Email row: Councillor Mike Goodman facing pressure to 'apologise or resign' (From Dorset Echo)

He uses the phrase ‘scruffy and miserable’. I wonder if he has a mirror in his house.

Don't apologize and don't resign

we own static holiday caravans in a weymouth holiday park. we are only half full this year with non of the primetime 6 weeks summer school holidays booked so far. yes i support the hoteliers in their comment's, and i am saying in the holiday sector they are not alone.
hello councillor Mike Goodman with my above veiwpoint does this make me also scruffy and unkempt like a hotellier or just a person of doubtful parentage?
i understand it is not easy in public office when the world is looking at you with a microscope......i will even give you the benefit of the doubt that a very private comment can easerly get leaked to the press........but when the newspaper contacts you and your responce is "if they want an apology they can CALL ME ! ! ? ?.......i have never been the one to cast the first stone but this time councillor mike goodman i think it is to be just mike goodman.......take early retirement......for the good of weymouth just GO!!

we own static holiday caravans in a weymouth holiday park. we are only half full this year with non of the primetime 6 weeks summer school holidays booked so far. yes i support the hoteliers in their comment's, and i am saying in the holiday sector they are not alone.
hello councillor Mike Goodman with my above veiwpoint does this make me also scruffy and unkempt like a hotellier or just a person of doubtful parentage?
i understand it is not easy in public office when the world is looking at you with a microscope......i will even give you the benefit of the doubt that a very private comment can easerly get leaked to the press........but when the newspaper contacts you and your responce is "if they want an apology they can CALL ME ! ! ? ?.......i have never been the one to cast the first stone but this time councillor mike goodman i think it is to be just mike goodman.......take early retirement......for the good of weymouth just GO!!

Again this sums up Coucillor Goodmans arrogant attitude to the tourist industry of this town, he and many other Councillors have ignored the importance of tourism to Weymouth and now we are paying the price, even with a recession and bad weather the town should be in full swing of the season, but has he bothered to walk around especially in the early evening and seen it's a ghost town, never mind the Olympics many businesses wont make it that far. I despaired when I heard he was leader of the Council again, of the 2 years he has been leader this town has gone from bad to worse, its not the town people who vote him in or out but his chums from Upwey and unfortunatly his arrogance will stop him resigning, but perhaps his party can do the honours

Brian.H wrote:
Don't apologize and don't resign

Don't you consider that as the leader of Weymouth Council who has been quoted nationally on this matter that he has brought the town into disrepute and put off expectant visitors??

brutus wrote:

Brian.H wrote:
Don't apologize and don't resign

Don't you consider that as the leader of Weymouth Council who has been quoted nationally on this matter that he has brought the town into disrepute and put off expectant visitors??

How in the Hell would you bring Weymouth into disrepute? You already have at best a very mediocre football team, Plus a Speedway team with no riders or track. A Town full of Bookies and Coffee Shops.A very nice group of Rough Sleepers Oh mussn't forget their doggies. You also have a Condor that has flown the Nest.
IMHO an earthquake or huge fire in the middle of the place would only enhance the place and add value to it.

GOODMAN OUT ! ! ! ! ! ! NOW

Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them.
Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

Just because he expressed a view and upset a few people, he shouldn't have to apologise. Glad to have some one not afraid to give a honest opinion.

So the ratepayers are paying to promote guest house keepers. This comes on top of the very low rent many pay to the council.

How do I apply to get one?

Get a grip wrote:
So the ratepayers are paying to promote guest house keepers. This comes on top of the very low rent many pay to the council.

How do I apply to get one?

Low rent ?
Would you care to elaborate on that with facts and not assumptions or fantasy guess work. Oh and don't forget the business rates too will you.

Should he be fired for telling the truth?! That sounds a bit communist era to me.

