The straws in the wind became bales and now they are big logs of wood!
I am delighted to report that it would appear that at The Conservative Party TDC Cllrs Group meeting to be held in 3 weeks time on Wed 24 March, the Conservative Group is to elect a new Leader, as Cllr Ezekiel will stand down. It would seem that the plan is that the 'new' Conservative Leader will then understudy 'Mauwice' until May in his capacity as Leader of TDC and then take over as TDC's new Leader.
The Ezekielite choice is apparently Cllr Bayford and Cllr Kirby has his name forward. Having watched Cllr Kirby in muddle as 'Chair' and his subsequent move side-ways from the 'chair' at TDC, one can only assume that he is in the 'ring' as a distraction to split any votes for any others who wish to be considered but are not annointed by 'Mauwice'.
Are we to see a root and branch clearing out of the 'Ezekielites' or just an Ezekielite stooge in place? Where are the likes of Cllr Bruce, who is a popular choice for many in Thanet as a decent chap who can unite Labour and Conservative in working together for Thanet after the divisions encouraged and perpetrated by the 'Ezekielites'? Also, where is Cllr Moores,whom, I have heard, has been fostering a mature approach with Labour and their Dep Leader, Cllr Campbell?
I suppose it would be too optimistic to expect a 'Reformation' but whoever is the choice of our Conservative Cllrs might well consider some urgent changes in Cabinet and a good clean out of the 'dirty stables' that TDC Planning Committtee, in particular, is perceived as being. After the shoddy and degrading events of the past 3 years, that have tarnished the good name of the Conservative Party in Thanet, I for one, would welcome the return of integrity, openess and honesty that should be the hallmarks of confident leadership and the end of cowed and bullied Conservative back-benchers who hardly make a contribution in Council other than to put up their 'whipped' hands to vote.
It would only be proper to say, in a heartfelt way, thank you 'Mauwice' and his mentor 'Wodger' (one is hopeful that a new leader will consider a new deputy) for at last going. TDC might, if the new Leader can retore public confidence, still be a Conservative Council in June 2011.
19 comments:
whoever leads lets hope they have the nous and strength to actually guide thanet in this difficult time rather than be led by the executive and their own agenda.
Cllr Bob would get my vote any day of the week. A decent hard working chap with a sensible grasp of reality, and someone who has the knowledge to sort out the true state of tdc finances and decide a sensible path.
President Putin and Medelaev or whatever his name is come to mind
The last I want is someone who can "unite Labour and Conservative".
They are much too close already.
Hope your information is correct Bertie, my fingers will remain crossed. Bruce or Moores would be good replacements. but I suppose there is little chance. A clean sweep of Planning should also make for electability, getting rid of the gruesome twosome, who comprise chair and vice chair, entirely. Mike Jarvis would make a good chair of planning.
I agree that Bruce and Moores would be a great partnership and do an excellent job - but I don't think the other Tory councillors have the guts to let new ideas and fresh minds take over. Too many of them would be out of a job, for a start!!!!!
As one completely disillusioned Thanet voter I couldn't give a rats ass who gets the leaders position.
Lets be honest for a moment and agree that politicians at both national and local level have lost touch almost completely with the electorate, they don't give a cr4p about us and we prove that we don't give a cr4p about them with the continuing poor turnouts at local election.
Sack the lot of them.
I have to agree with 19.37 i have no faith in the local Conservatives, apart from the few decent ones - Jarvis, Wells are there any others? doesnt seem so, Bayford has the same cronies as Ezekiel so i dont think there will be much change there?
Perhaps Bruce and Moores haven't got any ideas. They didn't seem to contribute anything from what I could see on the webcast. Nodding donkeys springs to mind.
Indeed 19:37, a lot of Old duffers with no leadership skills whatsoever and that includes the ofwicers.
Bruce was away and Moores did not have any questions relevant to his cabinet portfolio to comment on
A potential leader should be able to stand up and make a point worth listening to on any subject. Do Bruce and Jarvis contribute?
Yes 0854, but there isn't any talent on the Labour front bench team either. Hart has not got the intellectual capacity and the rest are weak apart from Johnson who is loud but not house trained. Hart would be an embarrassment in any forum where he represented Thanet as his KCC days have shown. He was widely ridiculed by officers and even his own side as "that idiot from Thanet" althouth Burgess and now Jarvis seem to have picked up that title. So there is little to choose between the sides. Goodness knows why Nicholson and Harrison stood aside.
In council the way it works is that the leaders of both parties 'lead'' the debate, supported by their deputies and then other cabinet members have pre-arranged speaking parts, based on the content of the agenda on the night
The exception is normally Iris, who interrupts and leaps in at any opportunity, single handedly extending the length of council meetings by a good 30 minutes
How inconvenient for the council!
God forbid anyone should take time to take issue.
I take it from the silence that Jarvis and Bruce are not contributors and haveno debating skills, which blows a hole in your judgement that they are worthy Ezekiel replacements Bertie.
god help us all in thanet if moores and bruce take over the tories that would be the end of the tories in thanet because all would walk out both men are not very popular within there party me thinks mind you who is there if anybody to take over
12:39, an interesting example of a 'goodwinism'. Seems like some in-house counter posting going on!
My apologies to Cllr Johnston for not posting this; domestic issues have had to take priority for a while.
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Dear Bertie, I am sure you will agree we can all recognise the style of many local bloggers especially those who sometimes give their names and then reply with an anonymous supporting response. I am well aware that the Conservative leadership at TDC are annoyed by my questioning at Council, Cabinet and elsewhere. If adding 30 minutes to meetings throws some light on what is happening at TDC under their stewardship I am more than happy to oblige. Since 2003 I feel many Labour members are banging our heads against a brick wall in getting work done to clean up and regenerate Thanet. Holding the ruling group accountable for wasteful expenditure and false dawns is a full time job. The many questions I asked at Budget making are of interest to local tax payers and although proving uncomfortable for some senior officers and leading Conservative members I and my colleagues will continue pushing for the truth. Some of my most recent questions. 17k ‘for dilapidations at Mill Lane offices’. What have they been up to? 5k per annum for Gateway furniture etc. Only recently redone! 80k towards shared services. We were told it was costing very little and I am still waiting for a full answer so far on costs for the housing ‘initiave’ 40k to conclude works at Cecil Street. How much has been spent in total? 260k towards increased concessionary bus fares. Stagecoach charge for a full journey when most people get off well before the end destination. A simple altering of the ticket machine would show the true cost. The meeting I asked for with Stagecoach and senior members/officers last year on the alterations to bus routes has not happened. I have emailed Cllr Brian Sullivan Chair of the JTB to look into all petitions (on 18th March agenda) for the last 12 years that have ended up nowhere with KCC on road safety/parking and bus service measures. I am still waiting for his reply. 4o million to Margate from the Government and EU yet we are named and shamed in the national press on a regular basis. Who is deciding where this money is being spent and who is insisting the work it was given for is being done. ? When I ask Sandy Ezekiel who is Vice Chair of the Regeneration Board he wants any answers to be on ‘pink’. Why? Yes opposition is very frustrating and if I can use my time to draw attention to very serious concerns at Full Council I will do so. Thank you for all that you do Bertie. You also have a genuine concern for Thanet. Best wishes, Iris.
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