Legal warning over speaking rights in Sunday opening debate

A Cusher public representative has warned councillors may be left with little choice but to pursue legal action should they be refused the right to speak on matters brought forward for debate.

The threat was made by independent Councillor Paul Berry during January’s meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, following ratification of minutes of the council’s economic development and regeneration committee.

The committee minutes show how Alderman Sydney Anderson had sought to speak on a request to extend Sunday trading hours but the Chair of the committee, Councillor Brian Pope, did not let him enter the debate as the committee had reached an agreement and “he had moved the matter to a conclusion”.

Councillor Berry revealed he had also requested to speak on the matter on the night.

“When a councillor asks to speak they raise their hand and wait to be called,” said Cllr Berry. “Either this procedure is followed or we will have to go down the legal route.

“I was at that committee meeting and had my hand up to speak. I noticed that the Chair was not going to bring me in so I took my hand down and thought it best I left what I had to say about that decision to this forum.

“As things stand, I just get a sense he [Cllr Pope] is looking to rush the meetings. In a democracy every representative should have the right to speak.

“I would remind the directors to have a conversation with the Chair to ensure this does not happen again.”

Alderman Anderson’s party colleague, Councillor Darryn Causby said he was “concerned” by what the minutes reveal.

“In all my years on the council we have never, to my knowledge, had a situation where the Chair has refused to take a speaker, who was yet to speak on the matter, because they had decided they were moving on,” he said.

When asked by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Kevin Savage, if he would like to respond, Councillor Brian Pope said he was happy to note the comments.