How did the Echo get the Email?
Hacked or leaked, either is wrong.
Jess Nagel gets it wrong again.
His statement
was not a public statement,
it was a commentary on an Echo story, as where her comments.
So Ok for her to have an opinion but not Cllr Goodman.
Should the hoteliers want a meeting with the council leader, to express their concerns, do it through the normal channels, (your association knows how)
and not through newspaper snipes. I am sure a better understanding of each others issues would lead to a positive outcome.
Business rates are collected by WPBC but paid to central government, about 22% is returned to the local economy. So not the huge finacial contributor
to the local economy as many believe. Rents on this letters page last week a guest house owner stated £12.500 a year in rent, that is £250 a week. Less than a hundred pounds a week than the renter of a three bedroomed house, with a business and a view chucked in,make your own minds up. I think some protesteth to much.

bootedsw wrote:
Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them.
Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

On the contrary, Goodman should apologise and resign, if he does neither, a vote of no confidence and remove him from office and committees.
Also let us know what business you work for, so that we can work out if the council supports you in any way, by promoting the town that you work in etc.
Let's have facts, not suppositions

bootedsw wrote:
Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them.
Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

Pray tell us how your taxes support private hotels ??

t.munro wrote:
How did the Echo get the Email?
Hacked or leaked, either is wrong.
Jess Nagel gets it wrong again.
His statement
was not a public statement,
it was a commentary on an Echo story, as where her comments.
So Ok for her to have an opinion but not Cllr Goodman.
Should the hoteliers want a meeting with the council leader, to express their concerns, do it through the normal channels, (your association knows how)
and not through newspaper snipes. I am sure a better understanding of each others issues would lead to a positive outcome.
Business rates are collected by WPBC but paid to central government, about 22% is returned to the local economy. So not the huge finacial contributor
to the local economy as many believe. Rents on this letters page last week a guest house owner stated £12.500 a year in rent, that is £250 a week. Less than a hundred pounds a week than the renter of a three bedroomed house, with a business and a view chucked in,make your own minds up. I think some protesteth to much.

This from the Honourable tim Munro,who fought to save Officers Field on Portland and then promptly let them build thos monsterous little boxes on it that they call the Olypric Village. I suppose you can now call Munro 'The Village Idiot, I like to cal him a thief

Amazing that Goodman expects hoteliers to call him and ask for an apology. Obviously he thinks he is too important to apologise publicly after all the distress and damage to the image of Weymouth he has caused. His comments were oafish and his email stupid. He should go now.
On the positive side, at least our local tourism authorities are beginning to recognise that hoteliers have a problem and it is not of their own making.

siratb wrote:
Should he be fired for telling the truth?! That sounds a bit communist era to me.

Not for "telling the truth", in your opinion, but for showing a total lack of professional business understanding as a paid public servant

Get a grip wrote:
So the ratepayers are paying to promote guest house keepers. This comes on top of the very low rent many pay to the council. How do I apply to get one?

Weymouth is a tourist led town, if not what else is it's main form of income?? all other tourist towns have a budget to advertise and promote themselves and not enough importance is given by this Council to that, without the visitors the town does not flourish as we can now see, this year, which has a knock on effect on all people/businesses in the area. To apply for one of these guest houses all you need is to pay a large capital sum to buy one and work long hours 7 days a week in the season and see the Council treat you with contempt

t.munro wrote:
How did the Echo get the Email? Hacked or leaked, either is wrong. Jess Nagel gets it wrong again. His statement was not a public statement, it was a commentary on an Echo story, as where her comments. So Ok for her to have an opinion but not Cllr Goodman. Should the hoteliers want a meeting with the council leader, to express their concerns, do it through the normal channels, (your association knows how) and not through newspaper snipes. I am sure a better understanding of each others issues would lead to a positive outcome. Business rates are collected by WPBC but paid to central government, about 22% is returned to the local economy. So not the huge finacial contributor to the local economy as many believe. Rents on this letters page last week a guest house owner stated £12.500 a year in rent, that is £250 a week. Less than a hundred pounds a week than the renter of a three bedroomed house, with a business and a view chucked in,make your own minds up. I think some protesteth to much.

I believe all business rates will stay with the local councils as of next year?? so perhaps this council will start to worry about the amount of businesses closing then?

I'mavoter wrote:

bootedsw wrote: Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them. Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

On the contrary, Goodman should apologise and resign, if he does neither, a vote of no confidence and remove him from office and committees. Also let us know what business you work for, so that we can work out if the council supports you in any way, by promoting the town that you work in etc. Let's have facts, not suppositions

A vote of no confidence, can the local electorate do this? or is it left to his fellow councillors/mates??

Dear I`mavoter

Fact Many of the properties are fully maintained by the council.

Fact They occupy a prime location
.
Fact tenants pay a low rent compared with the value of the freehold.

Fact council are paying to promote a private business.

Business rates nothing to do with my point.

