Considering the myriad problems currently facing Anglesey, the Druid - like all right thinking residents - wants to see Anglesey County Council function properly. However, having mulled over McGregor's new Alliance overnight, these are my first thoughts:
- When I first started writing this blog I very much saw what was happening at the Council in black and white terms. In other words I felt that although the majority of councillors were good, hard working people, there was a minority of troublemakers who were motivated by nothing more than petty in-fighting and vindictiveness. However, the more I learn from councillors, fellow residents, and commenters on this blog, the more it becomes apparent that things are never that simple. There may well be one or two councillors who are purely motivated by "past grievances and personal animosity"; but it is increasingly clear that there are also other councillors who, although singled out by the Executive as troublemakers, are not necessarily motivated by the wrong things. And this leads me to my biggest reservation about the Alliance's Terms of Engagement: it tries to divide councillors into purely 'good' and 'bad' camps - without recognising that not all resistance to the Executive and Senior Officers is necessarily driven by "past grievances and personal animosity".
- No council in the country is entirely free of wrongdoing by either councillors or officers (a quick read through Private Eye's regular "Rotten Boroughs" column will confirm this). I have seen sufficient evidence to support the strong suspicion that Anglesey County Council is no different. However, Bowles' strategy since arriving has been to unquestioningly defend his own officers against all allegations whilst taking a "no prisoners" approach to democratically elected councillors. This may well be due to his personal experience of having being hounded out of his previous post at Lincolnshire County Council by councillors there after he exposed the illegal activities of the then Leader of Council. However, considering that the basis of many of the problems which currently beset Anglesey County Council are caused by mistrust between councillors and officers, its difficult to see that Bowles' uneven approach will solve them in the long term.
- As the new Alliance is made up of councillors from all of the groupings and parties, it will be inherently unstable. Furthermore, particularly at this time of spending cuts, each different group will have wildly different views on the Informal Board's chosen 'strategic agenda' of "budgetary and efficiency issues, schools rationalisation, the future provision of leisure services, residential care for the elderly, Social Services, and matters relating to the economy of the Island". Accordingly we have to ask the questions "how long will it last?" and "what will happen if it fails?"
- I can't answer the first question, but the answer to the second is clear: should this Alliance fail, then the Welsh Assembly Government will have no choice but to take over the running of the Council directly from Cardiff. However, will they merely take a care-taking approach until the next set of local council elections? Or will they consider that the problems in IoACC are so deep-set that the only solution would be to merge IoACC into Gwynedd County Council? My guess is that WAG will plumb for the second option. As I personally believe that local government decision making should be made as close as possible to local communities, I do not want to see IoACC merge with Gwynedd County Council - yet I fear this new Alliance has taken us a step closer to this eventuality.
- Where is Ieuan Wyn Jones and Albert Owen in all of this? It is fair to say that both of them have fundamentally failed their electors by refusing to become involved in finding a solution to problems which have now beset the council for years. This is a sentiment echoed by many councillors too. Shame on both of them.
The final point I will add is in relation to point 3 in the Alliance's Terms of Engagement:
"Create a unified and unifying vision for the Island of Anglesey, through establishment of a sub-group with input from external stakeholders."
Now more than ever is the right time for us to push our Anglesey People's Manifesto, as contributed to by all commenters on this blog. The Second Draft will be published on this blog tomorrow.
104 comments:
DERWYDD,
Very succinctly put.
I am a pessimist...whilst the new blueprint should be given a defined time to succeed, I doubt if it will.
There is too much old poison in the Council, there remains a hard core of individuals who are privately intend on sabotaging recovery...we know who they are.
Lets see if it works.
BUT, I predict the inevitable..Anglesey will be merged with GCC and if thats the only way to recover, so be it ?
This should be WAG`s contingency plan.
And I agree, IWJ and AO`s absence is so conspicious....where are they ?
I think the writing is on the wall, so to speak, for the islands council. For all the good intentions of Councillors and officers I think that the council is to small, and will eventually be merged with Gwynedd County Council (not that they do not have problems of their own)
If it is to survive then we will need a period of stability, some sensible debate about policies and tough decisions.
Furthermore before the next election in July 2012 all Councillors should carefully consider whether they should stand for re-election.
