2018-07-27 10:38:57 +0100
To: Harrogate Borough Council
No Confidence in Harrogate Borough Council Leader
The recent actions of Harrogate Borough Council Leader, Councillor Richard Cooper, in attempting to influence local independent media, have made his position untenable. He should step down from this role, and as a Member for the Harrogate Central Ward, with immediate effect.
Why is this important?
In June this year, journalist Peter Lilley was sacked from his role at the Harrogate Advertiser Series after only 32 days having been appointed to report on Harrogate Borough Council under the BBC-funded local democracy reporter scheme.
This was done at the the behest of Harrogate Borough Council Leader, Richard Cooper, whose letter to Editor Jean McQuarrie you can read, thanks to a Freedom of Information request, at bit.ly/38hgte
Cllr Cooper describes Lilley's appointment as "unacceptable" to him and goes on to criticize his techniques of investigative journalism. As a journalist and as a constituent, Peter Lilley has a right to speak his mind on council decisions, and he has committed no crime or act of unwarranted hostility in expressing his observations.
Cllr Cooper's abuse of his position not only undermines freedom of speech and freedom of the press in our community, but calls into question the very notions of democracy, transparency and accountability that we deserve from our local council.
Ultimately, we need to ask: "What does our council have to hide?"
This was done at the the behest of Harrogate Borough Council Leader, Richard Cooper, whose letter to Editor Jean McQuarrie you can read, thanks to a Freedom of Information request, at bit.ly/38hgte
Cllr Cooper describes Lilley's appointment as "unacceptable" to him and goes on to criticize his techniques of investigative journalism. As a journalist and as a constituent, Peter Lilley has a right to speak his mind on council decisions, and he has committed no crime or act of unwarranted hostility in expressing his observations.
Cllr Cooper's abuse of his position not only undermines freedom of speech and freedom of the press in our community, but calls into question the very notions of democracy, transparency and accountability that we deserve from our local council.
Ultimately, we need to ask: "What does our council have to hide?"
How it will be delivered
I will deliver this to HBC in person. All welcome.
