Torbay risks 'losing its voice' on national issues

'People will think it rather odd that their local councillors won’t be lobbying on their behalf'

There are fears that Torbay has ‘lost its voice’ on major national issues, as a group of local councillors says it is beginning moves to get it back.

Last year, Torbay Council’s Conservative administration decided not to debate any motions on matters it couldn’t directly control. The leadership said it was a way of streamlining council business, but the opposition claims it is being gagged.

Liberal Democrat and independent members wanted the council to debate and possibly endorse motions on national issues such as sewage in the sea and the sale of vapes to schoolchildren.

They said the Tories wanted to stop the council passing motions critical of the then-Conservative government, but the administration was adamant that motions should only be about local issues.

“This is about the sensible, wise and smoother running of the council,” said Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton).

Now the issue is to be raised again by Lib Dem councillors, with group leader Swithin Long (Barton with Watcombe) asking if the council’s stance will have changed after the arrival of a new Labour government.

Cllr Long submitted a motion for a forthcoming council meeting, expressing concern over plans to cut universal winter fuel allowance payments. More than 21,000 pensioners in Torbay stand to lose out.

He wanted a letter to be written to chancellor Rachel Reeves calling for the move to be paused, as well as letters to the MPs covering Torbay asking for their formal support. All group leaders in the council chamber would be asked to sign the letter.

Now Cllr Long has been sent a ‘revised’ motion from the Town Hall which aligns with the council’s policy, and removes all reference to lobbying the government. Instead there is a call for the council to urge local people to claim the right amount of pension credits.

“I’m outraged,” said Cllr Long. “This shows very clearly that Torbay’s voice has been lost.

“The constitutional changes that were made last year have left us in a bizarre situation where we are not able to do what many other councils are doing up and down the country - lobbying on behalf of local residents.

“People will think it rather odd that their local councillors won’t be lobbying on their behalf. This is a big issues, and if you asked local people if they wanted their councillors to campaign on it for them, I think they would say yes.”