The political parties will also need to ensure that they put forward credible candidates.
DERWYDD,
Should we invite comment here as to which Councillors the public thinks, should NOT stand, as we know they are OBSTRUCTIVES ?
A fair enough question in these times !
"with input from external stakeholders"
He he. Sounds good, until it falls apart with who chooses those external stakeholders, and who those stakeholders represent.
A positive small step forward, but there is a need to preserve democratic processes and accountability. No doubt someone, somewhere has tried this already and made it work, so let's try to learn from them.
Yes to Anon 12:00
Councillors who should NOT stand: Cllr Durkin or Mr Anon Comment as he is now known
stats man 12.38
Yes, the first who should not is BD, I agree.
But he was only the front for sinister others,as we know.
The following is a list of Councillors who should seriously consider their position before the next election, and they are:
Cllrs Charlton, Evans, Everett, Fowlie, Morris Jones, J V Owen, G Parry MBE, R Parry OBE, W Roberts OBE, E Schofield, H Thomas, S Williams.
Let's be clear I'm not saying that any of them has done anything wrong, all at sometime have been good councillors, but maybe it's time to let others have a go. The ship's sinking on their watch after all.
12:38 & 12:42
Can't see why you pick out Cllr Durkin. He's the only Councillor that has raised issues which needed raising and all in line the Constitution and the Law.
You sound as if you are one of those who have had your hand in the till and about to get the chop.
12:42
Who are those sinister others you mention? What was Cllr Durkin actually fronting for them? Please be precise.
It's my understanding that Cllr Durkin, was working as part of a team lead by Clive McGregor to stamp out dishonesty until Bowles threatened McGregor to stop exposing his rotten Officers or else.
The key word in the Terms of the Alliance is 'merit', as in appointed on merit'.
Is there a list of criteria that define this 'merit'?
Or is 'merit' defined in terms of 'agreement with the terms of reference' (i.e. not merit at all)
At root is the old question of 'who guards the guardians'?
Prometheuswrites
I'd have to defend Cllr. Everett, who seems to me to have acted honourably, transparently and with the public in mind throughout.
14.18
Your understanding is obviously a little awry, old boy ?
Informed.
15.34
Thank you Coun. Everett for that self-righteous testimonial.
To Druid,
I look forward to reading the second draft of the manifesto, and thank you for your hard work.
I guess Mr McG and Mr DB probably know more than we do.
There has been continual reference to "what Cllr BD has said" why does he not say it here and put his name to it, then we would all understand what it is about.
Terms of the Alliance’ reminds me of a time long long ago (in the 1990’s) before life imitated art (TV) on Ynys Mon.
Anglesey 5
Ynys Mon floats like a jewel in the sea. At a time of great peril in the fight against the forces of a dark corruption, it holds mankind’s ‘last best hope’ in its hands. A delicate candle of democracy flickering in the shadow of an authoritarian totalitarianism.
Featuring:
Captain John Sheridan - David Bowles
Garibaldi - Clive McGregor
Dr Franklin - Stats Man
Susan Ivanova - Blin O Fon
Marcus Cole - The Great Councillini
Lorien - Prometheuswrites
Ambassador Koch - Y Drwydd
Lyta Alexander - Nooka the ...?
Zack Allen - Peter Rogers
D’lenn - Lynne Ball
G’kar - Barrie Durkin
Londo Mollari - I W Jones
Vir Cotto - Albert Owen
Alfred Bester - John Sergent
Morden - JAJ
‘The Shadows’ - IOACC Chief Officers
“ Humour is essential in the fight against oppression” - anon
16.42 This is what its about.
"Dear Mr Bowles.
Since early 2004, long before I became an elected representative of the people, I was raising issues relating to breaches of planning procedural rules and failure to declare interests at Planning Committee Meeting by members of that committee, to the point where, I have even taken part in a number of television programs on the subject. Yet although I have being vindicated on all accounts, I have falsely accused of liable,sanctioned, abused, threatened, demonised and marginalised, not just in the past, but more so now, by you".
