Allister Calls on Minister Attwood to Intervene in Moyle Council
02 September 2011
TUV leader and North Antrim MLA Jim Allister has called for the Department of the Environment Minister Alex Attwood MLA to intervene in Moyle District Council.The call comes after Mr Allister received details of an invitation sent by the Council Chairman to representatives of Gaza City Council. Mr Allister has also discovered that the invitation was sent without prior approval of Moyle Council and that the Chairman failed to seek advice from the Council Chief Executive.
Commenting on the invitation Mr Allister said:
“Gaza is controlled by Hamas. Hamas internationally is an illegal organisation. The Chairman of Moyle Council not only failed to seek advice from the Chief-Executive but he did not gain approval from Council colleagues with regard to his invitation to Hamas representatives.
"It is apparent that the Moyle Council Chairman is operating outside his remit and by his actions has mired the local Council in a matter of international politics.
"Local Councils were established to debate issues of local concern and thereby improve the immediate local community not to undertake overt political projects at an international level, nor to waste ratepayers money on such.
I" have therefore urged the Minister responsible for Local Government to intervene in Moyle and remind the Council of their elected remit. I am also calling on the Local Government Auditor to investigate with a view to surcharging the Chairman for any unauthorised expenditure.
"I strongly believe that the Council Chairman has overstretched himself and that his solo-run is in breach of the spirit of Local Government and probably the legislation that guides it.
"The Minister must intervene and act swiftly to avoid tensions further escalating within the Moyle Council chamber.”
