Merrett sacked

Dave Merrett has been sacked from his transport responsibilities in York.

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He has been heavily criticised for poor execution of traffic restrictions on Lendal Bridge and more recently for an email exchange, about the controversial introduction of wide area 20 mph speed limits, in which he abused Opposition Councillors.

He will retain his Cabinet pay as he takes over responsibility for environmental services. He will also be responsible for York’s Local Plan – another shambolic situation.

He is replaced by Cllr Levene who recently was forced to announce a budget overspend on ice clearance last year despite having had the mildest winter on record!

Tracey Simpson Laing is also demoted losing responsibility for health matters.

The Council Leader has said the changes have been made as he “didn’t want to lose control of the Council in the 2015 local election to a LibDem/Tory coalition” (!)

Merrett tried to fix 20 mph publicity – private Emails published

Minster FM have published details of private Emails exchanged by Labour Councillors over plans to introduce 20 mph speed limits across York.

In the Emails he tries to inflame opinion by calling for letters to be sent to the local paper – and to be posted on its web site – labelling opposition Councillors as “Ludites”.

It appears that the Emails were sent using Council facilities which breaches regulations forbidding the use of equipment, paid for by taxpayers, for political purposes.

The Emails reveal that the main road trial 20 mph limits have been ineffective, that accident levels in other City’s which introduced wide area 20 mph levels have increased and that there is a lot of opposition to the idea in York.

In releasing, pre publication, officer reports to Cllr Semleyn – a paid 20’s plenty organiser – he urges her to mobilise support.

The revelations are bound to increase pressure on Cllr Merrett to resign from his Cabinet post.

Merrett refuses to resign – gets £4,500 (20%) pay rise?

Cllr Dave Merrett, held by many York residents to be responsible for the Lendal Bridge and Coppergate debacle, has refused to resign.

Rather than sacking him, Council leader James Alexander has promoted him and he will now also sit on committees that will decide the transport plans for the whole of the York and West Yorkshire area.

He will serve, technically as an “observer”, on the “West Yorkshire Joint Authority Transport Committee” but also as a full member of the “West Yorkshire & York Investment Committee”.

The latter will determine how much, where and on what money is invested in transport and economic regeneration schemes across York and West Yorkshire

The new authority agreed at its annual meeting last week that members of its committees will be able to claim £4500 a year in allowances.

This is in addition to the sums claimed from local Councils like York.

A full list of appointments can be found here

The York Council has only appointed Labour Councillors to the West Yorkshire Joint Authority.

None of the appointments has been through any kind of democratic process at the Guildhall/West Offices.