A few weeks back I read a short document written by a staffer at Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP), referring to their medium term funding plans. The 'proposed' Somerton Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Badger's Cross got a mention so I made a Freedom of Information enquiry about the document and its background. On Saturday a weighty envelope dropped through the letterbox containing SWP's response. (SWP are a lot more professional and knowledgeable about the Freedom of Information Act than are Somerton Town Council and Roger Calderwood because SWP have made a real effort to answer my enquiry, and it only took 15 working days - thanks SWP.)
But I digress. The story of the Badger's Cross HWRC contains a few surprises, most notable the fact that this project, instigated entirely by Tony Canvin, was promoted by none other than our ex-County Councillor, Pauline Clarke. The documents make it clear that Pauline was Tony's cheerleader for much of the year between 19th October 2007, when she first pitched the project, till 17th October 2008 when a funding strategy (called 'innovative funding') was agreed internally at SWP.
What is even more interesting is that whilst SWP make it clear that they understood that, "he (Canvin) has made it very clear to the Somerton Community that he proposes to build a new site that we will take on.", the project was not in fact subject to any consultation with the community either by Tony Canvin or by County Councillor Pauline Clarke. This in itself is interesting because it once again illustrates how Tony Canvin operates - out of public view.
The documentation makes it clear that whilst the existing HWRC did have its shortcomings, none of these was significant enough to cause SWP to consider relocation, until Pauline Clarke started to promote the Canvin scheme. Canvin then sought to lash up a deal which was financially attractive to SWP and it is also clear that Canvin's ownership of the unadopted roadways at Bancombe was seen as a threat to the continued operation of the existing site. Thus pressure came on SWP from County Councillor Pauline Clarke and from Canvin, with regard to the financial benefit of relocating and the possibility of interrupted operations at Bancombe. Nowhere in this mix is there a single mention of the community.
It is worth speculating as to why Canvin would want to force the relocation of the HWRC from Bancombe to Badgers. Canvin did the original deal at Bancombe and must have considered the implications of the site being located there but clearly, at that time, it was a convenient arrangement. So why is it now less convenient? Much is made of the 'problems' that the Bancombe HWRC causes on the trading estate but anyone with half a brain could see that there is space outside the existing HWRC to create a lay-by which could accommodate the large trucks servicing the site. The much quoted traffic problems are clearly exaggerated and there is no significant ground-swell of public opinion which says that the Bancombe site must be relocated. So why is Canvin so keen to relocate?
The answer is, most probably, that relocating the HWRC to Badgers will form the first part of Canvin's wider plans to redevelop Badgers as Bancombe Mk2. The HWRC would be an 'anchor lease' and it would pay for the introduction of utilities, services and roadways onto the site. In effect, it would pay for the first stage of the Badger's redevelopment. Importantly, the HWRC is an operation whose location Canvin clearly believes he can influence through his access to political support and through his influence over the roadways at Bancombe.
The question that remains is to ask just how ex-County Councillor Pauline Clarke justified her involvement in this Canvin project and whether or not Canvin has sought to influence our new County Councillor Jimmy Zouche in a similar manner? Then, of course, there is the question as to whether or not this was the way that Somerton Town Council functioned, pre-27th October 2009. Whatever the case, it is very sad to learn that one of our elected representatives was representing an electorate of one.
Till next time.
Niall
PS If anyone wants to see the documents in question, please get in touch.
29 November 2009
26 November 2009
Cry Freedom
Am I missing something or does the Freedom of Information Act not apply in Somerton? Or is it just that Somerton Town Council likes to discriminate?
22 November 2009
Let there be.............
All hail the Christmas Lights crew. The A+A boys were inspirational and the guy on the forklifty thing was pretty damn fine as well. Can't wait for next weekend and then the switch-on.
21 November 2009
19 November 2009
One small step...........
What: Full Meeting of South Somerset District Council
Where: Council Offices, Brympton Road, Yeovil
When: 07:40pm 19hth November 2009
Item 6. Items for discussion
Appointment of temporary councillors (to Somerton Town Council)
Ian Clark (District Solicitor and Monitoring Officer):
"This (the appointment of temporary councillors) is one part of a number of things that we are doing to help Somerton at the moment: supporting the Clerk; the remaining Town Councillors; putting on an event to encourage people to stand for election and, post election, putting on another event to train (new councillors) as quickly as we can particularly in relation to code of conduct and finance matters so that they are able to set a Precept."
