Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
Paul
It is true of the whole political system, there is no minimum qualification required (unlike other professions), no system of exams or CPD (Continuous Professional Development), it seems all you need is:
a) a willingness to stand
b) be well considered by your peers (you need someone to nominate you & 8 people to second you to stand in a local election)
c) be prepared to brown nose (if you want to climb up the ladder)
"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 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Ah Keef, I am glad I was able to offer you a bit of 'bemuse-ment' on a sunday morning.
But yes Ross indeed...
and to take my earlier post one step further. If a town's citizenry is made up of poorly educated people in low skilled jobs..then a town is likely to have poorly educated councillors from low skilled backgrounds making vital decisions for all, and poorly equipped to do so.
Compare that to say a town not 50 miles away that might have high general standards of education and high skilled employment, and as a consequence would have councillors of the same ilk...then you can clearly see which one would be more likely to race towards Utopia first.
This democracy thing can be an anomoly, can't it?! It can also lead to communities being disadvantaged, as you say. But there are ways to balance that: introduce mandatory ed and dev for all new councillors delivered by independent organisations, expect top-up refresher courses ditto for those who have been involved for an extended period of time, and make clearer the machinations of the council thus creating a more transparent and open system open to easier scrutiny and reducing the opportunities for manipulation.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Sue,
I think, many in Deal would be glad to have it on Walmer Green, i'm sure the shops in that area would appreciate the extra income it would bring with it.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
This debate is broadining .To answer a few points .Yes we do have refresher courses .One of our councillors is an x Chief Excutive and indeed my colleague has a doctrate .One or two are high up in customs and in the past we had several teachers .I nearly forgot we have Dr Eddy
The officers are the paid proffesionals it is not expected that a councillor has in depth knowledge of every subject .
I think mine is a degree in life .I have lived in many areas of the country .My children are all well educated with degrees one has a Masters .I think I lived and died through their education .I worked for the GPO that is why Im good at public speaking .
I thiink some of you not just me but other councillors a terrible injustice .
What you need are people with commitment who mix in their communities
It would be really lovely to see some of you at meetings .I have spoken on this subject three times at various meetings now I did not see any of you there??
Garry if you think this giant TV will bring more shoppers think again .
I asked my neighbour yesterday his opinion ,his "Comment I have a perfectly good TV indoors ".This is not the seventh wonder of the world
I have carefully checked this posting for errors .I did not realise this forum was a test of education .
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
Your not the only one that has lived in other parts of the Country Sue so have I and believe me I haven't come across a council so slow in doing anything as this one.
The 'This is your life' paragraph has absolutely no bearing on the subject in question and is of very little interest to anybody other than your family
Councillors are bound to come into criticism it's part of the job, if you can't hack it nobody forces you to do it but sensitivity and politics albeit on the minor scale we are discussing here do not mix.
What has come into question is your old-fashioned idea that anything which smacks of the 21st century is not going to work in Dover. You condemn something that hasn't even been given a chance, your judgment being based upon a couple of businesses in the Market Square and a resident of Dolphin House, hardly representative of the majority.
The town has a past it has some historic buildings but it is never going to be another Rome, it must move forward to survive, more must be done to improve the town itself in order that it can effectively compete with Canterbury, a screen alone will not achieve this but at least its a tiny step forward and it hasn't taken 20 years of talk to achieve.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
Sue
I do not make the meetings held locally because my work tends to mean I leave the house between 06.15 & 06.45 and do not get back until between 19.45 & 20.45. The earliest that I can possibly get back without leaving work early is 19.45 otherwise I have to take time off work.
I would like to attend meetings but the nature of my work is such that I cannot.
"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 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
PAULB
Sad at your latest posting, at no point did I say cllrs were poorly educated, or poor or disadvantaged.
Its sad that your beliefs that you chosen this route.
As Sue says member cllrs have very differing skills very wifde ranging.
Dovers not good as a town centre because it has been decided to move business to Whitfield.
I was one of 2 cllrs that warned that putting business in Whitfield wll affect towen centre and it has and will.
