As ‘crematorium-[side]gate’ moves into its second week, and the legislature bit its gums into a non-legally binding motion, it appears as though the heat is shifting. The media are now fixating on two Belfast city council big hitters (BBC):
The Belfast Telegraph is reporting the council’s chief executive Suzanne Wylie and director Nigel Grimshaw have lodged a formal grievance with a solicitor.
They are said to have warned they may resign if “concerns are not resolved”.
What I find remarkable is how quickly Sinn Fein successfully spun this one out of their court and into the laps of private citizens. The Beltel has in the past reported that the CEO is in receipt of a hefty 159k compensation package, but she is still a private citizen and should not be subjected to the same level of scrutiny as a democratically elected representative.
The attempts to shift the focus from SF reps began in earnest on the Nolan show when Mick made the point that there are elected councillors (a large contingent of whom are SF councillors) sitting on that council. The whole point of accountability in a democracy is for these servants of the ratepayer to bear some responsibility.
But responsibility is not the golden rule of Northern Ireland politics and so very cleverly we now have a situation where two bureaucrats have threatened very publicly to resign over this whole fiasco. Sam McBride has reported that they have even hired an independent PR firm rather than using the in-house council comms officers.
The RHI undertones couldn’t be more apparent here, at this rate elected representatives will have to begin explaining to a befuddled public what they are actually for? If they don’t read legislation and policy documents, don’t hold public facilities to account like Roselawn and shift the blame to bureaucrats who feel the need to threaten resignation or retirement, then why have them? Sadly, this will brush the lips of many who feel frustrated with our political process.
The culture within our biggest council is about to take a serious hit, this year will see Belfast city reopen for its 280,000 people to re-emerge from a state of lockdown. Council officials are needed more than ever, and their top brass are feeling undermined because of an alleged public health breach by the Deputy First Minister and the Finance Minister of the regional assembly.
Yet as noted above the very same assembly simply slaps on the wrist two members of the executive it is solely tasked with holding to account. There is an acute risk of throwing the institutions into disarray at a time of maximum risk. I am aware that there are no quick fixes and that strategically the DUP have too much at stake to pull down the government.
What is now needed is for someone to take the mantle of leadership to close the book on this crisis, when appearing before the executive committee last week Arlene snapped when SF MLAs recalled the life and political origin story of Bobby Storey. This was juxtapositioned by a calm and collected Christopher Stalford MLA who read aloud a text message from a constituent so infuriated by the DFM’s actions. I see no other alternative than, at the very least, an investigation by the Department of Justice or perhaps a full public inquiry with sweeping powers. Strap in, as this looks like a long journey ahead…
“Belfast City Hall” by D-Stanley is licensed under CC BY
Jay is a Derry native now living in south Antrim and working in Belfast. His writing spans Law, Economics and International relations.
*He writes in a strictly personal capacity*
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