Jim Parker: Mayoral tug-of-war threatens Torbay's new spirit of unity

For several months now Torbay's councillors of all political persuasions have been coming together to let's say bond more!

Shenanigans in the council chamber were getting a little silly so the Conservatives, now the administration at the Town Hall, and the Liberal Democrats and Independents in opposition agreed to a 'facilitation' process where they were at least talking to each other and not trying to score party political points at every opportunity.

That initiative comes to an end and its success, or failure, will be the subject of a report to the council at the end of the month.

The Tories even agreed to and over the chairs of some committees to the opposing side as part of that new spirit of goodwill.

Unfortunately there now appears to be a 'but'. Getting in the way of that new way of working is the selection of next year's civic mayor and his or her deputy.

The Tories have nominated current deputy mayor Barbara Lewis as the 2025/26 mayor. Her husband and potential consort is council deputy leader Chris Lewis.

The administration are also putting forward Hazel Foster as deputy mayor. Her husband is, of course, former Bay MP Kevin Foster.

The opposition have failed to support the nominations, concerned that council protocols are being broken because potential consorts have political interests. They also claim that Cllr Foster should not be considered for a mayoral position after previously been found guilty of bringing the council into disrepute as a councillor.

They also fear husband Kevin who could well pop up any time as a prospective parliamentary candidate and is being linked to standing as a directly elected mayor candidate for our area in the local government reorganisation process.

 Lib Dem leader Swithin Long says: "The facilitation report goes to a full council meeting on February 27."It should be finished and everything should be honkey donkey.  There is an agreement in how things will operate."

But he added: "There are still some tensions in place. There are concerns about putting forward somebody for deputy mayor who has previously brought the council into disrepute as a councillor.

"I also have email traffic saying there are concerns that the civic position will be with somebody who may be interested in standing as a new MP again and may be a front for promoting somebody who wants to  be an  MP or  may even as a directly elected mayoral candidate.

"I thought they would be a little more sensitive."

The position of Mayor has left a bitter taste for Cllr Long for a while now. He was all set up to take up the civic chain of office only for the Tories to suddenly win back control in the council chamber and install their own people instead. He was left holding the baby but with no chain.

He says: "The whole Mayoral issue is a bit raw. I was upset because I had plans in place with charities that I had spoken to."

Evidently a deal was struck between the opposing sides with the administration allowed to nominate the mayoral position and the opposition being given the chair of some committees.

Cllr Long says: "We have been offered the chairs of some committees including overview and scrutiny and audit.  As far as I am aware that deal is still ok.

"We did not vote against the two names for mayor and deputy. We did not propose Lib Dems against them. I feel we have stuck to the spirit of what had been agreed. The Mayoralty seems to have gone from something that is very civic minded to something that is political.

"There seems to be some suggestion that we should always be in favour of what the Tories are saying. I cannot say how the Liberal Democrats will vote because we are a democratic group and they will decide  on the day before the meeting."

Council leader Dave Thomas isn't sure how is group will respond  but he says: "It it an absolute honour and privilege to be mayor and deputy mayor.

"It is bizarre to say that your spouse or partner cannot be your consort or escort."

He cited several instances historically where Lib Dem mayors had councillors in those supporting roles. He added: "The mayor or deputy is a civic position. You wouldn't expect them to turn up at an event and give a political speech. To bar them because they are a councillor is crazy."

He is hoping this issue will not get in the way of bigger things. "I will be disappointed if months of hard work are wasted," he says.

Please let's think of that bigger picture here and not let a chain get in the way.

Here's an idea - why not make the mayoral roles truly civic and award them to deserving local residents?