Do you have any relevant points to make?

brutus wrote:

I'mavoter wrote:

bootedsw wrote: Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them. Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

On the contrary, Goodman should apologise and resign, if he does neither, a vote of no confidence and remove him from office and committees. Also let us know what business you work for, so that we can work out if the council supports you in any way, by promoting the town that you work in etc. Let's have facts, not suppositions

A vote of no confidence, can the local electorate do this? or is it left to his fellow councillors/mates??

Councillors can do it.

Get a grip wrote:
Dear I`mavoter

Fact Many of the properties are fully maintained by the council.

Fact They occupy a prime location
.
Fact tenants pay a low rent compared with the value of the freehold.

Fact council are paying to promote a private business.

Business rates nothing to do with my point.

Do you have any relevant points to make?

Yes indeed. On what do you base you supposition of 'low rent'?
Yes they enjoy a prime position, for which they pay high business rates for !
" fully maintened" ? On what 'fact' do you base this on? As with most rented property the landlord has a duty to maintain the exterior of the building. The council does not maintain/ decorate etc the interior of the building.
Council are not paying to promote "a" private business. As someone wrote above, as a holiday resort, the council promotes the whole town, which many businesses benifit from, and to which the hoteliers also contribute to with their taxes the same as the rest of us. Business rates are relevant as they contribute heavily to the very costs that you are moaning about !

YerTisThsUn wrote:

t.munro wrote:
How did the Echo get the Email?
Hacked or leaked, either is wrong.
Jess Nagel gets it wrong again.
His statement
was not a public statement,
it was a commentary on an Echo story, as where her comments.
So Ok for her to have an opinion but not Cllr Goodman.
Should the hoteliers want a meeting with the council leader, to express their concerns, do it through the normal channels, (your association knows how)
and not through newspaper snipes. I am sure a better understanding of each others issues would lead to a positive outcome.
Business rates are collected by WPBC but paid to central government, about 22% is returned to the local economy. So not the huge finacial contributor
to the local economy as many believe. Rents on this letters page last week a guest house owner stated £12.500 a year in rent, that is £250 a week. Less than a hundred pounds a week than the renter of a three bedroomed house, with a business and a view chucked in,make your own minds up. I think some protesteth to much.

This from the Honourable tim Munro,who fought to save Officers Field on Portland and then promptly let them build thos monsterous little boxes on it that they call the Olypric Village. I suppose you can now call Munro 'The Village Idiot, I like to cal him a thief

Your correct,I fight hard and for a long time, to overturn a planning consent made in the late ninety.
The campaign failed.
I certainly had nothing to do with making that or any other decsion permitting the development.
I fact your perverse statement that 'I allowed them' is a complete nonsense.
I am still engaged battling to hold the HCA to their planning commitments?
I campaigned and failed,what did you do?

Totally Amazing! These out of touch Councillors paid regular salaries with FAT pensions again critisise the real workers who pay their FAT salaries, Expensis and FAT pensions. Beardy should GO and GO now. The Olympics will do more damage to Weymouth that The Luftwaffe did 70 years ago. And lets look at publicity. Or scare mongering.
TODAYS HEADLINES.
"Mumbai attacks possible in Weymouth & Portland during Olympics" Thanks BBC your doing a great job.
Do these people have another agenda ? Lets have real positive promotion. I like others own a holiday caravan. normally booked 6 weeks hols solid. This year I have 1 week booked and not Olympics. 5 star site same prices as last year before the trolls say Iv'e hiked prices. The London Olympic commitee and Local Council are amateurs and a total disgrace. Lord Coe has gone from Hero to Villain in all those years. They will fill their over stuffed pockets at our expense. The Olympics paid for by the under privileged so the rich and privileged can enjoy.

Weymouth and Portland guest houses and hotels are scruffy.

Their owners also have scruffy standards and who are arrogant enough to believe that pensioner charabanc holiday makers have no discerning taste-

Cllr Goodman has no need to apologise to anyone- he is doing Weymouth a favour by telling the hoteliers to buck their ideas up.

The person who leaked that memo needs to be sacked.

WPBC councillors do not recieve pensions.
Check the council website and you will see the standard allowance, is about £4,800 per year.
Nothing Fat about that.

Best not leave him with the loaded, pearl handled revolver he deserves, likely he'd wreck it.

The UK needs a Tory execution squad for those whose candidacies were insults to those of us wise enough to vote Labour.

Hoteliers know their business or they have none. A local politician should look to assist and encourage, those who enrage should desist and Resign, Sir!

