Head honchos at TDC and Pleasurama crunch day

With Sandy Ezekiel re-elected as leader of the council I feel some comment is due here, firstly I have to say that he has generally treated me with courtesy and usually answers my emails.

Confidential communications from conservative councillors would suggest that they are unsurprised and split about 50 50 over the decision.

However talent in government in Thanet is limited and at the moment we are faced with the choice of governance that is ether a Labour of Conservative cabinet made up of councillors in safe seats, and the irony that the cabinet selects the leader and the leader selects the cabinet.

It begs the question is this in the spirit of democracy?

The only solution that I can see here is a leader of the council elected by the people of Thanet who would be able to use the best of the talent from all political persuasions.

We are able to do this now by petitioning for election of a political mayor, not to be confused with the existing ceremonial mayors, who would lead the council and select councillors for appropriate briefs.

Next I have been tying to find out exactly ho much pay senior council officers really get, this is not an easy task.

I now have the following information, which may be of some help untangling the puzzle.

9. REMUNERATION OF EMPLOYEES

2006/07
Number of Staff followed by Remuneration Band Number
10 £50,000 – 60,000
9 £60,001 – 70,000
- £70,001 – 80,000
3 £80,001 – 90,000
- £90,001 – 100,000
1 £100,001 – 110,000
- £110,001 – 170,000
1 £170,001 – 180,000


The table above shows the number of employees whose remuneration exceeded £50,000. Remuneration is defined as the amounts paid to or receivable by an employee, and includes sums due by way of expenses allowance and the estimated money value of any other benefits received by an employee other than cash. Employee pension contributions are now included here, so the figures for 2006/07 have been restated to reflect this.

Finally Pleasurama decision day the irony here is that I am only hoping for a decision that ensures we get a development that hasn’t the potential to kill or injure its inhabitants. In most towns one would expect local government to also insist that a development in a prime site in between a building of international architectural significance and adjacent to our Royal Harbour should be of some architectural merit.

The picture is of wave overtopping on the eastern undercliff once again nothing special about it as it’s a regular occurrence.

The last of the ordinary spring tide and moderate sea videos shows that our harbour is capable of providing humorous entertainment as well.