tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post5829246118664833207..comments2024-03-13T10:32:22.656+00:00Comments on thanetonline: Update from Cllr Ian Driver on the correspondence relating to the Royal Sands Development on the Pleasurama site in Ramsgate. Michael Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-37571339529462308152013-01-23T11:31:25.232+00:002013-01-23T11:31:25.232+00:00Well said Tim: Driver being given the runaround by...Well said Tim: Driver being given the runaround by McGonigal and now Seed is a disgrace. A few salary and pesnion cuts are in order even with a Police investigation. The councillors seem to be led by the nose by these overpaid and incompetent clerks.<br /><br />Minutes of a council meeting is the basics - Driver should get Seed (£80k salaryand car and pension?) in for a bulllocking and start the dismissal process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-60745339536329710212013-01-21T16:38:58.076+00:002013-01-21T16:38:58.076+00:00At last, at last. This good news. I have always be...At last, at last. This good news. I have always believed that civil protest is the best way to deal with our council over this shabby affair. In the immortal words of L/Cpl Jones, "They don't like it up 'em". <br /><br />Here is the article from 'This Is Kent'<br /><br />CAMPAIGNERS against the sale of the former Pleasurama site in Ramsgate will hold a candlelight vigil outside a council meeting on Tuesday.<br /><br />The Friends of Ramsgate Seafront plan to make the protest at Thanet council's Cecil Street headquarters in Margate to "mourn the derelict state of the Ramsgate seafront".<br /><br />The sale of the freehold to developers SFP Ventures is on the agenda for the meeting which starts at 6.15pm.<br /><br />SFP hope to transform the site into a hotel, flats, shops and restaurants but has yet to make significant building progress in the decade since signing an agreement with Thanet council which owns the site. A spokesman for The Friends of Ramsgate Seafront said "Thanet council needs to wake up to how fed up and angry residents are. We can hardly believe the council would sell this land to SFP developers when they have left the site derelict for over 10 years. We do not want the freehold sold. We want the leasehold back and a much better proposal for the site and we are going to keep protesting until that is what we get."<br />John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-23256501814854395262013-01-21T16:01:05.488+00:002013-01-21T16:01:05.488+00:00Just in case you haven't seen this Michael: ht...Just in case you haven't seen this Michael: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Campaigners-hold-vigil-Thanet-council-meeting/story-17919650-detail/story.htmlPeter Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283534498743254609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-12828711723674778432013-01-20T15:33:48.703+00:002013-01-20T15:33:48.703+00:00But Thanet also have a combined chief exec and fin...But Thanet also have a combined chief exec and finance officer also saving money but I wonder sometimes if this is a false economy and will only work with the right calbre of staff. Over at Gravesham and Tonbridge & Malling councils they tried sharing a chief exec but within a year they have scrapped this idea. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-19383279366055924232013-01-18T22:22:18.745+00:002013-01-18T22:22:18.745+00:00Anonymous 8:55PM,
This sounds sensible to me. But...Anonymous 8:55PM,<br /><br />This sounds sensible to me. But I doubt if TDC would like the idea.John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-56131506304388613632013-01-18T20:55:45.222+00:002013-01-18T20:55:45.222+00:00As an aside to the general issue, I'd like to ...As an aside to the general issue, I'd like to comment that I'm a council tax payer in Ramsgate but my main residence is in Windsor. <br /><br />The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead have realised that they can run extremely efficiently without having a chief executive. The heads of their four main operational divisions form a board of directors and one of them is designated MD. It saves us about £200K p.a. Perhaps Thanet could learn from this, but I doubt it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-24357549327666190652013-01-17T12:44:15.274+00:002013-01-17T12:44:15.274+00:00Michael, over several years on the Thanet blogging...Michael, over several years on the Thanet blogging scene a persistent contributor has regularly, under various guises, psuedonyms or even anonymously, accused a certain councillor of perjury and underhand dealing. It seems very much like a personal grudge and he even posted the perjury accusation on BigNews Margate the day after said councillor had lost his wife. How's that for nasty.