COUNCIL BANS CADBURY PETITION

10-12-2009

The campaign to keep Cadbury’s jobs in Birmingham in the face of a hostile takeover bid by US company Kraft has been snubbed – by the City Council. The authority has rejected an e-petition placed on its website by opposition Labour Sir Albert Bore.

According to the jobsworths in Victoria Square, Bore’s petition fails to meet the hosting critera , because it’s an issue over which the Council has no control.

On that basis, its interesting to note that the website currently hosts demands for Birmingham to introduce non-stop direct flights to Amritsar and to “Re-open Our Local Railway Stations Now” – neither of which they can directly make happen.

Not surprisingly Bore detects a political hand at work, and said: “I am both angry and alarmed that the City Council should reject a petition which most residents of Birmingham would be in support of.

“If the City Council cannot align itself with the wishes of the people of Birmingham, the City Council itself deserves every criticism that comes its way.

“I have already written to Lord Mandelson urging his support for Cadbury and I will continue to do so with or without the support of the Council.”

The petition submitted was as follows:-

“We the undersigned call upon the Government to do all it can within the powers available to them to protect the interests of Cadbury in any takeover bids by overseas companies, and to ensure that a strong Cadbury presence in Birmingham is maintained.”

The petition was rejected because the City Council have claimed that:-

“Petitions should be relevant to a matter over which the Council has powers or duties, as the petition is not directed towards the City council nor does the City Council have powers over the issue”.

Councillor Bore is now challenging this ruling by the City Council, arguing “The Local Government Act 2000 granted to Local Authorities well-being powers.

“These powers enable local authorities to do anything they consider likely to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area.”

“Petitioning the Government to ensure that a strong Cadbury presence in Birmingham is maintained is, in my view, promoting the economic well-being of Birmingham.”

A Council spokesperson told The Stirrer the petition falls outside the rules agreed by Sir Albert in May, and that there was no political interference – the final arbiter is Chief Legal Officer Mirza Ahmed.

As for the other petitions that have been accepted, he said the Council is a shareholder in the airport, and a stakeholder in Centro which oversees local transport.

DISCUSS THIS ON THE STIRRER FORUM