The Gunning Principles are a set of guidelines used in UK law to ensure that public consultations are fair and legally sound.
Calderdale Cabinet councillors were challenged over the consultation issue by objectors to the potential sale to Huddersfield Giants rugby league club owner Ken Davy in Cabinet’s public question time.
Malcolm Walker, Gavin Butler, Richard Walsh and Sam Barnes all asked questions on aspects of the sale, including criticism about how responses to budget consultation two years ago, when the councillors first proposed disposal of The Shay – home to Halifax’s professional sides, football’s FC Halifax Town and rugby league’s Halifax Panthers – were analysed and presented.
The councillors had said the proposal was to save money in a tough financial situation.
Mr Walker said a Freedom of Information response confirmed the council holds no records showing how consultation responses were analysed, interpreted or presented to decision-makers and “no evidence Cabinet received disaggregated data distinguishing support for each disposal route”.
“It also confirms that free-text comments were summarised without any documented codebook or methodology,” he said.
“Given this absence of analytical records, what evidence did Cabinet rely upon to understand the pattern of public views on each disposal option and how did it assure itself that the reported consultation findings were accurate, balanced and not misleading?” he asked.
Mr Walsh asked: “On what documented reasoning did Cabinet base its decision to exclude retention from the consultation and how did it assure itself that omitting the status quo option did not pre-determine or bias the outcome?”
Responding to Mr Walker, Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Danielle Durrans, said the council had undertaken a “comprehensive” consultation as part of its financial planning and budget-setting process.
“This includes an online survey, Facebook Live question and answer session, attendances at ward forums, attendance at Youth Council and parish council liaison meetings, aiming to reach all stakeholder groups, especially local taxpayers and service users.
“The survey sought views on the principle of the proposed saving, not on the specific method of disposal, and provided opportunities for free-text on each directorate section,” she said.
Coun Durrans (Lab, Ovenden) said the consultation was conducted at a formative stage with sufficient information provided to enable “intelligent consideration and adequate time for responses.”
“All feedback was conscientiously considered, including both quantitative and qualitative data, and in line with the Gunning Principles,” she said.
Leader of the Council, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said Coun Durrans’ answer applied to all the questions asked about The Shay sale.