He needs time off to pistolwhip his barber in any case.

Loamingloof wrote:
Best not leave him with the loaded, pearl handled revolver he deserves, likely he'd wreck it.

The UK needs a Tory execution squad for those whose candidacies were insults to those of us wise enough to vote Labour.

Hoteliers know their business or they have none. A local politician should look to assist and encourage, those who enrage should desist and Resign, Sir!

"Hoteliers know their business or they have none. A local politician should look to assist and encourage, those who enrage should desist and Resign, Sir!"

Many people say the hoteliers don't know their business- they offer a very poor standard of service for the prices they charge!

They have killed the goose that laid the golden egg!

t.munro wrote:
WPBC councillors do not recieve pensions.
Check the council website and you will see the standard allowance, is about £4,800 per year.
Nothing Fat about that.

Mr. Munro, you are attempting to impart some actual facts to people who seem to prefer uninformed prejudice. Well done for trying, anyway.

@Trubbell Most local hoteliers remain in business and many departed for winter breaks. Their business is as they wish, and impecunious guests obviously could do the other thing.

Are you his hairdresser?

There is no smoke without fire about the standard and business models of some of our hoteliers. Also it is disgraceful that a private internal e mail exchange was leaked to the Echo - most likely for political reasons. Hoteliers who invest in their business, adapt their business model, offer competitive prices, allow booking to be done in a modern way and ultimately offer good service and value - I wonder if they too have loads of empty rooms? I dont think so!

Dear I mavotor

Fact most commercial leases require the tenant to maintain both the interior and exterior.

Clearly you have no understanding of commercial lease arrangements, you are I think getting confused with a letting of a house.

Given your lack of knowledge of the subject there is no point in debating the fine details of market rents for a Hotel held on an internal repairing lease.

he should resign failing that he should be forced to resign, but then this is weymouth we are talking about so it will be brushed under the carpet as usual.

If he had any honour he'd go, for this sort of publicity undermines the local traders with the Olympics (Do I have to pay some sort of licence for mentioning them?) so close. Not a cash cow, but realmoportunities for a seaside town which needs the work and the increased incomes possible.

Get a grip wrote:
Dear I mavotor Fact most commercial leases require the tenant to maintain both the interior and exterior. Clearly you have no understanding of commercial lease arrangements, you are I think getting confused with a letting of a house. Given your lack of knowledge of the subject there is no point in debating the fine details of market rents for a Hotel held on an internal repairing lease.

Dear Get a Grip
I am happy to discuss the fine detail. I do have knowledge as to how commercial lease may be constructed.
Rather confused by your response to I Mavoter in that you first suggest all commercial leases are full repairing, then you refer to debating fine detail of market rents for internal repairing leases,
just what I Mavoter was referring to.
I note you like your facts.
Fact is,there is no one lease, no one set of conditions. Even within the council lessees, they vary, in length, in rent, in tenant/landlord obligation.
I am aware of a number that only
require the tenant to refurbish the inside, some I believe still have the landlord (WPBC) responsible for all repairs inside and our.

The town is in a state of turmoil from which it will be difficult to recover. The leader of the Council is totally arrogant and the Chief Executive is located in Dorchester. I know of many people who have asked Goodman for advice in his role as ward councillor and his standard reply is to tell you to ring the people you are complaining about.
This town has been killed by lack of leadership and you can see for yourselves how few people there are in the town. The writing has been on the wall for some time but no one took any notice. The Olympics coming to Weymouth is going to be nothing short of a disaster.
I am prepared to seek some sort of action against the Council as it clearly is not fit to be governed by those in either paid or elected positions. A vote of no confidence is needed by a large section of the community. Lets stand together before this town is destroyed beyond repair

Dear Get a Grip
I am happy to discuss the fine detail. I do have knowledge as to how commercial lease may be constructed.
Rather confused by your response to I Mavoter in that you first suggest all commercial leases are full repairing, then you refer to debating fine detail of market rents for internal repairing leases,
just what I Mavoter was referring to.
I note you like your facts.
Fact is,there is no one lease, no one set of conditions. Even within the council lessees, they vary, in length, in rent, in tenant/landlord obligation.
I am aware of a number that only
require the tenant to refurbish the inside, some I believe still have the landlord (WPBC) responsible for all repairs inside and our.

t.munro wrote:
WPBC councillors do not recieve pensions.
Check the council website and you will see the standard allowance, is about £4,800 per year.
Nothing Fat about that.