But lets look to the positives, lets encourage those able to help to do so, and keep pressure up to make Dover a better place
I meant no insult in my posting: there are very good councillors without an O level to their names!! Having a doctorate is laudable but academic. It's not education per se that counts, but intelligence and application. The ed and dev to which I referred was intended to mean relevant ed and dev such as business skills, economics, PR and presentation - and please don't let's pretend that's not needed!! And I know there are already people in place with those skills, they are just an example. It is perfectly possible to suggest improvements without "doing an injustice" to serving councillors. It becomes difficult to respond or reach out openly to people when the first, default, response to suggestions and constructive critisism is insult or hostile defenciveness.
But the most important thing here is that we continue to make appropriate demands of the elected reps and are not put off by hostility or ignorance. I have already posted on another thread the difference an approach makes to the voting people - I am on the way to changing my voting habits solely because of someones courtesy and response. It makes all the difference!!
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
I am a firm believer Bern, that at local (town/district/county) we should vote for the person rather than the party and we should pick the person who ticks our boxes.
"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
Increasingly I feel the same, although it is a fine balance, isn't it?
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
It is indeed, as a life long leftie, I find myself increasingly torn between candidates
"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 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
I mustnt be making myself clear...Keef at no time did I say that YOU said anything at all about councillors poorly educated or otherwise. All the words are mine and mine alone. My two postings this morning were simply theorising on the pros and cons of the Council system and where disadvantages to the general advancement of the population could occur...in some areas.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Dear Sue,
My post was a statement, not a bash at you, don't worry though I missed the blue missile across my bow, one "R" in Gary, please.
I happen to think that if the big screen project is run properly it will encourage people away from their living rooms and choose the time of their favourite sport to visit the giant TV and whilst there they might part with a few bob in surrounding stores cafes and other establishments, but then if you think everybody is like your next-door neighbour, then perhaps I am wrong.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
is anyone else cheesed off with a desolate market square?
at present the only buzz of excitement comes from the cars that sprint across it to get to the cash machine.
surely this should be the hub of our town?
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Wrong again my judgement is based on more than a couple of business people and one resident of Dolphin House .
In this street alone Three householders are apposed to it .many Conservative voters in River and some who live in Town
I have spoken to some people on the bus also bus drivers .I cannot believe you all think I sit at home making this up .
.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Went to Deal today to visit a sick friend.The seafront was humming.Cafes open doing brisk trade.The pier packed with Edwardian type strollers.Ice cream cornets being licked and slurped.Drinkers (god forgive me) sat enjoying themselves outside Dunkerleys and The Port Arms drinking and bathing in the sunshine.The fish stall serving portions of mussels etc.
Then we had to go to Folkestone seafront.Chummys the fish stall 4 or 5 deep at the counter again selling fresh hot and cold fish and seafood.The small but busy market selling everything from vintage postcards,a french baker at pains(oh poor pun) selling his bread and pastries.The fresh cake and pie man mobbed as he was selling his home made chunky apple and sultana pie.Local farm produce and local sausages and home made burgers being woofed down whilst the queue for the freshly cooked Thai Chicken noodles or Green curry at £3.30 a good portion was never less than 10 persons long.My girls enjoyed themselves but both wondered why or to use Natascha words "why can't Dover have a small market like this Daddy at the weekends?" or as Marites said "how come Dover Sole is famous the world wide but you can't buy any fish on the seafront not even a crab stick?"
I don't know the answers...do you?
Well we've still got DTIZ and a promise that the Crypt will be...yawn..yawn old water well yawn...
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
SUE
You realy do let yourself down, this screen is not a CONSERVATIVE thing it has the support of Labour as well (the 1 lib Dem abstained, nowt new there) so whether people in River be tory Labour or whatever it don't have any connection to this post does it??
The screen is coming lets see what happens, Something needs to happen to cheer us up, and if this screen may brighten up that area lets go for it.
Sue, yopu win some and you lose some.
Was your leader serious at the full council when he said you probably wont be in the cabinet after next AGM ?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sue,i think your judgment might be clouded with a touch of tunnel vision or should i say television.