The Leader of the Council, Tim Carroll:
"I think that the background is set out and what I would say is really what I said at the last Joint Area North Committee. Somerton as a community, as a town council, is going through a difficult time at the moment and they've looked to us for help and we are supplying that help. Not simply by the appointment of 6 councillors to keep the Town Council functioning in the interim up to the election on the 7th January but, as Ian has intimated, in many other ways as well. We will continue that support. Somerton is one of our larger towns in terms of looking across the market towns. They, if you like, have turned to us at this particular time. It was open to other Local Authorities to assist as well, but we have taken it upon ourselves to respond to their request. We hope, Chairman, that, all things being well, by the 7th January we should have a full Town Council again. It doesn't end there for us because we have promised support after that date, to bed-in and, if you like, help train up the new councillors who may end up on the council. It is an unfortunate occurrence - it has caused a certain amount of consternation within that community at the moment. There are some contentious issues there but I've made, as leader of this Council, an undertaking (that) we will give what help and support they need to get them through this particular time."
Tim Carroll went on to say:
"It is very much a stop-gap solution to keep the Council functioning. As I said, its a fairly limited period, 6 weeks, but it has to be done so I'm fairly confident we can see them through this particular period and, quite obviously, we hope for the best outcome. We hope for a decent turn-out at the election. We hope for a full sheet of candidates and to that end, as Ian has said, we are holding an evening for potential candidates to come along and learn what its about to be a town councillors so we are encouraging everybody wherever we can."
07:45pm The proposal for the election of six temporary councillors was proposed, seconded and passed. The councillors are: Mrs Sue Steele; Mr John Calvert; Mr Tim Carroll; Mrs Jo Roundell Greene; Mr Patrick Palmer and Mr Rupert Cox.
Somerton now has a functional Council which can enact the basic work of the Council until the election on January 7th 2010
Where: Council Offices, Brympton Road, Yeovil
When: 07:40pm 19hth November 2009
Item 6. Items for discussion
Appointment of temporary councillors (to Somerton Town Council)
Ian Clark (District Solicitor and Monitoring Officer):
"This (the appointment of temporary councillors) is one part of a number of things that we are doing to help Somerton at the moment: supporting the Clerk; the remaining Town Councillors; putting on an event to encourage people to stand for election and, post election, putting on another event to train (new councillors) as quickly as we can particularly in relation to code of conduct and finance matters so that they are able to set a Precept."
The Leader of the Council, Tim Carroll:
"I think that the background is set out and what I would say is really what I said at the last Joint Area North Committee. Somerton as a community, as a town council, is going through a difficult time at the moment and they've looked to us for help and we are supplying that help. Not simply by the appointment of 6 councillors to keep the Town Council functioning in the interim up to the election on the 7th January but, as Ian has intimated, in many other ways as well. We will continue that support. Somerton is one of our larger towns in terms of looking across the market towns. They, if you like, have turned to us at this particular time. It was open to other Local Authorities to assist as well, but we have taken it upon ourselves to respond to their request. We hope, Chairman, that, all things being well, by the 7th January we should have a full Town Council again. It doesn't end there for us because we have promised support after that date, to bed-in and, if you like, help train up the new councillors who may end up on the council. It is an unfortunate occurrence - it has caused a certain amount of consternation within that community at the moment. There are some contentious issues there but I've made, as leader of this Council, an undertaking (that) we will give what help and support they need to get them through this particular time."
Tim Carroll went on to say:
"It is very much a stop-gap solution to keep the Council functioning. As I said, its a fairly limited period, 6 weeks, but it has to be done so I'm fairly confident we can see them through this particular period and, quite obviously, we hope for the best outcome. We hope for a decent turn-out at the election. We hope for a full sheet of candidates and to that end, as Ian has said, we are holding an evening for potential candidates to come along and learn what its about to be a town councillors so we are encouraging everybody wherever we can."
07:45pm The proposal for the election of six temporary councillors was proposed, seconded and passed. The councillors are: Mrs Sue Steele; Mr John Calvert; Mr Tim Carroll; Mrs Jo Roundell Greene; Mr Patrick Palmer and Mr Rupert Cox.
Somerton now has a functional Council which can enact the basic work of the Council until the election on January 7th 2010
17 November 2009
Upon consideration........
The events of the last few weeks in Somerton have definitely been something of an eye-opener and, as the truth slowly leaks out about how Somerton Town Council has been squandering taxpayer's money, its worth asking just how did this situation come about?
