Mid Suffolk Greens considering further action over ‘deliberate falsehoods’ from Suffolk County Council leader
Two Greens are considering further action over 'deliberate falsehoods' claimed by a council leader.
Green councillors, Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk's leader, and John Matthissen, the audit committee's chairman, have accused Cllr Matthew Hicks, the county's leader — and member at the district authority — of spreading 'deliberate falsehoods' and 'disinformation'.
During January's full Suffolk County Council meeting, Cllr Hicks said Babergh and Mid Suffolk authorities, both currently led by a Green councillor, had 'just invested millions of pounds in Shell'.
Last week, Cllr Mellen challenged the claims and asked the county's leader to withdraw them — later in the meeting, Cllr Hicks did not withdraw the initial claims but clarified some of them.
He said, according to Babergh and Mid Suffolk's treasury management report, released in November, both councils held a combined £4 million position in the Schroder Income Maximiser Fund, which included a small holding in Shell.
The Shell holding is equivalent to around three per cent, or between £50,000 and £70,000 per council — exact values vary depending on the fund's performance.
During last week's meeting, Cllr Andrew Stringer, the county council's opposition leader and Mid Suffolk cabinet member, said getting rid of the fund when the Greens were elected would have crystallized a £1.5 million loss.
The Greens are planning to dispose of the investment during this year.
The investment itself dates back to 2015 when the Conservatives were in charge of both district authorities.
Cllr Mellen said: "Cllr Hicks should have known this, as he is also a member of Mid Suffolk District Council where treasury investment matters are regularly reported.
"We must push back against the use of disinformation in political debate. Opinions will always vary, but factually wrong statements have no place in our local council chambers."
Cllrs Mellen and Matthissen have said they were considering further action to ensure 'deliberate falsehoods' were not left to stand without withdrawal.
Addressing this, Cllr Hicks said: "The Green administration at Mid Suffolk District Council and Babergh District Council inherited a £4 million investment with Schroder Income Fund, which in turn invests in Shell.
"They have had two years to divest themselves from this position and have decided not to do so. I made it clear in a public meeting last week that the investment is likely worth in excess of £140,000 across the two councils.
"I am sure this is a situation they would rather I didn’t talk about, but when you are responsible for governing a council, the decisions you take (or do not take) are open to debate and scrutiny.
"Some Green Councillors are quick to say how Suffolk County Council's Pension Fund should divest itself from fossil fuel investments, which have over recent years provided very good return, but clearly do not apply the same standard to the councils they run."
