Tuesday 8 March 2011

IWJ: Words versus Deeds

Tucked away on page 20 of yesterday's Daily Post was a (somewhat long) Op Ed by Ieuan Wyn Jones setting out his position on the future of Anglesey County Council. I welcome that in response to some prodding in the press he has finally come out and explained his position, the essence if it being that although he feels "further intervention in the workings of the council is ... inevitable", he does not believe that "we have yet reached the position that the best interests of the council or the people of Anglesey would be served by the complete withdrawal of powers from elected councillors and the appointment of commissioners". However most importantly Ieuan Wyn Jones unequivocally states that he does "oppose a merger between Ynys Môn and Gwynedd, since it would not be in the best interests of either council". He has been very clear in words, but lets see if he will also follow through with action.

As it happens the new report on Anglesey Council by the Auditor General will be completed shortly and passed to WAG Local Government minister, Carl Sargeant. We don't know what it will say, but its possible that it could recommend that the problems at Ynys Môn are so intractable that a merger with a neighbouring authority should be looked into. That would be convenient for Sargeant as just next week the WAG Local Government Measure -- which currently includes the controversial powers to forcefully amalgamate local authorities -- will be debated by AMs again. An independent report from the Auditor General recommending the merging of Ynys Môn and Gwynedd would be useful ammunition for Carl Sargeant. The Conservatives and Lib Dems however are pledged to oppose the powers which would allow WAG to force council mergers -- therefore Carl Sargeant will only be able to get it passed if Plaid Cymru AMs support it.

If Ieuan Wyn Jones truly believes that Ynys Môn and Gwynedd should not be merged, will he instruct his AMs not to support this part of the Measure? That will be the true test of his commitment to preserve Ynys Môn.

55 comments:

kp said...

WAG Local Government minister Mr Carl Sargeant has but one task, to restore public trust in Anglesey County Council.

Time is short.

No restoration of trust, no more council tax payments.

It really is that simple!

Anonymous said...

I would say there wil be no amalgamation - YET.

I would further say thee almost certainly will be one some time in the future and that it will coincide with or follow shortly after the re-organisation of the Westminster constituency boundaries - a sort of 'rationalisation' that would see Parliamentary, WAG and local authority boundaries mirror each other as much as possible.

Anonymous said...

News from the Kremlin.
Todays Full Council Meeting.

Leader of the Council stands by his allegations of Malfeasance against Members of the Council's Corporate Management Team.

Having made these serious allegations in December 2008, Cllr McGregor said today, he still stands by those allegations.

If what's happened so far with other Councillors, David Bowles will by now be treating Cllr McGregor as a trouble maker.

As it is, the Council is now worse off than ever with Clive McGregor still making serious allegations against Officers, whilst at the same time naming and blaming other Councillors publicly for his own wrongdoing.

Bring in the Assembly now.

Maes Llwyn said...

16.39........thank you Counc. Durkin.......got to be you !

Anonymous said...

Nah is not Barrie. To few spelling and grammer mistakes (no offence Barrie).

And nowhere near direct or venomous enough.

Anonymous said...

Peter Hain says what's the point of Ieuan Wyn Jones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12678137

Anonymous said...

What is the point of Plaid Cymru, indeed?

Following David Bowles & Clive McGregor's public dressing down and a lesson in the difference between right and wrong at todays Council Meeting, one of the Plaid Cymru Councillors having supported the shameless naming of Councillors and Cllr McGregor's Defunct "Terms of (Hate) Engagement" left the meeting in disgust, unable to hide his shame having showed his displeasure that at last someone had stood up and put the real trouble makers in their place.

What is the point of Plaid Cymru? No point.

Stable Boy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
kp said...

Regrettably I cannot, I have much serious work to undertake.collesa

Anonymous said...

Much deleting taken place,
has a nerve been hit then?

kp said...

Interested to know what has been going on myself too. How come my name was publicly displayed for all to see?

Do we have a mole?

