The resignation of York Council Leader James Alexander brings to a conclusion one of the unhappiest periods seen in local government in the City.
Elected on a mood of anti government rhetoric the reality of the job proved to be too much of a challenge for Labours new, inexperienced, Council team.
In fighting resulted in 5 of the 26 Labour Councillors, elected in 2011, quilting the party, with others set to stand down at next May’s elections.
James Alexander isn’t a bad person. With 10 more years experience under his belt he could have been an asset to his party and to the City. And he can take some pride in having turned an unlikely “living wage” campaign into a reality for some less well paid workers.
But in the flush of victory it is easy to be over ambitious and the cracks soon began to show.
Rather than admit mistakes were being made, a culture of half truths and posturing started to dominate the administrations public comments. Later it seemed that some members had started to believe their own propaganda.
Next came the secrecy. An almost pathological reluctance to provide answers to a growing mountain of questions. It was a stance that left ordinary York residents having to resort to Freedom of Information requests to find out how their money was being spent.
There were, of course, also a lot of bad decisions.
The tone was set early on by an ill judged attempt to sell off the Union Terrace car park. Valuable local facilities like the Beckfield Lane recycling centre were closed with no real consultation.
Local Community Centres were starved of funds yet…
….money could be found for the unnecessary (20 mph speed limits) and the ill considered (Lendal Bridge closure).
The Council’s debts spiralled, central government money (aimed at freezing Council Tax levels) was spurned and improbable vanity projects like the £187,000 “Grand Departy” were quietly authorised.
Major investment schemes overran.
New Park and Ride sites opened 6 months late, the Community Stadium is two years behind schedule and the Lowfields Care Village three years late.
Perhaps most significantly, Labour unveiled a Local Plan which would have seen the City increase in size by over 20% during the next 15 years. It was a prospect that thousands of York residents could not understand, much less support.
All in all, change became inevitable and the electorate took the first opportunity presented to them in the Westfield by election last month to give Labour the thumbs down.
Council are elected for fixed terms. That means that Labour must find a new Leader who has the interpersonal skills – and inclination – to forge a working relationship with all members of the York Council.
It will not be easy in the build up to what will be difficult budget decisions in February.
Now is the time for all parties to put the good of the City first. It will require a change in mood.
The current York Council can’t afford to fail another test.
NB. Westfield Councillor Dafydd Williams also announced today that he is quitting the area and will seek a seat, in what he obviously considers to be safer territory, in Heworth. Whether anywhere is safe for Labour we will see next May.
Williams is replaced in Westfield by a Huddersfield University student who currently lives in Bishopthorpe. It seems that Labour have not yet learned any lessons.
