Virtual council meeting in Warwickshire descends into chaos - and finishes abruptly when someone starts playing the Russian national anthem

They were discussing plans to create a single unitary authority when the incredible scenes erupted
A virtual meeting of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council descended into chaos on Wednesday after technology problems kept muting speakers and business was brought to an abrupt end when someone started playing the Russian national anthem.A virtual meeting of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council descended into chaos on Wednesday after technology problems kept muting speakers and business was brought to an abrupt end when someone started playing the Russian national anthem.
A virtual meeting of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council descended into chaos on Wednesday after technology problems kept muting speakers and business was brought to an abrupt end when someone started playing the Russian national anthem.

A virtual meeting of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council descended into chaos on Wednesday after technology problems kept muting speakers and business was brought to an abrupt end when someone started playing the Russian national anthem.

At one point, council chairman Cllr June Tandy (Lab, Attleborough) stood up and crossed her arms as proceedings became a free-for-all with councillors hurling insults and shouting over each other. She then appeared to be removed from the meeting altogether prompting a 20-minute adjournment.

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When the live stream restarted there was an attempt by Cllr Kyle Evans (Con, Slough) to put forward a vote of no confidence in Cllr Tandy and to have Cllr Damon Brown take over as chair which, after taking legal advice, was announced as unlawful.

And in further twists, Cllr Evans was silenced by a vote that he should no longer be heard and a proposal that council officers should contact the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to request commissioners to take over the running of the council wasn’t even voted on.

The IT breakdown happened amid a discussion over a proposal by the controlling Labour group to condemn a decision by Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet to submit plans to create a single unitary authority without hearing the views of the residents or the district and borough councils.

An amendment was put forward by the opposition Conservative group, outlining a series of measures and also condemning Labour leader Cllr Julie Jackson (Wem Brook) for alleged talks regarding a proposed merger with Coventry City Council.

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Debate on this amendment was cut short by a decision to move to a vote which went against the changes. It was when debate on the original motion was also about to be cut short that the meeting became a free-for-all.

Amid the pandemonium, Keith Kondakor (Green, Weddington) shouted: “If we have this chaotic situation where we cannot discuss stuff then this council should be scrapped. It should be a talking shop where we discuss things.”

Cllr Seb Gran (Con, Slough) held up a sign saying ‘this is madness’ and in reference to the call to cut off debate, Conservative leader Cllr Kris Wilson (Con, Whitestone) added: “If you allow this madam mayor then there is more debate in Zimbabwe than in Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.”

When debate briefly resumed, Cllr Evans - before he was silenced - spoke out against the Labour proposal saying: “My residents in Bedworth want a fresh start. They want this council to be abolished and they want a new council to come in with new leadership and a new vision to change the borough.”

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Councillors finally voted in favour of the Labour proposal, now with a different amendment put forward by Cllr Kondakor which stated that ‘any reform must be put to the public via either some form of referendum or a citizens assembly’.

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