Anonymous said...

Counc. Peter Rogers's hopeless motion that IACC should waive its £5K legal bill for defending against JAJ's hopeless crusade to the High Court in Cardiff went down like a lead balloon, embarrassingly he could not even find a seconder.
Peter, you should really engage brain, before making a fool of yourself..... ??

County Councillor Barrie Durkin said...

Following on from the way Mr David Bowles, Anglesey County Council's, Interim Managing Director and Cllr Clive McGregor, Leader of the Council have enjoyed publicly naming Councillors for what they deem as been trouble makers for having the audacity to lodge legitimate complaints, against the former Minister Brain Gibbons instructions, we now see their ivory tower in ruins.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the full Council, Clive McGregor admitted for the first time that he fired Councillor Durkin from his group for making allegations against members of Staff which were not in the interest of his Group or the Council!!!

Since that time Cllr Durkin has been publicly named, made a scape goat of and become the subject of a bogus complaint to the Ombudsman, costing thousands of pounds of public money, just to cover up wrong doings by some of David Bowles's Senior Officers.

It appears that David Bowles will do and say anything to shield his officers from complaints no-matter how legitimate they are. However, Cllr McGregor in his quest to appease Mr Bowles, seems to have forgotten that in December 2008,he wrote to the former Managing Director, saying.

"It pains me greatly but doesn't surprised me given the issues surrounding Graigwen have eroded whatever trust and confidence there might have be between the ruling Administration and certain members of the Corporate Management Team. It may be that we require a Police Investigation into the issue as offences of Malfeasance in Public office would appear to be made out. It is then and only then that confidence in the Isle of Anglesey County Council would be apparent"

Yesterday in Council, Cllr McGregor fully endorsed that allegation.

I for one can only, after all his attempts along with David Bowles as the main instigator to cover up and blame everyone else admire Clive McGregor for now coming out and telling the truth.

So where does this leave the discredited Mr David Bowles and the taters of a Council he has created. More importantly the People of Anglesey?

Anonymous said...

Whats the problem in making it publicly known that County Councillor Ieuan Williams, having left the Original Independents, complaining that other members were only jocking for power, then he himself joins Clive McGregor and becomes a member of his Cabinet?

Photon said...

Can someone explain to me why IWJ thinks that preserving the current lot of Anglesey councillors is a good way forward? There are good people there, but as a body, they have failed.

Most people seem to think that only a total clear-out and starting afresh will bring about the changes we so desperately need to see.

Preservation of local democracy, sure. Keeping the same old guard in perpetual power, no chance!

;) said...

FYI:
"Tax rebel leader demands magistrates serve warrant to arrest Merseyside Chief Constable"

www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/8896123.Tax_rebel_leader_demands_magistrates_serve_warrant_to_arrest_Merseyside_Chief_Constable/

Direct Action just up the coast.

NB: This is the top four stories in the Wirral Globe where some people aren't happy with their council.

kp said...

A slight fall in council tax throughout England, a 3.7% increase here in Anglesey.

Can someone tell me why? And what are we going to do about it?

Prometheuswrites said...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12683076

Wales inward investment 'failing due to skill levels'

Why education is so important.

If we want to have a good society and robust economy we must start to prioritise our children and their future; and I don't mean the sort of 'education' that equates to being able to 'pass exams'.

The key is to bring up our children so they want to stay here and contribute to our economy and culture.

That means less obstacles and more help to setting up a business and more affordable houses being built/available.

So my question is: How many young entrepeneurs and genuinely new businesses are involved with the Conyger-Stena line £100M development?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
JOBLESS. said...

The Lightning Car Company.

What a disgrace. I hope IWJ is hanging his head in shame. 400 + jobs at stake and he can't even remember the meeting!!!!!!

Say's it all, Doesn't it?

Who in their right mind would vote for such a feckless knob head as this?

Anonymous said...

"A slight fall in council tax throughout England, a 3.7% increase here in Anglesey."

Not ideal.

