Hyndburn Local Elections - 5th May - Page 9

Wynonie Harris · 06-05-2011, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Steve, I have always said that if voting changed anything, they(the powers that be) would stop us from doing it....and that saying proves the point doesn't it?
They don't want us to be voting on the EU so they deny us that choice.

Quite right, Margaret, and it applies to Accyweb politicians too, who studiously avoid the subject of an EU referendum, with one honourable exception...Ken Moss who is anything but a typical politician.

PS - that's meant as a compliment, Ken!

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Please, tell me it is true.........PB is no longer the leader of the council???????
Maybe we can see some common sense changes around the borough now...ones that do not rely on massaging this mans ego.........hey....does it mean we'll see less of him in the Obby too......well rot my socks!!!!!!! Great....double great!

Labour have outright control of the council with 18 seats so Miles Parkinson is definitely absolutely the new Leader of the Council. Goodbye Cllr Britcliffe, my condolences on your wage reduction.....

They didn't seem terribly happy about me filming last night and kicked up a bit of a fuss but since the legal team had already cleared me and told me of the restrictions on what detail I could film it all fell on deaf ears. I'll try to cut down an edit over the weekend so you can see the unalloyed pleasure on the Tory faces as seat after seat fell away from them. (Don't worry Gynn, I didn't film that much and once it's cut down we'll be lucky if there's five minutes' worth).

Let's not kid ourselves that this is now a new age of prosperity where all problems will be solved overnight but it does at least give Hyndburn a fighting chance to iron out so many things that have been itching away at us. However, it will take months of work to even begin to get things into shape so please stick with us.

A very exciting time looms ahead and contrary to Tory belief I will not be disappearing off the forum.

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 08:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Quite right, Margaret, and it applies to Accyweb politicians too, who studiously avoid the subject of an EU referendum, with one honourable exception...Ken Moss who is anything but a typical politician.

PS - that's meant as a compliment, Ken!

Compliment taken, Steve. I'm in a surprisingly chipper mood this morning!

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by gynn

Item 1 on the agenda. The Budget.

You have inherited a potentially illegal budget, because it appears to contain savings that are a figment of someone's imagination. Reasonable questions that were asked at budget time were dismissed not just by the Cabinet, but also by the Scrutiny chairman who should have been asking them.

My advice is to get Miles to put an immediate block on all the Tory spend, spend, spend proposals, ask Management Team for an update on spending and savings, (by first thing Monday morning) and seek an early meeting with the external auditors to discuss the extent of the problem.

Otherwise the proverbial will hit the fan in 9 months time.

Thanks for the advice. The full enormity of the work that lies ahead will become apparent over the next few weeks and this is something I look forward to tackling in an attempt at damage limitation.

Expect a bit of mudslinging from the Conservatives, I can't see them simply rolling over and keeping quiet.

Wynonie Harris · 06-05-2011, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

Compliment taken, Steve. I'm in a surprisingly chipper mood this morning!

I'm sure you are, Ken. Congratulations...and looking forward to the film! Glad to hear you won't be departing the forum, although I'm sure you'll be very, very busy with local issues.

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I am a bit confused (OK it's early am) about the election results.
I do not see PB's name mentioned in the results table.
Did he stand or was his ward not due for an election? Which ward did he represent apart from the "Peter Britcliffe want to be King" ward.
I am not very well up in politics. Can some one explain to me how he became the Council leader and apparently is no longer.

Peter Britcliffe was up for election last year and each councillor gets four years once elected. The Conservative party had 17 seats in Hyndburn plus support from Malcolm Pritchard to give them the 18 they needed to retain control of the council in 2010. His own party then elected him as Leader of the Council at the Council AGM last May.

Labour now hold 18 seats on the council, enough for an outright majority, therefore we have control and the new Leader will be Miles Parkinson by the time of the next Council AGM in just under two weeks.

garinda · 06-05-2011, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I am a bit confused (OK it's early am) about the election results.
I do not see PB's name mentioned in the results table.
Did he stand or was his ward not due for an election? Which ward did he represent apart from the "Peter Britcliffe want to be King" ward.
I am not very well up in politics. Can some one explain to me how he became the Council leader and apparently is no longer.

He's a councillor in my ward, and there wasn't an election here this year.

He's no longer leader because Labour now have a majority at H.B.C.

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

I'm sure you are, Ken. Congratulations...and looking forward to the film! Glad to hear you won't be departing the forum, although I'm sure you'll be very, very busy with local issues.

That I will!

However, I have had almost unswerving support from Accyweb since before I was elected and it only seems proper to keep myself fully accountable now that I am in a position to try and do something really worthwhile. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am this morning at the possibilities which opened up last night but I must reiterate that it will take a long time.

If any of you have questions then please feel free to ask them as they arise and I'll do my best to get you an answer without resorting to '11 years of Conservative rule' as a cushion.

I can't promise that I won't slip it in there once or twice though.....

garinda · 06-05-2011, 08:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

He's a councillor in my ward, and there wasn't an election here this year.

He's no longer leader because Labour now have a majority at H.B.C.

Sorry, missed that bit.

It's St. Andrew's ward, Ossy.

jaysay · 06-05-2011, 09:03

I say its time to get rid of this profligate Labour Council, I just love being in opposition tha can say out tha wants

flashy · 06-05-2011, 09:08

Oh the joys of other people calling him fester

..... I thank you

Ken i've said this several times now but, again.....CONGRATS kid

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I say its time to get rid of this profligate Labour Council, I just love being in opposition tha can say out tha wants

Like it's ever stopped you before, John! Just don't go all frosty on me like Stan Horne did last night when I shook his hand in commiseration....

Regrettably, Cllr Britcliffe left long before I could go and wish him well in his new role.

Ken Moss · 06-05-2011, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashy

Oh the joys of other people calling him fester

..... I thank you

Ken i've said this several times now but, again.....CONGRATS kid

Thanks Shaz. We're off up to the Council offices later on to start work straight away, although I'm not expecting a warm reception from the previous incumbents.

'Cllr Britcliffe, I want your desk cleared by 5.'

Would that be a little disingenuous?

MargaretR · 06-05-2011, 09:21

Just make sure all shredders are are rendered useless before that

gynn · 06-05-2011, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

If any of you have questions then please feel free to ask them as they arise and I'll do my best to get you an answer without resorting to '11 years of Conservative rule' as a cushion.

Don't worry, Ken. We will! And with my knowledge of local government and the internal workings of HBC, I will see straight through any bullsh*t!

Congratulations, by the way!