Conservative Cllr for Harvey West Ward Rory Love is deputy leader of Shepway District Council, replacing Cllr David Monk.
Shepway Liberal Democrats are claiming that Cllr Love has ‘ousted’ Cllr Monk. The Conservative website as yet has no comment on this issue. Cllr Love’s title on the Shepway District website is now ‘Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Services’.
This adds to the ‘Revenues and Benefits’ and ‘Environmental Services’ portfolios which were already under Cllr Love’s control. He also sits on six panels, committees and boards and represents the council on various issues including Rail for Folkestone.
Cllr Love has overseen an improvement in benefit payment, for which his team narrowly missed out on an award . He is an eloquent speaker in meetings, has a reasonably active webpage, stood for the Lewes constituency seat in 2005 and was previously council leader in 1999.
He has not escaped criticism. Cllr Love was singled out by Cllr Paul Marsh of the People First group as having awarded himself a 600% pay rise, and his expanding power base in the council led to an unfavourable comparison with Peter Mandelson.
*Cllr Love is surely waiting in the wings to take over as Leader of the Council. With the imminent election of young Conservative Candidate Damian Collins as MP, perhaps the Tories are seeking to have a younger, more dynamic and modern leader for the District Council to represent a break from the past.
Showing posts with label Shepway Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shepway Council. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Council Criticised in Messy Exchange
Shepway Council was accused of leaving ‘thousands of square yards of filth’ on the cliffs between the Leas Cliff Hall and the Road of Remembrance.
In a question at the Full Council meeting on Feb 18, Mr Paul Kitson asked ‘when this disgusting filth going to be removed?’
In response, Council Leader Cllr Robert Bliss emphasised that the Leas and coastal park are cleaned daily, but the cliff ‘provides more of a challenge.’ Abseilers are needed to clean this area, and Cllr Bliss assured Mr Kitson that money had been set aside for this in next year’s budget and that tenders were being sought for this.
Using his right to ask a supplementary question, in a somewhat rambling response Mr Kitson expressed dissatisfaction saying ‘as usual the response is ‘we are looking at this.’ It is not acceptable. People here pay a lot of money.’
Chariman Carey had to remind Mr Kitson he had to ask a question. After several more exchanges, Mr Kitson did pose a second question, asking why the cleaning hadn’t already been performed.
Cllr Bliss gave high costs as the reason for not performing this yearly. Mr Kitson attempted to further question the council, but was cut short by Chariman Carey. After some awkward exchanges Mr Kitson left the chamber saying ‘what is the point of you all?’.
In a question at the Full Council meeting on Feb 18, Mr Paul Kitson asked ‘when this disgusting filth going to be removed?’
In response, Council Leader Cllr Robert Bliss emphasised that the Leas and coastal park are cleaned daily, but the cliff ‘provides more of a challenge.’ Abseilers are needed to clean this area, and Cllr Bliss assured Mr Kitson that money had been set aside for this in next year’s budget and that tenders were being sought for this.
Using his right to ask a supplementary question, in a somewhat rambling response Mr Kitson expressed dissatisfaction saying ‘as usual the response is ‘we are looking at this.’ It is not acceptable. People here pay a lot of money.’
Chariman Carey had to remind Mr Kitson he had to ask a question. After several more exchanges, Mr Kitson did pose a second question, asking why the cleaning hadn’t already been performed.
Cllr Bliss gave high costs as the reason for not performing this yearly. Mr Kitson attempted to further question the council, but was cut short by Chariman Carey. After some awkward exchanges Mr Kitson left the chamber saying ‘what is the point of you all?’.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Snow Love Lost as Councillors Discuss Weather Chaos
Liberal Democrat Leader Lynne Beaumont slammed KCC and Shepway Council’s performance during the recent spell of bad weather, saying she was ‘astonished at the mess we were left in'.
In a question to Cllr Rory Love, Cabinet for Environmental Services, Revenue and Benefits, during the Council meeting of February 18, Cllr Beaumont asked what representations Shepway council had made to KCC.