<br /><br />I think you and I both know the source (think Deal bombing if you don't), but you have to wonder what generates such ongoing spite. Yes, we all get a bit cross at times and maybe briefly hacked off with another's argument, but persistent hate must surely ultimately eat away at the accuser.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-35359916434446646862013-01-17T12:13:16.049+00:002013-01-17T12:13:16.049+00:00Difficult to tell Tom, from my position – doing th...Difficult to tell Tom, from my position – doing the shopping on my day off – and trying to work out what all that was about, reading glasses phone screen and poor signal.<br /><br />I guess there are quite a few people who would like to see this blog close and I can see no other motive for comment like that.<br /><br />Anyway many thanks for pointing it out, with all of the spam comment at the moment it is only really feasible for me to read the notification emails from commentators like yourself, who are signed on to blogge,r so their blogger name appears in the email subject; all the rest appearing as anonymous. <br />Michael Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-77534827823528555382013-01-17T11:08:31.139+00:002013-01-17T11:08:31.139+00:00Lots of naming and shaming Gypsy Jack (alias Rick)...Lots of naming and shaming Gypsy Jack (alias Rick) without a shred of real evidence. Be careful you do not get Michael sued by one of the several people you have named.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-44943430908459747282013-01-17T10:51:01.566+00:002013-01-17T10:51:01.566+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Gypsy Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-48481575180149740062013-01-17T09:07:00.658+00:002013-01-17T09:07:00.658+00:00For the same reason Dopey was not leader of the Se...For the same reason Dopey was not leader of the Seven Dwarfs perhaps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-86266711646958133052013-01-17T09:05:47.332+00:002013-01-17T09:05:47.332+00:00Why don't you run for office and show them how...Why don't you run for office and show them how it is done, 10:01?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-21998165773279506712013-01-16T22:13:25.663+00:002013-01-16T22:13:25.663+00:00Why is Ian Driver not the Leader of the Independen...Why is Ian Driver not the Leader of the Independent Councillors?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-17692205043792350252013-01-16T22:01:29.383+00:002013-01-16T22:01:29.383+00:00If our elected councillors were doing their jobs t...If our elected councillors were doing their jobs they would be joining with Mr. Driver to root out those responsible for this appalling incompetence and ensuring that the taxpayer's money is being properly spent. Tory and Labour councillors should hang their heads in shame. This is happening now and its happening on their watch. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-49230498863678223582013-01-16T17:34:49.290+00:002013-01-16T17:34:49.290+00:00I hope this isn't one of the purportedly inter...<a href="https://www.duedil.com/company/07866803/the-kent-hotel-company-limited" rel="nofollow"> I hope this isn't one of the purportedly interested hotel companies </a> <br /><br />The lack of information is lamentable. Luckily I have a plan.<br /><br />We will park up some caravans and erect our Dale Farm banner. Then wait to see who goes to Court to evict us. Our counsel can seek disclosure through the courts of all documents pertaining to ownership, overlordship or occupancy rights of the applicant. <br /><br />Or will we see a new company "Site Security Kent", registered in Billericay, gaining a TDC contract to guard the site ?<br /><br /><br /><br />Gypsy Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-36337401743808552252013-01-16T16:47:35.047+00:002013-01-16T16:47:35.047+00:00Maybe the use of the term 'minutes' gives ...Maybe the use of the term 'minutes' gives those present some leeway as this suggests something formal. Although minutes might reasonably be expected to be available for scrutiny by councillors and more importantly the taxpayers perhaps those present for TDC could be asked whether they made notes (either formal or informal). These could then be made available if taken. Surely it would be astonishing to find that nobody from TDC made any notes especially if there is even the slightest possibility of some sort of future legal action.<br /><br />I don't agree with Councillor Driver's politics but he seems to be doing a great job on this one so please keep on going - you might actually get something worthwhile happening on the site through your persistance.<br /><br />Not providing or providing sparse details of what is going on with Pleasurama is only going to fuel the conspiracy theories (although some of the theories may prove to be correct!