Juliet McCaffery sacked from Committee

Juliet McCaffery was sacked at the last minute from the Children Families and Schools (CF&S) Committee by Simon Burgess, leader of the Labour Group on the Council. He stated that this move was made because she was only considering her own constituents.

To most parents across the city, this looks like a cynical move to ensure that the new secondary admissions proposals were passed.

The resulting vote was tied 5 votes all, which meant that the Chair, Pat Hawkes, Labour for Stanmer and Hollingbury, had the deciding vote.

You can see an Argus article on the sacking of Juliet, and readers comments, here.

What does this say about the democratic principles of the Labour group on our Council?

If you are concerned about the actions of Simon Burgess and the Labour group, email or write to the Council and make a formal complaint. Find out how to complain to the Council here. And read about other flaws in the process here.

Read the Schools4Communities letter to Pat Hawkes here. This gives details of the decision taken at the CF&S Committee including the shameful sacking of Cllr McCaffery.


Infringements of the Council's "Code of Conduct of Members"

As far as we can see, Juliet McCaffery only put into practice no.6, Personal Judgement, of "The Ten Principles of Public Life" as stated in the Brighton and Hove "Code of Conduct for Members" which states
"Members may take account of the views of others, including their political groups, but should reach their own conclusions on the issues before them and act in accordance with those conclusions."

Meanwhile, Simon Burgess' actions can be seen as bringing into disrepute the very notion of democracy in this publicly elected body. By sacking Juliet McCaffery, he could be accused of breaking (4) and (5a) of the Code of Conduct for Members:

(4) A Member must not in his/her official capacity, or any other circumstance,
conduct himself/herself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as
bringing his/her office or authority into disrepute.

(5a) [A Member] must not be in his/her official capacity, or any other circumstance, use
his/her position as a Member improperly to confer on or secure for
himself/herself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage...

Find the Code of Conduct here: Code of Conduct for Members

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