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g jones · 21-10-2007, 08:49

I posted whilst on holiday this week, when I got back i had a note about the Full Council meeting to be called on the 20th November to change the name.

I am a bit surprised. PB has given all Tories a free vote and as I posted before so that Harwood and Rishton Tory Councillors can vote against.

There is an Area Council Chairs meeting (Nearly all the chairs are Tory) a week or so before to 'recommend' to the Leader of the Council their consultations. Rishton voted against en masse. They were unable to take a vote in Harwood due to the animosity. They changed the queston in Huncoat and in Peel & Barnfield (central Accrington) it was 4 for, 9 against and 13 abstensions. I heard PB say all the Area Councils were in favour, in Ossy it was 100% in favour.

Area Councils aren't any where near suitable consultation. They are a political tool. Thats what I meant about it all being dodgy (and the results). Who's seen a total vote from each Area Council? I haven't and I'm a Councillor.

This Area Council Chairs/Panel meeting will 'recommend' to the Leader which way he should vote! It's a brave move by the Leader but after his own fanfare, and the comments by people here, he has to go through with it. He may use the Panel meeting to recommend NO and then say he has listened.

It's a mess although this is how the Council is normally run, though normally the Tories have the 50% required to push through all votes without thought to how Labour or independent Councillors vote. They require 67% on this issue.

The Labour Group of Councillors are going to have sit down next week and discuss this issue because without their votes it wil not hapen. With no information about costings and no information about the cost of a referendum it is making any debate a bit farcical. If we call for a referendum we are going to be acused of putting 1% on the Council Tax.

Labour Councillors are a serious and committed bunch of people. An honest group of people I have a lot of respect for and I am sure we will do our best in trying to come to a conclusion that is best for the Borough under the circumstances.

21-10-2007, 08:49	#549
g jones Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,125 Liked: 14 times Rep Power: 731	Re: Hyndburn to be axed. I posted whilst on holiday this week, when I got back i had a note about the Full Council meeting to be called on the 20th November to change the name. I am a bit surprised. PB has given all Tories a free vote and as I posted before so that Harwood and Rishton Tory Councillors can vote against. There is an Area Council Chairs meeting (Nearly all the chairs are Tory) a week or so before to 'recommend' to the Leader of the Council their consultations. Rishton voted against en masse. They were unable to take a vote in Harwood due to the animosity. They changed the queston in Huncoat and in Peel & Barnfield (central Accrington) it was 4 for, 9 against and 13 abstensions. I heard PB say all the Area Councils were in favour, in Ossy it was 100% in favour. Area Councils aren't any where near suitable consultation. They are a political tool. Thats what I meant about it all being dodgy (and the results). Who's seen a total vote from each Area Council? I haven't and I'm a Councillor. This Area Council Chairs/Panel meeting will 'recommend' to the Leader which way he should vote! It's a brave move by the Leader but after his own fanfare, and the comments by people here, he has to go through with it. He may use the Panel meeting to recommend NO and then say he has listened. It's a mess although this is how the Council is normally run, though normally the Tories have the 50% required to push through all votes without thought to how Labour or independent Councillors vote. They require 67% on this issue. The Labour Group of Councillors are going to have sit down next week and discuss this issue because without their votes it wil not hapen. With no information about costings and no information about the cost of a referendum it is making any debate a bit farcical. If we call for a referendum we are going to be acused of putting 1% on the Council Tax. Labour Councillors are a serious and committed bunch of people. An honest group of people I have a lot of respect for and I am sure we will do our best in trying to come to a conclusion that is best for the Borough under the circumstances.