Ban of oral questions at council meetings discriminates against people with dyslexia, says opposition
All questions must now be submitted in writing
People with dyslexia are being discriminated against by a recent Gloucester City Council move which forbids oral questions, according to opposition councillors.
City councillors have voted to abolish the verbal public and member question sessions at council meetings.
Those wishing to ask a question of civic leaders must now to submit their queries in writing several days before the meeting.
"You are putting up barriers"
However, Labour Party councillors said the move puts up barriers for people with literacy difficulties such as dysgraphia and dyslexia and those whose first language is not English.
They asked for the council to reject the proposals until an assessment was made to see how the changes would affect those people.
Councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus (Lab, Moreland) said: “I’m seriously dyslexic, I struggle to put a sentence together.
“Throughout my life until I was in my 30s, I was completely put off doing things which meant having to write or put something down on paper.
“I couldn’t do that. That was a huge barrier to me in succeeding in life. Yes, I was prepared to work hard but there was that barrier.
“I grew up as an independent woman. Why should I have to go cap in hand to someone to ask them to write a question for me when I am quite capable of coming and saying that question myself?
“You are putting up barriers to people like me. You are taking away a part of the very reason I got into politics.
“I got into politics because it was one place were verbally, I could have my voice heard, where I didn’t have to put those things on paper.
“Surely putting up barriers to people with learning disabilities says they can’t participate in an independent and autonomous way is similar to not providing a wheelchair ramp.”
What does the council say?
Council leader Richard Cook (Con, Kingsway) said if people were unable to read, write or speak the language it would be very unlikely they would come to the council to deliver a question.
“But if they needed to, it would probably be far simpler to use some Google translation software and simply write it,” he said.
“If they write it in their own language and have it translated into written English it can be presented to cabinet members.”
The amendment by the Labour Party received the support of the Liberal Democrats. However, the Conservative Party majority rejected it.
The proposals to abolish the oral question sessions were approved.