Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
Barry, you can take "personal offense" if you want, but I have talked to others and all are of the opinion that the CofC is out of touch.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
I have just spoke to a couple of businesses and they want out of the CofC,and Ken is right about his bit,glad to see the memory is not fading Ken.
I was one of those who would not accept Mike Webb as Town Clerk and resigned as Deputy Mayor,after I was told under no circumstances would Mike be Town Clerk.
Since then I have patched up my differences with Mike, and this problem with Roger has nothing to do with Politics,this was just a complete shambles.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Ken
If my recollection is wrong, then I'm sorry, however I recall that Mike Webb had a bust up with then Mayor Gordon Cowan which led - one way or the other - to him leaving. If that's not the case then I bow to your better memory and offer full and abject apologies.
As Howard says, good to see you back on here.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I have just got in from a meeting at D.T.C.,and when asked Mr Macsween of the Chamber of Commerce,got up and said"Roger was not sacked,but they could not come to agreement over a wage,I went on to aske him were they happy with Rogers work.And the feeling I got back yes their were very happy with what Roger was doing ,but did not have funding coming in to the Chamber to pay him anymore than what was on the table at this time. At the meeting there was a lot of support from the floor for Roger and the work he was and still might do. Mr Macsween went on to say out of about 2000 business,s they had just over 100 members and they pay just over £100 per year to the Chamber of Commerce.So we can all see now, there is not much room to play with over any wage paid out.I do not know if Roger is in agreement with what I have put down on this page. We wait and see.But again we are all very sorry to see him go,and I also asked the D.T.C. can Roger do anything for them in the light of what has happen.
Giving this a tad more thought. Why did CoC go down this road with Roger if th knew they wouldn't b able to afford th role? Surely they aren't so unbusinesslike to have done this without financial and resource planning first?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
must agree with you there sid, with an income of 10 grand there was never the money there to pay someone a wage.
maybe i am missing something here?
interesting to see only 100 members, my understanding is that in our arch rival town calais, businesses have to be members of the chamber of commerce.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I will just say that you are missing something Howard and Sid. There is a much more complex situation than you can be aware but the Chamber remains determined to see progress in Dover with the available funding and any further funding that can be obtained. What the Chamber did not do is sit back and wait for funding to hit the bank account, if we did that the funding would never come and nothing would ever get done. Action was and is needed and yes, I prefer to be critisised for doing something even if at the end it does not work to expectation and hopes, than doing nothing. I cannot and will not say more about this.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Howard the missing link is this... they (The CoC)had extra grants in from some quarters as well as their ordinary income to help pay for this initiative...
Once again if I can refer to Cameron's Speech, see copy 49 on page 4 ALL RECENT FEATURES ( see menu left )...he refers to financial support from the DTC, the DHB, and the DDC in this speech, all earmarked for the Business Support Manager. Now I dont know personally how much financial support these bodies gave or indeed at the end of the day if they actually coughed up at all, but this extra finance was what was paying for the Dover Business Support Manager. Thats as I understand it anyway. This was all highlighted on the Launch Night.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i should have reread the article again paul, becoming clearer now.
barry
i understand that you can only say a limited amount, but you must understand that the rest of us will draw our own conclusions based on what little we know and some educated guesswork.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
It must get very frustrating for you on the forum Howard when you have to keep repeating yourself.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
BLIMEY
Quite a lot on this issue,
FIRSTLY
Could I share my appreciation for Rogers hard work and determination, and I hope its INCORRECT the impression you give Roger that you were assuming an agreement had been reached where you would be paid £24,000
Sadly as Sid says, you had no contract, were by sounds of it unpaid, so going anywhere with this you are on a loser(except the moral ground)
SECONDLY
Howard and others correct, surely the chamber couldn't offer £24,000 if there income is so small? or is there any other unknown income?
It is sad if the chamber has led ROGER down a path giving false impressions, but will we ever know the true story?
THIRDLY
It is difficult for BARRYW on this one, but surely as barryw and Roger are in same party and friends, or even as barryw says he is chair of commerce barryw would have been aware of this pending decision?
