Bedford Borough councillors have been told to work together and treat each other with respect after a change to the Mayoral position and council executive.
Councillors heard at Wednesday’s annual meeting (17 May) that the council chamber in the run-up to an election can have “stormy moments” and that political debate is “charged in a slightly different way”.
After being elected as speaker, Cllr Wendy Rider (LibDem, Brickhill) said: “We have been elected by the residents of Bedford borough and our first and most important duty is to serve them in the best way we can.
“Issues in politics can often understandably raise conflict amongst the various parties, so I am asking that you have respect for each other when making your point.
“I will not allow personal attacks on any individual. As we start a new term I ask that together we work as best as we can and treat people as we wish to be treated ourselves,” she said.
The speaker’s role (known as council chairman in some other local authorities) is the ‘conscience of the council’, upholding the council’s constitution, and making sure meetings are carried out efficiently and in the interests of the community.
Cllr Rider also congratulated the elected members and also paid tribute to two people who were unsuccessful in seeking re-election.
“I’d also like to formally record my thanks to the former mayor, Mr Dave Hodgson, and former councillor Hilde Hendrickx, for their service to the council.
“I would particularly like to acknowledge the hard work undertaken by the former mayor over his almost 14 years in that office to improve the lives of Bedford borough residents,” she said.
