In May '07 the Wenneye Ward of Chatteris elected Ed Bryce as one of its 3 members of the Town Council. One of Chatteris's youngest ever councillors, Ed was a breath of fresh air, but unfortunately circumstances conspired to prevent Ed being about to attend as he would have liked, with the result that his seat has now been vacated.
The May '07 election saw a spirited and exciting battle between Chatteris's two significant political parties, with many issues aired and debated. But once the dust had settled, the two parties settled down together and got on with the business of Chatteris, (ably chaired by the sole independent councillor, our Mayor Sue Elam).
At the news of the vacancy the 2 parties discussed whether Chatteris needed to bear the cost of a by-election so soon after the regular scheduled elections, and in an exemplary example of 'cross party politics' both parties agreed not to call an election themselves, preferring to co-opt a an mutually acceptable replacement. There were after all 12 candidates from the May '07 election who failed to be elected, and the opportunity existed to look amongst this group.
However, news then came that someone had exercised their democratic right to call for a by-election in Wenneye. Speculation was rife as to who called it. It was even a mystery to the some time branch chairman of the nearly defunct Chatteris Labour group.
I can exclusively reveal that the by-election was petitioned for by a group seemingly led by former labour councillor David Biggs. This is something of a surprise as Mr Biggs didn't exactly distinguish himself when he stood unsuccessfully for re-election for the Birch ward of Chatteris in the May '07 elections. On that occasion he produced what is probably the least literate and certainly the most irrelevant election literature it has ever been my pleasure to chuckle over.
David Biggs clearly failed to 'connect' with the electorate and polled just 5.5% of the Town Council vote. He faired little better in his bid for the District Council seat, winning less than 9% of the vote cast between the 3 candidates. In fact I would say that his sole achievement by standing for Labour in the District election was to secure a narrow win for the sitting Conservative councillor Alan Melton, cushioning Mr Melton from a spirited and close run challenge by Lib Dem Christine Colbert. The unsuccessful Mr Biggs has rarely been seen in Chatteris since.
After 4 years experience of Mr Biggs as their town councillor, the good people of Birch ward clearly didn't feel inclined to renew his mandate.
Since Mr Biggs is clearly heavily involved in calling the Wenneye by-election, one can assume he's planning to stand for the seat himself. The burning question now remains whether Wenneye ward will forgive former councillor Biggs for bringing about the significant cost of the by-election and return him with a rousing majority ? Will he do any better than he did (or didn't) in Birch ? Can he do any worse ?
Walt
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Saturday, 1 March 2008
READ ALL ABOUT IT !
Chatteris Town Council has launched its official web site !
Now you can read the minutes and judge for yourself the validity of my observations on the proceedings.
Enter " http://www.eastspace.net/chatteris-council/ " or click on the link top left of this page.
Now you can read the minutes and judge for yourself the validity of my observations on the proceedings.
Enter " http://www.eastspace.net/chatteris-council/ " or click on the link top left of this page.
Saturday, 16 February 2008
THREATENING SOUND AND FURY, BUT ACHIEVING NOTHING !
There’s a meeting of FDC Standards Committee on Monday 18th February.
Anyone is welcome to attend, but if you do go expecting to see justice in action - don’t be disappointed if you are asked to leave before the juicy bits start. According to the published agenda, Item No. 6 requires the exclusion of the Public and Press. Why ?
It could well be that this deals with a case against a local councillor which first hit the headlines in December 2006, and continued to create column inches in the local press through the beginning of 2007. Surely if whatever lead to the complaint was in the papers, any investigation, even if only quasi judicial, about that complaint should similarly be public ?
The Standards Board of England insist that their role is to promote “Confidence in Local Democracy”. I can’t see that any of this promotes confidence in anything. There’s one case patiently still waiting for investigation by FDC which allegedly was first reported in September 06, sent to FDC early in ‘07, an officer started to investigate it, but then suddenly left the authority in March 07. It would appear to have languished, forgotten ever since then.
Mind you, even if a case gets to a hearing, it’s not justice in the manner we expect. Last time FDC held a standards hearing, new and uncorroborated ‘evidence’ was unexpectedly produced on the day, the case was immediately dropped, but under scrutiny the ‘evidence’ didn’t hold up.
The problem may be that the Standards Committee doesn’t follow the principals of common law as we understand them. Cllr Howes has been attacked before in the papers by senior councillors (and their associates) as a serial complainer. His complaint is that when something wrong happens - like for example a private company claiming public land in March - the Standards Committee appears to serve to protect the perpetrator, not establish the truth.
Walt
Anyone is welcome to attend, but if you do go expecting to see justice in action - don’t be disappointed if you are asked to leave before the juicy bits start. According to the published agenda, Item No. 6 requires the exclusion of the Public and Press. Why ?
It could well be that this deals with a case against a local councillor which first hit the headlines in December 2006, and continued to create column inches in the local press through the beginning of 2007. Surely if whatever lead to the complaint was in the papers, any investigation, even if only quasi judicial, about that complaint should similarly be public ?