Cllr Beaumont also highlighted the case of an 83 year old woman who was left trapped at home for five days and pressed for an ‘absolute guarantee’ that this would not happen again.
Cllr Love granted that despite the weather warnings the highway authority seemed to be less prepared than on previous occasions, but explained amount of snow meant that ‘in the immediate aftermath only those staff able to walk to work or living near the depot could report for duty’.
Cllr Love said no authority could ever give ‘absolute guarantees’, comparing this to a ‘Michael Fish’ trap. Michael Fish infamously assured the nation that concerns a ‘hurricane’ was headed England’s way were false. Cllr Love also expressed a personal view that he ‘would like to see more residents take on responsibility themselves.’
In a question to Cllr Rory Love, Cabinet for Environmental Services, Revenue and Benefits, during the Council meeting of February 18, Cllr Beaumont asked what representations Shepway council had made to KCC.
Cllr Beaumont also highlighted the case of an 83 year old woman who was left trapped at home for five days and pressed for an ‘absolute guarantee’ that this would not happen again.
Cllr Love granted that despite the weather warnings the highway authority seemed to be less prepared than on previous occasions, but explained amount of snow meant that ‘in the immediate aftermath only those staff able to walk to work or living near the depot could report for duty’.
Cllr Love said no authority could ever give ‘absolute guarantees’, comparing this to a ‘Michael Fish’ trap. Michael Fish infamously assured the nation that concerns a ‘hurricane’ was headed England’s way were false. Cllr Love also expressed a personal view that he ‘would like to see more residents take on responsibility themselves.’
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
'Hard Hitting' Report as Shepway Looks to Reverse Dungeness Decision
WARNING - around 60% of this is a press release cut and paste - many thanks media team at the council.
Shepway District Council is sending a ‘hard hitting’ response to the government over the decision not to include Dungeness as a possible site for a new nuclear power station.
Citing incorrect employment statistics as ‘one of a number of errors that combined to ‘seriously understate’ the need for a new station.’
A press release on the council website states ‘This is a vitally important shortcoming, particularly in the case of Dungeness as the current decommissioning of A station and closure of B station from 2018 are key threats to the area's future prosperity and its already fragile economy.
‘The report also argues that the government has ignored the local community support for Dungeness and that it is ‘premature' to conclude the Natural England's objections over the loss of vegetated shingle habitat could not be addressed.
‘By the government's own definition, there is an Imperative Reason of Over-riding Public Interest to justify the inclusion of Dungeness, despite the ecological concerns.’
‘Leader of the Council, Robert Bliss, said the report presented very strong grounds for a review of the decision to exclude Dungeness.
"We have stressed the very heavy local dependence on the nuclear industry and that a new station at Dungeness is vital to ensure a sustainable future for local communities," said Cllr Bliss. "If Dungeness is not included as a site for a new station, this council calls on the government to explain what intervention packages it will put in place to ensure that the loss of existing prosperity and the loss of future opportunity is mitigated against." [press release ends]
The report comes from the council rather than a political party. However, there has been a clear split in approach to the issue along party lines. The Lib Dems have been vocal in opposition to a new power station at Dungeness whereas Conservatives and other councillors have always maintained the need for a new power station.
Lib Dem councillors have criticised the Conservative group for relying too heavily on the possibility of a new power station for the Marsh, rather than having a back up plan.
Shepway District Council is sending a ‘hard hitting’ response to the government over the decision not to include Dungeness as a possible site for a new nuclear power station.
Citing incorrect employment statistics as ‘one of a number of errors that combined to ‘seriously understate’ the need for a new station.’
A press release on the council website states ‘This is a vitally important shortcoming, particularly in the case of Dungeness as the current decommissioning of A station and closure of B station from 2018 are key threats to the area's future prosperity and its already fragile economy.
‘The report also argues that the government has ignored the local community support for Dungeness and that it is ‘premature' to conclude the Natural England's objections over the loss of vegetated shingle habitat could not be addressed.
