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Opposition out
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| Ian Carr: He says he has become increasingly irritated by the present arrangement. |
OPPOSITION councillors are to be kicked off Test Valley Borough Council's executive as the controlling Conser-vative group wants to reserve all the seats on a slimmed-down body for itself.
The executive takes many of the council's top decisions and leader Ian Carr believes the change to a single party executive will mean decisions will clearly be seen as the work of the controlling group and make the procedure more efficient.
"I have for many years wished to achieve collective responsibility for executive decisions and have become increasingly irritated that this has never been possible under present arrangements," Mr Carr said this week, in a statement.
He believes the executive will both function more effectively if its membership is reduced and be more transparent .
But Liberal Democrats who are about to lose their positions say it will deprive them of a valuable opportunity to question the ruling group.
Minority group executive member, Mark Cooper, said: "When the present format was set up there was a clear public preference for a cross-party executive, but unfortunately Cllr Carr has chosen to over-ride this earlier, enlightened decision.
"Perhaps he's fed up withhaving to account for his decisions in executive meetings and he doesn't like it when the Liberal Democrat members are in the headlines.
"He claims to want a transparent' process.
"What happens at present is that the Conservative leadership group has a long pre-meeting in private to make the decisions.
"Then, when the executive meets in public they simply rubber-stamp their own decisions and deflect any amendments suggested by the Liberal Democrats.
"Nevertheless, in the last few years effective scrutiny has been performed by the minority group members on the executive and we have been able to shine the light into some of the darker recesses of local government.
"It is a great shame that this function will be lost."
A side effect will be that there will only be one Andover councillor on the single party seven-member executive.
However Ian Carr believes scrutiny of executive decisions will become more stringent following the change - although there are no recommendations at this time' to make changes to the chairmanship of the overview and scrutiny committee.
8:15am Friday 7th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: william Watkin, Clatford on 9:09am Fri 7 Mar 08
So much for democracy, never aagain wil I vote for a Conservative candidate in Andover. This is very much the lead set by Tony Blair and his real view of social fairness. We well know that Cllr Car is only interested in his wasy.
So much for democracy, never aagain wil I vote for a Conservative candidate in Andover. This is very much the lead set by Tony Blair and his real view of social fairness. We well know that Cllr Car is only interested in his wasy.
Posted by: Victor, Andover on 9:47am Fri 7 Mar 08
Ian Carr is an autocrat, who is only interested in getting what Ian Carr wants.
After his dealings with the electorate during the Guildhall debates, I was surprised that the Conservatives did so well in the last round of local elections.
The irritations that he mentions are surely part of the democratic process, and the fact that he has said this publicly shows his contempt for all of us in the Test Valley.
If all the other Conservative candidates publicly support him, then maybe they'll realise, that in time , he will lose them leadership of the council anyway.
Ian Carr is an autocrat, who is only interested in getting what Ian Carr wants.
After his dealings with the electorate during the Guildhall debates, I was surprised that the Conservatives did so well in the last round of local elections.
The irritations that he mentions are surely part of the democratic process, and the fact that he has said this publicly shows his contempt for all of us in the Test Valley.
If all the other Conservative candidates publicly support him, then maybe they'll realise, that in time , he will lose them leadership of the council anyway.
Posted by: Polly Partridge, Andover on 4:57pm Fri 7 Mar 08
It's great news, at least we will know who to blame now when we are unhappy with the decisions that the executive so often sweep through without a moments thought of consulting full council or the people they are supposed to represent.
Perhaps now the Lib Dems will start opposing the many ill thought out decisions that the torys come up with a little more robustly.
That has got to be good for democracy and good for Andoverians.
It's great news, at least we will know who to blame now when we are unhappy with the decisions that the executive so often sweep through without a moments thought of consulting full council or the people they are supposed to represent.
Perhaps now the Lib Dems will start opposing the many ill thought out decisions that the torys come up with a little more robustly.
That has got to be good for democracy and good for Andoverians.
Posted by: David Woods, Andover (Unfortunately) on 6:31pm Sat 8 Mar 08
Will all the Conservative councillors at TVBC now have to swear an oath of allegiance the'The Leader'.
So much for democracy.
Welcome to Test Valley a 'rotten borough'.
Will all the Conservative councillors at TVBC now have to swear an oath of allegiance the'The Leader'.
So much for democracy.
Welcome to Test Valley a 'rotten borough'.
Posted by: David Woods, Andover on 6:35pm Sat 8 Mar 08
I have another comment "Ian Carr OUT"
I have another comment "Ian Carr OUT"
Posted by: Tony, Andover on 2:21am Mon 10 Mar 08
Unbelievable. Will Ian Carr never learn. If this goes though council, Test Valley BC and the Conservative group will be the laughing stock of the country.
Unbelievable. Will Ian Carr never learn. If this goes though council, Test Valley BC and the Conservative group will be the laughing stock of the country.
Posted by: Steve, USA on 9:31pm Tue 11 Mar 08
It is now firmly up to the voters in Andover to show Clr. Carr what they feel about his vision of transparency.
This is just another reason why the people of Andover should be racing as fast as possible to get a Town Council.
Finally, remember every citizen has the right to file Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to get insight into any decision made by TVBC. That is one way to ensure transparency, all be it, after the fact.
It is now firmly up to the voters in Andover to show Clr. Carr what they feel about his vision of transparency.
This is just another reason why the people of Andover should be racing as fast as possible to get a Town Council.
Finally, remember every citizen has the right to file Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to get insight into any decision made by TVBC. That is one way to ensure transparency, all be it, after the fact.
Posted by: I, And(done)over on 12:51pm Sat 15 Mar 08
Apparently,this action moves TVBC in line with the majority of the other local authorities.Gratifyi
ng to know my vote wasn't wasted,I got some exercise walking down to the polling station!!!!
Apparently,this action moves TVBC in line with the majority of the other local authorities.Gratifyi
ng to know my vote wasn't wasted,I got some exercise walking down to the polling station!!!!
Posted by: Carlos Tilbury, overton on 10:03pm Sat 15 Mar 08
thought Basingstoke Tories where bad! well they are and they made "rotton Boroughs" as well, best stop there before I go off on one!!
thought Basingstoke Tories where bad! well they are and they made "rotton Boroughs" as well, best stop there before I go off on one!!
Posted by: Tim, Andover on 1:21pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Unless its what YOU want, you all cry about it.
Time is the only answer here, People need to give this decision some time, AND IF it does not work, then spit your dummy out again.
For many people here, there dummy was already out when they don't get what they want!
Unless its what YOU want, you all cry about it.
Time is the only answer here, People need to give this decision some time, AND IF it does not work, then spit your dummy out again.
For many people here, there dummy was already out when they don't get what they want!
Posted by: I, And(done)over on 10:25am Fri 21 Mar 08
Unless its what YOU want? eh!!
Well I wanted a LibDem Representative,and is who I voted for,so I had "what I want" in place,what prompted me to write is how my rights have been further eroded by this decision
Don't forget to armour your back with A4!!!!!
Unless its what YOU want? eh!!
Well I wanted a LibDem Representative,and is who I voted for,so I had "what I want" in place,what prompted me to write is how my rights have been further eroded by this decision
Don't forget to armour your back with A4!!!!!
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