years this council has moved forward dramatically. To try and suggest that we have done nothing — and do nothing — is outrageous.
“If a person is so much against a body like this I fail to see how they want to be a member of it.”
Councillor Hulme responded: “I am not going to be silenced and censored. The council must raise its game and improve its performance otherwise people will ask do we still need a parish council.”
Councillor Dorothy Shaw, said: “Never before have I heard such goings on. It’s been loud. It’s been vociferous — but above all it’s been belligerent. You almost felt like resigning.”
