‘Excessive Heat’ Used to Curtail School Scrutiny at 23°C

Flintshire Liberal Democrats have criticised the vice-chair of the Council’s Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee after ‘excessive heat’ was used to justify preventing councillors from asking their own questions.

Before Friday’s meeting, councillors were informed that questions from members outside the committee would have to be passed through their political group’s single committee representative. The decision was justified by reference to the weather, concerns about the length of meetings, and strain upon councillors.

However, the temperature in Flintshire during the meeting was approximately 23°C, with no Met Office weather warning in force. The meeting was also being held on a hybrid basis, allowing councillors to attend remotely. The restriction was imposed despite an agenda including the confidential legal advice concerning the controversial near-£80m proposal to close four schools, including St David’s in Mold, and St Anthony’s in Saltney.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Andrew Parkhurst said:

‘The health and wellbeing of councillors and officers must always be taken seriously. Nobody is arguing against proper breaks, hybrid attendance, ventilation, or reasonable adjustments for anyone who needs them.

‘However, restrictions on democratic participation must be proportionate to the actual circumstances. Preventing elected representatives from asking their own questions because it is 23°C outside is not a reasonable response.

‘The Council Chamber is air conditioned, the meeting was hybrid, and regular breaks were provided and could easily have been increased. The decision instead concentrated questions through one member from a group and inevitably reduced the breadth and effectiveness of scrutiny.’ 

Cllr Parkhurst added: ‘I should not be expected to funnel questions through my colleagues. It shields the Labour-led Cabinet from accountability as good scrutiny depends upon councillors being able to listen to an answer, challenge it, and ask an informed follow-up question. Passing questions through another councillor is no substitute for that direct exchange.

‘This committee is discussing the closure of four beloved schools, a decision which will deeply affect children, staff , and families across Flintshire. Those subjects require more scrutiny, not less.’ 

Cllr David Coggins Cogan said:

‘If Flintshire County Council cannot maintain democratic debate when the temperature is 23°C, something is seriously wrong.

‘At 23°C, the Council still expects bin crews to collect waste, highways workers to repair roads, carers to visit vulnerable residents, and teachers to remain in classrooms. But in an air-conditioned Council Chamber, asking difficult questions about the Labour-led Cabinet’s decisions is apparently too much?

‘That is a remarkable two-tier standard. It has the effect of shielding those in power from scrutiny whilst expecting everyone else to get on with the job.’

‘The claim that 2,700 people have died in heatwaves relates to estimated deaths during the record-breaking May and June heatwaves, when temperatures reached between 35°C and 37°C. To invoke those deaths as a justification for restricting questions during an ordinary warm day in Flintshire is inappropriate and tasteless,

‘Residents expect councillors to do their jobs. That is particularly true when legal advice about an £80m project to close four schools is on the agenda. This was not about protecting people from extreme heat. It was a pre-arranged decision to limit who could speak, and it had the effect of shutting down proper debate. I will stop short of saying it was a political decision, as I have no evidence for that, but the Labour-led Cabinet certainly benefitted because I couldn’t ask my questions.’