"It is clear to me, contrary to your record of fair play and routing out wrongdoing, you have shown yourself to be more akin to attacking the messenger. This has clearly manifested itself over the last week or two and will no longer be tolerated. I believe my solicitor has written to you to no avail".
So there can be no misunderstanding, I welcome intervention; it should have been here long ago, after all, the council has not been properly run since its interception in 1996.
"I welcomed and supported you in your endeavours to move the council forward. However, we clearly have a difference of opinion on how to do this.
You wish to bury the past, shove wrongdoings under the carpet, so to speak. Where I wish to see those involved in unlawful activities , who have brought the council into so much disrepute, to book. not just relating to issues of planning, but fraud and corruption".
"This brings me to the allegations of alleged fraud appertaining to grants, which I have received recently from Mr.....and his accountant Mr...... I have informed Cllr McGregor of the situation, and look forward to see what you are going to do about it".
"I point you to Anglesey County Council Constitution page 201.6(1)B and to the requirements relating to the, Fraud Act 2006,section3. Fraud by failing to disclose information".
"Again, so there can be no misunderstanding, I am more than prepared to ensure that the above requirements are met if others fail to do so".
Sorry, above letter from Durkin was for your perusal16.14 asking what its all about..
Well that seems to be it then.
The victimisation of an honest Councillor just doing his legal duty and trying to get others to do the same. Shame on Bowles and McGregor.
Well that seems to be it then.
The victimisation of an honest Councillor just doing his legal duty and trying to get others to do the same. Shame on Bowles and McGregor.
If this is why Councillor Durkin is being treated with such dreadful behaviour, which in my mind is nothing short of criminal, then the sooner David Bowles & Clive McGregor go the better.
In the mean time. I Hope every elected member on the Council rises up and tells them where they can shove their "Terms of Engagement" and give them exactly what they deserve.
Dont know about Schofield but it seems Barrie`s being slated for doing his job and someone is hell bent trying to stop him.
Some recovery this is going to be, the hard working honest Councillors will no doubt be unhappy that their reputations have been tarnished since the Councils inception because of a corrupt few who will now be free to continue tarnishing this Council with their misdeeds. They are now untouchable. They are now more powerful than ever because they have beaten the rap yet again.
This will cause more infighting within the new group.
This will NOT go down well with the public either, who feel betrayed. We all want change and I commend the Druid on his manifesto but no one will learn from past malfunctions if they are not investigated.
To Valen,
Yes I though Babylon 5 was excellent also, was it that long back ?
Ta for the reminder
Not sure where to post this so I've put it here as this thread is current:
Late input to Manifesto
Demographics of the elderly
Something to consider is the demographic for the island.
Current projections show that the number of older people will increase as a proportion of the total population. This raises some questions about the nature of these older people. How many will be self-sufficient (e.g. bringing income into the area and not making use of public services); how many will have ‘transitory wealth’ (currently have savings but these will run out in time) and how many are welfare dependent (only have a state pension and will require public service services). This information is important when planning the amount of public services provision needed in the future.
Regardless of their status all of this group will contribute income through their spending into the area.
What provisions are being made servicing these needs? It strikes me that this an area where the caring profession could be a viable career path for young people – provided that the esteem and regard in which people working in this field are held and the wages they are paid are sufficiently high.
In these times where ‘knock welfare recipients’ is on the up, I wish to point out that the reason for people preferring to live on benefits is mainly caused by the wealth gap created by suppressed wages for those in work. People will take benefits rather than work for ‘poverty wages’ – this is acknowledged in the governments own provision of ‘working tax credits’ to bring people up to a minimal income ‘even though they are working at least 30 hours a week’.
I mention the above as care workers are some of the lowest paid workers in the economy. Thinking on this; ‘How about a unilateral declaration of increased minimum wage for Ynys Mon’?
Ynys Mon has a ‘Social Health and Well Being’ plan, however not all departments appear to be aware of the aims and policies contained in this document. I would like to see provision in the manifesto for making these provisions applicable across all departments of the council.
Older people are a source of wealth and of expertise. They should be encouraged to spend their wealth locally and to contribute their expertise to their local communities.
Tourism & Horses
I note the growth in horse ownership around the island. How about a ‘horse bridleway’ that goes around the island (like the footpath) including overnight stabling and ‘horse inns’ for the riders?
