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.
5 comments:
Thanks Geoff. A good report. (The reporting was good - not the appointments!)
Why is George Cameron running Scrutiny of Children's Services when he didn't attend ANY of the Scrutiny meetings in March, April and May which discussed safeguarding children and the fundamental failings in child protection? (not my words -OFSTED's)
David Pugh running the school reorganisation!!! God help all the children in the system (including my own).
What exactly does is wit,for want of a better word, really know about education.
Geoff, I can't say who I am, but I have to say that at the Council meeting last night you were the star of the show. Challenging, articulate, good-humoured, thoughtful and more. Its such a pity that you are now on your own and no longer have the equally effective Deborah Gardiner alongside you. However, without you I can only shudder at the likely level of opposition to the Conservative leadership, with the probable exception of Chris Welsford. Keep it up.
What a terrible start for democracy.
The independents should be ashamed of themselves. Now she's won we get Posh Vanessa going around saying 'Of course I'm a conservative'
Seemingly she didn't care that just weeks ago the leadership saw her as the enemy?
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