I expect a lot of drivel will be posted about Ian Drivers resignation from the Labour Group on TDC and most of it will be just that, drivel. There will also be the usual speculation, rumour and sly innuendo from the usual selection of anonymous posters who troll through blogs looking to make trouble where none exists.
The cause of the resignation was over whether or not TDC should spend £20,000 on floral displays throughout Thanet. Ian Driver thought the money would be better spent elsewhere, he didn’t say where though!
In terms of TDC’s total budget of about £22.5 million, 20 grand is a paltry sum to spend making the area look a bit more appealing to residents and visitors alike.
The fact is that we are a tourist area and are in competition with other seaside towns that spend money on floral displays and decorations, to compete we have to provide a similar offering.
There is also a school of thought that thinks the events and floral displays budget is a waste and Town Councils should fund those things as they want them. The problem with that is that the residents of the various towns will have to fund it from an increased Town precept having already paid part of their Council Tax to TDC for such things. That is double taxation and it is not part of Labour’s remit to tax folks twice for the same thing.
This year’s budget for events and floral displays is coming from something called The New Homes bonus. This is a sum paid to all Councils to match the amount raised from the Council Tax from new houses built in the District. So if there are 10 new homes built in a District and that raises £1000 in additional tax the Government will match that with £1000. Rather worryingly the Gazette referred to it is a grant for housing, its not. It can be spent as the local authority sees fit as it isn’t ring fenced.
As Clive Hart said in the press The Labour Group spent over an hour discussing changes to this years budget and although small they seek to relieve the burden on Thanet residents and to provide some small help and assistance to hard pressed shopkeepers, some entertainment to residents and visitors alike and to keep hope alive in the coming year. Hopefully next years budget will be an exercise spreading what little money is available across the whole Island in a fair and equitable manner to reinvigorate the whole area and not just small enclaves covering Councillors pet projects.
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32 comments:
One man's drivel is another's read of the day. Yes, there will be great speculation over Cllr Driver's reasoning, should he seek re-election, was he ever right for Labour in the first place and so on. Fact remains is that he has done what he previously threatened to do.
Comparisons with the John Worrow saga will be inevitable. Some will suggest a meeting of like minds though I would think more a case of inability to conform to a party discipline is more appropriate.
The upshot of it all is that TDC becomes even more hung and it will take a lot of good sense from the more experienced hands, on all sides, to ensure the best interests of the people are prioritised.
Perhaps a Coalition?
Isle of Thanet Gazette reports it as being £200,000:
"The budget sends out the wrong message to people. I realise most of the work was done before Labour took over but an events and flowers budget of almost £200,000 really shows the party has not got a grip on reality."
Thats one all then Mike!
Mr Driver says 200k but the actual combined figure for both flowers and events is 185k.
To clarify the events budget is 165k and the flowers to which Mike is referring is indeed 20k.
He raised concerns primarily about flowers and later the overall budget.
The Tories originally proposed a cut to the events budget and suggested that town/parishes can pick up the shortfall in community events.
I'm surprised you're commenting on Councillor Harrison's blog given that you doubt his truthfulness, Tom Clarke. I refer to your contribution to your Anti-Worrow Campaign Leader's blog (the odious Thanet Life) doubting Councillor Harrison's reference to Tories who see their North Thanet colleagues in a very bad light.
Obviously you bask in the attention.
0842 at least Tom doesn't hide behind anonymous. Mike, of course, is still deeply ashamed over the way that the champagne (well more like Asti) socialists in charge of TDC now treated a real socialist before the last election. And they were warned often enough at the time what a liability Driver would be. And I'm still waiting for Mike to unequivocally condemn the racist Diane Abbott rather than the weasel words he has used to date.
Oh Tom Clarke, you are such an expert on everything in the whole wide world. I am completely in awe of you...
Bit like hiding behind a "blogger profile not available", eh, "Tim Clark"
08:42 I thought I was too nasty to engage in echanges with, but evidently your combination of hatred, curiosity and awe got the better of you.
One does not have to agree with everything Mike says to comment on his blog. If one did there would be no point in debate for we would simply endorse each others comments. How boring!
Tim Clark revels in taking a sideways swipe at Labour on TDC in dragging up the long forgotten Mark Nottingham deselection. For the record, again, it was the ordinary members of Ramsgate Labour Party that chose to select the current crop of Councillors NOT Clive Hart or Alan Poole as they are both members of other Branches.
The same applies to Ian Driver.
The prospective candidates make speeches.
The ordinary members decide.
Its called, err, erm, err,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Democracy.
And when members/supporters of the Tory Party start apologizing for David Cameron for his bigoted, intolerant, outdated I know best ‘holier than thou’ attitude I will apologize for Dianne Abbot
The Two Clarke brothers are none other than Roger and Sandy
Surely not, there's no hint of slurring.
19:11 and 08:13 should be at the Golden Globes on a nomination for being the smart arses of the year.
Well that rules them out of membership of the Tory Party then. Sorry you don't have a sense of humour, 09.50. Or perhaps...
Hi Mike
I am interested in your assertion that this years budget contains elements of councillors pet projects. Perhaps you could enlighten us all?
Still waiting for the Golden Rivet story promised above as well....
Sorry, but Cameron's comments were not illegal, Abbott's were. From which we deduce that illegal actions by left-wingers are OK in your book.
Trouble-making little shit, aren't you, Tim Clark?
21:07, you really are the anonymous little hero aren't you. Bet you feel ever so brave calling people a shit when they have no idea who you are.
If you disagree with Tim why not debate the point, like come up with some alternative argument or is that beyond your brain cell count.
Getting back on thread and away from these personal insult comments, I think Ian Driver's behaviour is disgraceful. Seems to me he is only interested in raising his own profile, fighting his pet issues and totally ignoring the Labour party manifesto on which he was elected.
If he wants to pursue his own agenda he should go back to the electorate and stand on that. By his conduct he has placed at risk the Thanet Labour administration just as it has taken over.
A rejection of the very people, Labour supporters, who elected him in effect. Unlike John Worrow, Ian cannot blame it on poor treatment from is Labour council colleagues.
Tom Clarke, are you now a double act with Tim Clark? You seem to be answering for each other. Perhaps the other anonymous's speculation about your identity was correct. The Isle's very own comedy double act, Roger and Sandy. Biff, biff, hic!
I think you will find that on a Tuesday both Roger and Laura are in London with more important things to do than comment on little Thanet blogs. Anyway, you have a nice day.
Since when did Sandy start calling himself Laura? Methinks another trip to Specsavers for you, old fruity.
Well strange things happen in the world today and folk call themselves all sorts of names, but then you would know more about that than me.
To be honest, I thought your reference to Sandy was some sort of nick name for Sandys. What the odds, though, for I am not any of them.
Tom Clarke, I doubt there is anything in the whole wide world about which I know more than you. Oh fount of knowledge.
No need to grovel, my son. Just a bit of respect will suffice.
In your dreams, old fruity. Respect has to be earned.
Jerry, I presume?
Margot? Or Miss Mountshaft?
Now what would you know about Miss Mountshaft?
She presided over a masterly Sound of Music production.
Strange, I thought she was with the Pacemakers.
She may, by now, have had one fitted.
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