In a
cynical act of political arrogance, the minority Labour administration, with
the help of two members of the Thanet Independent Group and the casting vote of
the Labour Chairman of Council, have blocked vital debate on the Royal Sands
(Pleasurama)development site.
Conservative
Group leader, Cllr Bob Bayford, said after last Thursday’s vote: “Despite the
public interest in this issue, particularly in Ramsgate, and the fact that
millions of pounds of public money is at stake, the minority Labour
administration has suppressed any debate on Royal Sands. As always, the so called Thanet
‘Independents’, Cllrs Jack Cohen and John Worrow voted with the Labour Group to
prop up its secretive and undemocratic approach to running this Council.”
“Then the
final coup de grace was delivered by Council’s ineffectual and biased Labour
Chairman, Cllr Doug Clark who put party before public and used his casting vote
to block debate.
“Since the Chairman clearly failed to uphold the Council
Constitution’s central principles of fairness and public interest, the
Conservative Group is calling for his immediate resignation.
“This is
yet another bad day for democracy in Thanet under this minority Labour
administration.”
*The Council’s Constitution states in Article 5 that the Chairman
of the Council must:
Para 2: ‘preside over meetings of the
Council so that its business can be carried out…with regards to the …interests
of the community.’
Para 3: ‘ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate
of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which members who
are not on the Cabinet or hold Committee Chairs are able to hold the Cabinet
and Committee Chairmen to account.’
Para 5: ‘be the conscience of the Council.’
Its a lie that Jack and John always vote the same way - public records proves this.
ReplyDeleteIt makes you wonder what else Thanet Cons are telling lies about?
The Thanet brand of Tories were in power for most of the Royal Sands years -Watch it come back and bite them... they know about back room deals!
DeleteHow did the new idependents, Ken Gregory and Sandy Ezekiel vote? They have positive and virtuous attributes are would do the right thing!
ReplyDeleteKen Gregory and Sandy Ezekiel prop up Thanet Cons, they share the same positive and virtuous attributes
ReplyDeleteAs I've said before, Labour only has 26 of the 56 seats, therefore the Chairman's vote wouldn't have been necessary if the Opposition had united support. To repeat from what Ive said earlier this year, its a numbers game.
ReplyDeleteThe pre-debate motion is the proposer and seconder to speak then vote on whether to debate. It isnt for debate which is supposed to be after this vote. For example, the Equal Marriage transcript from April shows this, when Fenner was blocked from making a speech because it wasn't a debate at that time.
There is no obligation on the Chair to vote for or against a debate, as per Council rules, the casting vote is for the Chair with "no restriction". That it may conflicts with another part of the Constitution is a separate matter. He's allowed to use it whichever way he wishes.
Paragraph 3 seems to be of two parts, firstly that it be a forum and secondly for the holding to account by Members. It is the place for debate, should Council decide to debate and as for the second part, Members have an opportunity each Full Council meeting to ask questions, thus holding to account.
Would you kindly clarify your view here Mr Maskell. Which I read as being sour grapes on the part of Cllr Driver and The Conservative group for not getting their own way, by calling for the Chairman Cllr Doug Clark to resign?
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be saying that there will be other occasions for holding cabinet to account, and that no-one should panic unduly over the issue of the Pleasurama Freehold slipping out of public hands without debate?
Agreed Anon. Mr Maskell apears to be advocating an after-the-event scrutinty rather than councillors pro-actively discussing important decisions like selling off valuable land before it is agreed to sell or not. Mr Maskell's aproach is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.
ReplyDeleteThee problem we now face is that Labour in Cabinet, while advocating "Transparency" "diversity" and "inclusion" actively stifles debate. At the last Cabinet meeting where the Royal Sands decision was to be discussed in camera, Clive Hart refused to allow questions on this very important subject and the Conservative Cabinet team, of which I'm a member, walked-out in protest.
ReplyDeleteWhat does that tell you I wonder?
Simon is right. The Conservatives in Thanet like "Transparency" especially when it comes to their views on "Diversity" - thats why one of their number phoned the council's diversity champion to tell him to die of aids.
DeleteAnd they are even transparent regarding their plans to let him rejoin them, despite the fact he has not shown any remorse. Now that is what I call "inclusion" Nick Griffin must really admire them!
What does that tell you I wonder?
The Thanet brand of Tories were in power for most of the Royal Sands years -Watch it come back and bite them
DeleteAnd just to emphasise the point, Anon 15:18, you find it neccessary to repeat yourself in another place in this exchange. Don't worry for however much you try you cannot change the fact that Labour chose this bunch of uncheckable cowboys in the first place and what about the sieable donation to party funds?
DeleteI'm in agreement with Simon. there is a very serious governance issue at stake here
ReplyDeleteIt is a fact that Worrow and Cohen ALWAYS vote with Labour as they have to in order to retain the lucrative appointments they have been given. Labour Group will only remain in power as long as the "Gang of three" ,Cohen, Worrow and Driver support them. A truly sad day for Thanet.
ReplyDeleteOne telephone call will confirm that Mr Worrow and Mr Cohen DO NOT always vote with Labour
ReplyDeleteHowever, the independent councillors that have been cautioned or charged by the police always vote with the conservatives. Maybe they should start their own group and call it 'Independent Cons'
Mrs T can be their driver
Why not make the call and post the result?
Deleteintersting that the rabid Tory haters can't address the actual issue
Delete