Struggle for end of hung council
10:15am Wednesday 8th October 2008
THE 'hung council' of Weymouth and Portland could be a thing of the past after councillors 'set the ball rolling' to enable one-party control.
Members of the borough council's management committee voted in favour of a motion to change the council's political management at yesterday's meeting, despite opposition from several councillors.
The motion will now be considered by a working group for democratic improvement.
Councillor Mike Goodman, committee chairman and leader of the Conservative group, proposed the restructure 'in view of the latest local elections and subsequent member actions'.
He said: "The council worked remarkably well as a coalition of all groups in the party. That changed rapidly at the start of this civic year.
"If people are not prepared to pull together the best way forward is for there to be one party with the executive responsibilities and the remainder seeking to scrutinise, hold them to account and recommend policy development strands."
He added: "We've reached a point of inefficiency where we can no longer guarantee the best outcome by the old means."
Conservative Councillor Peter Chapman said the proposal would give the electorate a clear choice between one set of policies from the leading party and opposition groups.
He added: "I don't think it would alter the degree of input from smaller parties."
Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Legg opposed the motion on the grounds it was 'purely self-interest'.
He said: "What often happens in one-party councils is things get said behind closed doors and not shared with the other parties."
Non-committee member Liberal Democrat councillor John Birtwistle warned the proposal was a 'trapdoor' with no way of going back.
In a statement Coun Bill White said 'two elected members who realigned their declared allegiance without reference to the public' had altered the council's political balance.
Speaking after the meeting, Coun Goodman said there was an 'immense amount of work' needed before any changes could be made with a full public consultation and approval from the Secretary of State required.
He added: "This is just starting the ball rolling. I don't expect to see any results before the next election in two years' time."
Your Say Your S & W Dorset
genghis, portland says...
11:05am Wed 8 Oct 08
yogi, weymouth says...
12:13pm Wed 8 Oct 08
so if the council think its not working, They should have a full council election and see what the result is or is too much common sense for the tory party.
tiger, preston says...
12:18pm Wed 8 Oct 08
I certainly would like to see a hung Council.In a public place very soon.
Dorset Boy, Wilds of Dorset says...
12:50pm Wed 8 Oct 08
tiger wrote:I'll volunteer to help build the gibbet. I'll even supply the rope.
Genghis says:-I certainly would like to see a hung Council.In a public place very soon.
Albo, Wyke Regis says...
1:41pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Dorset Boy wrote:Where's Maximus when we need him? Hopefully visiting a local chandlers checking on the best rope for the job.
tiger wrote: Genghis says:-I'll volunteer to help build the gibbet. I'll even supply the rope.I certainly would like to see a hung Council.In a public place very soon.
Mikeman, Portland says...
2:46pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Albo wrote:How much are tickets and where can i get them.
Dorset Boy wrote:Where's Maximus when we need him? Hopefully visiting a local chandlers checking on the best rope for the job.tiger wrote: Genghis says:-I'll volunteer to help build the gibbet. I'll even supply the rope.I certainly would like to see a hung Council.In a public place very soon.
genghis, portland says...
3:16pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Mikeman wrote:You're a citizen of the Borough so it's free. Toll booths will be set up on all roads into W&P to make some money that way.
Albo wrote:How much are tickets and where can i get them.Dorset Boy wrote:Where's Maximus when we need him? Hopefully visiting a local chandlers checking on the best rope for the job.tiger wrote: Genghis says:-I'll volunteer to help build the gibbet. I'll even supply the rope.I certainly would like to see a hung Council.In a public place very soon.
Wessex Lass, Dorchester says...
4:15pm Wed 8 Oct 08
tiger, preston says...
4:30pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Where's Maximus when we need him? Hopefully visiting a local chandlers checking on the best rope for the job.
He doesn't want to be party to anything illegal - he's looking for Judge John Jeffreys and Albert Pierpoint as well as the best rope.
portland plodder, portland says...
4:57pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Shy-Talk, Weymouth says...
5:12pm Wed 8 Oct 08
genghis, portland says...
5:20pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Shy-Talk wrote:I'll risk the odd splinter as we set the gallows up. It's a public service after all.
Nothing like well hung councillors. Perhaps we need to have a costly consultation period and a Health and Safety assessment before proceeding.
biggestoaf, Weymouth says...
11:33pm Wed 8 Oct 08
portland plodder wrote:Not by WPBC - but by the Conservatives on the council
the only hung thing i can see is that the electorate have been hung out to dry by WPBC
weymouthfox, Weymouth says...
12:10am Thu 9 Oct 08
biggestoaf, Weymouth says...
2:59pm Thu 9 Oct 08
weymouthfox wrote:Exactly right!
All this is being proposed because of the base dishonesty of Councillors James and Munroe to change parties without seeking the blessing of their electorates in byelections. So I reckon any basis for the Conservatives to claim a majority is equally dishonest.
How ironic that the motion is to be considered by a "working group for democratic improvement." If either Ian James or Tim Munro is a member of the working group it would be a complete farce.
mikeman, Portland says...
5:06pm Thu 9 Oct 08
biggestoaf wrote:If either Ian James or Tim Munro is a member of the working group it would be a complete farce.
weymouthfox wrote: All this is being proposed because of the base dishonesty of Councillors James and Munroe to change parties without seeking the blessing of their electorates in byelections. So I reckon any basis for the Conservatives to claim a majority is equally dishonest.Exactly right! How ironic that the motion is to be considered by a "working group for democratic improvement." If either Ian James or Tim Munro is a member of the working group it would be a complete farce.
Anyone want to place their bets.
Genghis, Portland says...
6:01pm Thu 9 Oct 08
biggestoaf wrote: weymouthfox wrote: All this is being proposed because of the base dishonesty of Councillors James and Munroe to change parties without seeking the blessing of their electorates in byelections. So I reckon any basis for the Conservatives to claim a majority is equally dishonest.Exactly right! How ironic that the motion is to be considered by a It's a farce whether they are on the committee or not. If they choose to overthrow the democratically elected Council then as far as I'm concerned I may well have to consider whether I will pay my Council Tax. I have no problems paying it to a democratically elected Council. However an unelected, unaccountable Junta that rides rough shod over the last election results in my view has no authority. The Tory party in this Borough, not just Munro and James, should all resign as what they are doing is disgusting.
Genghis, Portland says...
6:03pm Thu 9 Oct 08
It's a farce whether they are on the committee or not. If they choose to overthrow the democratically elected Council then as far as I'm concerned I may well have to consider whether I will pay my Council Tax. I have no problems paying it to a democratically elected Council. However an unelected, unaccountable Junta that rides rough shod over the last election results in my view has no authority. The Tory party in this Borough, not just Munro and James, should all resign as what they are doing is disgusting.
Your sayYour S & W Dorset
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Wykeite, Weymouth says...
11:02am Wed 8 Oct 08
The electorate made a 'clear' choice at the last election and it was given two fingers from the Conservative Party.
He added: "This is just starting the ball rolling. I don't expect to see any results before the next election in two years' time."
I hope not, also, I hope the balance of power is not in favour of the Conservative Party after this election. They appear to be very devious to me.