‘By the government's own definition, there is an Imperative Reason of Over-riding Public Interest to justify the inclusion of Dungeness, despite the ecological concerns.’
‘Leader of the Council, Robert Bliss, said the report presented very strong grounds for a review of the decision to exclude Dungeness.
"We have stressed the very heavy local dependence on the nuclear industry and that a new station at Dungeness is vital to ensure a sustainable future for local communities," said Cllr Bliss. "If Dungeness is not included as a site for a new station, this council calls on the government to explain what intervention packages it will put in place to ensure that the loss of existing prosperity and the loss of future opportunity is mitigated against." [press release ends]
The report comes from the council rather than a political party. However, there has been a clear split in approach to the issue along party lines. The Lib Dems have been vocal in opposition to a new power station at Dungeness whereas Conservatives and other councillors have always maintained the need for a new power station.
Lib Dem councillors have criticised the Conservative group for relying too heavily on the possibility of a new power station for the Marsh, rather than having a back up plan.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Marsh Future and Shepway Roads up for Debate at Council Meeting.
The future of Romney Marsh and the Kent County Council’s (KCC) care of Shepway’s roads are to be debated at a Council meeting this Wednesday.
These and other motions, which include congratulating Hythe Council for an honour bestowed on Michael Howard, look likely to generate heated debate in the Civic Chamber.
For Opposition Business the Liberal Democrat group has raised ‘The future of tourism on Romney Marsh.’
Concerns for the Marsh economy have been growing since the government’s decision in 2009 to not consider Dungeness as a site for a new nuclear power station. The Liberal Democrats have been promoting the idea of a tourism-centred economy for the Marsh which is at odds with Conservative calls for a new power station to be built.
15 minutes is allowed for the discussion of opposition business.
The Conservative group has raised three motions.
The first calls for the council to congratulate Hythe Town Council ‘on its admirable decision to bestow the honour of Freeman of Hythe Town upon the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC, MP, in recognition of his distinguished and dedicated service over 27 years to the Town, and to the entire Folkestone and Hythe constituency.’
Senior Liberal Democrat sources have told FUTS of their concerns that in the 27 years of Mr Howard as Folkestone and Hythe MP, some areas of Shepway have failed to rise out of the top 10% of most deprived wards in the country.
Previous debates have seen the Liberal Democrat group accuse the Conservatives of ‘backslapping’ and their reaction to this motion may be similar.
A second motion urges Stagecoach to ensure timetables are present in all bus stops and vandalism is repaired.
The third motion ‘compliments’ and ‘congratulates’ KCC for its gritting of primary routes during the recent bad weather and is ‘grateful’ for communication with residents via radio and television.
The motion then grows more critical of the Conservative led KCC. ‘This Council, however, hopes that KCC might in future extend its activities to incorporate a rather larger number of rural country lanes, and suggests that it should reconsider its current policy where if a road is not included on a salting route it will not then be considered again until the next annual review during the following summer.
‘Once the snow and ice have finally gone, this Council hopes that KCC will turn its attention with some rapidity to the urgent and overdue repair of the growing number of potholes appearing in roads across the District. This in turn implies the need for more regular inspections and surveys, and a greater commitment to redressing the accumulating problems and hazards.’
Up to 60 minutes is allowed for each motion. Discussions on Forrester’s Way car park and land at West Hythe Beach will then be discussed without members of the press or public present due to the likely disclosure of ‘exempt information’, such as confidential commercial information.
The meeting is this Wednesday in the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre at 7pm.
These and other motions, which include congratulating Hythe Council for an honour bestowed on Michael Howard, look likely to generate heated debate in the Civic Chamber.
For Opposition Business the Liberal Democrat group has raised ‘The future of tourism on Romney Marsh.’
