Manston Airport Closure

Any change at Manston must create sustainable jobs say Greens

Reacting to news that a consultation has begun on the closure of Manston Airport, Green Party Parliamentary Candidates for Thanet North and South Ed Targett and Ian Driver have said that any change of use must drive sustainable jobs for the area.

Thanet Green Party has been calling for years for alternative uses for Manston Airport to be considered with some urgency, being aware that a business haemorrhaging millions was unlikely to survive much longer.

 News that a consultation has begun on its possible closure is of little surprise to any close observer. As we said in 2012, news of new flights to Schiphol was no guarantee that the business would succeed and that the delight of Sir Roger Gale MP and Kent County Council at the deal should be put into perspective.

 Thanet North Green prospective parliamentary candidate Ed Targett said: "It is not nice to see jobs at risk. Even two years ago Manston owners Infratil were already looking at a change of use however in the hope that it would be easier to sell and the business has been on deeply shaky ground. We have long proposed that alternative uses be looked at for Manston, particularly for the possibility of it being converted to a major leisure facility, precisely to create employment and bring in visitors."

 "Those plans were derided as “pie in the sky” by Roger Gale, who asked: “Where would the money come from?”  Perhaps if he and others had not been so single-mindedly fixated on throwing public money at the airport in the hope it would prove to be the economic saviour of East Kent they could have considered the Green Party's suggestions. Meanwhile Gravesend won a £2 billion deal for a major leisure centre anticipated to create 27,000 jobs.

 “What now appears most likely” said  Green Councillor  and prospective parliamentary candidate  for  Thanet South, Ian Driver,  is yet another sprawling housing development  unaffordable for most local residents, with no long-term jobs created. We deeply oppose this prospect. Any Manston development should be aimed at creating jobs, boosting the region’s potential to attract visitors, pragmatic and forward-thinking."

 The coalition government as well as our local councils seem to have no notion of economic regeneration beyond building houses an anything in sight, from prime agricultural land to airports. The Green Party is the only party that has consistently challenged this, spotted the likely closure of the airport and looked at ambitious alternatives that could drive regeneration, bring investment and create sorely needed employment. We will continue to do so. If Manston closes, anything on the site should benefit the whole area, create sustainable local jobs and not just profits for property developers.

Green Party Condemns Resumption of Live Animal Exports from Ramsgate

Green Party Councillor and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate  for Thanet South, Ian Driver,  will be joining Thanet  animal welfare campaigners at a demonstration tomorrow (Monday 10 March)  to oppose the resumption of live animal exports from the Port of Ramsgate.

Demonstrators will be gathering at the port from about 8.15am. The export ferry is expected to berth at the port at 9am.

The resumption of the exports follows a 2 week  trial at Dover Magistrates Court a month ago at which export company Channel Livestock Ltd and its owner Thomas Lomas were fined £9,000 and forced to pay  costs of £10,000. for  breaches of animal welfare law. Lomas was also sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years for breaches of animal welfare rules (1).

The convictions resulted from a prosecution by Kent County Council trading Standards following the  destruction of 47 sheep at Ramsgate in 2012. It was decided by the court that many of the destroyed  animals had sustained injuries during the course of their transportation to Ramsgate.

Said Driver “I appalled that convicted criminals, with a record of animal cruelty offences, are able to continue to ply their vile and barbaric trade from Ramsgate. In view of court findings about injuries sustained by  sheep during  transport to Ramsgate I will be writing to George Eustice MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Farming, to ask that on arrival at the port of departure, all farm animals destined for export are individually checked to ensure that they have not sustained injuries during transport  and that they are fit to continue their journey. I will also be asking that such inspections are supervised by a qualified Vet. Currently portside  checks are made by unqualified staff employed by DEFRA Animal Health. Only 30% of animal transport vehicles are subject to the most rudimentary of insepctions”.

The owners of Ramsgate Port,  Thanet District Council,  were recently judged in the High Court  to have breached European Law (2) by banning the live animal exporters from using its facilities following the destruction of the 47 sheep in 2012. It is likely that the Council will have to pay compensation and costs approaching £1million for its ethically-motivated actions.

