Leader and deputy stand in for suspended colleague

COUNCIL leader Terry O’Neill and his deputy Mike Hannon will take over the responsibilities of their suspended colleague Cllr Hitesh Patel.
Cllr O’Neill (pictured top right) confirmed the interim arrangements for the Council’s Executive Board, following the Labour party’s suspension of Cllr Patel.
He said: “The Labour Party has decided to temporarily suspend Cllr Patel following a complaint. This is a normal procedure prior to an investigation. Whilst this is ongoing, Cllr Patel’s responsibilities on the Council will be assumed by other Members of the Executive Board.
“The Deputy Leader, Cllr Mike Hannon (pictured bottom right) will oversee all personnel issues and I will be dealing with communications and IT.”
“Hopefully this will only be a temporary arrangement and in the meantime, Cllr Patel will not be receiving a Special Responsibility Allowance.”
Meanwhile Tory leader Cllr Paul Kennedy says he was “bemused” after being banned from asking a question about the suspension of Cllr Patel, at the Full Council meeting on Monday.
Cllr Patel, executive member for communications and equality, was suspended by the Labour party following allegations that he sent out an email to party members using a made up name.
Cllr Kennedy tried to ask when he would be reinstated or the role filled – but was told to sit down by the Mayor Cllr Steve Wright. Senior Liberal Democrat Cllr Bob Barr tried to intervene, but he too was silenced.
Cllr Kennedy (pictured left) said: “I did not want to get involved in any internal Labour problems. I just wanted to know what was happening with this important role.
“I do believe that the Mayor was wrongly advised, and indeed was disappointed that the leader did not raise the matter himself in his announcements.”
He said he wanted to ask when the role would be filled as he was concerned that the important Portfolio did not have leadership and wanted to know who was currently overseeing the work.
It was revealed on warrington-worldwide on Saturday that Cllr Patel (Great Sankey South councillor) had been suspended following a complaint to the Labour Party’s regional office.
Cllr O’Neill declined to comment about the issues raised by Cllr Kennedy.