Fact - the mayor is chosen in secret session by the Labour party. Even then some disagree and strong feelings are voiced. But they come out and vote with a three line whip as ever. 7 of the 18 councillors votes are no use as they dont get consulted.
Now I dont think thats anywhere near the democracy that we pay for or what people believe happens.
By the way, the same applies to all chairman and vice chairman posts and representation on outside bodies.
And you say its democratic!!!
Dont talk about the public elections - how do the public know who does what - is it because they are publicity seeking like some we could name or because of the work they do as a councillor. I have seen some frightful names put forward or councillors put in place just because they are of one party not for what they do.
Check the attendance at meetings of councillors of all colours before you say they are doing anything. Its public information and they shoiuld be accountable.
D
Guest 654- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 169
David
You dont paint a very very fair picture of what goes on.
At present labour/Indy/and the indies bed fellow at town council the conservative
all stand for election.
At the election across Dover the electorate decided LABOUR should control the Town council by returning more Labour cllrs than indy or conservative. thats democracy.
I know it hurts not being the majority party AS David would love to be, but iv heard as many indies argue ing about each other as labour so its not a labour thing!
On the election of mayor there is 18 votes and yes labour(as i say through the electorate)has more voted in cllrs.
Should David and the Indies want to change that then they need for next 2 years or so get around the wards and change the number of cllrs they get elected.
If we talk about performance of town cllrs we see our 3 labour cllrs all the time but the other cllr i dont see.
On the mayor if it means electing a PEOPLES mayor as is being suggested then lets see what can go before we do so
I CANT AFFORD another layer of officials already got 3 and thats to many a iv posted recently
Let's go for an elected mayor........what's to stop us?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i seem to have opened a can of worms here.
david is a town councillor and asks us to check attendance records!!!
that is a good one i e mailed 6 times wrote two letters, got replies to none.
maggie
i have gone through that route too.
guess what no reply.
i have no confidence whatsoever on that institution.
that applies to elected councillors and the officers.
bern raises the issue of an elected mayor, i would go one step further and vote for abolishing the time servers on the town council.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
Excuse my ignorance but can someone explain to me why we have DDC AND DTC?
Why do we need TWO councils? I don't understand this at all - why don't we have one council elected by the people and one mayor - also elected by the people? Seems like jobs for the boys to me! Nice to have a mayor the same as it's nice to have the DCAL carnival court - to represent our town, but all these funny hats and robes - well it's all a bit twee isn't it? I agree with Bern - bring on a nice Dover equivalent of Arnie or Ray, they'd get this town going again! As long as he or she is a Doverian it would be great lol (deliberate spelling mistake there to wind someone up he he!)
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
forget it jacqui, you will never get an honest answer.
"jobs for the boys"?
spot on!!!!!
and girls too.
they appear to take turns in robing up.
Guest 654- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 169
Jacqui
nice to see you this morning
we dont have 2 councils we have 3!!! Dover town council, Dover District council and Kent County council
and then of course we also have the Govt.
All very, very costly.
so until decisions are made to abolish one or more I would stick with what we have and try to improve it.
When the Town council came in (incidently I and a chap called Geoff Howarth)voted against it, for the very reason we are seeing now
Decisions need to be made at the lowest level, but we have also District and County councils and the cost, blimey!
Maybe a campaign to look in to all these councils, and the benefits to Dover?
Given all the paraphenalia, perhaps this would be a job for a Caped Crusader?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
The disappointing thing about the Dover Town Council is that they appear to have no teeth, or indeed if they do have teeth they dont appear to use them. For example I was disappointed to read in one of yesterdays papers re Moving the Miner campaign that the DDC had voted to move the miner...well okay that might be fair enough... but as the DTC had voted to keep it here in Dover where it is, they made No representation to Paul Watkins at DDC on the issue before the decision was made.
In other words DDC took the decision unaware of the DTC position on the matter.