Said Driver “there is clearly a massive legal conflict between animal welfare law and EU trade regulations which mean that organisations such as Thanet Council are prevented from using discretion to halt animal cruelty  by the threat of  massive compensation claims from the exporters. I will be asking  Green MEP Keith Taylor to raise this issue in the European Parliament in order to develop a protocol will enable port owners to ban or suspend live animal exports from their facilities  when animal welfare breaches are found to have happened, or at ports which do not have the proper facilities to manage animal welfare emergencies . I am sickened by the spectacle of convicted animal welfare criminals  being  able to profit from this legal loophole”

Thanet Council Chief Executive Less Work, Same Pay

Green Party Councillor and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thanet South, Ian Driver, has condemned a decision to halve the responsibilities of Thanet Council’s Chief Executive, Sue McGonigal, yet allow her to keep her full pay of £109,000 plus a £5,000 car allowance, as a “perverse way to reward failure”.
McGonigal who was previously Thanet Council’s Head of Finance, was promoted to the post of Chief Executive in 2009 but continued to retain her treasury responsibilities.
In a report discussed at a meeting of Thanet Council on Thursday 27th February it was agreed to transfer McGonigal’s financial responsibilities to a newly created post of Director of Corporate Services, leaving her to concentrate exclusively on Chief Executive responsibilities.
The changes are thought to have resulted from criticism of her management of a secret deal with TransEuropa Ferries which allowed the struggling company to run up massive debts through a payment deferral agreement with the Council . 
In April 2013 TranEuropa Ferries went into liquidation owing the Council £3.4 million. 
In December 2013 the Council agreed to write off the debt and cover its loses from reserves and grants. 
An investigation of these events, following a whistleblowing complaint from Driver, conducted by the District Auditor criticised McGonigal for failing to inform leading councillors about the secret deal, failing to keep proper records and failing to take external expert advice on the deal (2).
Said Driver “This is the first time I have ever heard of someone having their work responsibilities cut in half but allowed to keep their full pay. It’s a scandal, especially when its borne in mind that its very likely her duties were changed because she had badly managed the TransEuropa Ferries affair. This appears to be a new and perverse version of rewarding someone for failure. 
Its shameful that the Council’s ruling Labour Group and Conservative opposition did not insist on cutting her pay in line with her reduced responsibilities. This decision will send out yet another negative message to Thanet taxpayers who are fed up with the never ending stories of incompetence and dodgy dealing emanating from the Council”.

Green Party Election Candidiate Supports Call for Ramsgate Seafront Masterplan

Green Party Councillor and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thanet South, Ian Driver, has lent his support to the call from current Thanet South MP, Laura Sandys, for the development of a Ramsgate  seafront masterplan.

“Following Thanet Council’s decision to  terminate  the failed  Pleasurama scheme which has blighted Ramsgate  for  more than a decade, the time is now  right  to begin consulting  with local people about how they would like to see their historic seafront developed” said Driver. “The ex-Pleasurama site offers huge potential for leisure based development  which could be linked with imaginative  plans for  the nearby Royal Pavilion, an iconic building which has been boarded up an allowed to rot for the past six years. The Council’s review of Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour and it’s adjacent Port whichall but closed following the collapse of TransEuropa Ferries last year, needs to be added to the mix, as does the development of the wartime tunnels which are set to  open this summer, the restoration of the old motor museum and the completion of a full high speed rail link to Ramsgate cutting journey time  to London to less than an hour”.

“I believe Ramsgate is  in the  unique position of having several linked development opportunities coming together at the same time. It’s a once in a generation opportunity, which if managed properly through joined up strategic planning, could make a massive impact on the fortunes of the town and Thanet as whole. This is too important a chance  to squandered for lack of a vision. I love Ramsgate and desperately want it to  re-invent itself and succeed, that’s why I am supporting Laura’s call for a seafront masterplan. I  want to work with her as Thanet South’s  MP to make things happen for Ramsgate”.

Green Party Kent's Councillors Available for Hire £99.99 A Go

During a week in which a poll revealed 46% of voters  believe  MPs are  “on the take” (1), the Kent Green Party has accused the county’s  councillors of  “pimping out their services and influence for £99.99 a go”.

This hard hitting allegation follows the adoption, by KCC, the 12 District and many of the county’s 314 Town and Parish Councils, of the so-called “Kent Code of Conduct for Members (2)”

The Code, which replaces rules set by the now defunct Standards Board for England, regulates the ethical behaviour of most of Kent’s 2,500(3) plus councillors. Amongst other things it allows them to accept gifts and hospitality up to the value of £100 without any need to make a declaration (4). This is a 400% increase on the Standards Board for England previous declaration limit of £25 for gifts and hospitality.

Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, who voted against Thanet Council’s decision to adopt the controversial gifts and hospitality rules said, “it’s  morally wrong for County, District, Town or Parish Councillors to accept  any form of payment or gift  from constituents, businesses, lobbyists,  or any other organisation. Permitting councillors to accept treats of up to £99.99 without any declaration  sends out all the wrong messages. It’s like saying  that Kent’s Councillors are free to pimp out their services and influence for £99.99 a go without anyone finding out. This ill-conceived Code is a charter for  corruption which reinforces the already widespread impression that most politicians have their snouts in the trough. It brings local government into serious disrepute”.

