We welcome the decision today of Conservative leader Richard Bingley, who signed the executive order to fell the trees in Armada Way, to resign.
Councillor George Wheeler, who had proposed a motion of no confidence in the Conservative Leader said; “After the disastrous handling of the Armada Way scheme, Councillor Bingley has made the only acceptable decision to resign.”
“However, this matter is not closed. The people of Plymouth deserve transparency and accountability from their elected representatives. The disastrous mishandling of the Armada Way Project has highlighted significant shortcomings in this process.”
Councillor Lauren McLay, who has proposed a motion for an independent review of the Armada Way project, comments; “The Green Party have called for a full and independent review into how decisions were made, and the use of executive powers which were ultimately used by the Council leader to fell the trees.”
“This incident highlights the much wider problem of how, in our council, disproportionate power sits with the council leader to make decisions using ‘executive powers’.”
“We believe that moving to a committee system of Local Government would give the people of Plymouth a better, and more democratic distribution of decision-making powers from their Council.”
Councillor Ian Poyser said: “We’ve always been supportive of creating a thriving city centre which everyone can be proud of. This could have been achieved without the loss of so many trees and without causing so much damage to our city’s reputation.”
“Plymouth deserves the best. We have an opportunity here not only to improve the way our Council functions and represents its citizens, but also to imagine a brighter and greener vision for our future.”