If we really want to prove our ‘green’ credentials we could move in the direction of places like ‘Rottnest Island’ (an island of the coast of Perth, Western Australia) – where the only internal combustion vehicles are municipal vehicles providing public services – Yes, I know not practical for all of Ynys Mon, but certainly viable for a ‘pilot project’ area – there’d be plenty of volunteers.
Farming diversification grants could be made available for such projects.
Promethesuswrites
Druid.
This letter to David Bowles from Cllr Durkin shows that his commitment to honesty and integrity is second to none. It shows that David bowles told lies about him, It shows that the Welsh Assembly, the Recovery Board and the Minister for Social Justice have a lot to answer for.
I don't know where the money's going to come from to pay the damages if Cllr Durkin takes this lot to court, other than out of the rate payers pockets, again.
To Stats Man:
Re: Babylon 5
It certainly seems like yesterday when you've got the boxed set.
;-)
One way to sort this council out, once and for all. Make Councillor Durkin the Leader, he'd make a much better job of it than what we've got now.
I for one think that Cllr McGregor is doing a good job as Council Leader. It's a difficult task trying to move the Council forward, when all some want is to drag it back to the past.
He is also comes across well when interviewed by the press, especially in welsh.
He's is in my opinion our last best hope to save the Council, I am willing to give him that chance to succeed.
stats man.
Who says that there are some who want to drag the council back to the past?
How do you know whether any of that statement is true? Do you know for a fact or are you just taking it as right because you've read it so often? There is not one shred of evidence to support such a claim unless you know something I don't please enlighten us.
Druid - Not knowing what 'Godwin's Law' was, when you mentioned it your earlier comment, I looked it up on Wiki.
I also found this one:
Moynihan's law — "The amount of violations of human rights in a country is always an inverse function of the amount of complaints about human rights violations heard from there. The greater the number of complaints being aired, the better protected are human rights in that country."
And thought it pertinent to the current thread.
The Alliance will have to to walk carefully to avoid stepping over the line between 'securing commitment to a common purpose' and 'a conspiracy of silence'
I dont think anyone wants to drag the Council back to the past.
Everyone wants the Council to move forward Councillors, Officers and the public alike.
Only there are a few who believe that covering up the past will not benefit the Council in the long run and this issue will continue to dog the Council.
The distrust between Councillors and Officers will continue until the bent lot, if any are out.
Who or if they are bent we the public will never know because it will be covered up, never to be spoke or written about again.
But a majority of the Councillors are in the know, the whispers will start and hey presto, back to the dark ages and we`ll all be saying "We should have got rid of them back in 2010"
Did I read on one of these blogs last week that B.Durkin had lodged a complaint againt a senior member of a Department ?
Could the new terms of engagement have been published in the nick of time I wonder. Or an attempt at least to halt some investigation which would vindicate B. Durkin.
Why would a Leader of the Council and an EX Senior Police Officer not want acts of dishonesty investigated. Surely it would help, not hinder recovery.
There are plenty of people looking for work. People who abuse their public positions dont deserve to be there.
G
I have written to Cheryl Gillan MP, Secretary of State for Wales requesting intervention in how IoACC is run via WAG.
The whole issue of how the Council has been run in the past will, if the future of Anglesey County Council is to be administered in line with the New "Terms of Engagement" will fade into obscurity under a hail of litigation on litigation.
Firstly the "Terms of Engagement" are Ultra Virus which will generate a Judicial Review to say nothing about the torrent of law suits that will follow over Anglesey County Council's lack of care and abuse of Human Rights towards named Councillors. Then there's the legal action against Bowles and McGregor, and every Councillor, Individually and collectively, who has either put there name to the "Terms" or acquiesced in supporting the "Terms"
Then there's the Welsh Assemble Minister for Social Justice and Local Government and last but not least, every member of the Recovery Board Individually and collectively
Which could keep the courts busy for quite a long time.
What a mess the Council will be in then. This is not recovery. It's unlawful segregation and an abuse of democratic power bestowed on some of those who were elected to represent the people.
I WILL GIVE THESE ILLEGAL "TERM OF ENGAGEMENT" 24 HOURS, IF THAT.
