The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many councils to switch to holding sessions online since in-person gatherings have not been possible.  This has led to greater engagement, since the rigidity of the traditional in-person 6pm council meetings has typically excluded those with young families, nine-to-five-ers, commuters and night-workers.

Cllr Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield District Council, recently said that continuing with online meetings beyond the coronavirus crisis could create a more diverse set of Councillors.  He said that by continuing to allow members to connect remotely to meetings would not only increase transparency of decision-making, but would also have the potential to create a more representative group of Councillors. (1) 

However, his comments have been met with opposition from Cllr Derick Cross, who responded with the following e-mail :

“We should never give up the tradition of full council meetings being held in the chamber and properly dressed for the occasion of serious business decision-making.”

“However, if we want to move forward like a business then we need to act like a professional business, not be seen dressed sloppy in the garden or toy strewn room, baby in our arms, on the train, or work canteen discussing important council business.”

“What impression is that giving the community of us?” (2)

I have started this petition to demonstrate support for the continuation of on-line Council meetings and to ask Cllr Cross to publicly retract his comments and to issue a public apology, as he has offended many people in the Borough with his out-of-touch, out dated and discriminatory comments.

Why is this important?

The Equality Act 2010 essentially gives people the right not to be directly or indirectly discriminated against on grounds of a protected characteristic.  Protected characteristics include age, sex, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race and disability.

The Equality Act 2010 represents the culmination of years of debate about how to improve British equality law. It offers individuals stronger protection against discrimination. It gives organisations greater clarity about their responsibilities and it sets an expectation that public services must treat everyone with dignity and respect.

It covers everyone in Britain and protects everyone from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

What matters is that it should lead to real change; more responsible behaviour from organisations; more thoughtful planning of public services and, above all, greater confidence that people will be treated fairly as they go about their everyday lives.

As a holder of public office and role model, Cllr Cross should be embracing the Equality Act 2010 and actively be embedding it into the Council’s policies and practices.  Instead, his recent comments fly in the face of it and have offended many people.

By objecting to continuing to allow members to connect remotely to meetings he is promoting indirect discrimination i.e. when an organisation puts a rule or a policy or a way of doing things in place which has a worse impact on someone with a protected characteristic than someone without one.

References :

(1) https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2020/08/24/leader-says-continuing-with-online-meetings-could-create-a-more-diverse-group-of-lichfield-and-burntwood-councillors/

(2) https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2020/08/27/vice-chairman-says-lichfield-and-burntwood-councillors-should-look-the-part-and-not-have-babies-in-their-arms-during-meetings/#comment-459089