Rocke
|
What a week before the recess that was - P2 ( Weds )First up a Group Meeting before Full Council to discuss the report of the Standards Committee, especially the circumstances leading up to Cllr. Daniels' suspension.
One of the recommendations was an independent inquiry into possible staff reluctance to report instances of behaviour that upset them, and also the reporting procedures in place.
It is important to appreciate that Cllr. Daniels had one count and one count only to answer. There were 2 instances of behaviour ultimately found to be inappropriate and these were towards the same officer and only a day apart, thereby being part of the one complaint.
However, the substantial number of statements taken and the details contained in them and the eventual Ombudsman's report led to the Adjucation Panel ( the independent body that sat to consider the matter and which handed out the suspension ) led to the Chair of it stating that any decision taken would be done in the context of the report.
It seems to me it's similar to one of those Court cases where someone asks for other offences to be taken into account ( apart from the fact that Cllr. Daniels hadn't committed any other offences, if you see what I mean ).
This has led to a belief - certainly by me - that members of staff who had in the past either witnessed or been subjected to behaviour which might have upset them did not come forward with their concerns, and that does make one wonder if there was something wrong with the system and/or the application of it.
We therefore put before Council an additional recommendation that a cross-party working group be convened as a matter of urgency to produce terms of reference for an inquiry and to appoint outside independent person(s) to carry this out.
The ensuing Council meeting was well attended, not surprisingly. Yet again the Opposition Labour Group were better represented than seems the norm these days.
Anyway, up comes the Standards Committee report, the Leader puts the additional recommendation and - well, not a lot. The only comment the Labour Group make is to ask what the proportion of the working group that bill dot the i's and cross the t's will be.
Des says it will be representative and then we get into a small spat where the Labour Group are saying 'how about 2 from each of the 4 main political streams'. ie. 2 Labour, 2 LibDems, 2 People's Voice and 2 Independents.
Cllr Thomas actually stated he mentioend 2 of each because there was only 2 LibDems.
Fortunately I didn't have to say anything about the Maths etc. because Cllr Den Hughes mentioned that some Independents weren't part of the Partnership group anyway.
Firepower won the day and Labour backed off having a vote.
Hopefully this inquiry will also be a useful review of the procedures and practices now in place, so we can ensure that any flaws in the previous system haven't been brought through to now.
Equally, I hope that it isn't seen to be a witch hunt, because it isn't. It will - or at least its findings will - be an appraisal of whether things did go awry, if so why and what lessons have been learned.
I forgot to mention that at the start of the meeting Des made the announcement that Cllr Mark Edwards had stepped down as Chair of FIP for 3 months due to work committments.
This Council Meeting was a strange one in that originally there was only the Standards Committee report on the agenda ( apart from the necessary 'Apologies', 'Dispensations' etc. ). However, over the course of 4 or 5 days a Swine Flu presentation, a report on the outcome of funding Bids in Community Services and an update on the Indoor Bowls Centre got added.
The Swine Flu presentation was interesting, as was the Q & A following it from our Public Health adviser doctor.
I think the bids report was there to introduce a feel good factor, which I think nearly £50million coming in would.
You probably know the Comp's having £1.8 million and there's some £44 Million going to The Works, for schools, Learning Campus etc. In case you think my Maths are wrong there's also something else ( which I've forgot, sorry ).
The Bowls Centre, as I've mentioned, will be available for the coming season. It seems that the huge costs associated with bringing it up to H&S standards have been avoided by a significant decommissioning of most of the areas there, so they can't be a danger to people inside, because there won't be any people in those areas.
PS the Gymnastics Club are also still there.
The Tai Calon Housing Stock Transfer vote result was announced - and as you probably all know tenants - well of the 57% that voted - decided by a substantial margin to transfer to Tai Calon.
The 'Yes' vote was actually made by over 41% of all tenants by my reckoning, so no-one can say the low turnout swung it or whatever.
On the stats a 100% turnout would have shown that well over 70% of tenants want it.
Now we have to ensure that the transition goes smoothly.
Weds afternoon was Housing & Regeneration.
Affordable Housing and Homelessness will still remain with BGCBC despite the Tai Calon vote. It's a statutory function of the council.
The major debate here was parking for the Eisteddfod.
Over 7,000 spaces required and for 10 minutes or so it seemed that Members had more places and suggestions than our officers.
However, our officers were looking initially at 3 major 'satellite' areas serviced by Park & Ride. Members' suggestions about other areas, such as the new hospital, which will be built but not fully fitted by then.
Far be it for me to put the mockers on anything but I mentioned about putting horses before the cart.
It's all very well identifying huge parking areas but how are we to get the vehicles to them ?!!
At 50mph I estimate that some 1,000 cars per hour will pass any particular sport.
That means that is just a quarter of the projected traffic comes up the Cwm Road to a site at the former marine that's nearly 2 hours of bumper to bumper up the Aberbeeg-Cwm road, which almost certainly means gridlock at Aberbeeg, leading to jams on the Aberbeeg-Crumlin road ( and possibly Aber-Aberbeeg ). Oops - a fair bit of logicstics to work out here I think.
|
