Councillor's husband ejected by police

Council Cabinet member and Heywood Lib Dem Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee could be  forgiven for wondering who needs enemies with friends like her husband! Mr Brophy-Lee had to be escorted out of the recent Heywood Township meeting by the police after refusing to go quietly having been asked to leave by the Township chairman for repeatedly launching verbal tirades against members of the public who had the temerity to criticise his wife.

To be fair to Councillor Brophy-Lee she was very embarrassed and made a point of telling the meeting, after her husband had been ejected, that she did not need anyone to fight her battles.

Councillor Brophy-Lee was coming in for severe criticism in the open forum from residents of Springfield Court sheltered housing who had been told they are to lose their dedicated warden, to be replaced by a trainee.

The decision had been taken by a senior council official under what is known as 'delegated powers', these powers give council officers the right to take decisions without referring them to the cabinet, though they do discuss the decision with the relevant portfolio holder.

Given the strength of feeling clearly evident at the meeting, in an unusual turn of events, a member of the Council's Executive Leadership Team present agreed to rescind the decision taken and to refer the matter to the council cabinet where councillors will now make the decision.