Driver’s views  are supported by the world’s leading anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International, which in a recent report,  “Corruption in UK Local Government: The Mounting Risks”,  said that  “Without transparency about gifts and hospitality, there can be no serious scrutiny of an important channel through which individuals or interest groups might seek to corruptly influence members (5)”.

Said Driver “I call on the County, District, Town and Parish Councils to review their Codes of Conduct and introduce changes which prohibit councillors from receiving any gifts or hospitality from constituents, lobbyists or any other organisations. I encourage the people of Kent to lobby their Councillors to put an end to this charter for corruption”

THANET GREENS - ENERGY COMPANY PROFITS IMMORLA IN FACE OF INCREASING WINTER DEATH RATES

Thanet Greens have blasted as “immoral” the massive 77% increase in the domestic profit rate of the Big Six energy companies (1) whilst excess winter deaths rose to 31,000 – a staggering 29% more than the previous year (2).

Thanet Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, said: “It’s immoral for energy companies to be increasing profit margins by such high rates when thousands of people across the country are needlessly dying each winter because they cannot afford to keep warm.

“Instead of talking about getting rid of the ‘green crap’, as Prime Minister David Cameron reportedly called fuel bill environmental levies, the Government should be rolling out a major programme of home insulation and energy efficiency focused on those most likely to be facing fuel poverty, or with medical conditions placing them at risk of  cold-related death. There must also be an independent public enquiry into the vast profits made by the energy companies and steps taken to ensure that a greater portion is re-invested in ensuring that fuel poverty and excess winter deaths become a thing of the past.”

Latest figures show that there were 630 excess winter deaths in Kent during the winter of 2011-12. The highest number of deaths was in Canterbury with 120, followed by Thanet with 90. The lowest rates were in Dartford, Dover, Gravesham and Maidstone, where 30 deaths per district were recorded (3).

According to Government research, 53,272 Kent households (an average of 9% of total households) are in fuel poverty (4). In some areas of Kent the number of households in poverty is much higher than the county average. In Canterbury, Thanet, Swale and Dover fuel poverty rates of between 17-22% are concentrated in some of the most deprived wards (5).

“With wages and benefits frozen or reducing in value, and energy price rises many times greater than inflation, thousands of Kent people will find themselves in fuel poverty with many having to make the choice between eating and heating,” said Green Party Thanet Councillor, Ian Driver.

Kent Greens - Almost 7,000 lose out in Bedroom Tax benefit cuts

6,921 households in Kent have had their housing benefits cut as a result of the Government’s bedroom tax according to figures released by the Department for  Work and Pensions (1).

The figures, which cover the period April until August 2013, are the first to identify how many households have lost housing benefit payments since the introduction of the bedroom tax in April 2013.

In August, the most recent period for which figures are available, 788 people living in Swale lost an average of £900 per year in housing benefit, making it the worst affected district in Kent.

The least badly affected district is Dartford, where 365 people have lost an average of £894 per year in benefits.

In Thanet 610 households have lost on average £770 per year in Housing Benefits.

An estimated £6 million will have been slashed from Kent’s housing benefit payments by the end of the first year of the bedroom tax. The average loss per Kent affected household has been calculated to be a staggering £868 per year.

Thanet Green Party Councillor Ian Driver said: “The bedroom tax is having a major impact on the most vulnerable and low-paid people in Kent. There are simply not enough smaller rented properties to move into, so people already living on a low income are being forced to cut back even further on essentials such as food, heating and clothing. This ill-conceived policy will force thousands of families in Kent into poverty.”

Evidence is now beginning to emerge that many households caught by the bedroom tax are falling into rent arrears. A survey carried out by the National Housing Federation estimates that more than 50% of housing association tenants who are affected by the bedroom tax have fallen behind with rent since the introduction of this policy (2).

The Green Party opposes the Bedroom Tax. It is unfair and targets some of the most vulnerable and deprived people in society. The Party calls upon Kent Councils not to evict anyone falling into rent arrears as a consequence of the bedroom tax. The Green Party, alongside many charities, disabled groups and trade unions is campaigning for the  immediate abolition of the bedroom tax. 

TransEuropa Debt Unrecoverbale

Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, is calling for an independent public enquiry into an “unrecoverable” debt of £3.4 million owed to Thanet Council by TransEuropa Ferries.

The debt, which is almost 20% of Thanet Council’s annual budget, results from a secret fees and charges  deferral arrangement between the Council and TransEuropa Ferries, which came to light in April of this year when the ferry company went bust owing more than £20 million to Ostend and Ramsgate ports, fuel supplier Oil Chart International, and several other creditors.