I don't wish to upset you but below from the Tax Payers Alliance

These Councillors are fleecing you and then insulting you.


Our report into council pensions today has exposed a shocking number of councillors who have opted into the local government pension scheme. Yes, you thought it was just for council staff, but no, since 2003 councillors have been given the opportunity to opt into the scheme. Already given generous allowances, paid for by the kind British taxpayer, they’re sinking their snouts further into the trough in taking a publicly funded pension too – for what is only meant to be a part time role, surely?

Reasonably, under data protection law, we didn’t get the details of who in each council chamber had opted into the local government pension scheme – which takes £1 in £5 of council tax. But as is your right as taxpayers and constituents, if you feel you want to know whether your councillor is taking a pension out of your pocket you can write to your councillors here to ask them if (a) they are on the local government pension scheme and (b) if they do whether they declare it in their register of members interests. It's our money and it's our right to know what the politicians are doing with it!

Loamingloof wrote:
Best not leave him with the loaded, pearl handled revolver he deserves, likely he'd wreck it.

The UK needs a Tory execution squad for those whose candidacies were insults to those of us wise enough to vote Labour.

Hoteliers know their business or they have none. A local politician should look to assist and encourage, those who enrage should desist and Resign, Sir!

Our report into council pensions today has exposed a shocking number of councillors who have opted into the local government pension scheme. Yes, you thought it was just for council staff, but no, since 2003 councillors have been given the opportunity to opt into the scheme. Already given generous allowances, paid for by the kind British taxpayer, they’re sinking their snouts further into the trough in taking a publicly funded pension too – for what is only meant to be a part time role, surely?

Reasonably, under data protection law, we didn’t get the details of who in each council chamber had opted into the local government pension scheme – which takes £1 in £5 of council tax. But as is your right as taxpayers and constituents, if you feel you want to know whether your councillor is taking a pension out of your pocket you can write to your councillors here to ask them if (a) they are on the local government pension scheme and (b) if they do whether they declare it in their register of members interests. It's our money and it's our right to know what the politicians are doing with it!

davescorpio0 wrote:

Loamingloof wrote: Best not leave him with the loaded, pearl handled revolver he deserves, likely he'd wreck it. The UK needs a Tory execution squad for those whose candidacies were insults to those of us wise enough to vote Labour. Hoteliers know their business or they have none. A local politician should look to assist and encourage, those who enrage should desist and Resign, Sir!

Our report into council pensions today has exposed a shocking number of councillors who have opted into the local government pension scheme. Yes, you thought it was just for council staff, but no, since 2003 councillors have been given the opportunity to opt into the scheme. Already given generous allowances, paid for by the kind British taxpayer, they’re sinking their snouts further into the trough in taking a publicly funded pension too – for what is only meant to be a part time role, surely? Reasonably, under data protection law, we didn’t get the details of who in each council chamber had opted into the local government pension scheme – which takes £1 in £5 of council tax. But as is your right as taxpayers and constituents, if you feel you want to know whether your councillor is taking a pension out of your pocket you can write to your councillors here to ask them if (a) they are on the local government pension scheme and (b) if they do whether they declare it in their register of members interests. It's our money and it's our right to know what the politicians are doing with it!

As a member of WPBC I was never offered a pension and of course never accepted one.
Which council or councillors the report alludes to I do not know.
To the best of my knowledge all information with regard to WPBC is published in their website. Look
under members allowances. Transparent and clear. Off course lots of people are paid by the tax payer, all in the NHS for instance,
few are obliged to publish their remuneration as councillors are.
Everything a councillor does is there for you to see, how obvious it is depends on which end of a telescope you use to seek it

I'mavoter wrote:

bootedsw wrote: Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them. Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

Pray tell us how your taxes support private hotels ??

The original complaints were they should get support to help advertise their properties and the council should feature their hotels in official publicity of the town. My main point is why should the local support these businesses anymore than support other business with their advertising.

I'mavoter wrote:

bootedsw wrote: Don't resign! Shame on the employee that leaked an internal document. I hope the council find them and make an example of them. Its about time the council got a bit more bullish. Why should my taxes pay to support private hotels and guest houses with their advertisments. Whats next the supermarket getting money off the council to advertise their private businesses.

