At last night's annual full council meeting of Wyre Forest District Council, the Health Concern group (the party that likes to claim its independence) got up as one and left the council chamber mid meeting. This was orchestrated by Howard Martin and clearly demonstrated how the whip is alive and well in Health Concern. Alarmingly, it meant that Mitton was denied any representation last night after all their HC councillors walked out.
The fit of pique was brought about by Howard Martin who, after rambling on for ten minutes on an issue that appeared largely unimportant to most people, lost his amendment to the item allocating committee memberships. Howard Martin was the council leader who brought Wyre Forest the hugely unpopular fortnightly bin collection, closed public lavatories and starved Bewdley Museum of financing resulting in its near closure three years ago.
Mark Garnier commented:
"Political parties walking out on their responsibilities and duties as elected members is not really on. It does happen and usually it is done on a point of principle on an issue that matters. But Howard Martin's display last night was over an incredibly minor point that was entirely to do with how other councillors view the Health Concern Party.
"The real tragedy of this is that Richard Taylor's party - that stood on a hugely important issue of health cuts - has now been reduced to this by his successor Howard Martin. Poor Richard must have his head in his hands in dismay at what has become of his legacy."