Earlier this week it was revealed in letter from the Information Commissioner, who is adjudicating on Driver’s request to see all of the secret documents relating to TransEuropa  deal, that Thanet Council  “will not be pursuing legal action to recover the outstanding debt”.

Said Driver “this astronomic loss of public money will ultimately have to be paid for by the people of Thanet through cuts in services and perhaps even Council Tax increases”.

Driver places the blame for the £3.4 loss on the shoulders of senior officers and the Council’s political leadership. He said “From what I have found out the arrangements with TransEuropa appear to have been appallingly mismanaged by senior officers.  There was no formal legal agreement with TransEuropa covering the payment deferral; there were no regular reviews or risk assessments of the arrangement; TransEuropa’s claims about new investors were not properly investigated and the Council failed to seek security on the growing debt mountain which meant that it has been unable to share in the proceeds of the creditor-forced-sale of the Gardenia and Larkspur ferries which is estimated to raise euros £1.5 million”.

 

“Worse still, the deal  with TransEuropa was a closely guarded secret restricted to a small group of  senior council officers and political bosses including ex-Tory Leader of the Council  Bob Bayford, the current Labour Leader Clive Hart and Cabinet finance chief Councillor Rick Everitt.  This secrecy meant that other elected councillors were prevented from scrutinizing and asking questions about the deal. This was an extremely serious subversion of democratic accountability.”

“This appalling mismanagement and secrecy goes right to the top of Thanet Council. No amount of internal reviews or working groups will get to the bottom of what went wrong, because powerful people will be desperately trying to cover their backsides. What we need is an independent   public enquiry into how the Council lost £3.4 million of taxpayer’s money. This enquiry should name and shame those responsible and hopefully they will do they honourable thing and resign”

Driver, who has been fighting for the release of secret documents about the TransEuropa deal, for 6 months has been advised by the Information Commissioner that they will be made available to him in December. The Council’s Auditor, who is investigating complaints submitted by Driver about the TransEuropa fee deferral agreement, has also said that he will be reporting back his findings in December. Two days ago Driver was prevented from filming and broadcasting  a meeting of a Thanet Council internal review group looking into the TransEuropa debt because of what he claims is a “growing paranoia about public exposure of the secrecy and mismanagement surrounding this sordid affair”.

One of the senior council officers involved in the TransEuropa affair, Head of Regulatory Services Harvey Patterson, is rumoured to be leaving Thanet Council in the New Year with a so-called gagging deal  preventing  him from speaking about his role in setting up and supervising the  TransEuropa arrangements. Said Driver, “I hope this rumour is untrue. It would be highly inappropriate for the Council’s Chief Executive to allow public money to be used to silence a key player in the TransEuropa scandal”.

Councillor Ian Driver Green Party – Statement Regarding Thanet Council Scrutiny Meeting on 19 November

On 19^th November I approached the Chair of the TransEuropa Task and Finish Group, Conservative Councillor Jo Gideon before the meeting had started to request that I be allowed to film the meeting.

I presented her with my credentials – a copy of a current UK Press Card issued by the National Union of Journalist. These credentials meet the requirements of Thanet Council’s new policy covering the filming of meetings which was agreed by the Council on 3 October (1)

Despite having the proper credentials Councillor Gideon ruled that I could not film the meeting. She also ruled that I be not allowed to speak at the meeting.

I was extremely surprised by Councillor Gideon’s response. Within the last week Thanet Conservative MP Laura Sandys had urged the Council to permit filming of meetings by the public. Just one day before the meeting of the Scrutiny TransEuropa Task and Finish Group, the Thanet Council Conservative Group issued a press release which stated that they “agree to the live streaming and public filming of council meetings”.

In the 24 hours which had elapsed since this statement was issued the Conservative Group had either changed its mind about filming of Council meetings, or Councillor Gideon had forgotten what her Party policy was on this matter.

Having been refused permission to film even though I met the Council’s filming criteria I decided to film the meeting secretly. Unfortunately I was discovered and was asked to leave the meeting. I politely refused to do so as my rights as a properly accredited person under the terms of Thanet Council’s Constitution had been abused by Councillor Gideon.

By refusing to leave the meeting I was following the advice I had been given by Brandon Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Communities and Local Government who in a letter to me said that “you should openly challenge your council to welcome those whowant to bring local news stories to a wider audience through, for example, filming and taking photographs”.

I am at a loss to understand why, whilst hundreds of Councils across the country are endorsing “digital democracy and welcoming the public filming their meetings, Thanet Council continues to adopt an old-fashioned, medieval approach.

