Council Clash: To Stand or Not to Stand?

A row has erupted in Newbury over whether people should stand when the mayor or chair enters full council meetings.

Simon Kirby, who has previously stood for election as an independent councillor, says he was 'humiliated' after being ticked off at a Newbury Town Council meeting for staying seated. His previous manifesto said he would 'get rid of the role of mayor', as well as supporting Sandleford and allotments.

"I am of course entirely prepared to cooperate with the chair of the meeting in all matters of health and safety and follow any instruction of the chair in that regard, and I do also of course understand my obligation to sit quietly and not to disturb the meeting and to cooperate with all legitimate requests from the chair who has the responsibility of managing the meeting," he said of the incident in March.

"You'd think they'd have let it drop, but at a later (July) meeting, a councillor actually challenged the chair to ask what could be done to people who refuse to show what he felt was the appropriate degree of bodily deference.

"The council has now admitted that we have a right to sit quietly.

"But they added an ominous twist: the chair claimed that refusing to stand could be viewed as part of 'disruptive, disrespectful, or abusive behaviour' - grounds to have you kicked out."

"At Newbury Town Full Council in March, everyone else stood up and he didn't," said Phil Barnett (Lib Dem, Newbury Greenham).

"I was disgusted. Protocol needs to be followed. It was the mayor of Newbury and respect should be shown.

"In our July meeting I asked what action could be taken about this.

"Apparently, there is no formal requirement to take any action when not standing up when the mayor walks in.

"But it is protocol, and how things should be done. Mr Kirby does not expect to follow protocol."

Standing up and sitting down in formal council or Parliamentary meetings is a long-standing tradition to keep order, signal who may speak and show respect. Rising when the mayor enters or leaves recognises their role as the 'First Citizen' and the official head of the local authority.

Smaller committees and informal workshops tend to be more relaxed, where standing is optional. In West Berkshire Council, councillors must also stand when actively speaking during a debate and address their comments through the chair, as West Berkshire Council does not have a mayor.

"With the exception of the meeting chairman, councillors attending a council meeting in person may (where able), stand when speaking.

"Anyone attending a council meeting remotely, or attending any other meeting, may remain seated when speaking."

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter