Councillors' boycott over Waggott honour
Published Date:
24 July 2008
FORMER council leader Paul Waggott has been officially given the Freedom of the Borough today.
However, 17 members of the opposition walked out of a meeting at South Shields Town Hall in protest at the move.
Only the three Conservative councillors remained alongside the ruling Labour group, where the vote was passed unanimously.
Mr Waggott, who served as a councillor for 21 years and leader for 11 years, becomes the eighth person to be given the prestigious award.
Speaking to the motion, Coun Maise Stewart said she was "pleased and proud" that Mr Waggott was being given the honour.
Coun Eddie McAtominey, said that Mr Waggott had united a "divided council and controlling party".
But deputy leader of the opposition on South Tyneside Council, Coun Ahmed Khan, said: "The honour has been cheapened through political cronyism. This was a waste of taxpayers' money."
Read the full story in tomorrow's Gazette.
The full article contains 155 words and appears in Shields Gazette newspaper.
-
Last Updated:
25 July 2008 3:22 PM
-
Source:
Shields Gazette
-
Location:
South Shields
