Wednesday, 4th June, 2014
Tick list
I was having lunch with the author of that other website earlier when conversation turned to the community of cyber warriors being whipped into action by the Pembrokeshire Alliance through the medium of Facebook.
Even Old Grumpy has logged-on to their page – a couple of days ago actually – where he said he stumbled upon a post by the party’s leader, Cllr. Bob Kilmister, appealing for ideas to promote his new grassroots political movement among the masses by “advertising what we stand for.”
Cllr. Kilmister said in his post that the party could benefit from a slogan, and tentatively suggested TICK = Transparency, Integrity and Competence, but requested suggestions for the missing K to complete what he called the ‘tick list.’
It seems like they quickly settled with “Keeping our promises,” because a few hours later a new post appeared, accompanied with a mock-up advert featuring the new slogan (in acrostic form) and the Pembrokeshire flag draped with a large tick.
Following a gulp of Abbot Ale, Old Grumpy expressed his surprise that the party overlooked the obvious ‘H’ for ‘honesty,’ the de rigueur public service virtue.
When I asked him whereabouts he thought ‘Honesty’ could be squeezed into the TICK acronym without ruining its pronounceability, he just grinned and resumed the impressive demolition of his extra spicy tikka masala.
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Poor Grumpy.
A basic thesaurus would have spoiled his joke. Google ‘integrity definition’. First definition up rather reduces the spiciness of his thought processes!
They seem eager, but the PA have got to wait ages until the next election (2017) to realise if they are the IPPG’s TICKing time bomb or not.
I was always advised never to buy anything on tick.
Put in an R (reliable), that should do the trick.
But I do prefer the H to be honest.
I suppose that after the disturbing revelations about the goings on by both the majority group of councillors and their senior officer advisers, it is realistic to be cautious about new groups and even new “independent” or “no name” individual candidates.
Hopefully this new Alliance group will be up front about their candidates and the broad policies that it and they support. We might be able to vote with some knowledge. I am fed up voting for “independent no names” only to find post election that they have signed up for a group or party that I would not have supported had I known beforehand.
Are there any other new democratic developments or improvements on offer?
What will happen in the event of a council merger? Will we be electing a Pembrokeshire council within a larger merged authority?
We need to be at it! We need members and people to stand against ALL IPPG members. The time will go very quickly.
I hope all those who comment here will think about joining the Alliance. If not, at least put your money where your mouth is 😉 work on getting every one of them OUT!!
It takes time. Even if you stand as a true independent or as a member of another party, Pembrokeshire needs you to actually act and not just talk about it…
Sorry, soap box time! 🙂
As honesty and transparency seem compatible, how about the HICK party?
By the way, I did say that I liked Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious as an acronym to describe the Alliance.
Unfortunately, I was sent out to make the tea. 🙂
If the Alliance were elected under the present system the Council would be run by a leader and cabinet.
How do we know they would be any better than the present lot? I would like to see much more power vested in the Council as a whole with far less to officers.
Does the Alliance intend to achieve these objectives and if so, how?
Yes. By listening and adhering vigorously to the Nolan principles.
For more information visit the Pembrokeshire Alliance web site.
Change is only brought about by people working together. Otherwise you whistle in the wind. You will never be heard.
As the newest formed political party, perhaps transparency needs to be replaced by durability?
It seems we have more interest and discussion on acronyms and not policy & procedure. Still the IPPG run our County to the depths of despair and 2017 is a long way off. I’m sure Bryn Porsche Jones will be well gone by then!
I hope the Alliance start naming their candidates early and it will be interesting to see how many of the IPPG currently in place jump sides! I have little faith in them running the county though.
Until ALL councillors recognise that they can do nothing until the current constitution is revised to ensure that they, and not officers, can control and direct the Council’s business, elected representatives will not achieve anything, however they are elected.
The IPG have been revising the Constitution for over a year, advised by officers and the outcome has been NIL.
Significantly, it took a forced Council decision by all 60 members to ensure that all councillors and not just Cabinet, were able to determine schools reorganisation. This was stoutly resisted by Leader Adams.
One might almost imagine that officers and the Cabinet do not think that Councillors should play any role in the decisions they make on our behalf.
All expenditure decisions have been delegated to officers, including the allocation and use of both capital and revenue reserves. Can you see officers and Cabinet recommending that this changes?
The political spectrum in Pembs is diffuse, with no mainstream party able to form an administration, so enter the IPPG.
It seems lacking in principles, with no political aims beyond staying in power. Cllr Adams typified its ethos with his call to consider “results and not process”, the result being the waves of scandals breaking over the council in the past few years and no doubt more to come. Its slogan “Giving more for less”, could more accurately be re-stated as “Giving less for less”.
Some of its members think they have got on top of “safeguarding”, though judging by Jacob’s recent post on street lighting, it seems they possibly lack the competency to carry out this task, especially in the complex area of social services. They probably delude themselves as much as the electorate.
