A mass walkout at a recent Cheshire West and Chester council meeting has led to its leadership being accused of an 'attack on democracy' and those who left the room accused of a 'dereliction of duty.

The LDRS reported earlier this week how the leader of the Conservative group on Cheshire West and Chester Council had led a walkout during a meeting of full council.

The meeting had been to discuss a devolution plan which would see the creation of a Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CA).

As well as Cheshire West, the scheme must also be backed by Cheshire East and Warrington Borough councils, which are due to hold their own meetings next week.

But unlike them, Cheshire West is currently in a pre-election period, also known as purdah, due to a by-election being on the horizon to choose a new councillor for Strawberry ward in Ellesmere Port.

The Conservatives argued the meeting should have been postponed, but the council's chief executive said it should go ahead, stating that timing was a factor due to the devolution timeline. 

And during the meeting the Conservatives, joined by others, voted with their feet.  

In the hours and days which followed the walkout, accusations have continued to fly from all sides.

Cllr Jimmy Shannon, who represents Whitby Groves as an independent but was on the Labour group before stepping down in June, said: "On Tuesday evening councillors Gill Watson and Elizabeth MacGlashan along with myself made the unusual decision to withdraw from the full council meeting on devolution.

"This action was taken in protest of the meeting proceeding without representation for residents of the Strawberry ward.

"Notably, this decision was made in conjunction with members of the Conservative Party, Reform and other unaligned councillors. An unprecedented alignment considering our differing political viewpoints."

He added the collective action was a 'demonstration of solidarity' with the residents in Strawberry ward and a 'recognition of their fundamental democratic right' to representation.

Fellow independent Cllr MacGlashan, who also stepped down from the council's ruling Labour group in June, added: "The Labour leadership reached a new low in forcing a meeting to take place when a by-election was underway and residents of Strawberry ward had no councillor to represent their views. 

"We joined other opposition members in leaving the chamber early to demonstrate our dissatisfaction at this attack on democracy."

In addition to non-aligned independents on Cheshire West, there is also a group of independents.

Cllr Gillian Edwards, who represents Weaver & Cuddington Ward and leads that group, was not impressed by the walkout.

Posting on Facebook soon after the meeting, she said: "I was absolutely appalled by this behaviour. It was not only deeply disrespectful to the democratic process but, in my view, nothing short of disgraceful.

"To abandon the chamber in this way is to turn their backs on the very residents they were elected to serve."

She added: "I find it utterly disgusting that, when faced with a critical issue for our borough, some representatives decided to make a political statement rather than engage in debate. Communities deserve better. Residents deserve better."

On the night there were 63 councillors present, six absent and one vacancy. 

The vote was unanimous among those remaining – made up of 32 Labour, two Green and one independent group. The decision meant the council's ruling cabinet, which sat the next day, approved taking the devolution process forward. 

Warrington and Cheshire East now need to make their decisions.

Council and Labour group leader Louise Gittins, said: "The council's constitution allows for decisions to be made when members are absent or have left the council. 

"This is consistent with other councils, and is standard practice. 

"This was explained in advance of the meeting and reiterated by officers at the start of the meeting, but rather than listening to legal advice, Cllr MacGlashan, Cllr Shannon and Cllr Watson joined Reform and Conservative councillors in their pre-planned pantomime walkout."

She added: "By leaving the meeting, these councillors showed the exact opposite of solidarity with people in the Strawberry ward. 

"They could have spoken on behalf of any resident of Cheshire West as all councillors are elected to serve the borough. The walkout was a dereliction of duty, not a grand gesture."