The Standards Board of England insist that their role is to promote “Confidence in Local Democracy”. I can’t see that any of this promotes confidence in anything. There’s one case patiently still waiting for investigation by FDC which allegedly was first reported in September 06, sent to FDC early in ‘07, an officer started to investigate it, but then suddenly left the authority in March 07. It would appear to have languished, forgotten ever since then.
Mind you, even if a case gets to a hearing, it’s not justice in the manner we expect. Last time FDC held a standards hearing, new and uncorroborated ‘evidence’ was unexpectedly produced on the day, the case was immediately dropped, but under scrutiny the ‘evidence’ didn’t hold up.
The problem may be that the Standards Committee doesn’t follow the principals of common law as we understand them. Cllr Howes has been attacked before in the papers by senior councillors (and their associates) as a serial complainer. His complaint is that when something wrong happens - like for example a private company claiming public land in March - the Standards Committee appears to serve to protect the perpetrator, not establish the truth.
Walt
Thursday, 7 February 2008
MORE TEA VICAR ?
Email received from Chris Howes:
Following your invitation, I am writing to say how Sunday’s Civic Service went.
In two words - very well ! Christine and I were both very pleased that Council and Church had healed the apparent rift of the failed F.D.C. Civic Service a couple of years ago. Good on the Mayor - rebuilding bridges is part of her job. And good on the Church too.
The congregation ws representative of many parts of the Chatteris community, together with a number of local dignitaries including our retiring M.P. Many of the dignitaries were sporting their Chain of Office, whilst Mr Moss was wearing a gabardine mac. Christine and I had no problem with this apparel, but clearly this was not the view of everyone as I did overhear a disparaging remark about ‘raincoats’ and ‘flashers’. Thoughts return to Michael Foot’s choice of coat in the 1980s.
After a Civic Service, it is customary for guests to attend a reception and engage in polite conversation. You may wonder if this might be tedious, but be assured that in light of the Mayor’s Consort’s skill in making cakes, this was a absolute pleasure. Behold Brian, the ‘Mr Kipling’ of Chatteris.....
Imagine my surprise when my munching was interrupted by our MP Malcolm bouncing straight over to me. On the assumption that I am Walter, (if you follow my meaning) he complimented me on “tricking him into commenting on the blog”, and assured me that he “wouldn’t be doing it again” ! Then, rather abruptly, he enquired if I was going to be the LibDem parliamentary candidate for the next election. This thought had never crossed my mind before Malcolm mentioned it. But with Mr Moss’s apparent recommendation behind me - perhaps I should take the notion seriously ! .
Slightly flabbergasted, I endeavoured to continue the conversation in a manner slightly more akin to the normal polite chit-chat appropriate to church rooms.
“Tell me Mr Moss” I asked, “are you looking forward to your retirement, or do you think you’ll miss the Commons ?”
“20 years is quite enough” Malcolm replied.
“Do you have any plans for your retirement” I continued, “for example, where we previously lived, our last MP, the former Member for Huntingdon, has recently published a book on cricket”
“Really ?”
“Yes,” and I added “he was called John Major !”
Oh how fickle is the memory of a Tory backbencher.
Malcolm Moss is starting to grow on me. One thing is for certain though, our next M.P., whoever it may be, is going to be a different cup of tea. Should I take Malcolm up on his suggestion .... ?
Chris Howes
EDITORS NOTE: This blog accepts contributions from a variety of sources. Any one is welcome to send copy, and all contributions will be considered. Walt.
Following your invitation, I am writing to say how Sunday’s Civic Service went.
In two words - very well ! Christine and I were both very pleased that Council and Church had healed the apparent rift of the failed F.D.C. Civic Service a couple of years ago. Good on the Mayor - rebuilding bridges is part of her job. And good on the Church too.
The congregation ws representative of many parts of the Chatteris community, together with a number of local dignitaries including our retiring M.P. Many of the dignitaries were sporting their Chain of Office, whilst Mr Moss was wearing a gabardine mac. Christine and I had no problem with this apparel, but clearly this was not the view of everyone as I did overhear a disparaging remark about ‘raincoats’ and ‘flashers’. Thoughts return to Michael Foot’s choice of coat in the 1980s.
After a Civic Service, it is customary for guests to attend a reception and engage in polite conversation. You may wonder if this might be tedious, but be assured that in light of the Mayor’s Consort’s skill in making cakes, this was a absolute pleasure. Behold Brian, the ‘Mr Kipling’ of Chatteris.....
Imagine my surprise when my munching was interrupted by our MP Malcolm bouncing straight over to me. On the assumption that I am Walter, (if you follow my meaning) he complimented me on “tricking him into commenting on the blog”, and assured me that he “wouldn’t be doing it again” ! Then, rather abruptly, he enquired if I was going to be the LibDem parliamentary candidate for the next election. This thought had never crossed my mind before Malcolm mentioned it. But with Mr Moss’s apparent recommendation behind me - perhaps I should take the notion seriously ! .
Slightly flabbergasted, I endeavoured to continue the conversation in a manner slightly more akin to the normal polite chit-chat appropriate to church rooms.
“Tell me Mr Moss” I asked, “are you looking forward to your retirement, or do you think you’ll miss the Commons ?”
