So, we have a Labour administration in TDC, something new for
me, since I came to politics proper just after the 2003 elections. Congratulations
to the new Council Leader Cllr Clive Hart and Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Poole. A
revealing meeting, showing a snapshot of what the next 3 1/2 years has in
store. Change has definitely come to Thanet, that’s for sure. Whether it’s what
is in Thanet’s best interests or not, well, that’s another matter entirely, but we
shall see in due course. Strange sat with bloggers extraordinaire Luke Edwards
and Tony Flaig. Even stranger for a Tory Councillor to point us out during the
meeting. You’re welcome, I guess!
A lot of shouting across the Chamber again, with multiple interventions
by the same Members who have points of information, clarification, or obfuscation...pretty
much whatever puts off real debate. I’ve seen it in the past and complained
about it before with relation to Scrutiny and nothing has changed. From the sounds of
things the audio system is ready to roll and we might expect recordings of the
meetings to be placed online. I completely support this. I hope readers will
look out for these recordings to listen out for how their elected Councillors
speak. Is this the sort of thing YOU want to see? PM Questions on Wednesday
afternoons is understandable but this is our local Council.
In the past I’ve avoided naming and shaming but this sort of
thing needs to stop. It makes the Council look awful and if their residents saw
this they wouldn’t approve. It’s childish and wholly inappropriate. I’m talking
both about Conservatives and Labour here. Labour Councillor Peter Campbell of Central Harbour
Ward shouting at a Council Officer that the decision not to debate the motion on night flights during the July Full Council meeting was “corruption”
was way out of line. He had no right to make that claim and no evidence at all.
What sort of change can we expect? Well, a motion were passed
to set up a Members Working Group to work out how bad the issue of runaways is.
This is an issue I personally care about, so when I see duplication of roles or
functions, I don’t like it much. I want to see clarity, where the system is
streamlined enough for there to be efficient and quality input. I will definitely be blogging about this in
the future.
John Worrow got his wish with his proposed free half hour car
parking scheme. I don’t agree with this idea given how every High Street will
want their version of this and the budget is stretched enough. At least it
brought some light relief to Members who had been having an ideological battle
over the future budget and who was or was not to blame for it. Pretty much
everyone had a good laugh at Cllr Worrow, so at least there’s agreement on that
issue…
3 comments:
James I have tried to view the council meetings online in the past and they are very borring so I doubt I will try and view last nights one. The stupidity of members needs to stop they are there to represent their voters and if they the voters saw how they behave at times I am sure come rellection time thing would change. TDC has been historicly bad and I see no change on the horizon.
Where can you watch the meetings online?
Looking at the TDC Youtube Channel the last webcast was February's Full Council meeting. I know there was talk of bringing it back and reports were placed before the Council in relation to this. With Cllr Will Scobie taking the lead and with a Labour leadership we might see some movement on this one.
Sadly Don is all too right. Unfortunately its a cultural thing and will take some time to change. If naming and shaming helps to do that, then its all good.
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