All Anglesey Councillors have this afternoon received an email from the secretary of Elan Closs Stephens, Chair of the Recovery Board, to inform them that the planned governance workshop scheduled for next Monday in the Treaddur Bay Hotel has been cancelled. Normally that wouldn't mean very much, but after
yesterday's sackings and the last minute amendments to the WAG Local Government Measure possibly designed to bring about the merger of Anglesey and Gwynedd
being reported by the BBC, it looks like this cancellation is prima facie evidence that the Council is to be suspended.
If it is all over for Anglesey County Council, let us all remember that we have reached this point at this particular time for no good reason other than petty politicking by people wanting to become Leader, and with no plan or manifesto of what they would do differently if they did obtain that position.
"This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper."
- The Hollow Men, T.S. Eliot
53 comments:
Oh gosh, this is all so desperately Welsh ......
Luckily Anglesey is absolutely full of non-Welsh. Surely it is time we gave these folk a chance to run matters on our behalf.
And I suggest they start by asking WAG for a taxpayer refund. It is the institutions of Wales that have let us down!
good way forward
Sometimes root and branch is needed
"no good reason other than petty politicking by people wanting to become Leader"
Oh, I dunno Paul, there are quite a few other good reasons too - like no money, rubbish governance ever since it began.
I've always said this was a stage-managed show since it began over a year ago. I think I was right.
Photon -- I mean we have been pushed to all this happening right now for no better reason than politicking to become Leader, thats why JCh etc has been sacked. All the other things you mention have been there all along, but the reasons behind the current breakdown is for mostly petty stuff. Straw which broke the camels back, etc.
I thought it was Cllr Durkin and Schofield that suppose to have caused the trouble. No sir, it was nothing of the sort. The last 12 months of McGregor and Bowles's crap proves it. Now they've been challenged and don't like playing any-more, they've taken their ball in, and pressed the nuke button.
I hope they and the Council get their arse's sued off.
In reality no one gives a f..k.
What ever happens, those with-in the County Council, past and present involved in lies and corruption will be brought to book.
Just remember that, Mr David Bowles-y Boy. That include you to.
Despite the crazy politics of Anglesey, the services have been fantastic.
I just hope that whatever is ahead the services don't become sub-standard. I'm genuinely gutted for the people of Anglesey, and hope they can have a say on it rather than be forced to merge.
Any news from the Amlwch meeting?
Brian Gibbons the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government at the time of ministerial intervention, made it clear what would happen if the name and shame merchants including Clive McGregor and Bob Parry got their way. did they listen? No they did not, and look where its got us.
It is they who are to blame, not those who now wish to challenge their shit head mentality.
inevitable outcome.
two solutions:
1) merge with Gwynedd;
2) remain Anglesey, but elections same day as Assembly election 2011 - with lots of new faces.
with 1) you still have the same old faeces while with 2) we keep Anglesey AND have the chance of new people with new ideas and energy.
Can we have a poll? asking for 1 or 2?
Its a fallacy dear Boy, a fallacy.
If we had an election tomorrow, almost all those there now would be re-elected.
22:39.
Tick box polls. Not worth the paper there written on.
Anglesey Band D Council Tax £825.30
Gwynedd Band D Council Tax £960.79
Difference £135.49
Merger will mean equalisation of Council Tax, i.e. lower rate increased to match higher rate. 16% increase!
22.46:
you have a rather patronising, pompus writing style. I am not a "Boy". wrong gender.
also, your appeal for status quo hints that YOU have an interest in such an outcome. very interesting inadvertant slip.
Thank you to them all at the Kremlin. Now let the professionals run the show. Us over here in no-mans-land will just watch learn, watch and learn. As has been the case for a couple of years now. It's not that hard when one can read and write. New blood should start to come through in the not too distant future.
I am glad Clive sacked John Chorlton and this alone justifies his short term in office.
As reported in today's Daily Post, North Wales Council Executives suffer badly with premature ejactulation, with some only on the job for literally seconds.
Anglesey has problems?
Not as many as reported in the Assembly.
Merger, Unconstitutional ?
00.44 - Sorry, I meant Byron Davies not Williams.
