Efforts to remove voting rights on council committees from unelected members, including those representing churches, are being criticised by a former Stirling provost.
Colin O’Brien, himself a high school headteacher for many years, is a Church of Scotland representative on the council’s children and young people committee.
The former Labour councillor said this week he was not surprised by a motion by Tory councillors that would remove voting rights in the council’s main committees from anyone but elected council members - but that he was surprised by the timing.
“I am surprised that it’s come during a council session, and that it has come out of the blue,” said Mr O’Brien.
“I am disappointed. It is discourteous to the volunteer church representatives. This is a lack of respect to colleagues who are there to support and there has been no invitation to discuss or consult.
“It seems quite amazing to me that in the midst of all the problems facing the council, our community and our nation, that Conservative councillors are making this a priority for Stirling Council business.
“Church representatives sit on education committees as a result of how we got here and it reflects the churches’ role in establishing free public education for all across Scotland. The representatives are there to support and encourage, not primarily to exercise voting rights.
“This is an honour and is appreciated as a gesture of equality on the committee. There is seldom a vote. In the six years when I’ve represented the Church of Scotland, I can think of very few votes being called, and then we would normally support the administration (who have a majority in any case) if we’d vote at all.
“Councils are quite entitled to decide this issue, but surely shouldn’t make changes to members’ tenure in the middle of a council’s term when representatives have agreed to be appointed under certain conditions, which included voting rights.
“By all means councillors can vote to change this for the 2027-32 term of the council, but have the courtesy and respect to leave things as they are for the present.”
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The motion being put forward by Conservative councillor Bryan Flannagan and seconded by Councillor Martin Earl states: “Council agrees only elected members will have voting rights on all council decision making committees, the audit committee and the public safety committee.
“Council delegates authority to the Chief Officer Governance to amend the standing orders to reflect this change.”
Ahead of yesterday’s (Thursday) full council meeting, where councillors were expected to consider the motion, Councillor Earl said: “We value the input from all representatives on the Children and Young Persons committee - there are teacher reps also present but they do not have voting rights.
“I note that Colin says their role is to support and encourage rather than use their votes and we would agree with that.
“However over the past years there have been occasions when religious representatives have voted on material matters before the committee for a decision.
“We feel it should only be accountable elected councillors that carry out that function.”
