The October meeting of the Southport Single Area Committee highlighted the need for reforming the out of date laws that still shroud the rules formulated from the Gospel of Sefton Council as to how you are allowed to ask a question. Such descriptions as ‘UNSUITABLE’, ‘FRIVOLOUS’ or ‘DEROGATORY’ are the words used by the Council to stifle debate. A further restriction by the bureaucrats to block many administrative complaints is to not allow anyone to ask a question on the same subject within a 3 month period, even though it may be only to update some important and ongoing issue. According to the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms held at Strasbourg, June 1991 – Section 1, Article 10 states, and we quote:-

“EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. THIS RIGHT SHALL INCLUDE FREEDOM TO HOLD OPINIONS AND TO RECEIVE AND IMPART INFORMATON AND IDEAS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE BY PUBLIC AUTHORITY AND REGARDLESS OF FRONTIERS.”

Nowhere does it use the words ‘unsuitable’, ‘frivolous’ or even ‘derogatory’, nor does it mention a 3 month restriction on asking a question to update any subject.
Surely it is time for Sefton Council to come in line with European law which now supercedes all British national and local government legislation, whether they like it or not.