Dartford District Council recently told me that it “welcomes the filming and relay of proceedings” which provides “huge benefits in better, and deeper, engagement between this local authority and the community it serves”.

Why can’t Thanet Council adopt such a positive and welcoming approach? Why do they have to insist on secrecy? What do they have to hide?

Notes

1.   Part 5 of Thanet Council’s Constitution, Filming of Council Meetings  sates that  

 

Requests to film Council Committee meetings will only be granted to accredited

media representatives. The definition of an accredited media organisation is as follows:

“a media organisation or individual that holds a National Press Card and is registered

with the Press Complaints Commission (or its successor) or a similar regulated body

with a code of conduct and associated complaints process through which the Council

could take recourse”.

2.   Filming at Council meeting the facts.

·        The Government has issued advice to all Councils advising them to allow the public to film meetings

·        The law will be changed in 2015 to force those Council’s not already doing so, to allow the public to film Council meetings.

·        Thanet and Swale Councils are the only 2 Councils (out of 13) in Kent not to allow the public to film meetings

·        The national leadership of the Conservative, Lib-Dem and Labour all support the filming of Council meetings but the leadership of the Thanet Conservative and Labour Parties

·        Anti-government corruption watchdog Transparency International endorsed the filming of Council meetings in its latest report on corruption in UK local government.

·        The Tax Payers Alliance supports the filming of Council meetings

·        2 members of the public have been thrown out of Thanet Council meetings in the past year and I have also be thrown out on one occasion

·        I am facing a costly investigation (estimated £6,000) for taking photographs of 2 councillors who were about to have a fight in contravention of old fashioned anti-filming rules

 

Thanet Council Agrees “Charter for Corruption”

Green Party Councillor Ian Driver has condemned Thanet District Council’s revised Planning Protocol as a “Charter for corruption in public office”.

The Protocol (1), approved by an overwhelming vote at a meeting last night (3 October), allows councillors to accept gifts and hospitality from planning applicants of more than £100, provided they are noted in the Register of Members Gifts and Hospitality which is not available for inspection by the public (2).

The £100 figure has been increased by a staggering 400% on the previous Protocol which was agreed just over a year ago in July 2012 which had a limit of £25(3).

Whilst allowing councillors to accept what many people might see as inducements or bribes to support and speak in favour of planning applications, the new Protocol prohibits council planning officers from accepting any gifts or hospitality whatsoever. 

Previously planning officers, like councillors, were allowed to accept gifts and hospitality provided anything worth more than £25 was declared (4)

Furthermore the new Protocol also includes further unjustifiable preferential treatment for Councillors involved in submitting planning applications.

For Council officers - if someone submits a planning application on their behalf or if a planning application in which the officer has a financial interest is submitted this must be declared and is then specially determined by the Planning Committee (5).

For a Councillor - if someone submits a planning application on behalf of a Councillor, or if a planning application in which a Councillor  has a financial  interest in is submitted it does not need to be declared and the application is processed in the normal was (6).

Said Driver “These new rules are outrageously corrupt. They legitimise the procurement of expensive gifts and hospitality from planning applicants and provide encouragement for councillors to pimp out planning permission in exchange for booze, meals, tickets to shows and costly gifts”.

“I am disappointed that the vast majority of councillors – both Labour and Tory – voted like pigs with their snouts in the trough – to approve these rules. The actions of these greedy politicians has brought the Council into disrepute.”

“I am also amazed that rules for council officers involved in planning were massively tightened up. But the rules for Councillors have been relaxed. Why is this? What can’t they be treated the same?

“In my opinion nobody, officer or councillor, should be allowed to accept any gifts or hospitality from people submitting planning applications, not even a cup of tea.  And planning applications submitted by councillors or officers should be treated in exactly the same way”.

“These news rules are disgraceful. They have damaged the Council’s reputation. The councillors who voted for these rules last night   have also behaved in a shameful and disgraceful way. They should be thrown out of office at the next election”

Kent Green Party – Nigel Farage Dangerously Ignorant

UKIP Leader, Nigel Farage, has been described by  Kent Green Party as “dangerously ignorant” following his comments about fracking made whilst visiting Dover and Deal. According to reports Farage described fracking as a “God given opportunity” and “gift horse” (1) for the people of Kent.

Green Party spokesperson, Councillor Ian Driver said “Evidence is mounting that shale and coal bed methane gas extraction methods are extremely damaging. They deplete and pollute ground water supplies, increase greenhouse gas levels, cause earth tremors and destroy natural habitats”.

“In Kent 75% of our water comes from underground aquifers already under stress because of years of over extraction and pollution (2). Yet the latest applications to Kent County Council for exploratory drilling for shale and coal bed methane gas are located right on top of the East Kent Stour aquifer which supplies water for half-a-million people in the Ashford, Canterbury  Dover, Deal, and Thanet areas”(3).

