CHESHIRE local government adviser Jackie Weaver is urging people to sign a national petition pressing the government to ban or suspend councillors for breaching codes of conduct.

She says she is "stunned" that less than 6,000 signatures have been collected so far for her petition which she says is vital to the future of local councils if they are to continue attracting people to serve their communities.

Mrs Weaver is the chief officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils (ChALC ), who shot to fame when she infamously booted the chair of Handforth Parish Council from a Zoom meeting that went viral.

She also served as interim clerk at Crewe Town Council in 2013 to help support the foundation of the authority as a new tier of local government in Crewe.

She told Nub News exclusively: "The kind of sanctions we are looking at aren't public flogging. It's looking at the potential of mandatory training or being removed from office for a period of time.

"It's important that we show the powers that be that we care about politics from the grass root level. It's been like pulling teeth so far. There is a general apathy and lack of understanding of just what a difference this can make."

She added: "We are trying very hard to promote diversity and equality in local councils and we have to be able to say to people that they will be safe in that environment.

"The least we can do is reassure them that they won't have to deal with internal conflict. We are failing some councils who work extremely hard at representing their communities yet councillors have to deal with a disruptive element.

"I cannot understand why people wouldn't want to sign this petition which is designed to support local government and make sure fellow councillors and members of the public are protected from unacceptable behaviour within the operations of the council."

The petition asks the government to amend legislation to enable councillors to be disqualified or suspended for breaching relevant codes of conduct.

It states: "Some councillors behave unacceptably, yet currently sanctions do not enable councillors to be disqualified or suspended for breaches of a code of conduct.

"Most councillors maintain high standards of conduct, but a significant minority engage in unacceptable behaviour, such as harassment and bullying including racist, sexist, ableist abuse.

"This activity would be grounds for dismissal in an employment setting, and equivalent sanctions should exist for councillors."

The petition currently has 5,879 signatures but 10,000 are needed for the government to respond and 100,000 for the petition to be considered for a debate in Parliament.

You can sign it here.