Former Mayor Risks a Ticking Off Options

[Simon Kirby]

Former Mayor Cllr Phil Barnett risks a ticking off from his party by criticising the Lib Dem's role in the £500k freeze of Playbuilder. He's fed up with what's happening nationally because people might vote labour in the Town Council elections next year.

Here's an idea though, lose the mayor, turn the Town Council into a Parish Council, and spend the £58k civic mumbo-jumbo budget on palygrounds.

And if thinking like that gets you a ticking off from your party, leave the party and stand as an independent. I'd vote for you.

[Bofem]

Phil Barnett's a good man. Says what he feels, if not in a particularly articulate way. And he was once a Labour man too.

[On the edge]

Phil Barnett's a good man. Says what he feels, if not in a particularly articulate way. And he was once a Labour man too.

Spot on! Someone who puts people before party.

[Simon Kirby]

Spot on! Someone who puts people before party.

That it even needs saying tells you how unhelpful party politics is in a parish council.

But the question I pose is this: If there isn't enough money to go round which of these two should be the higher priority for a parish council; a mayor, or a new playground, because I feel that central government is doing the right thing reining in non-essential projects, and when I hear councillors criticise their party's role in that decision because it threatens their electability I wonder whether they really are putting people first when with a little local initiative the service could still be funded locally.