In a properly run authority, there are checks and balances to make sure that expenditure is undertaken with accountability and transparency. Most expenditure is undertaken publicly with clear information available as to why any given expenditure might be necessary (or not). Expenditure will be discussed publicly and clear decisions taken and minuted to show that due process was followed and that the taxpayer's funds are being protected. But accountability and transparency have been alien concepts in Somerton Town Council.
Back in August and September of 2008, when the Tin Dunny/Etsome Terrace asset swap was in the air, I presented a list of questions to Roger Calderwood, Somerton Town Council's Clerk. As the Clerk, it is, or should have been, Roger Calderwood's job to make sure that appropriate financial information was available for scrutiny. A question that I posed to Roger was as follows:
(In the last 5 years) On how many occasions has Somerton Town Council sought competitive tenders for works? - No reply.
I also asked him to confirm, with regard to Unit 8 Cary Court, that, any and all expenditure will be subject to competitive tendering. Again, silence.
Another 14 questions, mostly revolving around the Etsome Terrace/8 Cary Court asset swap, failed to elicit any answer from the Town Clerk. Evidently part of the problem was that I was asking too many questions but, quite obviously, one question would have been one too many.
In September of this year I tried a different tack and asked some questions of our then town councillors and a selection of the questions were:
Are you aware of the legislation regulating the activities of Somerton Town Council and its Councillors? (If yes, please specify.)
What aspects of the Council’s activities do you believe should be hidden from public view or enquiry? (Please specify.)
Should Somerton Town Council publish a register of Member’s Interests?
Based upon your own knowledge of Somerton Town Council, should the Council undertake more or less consultation with the Community?
What do you see as the top 3 priorities facing Somerton Town Council today?
Based upon your current knowledge, is Somerton Town Council currently making the best use of the Precept and, if not, how should the use of the Precept change?
Have you seen the current accounts of Somerton Town Council including its assets and liabilities and, if so, what is your view of the Council’s current situation?
These questions were posed to try and establish what, if anything, our then Town Councillors knew about the job of being a Town Councillor or about the running or regulation of a Town Council. Unsurprisingly, only one Town Councillor replied and this questionnaire was cited by some as being offensive. But the response of these (soon to be) ex-Councillors disguised the horrible truth which was that they knew little or nothing about the job and how a Town Council should be run.
But it wasn't until very recently that I started to understand the depth of Somerton's problems. One of our ex-Councillors, Kevin Morgan, placed a comment on the Pickards site where there is an in-depth analysis of the contents of Muck&Brass. Kevin's comment was short but very informative and ended by saying that the outgoing Town Council was, ".......leaving the town precept in a far healthier position".
This is rather akin to a Prime Minister claiming that they were leaving the country in a healthier position because they had raised the basic rate of income tax to 50%. Clearly Kevin didn't understand that the Precept isn't 'free money', it is taxpayer's money and needs to be spent with accountability. If Kevin's view of the Precept was a standard by which to judge his fellow ex-Councillors then its no wonder that Somerton Town Council has ended up saddled with the Tin Dunny.
Upon reflection, its hard to be generous in a situation like this. When I started to ask questions I assumed, quite wrongly it would seem, that the people I was questioning knew the answers. Now it starts to look as if they knew little or nothing and that the ill-temper and obstructiveness that I faced were more about their fear of being found out than it was about their fear of being questioned. So, lets hope that this is the only awful truth that we face. But somehow I don't think that it will be.
Till next time.
Niall
In a properly run authority, there are checks and balances to make sure that expenditure is undertaken with accountability and transparency. Most expenditure is undertaken publicly with clear information available as to why any given expenditure might be necessary (or not). Expenditure will be discussed publicly and clear decisions taken and minuted to show that due process was followed and that the taxpayer's funds are being protected. But accountability and transparency have been alien concepts in Somerton Town Council.
Back in August and September of 2008, when the Tin Dunny/Etsome Terrace asset swap was in the air, I presented a list of questions to Roger Calderwood, Somerton Town Council's Clerk. As the Clerk, it is, or should have been, Roger Calderwood's job to make sure that appropriate financial information was available for scrutiny. A question that I posed to Roger was as follows:
(In the last 5 years) On how many occasions has Somerton Town Council sought competitive tenders for works? - No reply.
I also asked him to confirm, with regard to Unit 8 Cary Court, that, any and all expenditure will be subject to competitive tendering. Again, silence.
Another 14 questions, mostly revolving around the Etsome Terrace/8 Cary Court asset swap, failed to elicit any answer from the Town Clerk. Evidently part of the problem was that I was asking too many questions but, quite obviously, one question would have been one too many.
