Biggs Cabinet: Bangladeshi councillors seen but (almost) not heard

John Biggs presided over a busy Cabinet meeting last week (Tuesday, 1st December), and inevitably he relied on his Cabinet Members to present some of the reports.

Cllr Rachel Blake spoke in spirited fashion about the Local Plan, with various colleagues indicating they would have an input to make.

Cllr David Edgar spoke about community buildings, squeezing in a little joke on the way, and the Asset Strategy.

Several Cabinet Members spoke under the slightly contentious item of Neighbourhood Planning Forum.

Cllr Amy Whitelock Gibbs spoke about health visitors and domiciliary care, with Cllr Rachael Saunders having an input too.

Cllr Saunders spoke about literacy and numeracy strategies.

Cllr Josh Peck spoke about Town Centres.

Cllr Jon Pearce spoke on various occasions on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  John Biggs spoke throughout the meeting.

Cllr Sirajul Islam, the official Deputy Mayor, had no reports to present, but he did manage to chip in on the discussion about community buildings, pointing out that “faith matters” were included in his portfolio. Cllr Shiria Khatun was present but had nothing major to say.

This leaves Cabinet Members Asma Begun (Culture) and Ayas Miah (Environment), who did not appear to make a contribution at any point in the 90 minutes.  Perhaps this was just a result of the mix of items on the agenda and perhaps they will have major roles at the next meeting. In any event, the discussion at Cabinet was almost exclusively from councillors of a non-Banglaeshi origin – thus, on this occasion, quite out of tune with the composition of the Borough’s population.

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