FOURTHLY
I wish ROGER all the good luck for the future
FIFTHLY
Changing the subject slightly, Mike Webb as KEN indicates, left TCM to get a better paid job at the town council.
he was never sacked
Either way the CoC is revealed as a shambles. Terry, in his salty language, has it right. Businessmen canot claim to have business acument if they allow themsleves to interview and recruit - which is what they did - without confirmation of funding. To allow soemone to beleive a salary is offered and then claim it never was (even if that funding - particularly if that funding - is out of your control) is at the least inept. Shambles is the polite word. Terry will know the word I am actually thinking.........!!! CoC sums it up nicely.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Please this is not about Mr Webb lets get back to Roger and the Chamber of Commerce,I was at that meeting todayChamber of Commerce was there to.Their President Mr Macsween was there,as I said in my last post again it was down to funding and funding only, they just do not have it,but if Roger was not told this at the time he took the job on,then the Chamber were wrong not to tell him.Like T,C,M, They need more backing from the Business world of Dover but this case has not helped them in geting just that.But also the business,s in dover are having a very hard time of it,and it was put to me that they can see no return for any funding that was given to the Chamber in the pass. They can not back any funding they might give out to them without a return in place.so there you have it also both the DD,C and the D,T,C, can only give a very small amount of funding to the Chamber.So how can they and the town move forward.?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
good point colin, roger is an avuncular type of chap, good with children and generous to a fault.
mind you, it would have to be some chimney for him to get down.
Ken, I didn't say Mike WAS removed, I said the shenanigans were to remove him; basically by cutting off the TCM funding. Mike saw that coming and seized the opportunity of the Town Clerk role to get out of TCM.
What I am suggesting happened with Roger is someone playing the same political game by not making the funding available.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
Roger, what a shambles, what a bunch of berks the CoC appear to be. Whilst (like John) you and I are at opposite sides of the political divide and did not see eye to eye on some things; I recognise that you are very committed to improving the lot of Dover and work(ed) bloody hard trying to make a difference.
It is a crying shame that the CoC couldn't seem to work with you to make your ideas into reality.
Likewise Barry, tell us what the CoC is doing for Dover, name one concrete thing they have done, that was not initiated by Roger. I am sure that you believe it, but with the long history of "I can;t tell you at the moments" that litter the communications between the various powers that be and the citizens of Dover, I for one struggle to believe without some evidence. I know I am a doubting Thomas, but that is just how it is.
(Every time I type CoC I have to stop myself putting a "K" and an "S" at the end, even though, frankly that is how they appear in this matter)
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thank you for your support, but a couple of points about yesterday's business meeting.
I chose not to go because I thought the President (as Vic rightly says, Cameron McSween) would be there and I did not want to get into a puiblic slanging match.
It was NOT about a salary, it was NOT about not signing a contract - I didn't get the opportunity to sign any contract, pure and simply, I was SACKED.
Does anyone really believe that after working for over four months, Monday to Friday, early mornings, evenings and some weekends UNPAID, that I would walk away from a job that I felt I was born for, because I wouldn't sign a contract ?
I would have been happy to continue working unpaid until such time as a more realistic salary was offered.
I didn't get the choice to sign and it is wrong and very very unfair of Cameron to publicly lie about this, but then I guess it is his and Alan Shirley's word against mine.
The money the Town Council donated to the Chamber as a contribution towards the DBS Manager's Salary was conditional upon signing the Contract within a timescale, this has not been achieved.
I have been treated in the most shabby way because I dared to write to the members of the Board, to question them both on their policy and ask for change.
The Chamber Board is not made up of ostriches with their head in the sand, but the leadership is made up of people with absolutely no understanding of the real concerns and needs of local (small) businesses and have no idea of how to get things done.
And just one last thing on this posting, it was NOT Cameron's idea to bring the market to Dover it was mine; I went to him and said this is what we should do and he agreed.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
BARRYW
Obviously ROGER is stil smarting at way he feels the chamber has treated him, and I fully understand your position as chair of the commerce restricts you.
But there are some real accusations flying around now that the board members)(which must include you?) have there heads in the sand, and have no idea how to get Dover toi prosper, plus all the other add ons.
This is serious stuff, I don't know that much about Mr Mc Sweeny at the commerce or the board members, but maybe you could enlighten us as to the chamber and why you feel you have 100% support for them even in light of the decision which I presume as chair you were aware of? to remove ROGER
Some clarity would help here, otherwise like Howard says people will draw there own conclusions
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Thank you Roger for that, it was not told like that by Mr Macsween president of the Chamer of Commerce at the meeting (Then it would not be.) We are all on your side over this,and most was at the meeting to.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.