Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

Tell him i wish him the same as i would "Thatcher":D:D;)

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

i thought you wanted her to die from vaginal bleeding ?

ahhh i see your point

both a pair of wats

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

That, Tealeaf, would be the icing on the cake:D

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

As for the Garden Rake.......well, that's a new name for it!(wink, wink)

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

(Les' stands at Cashy's front door asking all the would-be claimants of above pint to form an orderly queue!)

:D

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

I think one black eye is better than two - otherwise we would mistake him for a cuddly panda - which we know he isn't

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

Well that's how democracy works , Gayle , in our great free-enterprise , Capitlalist System.Everyone for him/herself and to hell with anyone except number one.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

The Independents have never made any secret of the fact that they are, for want of a better expression, a group of individuals with a common interest. They work together as a group but still remain completely autonomous within themselves.

The whole point of going independent is to remove yourself from party politics and just get on with the job, which in fairness to them they have done. Abstaining today was merely a way of extricating themselves from an inevitable situation that the whole chamber was forced into by the Conservatives.

If Paul Barton had not been dragooned into line by the Tories then it may well have been a different story.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

I wouldn't go so far as to attack the Independents for what they have done today and in terms of local politics their hearts are in the right place.

Unfortunately, being Independent is a way of showing your interest in local politics but trying to remove yourself from local politics at the same time. It also removes the crutch of a party machine when you need help and certainly leaves you at a disadvantage in the council chamber when it comes to voting for facilities in your ward as you become reliant on votes from other parties.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

Forgive me, but that post smacks of a complete ignorance of independent councillors. They were left in a situation today where they were going to be on the losing side so they instead stuck to their principles and abstained.

You bang on about principles and the moral high ground but chide councillors when they exert those very qualities.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

As described, 'mere minions r us' were subjected to pure pantomime as first the woefully sick Mayor was ushered in via he TD plated Range Rover. Holding the walls and the furniture to balance his way to the front, our 'deathly' Mayor was unable to breath at times, mutter incoherently.

Malcolm was cosseted, nay wrapped in soft cotton wool and moved as far from the interference of opposition councillors as possible sitting amidst the ilk of his support.

Months stretching on years of protestations by certain Conservatives melted into the ether of a political blackhole as conscience was sidelined for the pleasure-dome of power and voluminous golden allowances. Principled Tories abandoning their pre-stated principle's and falling into line.

The first votes cast resulted in 18-17. Abstensions followed from independents on further votes leaving most decisions 17-14 reflecting the votes cast by the two major party's.

All was clearly lost in the full attended meeting. The indicator of that loss being the early alphabetical vote Mayor Paul (B)arton, the last remaining doubter who voted nay to John Broadley and aye to Malcolm Pritchard. The vote for Mayor being 18-17.

Councillors David (M)ason; David (P)arkins and Ian (R)obinson where able to choose to abstain on further votes as the predictability of defeat established itself.

The dramatic event was the Deputy Mayorality with Mayor Paul Barton declining to step into that role. In a cheap appeasement, Cllr Britcliffe without forewarning, moved John Broadley and resisted an adjournment to force the outcome.

An adjournment was acquired. John honourably refusing the political bribe in the interim. Instead Munsif Dad (Labour) was advanced only to met with the political jeopardy of Cllr Britcliffe seeking to grasp the asian vote back, withdrawing the offer to Labour by counter nominating Allah Dad.

With Mayor Pritchard moored in the first citizens seat and refusing to vote initially, the chamber accumulated a final and dramatic deadlock of 17-17. Mayor Pritchard was then forced to use his privy casting and golden vote. The chamber witnessed the longest silence in my memory as indecision gripped the Mayor.

Time passed but the heavy hand and staring glare of Cllr Britcliffe finally brought the axe down on Labour's nomination with the Mayor's decision completing his political transaction nominating Conservative Allah Dad.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

which way did pritchard vote or was his vote not required to swing a victory leaving his mayorship safe and sound without it ?

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

After today? The rot set in years ago, around 1999 at a rough guess.

Still, pity where it's due, the previous Labour administration and all that guff. There's only enough money in the pot for six new Oswaldtwistle projects this year instead of the usual ten.

The rest of us, as predicted, are being relocated to Far Corfe.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

I stand corrected Ken.

I should have read the post more carefully.

I was having a dig at our democracy in general.

If Independents are genuinely independent I admire them.

I may be naive but I don't see a need for party politics in local government.Nationally I dont think Parliament would function without them.

As for banging on about principles and the moral high ground I am far behind the politicians.

Re: Councillor Britcliffe Called off the AGM
 

sory but i dont care what your personal feelings are people are not there for themselves they are there because they have been elected to represent people and therefore have no buisness obstaining on issues that effect the whole area especialy ones as big as this.

i may be alone thinking that but when i vote for somone i vote for them to work for the area not sit back and watch everyone else