Last post for a week or so. Off to Manchester for Labour Party Conference tomorrow, representing our local membership. I haven't been to Conference for 7 years and am looking forward to this one.
Before I go I will just submit a unanimous 'call in' by the Scrutiny Committee of the latest delegated decision on health & social care integration.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
QUOTE........UNQUOTE
from an official transcript
"I welcome the inclusivity that Canon ****** has brought to the prayers. I think it’s very, very easy to put people in boxes, both religious and political, although I have to say that the Labour Group who have constantly failed to come in here for prayers and have constantly ignored the Chairman when (he) comes in is something that this. …… Chairman needs to try and resolve. It shows great disrespect to the civic office and I believe personally that prayers are inclusive and we should all set an example and be inclusive in that." (Guess Who, 20.9.06)
"I make no judgement about people’s faith but I have no faith myself. That I choose not to come in to the beginning of this is no disrespect to you as just as it wasn’t to your predecessor in my short time in this chamber. However, I have no faith and I do worry that having that expression, particularly as a Christian faith, when many people on this Island are either of no religion or perhaps of other faiths has always concerned me and I am pleased to hear that Canon ******, a man for who I have an immense respect, has had a much more inclusive prayer session today. However to criticise my colleague Cllr Gardiner and I for not coming in to a religious event when neither of us have any faith whatsoever I think is absolutely reprehensible on behalf of the Leader. We have made no comment within here and I actually don’t want to be stood here now making this comment but I am having to respond to a comment that quite frankly has made me feel as excluded from this chamber as it is possible to be. I do not feel at this moment in time that I am welcome in this chamber because I am an atheist, something that I have come to after long thought over many years as a - since my teens and now nearly at the age of 50." (The Response, 20.9.06)
after we had left
"Would the Leader agree with me that I don’t really care what religions are or anybody else for that - whether they are Muslim … - Muslim or whatever, but what I do expect is for people as our Queen said, people won’t change our way of lives. We are a Christian state and people should understand that. If they don’t like it, go somewhere else, but I don’t care what they are, I will respect them as people. … walking out of the chamber, that’s showing disrespect for you Chairman and for this chamber." (senior Tory councillor, 20.9.06)
"I welcome the inclusivity that Canon ****** has brought to the prayers. I think it’s very, very easy to put people in boxes, both religious and political, although I have to say that the Labour Group who have constantly failed to come in here for prayers and have constantly ignored the Chairman when (he) comes in is something that this. …… Chairman needs to try and resolve. It shows great disrespect to the civic office and I believe personally that prayers are inclusive and we should all set an example and be inclusive in that." (Guess Who, 20.9.06)
"I make no judgement about people’s faith but I have no faith myself. That I choose not to come in to the beginning of this is no disrespect to you as just as it wasn’t to your predecessor in my short time in this chamber. However, I have no faith and I do worry that having that expression, particularly as a Christian faith, when many people on this Island are either of no religion or perhaps of other faiths has always concerned me and I am pleased to hear that Canon ******, a man for who I have an immense respect, has had a much more inclusive prayer session today. However to criticise my colleague Cllr Gardiner and I for not coming in to a religious event when neither of us have any faith whatsoever I think is absolutely reprehensible on behalf of the Leader. We have made no comment within here and I actually don’t want to be stood here now making this comment but I am having to respond to a comment that quite frankly has made me feel as excluded from this chamber as it is possible to be. I do not feel at this moment in time that I am welcome in this chamber because I am an atheist, something that I have come to after long thought over many years as a - since my teens and now nearly at the age of 50." (The Response, 20.9.06)
after we had left
"Would the Leader agree with me that I don’t really care what religions are or anybody else for that - whether they are Muslim … - Muslim or whatever, but what I do expect is for people as our Queen said, people won’t change our way of lives. We are a Christian state and people should understand that. If they don’t like it, go somewhere else, but I don’t care what they are, I will respect them as people. … walking out of the chamber, that’s showing disrespect for you Chairman and for this chamber." (senior Tory councillor, 20.9.06)
LEADER MAKES UNSOLICITED APOLOGY
The following - to all Councillors - arrived in my email Inbox entirely unsolicited:
Statement from Leader of the Council Andy Sutton:
“I clearly upset Councillors Lumley and Gardiner at last night’s Full Council meeting and would wish to clarify my position. It was not my intention in any way to undermine the freedom of any member to hold any religious belief or indeed to hold none.
