PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Thanet is a big village in many ways and I am aware of much gossip around the towns concerning an incident at Rokka in Margate on their opening night on 15th December 2008 involving a man claiming to be a Councillor.

I think it is only right to publish ( with the consent of Margate's Mayor Elect, Councillor Ted Watt-Ruffell) a letter from Nicholas Pantelli to Cllr Watt-Ruffell dated the 17th April 2009 that clarifies the situation.
(To read the letter you may need to click on each page).

I have agreed to not publish any comments concerning this post.

TIME TO MAKE A MAYOR?

Sources have informed me that it is that time of year for Margate Charter Trustees ( Margate Ward Cllrs) to decide on who will be Margate's New Mayor for 2009/2010 to be a successor to George Yates Hunter who was elected as our first Mayor in 1857.

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Some may well feel that a Mayor is an anachronism in 2009, but I am all for retaining a bit of tradition and pomp and circumstance. For those who would like a little more information, please go and visit: www.margate.org.uk/index.php?page=home .

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Here is a lovely extract about the Mayor's role from that Margate Charter Trustees site:

"In reality however the Mayor is an ambassador for the town and undertakes hundreds of functions of public relations and of a charitable nature during a year in office. Today the same importance is attached to the election of Mayor as has been for hundreds of years, although the powers of the Town Mayors are more limited than of old. In the case of Margate, the former borough was created in 1857, when the first Mayor was elected."

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My sources tell me that Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell is in the frame for our next Mayor with his fellow Dane Park Ward Cllr, Michael Jarvis as his deputy. Forgive me for being suprised at this information but if my memory serves me well wasn't Cllr Watt-Ruffell the Labour Deputy Mayor that IOTG reported on a few years ago and had to stand -down? Is it the same Cllr that Labour would not allow to stand for them after 2003? Why was that? I assume that before Margate Charter Trustees take a vote they will have made enquiries into any candidate for the post? After all, should HM The Queen head this way, it is our Mayor who greets and welcomes her on the Margate boundary.

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This little snippet gives some idea of the status of our past Mayors:

"At one time a Mayor was, by virtue of his office, a Justice of the Peace and as such was required to take an Oath of Allegiance. This is no longer so but in many places this custom survives and such an Oath is still taken at Margate."
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My understanding is that at the moment, Conservative Cllrs effectively run Margate Charter Trustees, as our Labour Cllrs have boycotted meetings for some reason or another. So Watt-Ruffel could well be selected to be 'Our Ambassodor', as he is reputedly an Ezekiel 'man' and what with working for Cllr Broadhurst as his Chief of Security and with TDC a 'client', he has all the right connections as well as having been NTCA Chair! But heaven help us if that is Margate Charter Trustees ( Margate Conservative Cllrs) decision!

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The guy I feel doesn't have a chance at Deputy Mayor is Michael Jarvis, despite rumours to that effect. He seems to be a principled Cllr who as a Planning Member caused 'problems' with other principled Tories last year at a China Gateway Planning referral and incurred the 'wrath' of The Leader. I should imagine a 'safe' Ezekiel supporter will get the post.

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We wait and see what The Margate Charter Trustees decide. I suspect that whatever Cllr Ezekiel has in mind will be the outcome; after all his wife is the Mayor's PA and can keep him posted on what the future incumbent is up to.

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P.S. I have been reliably informed that TDC's 'Ghost' Councillor Broadhurst is back in town, so Watt-Ruffell has his other boss batting for him and perhaps for Ezekiel in the Conservative Leader election next week?

DISHONOURABLE AS TO BE DESPICABLE?

These words are a description of Gordon Brown from Simon Heffer's Column in Saturday's Telegraph and it struck me that they are apposite in regards to matters in Thanet as they are to the financial state of this country and the risible Budget forecasts and measures we heard on Wednesday.

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However, just like Gordon Brown who has lost all credibility, I am sure Cllr Ezekiel will similarly attempt to hang on to his position as 'Leader' at TDC despite what appears to be a serious attempt by more principled Conservative Council members to remove him. Rumours seem to point to a two week repertoire of threatening, bully-boy, cajoling behaviour and even 'crumbs' being offered to those of weaker character.

