Wednesday 22 February 2012

Questions and Allowances

Full Council comes about again and so the preview show does too (Simon Moores has already gotten his in). I can't be at this meeting, so if anyone going to the meeting could let me know what the results were, it would be useful, not to mention far quicker than me waiting for the Minutes to come through on the TDC website.

Questions from Members usually has a couple of items then moving on but this time round we have 8. Its a strange batch on offer including the weighting of the Manston consultation, the economic strategy, selective licensing and seaweed removal in Birchington. I'm sure there will be some press releases to come from this so keep an eye out for new stuff on Thanet Press Releases


Yep, Worrow has a question as well, though I'm still unsure what exactly the point is driving at. Can a telephone system be in breach of equality rules? He had a more combative point to make 4 days ago but deleted it from his "Thanet Diversity Network - Progressive District Action" page along with reasonable comments by me and another blogger.

Some post-Budget bits to debate, then onto an item with some spice. This is the Labour proposal to cut Special Responsibility Allowances by 20% to fund Councillor Grants. Each Councillor would have about £364. There need to be very carefully put together rules here if this is to happen. 


Kick off 7pm Thursday evening. 



14 comments:

Anonymous said...

What did he say a few days ago then?

James Maskell said...

"Thanet's Omniscient Shadow Cabinet Member, Simon Moores, thinks that equality issues are not a priority in times of austerity. The fact is, times like this can potentially create the most fertile ground for extremism."

Unknown said...

James, I have written that there is enough diversity and equality legislation around to sink the Titanic without John Worrow climbing on to a personal and somewhat eccentric bandwaggon. One might think that you hadn't read some of his more excitable and bizarre comments on the subject before he deleted them!?

Tim Clark said...

I've just tried to find his Facebook page but it doesn't appear to exist.

James Maskell said...

The Thanet Diversity page is still there. You aren't missing a lot.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thanet-Diversity-Network-Progressive-District-Action/115888208533068

Tim Clark said...

I found that when I Googled him but when I tried the Thanet Diversity etc as a search within Facebook it came back with zero results.
You're quite right though; I really can't be bothered. He has a little over three years to go before he becomes a complete non-entity again; that's assuming that we don't get another change of ruling colour in the meantime.

Anonymous said...

There is adequate legislative cover - thanks to the last (Labour) Administration - but there is still a lot of education and awareness work to be done. Laws are not followed and implemented just because they are there. That is why diversity remains on the agenda. Of course, for the bigots in the community, the worthwhile nature of the work will always be challenged and made fun of.

Anonymous said...

I'm very curious to know what John Worrow thinks of Mike's comment. Surely he should tell us when we ask, now that this sort of thing is part of the job he's paid to do?

Anonymous said...

Do you know for sure that he is paid an additional allowance to act as the Diversity Champion?

Anonymous said...

Whatever, it's still PART of his PAID job!

Anonymous said...

No, his allowance is for his basic duties as a Councillor. The same amount is paid to all Councillors for their Ward etc duties. If they have lead, chair or Cabinet roles, they get an extra allowance. You only have a point if he gets such an additional allowance for his role as Diversity Champion.

Anonymous said...

Oh that makes it perfectly alright then. He doesn't have to bother answering questions to the people who voted for him.

James Maskell said...

This shows how much of a non-job it is. I will address this issue properly but Im waiting for the webcast of the Full Council meeting (a week???) and once Ive watched it Ill do a blog. I really dont understand this delay in publishing it. Theres no way it should take this long.

Anonymous said...

Anon, my point to you was only to correct your suggestion that Worrow is paid specifically to act as the Diversity Champion. I am not sure that he is. I agree with you that all councillors should actively demonstrate their accountability to those who elect them. Sadly few seem prepared to do so.