“If (my italics) in any way what I said implied that I was criticising Cllr Lumley’s (or indeed any of his colleagues’) beliefs, then I unreservedly apologise. Quite clearly we are a council that wants to be inclusive in such matters and I am sorry if my words last night gave any other impression.
“On reflection, things can be said in the heat of the moment in the Chamber that can be misunderstood or taken in the wrong way. Let me be clear that my concern was with regard for the office of Chairman and not an attack on religious faith of members.”
What a bizarre way of going about things.
Statement from Leader of the Council Andy Sutton:
“I clearly upset Councillors Lumley and Gardiner at last night’s Full Council meeting and would wish to clarify my position. It was not my intention in any way to undermine the freedom of any member to hold any religious belief or indeed to hold none.
“If (my italics) in any way what I said implied that I was criticising Cllr Lumley’s (or indeed any of his colleagues’) beliefs, then I unreservedly apologise. Quite clearly we are a council that wants to be inclusive in such matters and I am sorry if my words last night gave any other impression.
“On reflection, things can be said in the heat of the moment in the Chamber that can be misunderstood or taken in the wrong way. Let me be clear that my concern was with regard for the office of Chairman and not an attack on religious faith of members.”
What a bizarre way of going about things.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
THE EXCLUSIVE IW COUNCIL
Tonight, entirely from left field, came a personal attack on Deborah and I from the Leader of the Council that because we do not take part in the (generally Christian) Prayers at the start of a Full Council meeting we are disrespectful to the IW Council, its Chairman and the Isle of Wight. The response from many of the Conservative group was to applaud their Leader. The Council Chairman by his subsequent inaction effectively endorsed this attack.
I was compelled - though I would have preferred to do practically anything else - to articulate my sincerely held view that religion or faith has no place in the Council and that to attack Deborah and I - both committed atheists - for not participating is to effectively say that we are not welcome within this Council. When we got no meaningful assurances from the Chairman of the Council, Deborah and I both left this exclusive Full Council meeting. We will not be returning until this is resolved to our satisfaction.
I will now be reporting both the Council Leader and possibly the Council Chairman to the Standards Board of England for breaches of the councillor's Code of Conduct.
I feel abused.......
I was compelled - though I would have preferred to do practically anything else - to articulate my sincerely held view that religion or faith has no place in the Council and that to attack Deborah and I - both committed atheists - for not participating is to effectively say that we are not welcome within this Council. When we got no meaningful assurances from the Chairman of the Council, Deborah and I both left this exclusive Full Council meeting. We will not be returning until this is resolved to our satisfaction.
I will now be reporting both the Council Leader and possibly the Council Chairman to the Standards Board of England for breaches of the councillor's Code of Conduct.
I feel abused.......
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
WHERE ARE THE OTHER BLOGS ?
When I set up my blog 16 months ago I wanted to provide an online point of information and comment for - 1. my constituents; 2. other Islanders. I have always been very happy to see comments on my posts, I always try to respond to them, and I NEVER edit them. Of necessity the blog has been parochial as I don't want to become some intellectual ego massager, which would be irrelevant to the majority of my readers.
After 16 months I am still going, but what I find very sad is the absence of other political blogs on the Island. Where is the MP, where is the Tory Council leader, where are other senior Tory councillors ? Blogging is the future of political activity - as recognised by the national Tory Chairman the other evening - but here on the Island the local Tories are still caught up in lodge communications rather than the age of mass communications.
It would be good to see rivals, but I won't hold my breath. Secrecy is at the core of Conservatism.
After 16 months I am still going, but what I find very sad is the absence of other political blogs on the Island. Where is the MP, where is the Tory Council leader, where are other senior Tory councillors ? Blogging is the future of political activity - as recognised by the national Tory Chairman the other evening - but here on the Island the local Tories are still caught up in lodge communications rather than the age of mass communications.
It would be good to see rivals, but I won't hold my breath. Secrecy is at the core of Conservatism.
AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT SECRETIVE....
I will be submitting another Scrutiny 'call in ' later this week. The Cabinet Member has made a 'delegated decision' on progressing the controversial and sensitive issue of Health & Social Care integration - controversial enough for the 'call in' to get unanimous support from the Scrutiny Committee.....special meeting of Scrutiny Committee likely to be during w/c 2 October.
