TIME TO MEET THE STANDARDS?

As readers of the Isle's papers will remember, there were reports of what appeared to be extraordinary behaviour in a Margate shop last June on the part of The Leader of TDC Council and his Deputy Leader.

Readers will have to bear with me if this 'post' is rather long!

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A source rang me last evening and related an interesting tale. Yesterday he rang the TDC Standards Officer, a Miss Caffrey to make enquiries concerning when TDC Standards is going to deal with complaints arising from the extraordinary behaviour of ‘Mauwice’ and ‘Wodger’ in The Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Margate last June.

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Now, as a Thanet Council Tax payer, you might think it reasonable to expect Miss Caffrey to have had a clear simple answer as to how this matter has progressed as it is almost 9 months since this incident was reported in our local papers. Instead he got “Who are you? Why do you want to know? I will ask Miles Smith (interim Head of Legal Services at TDC)to ring you.”

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Suffice it to say that Miles did not ring. So what is all the secrecy about?

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Rumours in ‘Village Thanet’ for some months now, have been that this matter was to be dealt with soon and more specifically in early March. One date mentioned was Monday 16th March which is now less than 2 weeks away!

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It would seem that since May 2008 and after the Standards Board of England reported adversely on ‘Our Leader’s ‘F*****G T****R ‘ incident at The Winter Gardens, The Standard’s Board has stepped back with dealing with complaints except in exceptional circumstances and ‘Standards’ in Thanet are now the responsibility of TDC’s very own Standard’s Committee.

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This Thursday (5 Mar 2009), this Committee meets at 5.00pm in the Austen Room to discuss amongst other items ‘Agenda Item 8’ that is to do with ‘determining allegations that members have failed to comply with The Council’s Code of Conduct’ and is to be presented by Miles Smith, (Interim Head of Legal & Democratic Services ).

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It would seem that there are 4 stages to the process and different ‘sub-committees’ are involved. Let me try and explain the proposed process:

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Stage One. Assessment (Is there a case to answer?).

Stage Two. Review of Assessment (Appeal by complainant against Stage One decision to take no action).

Stage Three. Consideration of Investigation Report (Accepts investigation finding of no failure, or refers for full hearing).

Stage Four. Hearing (Where the investigation has found a failure to comply).

It would seem that Miles Smith is proposing that each ‘Stage’ is dealt with as follows:

Stage One. Standards Referral & Hearings Sub-Committee
Stage Two. Standards Appeals Sub-Committee
(Stage One and Two must be delegated to sub-committees as different members must
deal with assessment and review)
Stage Three. Full Standards Committee
Stage Four. Standards Referral & Hearings Sub-Committee

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Now, if you are not as confused as I am , it would seem that the Committee structures as currently shown, appear to be the same people!

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Here are the members of The Standards Committee and the Standards Referral & Hearings Sub Committee:

Mrs Jennifer Sterndale (Chairman)
Mr Robin Hills (Vice-Chairman)
Mrs Linda Frampton
Mr Brian Hinchley
Councillor Simon Day
Councillor Mrs Elizabeth Green
Councillor Thomas King
Councillor Richard R Nicholson
Councillor Michael J Roberts
Councillor Mike Taylor
Councillor Mrs Zita P Wiltshire
Parish Councillor Carol Ann Buchanan
Parish Councillor Dennis Neville
Parish Councillor Roy Wade

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I am sorry but they seem to be the same people despite this from Agenda Item 8:

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“The use of a new sub-committee with new members at Stage Four allows members to come to the Hearing stage with wholly fresh minds and overcomes the difficulty, that it could be said to be unfair, that members may have known of the allegations and investigation for some months, but first hear the case for the subject member only very late in the day. This would overcome some concerns that have been expressed that the use of members who have already had some involvement at Stage Four may be open to challenge. “.

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I am now rather confused.

Do I really believe that TDC is capable of handling a Standard’s Complaint effectively ? What stage are TDC at with the complaint about the behaviour of The Leader of TDC and his Deputy Leader in June 2008? Is it Stage 1, 2, 3 or 4? Do we not have a right to know as Council Tax-Payers and the Electorate?

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I leave you with this ‘ New Speak’ gem’ from Agenda Item 8 prepared by Mr Smith:

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“The review and development of The Council’s arrangements will increase accessibility and PUBLIC CONFIDENCE (my capitals).”

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Really?