Acorn Antiques January 2012
Reflections on Meetings of Anston Parish Council by Mrs Overall.
4th January Charity Meeting
It was a calm night – no wind blowing.
It was calm at the Parish Charity Meeting – no hot air!
In fact there seems to have been a lot of charity at this meeting!
Question: Is this their New Year’s Resolution?
Answer: We will have to wait and see
Question: Or – was it because Cllr.St.John was absent
Answer: Damned sure it was.
16th January Finance Meeting – Democracy in Action!
Agenda Item: 7a
To discuss allowing the public to query parish business, by asking questions at Wednesday Finance Meetings.
Cllr Beck – Strongly & loudly against the public asking questions regarding items on the Agenda.
Question: Why is he so against receiving verbal questions from the electorate he is supposed to represent?
Answer: He wants the public to write a letter to the clerk within 4 working days from the publication of the Agenda –
Question: Do all the public have access to a computer?
Answer: No
Question: What was the solution Cllr Beck came up with?
Answer: Oh! Truck on down to the Recourse Centre (Dinnington – next village)
Doesn’t matter if you are aged, disabled etc this 19 year old boy/young man, obviously has no thought for those parishioners.
Agenda Item: 7b
Cllr Beck – Strongly & loudly – Trying to allow councillors to speak and express a view on items they have a prejudicial interest in, at the beginning of the meeting
Question: Has he not read the Model Code of Conduct 2007 which clearly states Members are not allowed to speak unless the public are so allowed?
Answer: Code of Conduct – Why bother? None of the other Labour councillors do –
AND THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE COULD NOT CARE LESS.
Councillor Beck – Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Another pleasant Meeting!
Question: Who was absent
Answer: Iain St.John
Arrived @ 7.20pm – Robin Stonebridge!
Parish Council Meeting: 16 January 2012
Litter: On the Village Green
Question: When is this going to be addressed along with other matters on the Village Green?
Answer: Reader – We will keep you posted, don’t hold your breath – it took 25 years to get a wall repaired. However we are on the case!
Tra La – Enter Iain St.John @ 7.45pm –
Question: Why did he not take the empty chair next to Cllr Thornton
Answer: Preferred to find a chair and squash up to Cllrs Beck & Stonebridge
3 Wise Monkeys? (Hear all, see all, say nowt! Perhaps?)
A chill now enters the room – Charity leaves by the window.
Dangerous parking near Hillcrest School
Well done new Cllr Gordon Jarvis for taking a pro-active stance, showing concern for the people you represent. Not so well done Borough Cllr. Dalton for trying to hijack the issue.
Cllr. Thornton proposed the Parish Council send a letter to RMBC Highways
Voted in favour unanimously.
Dangerous pavement at Church Farm development South Anston
Well done again new Councillor Gordon Jarvis
Question: Did Cllr Dalton try to hijack this subject as well?
Answer: Yes and backed up by Iain St.John.
Cllr. Thornton proposed the Parish Council write to Highways.
Question: Was this defeated.
Answer: Oh yes it was!
Question: Why did Four (4) Labour councillors look at each other and hesitantly raise their hands to vote this proposal down.
Comment – Nothing like voting for the Labour Party said Cllr. Thornton
(Great Uproar from Labour)
Question: Why did Chairman Ireland say he found the remark offensive?
Answer: Who knows and would Chairman Ireland know!
Cllr Thornton said “Because you find it offensive does not mean it is.”
Wait for it – Here we go again………………….
So what did Cllr St.John say next – Comes in from the sidelines saying AGAIN – We have rules to evict councillors from meetings if they constantly disagree with the chairman.
Unprompted!!! Chairman Ireland picks up the rule book says “I would like someone to propose that Mr Thornton leaves the meeting.
THE SILENCE WAS DEAFENING
Question: Why did we have, yet again, all this nonsense about evicting Cllr Thornton?
Answer: Chairman Ireland does as he is told/prompted!
Final comment from Cllr St.John – “I am not personally rude to people”
Sharp intake of collective breath – Oh yeeeeeer
Poor Mr Lewis – it caused him to have a severe coughing bout!
Well although relatively quiet & civil (up until a certain point!)
Let us see how long the New Year’s Resolution lasts.
Goodnight All – Mrs Overall
