Deputy Leader confirms 5 year Housing supply

Councillor Hardwick has confirmed in the Council Meeting this week that Council has deliverable site for 5 year housing supply.

I shall discuss the implication of this statement in the next few days.

Are we allowed to fulfill our Role as Councillors?

In respect of Councillors' role, the Constitution of East Staffordhire Borough Council states:

"To contribute actively to the formation and scrutiny of the authority’s policies, budget, strategies and service delivery....

To participate in the scrutiny or performance review of the services of the Council including the scrutiny of policies and the budget and their effectiveness to achieving the strategic objectives of the Council."

In the last Scrutiny Programme Board Meeting, I was told that I am only allowed to ask one question with one supplementary relevant to the answer for each agenda item.  You can't scrutinise performance of the Council by 1 question.

In the full Council meeting, I was denied my right to speak and participate in the debate.

The meetings are chaired by the Tories.

Under these unjustified restrictions it is not possible to meet the requirements of the Constitution and represent the ineterest of my constituents.

I think the Tories are giving me special treatment.  Is it fair or unfair though??

Shocking waste of Money - who can we blame?

The taxpayers of East Staffordshire have paid £246,000 for 2 Directors of the Council who worked for the Council for around 4 months.  The Council's response is published in Burton Mail titled "Council chief and leader hit back at payout critics".

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Council-chief-and-leader-hit-back-at-payout-critics-28092011.htm

Since when Leader of Opposition is running the Council and hiring and firing officers?

This is shocking waste of money under Tory administration.

The Council's argument sounds like...
You buy a very expensive Ferrari then scrap it soon after.  But you justify the loss by saying that it is cheaper option because running the Ferrari would have cost more than the purchase price over 20 years period. In the meantime you walk to everywhere. 
Lost the Ferrari and money; and enduring the suffering but it is a good decision because ultimately it will save money!!

Tory Councillor resigns

I heared a rumour Cllr David Brooks has resigned. I saw him on Monday and having seen his motion to the Council, I asked who was he trying to please.  Obviously I did not suspect and he did not indicate that he will be resigning.
However upon reflection it was strange to see Mr Brooks in Members' Room when all his Tory colleagues were in a meeting downstairs.  Was he excluded from the meeting?  Were they discussing his exit or strategy to stifle debate & gag Labour members in the Council meeting?
I have no confirmation of this news yet.  If this is correct then, as Councillors, why have we not received any communication from the Council?  
There is no press release on the Council website either!

Is this lack of communication due to budget cuts??

Rights, Fairness, Equality, Democracy and freedom of Speech??

As a Councillor of ESBC, I thought I had a right to participate in a debate like all other Councillors.
A day after the full Council meeting I still find myself asking the following questions after I was stopped from speaking in a debate.

Fairness - I thought we live in a fair society and as an elected representative I will enjoy a fair approach from my fellow Councillors and ESBC.  From my experience yesterday I am wondering why I have not been treated fairly.
Equality - We advocate fairness and equality.  Certainly I thought the principle of treating everyone equally was promoted by the ESBC.  All the other Tory speakers in last night's debate were allowed to speak and make comments, blame and criticise Labour Party.  Yet when it came to my turn, I was not even allowed to express my views, correct the record and respond to the comments/issues raised in the debate. I am left pondering why I did not receive equal treatment.
Democracy - The fundamental principle of democracy is "allowing people to express their views".  Last night I was not allowed to express my views and hence denied to represent my constituents.
Freedom of Speech is anyone's basic human right.  I feel that I was denied this basic right last night in the Council meeting.

I had a similar experience in another Council meeting (Scrutiny Programme Board) last week where I was prevented from asking searching questions and scrutinising the Council's performance.

Was I treated fairly, equally and democratically?

I leave it for the readers to make up their own mind.

Who knows the rules of the Council Meetings??

Today we had a situation where no one was clear about the rules for dealing with the motions at the Full Council meeting.  Motions at the Council is nothing new.  Why was the Mayor, CE and the Deputy Monitoring Officer so unclear about the rules?
In my 12 years at the Council I have not heard that making an amendment to a motion, which occurs commonly, is itself a motion i.e. to make an amendment you'll take a vote if an amendment should be allowed before the amendment is read out.  How strange??
Today was utter shambles.  What is clear that Full Council meetings should not be conducted in this manner and full debate should be allowed in the interest of democracy.
What happened afterwards when I stood up to speak was totally unbelieveable.  I shall post detail in separate blog. 

£15,500 relocation costs

This evening in full Council Meeting, I asked the Tory Leader why the Chief Executive has been paid over £15,500 relocation costs when he has been working for a few years before  being elevated to the CE post.  So it was essentially an internal appointment.
The answer I received was about recruitment process and suitability of the CE which was not my question.
Perhaps the Leader would clarify why this money has been paid?  I think public would want to know.

£245,000 for around 3 months work

Finally we know the Council has paid wacky £245,000 to employ 2 directors for around 3 months.
The Tories say they have saved money to the tax payer by cutting council tax by 2%.  Yes this saves around 3p per week for band A property.
But the Tories have cost residents of East Staffordshire £245,000.  No wonder they have not told us this figure despite numerous previous attempts.
Apparently this is good value for money!  I can't work it out.
Oh according to Tories somehow previous Labour Government is to blame for this blunder.  Can the Tories in ESBC explain how or will they own up to their mistakes?

What is going on at ESBC?

The Tories have responded to this article in the press in relation to litter picking in Anglesey.  The response is made using Council's website under the tiltle Council Hits Back Following 'Draconian' Claims.
I would like to address some of the points raised in the press release especially for the benefit of Cllr Jessell as she may not be aware of all the facts.
1.  McDonalds are not seeking help with street cleaning resources from the Borough Council to undertake litter picking. They merely want to co-ordinate time and specific area which is a litter hot spot.  Surely the Council should provide this information to a willing organisation.
2.  The McDonalds branch which has offered this litter pick is based in Centrum 100.  The Council staff has real problem with establishing contact with a local organisation.  I found out that it was taking weeks for the Council to obtain contact number.  So I did a google search and provided the branch phone number to the Council.  It took me a few minutes to find the number.
3.  I am amazed that according to press release this contact has still not been established.  The question Deputy Leader should be addresseing is:  Why is it so difficult to make contact with local firm?  Surely someone can pop into the McDonalds branch to speak with relevant person. 
4.  Councillor Jessel says "we are constantly looking for new opportunities to work flexibly with our partners, businesses, residents and community groups in the interests of the Borough. In this case it is a business-led initiative and we will endeavour to work with McDonalds."  Really??  Councillor Jessell please convince us!!  When did the council contact McDonalds?  How many times did the Council try to contact them?  Why is it taking nearly 2 months to establish contact and meaningful dialogue?

Councillor Jessel should be asking some pertinent questions of the officers and tell us all why after two months there is no firm date for litter pick event in Anglesey?

5.  Has Councillor Jessel asked any questions or feedback about this press release?

Finally Councillor Jessell is right cleanliness is an important factor how people feel about the borough.  Well, I can say residents in Anglesey are not too impressed with amount of litter in our Streets.