“20 years is quite enough” Malcolm replied.
“Do you have any plans for your retirement” I continued, “for example, where we previously lived, our last MP, the former Member for Huntingdon, has recently published a book on cricket”
“Really ?”
“Yes,” and I added “he was called John Major !”
Oh how fickle is the memory of a Tory backbencher.
Malcolm Moss is starting to grow on me. One thing is for certain though, our next M.P., whoever it may be, is going to be a different cup of tea. Should I take Malcolm up on his suggestion .... ?
Chris Howes
EDITORS NOTE: This blog accepts contributions from a variety of sources. Any one is welcome to send copy, and all contributions will be considered. Walt.
Sunday, 20 January 2008
‘ACTION MAN’ (probably) SELECTED
There is a woeful dearth of information currently available on line about the results of North East Cambs Constituency Conservative Party’s selection of their new parliamentary candidate yesterday.
conservativebone.blogs.com relates that it has been won by a Stephen Barclay:-
“Mr Barclay, is a cantab, rugby playing, skydiving, former army officer, a corporate lawyer and very good egg".
what’s more, the same site also tells us:-
“Two plum seats are selecting this 'Super Duper ' weekend. N E Cambridgeshire today and Maidstone and The Weald tomorrow. Steve Barclay was in the final for both and has been selected today for NE Cambs”
So why haven’t the Tories yet posted this apparently clear result on their official web site ? (N.E.Cambs don’t quite run to their own site)
Could it be that they’re waiting to see whether Mr Barclay, if also selected for Maidstone and The Weald today, will ‘jump ship’ (or leap airplane) from Fenland, before he even lands amongst us.
Since our outgoing Member, Malcolm Moss, has recently added his comments to this very blog, can I ask “Malcolm, if you happen to again be perusing this humble blog, any chance you could let us know who has been anointed your heir” ?
Walt
conservativebone.blogs.com relates that it has been won by a Stephen Barclay:-
“Mr Barclay, is a cantab, rugby playing, skydiving, former army officer, a corporate lawyer and very good egg".
what’s more, the same site also tells us:-
“Two plum seats are selecting this 'Super Duper ' weekend. N E Cambridgeshire today and Maidstone and The Weald tomorrow. Steve Barclay was in the final for both and has been selected today for NE Cambs”
So why haven’t the Tories yet posted this apparently clear result on their official web site ? (N.E.Cambs don’t quite run to their own site)
Could it be that they’re waiting to see whether Mr Barclay, if also selected for Maidstone and The Weald today, will ‘jump ship’ (or leap airplane) from Fenland, before he even lands amongst us.
Since our outgoing Member, Malcolm Moss, has recently added his comments to this very blog, can I ask “Malcolm, if you happen to again be perusing this humble blog, any chance you could let us know who has been anointed your heir” ?
Walt
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY !
This morning I received a four page colour newspaper extolling the virtues and achievements of my M.P. - Malcolm Moss.
It begins "Welcome to my first constituency newsletter as your Member of Parliament" Mr. Moss was first elected in 1987. Never one to rush into anything, we must all congratulate Malcolm on his alacrity in producing his first constituency news letter after 20 years in the post !
Walt.
It begins "Welcome to my first constituency newsletter as your Member of Parliament" Mr. Moss was first elected in 1987. Never one to rush into anything, we must all congratulate Malcolm on his alacrity in producing his first constituency news letter after 20 years in the post !
Walt.
Monday, 14 January 2008
Bad habits and camels
In a surprising but encouraging twist of fate, Chatteris Town Council and Fenland District are working together in partnership to put on a major Chatteris event in 2008. A medieval weekend is being planned on 4/5/6th July, with a school’s living history encampment on the Friday, historic lifestyle and combat reenactments and a fayre, over the weekend. As you read this,a variety of other Town events are hopefully being planned.
The Town Council group forming their half of the partnership with FDC is lead by Chris Howes, who allegedly could be seen on the occasion in December of the ‘turning on of the christmas lights’, dressed as a Monk, and handing out promotional flyers for the event, dashingly assisted by Christine.
Chris reports, tongue in cheek (I hope), a predicament facing a recent partners meeting:
“Our event stewards need to be easily identifiable”
“Couldn’t we dress in a medieval theme ?”
“Health & Safety Regulations demand ‘High Visibility clothing’ “
“So why don’t we get high viz. monks habits !”
It puts you in mind of the words of the late, great, Alec Issigonis
"A camel is a horse designed by committee."
Walt.
The Town Council group forming their half of the partnership with FDC is lead by Chris Howes, who allegedly could be seen on the occasion in December of the ‘turning on of the christmas lights’, dressed as a Monk, and handing out promotional flyers for the event, dashingly assisted by Christine.
Chris reports, tongue in cheek (I hope), a predicament facing a recent partners meeting:
“Our event stewards need to be easily identifiable”
“Couldn’t we dress in a medieval theme ?”
“Health & Safety Regulations demand ‘High Visibility clothing’ “
“So why don’t we get high viz. monks habits !”
It puts you in mind of the words of the late, great, Alec Issigonis
"A camel is a horse designed by committee."
Walt.
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