"Can someone tell me why? "

If IoACC was functioning as a properly accountable democratic organisation, with properly recorded proposals and discussions, their published documents would tell you the reasons for the increase.

You have presumably looked? Can you tell us where you looked and what you found?

You're not in the finance industry by any chance, are you? Or a ConDem cabinet millionaire?

Your repeated public rantings seem to indicate a pointless permanent anti-public-sector vendetta. Change the record, please. Or at least acknowledge that there can be no real progress on IoACC council tax until Anglesey has real local democracy and accountability.

Anonymous said...

I fail to understand how or why making allegations against members of staff is not in the best interest of the Council.
If the allegations of wrongdoing are true,(I take it that this is what we are talking about)then surely it is in the best interest of the Council to bring these members of staff to book.
From what I have read on this and other blogs, it is the protecting of these people, whether they be staff or Councillors, which has plagued the Council for so long. No one is ever held accountable for their actions.
I fail to understand why Bowles would want to shield these Officers. Surely we would have a better Council without them.

kp said...

Anon 13:13

'Your repeated public rantings seem to indicate a pointless permanent anti-public-sector vendetta'.

Not so, rather a permanent vendetta against constantly rising council taxes.

'...there can be no real progress on IoACC council tax until Anglesey has real local democracy and accountability'.

Sorry, stop the ever increasing money flow to the council and everything will sort itself out in double quick time.

Trust me, it's true.

Anonymous said...

Prometheus, part of the problem is that our children are not educated in skills employers want.

No employer is going to hire someone as a 'favour'. They must be literate and numerate to a standard the employer sets not one that the state thinks is suffice. They must turn up to interview cklean, tidy and showing a bit of interest at least.

Half the people round here are literally unemployable. They don't care, don't try, make no effort and can't be arsed. They turn up for interviews in dirty clothes, unshaven, wearing facial jewellry and slouching answering questions in monosylabic disinterested grunts. That's fair enough - it's their life, but it impoacts on those who do want to work in that they can't because employers won't come here. That means those with high skills are left with little choice other than to move.

Anonymous said...

@13.32 "No employer is going to hire someone as a 'favour'." It is a commonly expressed belief that Anglesey Council does! It is also believed that numeracy and literacy are not high on the agenda. I say this following a conversation yesterday with a local employer who was comlaining that the local Council are more obstructive than helpful for this particular family business where as certain families are shown preference when it comes to working at the council.

Anonymous said...

@13.32 "No employer is going to hire someone as a 'favour'." It is a commonly expressed belief that Anglesey Council does! It is also believed that numeracy and literacy are not high on the agenda. I say this following a conversation yesterday with a local employer who was comlaining that the local Council are more obstructive than helpful for this particular family business where as certain families are shown preference when it comes to working at the council.

Anonymous said...

A couple of years ago someone set up a cafe in newborough on the crossroads. it closed last year, maybe because the parking is so poor that visitors coudnt park or didnt knpow where to park.
The PJI hall has just started up a smart cafe, looks nice, all refurbished. Its run and staffed by Mentir Mon. the prices are very low, (subsidised?) and it has its own parking. How can a private busines compete with this?
Dont Mentir Mon help other business start up? They seem tpo be running lots of little business. Is this what Cameron means by getting the way of private business?

Stable Lad said...

Stable Lad agrees with Anonymous 10:28-"Whats the problem in making it publicly known that County Councillor Ieuan Williams, having left the Original Independents, complaining that other members were only jocking for power, then he himself joins Clive McGregor and becomes a member of his Cabinet?"-This Member would make Lester Piggott seem an amateur-Elected May 2008-straight into the Cabinet then Chair of Principal Scrutiny and now after abandoning his Original Independent Fellow Members accusing them of "Jockeying for Paid positions" does exactly the same thing...Must go down to Betfred or William Hill and put a few quid on him being proposed for Leader following Clive's "retirement" in May...What odds are being offered I wonder ??