“For Farage to describe a threat to the water security of one third of Kent’s population as a God-given gift-horse, suggests that he is a dangerously ignorant person who is out of touch with growing public concerns”.

“Kent Green Party is opposed to fracking. Instead of depending on fossil fuels, we propose major investments in developing new renewable energy sources” (4).

We will work closely with campaign groups across Kent to stop damaging gas extraction.  This will include taking peaceful direct action like Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, who was recently arrested at the Balcombe anti-fracking protest.

Ends

248 words

FURTHER INFORMATION: Ian Driver, County Press Officer, Kent Green Party: Tel: 07866 588766.

Promoted by Stuart Jeffery for Kent Green Party, 82 Buckland Road, Maidstone ME16 0SD

KENT GREEN NEWS, free ezine, is available by subscription at www.kentgreenparty.org

KENT GREEN PARTY COUNCILLORS CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF WINTER OLYMPICS

Kent Green Party Councillors, Martin Whybrow and Ian Driver, added their voices to growing demands for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi (1), following the Russian government’s introduction of draconian anti-LGBT legislation earlier this year.

In a joint letter to Prime Minster David Cameron, they said Team GB’s participation in the Games “would lend credibility to a European country which has introduced an extremely dangerous piece of legislation, threatening the human rights of millions of its citizens”.

Said KCC Councillor Martin Whybrow: “Last summer Kent hosted 36 Olympic and 8 Paralympic training camps and thousands of people from the county volunteered as Game Makers.  These experiences mean that, as a community, Kent people understand more than most the unique inclusive spirit that makes the modern Olympic movement – a spirit which has no place for the bigotry demonstrated by the Russian government.”

Councillor Ian Driver added: “In 2011 I had the privilege of moving a motion which committed Thanet Council to the support of equal marriage. Thanks to David Cameron’s championing of this change, equal marriage is now lawful. For the government he leads to allow Team GB to compete in a country which has legalised the persecution of its LGBT citizens seems to me to be incompatible with our strong commitment as a nation to inclusivity and tolerance.”

Laura Sandys MP “Fracking Clueless”

Green Party Councillor Ian Driver, has accused Thanet South MP, Laura Sandys of being “fracking clueless”,  about plans to explore for shale gas in her constituency.

Said Driver “I contacted my MP Laura Sandys, on Tuesday 6^th August   to ask her opinion about  fracking. Because she is promoting a “Grand Green Isle” vision for Thanet, which I support,  I wanted to find out what she thought about plans for exploring for shale gas  in her constituency which might lead on to fracking”.

“Laura replied to me on Wednesday 7^th July saying there is no fracking in south thanet and no licence or application.  Two year ago there was an exploration bore hole which found no shale reserves in the area so no local issue at all”.

“ I was extremely surprised by her reply which  was both  dismissive and factually incorrect”.

“Coastal Oil and Gas Limited hold 4 current licences granted by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to explore for shale gas in Laura Sandy’s constituency (1) . Her claim about the bore hole is also wrong. Coastal Oil and Gas were granted planning permission by KCC in December 2011 to drill test bore holes to explore for gas at Woodnesborough. I have checked with KCC and the company has not yet commenced any drilling work (2)”.

“I am at a loss to understand how an MP who claims  to have green credentials and who supports a “Grand Green Thanet Isle”, can be so fracking clueless about what is happening in her own backyard, especially something as important as fracking which more and more people are  become concerned and worried about.”

“The Green Party is the only major UK poltical party to oppose fracking (3). We will be actively opposing and campaigning against  fracking in Laura Sandys Thanet South constituency and anywhere else that this dangerous and damaging method of gas extraction takes place”.

“We challenge  Laura Sandys to publically state where she stands on this issue. Her constituents, who are very likely to be effected by fracking, have a right to know”

Thanet Council £3.3million Ferry Debt. Councillor Challenges Accounts

Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, is challenging  Thanet District Council’s accounts for 2012-13

“Under the terms of the Audit Commission Act 1998, I will be  writing to the District Auditor and Council’s Chief Executive  to object to the Council’s management of the of the £3.3 million debt owed to the Council by Transeuropa Ferries and its associated companies”

“It is my belief that  the payment deferral agreement between Thanet Council,  TransEuropa Ferries and three other associated companies, which led to the running up of this astronomic debt, was unlawful. I also have extremely serious concerns about how the payment deferral process was managed by senior Council officers and politicians of both main parties. I am  particularly concerned about  the secrecy surrounding this agreement and possible breaches of the Council’s constitution”.

