Andrewmackembailey

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  • in reply to: Kingdom #129839

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129819]sorry but these Independents are just clueless and they are ALL led by officers who are more interested in their own jobs.

    No manifesto’s, no ideas, just a clueless bunch.

    [/quote]the contract with Kingdom was passed at the Tory-Independent run executive board on 13 December 2016 for two years ( with an option to extend to three.) It would appear the “powers that be have jumped the gun ” on this one during Purdah. I know an update went to the relevant scrutiny committee and did not get a glowing report and also that questions have been asked at the Scruitiny chairs meetings. Not for me to say but I would think this extension could be seriously challenged in the new council.
    The reasoning in the report for the enforcement regime agreed was ” to increase the positive view of the council and council services ” and ” to incentivise people to enjoy the Wrexham town area.” Can anyone say that the current enforcement ,which effectively criminalises people without given them a chance to amend any misdemeanour, is promoting a positive image of the area ? I know a number of magistrates who are appalled at how this plays out in the legal process.

    in reply to: Plaid Menefesto #129837

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129681]

    Having read the Plaid manifesto I am asking them an open question about the 12,000 houses they state the current Council want to build ad their Plan.

    1. When has Wrexham Council stated they wanted 12,000 houses — face the Wrexham Local Development Plan submitted to the Welsh Government for a figure less than 9,000 — Welsh Government would not accept this figure and the LDP was rejected.
    2. When was the Plan signed off — the original was rejected by WG and as yet I do not believe one has been signed off locally or by WG. Where I the evidence from Plaid get they have information stating that 12,000 houses have ben agreed by the Council?

    All the Electorate of Wrexham deserve clarification

    Good question Dylan
    The plan has not been signed of and should have been out for consultation earlier this year but ” the powers that be” in the council postponed it until after May. I am reminded that Plaid were part of the Aled Roberts -Ron Davies led coalition in 2008-2012, which submitted a faulty development plan that was rejected in early 2012 and seemingly want to do the same again. I am sure there is an Oscar Wilde or Bernard Shaw quote in there somewhere about doing the same thing again and expecting a different result.
    Unfortunately the legacy of that council not having a development plan, coupled with them allowing the Joint Housing Land Availability ( JHLAS ) to diminish from 12 years to about 3.5 years has tied the hand of the outgoing council in fighting developers who suggest housing on edge of settlement.
    The truth is that the likely number of houses needed 2016-2028 is likely to be about 2/3 of the figure they are peddling ,take away those in the pipeline and windfall sites and it is less than that.

    [/quote]update – it was actually Albert Einstein who said ” to do the same thing again and expect different results is the definition of – insanity.”

    in reply to: Plaid Menefesto #129681

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129648]Having read the Plaid manifesto I am asking them an open question about the 12,000 houses they state the current Council want to build ad their Plan.

    1. When has Wrexham Council stated they wanted 12,000 houses — face the Wrexham Local Development Plan submitted to the Welsh Government for a figure less than 9,000 — Welsh Government would not accept this figure and the LDP was rejected.
    2. When was the Plan signed off — the original was rejected by WG and as yet I do not believe one has been signed off locally or by WG. Where I the evidence from Plaid get they have information stating that 12,000 houses have ben agreed by the Council?

    All the Electorate of Wrexham deserve clarification

    [/quote]Good question Dylan
    The plan has not been signed of and should have been out for consultation earlier this year but ” the powers that be” in the council postponed it until after May. I am reminded that Plaid were part of the Aled Roberts -Ron Davies led coalition in 2008-2012, which submitted a faulty development plan that was rejected in early 2012 and seemingly want to do the same again. I am sure there is an Oscar Wilde or Bernard Shaw quote in there somewhere about doing the same thing again and expecting a different result.
    Unfortunately the legacy of that council not having a development plan, coupled with them allowing the Joint Housing Land Availability ( JHLAS ) to diminish from 12 years to about 3.5 years has tied the hand of the outgoing council in fighting developers who suggest housing on edge of settlement.
    The truth is that the likely number of houses needed 2016-2028 is likely to be about 2/3 of the figure they are peddling ,take away those in the pipeline and windfall sites and it is less than that.

    in reply to: Honouring unsung crime fighting heroes. #129603

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129309]The introduction of the above award scheme by the Police and Crime Commissioner is a laudable initiative to recognise individuals and groups who assist in making North Wales a safer place to work, live and visit. How the People’s Award can be a ‘coveted’ accolade when it is the first time it will be awarded, is beyond me.