FULL COUNCIL TOMORROW
Tomorrow sees the first Full Council meeting for two months. The agenda is scant in the extreme, but still gives an opportunity to ask questions of Cabinet members and for me to be accountable as Chair of Scrutiny.
I have put in four advance written questions, one of which questions the secretive and clandestine nature of this Council leadership.....Of course there is still the opportunity to hold the Cabinet to account with oral questions on the night.
I have put in four advance written questions, one of which questions the secretive and clandestine nature of this Council leadership.....Of course there is still the opportunity to hold the Cabinet to account with oral questions on the night.
NEWPORT TOWN COUNCIL ?
Tonight sees the public meeting following the successful petition. It is at St Thomas' Parish Centre in Town Lane from 7pm. Wonder if anyone from Carisbrooke West - whose councillor wants separation from Newport - will turn up ?
Last night we had the Newport Town Management Committee where we had a presentation from the clerk of Wootton Parish on partnerships and quality status. Made me realise more completely why a Town Council for Newport is so potentially beneficial. The clerk beieved her parish had pulled in £1/3 million extra over the last 7 years........
Last night we had the Newport Town Management Committee where we had a presentation from the clerk of Wootton Parish on partnerships and quality status. Made me realise more completely why a Town Council for Newport is so potentially beneficial. The clerk beieved her parish had pulled in £1/3 million extra over the last 7 years........
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
SCRUTINY TOMORROW
September meeting at 6pm tomorrow evening. Loss of £1.8m Housing Investment Grant for 2006/7 one of the items on the agenda. Also 'Use of Outside Consultants', 'Supporting People' programme, and "Whatever Happened to the Tourism 'Blue Paper' "!
Wrote my Report to next week's Full Council earlier and realised this is the THIRD Scrutiny Committee since the last Full Council in mid-July, in which time there has been just two Cabinet meetings.
Whilst the Cabinet/Council sleeps, Scrutiny is always watchful.
Wrote my Report to next week's Full Council earlier and realised this is the THIRD Scrutiny Committee since the last Full Council in mid-July, in which time there has been just two Cabinet meetings.
Whilst the Cabinet/Council sleeps, Scrutiny is always watchful.
IT MUSINGS
Still Broadband-less, and will be until 1st October. The merits of capitalism ! However, I am just getting on with the absence of easily accessible technology and life is none the worse for that. After all I gave up all Council IT gadgets a few weeks ago and have survived, even though some officers and councillors can't seem to understand that I DON'T have a Council mobile, Blackberry, Smartphone, or whatever else some councillors seem not to be able to do without. Indeed since I was electedI have just used my own mobile and paid my own bill - revolutionary ! Or sanctimonious ?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
SIXTH FORM EGGS ALL IN ONE BASKET
I posted on this on July 28th, but the consultation on having a 6th form college based at the IW College in Newport, was launched at the Policy Commission for Childrens Services tonight. Consultees have precisely 37 days to respond by - just over 5 weeks - with the closing date on 13 October. A decision will have to be taken early in 2007.
Papers can be found at:
http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/Policy%20Commission%20for%20Children%20and%20School%20Results/6-9-06/Paper%20C%20SCOPING%20DOCUMENT1.htm
Papers can be found at:
http://www.iwight.com/council/committees/Policy%20Commission%20for%20Children%20and%20School%20Results/6-9-06/Paper%20C%20SCOPING%20DOCUMENT1.htm
INTERNET BANDITS
No posts for the last week as my broadband internet service provider last Wednesday overnight decided to 'deprovide' me without any reason. So after 6 days of Kafkaesque call centre conversations I have told them to go forth and multiply, in the most polite terms! Eight years of using the same ISP counted for nothing to this company, who are the latest in a line of takeovers.
So I am now trying to get a new broadband provider (which seems to take at least 2 weeks) and either sneaking time on my partner's separate service or spending ridiculous amounts of time at County Hall - I was even in last Sunday afternoon. Such is being a slave to email.......
Call centres - the abomination of customer service in this country
So I am now trying to get a new broadband provider (which seems to take at least 2 weeks) and either sneaking time on my partner's separate service or spending ridiculous amounts of time at County Hall - I was even in last Sunday afternoon. Such is being a slave to email.......
Call centres - the abomination of customer service in this country
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