“I have met with the Council’s external auditors  today to ask questions about the accounts and to seek their guidance on how to formally object. I will be submitting my formal objections in the next few days and intend to publish a copy on my blogsite”.

“To formally challenge the Council’s accounts is an extremely serious matter which I am not taking lightly. However, I am convinced that Thanet Council  has acted unlawfully, has mis-managed public public money  and should be held to account for its actions”  

"Driver is  also complaining to the Information Commissioner about Thanet Council’s refusal to allow him  to see secret internal  documents relating to the TransEuropa debt. "For the past 10 weeks I have been asking  to see all the  Transeuropa debt documents. However, apart from minor and  insignificant documents,  the Council has refused my requests, which leads me to wonder what they have to hide.  I have now contacted the Information Commissioner and hope that he will order the Council to hand the documents over to me.  If he does, I will publish the documents and let the people of Thanet decide for themselves if their Council and Councillors have managed public money in a responsible way.

Thanet Council – “Gangster Style Lawbreakers and Rule Benders”.

Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, has accused Thanet District Council of behaving like “gangster style law breakers and rule benders”  in order to cover up a secret deal with Transeuropa Ferries (TEF) which has cost the council £3.3 million in unpaid bills which is unlikely to be recovered following TEFs liquidation in April.

Said Driver “over the past 8 weeks I have made 4 requests to see key documents about the secret deal with TEF. On each occasion my request has been rejected. My latest request under the Audit Commission Act 1998 to inspect the Council’s accounts and  documents related to the secret TEF debt deal has turned into a farce”.

“I  asked  to inspect and copy a large number of documents which will help me to establish the truth behind this secret £3.3million debt deal. However Sarah Martin, the Council’s Financial Services Manager, has told me that I will not be allowed to copy these documents”.

“Sarah Martin’s decision is unlawful. Section 15.1 of the Audit Commission Act allows anyone  inspecting the Council’s Accounts to take copies of any or all of the documents inspected. Furthermore the Audit Commission publication Council Accounts a Guide to your Rights (April 2012)  also makes it clear that I can copy the documents I have asked to inspect”.

“Most amazing of all advice published on Thanet Council’s website  says I have right to copy the documents I will inspecting yet Sarah Martin is now saying that even though the Council’s own guidance says I can take copies of the documents she won’t let me. This is unbelievable!”.

I can only assume that this “gangster style”  conspiracy of  lawbreaking and rule bending is deliberately aimed at frustrating my efforts to get to the truth behind the secret £3.3. million debt deal with TEF which will ultimately be paid for by Thanet Council tax-payers”.

In August Driver will be appealing to the Information Commissioner against the Council’s decision to withhold key TEF debt deal documents from him. If the Commissioner rules in Driver’s  favour he has promised to  publish the documents and “let the public of Thanet decide whether top  council officers and Labour and Conservative political bosses did the right thing by secretly allowing TEF to run up a debt of f £3.3 million which we will all have to pay for”.

Ends

For more information contact Ian Driver on 07866588766

Sarah Martin’s email to Ian Driver

Thank you for your e-mail and your attached request to inspect a number of the council's records relating to the Transeuropa debt.I am conscious that the Account and Audit Regulations give you the right to inspect, but not the right to make copies. I have therefore considered your request and have commented below on the information I can let you see in accordance with the regulations, but must stress that you will not be allowed to take copies of any of the documents provided for your inspection.

Section 15 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 E+W

(1)At each audit under this Act, other than an audit of accounts of a health service body, any persons interested may— (a)inspect the accounts to be audited and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts relating to them, and (b)make copies of all or any part of the accounts and those other documents

The Audit Commission Council Accounts A Guide to Your Rights

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/querying-council-accounts/council-accounts-a-guide-to-your-rights/

The law says you may inspect the accounts to be audited and all ‘books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts’ relating to them for that financial year. It also allows you to make copies of all, or any part, of the accounts and those other documents

Nobody should try to stop you from inspecting and copying documents, but you must also always act reasonably.

Thanet Council’s Guidance on copying documents

http://www.thanet.gov.uk/council__democracy/performance/financial_services.aspx

From 15 July 2013 to 9 August 2013 between 9.00 am and 4.30 pm each weekday any person may inspect the accounts of the Council for the year ended 31 March 2013 and certain related documents (comprising books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts) at the address given below.  They may also make copies of the accounts and documents.

Kent Green Party Opposes Closure of KCC Childrens Centres

Thanet Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver,  has condemned KCCs  plans to close 23 of Kent’s 97 Children's Centres and reduce the opening hours of another 13 including the Garlinge, Callis Grange and Birchington centres in Thanet who will have their opening times slashed by half.

