I think this link should work OK https://plus.google.com/photos/103118335852639233427/albums/5947309833580746545?banner=pwa&sort=1
you may have to click on the button that says “all photos” top left of the
page.
There are also the other pictures I took today and a lot of
repetitions, the way Google manages its photo sharing has changes slightly and
to be hones I am not quite sure what you will see, at the moment there should
be 318 photos including some of my thumb etc.
I am unlikely to try and sort them out today as I am busy with
other things.
Excellent pictures: it needs reopening as the new RTC seafront place is far too small for public meetings. And the interior of Albion House looks as though it's been left derelict by the councillors. Did they sell off all the furniture and artefacts in the end?
ReplyDelete7.44 as I said in Friday’s post this opening was to allow people to see it before it is turned into a hotel, you obviously aren’t aware of what is going on in Ramsgate, negotiations to get it restored and into use as a hotel have been going on for a number of years.
DeletePublic meetings in Ramsgate are normally held in Chatham House School I don’t think there is the money to have a public meeting room that would be mostly empty when we have a space at the school.
You yourself seem unaware of events in Ramsgate Michael. Public events and certainly council meetings are held in the new too-small RTC building. Overflow events as it is too small are often then in Chatham House.
DeleteThe hotel plans have been bubbling along for a while but the councillors seem unable to explain the costs/consultation etc of any sale. Or the previous failure to repair Albion House.
Similarly silence on the artefacts. 3-5 years? And decades for the repairs?
Money is less an issue as RTC is part-funded by TDC from its £60M and KCC form it's £2Bn and its own tax of c.£250k. Waste, incompetence and corruption is expensive though.
Even the councillors think they are rubbish. TDC has collapsed:
ReplyDelete2.8. It is suggested by the independent members of theStandards Committee that
the Council is held in low regard by the public. An,admittedly unscientific,
assessment of comments made (in the press, local bloggers, twitter,
personal conversations, by local interest groups etc) suggest that there is a
local suspicion of secrecy, corruption and distance between the Council as it
is perceived in the offices in Cecil Square, the reality of people’s lives and
the needs of the district.
2.9. Independent members of the Standards Committees have observed the
demeanour of Councillors within the Council chamber towards each other,
and towards members of the public. The perception of the independent
members of the Standards Committee is that of demonstrable distrust
between members, and between the councillors and the general public. On
some occasions this distrust has taken the form of outright hostility.
2.10. Independent members of the Standards Committee have witnessed many
personal attacks taking place between members during debates, and from
their position in the public gallery have heard the overwhelming view from
members of the public that the councillors are not serving the public by
whom they were elected. Indeed, attendance at Councilmeetings is seen by
some to be a form of entertainment.
2.11. Correspondence published in the local press, including official press releases
and the columns written by the leaders of the main political parties, include
personal attacks, between members, and on some occasions towards
individual members of the public.
8.07 pasting great chunks of text from other websites into the comment form is generally seen as spamming.
DeleteThe conduct of certain independent members in the council chamber has not been beyond reproach so why some should think they have the right to criticise others is laughable to say the least. It should be a lay body that judges council performance, not other councillors.
DeleteThe report was written by independent members of the Standards Committee - these are lay members who are not councillors. It is not the same thing as independent elected Councillors.
DeleteAnon, I was referring to posts elsewhere where a certain independent councillors has chosen to highlight this report as though it applies to other councillors in general but not him. The Standards Committee is made up predominantly by councillors when best interests of the public might be better served by having an totally independent overseer.
DeleteBy the way, Michael, as once again we seem to be heading off thread thanks to the bit of spam at 8:07, loved the pictures. What a shame the RTC decided to give up this lovely building so suited to be a proper town hall. Recall going there pre RTC days when it was the Ramsgate Mayor's Parlour, with a group of ATC cadets and being shown the mayor's robes and tools of office by the town sergeant. Wish the hotel well, but how much better if the town had retained the building as its civic centre.
DeleteWilliam The Council will be missing a trick if they use this independently written report to crcle the wagons and use it as a stick to bash the somewhat errant Councillors who use their position to highlight the chasm that exists in Council.
DeleteThe two leaders of the main political parties should be dealing with the minority of long serving (in the main) who use the Council chamber to abuse the other side. This maybe what politics is like in Westminster but it doesn't play well in the mind of the Public in Thanet.
As an example members of the public looked on when one long serving Councillor baited another on the opposite side over him being sacked from his job leading to an explosion of anger and a confrontation in the chamber. It was unnecessary and irrelevant to the discussion going on and furthermore demeaned the Council. Both leaders did nothing and neither did the chair except call a short recess to let tempers calm down. (I heard it called a circus)
It also doesn't help when the leader of the Council uses his position to try and humiliate a member of the public during question time that also demeans the Council.
