Calls for emergency council meeting rejected

Sefton Council's leader Marion Atkinson said an extra meeting was not needed

A council leader has rejected calls from opposition parties for a full emergency meeting despite the previous one being scrapped due to a protest.

Labour-run Sefton Council's leader Marion Atkinson said an extra meeting was not needed, even though some items on the agenda at July's meeting had been left unresolved.

Police were called to Southport Town Hall on 10 July after reports of "people shouting from the public gallery".

Sefton Mayor June Burns halted proceedings after one of the protesters shouted at a councillor to "shut up".

Southport's Town Hall Square and Gardens legacy project was due to be discussed at July's meeting

One of the decisions due to be taken at that meeting concerned plans for Southport's Town Hall Square and Gardens.

Liberal Democrat group leader John Pugh requested an extraordinary meeting of the council to pick up issues which were not debated or agreed upon.

He said they included money for pothole repairs, road resurfacing and funds for children with special educational needs.

The next full council meeting is scheduled for September.

'Baffling decision'

"I cannot understand the logic of letting a disturbance in the public gallery lock up council business," said Pugh.

He added that he found it "baffling" when he compared his life as the MP for Southport between 2001 and 2017 with life in the council chamber.

"During my time in the Commons, I witnessed chemicals thrown into the chamber and terrorist attacks that cost lives, but the democratic process continued as normal.

"Sefton has keeled over because of a bit of shouting in the public gallery and let it mess up business as usual."

Atkinson accused Pugh of "petty political posturing" and said the mayor's decision to halt the meeting on safety grounds had been "sensible".

She said some of her female colleagues had faced misogynistic abuse from protesters.

"Aggressive and bullying behaviour must and will be met with a zero-tolerance approach," said Atkinson.

She added that Pugh "should not belittle the genuine fears that councillors and staff had about their safety, in addition to the fact children were also in the gallery on the night."