At the extraordinary Hemsworth Town Council Meeting on 14 April 2022
Item:
05 NO CONFIDENCE MOTION – CHAIRMAN
To consider a motion of no confidence in the chairman.
This was proposed by Councillor Hardacre and seconded by Councillor Middleton.
Councillor Middleton tried to address the meeting regarding his concerns about Mr Jim Kenyon and his time as Chair.
Mr Kenyon breeched standing orders and denied Councillors freedom of speech by refusing to allow Councillor Middleton to speak and pushed forward with a vote.
The following Councillors voted that they had no confidence in the Chair Mr Jim Kenyon:
Councillor Middleton
Councillor Hardacre
Councillor Hird
Councillor G Westmoreland
Councillor A Westmorland
Councillor Dodson
The following Councillors voted that they did have confidence in the Chair Mr Jim Kenyon:
Councillor J Eccles
Councillor G Eccles
Councillor Wilson
Councillor Hirst
Councillor Mitchell
Councillor Pringle
And
Councillor Kenyon himself.
Councillor Folletti abstained.
Councillor Moran sent her apologies.
Here is a recording of the meeting, thank you to Lyn Morton:
hat so kenyon actually won the vote of no confidence
I really feel like this is a watershed moment. What is the point of electing councillors to represent us – the local communities of Hemsworth, Kinsley and Fitzwilliam – when they simply do not listen to what we have to say?!
What is the point of having a professional town Clerk – paid very well by HTC from the money that comes out of our pockets – when a Chair can ignore Standing Orders, and deny other councillors the right to speak against him? Although we shouldn’t for one minute compare this with what is happening elsewhere, I can’t help but think that our Chairman feels omnipotent and untouchable. That is very very dangerous, and thank goodness there is a limit to the extent of damage he can actually do.
Now, if I am being unfair on Councillor Kenyon – a man I do not personally know, and with whom I have no axe to grind-please, please tell me. Then tell me everything he has done for the community. Don’t throw meal deliveries at me. I worked in Social Services and it is the norm to encourage people to buy in meals from independent meal providers, now that meals on wheels no longer exists.
Please don’t say that Jim and other Independents rescued our Council from corruption and mismanagement of finances after years of Labour dominance. If they had, then I’d buy him a pint and shake his hand. But, he and other currently serving councillors refuse to answer allegations of financial mismanagement – as well as questionable personal conduct-made on this platform, and spoken of in the community. And, the forensic audit didn’t substantiate his allegations against the previous councillors.
So, how can I say that everything Ferret has published -referencing meeting minutes, spread and balance sheets, and Planning-is baseless and simply malicious?
I feel like giving up. I can’t speak for others, and there are people who have done so much more than I to get to the truth regarding such things as Plan 2036. I feel like giving up because it is clear that we have given Jim and some of the other councillors the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket. He can do whatever he wants with our precept money, because he is untouchable.
To Mr Kenyon, I say that you should actually try listening to what people in the community say to you. If you are not going to go, then at least try to be something akin to a proper Chair and unite this divided council. But, will you do that when it means that you actually have to try putting the interest of the wider community first, and that may mean upsetting some of your friends who may not have the same interests?
And for goodness sake, go to night school or do an open University course on management and leadership because the way that you Chair meetings does not promote this Council as a good example of local government.
Anyway, I will see how I feel after I’ve digested all of this. But, as I said at the beginning, what is the point? Politics is certainly not in the best of places right now is it?
Regards to all who wanted the best for the local communities.
I attended last night’s meeting to witness the debate & outcome of the vote of no confidence in the chair.
1 How can the subject individual chair the meeting which he is being discussed? Why didn’t the vice chair or the clerk lead the meeting to ensure democracy?
2 How can a motion be decided upon when elected members are denied the right to comment
3 How can the chair vote on the motion when he also has the casting vote should it be a draw. Does he have 2 votes to everyone else’s one?
4 How can he close the meeting & then leave the floor open & sound system live for the debate to continue?
5 How can he say that the meeting is concluded & then joins in the debate himself imposing his own opinions before sulking off through the fire door?
6 How can the Town Clerk refuse to answer a constituent’s question by saying he will not tolerate being shouted at? Totally inappropriate as there was no raised voices yet the democratic process was once again denied.
It leaves a sense of omnipotence by our representatives & I feel the evidence, testimonies & recording should be forwarded to the standards officer as the whole event was in fact ULTRA VIRES