Councillor calls for apologies from Leader and Cabinet Member.

Councillor Judith Holt is calling for apologies from Councillor Ray Morgon- Leader of Havering Council and Councillor Paul Middleton -Cabinet Member for Digital, Transformation and Customer Services for their “insensitivity and disrespect” when speaking to her at the Full Council Meeting on Wednesday evening.

Following her concerns about the untidiness of the lawns at Upminster Cemetery, as reported by The Havering Daily on 18th July, Councillor Holt asked a Member’s Question of Councillor Middleton: 

“Given that Upminster Cemetery appears to have been looking neglected as of late, can the Cabinet Member confirm the mowing schedules for the public Cemeteries across Havering?”

After the answer, she then asked a supplementary question, requesting that as her parents were buried in Upminster Cemetery, she could meet the gardeners and asked them to tidy the grass encroaching on their grave. 

“Councillor Morgon began by interrupting me, telling me to ask a question, ” Councillor Holt said. “I replied I was going to. When I was allowed to finish, Councillor Middleton accused  me of an ‘abuse of power‘ , adding that “I don’t think the Councillors should be asking for certain areas to be done because it’s their own parents.’ I was so appalled and upset by their disrespect and lack of empathy that I left the Chamber.”

“If you read my question – which it seems Councillor Middleton did not – my concern was for all the cemeteries, on behalf of all whose loved ones are buried there. There was cross-party indignation about the way I was spoken to – including from two Labour Group Members who came to speak to me after the Meeting.”

The St. Alban’s Ward Conservative Councillor suggested, also, that some Cabinet members could be more proactive and make it their business to visit regularly the places within their portfolios – rather than expecting Councillors to always come to them. “When I was Chairman of the now-defunct Children and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, I often visited schools and social service departments. If all Cabinet Members did likewise, maybe problems like those at Upminster Cemetery and Rush Green would be identified and “ironed out” earlier.”

Councillor Holt says she expects Councillor Morgon and Councillor Middleton to apologise to her in the Chamber at the next Full Council Meeting. “I am only glad my late parents brought me up to be polite and well-mannered.”

You can click on this link to watch the incident from 1:28:00:https://aisapps.mediasite.com/AuditelScheduler/Player/Index/?id=1d651c0e-f36b-4570-98d0-b523202d5ce6&presID=f3f6cb667af84925b7bf8a12212f743e1d

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