SHADOW UPDATE 29/04/2010

Labour Shadow Team comments & questions for Thursday afternoon's TDC Cabinet meeting.

INTRODUCTION - Labour Group Leader - Cllr. Clive Hart.

Cllr Ezekiel's last cabinet meeting as leader was very brief, despite covering some very serious issues, especially regarding regeneration across our island. These included the situation in Margate concerning Dreamland, at Westwood concerning the Conservative's East Kent Opportunities project and in Ramsgate concerning the Marina. The CRB checks for District Councillors debate also rolls on with Cllr Ezekiel still apparently refusing to make them compulsory under his leadership.

Cllr. Clive Hart - Phone: 01843 298770

The meeting was moved to 5pm (2 hours earlier than usual) and this made it difficult for some members to attend.


AGENDA ITEM 6 - KENT SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD 2010 ANNUAL REVIEW & 2009 SECTION 11 AUDIT RESULT.

Cllr Clive Hart - Labour Group Leader.

With regards to the new objective at section 2a of the report which stated 'all members who wish to be are CRB checked', Cllr Hart said: "I welcome this new objective which we in the Labour Group at TDC have been arguing in favour of for several years now, though as it is still not compulsory, it certainly doesn't go far enough.

However, I would like to ask that all Labour Group members are contacted ASAP with an explanation of how they can apply to be CRB Checked, especially as it has been our groups wish for all our members to go through the process for some time now.

Conservative Cabinet Member Cllr Zita Wiltshire responded sternly, saying that any members who wished to be checked would have to pay for the check themselves. This was despite an earlier report from TDC that had clearly stated there would be no charge for local councillors and therefore no cost to the council.

Cllr. Clive Hart - Phone: 01843 298770


AGENDA ITEM 7 - QUARTERLY CORPORATE PERFORMANCE PACK.
Cllr Peter Campbell - Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.
Cllr Campbell pointed to the section in the report regarding 'Thanet's Economy' which said performance in one particular area was slightly low because TDC were awaiting input from the Port & Marina Working Party.
Having asked the question several times at different meetings over the past year, Cllr Campbell asked once more - just why the Port & Marina Working Party had not yet met? The working party could have started its business as long ago as last July.
Cllr Ezekiel said he shared Cllr Campbell's frustration and blamed the delay on the longwinded scrutiny process.
Cllr. Peter Campbell - Phone: 01843 585738

AGENDA ITEM 9 - EAST KENT OPPORTUNITIES.
Cllr Clive Hart - Labour Group Leader.

Discussing a report explaining why a loan of £95,000 had been given through the Leader & Deputy Leader of the Council to the joint TDC/KCC EKO venture under the urgency procedure, Cllr Hart warned that when local authorities act like land and property speculators they needed to be aware that they might suffer the same consequences as some less successful commercial speculators.

Cllr Latchford responded that - what was needed was jobs - a statement the Labour Group support entirely.

Due to the meeting process, opposition members could not respond to Cllr Latchford's comment, but after the meeting Cllr Hart said "our group most certainly agree that jobs have to be the priority for the business park. But why then are the ruling Conservative administration hell bent on changing the designation of the land so that 600 houses can be built"?

Cllr. Clive Hart - Phone: 01843 298770


AGENDA ITEM 11 - DREAMLAND MARGATE.

Cllr Clive Hart - Labour Group Leader.

Cllr Hart said that something most definitely needed to happen on the Dreamland site and that as the Heritage Theme Park was the 'deal on the table' his members would no doubt do all they possibly could to support the project.

However, he repeatedly warned of serious concerns regarding financial management in the report which he was not allowed detail in public at this point, as the matters were on pink paper and therefore confidential at present.

Cllr Hart said he would discuss the report with his group ASAP.
Cllr. Clive Hart - Phone: 01843 298770

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office - 44 Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 2RW.