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Curious question at Full Council Meeting this week |
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Dec 4 2011, 06:32 PM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Dec 4 2011, 06:12 PM) This Tuesday will be a landmark occasion for Tory Councillor Virginia Von Celsing. The Compton Councillor has yet to ask a question at full council or executive, and prior to being elected in May was never seen in the council chamber. Why would she be in the Chamber if not an elected Member?
So, the member for Compton will be asking a hugely important question. Will it be to do with the future of her local secondary school and fears Are there fears?about it seeking academy status? Will it be regarding a percieved increase in rural crime in the villages she looks after? If the perception exists (let alone reality) maybe she directs questions on the matter to her neighbourhood policing teamWill it concern speeding issues on the rural back roads see re crimeor the state of road surfaces? Problems with ditches and drainage maybe? I'd go with that, generally, but not sure what the situation is in Compton and the level of concern expressed by her citizens
No. The burning issue raised by Cllr Von Celsing is something a lot more important to the residents of her Compton Ward. The question to be asked on Tuesday evening will be "Since December last year, how many questions have been asked by Mr Garvie?". I hear her electorate are sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting the answer. Maybe the question is worth asking, as it is not right for one person - let alone one with a party political interest[ - using the public question forum in a way an elected member may not/b]
I will be interested what the actual answer is, I know it's roughly five per meeting. But maybe Cllr Von Celsing and her chums should be asking more relevant questions about issues that impact their ward residents. For a councillor with attendance less than 70% and who has never asked a question at a full council or executive meeting previously to behave in this way is a little shoddy. What do people care how many questions I ask? All of my questions are relevant to the people of this district and issues that effect them (maybe that's why they don't like the questions).
In terms of value for money, Cllr Von Celsing has cost the taxpayer around £330 for each of the meetings that she has attended. In that time, she hasn't asked any questions at all. I've asked tons of questions and I didn't cost the taxpayer anything. Who offers best value?[b]Quantity always wins over quality?
PS. Cllr Von Celsing is also Deputy Chair (Berkshire) for the Conservative Party. So what? You are something to do with the Labour Party. Does she hide her position?
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Dec 4 2011, 06:38 PM
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QUOTE ("Zaphod Beeblebrox") It means we really must be on to something if they're trying to kill us Richard, it's pathetic if the best they can do is attack you personally.
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Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
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Dec 4 2011, 06:53 PM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Dec 4 2011, 06:47 PM) My big concern is that the council will change the consultation to restrict the number of questions I can ask. Talk about democracy. But do you ask the questions purely as a citizen, or as a representative of the Labour Party?
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Dec 4 2011, 06:56 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 4 2011, 06:53 PM) But do you ask the questions purely as a citizen, or as a representative of the Labour Party? I ask the questions as myself, Richard Garvie. I am a taxpayer and a member of public, am I not? If the rules don't work in their favour, they change them. Look at all of the other constitution changes recently.
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Dec 4 2011, 06:59 PM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Dec 4 2011, 06:47 PM) My big concern is that the council will change the consultation to restrict the number of questions I can ask. Talk about democracy. Yes, I think that's exactly what they're planning. Newbury Town Council changed their rules to help them avoid my questions. The tragedy is that almost no one cares what goes on in local government, and this errosion of civil rights and accountability is not a god thing.
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Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
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Dec 4 2011, 06:59 PM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Dec 4 2011, 06:56 PM) I ask the questions as myself, Richard Garvie. I am a taxpayer and a member of public, am I not? If the rules don't work in their favour, they change them. Look at all of the other constitution changes recently. Devious answer. If your questions are politically motivated you are misusing your status as a voter in order to promote your ambitions. In my opinion
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Dec 4 2011, 07:08 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 4 2011, 06:59 PM) Devious answer. If your questions are politically motivated you are misusing your status as a voter in order to promote your ambitions. What nonsense. Every citizen is entitled to be as politically active as they can be. The only possible abuse is an individual who uses questions purely to disrupt, but that abuse has to be assessed with great care because it is the nature of things that difficult legitimate questions will also likely be disruptive.
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Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
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Dec 4 2011, 07:27 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 4 2011, 06:59 PM) Devious answer. If your questions are politically motivated you are misusing your status as a voter in order to promote your ambitions.
In my opinion What a load of crap. Either a question is reasonable, or not.
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Dec 4 2011, 08:30 PM
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QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Dec 4 2011, 07:08 PM) What nonsense. Every citizen is entitled to be as politically active as they can be. But Richard isn't just a citizen is he? He's a politician and representative of one of the largest political parties in the country. Perhaps the rules that govern our politicians are different to those of "normal" citizens like you and I, given they have a multi-million pound organistation backing them and we don't. As NWN Reader says, I guess the test will be whether the questions asked were obviously about services Richard uses as a taxpayer, or politically motivated but done so in the guise of a resident to circumvent what I imagine are the rules that govern our politicians. Of course I'm no expert on this sort of thing so could be totally wrong.
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Dec 4 2011, 08:56 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Dec 4 2011, 08:30 PM) But Richard isn't just a citizen is he? He's a politician and representative of one of the largest political parties in the country.
Perhaps the rules that govern our politicians are different to those of "normal" citizens like you and I, given they have a multi-million pound organistation backing them and we don't.
As NWN Reader says, I guess the test will be whether the questions asked were obviously about services Richard uses as a taxpayer, or politically motivated but done so in the guise of a resident to circumvent what I imagine are the rules that govern our politicians.
Of course I'm no expert on this sort of thing so could be totally wrong. Richard is both a politician and also a resident of the area and i think he has the right to ask question from either of his positions. As you have said you are no expert so just shut up. As for the afore mentioned politician from Compton i guess from my experience with local government as long as she attends and gets her allowance then that is all she is interested in.
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Dec 4 2011, 09:00 PM
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QUOTE (nerc @ Dec 4 2011, 08:56 PM) Richard is both a politician and also a resident of the area and i think he has the right to ask question from either of his positions. As you have said you are no expert so just shut up. You're an expert? Perhaps you could point us in the direction of the rules for this sort of thing then please.
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Dec 4 2011, 09:10 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Dec 4 2011, 09:00 PM) You're an expert? Perhaps you could point us in the direction of the rules for this sort of thing then please. Where did i say im an expert? read again my post
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Dec 4 2011, 09:11 PM
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QUOTE (nerc @ Dec 4 2011, 09:10 PM) Where did i say im an expert? read again my post I think the quote below might apply to you too. QUOTE (nerc @ Dec 4 2011, 08:56 PM) As you have said you are no expert so just shut up.
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Dec 4 2011, 09:17 PM
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QUOTE (nerc @ Dec 4 2011, 09:14 PM) So where did i say i was an expert? Well either are you are or aren't you an expert. If you are please could you post a link to the information I asked for, if not follow your own advice below. QUOTE (nerc @ Dec 4 2011, 09:14 PM) As you have said you are no expert so just shut up. Another silly post and you're going on Ignore.
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Dec 4 2011, 09:25 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Dec 4 2011, 09:17 PM) Well either are you are or aren't you an expert.
If you are please could you post a link to the information I asked for, if not follow your own advice below.Another silly post and you're going on Ignore. User, you're so manly when you threaten people like this. With such strong words everyone's quaking that they might also be put on "ignore".
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Dec 4 2011, 09:26 PM
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QUOTE (Bartholomew @ Dec 4 2011, 09:25 PM) User, you're so manly when you threaten people like this. With such strong words everyone's quaking that they might also be put on "ignore". Looks like User's last post was edited!
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