Rugby World Cup: Councillor volunteer ban 'disgraceful'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34143797

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A ban on Richmond Council members from volunteering during the Rugby World Cup has been branded "disgraceful".

The home of English rugby, Twickenham, is inside the council's boundaries, but Liberal Democrat councillors who applied for a volunteer scheme were told it was "inappropriate".

They say it "erodes the reputation of politicians" when Conservative councillors have accepted free tickets.

The council's chief executive told members they could help in other ways.

However, Gillian Norton said they could not volunteer for VisitRichmond, which is run by the council. This is a separate scheme from the one being staged by the Rugby World Cup's organisers.

VisitRichmond volunteers, numbering about 150, will help signpost places and activities in the borough to visitors.

'Extraordinary juxtaposition'

Twickenham will host 10 games during the tournament, which begins on 18 September, including most of England's games, both semi-finals and the final, on 31 October.

Alexander Ehmann said he and about five other Liberal Democrat councillors had applied for the borough volunteering scheme and received acknowledgements saying they had been successful.

However, they were then informed by Ms Norton they could not take part.

Mr Ehmann said what compounded the affair was the "extraordinary juxtaposition" of Conservative councillors "readily accepting gifts in the form of Rugby World Cup tickets at the same time we are not able to contribute as any other citizen could".

He added: "I think it's pretty disgraceful."

The 16 Liberal Democrats on the council declined complimentary tickets for matches when the Rugby Football Union offered them.

Mr Ehmann, who says he was unlucky in the public ballot for tickets, said: "I don't deny it was an appealing proposition but I had to respond and say I don't feel right."

A council spokesman said it was a matter of public record that some Conservative councillors had accepted tickets but there was not an "across-the-board uptake in tickets". '

'Muddle' fear

In an email to Mr Ehmann, Ms Norton apologised for the disappointment caused by the volunteering ban but said there were other ways to help during the tournament, such as doing a shift at an information stand at Richmond station.

She said being an employer, representing the council and technically working for the council at the same time would "muddle" roles.

The council said the deputy leader had said it was a "community officer decision and none of us [councillors] had any part in it".

Conservative Geoffrey Samuel said: "Those who took the decision felt it was inappropriate and, as they are doing it as a group, there is clearly political motivation."

He added: "Why have they not volunteered to help out at Hampton Court Flower Show and other big events before?"