On the contrary, Goodman should apologise and resign, if he does neither, a vote of no confidence and remove him from office and committees. Also let us know what business you work for, so that we can work out if the council supports you in any way, by promoting the town that you work in etc. Let's have facts, not suppositions

We will have to disagree, though if it is so bad here one often wonders why these business owners don't just move somewhere esle.

What stunning hypocracy and sycophancy. We have all the self-righteous opinions jumping onto the bandwagon fueled by the pique that the Echo has been revealed as the initial engineer by creating the glum image in the first place and then trying the cheap tabloid trick of whipping up public fervor in order to sell more papers. How pathetic to dream up the 'clever' quips about mirrors and beards. Such people only see the surface in others and never the person. As to the hotels.. Yes, the Council makes a ceremonial hash of things on a regular basis but what they have to work with? I have no idea of the characters in the picture thankfully but collectively, they have clearly fallen into the cheap trick trap - look cross and glum for the picture when they should at the very least be selling their image in a positive way. Try looking professionally interested in promoting the business because one look at this group would be enough to put many people off the so-called wonderful Weymouth Experience. It is not about what you wear - within reason, it's about who you are inside. If you are given advice, take it. Do not lower yourself by moaning about your lot and when you read the truth about yourself, at least have the good grace to learn from it and not pontificate self-righteous indignation
As to be expected, there is also the bandwagon posturing from previous 'politicians' who think they see a chance to glimpse the glory too. If you were unmemorable then, you are certainly forgotten now.

So who said allowances £4,800 per year. Oh t.munro
Well this little gem from the Dorset for you website. I mr insult the hotelliers was pulling in £10,887 in 08/09 and recently £11,000 plus. Not bad for NOT OWNING YOUR OWN HOTEL AND STRUGGLING.

There is a Sea change coming. The general population and private sector are getting fed up with paying for lavish civil service lifestyles and then watching these people deomonstrate because they are actually being asked to pay something for their pensions while the rest of us struggle to put food on the table.
They then insult us. It's the old "Let them eat cake" And we know what happened to her. Headless.

We vote for these people Con. Lab.Lib and they are all the same when elected. Career Politicians. Time to get some ordinary working people in who understand The real world.

Dear Cllr Munro

Shall we start with some common ground?

The council own a number of Hotels on the Esplanade which they leased out on either Full Repairing Terms(The tenant is responsible for all repairs) or Internal Repairing terms (The council looks after the structure and the external decoration).

If you look on Rightmove there is any number of opportunities to buy a Hotel at some staggering premiums.

Staggering given that many owners say that this is the worst year ever and they are losing money.

As an example, a 14 bedroomed leasehold hotel is on the market for £390,000 the Council are responsible for the structure and decorations and the rent is only £27,000 per year.

The value of any business is made of the following parts; Value of Fixtures & Fittings, value of the Goodwill and the value of the lease or freehold. In this case we are looking at the value of the lease.

Shall we say the F&F are worth say £200,000 Goodwill £100,000 (assuming a healthy profit) so the lease is worth £90,000. Now this can only be true if there is a profit rent (the rent is below market rent).

If you truly believe that the rent is the market rent then there would be no value in the lease so the business would be worth only £300,000.

Now last year a bank sold an empty leasehold hotel (so no goodwill or fixtures and fittings) for £95,000. So this fits with my point.

Now if you can show me by worked example that I am wrong then please do so?

Dear Get a Grip,
You will agree, I am sure that the F&F valuation and Goodwill are arbitraryin that,in the negotiation, one party the seller, will look to maximise, the other party will look to reduce. Desire to sell or desire to purchase will often override reality. An exceptional element in some seaside guest house ownership, is that many purchesers ignore
business fundamentals and make lifestyle decsions, some regret at their leisure. Length of lease, number of bedrooms,position and repairing obligations are the most significant considerations in arriving at a lease value. There is a view that a rent that is more than 14% of the nett turnover is unsustainable, a finger in the air for lease value 10xnett profit,that figure will increase if there is a tight market and decrease in a slack market. I am sure you will agree,there are many variables and the subject is more an art than a science.

Please Councillor Goodman just have the decency to admit you made a mistake and apologise.

Maybe then we could get on with the task of working out a clear tourism strategy for the town.

Sadly although I hate to say it we just don't really seem to have one at the moment.

WPBC please treat the town's tourism businesses with a little more respect. Involve them in the creation of this strategy you could end up pleasantly surprised by some of the ideas that come forward.

