Transparency, even in this cosmetic 'showcase' form, needn't come at a price.
The Care Home closure debate itself saw various Councillors making their point including one who mentioned the £100,000 squiffed by the Planning department pursuing Mr Humphreys and his Mill, another reminded everyone of the gift to 'the stadium'. As the debate continued M Gravell looked crosser and crosser, and a recorded vote, (28 to 38) meant the Care homes stay open.
I must mention that our two local stalwarts of the elderly, Cllr Ivor Jackson and Cllr Tom Theophilus both 'Independents', and ever loyal to Meryl, voted for closure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbzFYftI_Jo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7XHNptexpU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvxngtFqx_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCwHcbRZLn0
UPDATE March 1st;
Remember, the combined pay of those you see sat at the 'top table' is approaching £1.3 million.
Today's newspaper articles about yesterday's debates;
UPDATE 4th MARCH:
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Campaigners-hit-care-home-criticism/article-3288645-detail/article.html (well said Ray)
UPDATE 6th MARCH;
To date, the You Tube clips have been viewed 216 times!
LATER POST 7th April; Vote of No Confidence in Executive Board Member
2 comments:
I have heard that the leader of the Independents took the Chief Executive with her to a recent Independent Group meeting so that he could explain the issues to any councillors that were considering thinking independently and voting against their glorious leader. Those that expressed doubts received individual “discussions” with the Chief Executive.
It is reassuring to see that occasionally members of Independent Group really do act independently despite this type of pressure.
It would be good to see the list of the 28 councillors that stayed loyal to this despotic regime, and even better to see the despots leave for good.
Well done on the videos. I’m sure there would have been less than 28 voting in favour if they knew that the debate and vote was being recorded. The videoing of council meetings has to be the way forward if we are going to get democracy in Carmarthenshire. I’m sure it will be resisted…
The film footage of the council meeting was most welcome. I cannot get out as much as I would like, but I do take an interest in local politics. It would be much appreciated by many older people like myself, if every council meeting was recorded in this way. Parliament debates are recorded regularly, so why not our own local authority. Good for democracy and good for transparency. I sincerely hope that filming of the council meetings become a regular event.
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