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stable Lad said...

Thanks Anonymous 19.04
We've seen many Councillors either names in full or by initials who are being blamed for IOACC's problems-but it is the slime balls as above who have worked behind the scenes who are the real culprits-hope the Auditors who have been called in spot the real troublemackers and then NAME AND SHAME them !!!Then I will do the job of mucking out the Stables to make room for the real Race Winners !!-Place your bets !!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Well Known Referee said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Insider said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
An Eye On... said...

anon17:37, I thought Menter Mon assistd small business start-ups by providing advice and training, and informing what grants were available, how to access them etc etc. all over Anglesey and Gwynedd

I don't think it directly subsidises or runs any business itself.

On the small business front, I see the 'Aces' clothes shop in Holyhead has closed it's doors and Davies Hardware - again in Holyhead - is up for sale as premises and the business winding down.

sad to see you go said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

@Insider 20:19
"the thrashing Cllr Durkin gave David Bowles and Clive McGregor about their appalling behavior"

Sounds promising. I don't suppose any further details are available? The version in the minutes (if it gets mentioned at all) almost certainly won't be worth tuppence vs the real thing.

I see from the much-delayed February minutes that Councillor Durkin's formal proposal to suspend expenses payments for travel to routine Llangefni meetings was seconded but not passed. Disappointing, but not surprising. As Cabinet Millionaire 1 of 20+ says, "We're all in this together". Apart from those that aren't.

Concerned Gwynedd Taxpayer said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Quite right 22:10

If Anglesey County Council and Gwynedd are working together, even if it is only on a scoping study, then any Councillor that works for the department in question should not be a Councillor for either council.

Anonymous said...

Clive McGregor the Leader of Anglesey County Council has publicly reiterated his allegations of Malfeasance in Public Office by members of the Council's Corporate Management Team.

So What is David Bowles going to do about it? My money's on another cover up. And what will he do about Clive McGregor, having made such serious allegations, pretend it didn't happen and hope it will go away, or do the same as he's done to the other having made legitimate complaints. Publicly abuse them?

Anonymous said...

Can someone remind me whether a Councillor needs to declare who their employer is, as a "beneficial interest" or similar, in their official Council record?

If it does have to be declared, perhaps some of the now vanished more factual stuff from last night could be reposted in a more factual way.

I can't remember all the stuff that was deleted, but the "Councillor xyz works for pqr" stuff surely is valid if it's already public domain?

Anonymous said...

All County Councillors must declare their place of work if they have one. Councillor Ieuan Williams has done this in his Register of Interests, which is a public document and is on the Council's Web Site for all to see.

He has declared that he "Works for Gwynedd Council as an Infrastructure and I.T. Support Manager".

Anonymous said...

KP.
You should real try and turn down your racist overtones. We know you can do better.

Anonymous said...

09:39
Thanks for that.
If that is the case, and if Anglesey County Council is working jointly along side Gwynedd Council on their I.T. Sections, doesn't that create Cllr Ieuan Williams with an eligibility problem?

Well Known Referee said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Pied Piper of Kremlin said...

All quiet at the Kremlin tonight-Seems to be an empty desk and Office on the 1st Floor--Have you really gone Clive without saying Farewell--What about an Exit Interview ??-We will miss you so...

Sad to see you go says said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Clive McGregor opened up one hell of a can of worms on Tuesday, with his allegations of Malfeasance in public office.

This allegation was first made by McGregor in December 2008, and was one of the straws that broke the Camels back and brought about Bowles been sent in by the Assembly.

Following that he joined up with the Bowles's, brush it all under the carpet mob, and set about abusing any of his fellow Councillors that did not see things his way.

Now following a questioning from Durkin on Tuesday, McGregor said, that he did still stand by his allegations, causing David Bowles to almost fall off his chair.

So now the question. Are Clive McGregor's allegations true and if so, why have the Police not been brought in, and if not. Why is he still in Council as the leader?

Well Known Referee says said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.