Alan Poole and Michelle Fenner appear to have resigned, I will
get confirmation and add to this post as the information is confirmed.
This seems a case of two queens in the hive causing a swarm, the rumour is that Iris Johnston kicked Alan Poole out of the cabinet causing Alan Poole and Michelle Fenner to resign from the Labour group and maybe even the Labour party. Still no confirmation from TDC, no one there seemed to know about this but they have promised to phone me back
Ok sorry about the messy post I am busy in my bookshop
today, editing a new local history book, but I will attempt to bang out a bit
of editorial here.
I would say that although we have three labour members who
have left the cabinet it doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t vote for a/any
Labour leader tomorrow.
I also have my doubts that the Conservatives would want to
take over the leadership at the moment and think it likely that they would be
busy negotiating with Iris to ensure the get some good representation on
committees.
There are various problems at the council at the moment one
being that they haven’t yet shaken of the Sandy Ezekiel trial and associated public
perception, another being that the most likely reason Clive Hart resigned is
the EKO investigation and the associated fallout and that the other person
being investigated here is the chief executive.
Now under the new government system we have at TDC, which is
strong leader and cabinet, the “strong leader” can refuse to accept the chief
executive, this is also combined with a change in the rules over 151 officers
and other stuff which to most people is just gibberish, seems to mean that a
leader could have pretty much any council officer the want.
Don’t get me wrong here I am not saying that the previous
leader or the current chief executive have done anything wrong, just that they
are both under investigation and that any new leader would have considerable
problems functioning with a chief executive who is under investigation,
particularly with the current public perception of the council.
In short “interesting times at town hall” and I think that
at the moment there may be a consensus emerging that Iris may be the woman for
the job.
There is also a question going begging here: where there any members of the Labour group who would have accepted the job of leader who would have been acceptable to the whole group?
Anyway the council have now closed for the day and I still have no confirmation that there have been any resignations.
I wonder whether anyone really knows if anyone
resigned.
There is also a question going begging here: where there any members of the Labour group who would have accepted the job of leader who would have been acceptable to the whole group?
Anyway the council have now closed for the day and I still have no confirmation that there have been any resignations.
Glad to see the Gazette are as confused as I am
Good. Macgonigal out next.
ReplyDeleteWhat is bint Harrison doing in the cabinet?
I try to avoid knee jerk reaction, or indeed, reaction of any sort.
ReplyDeleteBut when I read this, my immediate thoughts were, in this order ... 'Pathetic' ... 'Play Nicely Children' ... 'So, still toxic as reported'.
Our elected members [and some paid officers] seem hell bent on making TDC a laughing stock and first prize winners in the 'Rotten Boroughs' column in Private Eye.
Angry? No1 Sad? Yep, that these individuals presumably once had good intentions.
The is some of the best news for Thanet in years. Alan has been doing a hobby for a number of years which - frankly - he is just not very good at. But this now brings in the question of will Iris be in power on Thursday? It also puts the power in Tom King's Independents hands.
ReplyDeleteRumour has it that the Tories, not wanting to lead a hung council, will vote for Ian Driver. Frankly, Labour having done their best to jeopardise their local support, not to mention screw up young Will's chances, could do a lot worse than elect Will Scobie as leader. Young, untarnished, intelligent and a prospect for the future, he might just be the one to pull the council together for this last year before they all have to stand for re-election.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope Worrows support means Iris clears out Gregory and Harrison as well as Mcgonigal
ReplyDelete4:34, Iris cannot clear out Gregory as he is an elected councillor. Only the electorate can do that, assuming he stands again in 2015. Likewise, she cannot clear out Harrison although she can ensure he plays no part in her cabinet. Dare I say it, but you do seem a bit short on understanding how local government and the electoral process works. Leader of the council is not a dictatorship, even in Thanet!
ReplyDeleteThank God we only have these clowns for another year. Let's dismiss them all at the polls so that they can sign up for courses on 'how to behave in public service'. This lot? You really couldn't make it up. I refer especially to the braggarts and soap box muppets who look daft and then open their mouths and confirm it.
ReplyDeleteYou agree with me on Harrison. And with Gregory a new Leader can call for his resignation over the Aids remark.
ReplyDelete5:23, the council leader cannot call on any councillor to resign. It doesn't work like that so you are still showing your ignorance. Furthermore, I do not agree with you on Harrison but simply pointed out that the leader can choose whether or not to have him in the cabinet. Whatever, he remains a councillor until the 2015 election. Please do try to take something on board.
DeleteMoores is beyond reproach on Michael's blog of course. ..
ReplyDeleteIf there's any hero in all this, isn't it Ian Driver? It's his complaint that led to the downfall of these people, isn't it?
DeleteAll say "Ah, Ambrosia" or words to that effect. Seems that Thanet Watch has now moved even left of Labour.
DeleteHave you read the magazine?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSorry about that Peter, I’ve removed it.
DeleteMichael reduced to censorship of himself now?!
DeleteWhile all this goes on the Pleasurama saga remains on the back burner and legal papers have yet to be served on SFP Ventures. Message for IRIS please get rid of SFP sharpish so we can get the seafront sorted
ReplyDeleteAmazing you should say this Barry. You have been brought out yourself! A couple of meetings and you feel you are the great man of Ramsgate! It's the only issue you know anything about, so why are you not shouting about it more?
DeleteFor anyone who wants a glimpse from inside the seething cauldron which is Thanet Council, they could do worse than read Deep Throat in the latest issue of Thanet Watch magazine...
ReplyDeleteSeems Kim Gibson has left labour as well!
ReplyDelete