I am very disappointed that our Labour Leader at TDC issued a press release today explaining why he would not attend the Margate Charter Trustees meeting earlier tonight. ( I show it in full below.)
The Charter Trustees meeting was held between 17.30 and 18.30 and he could have attended, together with other Labour Charter Trustees before The Planning Committee Meeting that started at 7.30pm. He chose not to do so. It is my understanding that decisions were taken by The Charter Trustees tonight to confirm a new Mayor and Deputy and to propose they should be accepted as Mayor and Deputy until May 2011. A press release will be shortly released by Mrs Ezekiel which I hope will send out a clear signal that the priority is now to put the recent past behind and re-build the damage that has ocurred to The Mayoralty and show that The Charter Trustees are not a 'political' set-up but rather, all Margate Borough Cllrs, working together for the benefit of the town.
My message tonight is really addressed to Cllr Hart. He needs to move on from the past now. He is The Leader of The Labour Group and needs to start being a 'Leader'. What's done is done. He was fully exonerated by Standards Board of England in respect of Cllr Ezelkiel's apalling behaviour at The Winter gardens in 2007 and the sordid 'counter complaints' issue. Now is the time for him to lead the Labour Margate Charter Trustees back into the Mayor's Parlour and to get involved fully with The Charter Trustees. He needs to do this for the benefit of his Party, the integrity of The Mayoralty and for the benefit of the people he represents. If he continues to 'boycott' and encourage his members to do so, he will only perpetuate the rift that has arisen and will lose respect. He needs to realise that his continued obsession with the past , only gives ammunition for those in The Ezekiel Party, to criticise him. He should be shaping and influencing the contribution The Charter Trustees make and not leave it to a 'Beanie' wearing Charter Trustee whose credibility as Leader of TDC has been ruined by two Standards raps to influence and control.
Let us remind ourselves that the choice of Mayor last year that has led to to the present disgrace of The Mayoralty lies at 'Two Hats' door. TIme is long overdue, Cllr Hart, to lead your Party back in.
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Dear Charter Trustees
I'm afraid I can't make tonight's meeting - I have an important TDC Planning Committee to prepare for and then attend.
However, I understand Margate Charter Trustees are in 'something of a pickle' following recent developments. I would argue strongly that what has happened recently is only the latest in a long line of appalling events that I have consistantly warned you all of, time and time again.
All was reasonably OK at the Margate Charter Trustees until my good friend and colleague Cllr. Doug Clark was democratically chosen as Mayor by the members. Despite winning the vote at the Mayor's request meeting and receiving well deserved praise, from the moment he was elected, some of those who didn't really agree with the majority decision made his year as Mayor an absolute misery for him presonally. Doug being the absolute gentleman he is, tried extremely hard to ignore the vendetta against him but all of us witnessed the seriously detramental effect it had on his health (at one point even collapsing at full council). Indeed, the nasty and spiteful vendetta has continued to this very day and consequently Doug has sadly not fully recovered even now.
I further warned Trustees not to go ahead with a 'Kangaroo court' where the vendetta mentioned was taken to new heights of absurdity, but the vendetta continued and the 'Kangaroo court' went ahead confirming my worst concerns about the organisation and selfish, nasty, motives of several Trustees.
Fact is, though I regularly attend civic events, dress smartly and respectfully and behave decently and respectfully, I'm afraid I cannot say that all other Trustees have always done the same. I have witnessed a Trustee, in full robes, so 'leglessly intoxicated' that they were hardly able to stand.
I stopped attending your formal (and I must say - over-secretive) meetings after I was personally and disgustingly verbally abused, goaded and threatened at one of the Charter Trustees own civic events at the Winter Gardens a couple of years ago. The Trustee who behaved so badly also threatened the elderly Mayor and used appalling language in front of my wife (who now finds herself as a Trustee*) for which he has never apologised.
I simply turned and walked away in disgust, but in a desperate attempt to cover up his own appalling behaviour the Trustee concerned then made outrageous allegations to the Police about those of us who were the victims of his disgusting outburst - all later proved to be utterly spureous.
Even worse, when another upstanding Charter Trustee informed the offending Trustee that his outburst was totally unacceptable and that he was therefore going to report him, that very brave Trustee was called a 'gutless bastard' and a series of attempts were made to also make him appear a liar.