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-78450149262526985122013-01-16T16:09:56.469+00:002013-01-16T16:09:56.469+00:00I don't know if the police are the right peopl...I don't know if the police are the right people to start with but someone needs to try and get to the bottom of this. As I have said before, I suspect that the developers are trying to get their hands on a prime piece of real estate at a knock down price, so that they can hang on to it until land prices recover before selling it off (probably to TDC) at a huge profit.<br />I don't share Ian's politics but by God I wish there were other councillors with the cojones to take on what is looking increasingly like a vested interest.Tim Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360638835659673415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-30480348518144762392013-01-16T14:28:15.376+00:002013-01-16T14:28:15.376+00:00So can we all John. Someone needs to expose not on...So can we all John. Someone needs to expose not only the subject matter but the way TDC do business. Currently Driver is the only one out of all of them who is prepared to put his money where his mouth is. I wish he would join the conservatives and take the leadership unless there are skeletons in their cupboard too. We might get somewhere then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-54655116871782984872013-01-16T14:18:34.930+00:002013-01-16T14:18:34.930+00:00And what crime are the police supposed to investig...And what crime are the police supposed to investigate, 12:06? Unless there is due cause for them to suspect criminality they simply cannot, nor do they have the time, to go around investigating the activities of local councils. Perhaps you can formally make a complaint to them, backed with evidence, to kick thimngs off or is this, as I suspect, your usual call for someone else to do your work for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-48336149629874007922013-01-16T12:44:19.425+00:002013-01-16T12:44:19.425+00:00Anonymous 12:25,
I can make a guess at why TDC do...Anonymous 12:25,<br /><br />I can make a guess at why TDC does not wish to publish a record of the meeting.John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-5481938225587595092013-01-16T12:41:35.003+00:002013-01-16T12:41:35.003+00:00Tom,
I agree. Ian Driver is not one to hide from...Tom,<br /><br /> I agree. Ian Driver is not one to hide from the spotlight. But on this occasion it is not just about him; it is also about us. I do not share his politics. But I cheer him on in his endeavour to shed light on the Pleasurama debacle. John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-54167389692106079142013-01-16T12:25:22.488+00:002013-01-16T12:25:22.488+00:00I do wish the comments could stay on subject which...I do wish the comments could stay on subject which is the Council's handling of this matter. At the moment Driver is a one man opposition to the current antics of Hart, Poole McGonigal and Seed. How dare they represent us at a secret meeting and produce no minutes, and why don't they want a record of the meeting. Also, why are the Conservatives not banging a very load opposition drum on this one. Too cosy with McGonigal and Seed probably Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-40547581166855864932013-01-16T12:06:11.205+00:002013-01-16T12:06:11.205+00:00self interest or not this has shown that someone o...self interest or not this has shown that someone or more have things to hide time for police inveastigation int this shambloic farceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-44281504386713479362013-01-16T11:43:37.591+00:002013-01-16T11:43:37.591+00:00I think the criticism is not about the publicity o...I think the criticism is not about the publicity of this particular problem but the self proclamation so often associated with Cllr Driver. In this instance he may just be serving public interest, but all too frequently he has an entirely self motivated political agenda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-12534650791171632992013-01-16T11:23:59.987+00:002013-01-16T11:23:59.987+00:00Ian Driver is doing a fine job. He has a trenchant...Ian Driver is doing a fine job. He has a trenchant argument. In response to which TDC Officers are palpably dissembling. This could be under instructions.<br /><br />Mark Seed's drafting skill is below the standard that I would expect from a public servant. Does this hint at general incompetence, maybe not. <br /><br />It is curious why some are criticising Ian driver for seeking publicity. But Publicity is the whole point. Publicity will shed a flood of light on the protracted debacle that is the Pleasurama Site. John Holyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284672912775316883noreply@blogger.com