Derry's democratic deficit

The lifting of covid access restrictions has exposed what campaign group,  Derry Action Against Fuel Poverty, described as a “democratic deficit” at the heart of local and regional government.

The campaign group’s claim centres on the fact interested members of the community are still being denied access to the public gallery during meetings of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Speaking to Derry Now, Sinead Quinn, a spokesperson for the group, said: “One of the things Derry Against Fuel Poverty likes to do is to participate.

“We don’t think the democratic process is just a case of voting MLAs and councillors into office and letting them conveniently forget about us when they head ‘up the road’.

“It is really important ordinary people continue to participate in the process throughout the mandate of the Council or Assembly because, the reality is, sometimes it is quite easy for politicians to forget we exist.

“I know there are plenty of people who are elected politicians, who genuinely care and do a great amount of work, however, all elected representatives need to be reminded, it is on the electorate’s behalf they are in office, they are not employed by Council or Stormont,” said Ms Quinn.

She added the impetus for the re-opening of the public galleries was about making sure there were people in the chamber when decisions were being made.

She said: “We are now being prevented from doing that, allegedly on the grounds of covid.

“I think it is a bit much for Council to expect the public to accept this, given there is no other workplace where people have been afforded such high levels of protection from members of the public.

“Paul Hayes, an activist and member of Derry Against Fuel Poverty, who is also a youth and community worker, has been in contact with Derry City and Strabane District Council on this matter, as far back as April.

“He has obtained a lot of information through the submission of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests but the consistent response of Council has been that the public galleries will remain closed due to covid.

“He was also signposted to Youtube, where Derry City and Strabane District Council broadcasts its meetings live,” said Sinead Quinn.

Asked about people who do not have broadband or the technical know-how to access Youtube, Council advised Paul Hayes they should use the local libraries.

“This is a ridiculous suggestion,” said Sinead Quinn.

“There is no library in this city that is open seven nights a week. Not only that, Council meetings can go on very late, long after library closing hours. This is not an adequate response.

“What we are talking about here is accountability. The reality of the situation is, when there are maybe 10 councillors and council officers in the room, the community needs access to the public gallery because they are talking about issues that matter to us. Councillors and the Council Executive are a lot more mindful about the decisions they take if they know on whose behalf they are acting.

“I think they need to have the public galleries opened up. I know it is under review. Council is apparently going to discuss the matter in January.

“I have previously participated in action in the Council chamber where meetings were interrupted. I think they are afraid of something like that happening again but, to be perfectly honest, given the size of the Cost of Living crisis we are currently dealing with and the relatively small impact Council can make on it, I don’t think they have much to fear from a group of people going into the Council chamber.

“Such action simply would not be effective given the magnitude of the plight that we are facing.

“What we want to be able to do is to be in the room when they are talking about the issues that matter, I don’t think that is a lot to ask,” said Sinead Quinn.

“This is not a massive request,” she added. “It is a reasonable request. As an organisation it is something Council should be doing anyway.

“Derry City and Strabane District Council currently has hybrid meetings in place, so if there is somebody who does genuinely have a health concern that would make them vulnerable to covid or anything, they can participate in the hybrid way.

“It is the councillors who have decided to keep the public galleries closed, obviously on the advice of the council officers.

“When it was put to the councillors, they decided to vote on it. If they can vote on it to keep us out, now is the time they vote to let us back in. It is well overdue.

“I intend to challenge this continued exclusion of the public from Council meetings and there are others like me.”
In a requested statement from Derry News, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council explained that Council was currently piloting a change in arrangements for the public to attend Council meetings, in line with the easing of Covid 19 restrictions.

The spokesperson added: “The public gallery is now open for meetings of full Council.

“Based on a risk assessment, the Guildhall chamber can accommodate up to 21 people during the pilot period, this is in line with the current health and safety advice. The public arrangements for committee meetings have remained unchanged with only Members of the Committee in attendance.

“Following a proposal during the meeting by elected members, provision was made to accommodate the public in the gallery for the recent Governance and Strategic Planning Committee.

“All meetings are also broadcast live on Council's Youtube channel where they can also be watched back at any time. Minutes of the meeting are posted on the Council Business section of the Council website at derrystrabane.com.”