Following an investigation by the District Auditor for Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, into alleged fraud involving the Borough's Fitness Suite contracts when Byron Davies was the head of Leisure, the Auditor stated ( all in the public domain) that because relevant documents had gone missing from Mr Davies office, she could not vouch for his probity.
With that sort of recommendation one must wonder how the hell he got the job as Conwy's Chief executive, particularly having caused ( all in the public domain, again) so much trouble as the Chief Executive of Cornwall Council before leaving to come to Conwy.
It's the best news that the Council will hopefully be broken down and the elected scum will have to fight hard to maintain a little bit of dignity without being tainted with the brush "of there he goes on the take, and on the make and did nothing for anyone only himself"
We hope the people come down hard, this Council was democratically elected, you voted them in, then they IGNORED you.
Bowles will be sorting out his severance package now, and then will disappear over the horizon, while McGregor will be saddling up his little pony and trotting down the road after him. Happy days, see you boys, let's hope we meet again, preferably watching your secret exploits on the telly.
Inside the kremlin, today, we have the news that things are being hushed up and we are not allowed to speak about the Druid or the Photon, in fact we are all waiting for Dr Brian Gibbons and Carl Sargeant to turn up on the flight from Cardiff today. The tension is becoming unbearable.
What's going to happen if and when Cllr Durkin, after sitting,watching and weighing the whole fiasco up over the last twelve months, eventually sue's the Council, Bowles and McGregor which could amount to mega money.
8.53 Nonsense. He has no case even to sue the skin off a rice pudding !
"we are not allowed to speak about the Druid or the Photon"
Glad to see we are normally in such everyday currency.
Censorship: there's democracy in action for you, Anglesey style.
Just heard from the grapevine that the Police are on their way...now I wonder what's happening now, have the beans been spilt?
This mornings news.
The majority of Councillors are calling on the Assembly to sack Bowles before he does any-more damage.
More corruption unearthed. Police coming in.
More news later.
Democracy no longer exists on Anglesey. Anarchy rules.
Mussolini and Hitler have taken over.
Public demonstrations are in the making.
KP, if you continue to run down the Welsh, I hope you get run down....for real.
There comes a time that the people of Anglesey realise that this Council and it's managing director have cause considerable, sorry, irreparable damage to the heritage of the people, we have been betrayed, no jobs, no homes, no future, it's our future that is at stake here, while these headless chickens are running around, our standard of living and our children's future is flushing further and further down the pan.
Dos oma Bowles! Dos oma rwan!
It has now become evident following a packed meeting this afternoon that David Bowles has lost the confidence of his staff, with calls for him to go.
So say's I.
The Councillors are rebelling. The Staff are rebelling, The people are rebelling. The Police are in.
F..k off Bowles before you cause civil unrest.
Does anyone have any idea what the Police are looking into or is it just another rumour?
There are so many things the Police could be looking in to. Who knows?
Anglesey CC is now in meltdown !
Where is the Sargent major ?
Where is the toothless Rec.Board ?
Where is anybody who can resolve ?
We are on our own, People.
No-one in charge.
Our representatives have failed us.
Democracy has failed us.
Despair ??
"The Councillors are rebelling."
The word you're looking for is 'revolting'.
I realise the imminent collapse of Cameron and Murdoch's long standing and close relationship (with the Met also in as deep as you can get) is keeping Anglesey off the national front pages, but where is *any* Anglesey coverage? Even the Photon, in describing this afternoon's meeting, didn't say who was involved in the meeting, what the outcome was, where we go next... is there a superinjunction in this picture?
The Daily Post only has yesterday's news (even if it does have a Druid quote):
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/01/26/more-turmoil-at-crisis-hit-anglesey-council-55578-28054697/
19:19.
Interesting observations.
The news from the Kremlin today is that the Staff rebelled and many walked out of a meeting over proposed cuts in their earnings and allowances.
A stern MESSAGE to them - get real and smell the coffee, we are in this mess together, public and private sectors alike, you are not somehow excluded or excused by being a public servant from the cuts that bite in the real world.
If you don't like it, please leave, and make room for those 100's who really need your job.
You are not a special case !
Its a fact that 25% of the Council's existing staff are overpaid, under-employed, ineffectual, and unwilling to adapt. Get real.
