‘We’ll tackle gridlock’: New city council leader plans summit to ease congestion on Hull’s roads
By Simon Bristow
The new Leader of Hull City Council has pledged action to ease congestion on Hull’s roads, with an “emergency roads summit” and an invitation to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to come and see the situation for himself.
In his maiden speech as leader after being elected at a meeting of the full council today, Liberal Democrat Mike Ross also called for a review to find out what more the authority can do to ease the cost of living crisis, saying the council “cannot sit back when times are tough”.
Transport had been one of the key issues during the Local Elections earlier this month, when the Lib Dems dramatically took back control of the city council after more than a decade of Labour power, albeit with a wafer-thin majority.
It was the first policy initiative Coun Ross turned to after his introductory remarks.
He told a packed council chamber at the Guildhall: “There has been much frustration on this issue for the last few years. Whatever your view on this subject, clearly the current situation is not good enough.
“We have too much gridlock on Hull’s roads and not enough people able to travel by alternative means. More must be done to change this.
“So we will get to work straightaway on this.
“It is our plan to invite a wide and varied list of interested groups to get round the table and discuss what can be done to bring about the change Hull needs on this matter. It will be, if you like, the emergency roads summit knocked back a few months ago in this chamber.”
Coun Ross said “nothing is off the table” in seeking a solution to the problem. He said Mr Shapps would be sent a written invitation, because he “needs to come and see the problems the city faces for himself”.
On the cost of living crisis, with residents facing a huge hike in energy bills, and inflation revealed just yesterday to be at a 40-year high, Coun Ross said: “There will be the need for the council to show leadership across the city through these challenges ahead.
“It has had to do so before and will need to do so again. Last time the council had a Lib Dem administration we had to lead the response to the devastating floods [in 2007]. The council will need to do all it can now.
“I have asked for the council to start reviewing what more it can do to help the people of Hull.”
WINNERS: Hull Liberal Democrats, with new City Council Leader Mike Ross, left, standing, after winning control of the Guildhall in the Local Elections earlier this month
He added: “The council might not be able to fix this problem, but it cannot simply watch the residents of Hull go through the challenges ahead without doing all it can to help either.”
He also said Government needed to do more to ease the burden and “do it now”.
Earlier, after saying what an honour and privilege it was to serve as council leader, Coun Ross took aim at the outgoing Labour administration.
Addressing the now opposition benches, he said: “Last year I said you were on notice. You laughed, but you are not laughing now. Last year’s prediction came true.
“Well, this year let me say this. If next year sees us gain the popular vote again, far from losing control we will be growing our group. That is what is on the cards 12 months from now. There are no such things now as a safe Labour ward.”
Labour group leader Daren Hale, Coun Ross’s predecessor as council leader, could not resist some early sniping as he spoke.
“Ten minutes in and he’s not said anything about Hull, has he?” Coun Hale asked rhetorically of a colleague.
Concluding his speech, which was followed by a standing ovation from the Lib Dems, Coun Ross said: “Lord Mayor, finally, I have this message to the residents of Hull.
“We will work for you. We want the best for the city. We want a council that listens and makes the Government care.
“That will be the task for this incoming Liberal Democrat team – we will be getting straight to work as it’s time things get done differently.”
Coun Ross announced his new cabinet last week.
In response, Coun Hale began by congratulating Coun Ross and offering him his best wishes.
He also echoed Coun Ross’s remarks in tribute to Steve Brady, the veteran Labour group politician who had led the council for ten years before bowing out of elected politics at the election.
“Steve was a giant for this city and someone who helped transform it for the better,” Coun Hale said.
‘THIS IS NOT AN EPITAPH’: Labour group leader Coun Daren Hale
Coun Hale then listed some of Labour’s achievements during its eleven years in office. These, he said, included the insulation of private homes - saying: “That’s a real solution to the cost of living crisis” - the revamped Trinity Market, the construction of the 3,500-capacity Bonus Arena, improved flood defences, and big investment in leisure facilities.
Coun Hale said the planned reopening of the Albert Avenue lido, and the £11.7m refurbishment of Queens Gardens - a key part of the £30.3m Hull Maritime project, had already been “signed off” and could not be halted by the Lib Dems.
Coun Hale also attacked the Lib Dems on transparency, claiming they wanted to reduce the number of scrutiny commissions at the authority. “You’re not really worried about people holding the administration to account as long as you’re the administration,” he told them.
On the subject of transport, the Labour group leader said: “There is no pain-free way to upgrade our roads whether you like it or not.”
He added: “You’re in power - own it. And with that comes some decision-making, which means you have to make decisions.”
Coun Hale concluded by saying of Labour’s loss of power: “This is not an epitaph, Lord Mayor, this is the end of chapter one. We will be back, because this city needs the progressive forward-thinking Labour administrations of the last ten years.”
The meeting began with tributes to fishing safety campaigner Yvonne Blenkinsop - one of the “Headscarf Revolutionaries” [a title coined by author Brian Lavery] - following her death last month.
During testimonies from many members lasting nearly 30 minutes, Councillor Anita Harrison [Labour] recalled watching the campaigners parade along Hessle Road and feeling “my heart was going to burst with pride”.
Coun Harrison, who was then a shop worker, said she turned to find her mother in tears, and was told by her: “These women are going to make a difference. They are going to make your dad and your uncles safe.”
The chamber then stood for a minute’s silence.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Christine Randall was earlier elected as the new Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber. She succeeds Labour’s Lynn Petrini.
Fellow Lib Dem Kalvin Neal was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor.