Well, well, well! I see Tory stalwart Chris Wells is quitting his post as a KCC cabinet member in order, on the face of it, to concentrate on constituency matters. Ordinarily this news would be about as interesting as watching seaweed rot in Minnis Bay, despite being described elsewhere as a 'shock' and 'surprise'.
But remember it comes at a time when the Blue Rinsers are in some disarray here in Thanet. There's the ongoing police investigation into the Tesco bag of China Gateway documents, which hint at a closer relationship between the council and developers than would appear seemly. The planning decision itself was deferred by Ken Gregory's planning committee to a full council meeting, which we were told was going to be on 11 September, then 29 September. Latest intelligence is that it might now take place on 9 October. And all because Deputy Rodge apparently forgot our Sandy was due to be on yet another mission to China next month. Honestly, this lot couldn't organise a conflagration in a disused fun park!
Then there are the persistent rumours that the Tory young(-ish) turks are plotting a palace coup to oust the gruesome twosome currently in control. Will the Three Musketeers - alleged to comprise of flying doctor Simon Moores, rock doctor Alasdair Bruce and legal eagle Ewan Cameron - see Cllr Wells as their D'Artagnan? And where is our glorious council leader while this house of cards comes tumbling down? Depending on which rumour you believe, he's staying as a guest at a local developer's Portuguese villa, or sunning himself in the Med on SS Shagpile!
Click here to read Cllr Wells story in Thanet Extra
Update: KCC boss Ruddy-Faced Man has now spoken on this, saying: 'Chris Wells has chosen to spend more time running his consultancy business and feels he needs to focus on working on local issues in the run-up to the county election next year, recognising the marginal nature of his county division in Margate.' More here.
26 comments:
"..there are the persistent rumours that the Tory young(-ish) turks are plotting a palace coup to oust the gruesome twosome currently in control."
Isn't this what's wrong with Thanet? In he real world people who fail in their jobs are rewarded with the sack. We are astonished that Tony Blair managed to survive for the length of time that he did and Gordon Brown is heading for the door after just one year. But in Thanet the same old dinosaurs continue in office year on year, despite their total failure. It isn't only the blue-rinsers. Nicholson is still running the Labour Group despite having led them to defeat in three successive elections. For me it all says something about the quality of Councillors we elect. They are basically sheep, and do what they are told to do by the Leader. If the Leader says vote for me, they do it. They don't have the guts to demand success on behalf of their constituents.
I heard he was leaving to take up full-time pie eating. Ooof!!
Sorry, that was very puerile.
This story was broken by Cllr Green on his blog last night, and not by Bignews Tony as Thanet Star has mistakenly repported.
Correction it was broken on the Thanet Gazette website yesterday afternoon which makes a bit of a mockery of Thanet Star's contention that local bloggers are ahead of the local papers.
12.20 I was interested to see the Gazette’s take on this one but couldn’t find it on their website could you possibly post the web address for the article.
Here you go Michael
So whoes got the new Ramsgate Town Council story ?
YourThanet :-
Elections for a Ramsgate town council will be held next year.
Residents of the town will go to the polls to vote on whether the town should have a greater say on local issues by way of an elected town council.
A council spokeswoman confirmed last week that the elections will take place.
She said: “The elections for Ramsgate Parish Council will be taking place in early 2009.”
1:36 PM
She said: “The elections for Ramsgate Parish Council will be taking place in early 2009.”
Who cares?
The "No Tax Increases for Five Years" party cares. Our soundings indicate we have overwhelming support from our public.
What, all three of them.
Doesn't "Youth Services" come under KCC Education ?
The department which affilaites youth groups to KCC and, hence, re-assures parents of the bona fides of youth groups operating in the county.
Part of their duties might be to liaise with police and to ask plod questions about adults who lead youth groups.
Suppose KCC Youth Affiliation Service was raising such questions say in 1998 about Kent Adventure Training Corps, their leaders, former leaders and associates. And suppose Kent Police Area Commander in Thanet was not answering KCC's questions.
And suppose hypoothetically at just that time Cllr William Hayton were to have told the High Court on oath there were no procedures of inquiry in place against tory Cllr George Richard Maison (former adult leader of Kent Adventure Training Corps)
Hypothetically that would be perjury.
Especially as the call for inquiry from KPA Chair Sir John Grugeon of August 1997 was still open.
Bloody hell, leave it out Rick!
Thanks Richard it’s surprising how difficult it is to find things on our local papers websites.
Update: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/eastkent/KCC-councillor-Chris-Wells-quits/article-294882-detail/article.html
I've heard of people coming out of the closet, but what does it mean when they come out of the cabinet?
In this case it means that "Chris Wells has chosen to spend more time running his consultancy business and feels he needs to focus on working on local issues in the run-up to the county election next year"
or
" I am fed up with that fat bastards liberal attitude to his portfolio and I am going to sack him and replace him with Leyland Ridings, a proper Tory "
depending which rumour you believe.
Leyland Ridings? My dad used to drive one of those in the 70s. Is it the Vandenplas model?
Here is Leyland Ridings
Especially as Chris was one of the only Tories to speak out quite strongly against the Westwood 1000 houses plan last year so obviously not afraid to p**s off the hierarchy
Not a single woman on the KKC cabinet - shameful in 2008
Sorry that should have read KCC of course
What people are missing here is the fact Chris Wells is a democrat, just look at the driving force behind KCC watch how Paul Carter defers to Chief Exec Fat Cat Peter Gilroy.
Paul Carter ought to resign an Peter Gilroy get himself elected
Those who know Chris Wells, will probably agree with me that he is a man of integrity. Let us hope that he is able to devote time to Thanet and that we see him leading our local Tories in the very near future!
Don't forget that Chris Wells stepped in magnificently to broker a deal when TDC wanted to hike the Revolution skatepark's rent beyond its means. Vote for Chris!
I have been and seen. The only women in the KCC Council Chamber are serving tea and coffee. True!
Thank goodness that he can't hack it anymore. Good riddance. He is just a lot of hot air.
What has he really done for the children and families of Thanet? Allowed the schools we have to be torn apart.
The schools here are on the whole rubbish. What professional family is going to move into the isle, bringing skills, knowledge and wealth, if our schools are run from someone who looks like he should be giving out gruel in a Dickens novel?
Unless the schools are improved we will never attract invard migration of bright people and Thanet will continue to by synonomous with poor, white trash.
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