I feel sorry for Cllr Durkin sometimes, especially that his name is used by others for their own ends. Because I cant believe that Cllr Durkin would have issued such a statement as the one above at 22:34.
The real Cllr Durkin is more mature and intelligent than this, I hope so.
I suspect that 'ultra virus' does apply to this sad lot, but the correct version of ultra vires also does! Have we forgotten McGregor's wasting of maybe a £million of our money to fight the musselmen? I also understand that when a local man was wrongly fingered by the coppers, a certain supercop turned private eye, when their case looked like the sham it was offered the family £5000 of taxpayer's money for the cops to drop the case; the man refused and went to trial, where there was no case found to answer.
Where's the integrity in all of this? I'd rather come under Blackpool council than this lot!
16.28 & 16.30
You have waffled a lot but you have not put down in black and white your allegation for us to see.
You have not answered why you are scared to mention again the county councillor you hammered in WTW but you have never mentioned on these pages, perhaps he worries you or you know he is innocent but have not the decency to apologise.
Well worth a read.
Robert Tressel (d.1910) "The Ragged Trouser Philanthropists"
A story of endemic corruption and worker expliotation in a small council.
Still relevant today.
Anon, 23;51
The County Councillor you refer to that got hammered on WTW. I assume you mean the one that now owns the bonc at Shepherds Hill. From what I have seen, makes it clear that you are that bare faced dishonest liar.
So stop trying to justify yourself, it's just not worth it. Save it for your defence.
23:55
HOW RIGHT YOU ARE.
23:55; yes indeed; nice to see some intelligent suggestions and I'll see if the library, if we still have any left after our unenlightened lot have finished, has a copy.
ALL.
We the public of Anglesey do not want this sad and latest saga to continue, with obstructives and cooperatives at each others throats, with threats and counter-threats of litigation, surely.
It detracts from governance.
I suggest again....ask for a WAG emergency management team to be sent in immediately, till the next local election.
Then, perhaps we may also be merged with Gwynedd.
Please let the good people of Ynys Mon get on with their lives without this cancer that afflicts us all.
To 01.43
When you learnt to read properly, you will see I referred to a councillor who was hammered in the WTW prog but HAS NOT been referred to in these pages, HAS NOT been referred to in these pages, do you UNDERSTAND?
So if you are the one too gutless to answer my 23.51 get on with it
8.19 Tut tut old boy....no need for nasty....it just demeans you in the eyes of others (if we could see you that is !)
Why do some people gravitate to this level I wonder...lack of education perhaps.
To 01.51
Amazon have 77 copies New and Used
The libraries have it for free (not everybody has a credit card or bank account to buy even a 1 pence book off Amazon!):
http://prism.talis.com/ynysmon/items?query=The+Ragged+Trouser+Philanthropists
Druid,
I agree that this 'you're either with us, or against us' approach is a dangerous way forward. This can get carried too far, such as in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century, where it went so far as a law - the Sedition Act, where anyone even talking to their neighbour in anti-WW1/patriotic terms was liable to find themselves in front of a court. Much the same philosophy returned after 9/11.
As you say, there are often good reasons to stir the waters, and equally good but selfish reasons why some would would like to take away the stirring stick.
Where would South Africa be if they had not the courage to draw a line and work upwards.
We have one or two constantly seeking retribution but honestly, how do you compare a degree of (alleged) naughtiness with murder,beatings, black-tyre-necklaces?
Let's move on and upwards.
Anglesey Islander
To Anglesey Islander
I agree we need to draw a line in the sand and move on. Of course lessons must be learned and procedures put in place to ensure that the Council is not marred by wrongdoing in the future.
We need to awaken the silent majority and encourage talented people, especially women to stand a Councillors at the next election.
This is more about our communities, than about the few.
10.46
Thank you. Wisdom and pure good sense indeed.
Yes, the majority want to move on, to be constructive and conciliatory,without recriminations and a brutish impulse to seek a sort of revenge for past deeds, actual or perceived. Enough !
We have here the opportunity and real potential for recovery : lets not waste it. Lets put our trust in DB and CMcG who, despite puerile claims to the contrary by the subversives, are good, honest and committed men doing a difficult job, in difficult times.