This Standards Report does not pull it's punches and all Councillors should read it and take in the entirety of the report, whether training is the way forward can be debated, however if every Councillor that reads it and doesn't take its conclusions to heart believing it doesn't apply to them then nothing will have been learnt,
What is required is Strong Leadership from all parties not "circling the wagons" or as the report highlights a "seige mentality".
William I am not that worried about it going off thread but was a bit miffed by a great chunk of unexplained and obviously pasted text, however now I know it has come from the council’s website I can see why it is interesting people.
DeleteFrankly I though the photos a bit of a mess, I have only just had a chance to look at them, the whole thing says to me that I should have taken a proper camera and not relied on my mobile.
The lazy men or in my case the man in a hurry, takes the pictures with the smartphone because they automatically publish to the internet and all I have to do is highlight the whole batch, share them and copy the link to them.
Barry I guess the message from the electorate to both of the main parties at the last TDC elections, which seems to be confirmed by what the locals say about the council, which is bury your differences and sort the main Thanet problems has fallen on deaf ears.
Must we have Cllr Epps repeat posting? Whatever happened to his one post a day. Surely he should be busy in the council chamber not on this blog trying to improve TDC? Although he does seem to be arguing again that all is perfect.
DeleteSo, Anon 11:12, up you pop with your usual criticism. When Michael restricts me to one post a day I will comply, but, until then, I think it is time for change, certainly of your stuck in the groove record. Since it evidently escaped your notice, parish councillor is not a full time job and what exactly would one do in an empty council chamber. Suppose I could sit there transcribing other peoples twitter comments like you, for all the good that does.
DeletePerhaps you can also explain why criticising RTC's decision to leave Albion House is arguing that all is perfect. Also doubt you have ever heard me praising the present administration at TDC.
William I think poor old 11.12 has managed to get this sorted into a document on his desktop and is going to paste it again and again into the comment form until I decide it is spam. I guess this is what happens when the subject under discussion is too difficult for the commentator.
DeleteThis is what you said Cllr Epps: "The conduct of certain independent members in the council chamber has not been beyond reproach so why some should think they have the right to criticise others is laughable to say the least" - hardly critical of TDC. And the Broadstairs council chamber is presumably not empty for its meetings or work beyond those? Perhaps it is and you are simply doing nothing other than posting here with a Tory Party line. You seem desperate to put a gloss on TDC and its corruption failings.
DeleteThink what you like, 11:57. Attending meetings is rather different to you suggesting I should be down the council chamber on a Monday morning. What is the Tory party line on Albion House? I didn't know there was one and the only thing I am keen to put a gloss on is my front door when I get around to painting it. Thought it was time for change of its colour.
DeleteDon't you just LOVE the way Driver and his sorry band of whiners and nimbys try to harang the committee as homophobic and bigotted for DARING to investigate one of his previous colleagues in a political party he abandoned (I know that's a VERY long list!), but then he go onto crow about how he decides to break rules her doesn't like, all while insisting that in this case the committee is 100% correct, because he see their decisions to be in is favour?
ReplyDeleteFunny, it seems Driver loses credibility with every word he posts, no need for me to assist, apart from it's effortess.
John I guess we a are all aware of your compulsive obsession with Ian Driver, but for the rest of us who don’t hang on to his every word, any chance you could explain what it is your are talking about.
DeleteCompulsive indeed and Hamilton's criticism is tedious - and Driver has raised Pleasurama, animal exports, filming censorship and (briefly) the corruption at TDC. Why councillors are denied the report and accounts each month makes a mockery of their role in reviewing performance at TDC and leaves the as mere bickering apes as per the report above.
DeleteHamilton's criticism is far less tedious than yours, Garbage, and I know what he is talking about with Driver even if Michael chooses not to.
DeleteSorry despite the comments I still don’t know who is investigating who or why. Does anyone else?
DeleteI have recently moved to the area and I hear a lot of comments about corruption in TDC, is it really that bad down here?
ReplyDeleteNice try, Garbutt, but you fool no one. Far from just moving here you seem to be in the process of selling up. Please let it be that you are moving far, far away.
DeleteChecksfield, interesting how you will accept on the say so of people like Barnes and James that John Hamilton lives in Arizona, there being not the slightest proof, yet you are unwilling to accept that there are those of us who recognise Tim Garbutt contributions.
DeleteSometimes Checksfield will put up anonymous posts in the style of Tim Garbutt. Hence his post at 2:44pm.
Delete2:33, I do not even know who Garbutt is, I have moved to West Cliff Road, from Herne Bay, previously lived in Hythe, Ashford, Bexleyheath areas and have never heard any rumours of corruption in any of those areas, but hear it all the time down here.
