Andrewmackembailey
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[quote quote=109779]Andrew I think you missed the point about “The most crucial aspect in local elections is to vote for the person you feel will genuinely represent those that vote for them” — there are not many people who can say that their Council Member does this when their is a ‘whip’ process in a Group and nit free vote.
One line I suppose I did miss out was that the ‘quality’ of the person elected needs to be of a standard to full fill the role.
It has been stated on another thread that less than 50% of the Council Members across all Parties can even be bothered to report annually on what they have done (not done) . This does include you Andrew as the last one you have listed is 2012/13- why do you not feel you should be brought to account- perhaps the Ballot Box will tell.[/quote]
Guilty as charged on the council report although I thought it was only one year I have missed.( note to self must do better for 2015-16 ) As you say the ballot box will tell and I console myself that in the past 23 years it has told for me on 5 occasions and against the once! ( note to electorate- ignore the Tory government attempt to remove around 1 million from the electoral roll and register at :- http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote )Your beef seems to be as much about the group whip system as the party system and here I contend you miss the point. I am sure in your council watching you have noticed the 10-0 ( previously 7-3 or 8-2 ) votes at board meetings and the way council votes go so we can both guess that a whip system is alive and well among the Independent groups or Alliance. Remember the ” we will support Indepevndents to be independent by remaining Independent ” quote from 2014 and compare with subsequent evidence
[quote quote=109776]One of the points on this is that ALL traditional political parties do not appear to listen to the general public jumping on the band wagon of others and seeking photo opportunities.The electorate deserve more and people not engaged with Party Politics may be the way forward. The most crucial aspect in local elections is to vote for the person you feel will genuinely represent those that vote for them– instead of the sheep that feel they have to follow ‘their’ leader. Far play to Phil Wynne and a couple of other Independents who votes o tow the party line (even if the Party in this case are Independents)
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Council Watcher. – You started this forum saying the last council meeting was a disgrace, the evasiveness of lead members marked and public questions not answered and your last post advocates ” people not engaged with party politics may be the way forward.” Can’t for the life of me see how those two match up as 28 of the ruling 33 members of the current council class themselves as “INDEPENDENT ” even if 10 of them were elected in 2012 with the help and finance of a political party. I will leave it to Wrexham.com followers to see if they agree with your premise that Independents run things better!
When first elected I asked the question “Independent group! How does that work?[quote quote=109652]Can I suggest that people listen to the webcast of the Council Meeting between Item 12 and 13 and listen to the Chief Executive and Deputy Mayor who was acting as Chair and his comment about ‘unlucky for some’ .
Will leave it to the listener to make their own mind up about what it is referring to..
https://www.wrexham.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/218835[/quote]
Liz I suspect the ” unlucky for some” was probably a reference to the fairly constant 13 opposition votes. Some may feel the ” unlucky ” part of the meeting was that the debate and vote on the Groves ,
that the people of Wrexham really wanted was ” Kayoed by the constitution,no wonder it was suggested it needs a complete overhaul.
It could not be that the powers that be did not want ALL councillors to vote on this -which may not have been 13 . Unfortunate rather than unlucky!Agree the public questions avoided the point and in answering the second question on the relationship between the Alexandra School and the intended school on the Groves site the dad member for Education avoided the latter.
He further proved he has not read the Local Development Plan that the council is consulting on.
This identifies the need for two new primary schools of at least 420 places are needed in the lifetime of the plan ( page 84 ) but not at the Groves site ,but I was gagged from telling you all that in the meeting![quote quote=109639]Today’s Council meeting congratulated 3 senior managers on them leaving the Authority which is welcomed as they have been very good– however there are aprox 130 staff leaving at the end of March who is thanking them for all they have done. Managers don’t have anything to mange without the foot soldiers and omitting thanks to them shows how little value Members have of their workforce..
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We could not name all 130 but first I then Councillor Jenkins referred to all those leaving this month, I called it ” the changing of the guard.”[quote quote=109617]Just regarding Cllr Pritchard’s comments, we’ve had this message from Wrexham Council:-
“On this occasion the Welsh Government has asked English Heritage as an independent assessor to take a look at the Groves School and to advise on its “listing”.
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glad to note that Rex Ham is being a total gentleman on this but having seen and read the Deputy Minister’s letter to Lesley Griffiths AM there is no reference to English Heritage being the ” independent assessor. Just wondered how you came about your statement?[quote quote=108461]Hi All,
Just wanted to let everyone that’s interested know that the Flying Scotsman is scheduled to travel through Wrexham General on the 8th June as part of the Cambrian Express tour. Sorry I don’t know times at the moment but I’ll post again when I know more.
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Thanks Davsarg,
If as well as the times can you find the route as I would just love to see it coming down the Gresford Bank[quote quote=108235]Money for an Arts Hub, a guaranteed lossmaking endeavour that will be utilised by a tiny percentage versus no money for Plas Madoc leisure centre.
A leisure facility for all of the community and at a time when adult and childhood obesity is a national killer.Always remember, Wrexham gets the politicians it votes for and consequently deserves.
[/quote]Wrexham gets the politicians they vote for. Well in 2012 when they last voted for the council the returns were 23 Labour but since then 10 members deserted their mandate so have not been voted in in the Tory- Independent colours they now support.This is the only reason the present ruling groups are now running the council and I am not alone in thinking this lacks democracy.
By the way many thanks to Weexham.com for giving me the news on the arts hub- it is more than the council itself managed to do for their elected members![quote quote=107389]Andrew – were you not part of the ruling group that decoded to press a head with the City status bid–
[/quote]Hi Derek
As the city bid referred to was the Queens Diamond Jubillee in 2012 and the ignoring of the vote that preceded it the answer is NO I WAS’NT.A) I was not on the council May 2008-2012
B) The council in this period was Lib-Dem led & yellow has never been my colour.Personally speaking have always been a bit of a non fan of city status, rather concentrate on WCBC getting it right!
[quote quote=107359]Adam
An excellent post, it made me laugh on a grim Wrexham morning!
When mentioning obvious cock ups, its a good job everyone has forgotten Wrexham missing out on city status to St Asaph as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Wrexham Council went ahead with the city status bid despite members of the public voting almost two to one against it in a consultation. I think it cost us around £20,000 to put in a losing bid.
With this in mind, do you REALLY think that the Council would have listened to the public?
Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.
[/quote]from wind up merchant to philosopher in one swoop . What a great summation of democracy in Wrexham council that last paragraph is.!
