The new mayor of Doncaster, Radical thinking Options

[Strafin]

A maverick mayor elected after promising to slash council spending, clear the streets of yobs and ditch politically correct services is the torchbearer for how towns should be run.

On his first morning as Mayor of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, Peter Davies cut his salary from £73,000 to £30,000 then closed the council’s newspaper for "peddling politics on the rates".
Now three weeks into his job, Mr Davies is pressing ahead with plans he hopes will see the number of town councillors cut from 63 to just 21, saving taxpayer s £800,000.
Mr Davies said: "If 100 senators can run the United States of America, I can’t see how 63 councillors are needed to run Doncaster".

He has withdrawn Doncaster from the Local Government Association and the Local Government Information Unit, saving another £200,000. Mr Davies said, "They are just talking shops".
"Doncaster is in for some serious untwinning. We are twinned with probably nine other cities around the world and they are just for people to fly off and have a binge at the council’s expense".

The mayor’s chauffeur-driven car has also been axed by Mr Davies and the driver given another job. Mr Davies, born and bred in Doncaster, swept to power in the May election with 24,244 votes as a candidate for the English Democrats, a party that wants tight immigration curbs, an English Parliament and a law forcing every public building to fly the flag of St. George.

He has promised to end council funding for Doncaster’s International Women’s Day, Black History Month and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month.
He said, "Politicians have got completely out of touch with what people want.
"We need to cut costs. I want to pass on some savings I make in reduced taxes and use the rest for things we really need, like improved children’s services".
Mr Davies has received messages from well wishers across the country and abroad as news of his no-nonsense approach spreads.




If this is true, and some of it definetly is including his pay cut i think the man should be given a chance by his voters to get into parliament.

[Darren]

If this is true, and some of it definetly is including his pay cut i think the man should be given a chance by his voters to get into parliament

Where he will disappear among the other 650 odd scroungers.

Much better to stay at a local level and make real changes that people will notice.

http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/mayor/priorities.asp

Problem is, this will only work where mayors have real power rather than some old toothless tiger in a tricorn and chains.

[Sarah]

Certainly sounds good, but I wonder how long it will be before the back stabbing and muck raking will start.

He needs to be squeaky clean and very strong willed to succeed, as there will be a lot of people with clout out to get him.

Good luck to him, and definitely the space to watch.

[GMR]

I agree with him. Most councillors are having a good time on tax payers money.

[user23]

I agree with him. Most councillors are have a good time on tax payers money.

At least they can construct a coherent sentence.

[GMR]

At least they can construct a coherent sentence.

Yes, you might learn something

[CBW137Y]

Listening to the interview with him was, er.....interesting

http://andys.org.uk/b/2009/06/08/a-whole-lot-of-nothing/

[Sarah]

Listening to the interview with him was, er.....interesting

http://andys.org.uk/b/2009/06/08/a-whole-lot-of-nothing/

Doesn't sound very promising does it.

[JeffG]

He didn't handle that interview very well, did he? And from one of the comments, it seems that Translation Services are legally only required for police interviews and court appearances, so he could have scored one back there.

It sounds as though he wants to do some good things, though I am very wary of a party that appears to be the political wing of the Daily Mail.

[dannyboy]

Hardly surprising after Donnygate.

[JeffG]

Hardly surprising after Donnygate.

??

[Strafin]

I thought the interviewer came across as badly as the mayor. Typical left wing BBC bias. He was asking very specific questions, and twisting his words to suit an agenda, on the guys very forst interview. Also the interviewer isn't necessarily right when he says things can't be done.

[dannyboy]

??

google - great tool. enter 'Donnygate' & read away.

[user23]

"I dunno… again, I’ve got to find this out."

Oh dear, despite claiming that he's going to do a lot of things, it seems he hasn't actually researched when he can and can't do.

The banning of an event, despite not looking into how much money it may make the town is priceless, pun intended.

[Strafin]

The banning an event, despite not looking into how much money it may make the town is priceless, pun intended.

Must have missed that bit, what event did he want to ban?

[user23]

Must have missed that bit, what event did he want to ban?

Doncaster Gay Pride, which attracts (according the the interviewer) 8,000 people to the town.

[Strafin]

Doncaster Gay Pride, which attracts (according the the interviewer) 8,000 people to the town.

I could have sworn he said he wanted to cut the councils spending on the event, not ban it. In fact he did say that but that doesn't fit in with the loony left agenda so it was presented as something it was not by the BBC.

[Branston Pickle]

Doncaster Gay Pride, which attracts (according the the interviewer) 8,000 people to the town.

He isn't necessarily going to ban gay pride marches; he just said that he was going to withdraw council funding from it.

[GMR]

He isn't necessarily going to ban gay pride marches; he just said that he was going to withdraw council funding from it.

Maybe we should have a gay pride march in Newbury. I was told that we had a very large gay community here.

[On the edge]

I could have sworn he said he wanted to cut the councils spending on the event, not ban it. In fact he did say that but that doesn't fit in with the loony left agenda so it was presented as something it was not by the BBC.

That's what he did say. Don't think many would disagree, if the March was so good for the Town commercially, then it doesn't need Council support. This isn't a new concept. Before the war, the then chairman of Berkshire County Council a Mr Skurray imposed his very simple but effective vision - 'we will do what we must and leave what we may'. That meant at the time, Berkshire had the lowest rate of any UK County Authority, but still managed to deliver acceptable and adequate service. Although not liked by the staff he was well respected and appreciated by the rate payers.