CONDUCT OF THE AUDIT COMMISSION (NO. 5)

Early day motion 242, tabled 28 November 2002 by Kevin McNamara (Labour). Signed by 3 members.

That this House expresses concern about the accuracy of the Audit Commission's Report which described Hull Council as an inward-looking council that did not represent its interests well in national and regional policy-making; notes that during the time of the inspection Hull councillors held the chairs of the Yorkshire Regional Planning Forum, Hull's Cityvision, Yorkshire Tourist Board, Humberside Police Authority, Regional Chamber until November 2001, and played major roles in the Regional Flood Defence Committee, Northern ADLO, FEDA, Major Cities Housing Group; further notes that Hull Council was the first council to carry a motion in support of an elected Yorkshire Regional Assembly, initiated the Humber Forum and recognised the importance of learning from and sharing policy ideas with other councils; notes Hull Council's international links with Freetown, Sierra Leone, which continued during the civil war, Brooklyn, Reykjavik and Rotterdam; further notes that Hull Council was the first council to support the Jubilee 2000 campaign, spearheaded support for a Holocaust commemoration in Hull which is now an annual event and established the Wilberforce Lectures on Human Rights and Wilberforce Medal awarded to distinguished international protectors and advocates of human rights; congratulates the work done by the then Labour administration of Hull Council on their contribution in fostering positive links with regional, national and international bodies; and concludes that this is not a fair reflection of the Council's wider vision and that it is a mockery for the Audit Commission to have described Hull Council as being inward-looking.

Signatures by party: Labour 3.