Concerns for the Marsh economy have been growing since the government’s decision in 2009 to not consider Dungeness as a site for a new nuclear power station. The Liberal Democrats have been promoting the idea of a tourism-centred economy for the Marsh which is at odds with Conservative calls for a new power station to be built.
15 minutes is allowed for the discussion of opposition business.
The Conservative group has raised three motions.
The first calls for the council to congratulate Hythe Town Council ‘on its admirable decision to bestow the honour of Freeman of Hythe Town upon the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC, MP, in recognition of his distinguished and dedicated service over 27 years to the Town, and to the entire Folkestone and Hythe constituency.’
Senior Liberal Democrat sources have told FUTS of their concerns that in the 27 years of Mr Howard as Folkestone and Hythe MP, some areas of Shepway have failed to rise out of the top 10% of most deprived wards in the country.
Previous debates have seen the Liberal Democrat group accuse the Conservatives of ‘backslapping’ and their reaction to this motion may be similar.
A second motion urges Stagecoach to ensure timetables are present in all bus stops and vandalism is repaired.
The third motion ‘compliments’ and ‘congratulates’ KCC for its gritting of primary routes during the recent bad weather and is ‘grateful’ for communication with residents via radio and television.
The motion then grows more critical of the Conservative led KCC. ‘This Council, however, hopes that KCC might in future extend its activities to incorporate a rather larger number of rural country lanes, and suggests that it should reconsider its current policy where if a road is not included on a salting route it will not then be considered again until the next annual review during the following summer.
‘Once the snow and ice have finally gone, this Council hopes that KCC will turn its attention with some rapidity to the urgent and overdue repair of the growing number of potholes appearing in roads across the District. This in turn implies the need for more regular inspections and surveys, and a greater commitment to redressing the accumulating problems and hazards.’
Up to 60 minutes is allowed for each motion. Discussions on Forrester’s Way car park and land at West Hythe Beach will then be discussed without members of the press or public present due to the likely disclosure of ‘exempt information’, such as confidential commercial information.
The meeting is this Wednesday in the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre at 7pm.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Conservatives Criticised Over Council Pay Freeze
The Conservative group came under fire over their proposal to freeze councillors’ expenses and allowances in a Council meeting held on November 24, at the Civic Centre.
The motion was passed unanimously, but not before Liberal Democrat councillors questioned why the Conservative group had not agreed to this earlier in the year when suggested as an amendment by Liberal Democrats (see minutes page 29 http://www.shepway.gov.uk/webapp/service/cads/doc/council/Minutes%20%20Public/mcoun20090219.doc?download=download)
Cllr Carroll said "In February I moved to that we should freeze allowances. The Conservatives belly-laughed and guffawed.
Leading the first of several allegations that party whipping was the reason for the Conservative's change of heart, cllr Carroll claimed "something else is at work.”
People First cllr Paul Marsh also attacked the Conservative group, saying he could "never remember the Conservative group recommending a pay freeze." Cllr Marsh also said the Conservatives usually vote for increases, and Conservative cllr Rory Love had increased his own remuneration by 600% .
Conservative councillor David Monk denied that any whipping had taken place. Cllr Tilson (Cons) thanked the chamber for so many congratulations, though the Conservative group did not deny or seek to defend their earlier record.
The motion passed.
The motion was passed unanimously, but not before Liberal Democrat councillors questioned why the Conservative group had not agreed to this earlier in the year when suggested as an amendment by Liberal Democrats (see minutes page 29 http://www.shepway.gov.uk/webapp/service/cads/doc/council/Minutes%20%20Public/mcoun20090219.doc?download=download)
Cllr Carroll said "In February I moved to that we should freeze allowances. The Conservatives belly-laughed and guffawed.
Leading the first of several allegations that party whipping was the reason for the Conservative's change of heart, cllr Carroll claimed "something else is at work.”
People First cllr Paul Marsh also attacked the Conservative group, saying he could "never remember the Conservative group recommending a pay freeze." Cllr Marsh also said the Conservatives usually vote for increases, and Conservative cllr Rory Love had increased his own remuneration by 600% .