Give them the space they need and deserve to get the job done.
If you would deny them that, you are subversive and obstructive ?
Let us all think ahead...yes we need a raft of new elected Members on the Council...lets encourage them....we are not without talent in Anglesey....we have the people who with a little persuasion will stand for our collective future.
BoF
10.46 & 11.30 Yes, people get much better results and feel better about their role if they do get encouragement.
Lets face it, ok there may or may not have been wrong doings before the present scenario of elected members but at least the 99.99% of inhabitants were unaware of anything wrong, we seemed to have a well maintained low rate and indeed when I asked one (perhaps flamouyant)member about the envisaged ongoing level, it was not going up or by very little.
With this lot its up and up, no matter what the excuses it goes up. It is no good them blaming the previous administration.
This, to me, seems to have just been one massive publicity hike for one individual....and it worked.
I apologise for not being sufficiently fluent to write my blogs in Welsh, I think if only Welsh had been used things would have been sorted out long ago, so to all the absolutely fluent lets hear from you, the uneducated (like me) can always get translations.
Why not a new slogan
Môn am Byth
Anglesey Islander
To all those who support McGregor
Can you tell us why, because he's not getting all his own way, he's sacked most of his Executive this morning?
12.23
Because, dear boy, his Executive were mostly OBSTRUCTIVES to progress and recovery ?
Lets start afresh and move on !
It looks rather like an end-of-Bowles-tenure last-ditch effort to force a result that things have changed for the better. Problem is, is doesn't appear to a be remotely democratic process. Some elected members we may not agree with or even wish to see removed. But there is a proper process for that, and everyone must respect the fact that these people have all been elected.
To Druid,
Let us begin a popular movement, let us awake the silent majority, a good start being the peoples manifesto.
We should ask all who want a better future for the island to join.
Today is not about the past, today is not about the few, but today should be about us all, our communities, our hopes and our aspirations.
12.38 Yes, they have been elected, but in their own small wards...they have not been elected by the public to sit on the Executive, have they.
The desperate situation calls for a desperate (temporary) measure, again ?
Lets support progress and recovery, please ?
12.38
If those sacked saddoes are aggrieved at their treatment this morning, we dare them to resign from the Council, trigger a local election, and see how they fare ??
Get used to it, old boy.
MEMO TO CLIVE McGREGOR
Congratulations on a bold and brave move this morning....a desperate situation calls for robust handling.
You have a lot of intelligent and constructive minds in other parts of the Council...identify them and appoint them to appropriate positions to support recovery.
To those removed this morning...I agree with 12.48, if you feel confident, resign in protest and stand for re-election, we dare you.
Otherwise, stay on board, and support the new alliance for the good of the people, not by what`s good for you, personally.
Onwards and Upwards.
13.05 I agree.
But they won`t resign will they, they are not so principled, as to deprive themselves of the money !
Self-interest...snouts in the trough etc !!!
To 13:05 and all.
What new ALLIANCE?
AFTER ALL THAT.
Has being Commie, Clive McGregor, could only muster three Councillors who were willing to follow him in to his promised land of smoke and shadows.
The rest have realised what he's up to. and told him to go away. Far away.
Long live Democracy. Kick out the Commie's.
Clive McGregor didn't get rid of his executive members because they are obstructives.
He got rid of them because they refused to support his illegal, undemocratic Terms of Engagement.
Quite right too. Anyone who doe's support such a way of thinking will have a lot to answer to.
Interesting comments boys.
We can see that the situation in Llangefni is still fluid.
We can also see the OBSTRUCTIVES one by one crawling out of the woodwork, like worms...move out of the way boys, why don`t you, for progress sake !
ps. The Anglesey public don`t want GWR back in any power, thank you.
It looks like Barrie Durkin and the other right thinking Councillor's have this morning, on behalf of the People of Anglesey, raised and won a revolution to regain democracy.
McGREGOR IS OUT.
15.08
"...the other right thinking Councillors.." ??
You mean the obstructive likes of ES, BO, Doris etc...bent on destruction and mayhem ?
15:03.
