05/06/2026
PARTY COUNCILLORS VERY SLOW ON THE UPTAKE
I wrote about this in November 2024 on the Southampton Independents website - Labour marking its own homework. I don't understand why it took councillors so long to realise. Yes, some of them are new but two-thirds of them are not new. Link to the article in the comments below.
Let me know what you think.
Concerns have been voiced over Labour continuing to chair a scrutiny committee despite running the council in Southampton.
Conservative councillor James Baillie said he did not believe the administration should scrutinise itself.
The former Lord Mayor of Southampton put forward Green Party councillor Lori Foster to be the chairman of the children and families scrutiny panel at a meeting on Thursday, June 4.
However, Labour’s Phil Webb was elected to the role after receiving one vote more than Cllr Foster.
The deciding vote came from Liberal Democrat Chris Shank, who was subsequently unanimously voted vice chairman.
Speaking before the vote, Cllr Baillie said: “I’d just like to say this isn’t about Cllr Webb because I think Cllr Webb is excellent but my personal view has always been that I don’t believe an administration should scrutinise itself.”
Cllr Webb, who retained his Bitterne Park seat in last month’s local elections and was previously chairman of the scrutiny panel, said: “Thank you members for electing me as chairman.
“I take on board your comments Cllr Baillie as well and I appreciate that it’s nothing personal.
“When I first took the role last year as a temporary measure I compared myself to a caretaker manager in the hot seat, which was much mirroring the Saints.
“I was then permanently installed after some positive performances.
“I’m conscious that more recently that comparison has become somewhat less favourable, particularly when it comes to taking a very close look at things.
“However, as a panel we shall emerge from the trees, swap our binoculars for a fine toothcomb and provide the best oversight and scrutiny we can.”
The children and families scrutiny panel was the first city council committee to appoint its chairman since the local elections, which saw Labour lose its majority.
This resulted in Labour no longer holding a majority of seats on committees.
Prior to polling day on May 7, all panels and committees were chaired by Labour councillors except for the overview and scrutiny management committee, with that post held by Liberal Democrat Richard Blackman.
Cllr Webb added: “It is interesting looking at the panel membership on the council website since May as it does now kind of resemble the iconic Trivial Pursuit cheese wedge but I assure you scrutiny is no trivial pursuit.”
✍Original copy by Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