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I find it strange that the antics at Westminster by Brown have echoes in Thanet. Brown too close to Banking interests; Ezekiel too close to businessmen. Spin by Brown and spin by Ezekiel (via Cllr Moores) to show that the TDC senior officers got 0% payrises but failed to mention new banding meant more pay. (Consultancy bills for TDC would indicate that these new higher banded officers still need lots of expensive outside help.) Politicisation of the Civil Service and the disgraceful business of McBride and the politicisation of Council Officers in Thanet (how else can you describe Mr Bunnet's deposition to Standards?).

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All good Conservatives can list the slease, hypocrisy and crass stupidity of a Labour Central Government but why do our local Conservatives fail to see the same in Thanet? There is no Conservative Council Leader in the South-East who has ever been hauled before Standards and found to have breached acceptable conduct, let alone twice in 18 months on THREE counts.

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But what else can our Conservative Councillors consider?

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Carpet and flooring contracts with TDC by his business Northdown Carpets and even with a developer with a live application before TDC? Not criminal but inappropriate perhaps? A TDC expenses declaration of July 2008 that states that Chinamex organised and paid for a visit to China reference China Gateway when Mr Wills of CGP stated on BBC TV that CGP organised and paid for it with re-imbursement to come from Chinamex. Misleading? You bet. Even Mr Samuels received a CGP letter asking him and his 'colleagues' to submit to CGP any other out of pocket expenses for this trip to China.

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An acceptance of £12,500 sponsorship for The Big Event 2008 from CGP whilst its application was before his own Council's Planning Dept? An attempt to get Thanet Conservatives to accept £25,000 from Mr Wills as a political donation with an application pending? Fortunately Roger Gale shot this foolishness down quickly despite Dr Steve Ladyman accepting a similar amount for Thanet South Labour. Cllr Broadhurst's (Con) Security business has the TDC Security contract? The chief security officer for this business is Cllr Watt-Ruffell (Con but very much ex-Labour)? Nothing illegal but all very much in-house.

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Projects with TC and Old Town get funding but museums can be closed and Northdown House flogged off? A Dreamland site decision that flies in face of Planning Inspectors advice and benefits a property company by doubling the value of its holding but ends up with the site remaining derelict as the Planning Inspector forecasted. Again , nothing illegal or criminal but for many highly worrying. The decline of Margate in particular and Thanet in general has ocurred in the 'boom' years with our 'carpet fitter' at the helm since 2003. What a sad record.

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Could I draw your attention to an article in The Evening Standard of Tuesday 21st April by the former editor of New Statesman, John Kampfner. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23679151-details/Darlings+all+boxed+in++and+his+partys+lust+for+power+is+to+blame/article.do

Here is a little extract; if you insert Thanet and Ezekiel instead of Westminster and Labour you can see the parallels I have tried to make.

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"Since 1997, their every working day has been based around the task of prolonging their term of office. It is what drives them all when they wake up in the morning. It fills in the hollow. Sure, we can all point to various changes for the better, but as a check list for 12 years of virtually untrammelled power, it is deeply disappointing. And they know it. Their anger is not manufactured; it is deeply ingrained and directed at anyone who criticises them. I would suspect - although psychologists would have a better understanding than I - that deep down it is directed at themselves.What is so frustrating is that those few MPs, and the odd minister, who do have strong principles and deep ambitions to change Britain felt forced to hide them. They began to look and sound like automatons in order to avoid ritual humiliation at the hands of the Prime Minister's henchmen for speaking out of turn."

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How ironic that this is a left wing journalist of impeccable Labour credentials who outlines for us all, with a TDC led by Ezekiel, the price we pay because of those who lack principles.

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SHOULD PRESIDENT BUSH BE PROSECUTED IN THE US?

I have just finished reading 'The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder' by Vincent Bugliosi, a US lawyer who prosecuted Charles Manson. It seems a cogent case for the indictment and prosecution of this man and raises some interesting issues concerning Blair and the way this country joined the US in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

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For those who might not be upto flying speed on the use of torture approved by the Bush regime, let me elaborate. The US felt that it was perfectly acceptable to 'waterboard'; use a confinement box; 'wall' and deprive suspects of sleep.

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'Waterboarding' is effectively taking the victim to the point of drowning; the confinement box was essentially a coffin' with the belief that a poisonous insect was enclosed in it; 'walling ' was slamming a suspect into a wall; 'sleep deprivation' involved not allowing a suspect to sleep for 48 hrs to 180 hrs (upto 7 days) by shackling in a standing position and keeping him awake.