Conservative councillor David Monk denied that any whipping had taken place. Cllr Tilson (Cons) thanked the chamber for so many congratulations, though the Conservative group did not deny or seek to defend their earlier record.
The motion passed.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Council Debate Goes Nuclear About ‘Back of a Fag Packet’ Dungeness Motion
At one point Chairperson Councillor Susan Carey had to stand to force Councillor Lynne Beaumont (Lib Dem) to sit down after she had suggested Cllr Alan Clifton-Holt (Cons) ‘get his ears checked’ following a misunderstanding.
The motion, raised by the Conservative group, proposed that the council ‘greets with incredulity the decision by the Labour Government to exclude Dungeness from the short list of ten sites considered suitable for the construction of new nuclear power stations.’
Branding the Government ‘negligent,’ the motion highlighted the possible effect of job losses and the impact on Kent’s ability to fulfil demand for electricity and called for lobbying and publicity of the Council’s objection to the decision.
Split into 5 parts, the motion called for
- A letter from the Chief Executive to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change to express in the strongest possible terms the Council’s objection.
- The Chief Executive to demand a rationale for the decision in any reply to the letter, with a ‘detailed summary of the strategies and plans that the Government has in place to provide alternative employment.’
- To publicise the Council’s objections.
- All PPCs to ‘lobby the Government relentlessly.’
- Refer the issue to the Community Overview Committee ‘with a view to the committee being placed in a position to reinforce the power station’s arguments for the retention and expansion of Dungeness.
Cllr Valerie Loseby (Lib Dem) criticised the Conservative dominated council, saying ‘you shouldn’t rely on the Government to provide alternatives. That is the responsibility of the Council.’
Cllr Lynne Beamont (Lib Dem) was the most forthright in her criticism. Commenting that the motion was ‘badly worded’ and ‘crassly stupid,’ she attacked the Conservative administration for voting in the special reserve areas now hampering the application.
Speaking longer than her allotted 5 minutes, with some barracking in the chamber, Cllr Beaumont was asked at one point to address the council through the chair as her style and ‘jabbing fingers’ were contributing to a breakdown of order in the debate.
Cllr Neil Matthews (Lib Dem) also criticised the ‘flippant’ nature of the motion, saying it was strewn with inaccuracies. The proposed letter from the Chief Executive should go to two Secretaries of State, the council was already publicising its displeasure, that the motion was cheap political point scoring and that the motion was pre-empting the decision of the Community Overview Committee.
All Liberal Democrat speakers were concerned about waste disposal and health risks. Cllr Lynne Beaumont claimed that ‘high-level waste’ was held on the site, a view challenged by almost all other councillors.
In heated exchanges, Conservative councillors hit back at these claims.
Cllr Richard Pascoe (Cons), recalling his time as a fire fighter, rubbished security concerns saying ‘Transport [of waste] is one of the safest methods ever designed.’ Cllrs Malcom Dearden and David Monk (Cons) highlighted the need for employment on the Marsh, which has some of the worst school exam results in the county.
Disagreeing with Cllr Beaumont over the position of the site, Cllr William Richardson (Cons) claimed the site would be within the existing nuclear power station fence and that the ‘whole area is concrete anyway.’
Taking issue with Liberal Democrat Tim Prater’s vision for the Marsh, Cllr Russel Tilson (Cons) accused Cllr Prater of living in ‘cloud cuckoo land,’ and ‘a fantasy world of cyclepaths, B&Bs on stilts and water lifts.’ Cllr Tilson also noted Cllr Prater had written that ‘Dungeness has a long and proud association with the safe generation of nuclear power,’ which roused laughter around the chamber.
Cllr Paul Marsh (People First) suggested splitting the motion into its constituent parts for voting, which did not pass.
The motion passed with Conservatives voting in favour, with Cllr Brian Copping (People First). The majority of Liberal Democrats voted against, with Cllr Matthews and Cllr Marsh abstaining.
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