Against this background, the Alliance is more of an anti-corruption party than anything else, a focal point for disaffected IPPG members, or simply an alignment for genuine independents. All councillors should agree with its principles, and as a party it should be able to hold them to account.
As for getting in power. We have to trust all politicians here, but it has two huge advantages over the IPPG already – principles and a grass roots movement to hold their members to it.
The Queen’s Speech referred to an Act of Parliament intended to allow individual MPs to be removed by their constituents during their term of office. Will this extend to the lowly County Councillor? If not, why not?
I understand the attitude taken by those county councillors not in the IPPG, mainly I believe because of the close association between the IPPG and the CEO.
I am sure most of the ratepayers/taxpayers in Pembrokeshire are more interested in what they would have done differently over the past two years than suggestions for a slogan.
Might I tentatively suggest that a first step would be for the Leader (of the majority group) to be barred from appointing his/her cabinet members?
Such Cabinet appointments should be made by the full Council, based on applications and the best members appointed from across the Council. The Council must also have the power of dismissal. I am sure we could think of grounds where this might be considered appropriate based on recent revelations and individual actions.
Further suggestions are:-
Reduce the powers of officers to incur expenditure and allocate reserves. These should be subject to stepped financial limits and Cabinet/Council approval.
A formal public budget setting process, rather than the members-only seminars and Cabinet/Council rubber stamps.
None of this helps with county-wide policies where councillors are supposed to lead the community based on a mandate from the electorate.
Will it/can it ever be any better?
John, it could get better if the Leader and his Cabinet were chosen in the way you suggested, all the more important policy decisions ratified by the full Council and the Chief Executive and his staff empowered to carry out the instructions of the Council only. The functions of the Council need to be completely reviewed and alternative, more economic methods of delivery examined.
The staffing of the Council and salary levels of the Chief Officers need to be looked at and reassessed. However we really need new blood in the Council before any significant changes can be achieved and I’m afraid we will have to suffer this lot for a few years before that can happen.
Sealight – I think that it should!
I think that it should for serious misconduct, was the figure of 20% of the electorate mentioned in the form of a petition?
Keanjo, I cannot see how a “rag bag” of independent no name candidates can be elected on the grounds of having a united county policy or policies without being elected as a member of a group with a manifesto.
So far the Alliance presents the only option, if it can gather county wide support and candidates. There seems to be a general antipathy toward established main political parties who do not enjoy county wide support.
Sealight, I think you are right in that there is some limitation for petitions. I am not sure exactly what we are allowed to petition for. I am sure that is restricted.
It has always struck me odd that we have no constitutional right to submit petitions, on whatever Council matter we wish, to our council. There is nothing in the constitution that sets out how the Council deals with petitions and what we might expect by way of a response by Council. Process = nil, outcomes = silence, openness and transparency = how inconvenient.
John, surely in your post you were suggesting just that. The selection of a Leader and Cabinet from a ragbag of Councillors or have I misinterpreted your post?
I am surprised that, those of you “in the know”, have not made comment on the resignation of the independent chair of the Audit committee, John Evans, just the other day.
Keanjo, I apparently live in an ideal democratic fantasy world, where we mere electors get the opportunity to vote for a party or group of candidates with a manifesto, who will have the integrity to stand, as best they can, by their promises. If “it” appeals to the majority of us then it would stand a chance of becoming the majority group post election.
At least if Cabinet members were to be publicly elected by all councillors on the basis of merit, it would break the patronage currently available to one man/woman Leader of the Council.
Undoubtedly there would still be independent unaligned councillors, who would have the opportunity to play a part in the Council’s business without having to join or sign up to the majority group.
In my view, at the moment, we have a rag bag collection of councillors, some aligned to political parties pre-election, some who stood as independent or no name candidates. There is a growing number of independent unaligned councillors. There are no democratically mandated policies, even from the majority group. We have no idea what they will get up to post election and we are powerless.
Can anyone explain how a Council with a majority of independent unaligned councillors, could or would work, without them forming a group post election?
Are the people of Pembrokeshire not allowed to petition the WG or Ombudsman with our concerns over our local Council asking them to review? The more I look at this the IPPG are no more than a coalition.
If Members (ie individuals) started to pull out of the coalition it would eventually collapse. This may allow another party to take control or it may invoke a change before 2017. I’d like to think there are a few sheep thinking of wandering from their shepherd for pastures new.
That being the case, perhaps they can graze in the interim period on the grassy hillsides adorned by a grumpy few ‘true independents’ which would then perhaps initiate a change of control?
I’m also interested to hear why the Chairman of the Audit committee fell on his sword and also who may be in line to step up.
I believe John Hudson is exceptionally well qualified in local government, so we should take on board his comments.
The IPPG members are guilty of supporting an undemocratic system, which begs the question why are they in politics?
