Parish independents accused of ‘betrayal’ at AGM

A NEWLY-ELECTED parish council vice-chairman accused a group of independents of “betrayal” over abstaining on voting on his appointment.

The group of five infuriated members of Saddleworth Parish Council when they abstained from voting in the election for the chair, vice-chair and committee chairs at the AGM.

Independent spokesman Councillor Robert Knotts said: “We abstained as a protest at the blatant way party policy has been put before the best interests of the council and Saddleworth residents.”

The independents argue that the Liberal Democrats have monopolised key positions on the council committees.

Councillor Neil Allsopp, a Conservative, was appointed vice-chair but did not attend the meeting because he was abroad.

The new council chair, Councillor Edith Firth, and her consort, Bill Cullen, are both Liberal Democrats.

Said Councillor Allsopp: “If the independents abstained from voting in favour of my appointment then I feel a deep sense of betrayal by their unjust action.”

The councillor, who lives in Greenfield, added: “My appointment was not a decision made by the Lib-Dems alone, as the independents very well know. My nomination was made without any prior agreement with any group or individual.

Councillor Knotts fired another broadside, claiming party politics risks undermining the parish council’s work.

Suggesting a new approach is needed in Saddleworth, he said: “An idea is each community association would have its own elected council, divorced from political affiliation, with one member from each community serving on Saddleworth Council.

“The move would maintain a strong community representative presence and would truly deal with issues raised by communities and not those directed by political diktat. Perhaps the approach is idealistic but the sentiments behind it are not.

“Party politics is degrading to the electorate and could be construed as bringing the parish council into disrepute.”