CALLS for Bromsgrove District Council to suspend the ‘flawed’ consultation on whether it should join a combined authority have been ignored.
Coun Peter McDonald put forward the motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday (September 24) claiming residents had not been given enough information to make an informed decision.
The consultation gave residents until Sunday (September 27) to have their say on whether they should join the West Midlands Combined Authority, ready for a meeting on October 7 when the council planned to make a decision.
Coun McDonald said the online questionnaire excluded people who were not IT literate and did not highlight the positive and negative aspects of joining such a scheme.
He also called for any move towards a combined authority to be the subject of a referendum.
He added it was a very serious issue, claiming residents were being misled into believing it was the only option.
Coun McDonald said Worcestershire County Council was also seeking devolved powers on behalf of the whole county, but this had failed to be mentioned.
Coun Sherrey said they were currently in talks with other leaders about both options but the reason the consultation was launched was because the West Midlands Combined Authority had asked for their views.
Coun Kit Taylor added “The problem is you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
“The consultation was sent out as an opinion seeker rather than a consultation.
“A referendum is not the way to go, God knows what that would cost.”
The motion to suspend the consultation was defeated 15 to 11.