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There is an aspect of obscenity in seeing Mrs Clinton concerned about how Iran has dealt with a US citizen who has been found guilty of spying: how would the USA have treated an Iranian in similar circumstances? Equally hypocritical was the recent 'walk-out' by Western Diplomats from a UN conference when The President of Iran was addressing the Conference and criticising Israeli 'racism' in its illegal occupation of Palestinian land and its recent actions in Gaza.

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The hypocrisy and cant that has emanated from the US to these shores, should worry us all as St George's Day comes to an end. Not only has this Labour administration undermined our constitution but it has undermined basic English concepts of honesty, truth, integrity, decency and right. This undermining of core values has seeped its pernicious way into our policing of quite restrained demonstrations and even own governance in Thanet by a TDC led by those who seem to lack any integrity.

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If I seem a little vehement this evening please forgive me. In the early 1960's I read avidly the accounts of the SOE and the heroism of those who survived long periods of interrogation and torture by the Gestapo and subsequent incarceration in Ravensbruch or Buchenwald.

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It suddenly dawned on me where I had first learned of 'waterboarding'. This was a favourite technique of torture used by the Gestapo. The heroic SOE members subjected to this treatment described the panic induced by the body as breathing pulls water into the lungs instead of air. To discover that since 2002, the US employed this very same technique no less than 183 times on just one suspect is frightening.

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How did we lose our way?

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Maybe, just maybe, we might see an American DA, file a suit against George W Bush but will we in the UK ever get to know about Blair/Brown and their connivance with the USA and its inhumane actions?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EUROFERRIES AND LD LINES

This is a picture of the Incat 066 wave piercing catamaran that will start the fast catamaran service between Dover and Boulogne on 29 May 2009. Its big; 112m long and 11,000 tonnes. Its fast; 40 knots and a 1 hr trip. Its spacious; 567m of freight vehicles and 195 cars or 417 cars with 1200 passengers.

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LD Lines have sorted all the ro-ro gear at both ports and are already advertising bookings for 4 return crossings per day with sailings from Dover at 0415, 0745, 1230 and 1900.

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How sad that the best that Euroferries could come up with was a poor web-site; no hard information; promises of a small Fred Olsen catamaran that ran aground in December; no berthing facilities in Ramsgate or Boulogne and what appears to be a waste of everyone's time.

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We in Thanet and perhaps 'Wodger', Dr Steve Ladyman and our local press should be far more circumspect and careful when dealing with or reporting on firms who offer much when even the most cursory investigation into them shows little of substance.

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It seems I am reminded constantly of 'The Emperor's New Clothes'

CONSERVATIVE GROUP MEETINGS

What interesting times we live in. If you are wondering why I have a picture of Summit Aviation's new building, all will be clear in a moment. Whilst I think this is an excellent building and credit must go to Ken Wills for the investment and job-creation opportunities this building provides, one needs to remember that CGP (Ken Wills) is in negotiation with TDC/KCC concerning purchase of their land at Manston Business Park and presumably has further planning applications re China Gateway to submit to TDC.

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The story, as far as Bertie has managed to ascertain , is that our Conservative Councillors were due to meet tomorrow to elect its Leader for the next 12 months but that this has now been postponed until Wednesday 6 May. What was interesting to hear was that some idiot proposed that they meet at Summit's new building at Manston on the original date (Wed 22 April) to hold the Group Meeting! Wiser heads would have appeared to have over-ruled this very stupid idea and tomorrow's meeting and that of 6th May will be held elsewhere. What 'plonker' thought that this would be a good idea? Sounds like the same idiot who accepted a £25,000 sponsorship of The Big Event last year from a developer with a live application before TDC.

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Whilst I have picked up rumblings of Conservative discontent concerning 'OurLeader' and his three failures in 18 months to conduct himself properly and bringing his office into disrepute, I have yet to hear of a serious rethink about replacing him. In all the years that TDC has had a Conservative Leader, not one has ever been hauled before Standards, let alone twice, until now. It is now time for some-one with ability and high standards to step forward.

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My understanding is that our Conservative Councillors have until Friday to find the courage and integrity to put up alternative candidates for Leader. A casual observer has reported seeing 'Our Leader' at a recent gathering thrusting nomination papers in front of startled Councillors with the intention of ascertaining 'are you for me or agin me'. Is it a real possibility that he at least is worried? His failure to to the decent thing after the last Standards adverse findings and resign, clearly indicates he lacks the qualities normally expected of a Conservative Leader of TDC.

