Independent Councillor Ian Driver declared that “it’s time
to call an end to Thanet Council’s culture of yah-boo playground politics and
start doing government for grown-ups”.
His statement follows a Thanet Council meeting in December
2012 when a series of controversial votes were tied 28-28 and important
decisions made on the casting ballot of Council Chairman.
Said Driver “it’s becoming clear that no single party can
control Thanet Council and that stable governance is less and less likely. This
is the last thing the people of Thanet need – a divided and feuding Council –
at a time when the budget and services are under attack, at a time when we need
to be regenerating the local economy and creating new jobs, and at a time when
we have a major social housing crisis to deal with in Thanet.”
I publicly call on the leaders of the 2 major parties to
meet with the Independent Group of Councillors to talk about establishing a
coalition cabinet at Thanet which will run the Council in the interests of
local people rather than for party political advantage. I also challenge the
Leaders of the big parties to relax the party whip system and let councillors
vote on the basis of their own views and opinions rather than rigid party lines
which often oppose the public interest”.
“They say the New Year is a time to change and do things
differently well here’s a unique opportunity for Thanet’s politicians to push
party lines and dogma to one side and try to work together in coalition for the
common good of local people”
