Conservatives Describe New Council Meeting Rules as Anti-democratic

Say they will be restricted to just two motions a year

Peter Thompson puts forward a motion at Tuesday's Borough Council meeting. Picture: YouTube

March 27, 2025

The Conservative Group on Hounslow Council is protesting against newly introduced rules for the submitting of motions at borough council meetings.

It is a convention across most local authorities that opposition parties can submit motions. This aims to ensure that all elected representatives, regardless of party affiliation, can raise issues and influence council policies. However, the specific rules and procedures vary by council.

Hounslow has introduced new rules which the Conservatives say effectively mean they will only be able to submit two motions a year.

There are six Borough councils meetings annually but motions are not presented at two of them, the meeting at which Council Tax is set and the AGM of the council. Up until now the Conservatives could submit a motion at the other four meetings.

At the meeting that took place this Tuesday (27 March), the group submitted a motion calling on the Labour council to be more pro-active in its opposition to the expansion of Heathrow including explicitly stating that it is against a third runway and preparing for legal action on the issue. An earlier motion submitted by a Labour councillor on the issue committed the group to its current position of a ‘Bigger Not Better Heathrow’ without any indication that it would actively work against expansion. Opposition motions are generally voted down, but they provide an opportunity for debate on issues which they feel are important.

Hounslow Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Peter Thompson called the changes to the procedures on motions a “serious erosion of democracy and accountability.”

“This is not a procedural tweak. This is about silencing dissent and centralising control. As Conservatives, we believe in free speech and local accountability. These new rules violate these core beliefs”

“In Westminster, the opposition has 20 Opposition Days to challenge and scrutinise. Here in Hounslow, these proposals will reduce the number of motions we can bring forward to two per year instead of the current four, one motion per meeting. Opposition motions are to be rationed, reduced to a mathematical formula, subject to ‘proportionality’ which in practice means opposition voices are squeezed out—and residents are left without the representation they voted for. That’s not democracy—it’s censorship by procedure.”

Previously the Conservative group has used its motion allowance to raise issues such as Tamil Heritage Month, elder abuse, the impact of higher National Insurance Contributions on Hounslow’s small businesses and charities, and proposing a Shop Local campaign, free parking, and extended business support and to propose action to help those affected by the loss of their Winter Fuel Allowance.

“These are real issues affecting real people,” said Cllr Thompson. “We bring forward constructive, community-focused solutions. The administration may have the numbers, but that should not give them the power to silence the voices of thousands of residents who elected us.”

The Conservatives say that Hounslow’s new policy is much more restrictive than any neighbouring councils, many of which have few limits on the number of motions that can be submitted. Boroughs such as Ealing, and Hammersmith & Fulham maintain open access to motions for all elected councillors.

Cllr Thompson concluded, “We urge the Council to restore fair access to motions for all councillors. Democracy demands debate—not control. When power fears opposition, it’s no longer serving the people—it’s serving itself.”

We have asked Hounslow Council for a response.