"The Alliance shall appoint a "whip" whose primary functions shall be: to ensure successful and timely communication across all Groups represented on the Alliance; and to ensure and monitor adherence to the Terms of the Alliance ... Anyone so appointed shall be drawn from amongst the Groups whose members do not include the Council's Leader or Deputy, from time to time."
As the Deputy Leader is of course Plaid's Bob Parry, this means that the appointed whip must be from either Labour or the Menai Group. However it appears that it is contrary to Plaid's constitution for a Plaid member to be disciplined by a whip not from within Plaid. (Update: Cllr Cliff Everett writes to let us know that the whip is Labour's John Chorlton).
Furthermore, Plaids National Executive are apparently unhappy that Bob Parry signed the Terms of Engagement without consulting them, and that Plaid policies were not pushed as part of the agreement. As a consequence it now seems that the majority of Plaid's eight councillors have now refused to sign the Terms and Plaid Cymru must as a group withdraw from the Alliance.
Although Golwg does not report any official reply from the Council, this must effectively mean that the Alliance is now over. WAG Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant has already made his position vis-a-vis the collapse of the Alliance in this letter to all councillors on June 30:
"...arrangements can fall apart as fast as they can be put together. Accordingly I have asked my officials and the Recovery Board to prepare contingency plans which we can implement urgently if recovery falters and/or the alliance fails. Those plans would have drastic and possible permanent consequences for the council and its current membership. It is in everyone's interests to ensure that they are never needed."So, because of Plaid Cymru's prissy and self-centred concern for their 'procedures' over whats best for the council and the residents of Anglesey, we could now be just days away from direct rule from Cardiff. And this from the party which styles itself as being "local champions"... Where is our 'invisible' AM, Ieuan Wyn Jones in all of this??
25 comments:
RELIEF ??
It was just a matter of time.
We can live with imposed Commissioners for a while.
Until the next local Election.
When its called, lets not vote for the return of any current Councillor.
This "Term of Engagement" Issue has brought more disrepute to Anglesey County Council, David Bowles and especially Clive McGregor than any other single issue since the Council's interception.
Hopefully it will bring an end to both so we can see our council move forward properly.
Dont see anything about Plaid's, Breaches of The Human Right Act.
Constant references here to the HRA.
Do we know precisely which breaches or Protocols we refer to ??
I doubt it.
Lets not be too wide in our accusations ?
If we wish to accuse, let it be specific...by reference to precise provisions...that will stand up to legal scrutiny.
Otherwise, lets not bother ?
It smacks of ignorance.
Perhaps we are all unaware of the Human Rights case that involves this Council that is at this very moment being discussed in Strasbourg, if you want facts ask Lynn Balls or any of the senior officers, they have it filed under DO NOT DISCLOSE or words to that effect, ask them, don't hound the bloggers who are trying to uncover the truth and support the victims, the truth is out there, hidden away in Bowles's desk, or Bob Parry's or Ieuan Wyn Jones's van.
20.26
We will not uncover any so called truth by making sweeping statements and vague references to uncited provisions of law.
Waste of effort.
19:59.
If you had read the Term of Engagement and you still need to ask which breaches or protocols is being refers to, then with all due respect it's you that needs not to bother, it is you who smacks of ignorance.
20.29 OK
Then educate us, please ?
Which Protocol(s) precisely are being breached, and how precisely...cite chapter and verse....??
20:29
The truth's been uncovered, the wheels of justice are now turning in the peoples direction for once. Neither you or anyone else with your snide remark can stop it happening, the tide has turned. ok wise guy?
20:32 Look it up yourself Wise Guy.
20.37
M`Lud...is that my learned friend`s best point ??
We don't bandy words with people who have fire extinguishers for heads.
We don't bandy words with people who have fire extinguishers for heads.
20.43
M`Lud if that is the opposition`s best point, I rest my case.
Druid the shit is back at 20:44 lowing the tone of the debate wonder if you could strike it all out from 20:26 please so we can get back to the real issues that affect the people.
I think you may being too harsh on Plaid here Druid.
I suspect that those who have refused to sign the terms of engagement have moral reservations that are stronger than the given reason, (loss of position of whip in the Alliance).
Whileas Plaid's National Executive may have reservations about the extremely contentious 'naming, shaming and excluding' clause; they may find that objecting to procedural inconsistencies with their own policies is a politically safer path to tread.
The deeper problem is with the drafting of the terms of engagement. I've posted before saying that I applauded the efforts to bring stability to IOACC, but not given the dubious clauses included in the 'terms of reference'.
A judiscious redrafting at an earlier time could have avoided the current situation, but that opportunity has probably passed.
I'm intrigued by the statement that - 'As a consequence it now seems that the majority of Plaid's eight councillors have now refused to sign the Terms ' - as this would suggest that they haven't signed it in the first place, (after all you can't 'unsign' an agreement).
All this begs the question of how many councillors have signed it at all, or whether there has just been a gentleman's agreement to sign it. (I know that some have signed it as the document was posted on the IOACC website with signatures)
Please read my mosting on www.ynysmon.com regarding Ombudsman, thanks
Glyn
Glyn.
Misuse of Public money and Impropriety comes to mind here.
Buts what's new on that front.Just something else to be covered up.
The Dtuid blogged "So, because of Plaid Cymru's prissy and self-centred concern for their 'procedures' over whats best for the council and the residents of Anglesey, we could now be just days away from direct rule from Cardiff."
Perhaps Druid, Plaid at a higher level than IoACC, believe that it is in the best interests of the people of the island that this present council be deposed, investigated, prosecuted and replaced.
To be brutally frank, so do most people.
20.55
My point is made. I rest my case.
Anon 8:34 - "Perhaps Druid, Plaid at a higher level than IoACC, believe that it is in the best interests of the people of the island that this present council be deposed, investigated, prosecuted and replaced. "
Perhaps they do. Then they should be open and make it clear that they withdrawing from the Alliance for those reasons - not for reasons for 'procedure' and lack of political advantage. The point here is that Plaid are wantonly plunging us into the unknown for no good reason. Anglesey residents will have no say now on the future structure of the council.
not for reasons for 'procedure' and lack of political advantage.
Yes Druid, but this is IWJ we're talking. A man who brings new meaning to grey. Greyer than John Major's greyest grey bits. A pedantic chief clerk at best and as a result never able to give a direct slant on anything.
"RELIEF ??
It was just a matter of time.
We can live with imposed Commissioners for a while.
Until the next local Election.
When its called, lets not vote for the return of any current Councillor."
Best post of the week, that. Relief, indeed!
Mr Sargeant?..
It will not be any loss to us if Plaid Cymru and IWJ was to walk away from this mess and the Assembly was to come in and take over, for too long nothing good has ever happened on this Island. They all blame each other, they all fight amongst each other, yet not one party has ever considered what do the people think?
"yet not one party has ever considered what do the people think?"
Questioner: What do you think about western civilization?
Gandhi: I think it would be a good idea.
Post a Comment