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Perhaps readers need to get on to their own Conservative Councillors and let them know exactly how they feel about the Conservatives being led by the current Leader? I have certainly done so. What really worries me is the talk I am hearing about 2011. Can it really be the case that Cllr Nicholson regards the present Conservative Leader as his best electoral asset in 2011?

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There are die-hard Tory voters talking openly about standing as 'Independent Conservatives' in 2011 in specific wards in order to split the Conservative vote and thus allow a Labour Candidate to get the ward. I would urge our Conservative Councillors to think long and hard about the damage that has been done already to the Conservative Party in Thanet by the present Leadership and ask themselves if they really want this to continue for another year? The rumblings over in Ramsgate about an elected TDC Mayor rather than the present set up is a clear reaction to the way TDC is being run by its present Leader.

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It really is time for a change for the better.

BACK IN THANET

R & R was most enjoyable and weather from Easter Sunday onwards was excellent for the time of year.

It was sad to see how quiet Margate was yesterday as I returned home via Marine Terrace, compared to Keswick. Keswick has been packed with visitors from home and abroad for the past two weeks. Its closed Woolworths is already thriving with new tenants doing a brisk trade and as for 'recession', this Easter holiday has exceeded last year, according to local businesses.

I was delighted to see that Northdown House hasn't burned down yet and that the only arson seems to have ocurred in Ramsgate. I am still interested in when TDC is going to get back our £45,000 for fencing around 'The Scenic Railway' and insist on repairs or compulsory purchase 12 months on from last year's April bonfire and TDC's fine words on strong action.

Good to see the Adscene has further info about Thor and decontamination work that will take at least 10 years to complete.

Also pleased to see that CGP is putting KCC/TDC in its dubious EKO LLP partnership on the spot in regard to China Gateway. I will comment in detail about this in due course.

I was very glad to find that TDC's Conservatives are seriously considering the future with or without their present leadership and that 'crunch' time has been delayed until 6th May. An extra two weeks to weigh up the situation is good news and I hope that the decisions taken in due course will enable the Conservative members to go forward as a united and re-invigorated group under reputable Leadership.

BERTIE'S OFF FOR SOME R&R

It's time for me to pack the rucksac and dig out the boots. Bertie's off for some R&R in the Lake District.

Readers will not get any twitter stuff or long-distant blogging (technically incompetent) and if all is well, I should be back after the 'Easter Hols.'

Last year, as I was taking this pic of Fleetwith Pike from the north end of Buttermere, Cllr Watt-Ruffle and his security team fell down on the job and the Scenic Railway was torched. Well 12 months later, despite the huff and puff from TDC, it is still not re-built and tax-payers have a £43,000 bill to foot for some fencing that is unlikely to be collected. (Didn't a £64,000 bill get written off a few years ago on a property in Ramsgate?).

Well, whilst the Hilton's try and flog Bleak House off and TDC accept that they are in a legal bind over Northdown House, Bertie might be freezing his butt on some Lakeland Fell and perhaps think that sangria, sun and sand is a better way of holidaying.

Be back, I hope, in two weeks .

THANET'S NINE

‘ASBOs send a message to those who make lives a misery in Thanet.’ was the strident by-line from the Thanet Times yesterday about ‘The Newington Nine’.
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Thanet Strife would like to report about another ‘Nine’ in Thanet who might be of interest to the community who it is alleged have been causing disgrace, annoyance, alarm and despondency in different directions around The Isle and have had ASBUs served on them. They are (from left to right):

‘Diary’ Clark who should have kept a lock on his diary; ‘Wannabee’ Worrow who will do whatever it takes to become a Conservative TDC member; ‘Ware’s Fannit?’ Broadhurst, a mysterious figure who is rarely seen; ‘Bin Lady’ Green who upsets some people on his ‘Blog’; ‘Money ‘ Wise, who has talent but will not take charge of the ‘Gang’; ‘Thick Pile’ Sandy who can’t keep his mouth shut when he should; ‘Salar The Salmon’ Wodger who has passed his sell-by date; ‘Join my Road Gang’ Zita; ‘Millionaire Dickie’, (how did he slip in there?), whom the rest would love to know who he really is.
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Acting Sergeant Pip Squeek, working with Thanet Community Safety Partnership said ,
“Thanet Strife, in publicising this story, reinforces the message that Toy Town Police will support the community to reduce and combat such odd behaviour."
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Acting Inspector Pete Plod said: “It just isn’t good enough. We need to send out a clear message to this minority that we, as a community, will not tolerate such odd behaviour like this”.

Really?