Rocke
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This was the week that was ( for a change )Yes, I've finally managed to give an update for the week that was in the week that still is, if you get my meaning ( politician-speak's infected me, I think ).
Bits of constituency work early in the week and then Weds we had a special Full Council. Amazingly it lasted all of 33 minutes, there being general concensus ( apart from the seemingly mandatory shouting match ). Even after a year I remain staggered at how people have to make political points rather than focus on the business in hand.
Cllr. Trollope ( Lab. Tredegar ) used his right to ask a question of the Leader, who used his prerogative to ask his Executive Member for Leisure ( Jason Owen ) to answer.
Basically Cllr. T wanted the council to reconsider the large ( percentage ) increase on charges to use our Leisure facilities, given that the poorest in society would be hit the most.
Jason pointed out that the rise being talked about arose because an administrative error in last year's budget-setting ( guess who ran the Council then ) meant that the proper charge wasn't levied.
Apparently it was discovered last summer and the decision made not to correct it until this year.
We are also now benchmarking our costs against neighbouring authorities and we come out lower than most ( I must say that this is a double-edged sword - it can give laissez faire to increase until you're the same as others as well, like petrol prices ).
Anyway, on to Cllr. T's 'supplementary' which he doesn't have to give prior notice about ( the first question is known, otherwise the information can't be provided there and then ).
Cue one politically-motivated speech, which isn't allowed - a question, and a question only !!
Madam Mayor looks on, let's Cllr. T have his say, so Jason does the same, answering after a speech which makes political points.
Cue a shouting match, with Steve Thomas ( Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, who you'll note I haven't made observations on ) turning around to me ( I sit behind him ) and shaking his head, and me agreeing with him.
A few nominations for outside bodies, including some governorships.
Madam Mayor's up for reappointment at one of the EV schools, but we nominate someone else.
Cue Cllr. McCarthy to nominate her, so we go to a vote.
Since there's about 10 or so Opposition and around 18-20 of us you can guess the outcome.
Then Cllr. T exercises his right to ask for a recorded vote - what is the point.
I don't care if someone says 'Dai Rocke voted against Cllr. Morgan being reappointed governor' at some point in the future.
I'll tell you now why I voted against - when we had our special Scrutiny to guage Members' views on the proposed closure of Nantyglo Comp she simply went with the party line, rather than look at the facts.
There's absolutely no room in children's education for politics, so bye, bye.
The mayor then expresses her disappointment explaining that as Vice Chair of Governors she was involved in a project with Year 10 pupils which she wouldn't be able to complete.
As Des Hillman, Leader pointed out, there are other ways.
Anyway, all over in 33 minutes, including the shouting.
Next, probably the Civic event this week - the Annual Meeting of Council.
This is where the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected, along with the Leader(s), Executive Members, Chairs, Vice-Chairs and where we decide who's going to sit on outside bodies etc.
No chance of 33 minutes with this one !
Cllr. John Williams has been a Member of this and the predecessor authorities for 34 years and a victim of the Labour Group's refusal to make the role of Mayor apolitical - almost every other council in the country ( that's UK ) elect their Mayor based on length of time on the council.
John could have been Mayor last year but he believes in the tradition that Deputy Mayor becomes Mayor, hence Cllr. Morgan with her 4 years of office was elected.
All the family are invited, much ceremony - passing of chains, prayers for the coming year, commerorative badges, nice speeches etc. The gallery's full.
This year the event was videoed - after John took office. Apparently there was a reluctance to video the whole shebang.
I've mentioned that the Public Gallery was full but there was a strange phenomenon on the Floor.
The Partnership had 23 out of 27 members present while the Labour Opposition managed 8 out of 15, including Madam Mayor.
When the jobs and roles were announced by the respective sides I found it astounding that the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, it's Chair, vice-Chair and another group officer weren't even at the Meeting !.
Anyway, all over for another year.
This is the year we have to start taking control of our own actions so it will be interesting to see what happens at next year's 'AGM'.
Other than that it's been all politics.
Yes, anyone who's read The Gazette - and managed to get past the 'Cllr McCarthy raises the spectre of nasty Tories' page will have seen my response to the lamentable ( or should that be 'lamb-entable' ? ) Mr. Dobbs. I simply can't keep my mouth shut when it comes to the public being misled.
I had my first unhappy constituent this week ( well, there was one a while back but he was smashed as a rat, virtually incoherent ).
Apparently one organisation 'is disappointed with me'.
Well I'm disappointed to learn that people think I'm only there to give them cheques, that I'm psychic and know of problems they haven't come to me with and that they don't believe that I've worked hard at trying to ensure they have an easier time next season.
Probably the fact that I've helped Abertillery Bluebirds has rankled them.
So I'll just say this:
My responsibility is to work in the best interests of my constituents. If that means that I can help provide Welsh League football for all the youngsters in Cwmtillery Ward then so be it. I'm sure they won't mind travelling er.. a mile or so for home games, if they're good enough.
If I also have to try to ensure that youngsters in Cwmtillery Ward can play home games within that ward then so be it.
Despite the fact that all Borough grounds are available to all Borough sporting organisations we should as far as possible base teams as close as possible to their HQs.
Until the Boundary Commission moves Abertillery Park into Abertillery Cwmtillery has 3 serviceable pitches and 3 others. Abertillery ( Ward ) unbelievably has none.
Oh - and that's one of the reasons why wards have more than one Councillor.
There's always one of my colleagues ( neither of who have a special relationship with Leisure of course ).
The strange thing is, most people say to me 'we know you won't be able to do everything but at least you'll give it a try'.
Sometimes it works - ask Abertillery Bluebirds.
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