If McGregor had got his own way on this, that's exactly what would have happened, GWR, would by now be back in power, but even he has withdrawn his support from McGregor's Commie Terms.
Councillor Barrie Durkin is a true leader.
15.44.....time for DB to press the nuclear button, then !
Lets head for the hills folks.
DB & CM, pressed their nuk button long ago, that's why Durkin Holds the Moral high ground and will no doubt keep it.
Bowles and McGregor lost all their credibility when they both started tell lies about him.
So what is the latest position this afternoon then boys, since the situation is so FLUID ?
Who are we governed by ?
Why dont we get rid of all the honest Councillors and officers who havent done anything wrong and promote all the wrongdoers that cant be trusted and draw a line.
Plato, the philosopher, argued against democracy, and advocated essentially a system of benevolent dictatorship, which is what we appear to have at this moment in DB and CMcG, for the interim common good.
Politics aside.....I just love all the nice things Mr Durkin says about himself via the anonymous non de plume,
17:02, yes, but that's his right, isn't it? If you're any better, use your real name, or at least a pseudonym we can identify your comments with.
No? Didn't think so...
To the Great Councilliniiiiii, what does who stand for? We don't know what Cllr Durkin stands for, unless I've missed something, maybe he has a blog you can refer me to.
Maybe he and his supporters should start one, so that we know for definite.
17.44 Silly, he doesn't have any supporters just lots of anonymous blogs he writes for himself. That is why it is all quiet whilst he is in Llangefni and it all starts again afterwards.
Have you not noticed that for periods of the day all the comments are constructive and forward looking untill the self publicity hype and the knocking of thers starts again
And to 17.07, I am not an elected person, I have never been an elected person just a dweller and rates/council tax payer. You don't need my name but some need my vote, that is what counts.
I think the person we are talking about should be given absolute power to control the island, Puffin Island he could be the Leader there.
Statsman 17.14 He does not stand for anything, he said so on his election blurb. I am independant, I will not be part of a group.
Balderdash
Why has this page degenerated to argue about BD, AGAIN ?
He is but a minor, yet noisy and troublesome, cog in the governance machine,but hardly significant as an individual ?
Lets move on to serious matters, please ?
Thank you 17:33 quite right, so I will begin - how can we persuade more people to stand for election as Councillors, especially women.
How can we publicise the 'Peoples Manifesto' so that its widely discussed and hopefully supported?
So you want serious matters do you 17:33.
Tonight reveals who stands for what as your representatives of the People.
After much ringing round threatening Councillors what will happen to them if they don't sign up to McGregor's commie Terms. The count stands at:
Clive McGregor,Tom Jones, Robert Ll Hughes and the new chairman of the Council Selwyn Williams from the Original Independents. Bob Parry & his Plaid Cymru Group.John Chorlton & his Labour Group and Hefin Thomas & his Group.
All these Councillors have for one reason or another signed McGregors "Terms of Engagement" to cover up Fraud, Corruption and Dishonesty.
What a wonderful bunch we now have running our Council. They can now Corrupt, Steal, Commit Fraud, and be as Dishonest as they like with full immunity.
THEY DON'T EVEN NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR PAST BEHAVIOUR.
Now isn't that nice boys. Isn't that nice?
All the rest had the brains to know, that you can't attack democracy like this and get away with it.
The next thing that will happen is little men from the Council will be coming to paint slogans on our doors because they just don't like what we believe in.
Ah !....but remember Plato and his unquestioning advocacy of governance by benevolent dictatorship....for the common good....the Alliance is unquestionably for the common good,is it not ?
Plato !
18.12 good time, big bang! I didn't know we had a Chairman, what does he do?
I know this question can not be given an answer for legal reasons but with all the so called (alleged) fraudsters and criminals with our council, I wonder (just a personal thought) how many might have served time because I guess the spots don't chage for councillors either.
18.12...You sound like an aggrieved hysterical wimp of a Councillor, an OBSTRUCTIVE who has just lost his power, and his job £££, get used to constructive progress and recovery and move aside why don`t you, or resign your seat in protest and put yourself up for re-election, we dare you... that will show you what the people think.
A supporter of RECOVERY !
TO ALL AGGRIEVED COUNCILLORS !