Perhaps the generous allocation of special responsibility allowances has more bearing on their motivation?
2017 is a long way off, but the PA can still achieve much, potentially even usurp the IPPG, though it will have to reach out to those members of this group who are concerned about its many shortcomings, as well as perhaps being able to work with other parties.
If Pembrokeshire is combined with Carmarthenshire, the big player will be Labour, but a strong Pembrokeshire based party can fight the county’s corner. In its present format the IPPG is highly unlikely to achieve that.
We have corruption, over paid officials, a democratic deficit and yet more scandals to come. If these issues are pressed home over the next few years, few IPPG members who can’t align themselves to the principles of the PA, (which all councillors should be able to anyhow), will find themselves electable in 2017.
John,
You despair, as I do, that normal political rules do not apply to Pembrokeshire.
It would seem sensible (essential) that any group of would-be councillors should provide a manifesto to state the principles and policy issues to which they will adhere for their elected term and since 1995 I have had a hand in such documents prepared every election by the Labour Party.
I accept that as we, the Labour Party, cannot field candidates in much more than half of the wards in the county not everyone sees it but, nevertheless, it does provide voters with some idea of what Labour candidates stand for. If only other parties would do the same it might make democracy healthier in Pembrokeshire.
Sadly, of course, when party members, individually, sell out by accepting the Leader’s shilling, it weakens our cause but we will persevere.
Jon, I have put in a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of the resignation letter.
Dave, as an incomer of only 20 odd years, I cannot recall ever having the opportunity to vote for a recognised political party.
Dear Old Bill Philpin was a known Liberal, who stood as an Independent candidate, joined the small Liberal Group but voted his own way.
My current councillor was a former IPG groupie (with an SRA), stood as an Independent but joined the new Conservative Group. (This Group of 3 voted every which way recently: for, against and an abstention).
I do not know where I am. If the Alliance can get support, we would know, hopefully, that it would be a mandated group against the IPG. If, that is, the IPG survives and post election can get supporters.
If the largest “group” is unaligned, in my view officers’ rule continues. I do not know what county policies they stand for.
Dave. Some guidance at last. I’ve bleated for a while that we need the national led parties to stand up more, be counted and lead the County onwards and upwards from the farmyard.
I’d honestly hope some of the sheep now start to think and act for themselves. It must have been a kick in the chops for them when you see the newbie Rumpole Summons get catapulted onto the gravy train despite losing his debate with Mighty Mike Stoddart.
Lest we forget before the summer recess why there is so much concern on blog sites and in the local newspaper and the majority of the community are up in arms about it.
I did challenge Cllr Nutting to fall on his sword and stand under the KNS Pembrokeshire Alliance banner but there has been little action. This would be the first test on the tick list to see if the Pembrokeshire Alliance is going to be considered by Joe Public as a ballplayer in local government.
They are similar to True Blue Sue and Half Hour Hancock in moving away from their election address and converting to another side for whatever reasons they did so. Perhaps they all enjoy their Council salaries too much to consider drawing their swords.
I agree with all who feel if a councillor changes or adopts political colours mid term it should invoke an automatic by-election.
Dave, a Freedom of Information request in Pembrokeshire?
Is it possible that council officer involvement in the PD “investigation” is more than the police are contemplating, and this could have something to do with his resignation?
Officer involvement includes the massive effort we’ve seen to deny elected members access to the facts. The leader has personally inspected a roof and things.
Quite how Dyfed-Powys Police can continue an investigation when, by their Chief Constable’s own admission they are too close to senior officers, is beyond me.
Incidentally I am awaiting a response from the aforementioned Chief Constable on this very matter.
I note the comments and the general mistrust of county councillors who are members of the Independent Party on Pembrokeshire County Council.
We must remember they were elected because they were deemed by their electorate to be the most suitable (or only) candidates to represent their ward at County Hall.
The problem arises because they were dishonest with their electorate and either immediately after the election or subsequently, joined the Independent Party.
We have just had European elections and the general comment has been that the electorate do not trust any of the main political party politicians, resulting in success for UKIP.
It will be interesting to see any manifesto produced by the Pembrokeshire Alliance considering I believe its present councillors consist of a Conservative, a Liberal and an Independent.
We can only hope that in the future Pembrokeshire County Council contains a majority of truly independent councillors who are not influenced by any additional financial gain other than their basic allowance.
I can’t understand why the unaligned councillors don’t create a party “for the betterment of Pembrokeshire”.
Manifesto could state they remain independent of mind and actions, and there would be no secret meetings to discuss council business outcomes prior to council meetings.
The unaligned could then hold sway over the allocation of SRAs to those council members who were best qualified/experienced to hold these positions of responsibility.
‘Unaligned’ aka ‘herding cats’.
Too late all of this. I suspect there will be no PCC in the future. This decision must have already been taken otherwise the further formal intervention which has been threatened would surely have occurred.