Secret discussion on 'leadership' of Walsall Council dramatically dropped 'on legal advice'

A secret discussion on the future of Walsall Council was dramatically cancelled during tonight’s meeting of the council.

Councillors had been due to discuss an item on ‘the governance and leadership’ of the authority in a behind-closed-doors session at tonight’s meeting of the council.

But council leader Councillor Elaine Williams tabled a motion to remove the item from the agenda, saying she was doing so on legal advice.

The discussion was due to be held amid speculation about the relationship between Councillor Williams and chief executive Emma Bennett.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, leader of the opposition Conservative group, asked who was responsible for the decision to withdraw the item, and what the reasons were for that.

Concerns were also expressed that the report to be discussed had not been circulated to councillors ahead of the meeting.

Councillor Williams, leader of the controlling Reform UK group, said: “It was withdrawn by myself on legal advice that is privileged, and there can be no further comment on the subject.”

Earlier in the meeting, it was explained that the ‘summons’ inviting councillors to the meeting had not been signed by Mrs Bennett because she felt “conflicted” by its contents.

Councillor Robin Perry, who left the controlling Reform group within days of being elected, had questioned whether the summons to the meeting was legal, and whether it could be challenged in court.

Interim monitoring officer Edwina Adefehirti replied: “Under the constitution, it is usually the chief executive who signs the summons, but she felt unable to authenticate the summons because she was conflicted. That is as much as I can say.”

She said it was possible that the summons could be challenged in the courts, but said the matter was not clear cut. She added that the council’s constitution did not permit any other officer of the authority to sign the notice.

Distribution of the papers outlining the contents of the item to be discussed in private were also delayed, adding to speculation.

Walsall Council declined to answer a series of questions from the Express & Star ahead of the meeting, including whether Councillor Williams and Mrs Bennett “had a good working relationship”.

The council also declined to comment on whether another senior officer had been placed on ’gardening leave’.