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Posted by: Andy Capp Oct 25 2016, 08:17 AM

'It's hardly flamboyant and it's the council event of the year, don't you know!'

Oh, and how do you keep the splash park on budget? Increase the budget of course!

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/19635/newbury-town-council-on-budget-despite-overspent-items.html

Posted by: On the edge Oct 25 2016, 07:37 PM

I'd like to know the justification for holding this event at all; there is no statutory requirement and in reality, not even any tradition.

Posted by: GhostMemory Oct 26 2016, 06:58 AM

It's vital to make sure that Julian Swift-Hook feels more important than he actually is. More important than any services that have had their funding slashed, at least.

Posted by: blackdog Oct 26 2016, 07:17 AM

No tradition? It's very different these days (far less lavish) but it has been going on for over 400 years.

Posted by: On the edge Oct 26 2016, 08:31 AM

As usual, yes, but not all is as it seems. In past times, the Mayor paid for his own party, which is why many tried to avoid the honour. Similarly, the Council and its officers then had real powers and responsibilities. Communication wasn't as it us today; so the display also served to show the populace who was who. Now of course, certainly as far as a parish level council is concerned none of this is true. It's also a moot point as to wether the Town Council is the real successor to the old borough. Apart from some convoluted legalistics, one could argue that the office should really rest with the Chair of West Berkshire Council. In any event, in ritualistic terms, costumed or not, the formal transfer of office between Mayors could be better achieved at the first formal session of the Council, in its own chamber. That wouldn't attract any cost at all; save 20 minutes on the agenda.

Posted by: Andy Capp Oct 26 2016, 09:17 AM

Yes, it appears to be just an exclusive pat on the back for a councillor that hasn't had a go at it yet!

Posted by: Cognosco Oct 26 2016, 07:34 PM

A rather Expensive pat on the back especially when essential services are being cut to the bone and still more cuts to come yet! If the Mayor making is necessary then continue with the original tradition the mayor pays! Or better still do away with the whole pointless town council as it is only a form of an exclusive club anyway!

Posted by: Mr Brown Oct 27 2016, 08:43 AM

I've not known any other town where they make such a big thing of it. Provided it doesn't cost anything not much harm is done by a few old buffers who like dressing up and parading about; it gives them something to do.

Posted by: blackdog Oct 27 2016, 10:09 AM

Plenty of places do mayor making - here's one that seems to do much the same as Newbury: http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Mayoralty/The+Mayor+Making+Ceremony

Closer to home there are similar events in Marlborough and Abingdon.

Posted by: Andy Capp Oct 27 2016, 11:39 AM

Under the present climate, I think it would be wise for councillors to ask themselves if it is something they should be spending public money on. Especially if the ceremony is an exclusive event(?).

Posted by: blackdog Oct 27 2016, 03:49 PM

It's exclusive as far as you can only fit so many into the Corn Exchange. I guess they could move it to a stage in the Market Place - might cost more though.

You can always tag on to the end of the procession and go to the church service. The nibbles after wouldn't feed that many, they could change that to tea and biscuits and save a few quid.

Posted by: On the edge Oct 27 2016, 04:21 PM

Is it really a big pull as far as the people are concerned? I suspect most of them didn't even know it was on; let alone made any effort to go. It's certainly no tourist attraction either. As the real power in the district does anything like this, it can't be the traditional way we English do such things. So again; particularly as we are severely cash strapped - why?

Sure, some other Councils do similar, but that doesn't make it right. After all, many other councils followed each other with high rise flats, should Newbury have done the same?

Posted by: Andy Capp Oct 27 2016, 07:46 PM

Isn't mayor making by invite only? In any case, it isn't really the cash value that is important, it is the impression given that a few councilors have a little jolly at the tax payers expense.

Posted by: Simon Kirby Oct 27 2016, 08:20 PM

There has been a tradition, albeit of less standing, but a tradition nonetheless that the disadvantaged in society are looked after. However, take for example the services that Mencap are no longer able to provide because their funding has been cut: "It would seem that people making decisions don’t understand the immense pressures our families are under, and see no need to provide respite for families who have children with disabilities." It's a choice; spend public money on a bang-up feed for the town's great and good to celebrate the ceremonial mayor's enthronement, or fund services that make the lives of the most vulnerable tolerable.

And before this gets deflected, this isn't about the £2,500 enthronement do, or the £2,500 for the mayor’s allowance, or the £1,000 for civic robes, or the £500 for regalia and uniforms, or the £1,500 for a second flag pole, but it's really more about the £300,000 annual cost of all the pointless administration of which the mayoral niff-naff is just a snibbit. All of that could so easily be saved without anyone missing a bit of it, and some of those necessary public services wouldn't then need to be cut.

Posted by: On the edge Nov 6 2016, 07:32 AM

We can see the stark stupidity of our local situation on the front page of this week's Newbury Weekly News.

First, West Berkshire Council outlining the detail of yet more cuts and community charge increases. The effects so damaging, even statutory obligations affected and likely to cause even more broken local roads.

Second, Newbury Town Council's joyous report about taking a loan, to build a substantially enhanced cafe facility in green space close by many other commercially operated cafes.

We know where are priorities are in Newbury!

Posted by: Cognosco Nov 6 2016, 08:01 AM

Our town council tries to be fair. The splash pad that will be utilised a month or so a year and a large cafe that may be used on the odd sunny Sunday for an ice cream and lemonade and somewhere to dry off the kiddies. It will also help the cause of proving just how stupid and pointless our town councillors are.

Posted by: Andy Capp Nov 6 2016, 10:31 AM

The slow and insidious development of the open space of Victoria Park. All with the approval of our councillors.

Posted by: Cognosco Nov 6 2016, 11:32 AM

Don't forget with the approval of WBC as well as many Councillors have a dual role, which as stated before creates conflicts of interests, perhaps the commercialisation of Victoria park is deliberate on behalf of WBC to try and enhance their new status of owning a commercial property portfolio now?

Posted by: dannyboy Nov 6 2016, 12:09 PM

New status. I think you are rather behind on matters.

Posted by: Cognosco Nov 6 2016, 03:54 PM

Quite possibly as I try to ignore irrelevances such as the ridiculous antics of our local authorities. I only concentrate on the major issues such as each having vast empires which costs ratepayers a huge amount each year but services shrinking by the week it would seem but spending on unimportant or irrelevant vanity projects.

Posted by: dannyboy Nov 6 2016, 04:24 PM

see what I mean...

Posted by: Cognosco Nov 6 2016, 04:38 PM

Yes........I should abstain from critiscising your beloved local authorities?

Posted by: dannyboy Nov 6 2016, 05:46 PM

I didn't realise you had.

Posted by: Cognosco Nov 6 2016, 07:46 PM

Well of course not!