ReplyDeleteAnon if you don’t wish to be treated rudely and for it to assumed by normal commentators to be a spammer (hi I am new on this forum is how a very large proportion of spam comments start) use a nom de blog. This doesn’t compromise your anonymity but does prevent you from being treated like a total nonentity. Unless of course you are a total nonentity.
DeleteThink Michael recognises him as well, Checksfield.
Deletethanks guys, nom de blog it is then.
DeleteThanks for the pictures Michael. Lets hope that the hotel is successful in bringing visitors into Ramsgate
ReplyDeletegood to have a local blog site, like the area and am interested in learning more about it. Any further news on the potential Wetherspoonjs development?
ReplyDeleteIt's being demolished.
DeleteNo, it's going to be a Care Home for those afflicted with garbuttittis.
DeleteIt is most odd that a bunch of towns folk argue the toss who is who and forget about the reason for the post. Stay on line and in fact ive just read a load of drivel from a bunch of the usual cronies ...peter where is your buddy? Another one who brings politics into every line he uses same as holyer and hamilton you three sound like the 3 stooges. Michael I always love your photographs and I too went to see albion house and wow kent county council trashed the place as usual how dare they trash something that was built for queen victoria and princess victoria, they would be turning in their graves in the lack of respect all 3 councils don.
ReplyDeleteYou are not getting my clothes off you perv. You stick with your other stooges Holyer and Hamilton and fill the blogs with your politics and rubbish.
DeletePeter, I commented on here just before lunch and have just returned after going out for three hours. In my absence I see you have referred to me a couple of times as though I am somehow involved in this thread. I am not and frankly I find all this anonymous or silly name commenting as tiresome as you appear to do.
DeleteOn the Tim Garbutt thing, John Holyer and I both took a lot of stick from him over Manston, both being ex RAF, and ageism because we are retired. I will be the first to admit there was a bit of payback when we first twigged (or more correctly were guided to) who he was, but I am now more than happy to ignore him. I also know that John Holyer is up to his eyebrows in decorating so has not been blogging much lately.
Evidently a few people have now latched onto TG, who is not the most popular soul in Ramsgate, and at least one seems to see his hand in every anonymous comment. So be it, but I suggest you follow your own advice given below and don't feed the trolls whoever they are.
Peter, I know which messages came from Garbutt, but I now no longer care, in fact, I am probably sorry for him. I also agree it is boring which is why I suggested, as I have done before elsewhere, that we both ignore him.
DeleteAs for the list, yes I know quite well about the councillors in recent years who have been convicted and of the one who received a caution, which incidentally is not a criminal conviction, and that they have been Conservatives. That, however, does not mean the on going and still serving Conservative councillors are criminal or corrupt. Such a suggestion would be libellous.
Pete, You are bandying my name about, yet again. You are clearly obsessed with me. On and on you cluck scratching around searching for anything to say. You're like the cock who thought sun had risen to hear him crow.
DeleteI loved seeing inside the house, I love houses and good luck to ben and emma and cannot wait for the finished development, the council even drilled holes to see if there was asbestos, they delayed paper I here, artefacts is another issues that needs looking into. I too find it strange that the chair of the standards committee has suggested training at tax payers expense, what about disciplinary procedures like most people when they work have to go through, 3 strikes and you no longer have your licence to be a councillor. Unless it is a crime hmmm I lost count how many crimes the current councillors have committed, yes you are all to blame. Accessory to .....and training omg, training for your early retirements more like!!!
ReplyDeleteI know who makes the 'here' for 'hear' mistake, Peter, but I wonder if we are talking about the same person. I doubt it somehow as for some bizarre reason you will not accept who the regular mindless troll on this blog really is.
DeleteI read all the blogs with avid note taking and wonder why cllrs that represent us act in an way a 5 year old would know how to behave is beyond me. These are elected people? People here in Thanet have lost a vote of confidence in all cllrs and relationships are at rock bottom. Standards, you do not have any standards that is half of the problem, you attack, you bully, you gag, all for what reason are you doing this? Are you setting an example for the public, I think not and certainly not for future voters, yes where is your code of ethics and morals?
ReplyDeleteloads mr checksfield you tell us seeing that you know so much about thanet council ?
ReplyDeletePete your 6:43 pm.
ReplyDeleteNo, you won't. You are too much in love with yourself to abandon your existing profile picture. The one that makes you look like a louche matinee idol advertising Brylcreem.
Peter,
DeleteMidge, midge - isn't that some kind of irritating flying insect. I don't know what a Ure is but I'm sure you'll be very good at it.
Now, enough of this badinage. I must go upstairs and clear the mess from my painting.