    What really does irritate me however, is the inclusion of the category ‘Welsh Language Champion’ in the list of awards.

    Can anyone explain how this can even be remotely connected to reducing crime?

    Smacks of politicising an otherwise worthwhile scheme.

    [/quote]iis there a ” Communications category” – free phones for criminals while the rest of us can’t get through on 101?

    in reply to: Is voting in the local elections a waste of time #129602

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129600]Conde,
    If you are elected (good luck) do you really believe that you will be able to influence an Officer led Council?

    [/quote
    Hi Jimbow-as I depart the scene the trick of whether the authority is Officer led ( with the help of fewer and fewer elected members ) lies in the constitution of the council – a mere 400 or so pages.
    Whoever gets in needs to have a thorough review of that so there is more openness to all Councillors and delegation to officers is based on practicality and not convenience.

    in reply to: Election Predictions #129265

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129261]Hi all,
    So what if you want to stand as an indy and dont want to be part of the independents or wrexham independents?

    [/quote]al – back in 1993 when first elected I asked a very similar question ” Independent-Group how does that happen.” A true Independent would remain Non-Aligned but that would limit his/her potency in the council.Basically independents can form as many groups as they like but to claim positions they need a minimum of four in a group. So if you vote Independent you don’t really know what you are getting and who they will ally with. At least with political parties – love them or loathe them you know what choice you are making.

    in reply to: Election Predictions #129207

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=129206]What is the difference between a Pritchard Independent and a Bithell Independent?

    [/quote
    Can anyone remember the Wrexham.com headline of September 2014 ,which went along the lines of ” We will support Independents to be Independent by remaining Independent.” Is this a political branch of confused.com?

    in reply to: Gresford graffiti artist #128953

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=128936]Beats waiting years for the Council to ‘take the law into their own hands’.

    [/quote]

    [quote quote=128935]

    Many thanks to our mystery painter as I have been banging on about this since last September. Indeed the constituent who first raised it got a ” job completed ” message about 28 days after it was raised.
    As I leave it I am sorry to say the present council has proved to be the slowest I can recall since first being elected in 1993 in responding to small scale ,but potentially serious ,issues such as these.
    I can only console myself that I was never taken in by the Lead Member’s statement ” it will be done when the better weather comes.” (Sic )

    Andrew, your actions here are irresponsible and you are encouraging people to take the law into their own hands!

    Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence for a person to paint, inscribe or fix any picture, letter, sign or other mark on the surface of a highway or upon any tree, structure or works on the highway.

    [/quote]
    Hi Councillor X- can I say I am not the mystery painter so have taken no action apart from expressing my total frustration with this situation that has not been acted on since September last. I have asked the council officers to check out if there is anything amiss or dangerous with the painted lines but they could have avoided all this and potentially dangerous manoeuvres by a more timely action themselves.

    in reply to: Gresford graffiti artist #128949

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=128919]Did it slow down exponentially since you left the ruling administration just two and a half years ago?

    [/quote]
    Liam – I did not leave anything and good steadfast for the manifesto I was elected on .It was 10 others ( subsequently 1 more ) who joined the Independent group and have not felt the need to test their ” new faith” with their electors since September 2014. So you are quite right this Tory- Independent administration is based on a non- democratic deficit and it shows!

    in reply to: The Case for Annual Elections #128905

    Andrewmackembailey
    Participant

    [quote quote=128864]New flower beds beautifully planted up, missing trees replaced, street lights mended, streets cleaned and even the odd pothole filled in ! All these things have been accomplished in the last few weeks , after months of inaction. Either Councillors are looking for our vote or there has been a pot of money discovered at the end of the rainbow in the Guildhall.

    [/quote]
    I’d be very interested in seeing which wards have been so improved!

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