Monday, 12 January 2009

Democracy - Labour style.

There is a vacancy on Gwersyllt Community Council following the resignation of a Labour member after only 8 months out of 4 years...begs the question why stand in the first place. Anyway notices are about to be published for nominations...but Labour have already decided what will happen...they don't expect any nominations so they can co opt their man who is no one less than the Labour party candidate who was DEFEATED at the May elections and he doesn't even live in the ward where the vacancy is. Unless someone stands for election they will have their own way because they have an ever so slight majority on the Community Council (12 out of 17 are Labour). On the other hand if a candidate puts up against them they will just turn round and accuse their opponents of wasting Community Council money (it will probably cost a £1000 to run an election)...but they forget that it was their councillor who resigned in the first place.
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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous12 January 2009 at 11:46

    Plaid should find someone to stand!

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  2. Draig12 January 2009 at 12:39

    This sounds like a familiar scenario! I'm a Plaid member in Gorseinon and put my name down for co-option onto the town council after last May's elections. There was a vacancy in one ward. In Gorseinon Labour's hold is not what it was and there are now quite a few Independents (but that's another story).

    To cut a log story short they stitched it up and co-opted a Labour councillor who had just been defeated in a neighbouring Town ward - and then put her up for Mayor! I'm pretty sure it was all pre-agreed.

    Now the word on the vine is that a Labour bod is going to resign and they will try and co-opt someone else again. My understanding is that if, during the notification period ten electors from the ward request it, then they must hold an election. There is a cost issue but given the amount of money they've wasted in Gorseinon I don't think it should be too hard to put them on the defensive...I fancy my chances. There's a lot of support for Plaid in my ward.

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  3. Anonymous12 January 2009 at 14:06

    They co opted a defeated Labour candidate in Caia Park after the last May election as well...scandalous!!

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  4. Anonymous12 January 2009 at 14:09

    What's a £1000? Gwersyllt Community Council offered to pay for the 17 members and partners to go to the Mayors Ball at £32 a head. Quite a few accepted mostly Labour and the Community Council spent over £500 on this little freebie...wonder what Gwersyllt taxpayers make of that one!

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  5. Draig12 January 2009 at 15:40

    Exactly - what's a £1000? It's a small price to pay for a more open and accountable system - which in turn should ensure that less money is wasted further down the line.

    In Gorseinon they spent £25,000 on an electronic chime for the town clock - which still doesn't work - and CCTV cameras on the new bus station - which are never on!

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  6. Plaid Gwersyllt18 January 2009 at 11:55

    Notices have been published and 10 electors in the ward now need to sign a letter to the Electoral Officer calling for an election. This must be done by the 6th February.

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