That therefore was a disappointing performance in my opinion.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
Not to pour oil on troubled waters .Cllr Watkins did speak to a Towm Councillor who is also a District Councillor at some length,prior to the debate.Apart fron what was reported in the paper it is correct DTC did not send in comments.I think its time people realised DTC apart from raising a big precept so they can spent on Town projects are no more powerful than a Parish Council
The talks were held between Mr Cox and his Move the Miner Committee and DDC .Currently the Miner is on DDC land .
Guest 666- Registered: 25 Mar 2008
- Posts: 323
Isn't there also a Dover Town Centre management (DTCM)? Am confused, seem lotsa public bodies covering the same turf.
Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
Guest 654- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 169
I still believe that the Town council can be a good body if you get the right people in them.
Looks like there is a need to look at seriously at how many councils we have, and town centre manament
Whilst Sue would lov to see the town council go, its here to stay, if there were better people on it I would support giving it even more power aND reducing the powers of District and County, in fact amalgamating Districts would be less costly.
We need this soon, the council tax is one that is so expensive now no matter what party is in control, no party will change it, but its becoming a strain on many house holds
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Richard, you obviously missed the major news a while back DTCM is no more, it's extinct, just like the Norwegian Blue, which according to the national press actually existed, so Monty Python was right all along
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
Keef since your departure moves are a foot for Districts to work together more closely.Housing is already beeing looked at and tenants are being consulted.I had a very interesting discussion coming home on bus today with a person who recalls the days of Alderman.I said would I be more important if I had a robe and a title.?It would appear I need a badge to say what I do??Oh I forgot I mentioned the word Bus ,sorry sorry.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
paul
i think that the important point here is that gary c(one of our newer posters) made many representations to the town council regarding the statue.
no reply was ever forthcoming.
invitations were sent to DTC to attend meetings in the coalfield area.
guess what - no reply.
we then get snide comments froma town councillor complaining of not being consulted.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
baz
i think you are winding us all up about the "norwegian blue".
mind you, parrots were originally imported to our sceptic isle as a pet for royalty.
therefore i respect your inside knowledge on this matter.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
"baz
i think you are winding us all up about the "norwegian blue"."
No, Barry is absolutely right. 55 million years ago a wonderful little parrot called 'Mopsitta tanta' fluttered over a warm and pre-fjord Norway. The discovery of this amazing fossil was announced this week.
This has nothing whatsover to do with DTC, but as I've just come back from the Crabble beer festival, what the heck.
Guest 654- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 169
SUE
I hear what you say, but its not about how important you are being a Cllr, its about how you an change things for the better.
I go back to my original point, we now have 3 councils far to many
8 cllrs representing one ward, far to many
But sadly all 3 will fight to stay in control
Dover District made NO ATTEMPT to amalagate recently and so its years off before it can be considered
Kent county Council, are only interested in north kent and far to remote for East Kent
Town Council needs to re invent itself
but in the end theres to many and we are paying for it
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
Hullo Keef,Yes being a councillor is to change things for the better,I agree with you on that point.Its the many little things which usually go unnoticed.WE already have less councillors on DDC and we cover a huge area .You cannot compare a District Council with a Town Council.Let us imagine Dover Town Council takes charge of all the Social Housing in their area Buckland ,St Rads ,Aycliffe ,Tower Hamlets and a few more in Town.Sandwich take theirs Deal and ,the parishes theirs such as St Margarets ,Wingham etc .Look at the cost for all these housing departments.Maintance costs would sore .Take Council tax collection as outlined .What a lot of departments we would need in each town.Reorganisation in 1974 was done for a purpose.It left behind Charter Trustees who later went for Town Council status however they could keep their robes and trimmings as they are part of the Cinque Ports.Districts donot have the trimmings,I believe our District Chairman wears the old Eastry rural chain.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
we seem to be going off of the point a bit.
the issue is whether we need a town council.
keith makes the point that each ward can have 8 councillors.!!!
sue has made the point that the town council have all the robes and trimmings!!
i suppose they fulfil some sort or purpose.