Cornwall Council Bid to remove Julian German

Conservative councillors had put forward a motion to remove Julian German from office over his decision to retain deputy leader Adam Paynter after he had been sanctioned by his own Liberal Democrat party.

An extraordinary full council meeting was called this morning after the motion was tabled by Conservative group leader Linda Taylor.

The Lib Dems had considered a complaint against Cllr Paynter after he shared a confidential email sent to him by a colleague.

The party had initially found that he had brought the party into disrepute with his actions and suspended him from holding officer for the Lib Dems or standing for election for the party.

However at the meeting this morning councillors were told that there were currently no sanctions in place against Cllr Paynter as the Lib Dems are currently considering a second appeal against their decision.

With the meeting taking place just weeks before elections are held for Cornwall Council councillors were warned against making political statements and told that anything they said had to be based in fact.

Opening the debate Cllr Taylor explained that the motion of no confidence in Cllr German was due to his failure to remove Cllr Paynter after the Lib Dems initially found he had brought the party into disrepute.

She claimed that this was against the Nolan Principles for public service and said Cllr German’s actions were “making a mockery of the Nolan Principles that are enshrined at Cornwall Council”.

Cllr Taylor said that by not taking action against Cllr Paynter the leader of the council was endorsing his behaviour and said: “The residents of Cornwall deserve better.”

Fellow Conservative councillor David Harris said that Cllr Paynter should have been removed from his position as deputy leader until the issue of misconduct had been resolved.

He said: “In not removing the deputy leader from the Cabinet the leader is displaying standards way below those that we should expect.”

David Biggs, another Conservative councillor who had signed the motion, said that the inaction of Cllr German had damaged the reputation of the council.

He said: “It is disappointing that we need to remind the most senior member of this council that the reputation of this council rests more with him than any other member of the this council.

“Once the leader was aware of the facts relating to the actions of his deputy he should have had no hesitation to remove him from office. That is the right thing to do but wasn’t done.”

Responding to the motion Cllr German highlighted that a recent residents’ survey found that more people were satisfied with the council, more people felt the council delivered value for money and more people trust the council.

He said: “My leadership has always been about standing up for Cornwall, listening, delivering shared aims and most importantly listening to our residents.”

He added: “You all know Julian German, you know my commitment and passion for Cornwall and my dedicated and diligence as leader of the council.”

Cabinet member Sally Hawken said that the motion was “beyond disappointing” and paid tribute to Cllr German for how he had led the council over the last year during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said that “the enormity of the pandemic challenge for Julian German should be obvious” and said that he had worked tirelessly to keep Cornwall safe.

And she said: “Removing the leader now would be destabilising, it would be the action of a council putting politics before people, collectively we are better than that.”

Cllr John Fitter said that after listening to the Conservative councillors putting forward the motion he understood that it had no substance.

He said that the motion was a “disgrace” and said that it was a fishing expedition by the Conservative group.

And he added: “This motion is not worthy of a party looking to form the next administration of this council.”

He said: “It is embarrassing to you madam chairman and it is embarrassing to us all. It makes me ashamed to be in politics and I am sure I am not the only member sitting here today who feels like this.”

Cabinet member Tim Dwelly said that Cllr German had worked across party political divides “with great dignity” to benefit Cornwall.

“He doesn’t play a political game, he is not petty, not vindictive and not bitter. He has led this council at one of its most difficult times with great dignity.”

Labour councillor Cornelius Olivier said that his group felt that Julian German and Adam Paynter were decent councillors but he said that was no reason to gloss over what Cllr Paynter had done.

Dick Cole, leader of Mebyon Kernow, said that his group thought it was “pretty disappointing” that the meeting was being called and said it was “a pretty sad day for this authority”.

He said that the motion was politically motivated and said that MK had no desire to play politics and would support Cllr German to continue as leader.

Responding at the end of the debate Cllr German said: “Colleagues, I stand in front of you today ready to serve as your council leader, ready to work hard on behalf of the residents of Cornwall and this council over the next few weeks until the elections.”

Cllr Taylor, summing up, said that her group was “disappointed” that Cllr German had decided not to take action and remove Cllr Paynter from his post.

When put to the vote the motion to remove Cllr German as leader was lost with 40 votes in favour, 65 against and seven abstentions.