Did they go on their own accord or were they pushed. That the question that will be asked after tomorrows meeting with Carl Sargeant and Brian Gibbons.
Both Clive McGregor and David Bowles are in the words of DB. Dead Letters.
I want the Leader's job, the first thing I would do is get a fat fucking cigar and rip the jetty where the turnip rafts are moored.
The second would be to get a long legged blonde for a secretary with mini skirt and stockings.
The next job would be to buy some cheap land, preferrable with failed planning and get a mega mansion built on it.
Open the drinks cabinet and fill it full of whisky, johhnies and porn mags.
My last job would be to open the council doors and tell every body to help themselves, planning permisssion denied will be approved, licences denied will be given out, anything the people want will be given, why not?? the people have suffered let them have it all, sod the law, it's been ignored for years, then when there's nothing left, even the shell money has been dished out on scratchcards for the people, we will then hand it over to Gwynedd.
Can you get a picture of the turnip rafts on here please druid?
I too was at the meeting today. I can confirm that previous references are nonsense. The call from staff was for the unanamous removal of Council members and their allowances (not Mr Bowles)and calling in of the Minister to sort this out. To the extent that the MD suggested to staff to contact either the Union, himself or the Minister direct to say as much. Staff did not 'walk out' but some did leave during the discussion due to the needs of their duties, as the meeting took twice as long as anticipated. Sorry to ruin the day of those hoping the staff were in revolt. The reality is more complex and centres around long standing issues of underpay compared with other N.Wales Councils, an appalling 8 year job evaluation saga and the issue of proposed cuts in certain benefits. Due to a £10m saving needed without the latter then a real possibility exists that colleagues will lose their jobs if cuts are not made. Its tough but necessary medicine.
Thank you for the insight.
@Anon 20:46
Thanks ever so for the details but for those of us not so close to the goings on, how about some basics?
E.g. what kind of folk were invited, what kind of folk were present (no need for names if you don't want), what was the meeting supposedly for, was it on the record, will there be official coverage, etc?
Mr Bowles' PA issues an email every few months inviting all staff to attend a meeting for an update in the Council Chamber. He is very candid and open. Having worked for 4 other Council's he's the most open MD I've ever known. Today's meeting was the best attended I have seen in at least a year. About 250-300 staff were present from across all levels of the Council, including Assistant Directors and Heads of Service (very rare). The meetings are informal and end with a very helpful Q&A. Today's was particularly lively and worthwhile. I think Mr Bowles recieved a clear message regarding staff frustrations with Members. Mr Bowles even agreed saying he could have slipped in the closure of school and no member would have ntoiced because of all their plotting. I think he shares staff frustrations and is completed nonplussed by both their attitude and make up they can allow themselves to effectively self-destruct. He's a man to be supported in an inordinantly difficult role dealing with 40 sociopaths, totally unaware of the consequences of their actions.
@Anon 21:06 : Thank you again.
Sorry to trouble you, but just for clarity: members (ie Councillors?) and press are NOT invited to the meeting, and it is not "on the record"?
......er, no it's a staff meeting. Hence only staff. Many such meetings are held at team and service level. Nothing sinister in that before you start reading anything into it, especially the conspiracy theorists or any other tosh you too often read from some 'contributors'. And just to clarify you can read the Druid and Photon blogs on Council computers (well I can at do in my 30 minute lunchbreak). So the so called 'kremlin censorship' referred to sometimes is nonsense.
Thank you David Bowles for yourself appraisal.
Showing at the Kremlin Theatre Llangefni, every day and twice on Thursdays.
"Thank you David Bowles for yourself appraisal."
Maybe. Maybe not.
Because these meetings are closed and off the record, outsiders have no way of knowing what really went on.
In normal times in normal circumstances it's arguably reasonable for staff meetings like these to be closed and off the record. Maybe less so in the public sector than the private sector, but that's another discussion.
Either way, these are not normal times and normal circumstances. Bowles and his supporters, if they want to be taken seriously, need to get their act together IN PUBLIC, ON THE RECORD, SOON (and not just at Hawl i Holi) and show what progress they've made and what the plans are for the months and years to come.
Anybody want to bet on it happening?
It's interesting which posts you choose not to include, Paul!
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