A LIBERAL DOSE OF INEPTITUDE

A number of proposed Cabinet-member delegated decisions hit my Inbox this week - before we even have a Cabinet formally in place............

Like all decisions the Cabinet appointments decision by the Council Leader is subject to representations by other councillors - duly made by me - and then a Scrutiny Committee 'Call In' period that does not expire until 6th July. 'Call Ins' are about the only weapon non-Cabinet members have on Council's these days

However, even if I wanted to seek a 'Call In' by the new Scrutiny Committee I'd have a job on my hands. You need 4 signatories to a 'Call In' from members of that committee. There are now only 12 members of that committee, so you need one-third to support you. It used to be 4 out of 15. As 7 of the new committee are loyal payroll Tories that generally reduces the pool I would fish in to 5. Do-able, but hard work........

And not made any easier by the fact that the Liberals have so far failed to put their 2 people forward for the committee.

I am taking a 2 week holiday from tomorrow and by the time I get back quite possibly the Liberals will have at last realised that they have responsibilities as an opposition party at County Hall.

DANCING ATTENDANCE - AGAIN.....

I went along to the first public committee meeting of this Council last night - the Audit Committee. A couple of years ago (30.5.07) I wrote about how a previous Audit Chair had officers 'dancing attendance' and it was bit like that last night with Finance officers (as many present as councillors on the committee) given quite a grilling by the new Chair. Of course it shows how 'scrutiny' in any form should be done, though I suspect it isn't the approved modus operandi for Tory Chair's.......

Of course going along to committees and particularly the cabinet as an observer is the only way in which I can operate on this Council. Being a lone member, the only places I will get on committees/panels are the ones no one else wants. And I won't want them either. I prefer to get along to cabinet to ask my questions and to Full Council to ask some more. That is my way of holding to account, challenging and scrutinising.

An interesting move is the way the ruling Tory Group have taken an extra place on the 'non-political' Planning Committee - giving them 8 places out of 12. If its so non-political, why are they so anxious to pack it with their people ? Particularly when 5 of their 8 are Newport councillors. Hardly representative is it ?

A TALE OF TWO CAMERONS

Before she lost her place on the IW Council Deborah Gardiner had been tenaciously tackling Childrens Services regarding local provision for the safeguarding of children after Ofsted referred to 'fundamental failings in child protection' after a serious case review. At every turn Deborah seemed to be blocked until eventually she got a private session of the Scrutiny Committee in May to hold the then Cabinet member to account. Of course he has now gone too.

What was interesting was that the Childrens Champion on the last Council, Cllr George Cameron, did not attend ANY of the Scrutiny Committee meetings in March, April and May which discussed safeguarding children. And this Cameron has just been appointed as Chair of the Scrutiny Panel for.......you guessed it, Childrens Services.

So we now have an interim Assistant Childrens Services Director (Safeguarding), also named Cameron, who the County Press reported 'was for ten years the boss of a social services department heavily criticised in a report issued just months after she left' and which 'went into special measures the following month, for two years.' And a councillor responsible for scrutinising the safeguarding of children who has shown no public interest in such matters when there were real concerns.

I don't know about you, but I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach........

TORIES EXERT TOTAL CONTROL

Just back from the first Full meeting of the new IW Council, leaving the rest to have a drink with the 'new' Chairman. A Chairman who is the same as before, Arthur Taylor (Con) - who only I voted against as no one satisfactorily explained to me why the one-year only rule was being ignored. Nothing personal !

So time for a quick report............

Other people elected on the night were Ian Stephens (Ind) as Vice Chair of the Council (with my support); David Pugh as Leader FOR 4 YEARS (!) - with only me against; Overview & Scrutiny Chair - Vanessa Churchman(Ind), with a Tory-controlled committee; Planning Chair - Ivan Bulwer (Con); Audit Chair - Roger Mazillius (Con); 4 x Scrutiny Panel Chairs (all Tory-controlled) - George Cameron (Con), Childrens Services; David Whittaker (Con) - Adult Care, Housing & Health; Ian Ward (Con) - Economy, Environment & Transport; and Margaret Webster (Con) - Fire & Community Safety. The Tories offered the Adult Care one to the opposition, but no one from the independent or Liberal group was interested. I wouldn't touch these with a bargepole......I've learnt my lesson about this leadership

The Leader announced his new Cabinet. Basically the 5 re-elected ones from the last one, with some portfolio changes, and 2 new ones - Peter Bingham (Resources) and Edward Giles (Environment & Transport). And the Leader is going to lead on Schools Reorganisation...........