In three months time the games will be over so lets at least start to make an effort to come out of them with some kind of tourism legacy.

t.munro wrote:

davescorpio0 wrote:

Loamingloof wrote: Best not leave him with the loaded, pearl handled revolver he deserves, likely he'd wreck it. The UK needs a Tory execution squad for those whose candidacies were insults to those of us wise enough to vote Labour. Hoteliers know their business or they have none. A local politician should look to assist and encourage, those who enrage should desist and Resign, Sir!

Our report into council pensions today has exposed a shocking number of councillors who have opted into the local government pension scheme. Yes, you thought it was just for council staff, but no, since 2003 councillors have been given the opportunity to opt into the scheme. Already given generous allowances, paid for by the kind British taxpayer, they’re sinking their snouts further into the trough in taking a publicly funded pension too – for what is only meant to be a part time role, surely? Reasonably, under data protection law, we didn’t get the details of who in each council chamber had opted into the local government pension scheme – which takes £1 in £5 of council tax. But as is your right as taxpayers and constituents, if you feel you want to know whether your councillor is taking a pension out of your pocket you can write to your councillors here to ask them if (a) they are on the local government pension scheme and (b) if they do whether they declare it in their register of members interests. It's our money and it's our right to know what the politicians are doing with it!

As a member of WPBC I was never offered a pension and of course never accepted one.
Which council or councillors the report alludes to I do not know.
To the best of my knowledge all information with regard to WPBC is published in their website. Look
under members allowances. Transparent and clear. Off course lots of people are paid by the tax payer, all in the NHS for instance,
few are obliged to publish their remuneration as councillors are.
Everything a councillor does is there for you to see, how obvious it is depends on which end of a telescope you use to seek it

I make clear that I don't oppose allowances for Councillors, dunno why I was drawn into this pretty irrelevant side issue.

Neither it nor any alleged pension looks enough to keep body and soul together, let alone also fund a pearl handled pistol in good enough condition to part
them.

Dear Councillors of Weymouth.
You STILL don't seem to get it do you. My point. The people suffer while you all watch then kick em when they are down.
Weymouth is in trouble. The Olympics might be a great victory to you councillors but not to the very businesses of Weymouth that have endured 2 years of horrendous roadworks with the promise of riches at the end of it.
The whole thing has back fired.
Negative publicity and all the scare mongering about high security. It's just some sailing offshore and in the harbour.
Yes I agree some hotelliers di increase prices and are getting fingers burned but you have now this year scrared off the real bread and butter holiday makers that pay hotels restaraunts and shops who in turn emply people and then also pay rates.
Forget taking the pearl handle revolver Mr Goodman and other Councillors. Please get of your behinds and do something good for Weymouth. Try promoting it properly and stop stiching people up with stupid increased park & Ride and increased harbour fees just for the Olympics. Councillor Goodman, Please help these people and apologise showing your not arrogant. Councillor Munro get out and do some positive stuff for the businesses here otherwise you won't have any left.

I do have a business in Weymouth. However, whilst still being a County Councillor I am no longer a member of WPBC.
Your advice is sound, I suggest you have a conversation with the 2 or 3 councillors that represent you.

Oh dear! Having left Weymouth five years ago I looked forward to returning this summer with family members, excited at the Olympic buzz. Encouraged all to log on to the Echos website ; Wow! Negative vibes or what? Why would I want to spend hard earned cash in petty feudal Weymouth? Found great accomodation in Dorchester

Is the council exposed to any E/U bond debts?

Ask the finacial director Jason Vaughan at WPBC
Or attend a management committe meeting where these things are discussed.

kate23 wrote:
Oh dear! Having left Weymouth five years ago I looked forward to returning this summer with family members, excited at the Olympic buzz. Encouraged all to log on to the Echos website ; Wow! Negative vibes or what? Why would I want to spend hard earned cash in petty feudal Weymouth? Found great accomodation in Dorchester

You are quite right the amount of whining that has gone on about the Olympic's by the locals of Weymouth, no wonder the Hotels are not fully booked.
Now Hotel's, B&B, caravan parks et al are ALL privately owned businesses. So therefore it should be up to the Private Businesses to drum up business for their business. So why do they expect the Council to do the donkey work for them?
Now in my line of work, we have quite often been told plenty of times that if we don't like it we can always find another job. There you go Hoteliers, you could always take that piece of advice.
Accept responsibility for your own businesses.