Walsall Council leader faces year of troublesome votes
The leader of Walsall Council has said he could be in for a 'troublesome year' as he faces the prospect of not being able to push any decisions through the council chamber.
Previously the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition which runs Walsall Council has had no issues forcing decisions through at full council meetings as, despite votes being split 30 for and 30 against, the administration would have the casting vote of Labour mayor Kath Phillips.
Now however, after completing her year, councillor Phillips has been replaced by Conservative councillor Marco Longhi.
Councillor Longhi has vowed not to use his casting vote to oust councillor Sean Coughlan and his Labour group and put his own Conservative group in charge but has given no such assurances on normal voting, insisting he will vote on whichever way he thinks is right.
Despite the majority of decisions being made at cabinet level, full council is called on to ratify a number of cabinet decisions as well as make decisions on issues such as councillors' pay.
This means the ruling Labour/Lib Dem group could fail to have decisions ratified by councillors as well as be forced into making changes and implementing decisions it does not approve of.
Councillor Coughlan said of the situation: "It may be a troublesome year and I would be very naive to think otherwise."
Asked about the prospect of the mayor's casting vote being used to give the Conservatives control of the council, something both councillor Longhi and the Tories have vehemently denied will happen, councillor Coughlan added: "I have to take people on their word and I think Marco Longhi is an honourable man who will keep to his word."
Councillor Mike Bird, the leader of the Conservatives in Walsall, told the Express & Star he would not be using councillor Longhi as a tool to reject every Labour decision and preference.
He said: "That is not something I have asked Marco to do or will ask him to do. I am sure he will vote with his conscience if and when situations arise."
Councillor Longhi confirmed this, adding: "I have confirmed I will not be using my casting vote to alter the leadership of the council or appointments to committees.
"But anything else up to me I will use my conscience and do what I believe is the right thing to do on a decision by decision basis."