Now the Trustees find themselves in one hell of a mess because of further repeatedly poor judgements. I believe your chosen Mayor, who has now pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty, actually oversaw the 'Knagaroo court' I refered to earlier. I know he, like some others, was simply a puppet, but what goes around comes around.
I'm sorry I can't be there today - but I do sicerely hope you can start to clear up this whole appalling mess!
Kind regards
Clive
32 comments:
Oh diddums. A sad and pathetic, little man, who is the rightful opposite number to the bullying other side.
No wonder Thanet is in such a mess if this is the standard of Leaders, let alone the Councillors.
Time for the whole lot to be dumped and start again. IF we could find a room full of people in Thanet bright enough to push Thanet forward, but having the integrity to do it for the right reasons.
Both leaders have shown how shallow and useless they are, and how sad their parties are in electing them to be their leaders.
While they continue to money-grub, Thanet continues to be ignored.
Interesting that 'Mr Suit' only supported the Charte Trustees when they had a labour Mayor! There is more to life than politics, Cllr Hart, get a life.
Bertie, it was nice to see that at least five councillors made the Charter Trustee meeting and then still attended planning, Cllrs Sullivan,Goodwin,Tomlinson x2 and Jarvis. There may be more, but they did not mention it to me.
the man is an utter disgrace. if he wont carry out his duties as a councillor, and be a charter trustee, then he should resign.
what a pathetic excuse anyway. A bit of name calling and he throws a tantrum. its not bad enough though for him to stop his wife getting involved in politics though is it.
Lets just think of those extra councillor expenses coming into the Hart household, and all will be okay.
no wonder the ezekiel party is so shameless in their actions; if this is the pathetic opposition that they face.
God help thanet.
Rumor on the street, Bertie, is Mick T for Mayor and Iris J for Dep. What have you picked up?
If that's true 13.51, a Conservative Mayor and a Labour Deputy Mayor, seems a sensible way of rebuilding confidence in the Mayoralty and The Charter Trustees.
With reference to Gregorys comments; since when were both Tomlinsons on planning?
The position of the Mayor and Charter Trustees is no longer relevant to modern living. Lets be honest what difference does it actually do for anyone living in Margate.Tainted with the political poison that has permeated TDC it has become so disfunctional it has no meaning and represents nothing. It does nothing for Margate's heritage infact it dishonours it by neglecting it. I think Clive is right, Labour Councillors should give it a wide berth and do what they do best representing ALL the electorate in their wards. I don't even think the Ted thing is to blame it is effect of the political disfunction from TDC's ruling group that has got a lot to answer for here.
I learned long ago you cant change things if you are on the outside and that is where he has put himself. Get in there and be heard (no one will listen to whimpers from outside of the door)
Linda Aldred would make a better deputy mayor, but it would be Ironic if Cllr Mrs Hart was voted in.
Well, well, well.
So a deal was done and the Mayor and deputy were chosen a?
I think not Bertie.
The double dealing and backstabing continued even at the planning meeting itself where another Tory decided to ignore any gentleman's agreement made at the Charter Trustees meeting minutes earlier and lobbie for a Mayoral position himself. And you talk of integrity?
I regularly attend civic functions and always behave appropriately but I don't attend secret meetings where agreements are made only to be torn up as soon as you leave the room.
That's how I've kept my integrity.
I think Hart has almost blown his chance at leader already. The man seems to have an inability to work with anybody who does not share his warped view of the world. His colleagues have a big decision to make in coming weeks about whether or not to stick with him.
14.35, I know what you are alluding to but at this stage it would be unwise of me to allow unsubstantiated allegations, at least at the present, to be posted. I tend to agree with you and please accept my apologies for deleting your post.
Good god.what the hell is happening?is this really a case of power begets greed begets power and so on.it seems everyone justs wants a little bit of the financial cake thats on offer with little or no regard for what is is happening out of their little bubbles in the real world.dane valley is my ward and i know,come may/june i won't be voting for any of the three main partys.i could go on and on but i'm sick of the b/s i'm hearing about our local councillers.
14.43, Our 'Shirl' is effectively a permanent member now; 7 appearances (as a sub of course) out of 8 possible since July gives her a better attendance record than Vice Chair and many other so-called Members of Planning! So we have a TDC Cabinet Member as an effective permanent Planning Member! This makes a mockery of TDC Planning compared to many other Councils where Cabinet are barred from Planning and for very good reason.
