Town centre steering group in the spotlight Options

[admin]

A COUNCIL watchdog committee will tonight decide whether to quiz a group of unelected Newbury "stakeholders" over their right to influence the town.
The Town Centre Partnership has come under fire during recent weeks over the way it has helped develop plans for a huge new arts pavilion in Victoria Park while shrouding its meetings in secrecy.
The partnership consists of unelected business men and women, town and district councillors and representatives from other non-commercial organisations.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=11374

[GMR]

A COUNCIL watchdog committee will tonight decide whether to quiz a group of unelected Newbury "stakeholders" over their right to influence the town.
The Town Centre Partnership has come under fire during recent weeks over the way it has helped develop plans for a huge new arts pavilion in Victoria Park while shrouding its meetings in secrecy.
The partnership consists of unelected business men and women, town and district councillors and representatives from other non-commercial organisations.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=11374

Good.... it is about time somebody stood up to those unelected people. Too much is decided without reference to what the people of Newbury actually want. I think Newbury should do what a lot of America towns do; have regular plebiscites to see what the people actually want for their town. Get them involved instead of telling them what is going to happen to our town.

[JeffG]

It's an absolute disgrace that an unelected committee can impose its will on the people of Newbury, and even award contracts to its own members, which in my view borders on illegal. Perhaps they need exposing by the Daily Telegraph.

I imagine very few Newbury residents want a "huge new arts pavilion" in the green space that is Victoria Park.

[Bloggo]

It's an absolute disgrace that an unelected committee can impose its will on the people of Newbury, and even award contracts to its own members, which in my view borders on illegal. Perhaps they need exposing by the Daily Telegraph.

I imagine very few Newbury residents want a "huge new arts pavilion" in the green space that is Victoria Park.

You're right, this group of unelected "advisers" need bringing to heel.
This smacks of the tail wagging the dog.
Lets hope the watchdog commitee is not distracted by spin and weasel words.
The people of Newbury want to know whats going on!!

[Ben NWN]

There's even more to this.

Follow this link: http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=11377

[GMR]

There's even more to this.

Follow this link: http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=11377

And rightly so (not allowing the public into the meeting); if we want to create a totalitarian state then we’ve got to start somewhere. After all what has it got to do with the people of Newbury anyway? Anybody would think they were sentient beings that had the ability to think for themselves. Of course there is another reason why they don’t want the people of Newbury to be involved; they actually might disagree and that will bugger everything up. Heavens above… we wouldn’t want that. Thinking citizens who are capable of making a decision without the input of the authorities… what next?

[TallDarkAndHands...]

And rightly so (not allowing the public into the meeting); if we want to create a totalitarian state then we’ve got to start somewhere. After all what has it got to do with the people of Newbury anyway? Anybody would think they were sentient beings that had the ability to think for themselves. Of course there is another reason why they don’t want the people of Newbury to be involved; they actually might disagree and that will bugger everything up. Heavens above… we wouldn’t want that. Thinking citizens who are capable of making a decision without the input of the authorities… what next?

Quite right. Who are we to think that we can self govern? Tsk!

[blackdog]

When is the NWN going to notice that the named changed to the Town Centre Partnership months ago?

And when are you people going to realise that they are NOT in charge of the park monstrosity. At least one member of the TCP is seriously p*****d off at the recent publicity/ They have been shown the plans for the park building site - but not until after they were sworn to secrecy. They (as a group) were certainly not consulted about the buidling before they saw the plans.

Nor did they did not let the contract for the design - I think that was New Greenham Trust (they certainly footed the bill).

The group was formed by WBC to provide a sort of focus group to discuss and consult on the changes to Newbury town centre - and they have become the scapegoat. Prospective members of the West Berkshire Heritage Forum beware!

What we should be told is who exactly is really behind the design - WBC? New Greenham Trust? or just Sutton Griffin?

[JeffG]

When is the NWN going to notice that the named changed to the Town Centre Partnership months ago?

I think you'll find that's what they are called in the NWN articles quoted. It's just the title of this thread that is using the old name.

Anyway, as Will said, "that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."

[Bloggo]

When is the NWN going to notice that the named changed to the Town Centre Partnership months ago?

And when are you people going to realise that they are NOT in charge of the park monstrosity. At least one member of the TCP is seriously p*****d off at the recent publicity/ They have been shown the plans for the park building site - but not until after they were sworn to secrecy. They (as a group) were certainly not consulted about the buidling before they saw the plans.

Nor did they did not let the contract for the design - I think that was New Greenham Trust (they certainly footed the bill).

The group was formed by WBC to provide a sort of focus group to discuss and consult on the changes to Newbury town centre - and they have become the scapegoat. Prospective members of the West Berkshire Heritage Forum beware!

What we should be told is who exactly is really behind the design - WBC? New Greenham Trust? or just Sutton Griffin?

You seem pretty well informed about what the TCP know and don't know!!!
How's that?
If they are so divorced from the planning and commisioning of this building why is it they don't say so publicly instead of taking all the flak.
It don't make sense!!

[ArchitectRIBA]

No doubt the focus group lost their focus somewhere and thats why its become such a political hot potato. Most of the backers keep quoting the 2007 survey that said 80% wanted it, however I can't see in the small print where its says they wanted a 20,000sqft building?Anyone wondering what will happen with the Greenham Arts Centre....keep your eyes peeled.

[blackdog]

You seem pretty well informed about what the TCP know and don't know!!!
How's that?

Because the vow of secrecy is not immune from the odd leak or two.
Read the local paper, chat to the odd person in the know and the picture builds.

If they are so divorced from the planning and commisioning of this building why is it they don't say so publicly instead of taking all the flak.
It don't make sense!!

The Newbury Society chairman has written to the NWN about this, the NRA seem equally miffed. Most of the rest of the members probably don't care as long as their businesses pick up.