My motion on this Council adopting a Members's Allowance scheme that will be recommended by an Independent Remuneration Panel was accepted by the leadership in its entirity, eventually - thanks to Cllr George Brown (Con, Deputy Leader) !!!!!!!! The 5 LibDems were the only ones against, as they prefer to keep allowances as a Member's decision.

My motion on ending Prayers predictably went down with 33 against and 5 in favour. I won't name the other 4 as is my usual practice on votes as this is a personal matter, but thanks to them all.

NEW PLANS FOR PAN

I see the County Press has learnt that Miller Homes are no longer the agreed developer for the loooooooooooong proposed Pan development.

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/pan-blow-as-builder-pulls-out-26749.aspx

I must admit I assumed that they already knew, though given it took 11 weeks for me to find out by accident and then have it confirmed by the IW Council (back in late April) I guess the Council were keen to keep it quiet.

Still they are now pulling out all the stops to try and get everything back on track by seeking planning consent that then MAY lever in the necessary government funding for £11m initial infrastructure costs, that I understand Miller Homes were reluctant to commit to after the economic downturn. They can then advertise for a new developer.

An April start next year has been talked about. The third different April start date since I was first elected as the local councillor in 2005..........

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

The last three days have been time for me to follow up on ward work and ward commitments post-re-election. My bread and butter.

I attended the PNP board meeting last Thursday where we are all feeling very proud for winning another major national award for an 'Empowering Communities' project. The biggest award yet. Well done to all concerned.

Yesterday I conducted a number of meetings around the town in unlikely settings, often sitting on walls. One drawback of being a lone councillor is that you don't get any room facility at County Hall. Still the weather is good for now.....

AND OUT OF THE BLOCKS.........

As an atheist and a secularist committed to diversity, I have formally proposed to the first meeting of this new IW Council next week that it ends the practice of offering Christian prayers at the start of its meetings.

My actions have immediately drawn mutterings that it would discriminate against Christians. Why do religious people who happily discriminate against religious minorities counter-claim discrimination when the cause of all discrimination can so easily be removed ? Helpful answers please.........

I have also formally proposed that Councillors Allowances for this Council should be ones recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel. In 2006 that Panel made recommendations that were then largely ignored by the Council, including me - though I do not profit by allowances as they balance my loss of earnings. In the light of what is going on elsewhere I think it is important to set an early example here.

BACK AGAIN !

Yes, I am back ! I bet a few didn't expect that? After a massive buck to the national trend I was returned for the revised ward of Newport East yesterday with a thumping majority, for which I am deeply honoured. Thankfully the contest was fought on my record and our priorities for the next 4 years and I am grateful to the other two candidates for that. My next campaign begins on Monday, as I am going to treat myself to two days rest. An IW Labour councillor can never rest on their laurels.

Very sadly I am now the only Labour councillor at County Hall as Deborah Gardiner fell victim to the national political scene in her marginal Lake North ward and all other Labour candidates paid the price of the Westminster farce. Still one Labour councillor on the Island is generally as effective as a dozen from any other party..........

Overall the IW Council election results were a half-hearted endorsement of the local Conservatives who offered little policy-wise and rode on the coat tails of their national leader. By my reckoning they effectively lost half a dozen wards they (notionally) held and now have a much reduced majority of 8 rather than the 22 they got in 2005. Much healthier. Also good to see them lose 2 'Cabinet' members and two policy commission chairmen, giving the leadership a bloody nose - including the leader's right-hand man.

The dear old Liberals were unable to take any advantage, losing two of their previous councillors, but gaining three (including two of the many re-treads they offered up to the electorate). With just 5 they remain a party who needs to learn how to do opposition.

The real gainers were the various independents who now number 10 - most notably Chris Welsford, the education campaigner. If they form a grouping they are now effectively the 'official' opposition and I look forward to their alternative budget strategy next February and their regular presence at Cabinet meetings.

I intend to keep blogging for the next 4 years, so I hope readers will continue to treat this is an alternative view of what happens at County Hall