Hart lives in a world of his own. He is great on old style and very superficial socialist rhetoric but light on a good grasp of the essentials of modern ways of working. Not up to the job I'm afraid.
The problem with most of the annon comments is that they amount to nothing more than personal attacks and really offer no solution. Ranging from kicking Ted while he is down and lets have ago at Clive as if it is going to redress the balance.
The problem with the charter trustees is that in all but name it is a TDC mark 2 committee. Set up to make two individuals each look important on a annual basis. Some mayors do a good job and others don't because in all honestly they really are not complled to do anything at all except attendance. Perhaps Margate charter trustees should look at Ramsgate and look at the town council. It is independant from TDC politics as each member is elected purely on what they will do for the town. Also the Mayor of Ramsgate has to work for the town.
The Charter Trusttees has had its day and this is coming from someone who once a charter trustee and gave it a 100% like anything I get involved in regarding Margate. I back Clive on this issue as it is better to use your time doing something that actually counts than participate in a chirade.
What are your sources telling you about the meeting last night Bertie? I'm hearing that Hart shouted a lot, insulted officers and acted like the Zeke No.2. Is that any way for someone in his position to act especially when he tries to paint himself as the second coming?
Slightly off thread, but as a past mayor of Ramsgate I would say that the role is not at all political, it is about raising the profile of the town you represent. I enjoyed my year as Mayor of Ramsgate, I hope I represented the town well, I know I raised its profile. Lets stop attacking a valuable tool in the regeneration of Thanet. I did this as a Labour Mayor, but that is not the point, I did it as the mayor of Ramsgate, a role I am proud of holding, if only for one year.
Sounds to me like Cllr Hart is referring to the complaint that Mrs Ezekiel brought against Cllr Clark, when will that be published in full, have run out of bedtime stories LOL
Couldn't agree more, Ken, but it would seem that campaigning began outside parlour within a very short time!
17.59, you interpretation perhaps. TDC has had to be badgered into consulting and then possibly balloting tenants and leaseholders re ALMO; not least by Scrutiny. Heard the tale some time ago about resident reps being told by a TDC Officer that most residents would find a ballot to difficult to complete! (A tad arrogant, surely?)
18.18, please look in Strfe Archives of 2008 for detailed reports and extracts from the Standards Board of England findings on all issues relating to The 'F*****g T****r' incident at Winter Gardens in 2007. The complaint made against Cllr Clrak was covered there. You should note that the only individual to come out of that disreputable incident involving 'Our Leader'with any honour, was Cllr Hart and Standards Board of England stated that he was exonerated of any counter claims that were then made.
Ken, I do not doubt you gave it a good go when you was Mayor of Ramsgate, please be a bit more open because when you was a Margate Charter Trustee you were not intersted and never turned up for anything which is fair enough it was your choice. But please do not run with the hares and hunt with the hounds on this issue.
Heard said Mrs E made allegations against Clark to get the Zeke off the Winter Gardens charge. Is that perjury? Aint love grand!!
22:22, it is interesting that the issue with Cllr Clarke was only raised after the incident at the Winter Gardens but none the less was found to be a valid complaint and was upheld by Standards Board of England.
The answer to your question as to whether this was perjury or not, is an emphatic NO!
i am so glad that people are now seeing just what cllr clive hart is all noise and nothing else it make me cry at night thinking god help us if he ever got to lead thanet council this man is just a no body trying to be a somebody al wind and water me thinks so look to the next years and get rid of said c hart then we might have a chance
Tony,
Sorry, you are wrong, Roy Ford asked me to get involved in the case of 'Silver Spoons' . And also check my attendance record, especially as related to yours
Mmm, the silver spoons. Wasn't exactly the Charter Trustees finest hour the way that was handled. How much was the settlement.
i think it is so sad that cllr c hart has to make all this noise about nothinh just to get himself seen and heard it tells me that he is not the man we think him to be so god help the labour party if they keep people like him in high places i say remove him now and fast
Time for a new Labour Leader - couldn't think of anyone better than our "Iris" get in there girl!
Hart is just a bully who feels he is far above everyone else but really he is a "big man with little man syndrome"
cllr hart always reminds me of a pea in a tin makes a lot of noise and that is all i would say he must step down as leader or the labour party will go further down the tubes .so good bye cllr hart
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the link - but unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anybody here at thanetstrife.blogspot.com have a mirror or another source?
Thanks,
Oliver
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