LOCAL AUTHORITY REGULATIONS AND POWYS COUNTY COUNCILLORS

That this House notes that, under current regulations, local authority councillors are restricted concerning comments and votes which relate to their constituents; believes it is utterly undemocratic that elected members are prevented from speaking up for and representing their constituents in key issues such as education and planning; further believes that, if the regulations are strictly applied, then not one councillor on Powys County Council would be permitted to discuss or vote on educational arrangements in secondary schools in the county; and calls on the Government to modify these regulations and put an end to what amounts to a gagging order on local democracy.