Driver said  “Kents Children’s centres have played a vitally important support role for families across the county. They pioneered an integrated approach to service delivery, bringing together under one roof,  health, social care, advice and education which  helped our  youngsters  get off to the best possible start in life. To cut this vital  service on a such a massive scale will cause serious hardship for thousands of children and their families. If ever there was an ill-conceived  false economy this must it!.”

Driver added  "The Kent Green Party will be  campaigning against these cuts and Martin Whybrow  our Green Party KCC councillor for Hythe will doing all he can to stop the plans. We appeal to Kent people  to lobby their County Councillors to vote against the plan. We also encourage people to take part in  KCCs online consultation at

http://kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/childcare_and_early_education/childrens_centres/shaping_the_future_of_centres.aspx

and express their opposition to these plans

Thanet Council “Ferrygate” scandal. Cllrs demand Independent investigation

Thanet  Council “Ferrygate” scandal. Councillors demand Independent investigation.

A group of Green Party and Independent councillors have submitted a motion to the 11 July  meeting of Thanet District Council (TDC) , demanding  an independent investigation into how TDC struck a top-secret deal with, now insolvent,  Transeuropa Ferries (TEF) which allowed the company to run up “eye-watering” debts over a  5 year period.

TEF went into receivership in April owing TDC £3.4 million. The be-leagured Council is  now being forced to raid its reserves and under-spends to make good the massive hole in its 2013-13 budget.

Mover of the motion and Green Party Councillor said “this is the  worst example of local government financial mismanagement I have ever encountered.  A small group of very senior managers and politicians of both the Labour and Tory Parties, struck a  top-secret deal with a failing  ferry company. They  deliberately manipulated the Council’s constitution to hide the truth about this deal from the majority of elected Councillors and the public”.

“Top council bosses and politicians thought it was acceptable to recklessly  gamble with taxpayers money. The gamble totally failed and ultimately the voters of Thanet will have to pay for this ill-conceived plan through increases to their council and reductions I council services”.

“I have been trying over the past few weeks to find out more about what has happened byt the Council has refused to let me see the secret documents it is holding. There should now therefore be independent enquiry which will look at what has happened over the past 3 years and name and shame those people who are responsible for this disaster.

The meeting to discuss the motion will be taking place on 11^th July 7pm at Thanet Council offices Cecil Square

The motion to the Council reads

This Council agrees to establish an enquiry into how Transeuropa Ferries (TEF) was allowed to run up a debt estimated to be  £3.4 million to Thanet District Council.

This enquiry will review the legal, constitutional, accounting and ethical issues relating to the management this debt. It will report back on any inappropriate actions and make recommendations on how best to manage similar situations in the future.

Because the decision to extend credit and allow  TEF to run up debt was made at the highest  managerial and political level, this enquiry must be conducted by a suitably qualified person who is totally independent of the Council.

The results of this enquiry must be made public”.   

Thanet "Ferrygate" Scandal. Councillor Complains to Ombudsman

Green Party Thanet  District Councillor (TDC), Ian Driver, has submitted  a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman about  what he described as “an appalling case  of mismanagement at the highest officer  and political level”.

He claims that TDC’s Constitutional Rules were deliberately broken by top Council bosses and senior politicians of the Conservative and Labour parties to keep  an  agreement, allowing  troubled  ferry operator  Transeuropa (TEF) to defer fees and charges to the Council, secret from councillors and the public for more than 2 years.

TEF went bust in in April 2013 owing TDC an estimated £3.4 million in unpaid debts forcing the beleaguered Council to raid its reserves including £1 million from Housing Benefits reserves.

Driver also claims that TDC Financial Procedure Rules appear to have been broken by Council Bosses and that the truth about TEF’s escalating debt to the Council was deliberately withheld from the Council’s Governance and Audit Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Panel. He said “had these committees been informed about TEFs large  and growing debt, instead of finding out after the liquidation of the company when it was too late, then it is highly likely that action would have been taken to reduce risk to the Council. By keeping the debt a secret Council tax payers in Thanet are now likely to have to find in the region of £30 per household to top up TDCs depleted reserves to the recommended level.

“I hope that the Ombudsman will investigate this matter thoroughly and name and shame those people who thought it was a good idea to play fast and loose with public money. I also hope that certain senior politicians and officers give serious thought about their unconstitutional actions and resign”   

Driver is calling on  the Ombudsman to recommend that in future any debts to the Council of over £250,000 must be reported to all councillors preventing a  “secret deals”  culture from becoming established and encouraging  openness and transparency in the Council’s financial affairs.

 For more information on FerryGate scandal and other local issues visit Ian Driver's blogsite  http://thanetgreencouncillor.blogspot.co.uk/