Any sign of resignations in protest yet, with elections on the horizon..........where are you boys, we know the doorsteps won`t be pleasant for you ??
18.12 thank you, most helpful !
Where does GWR and his cronies, and Doris the exceptional entrepreneur, stand in this, pray ?
Oh, I forgot, BO (brain omission) ?
I too am a Recovery supporter but this is not recovery.
This is akin to perverting the course of justice telling the jury to shut up or else.
Supporter of Recovery
19.41 But a higher form of jury has decreed them not fit for jury service, for bias, prejudice and subversiveness, old boy ?
Well done to all Councillors who have signed the new terms of engagement, it is but the first step, but an important step.
Can we now have a serious debate about the future that affects us all. Important matters are the budget cuts, a fair education policy including rationalizing the schools, and leisure provision on the island.
19.45 A sensible voice at last !
Absolutely agree.
Lets move on and leave the sordid past behind.
I think the Druid will shortly have an announcement !
Plato.
THIS IS A REPEAT BECAUSE WE SEEM TO GET NAMES REPEATED AND WINGES REPEATED. OVER THE NEXT WEEKS AS THE WORLD CUP GETS UNDERWAY WE WILL SEE MORE AND MORE OF SOTH AFRICA, THEY HAD THE BRAINS TO CHANGE, THEY GOT ON WITH IT.
Where would South Africa be if they had not the courage to draw a line and work upwards.
We have one or two constantly seeking retribution but honestly, how do you compare a degree of (alleged) naughtiness with murder,beatings, black-tyre-necklaces?
Let's move on and upwards.
Anglesey Islander
7 June 2010 09:43
NOW THEN, HOW ABOUT AN EVENING OF CONSTRUCTIVE THOUGHT WITH ANY NAMES BEING MENTIONED, THAT WOULD BE A BIT OF PROGRESS.
Anglesey Islander
I meant to say WITHOUT ANY NAMES BEING MENTIOINED
Anglesey Islander
20.08 Absolutely agree.
South Africa I recall had a commission for social reconciliation, which was successful..if it worked there, Anglesey should try it ?
BoF
20:08
Don't be a spoil sport Islander.
How can I go on living without abusing Durkin and his family.
Thing is now, some of the public will think those who have signed will have something to hide.
I wonder how many would have signed if Term of Agreement 1 had read something on the lines of "every complaint into dishonesty must be investigated thoroughly" to aid recovery.
I cant understand why the Council cannot recover and investigate dishonesty both at the same time.
Another Angry Islander
21:00
Because there is so much to investigate that if half of what's gone one came to light the prisons would be full for years.
The only reason most of the Councillor have sign is because of the stay out of jail Card (Term Number1)particularly McGregor.
This is benggining to sound like r. Who and the little (Anglesey winging) daleks "Investigate Investigate Investigate" what on earth is the point?
The result would be meaningless and most of all WHAT WOULD I COST?
THAT WOULD BE OUR MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
Let's just move on
Anglesey Islander
The point would be to teach all a lesson, set an example and show the people of Anglesey that recovery means recovery.
Cost - strip them of their ill gotten gains and sue them for bringing the Council into such disrepute.
Another Angry Anglesey Islander
The South African Truth and Reconcillian Commission was a different thing. I doubt we will ever get to the truth.
Here it seems the approach is that the problem is being caused by the people who are demanding answers for past misdeeds. Well, they can't bring them up from the future, can they?
The problem IS the sum of misdeeds, NOT the people who are pointing them out.
If the misdeeds aren't laid out in public, how are they to be prevented in the future? How does more secrecy cure the problem of secrecy.
I am against this declaration of amnesty.
To late, all of you, to late - Cant really leave the past behind can you - really sad, pathetic and idiotic !!!!!!.
Time for the rest of us to move on, and merge the councils, a new beginning.
If I had my way all current councillors would not be allowed to stand ever again. You had your chance you blew it !
is this all really happening!!
is it going to change?
still surprised at the level of bickering
oh a suggestion for the manifesto - could the council implement tighter restrictions on gun holders locally - after the incident in Cumbria if there is so much turmoil in the council how many of these disgraced councillors hold firearms licences - the stress and trauma could tip them?
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