In September of this year I tried a different tack and asked some questions of our then town councillors and a selection of the questions were:
Are you aware of the legislation regulating the activities of Somerton Town Council and its Councillors? (If yes, please specify.)
What aspects of the Council’s activities do you believe should be hidden from public view or enquiry? (Please specify.)
Should Somerton Town Council publish a register of Member’s Interests?
Based upon your own knowledge of Somerton Town Council, should the Council undertake more or less consultation with the Community?
What do you see as the top 3 priorities facing Somerton Town Council today?
Based upon your current knowledge, is Somerton Town Council currently making the best use of the Precept and, if not, how should the use of the Precept change?
Have you seen the current accounts of Somerton Town Council including its assets and liabilities and, if so, what is your view of the Council’s current situation?
These questions were posed to try and establish what, if anything, our then Town Councillors knew about the job of being a Town Councillor or about the running or regulation of a Town Council. Unsurprisingly, only one Town Councillor replied and this questionnaire was cited by some as being offensive. But the response of these (soon to be) ex-Councillors disguised the horrible truth which was that they knew little or nothing about the job and how a Town Council should be run.
But it wasn't until very recently that I started to understand the depth of Somerton's problems. One of our ex-Councillors, Kevin Morgan, placed a comment on the Pickards site where there is an in-depth analysis of the contents of Muck&Brass. Kevin's comment was short but very informative and ended by saying that the outgoing Town Council was, ".......leaving the town precept in a far healthier position".
This is rather akin to a Prime Minister claiming that they were leaving the country in a healthier position because they had raised the basic rate of income tax to 50%. Clearly Kevin didn't understand that the Precept isn't 'free money', it is taxpayer's money and needs to be spent with accountability. If Kevin's view of the Precept was a standard by which to judge his fellow ex-Councillors then its no wonder that Somerton Town Council has ended up saddled with the Tin Dunny.
Upon reflection, its hard to be generous in a situation like this. When I started to ask questions I assumed, quite wrongly it would seem, that the people I was questioning knew the answers. Now it starts to look as if they knew little or nothing and that the ill-temper and obstructiveness that I faced were more about their fear of being found out than it was about their fear of being questioned. So, lets hope that this is the only awful truth that we face. But somehow I don't think that it will be.
Till next time.
Niall
15 November 2009
Somerton Local Authority
Its been very interesting to start to get an idea of the amount of kit that Somerton Town Council owns. Rather than write out a boring list, I've done some picture research and the image below is as close as I can get to a representation of the equipment.
Taken altogether, it looks as if Somerton Town Council has enough kit to run a mini-local authority especially the two-of-this and two-of-that aspect. Is the Transit Van in the livery of the Town Council? Where does it live, along with the trailer that evidently the Town Council owns, obviously to cart the various ride-on mowers to whatever contracts the Town Council is fulfilling. There is also a good selection of hand tools so there is obviously no job too big or too small for the boys from Somerton Local Authority, whoever they may be.
Is all of this kit stored in the two containers that reside up at the Dunny or is it out on loan? Has the good old taxpayer been funding a job-creation scheme?
The usual £5 to the first person to report the whereabouts of the Transit Van, V885EBJ, and the Hayter Mower, R513VRA.
Regards to all you taxpayers who are funding this.
Niall
PS Who do I call to get my hedges trimmed?
PPS Just remembered that I had a photo of the kit used in Dinder to keep the cricket pitch in shape.
Taken altogether, it looks as if Somerton Town Council has enough kit to run a mini-local authority especially the two-of-this and two-of-that aspect. Is the Transit Van in the livery of the Town Council? Where does it live, along with the trailer that evidently the Town Council owns, obviously to cart the various ride-on mowers to whatever contracts the Town Council is fulfilling. There is also a good selection of hand tools so there is obviously no job too big or too small for the boys from Somerton Local Authority, whoever they may be.Is all of this kit stored in the two containers that reside up at the Dunny or is it out on loan? Has the good old taxpayer been funding a job-creation scheme?
The usual £5 to the first person to report the whereabouts of the Transit Van, V885EBJ, and the Hayter Mower, R513VRA.
Regards to all you taxpayers who are funding this.
Niall
PS Who do I call to get my hedges trimmed?
PPS Just remembered that I had a photo of the kit used in Dinder to keep the cricket pitch in shape.
13 November 2009
The tractor has landed........
On a brief visit to the Tin Dunny this afternoon I caught sight of this spiffy tractor parked round the back. Is this the mythical Town Council tractor that I've heard rumoured to exist? Where has it been since it was purchased in '07? The usual £5 for definitive info.
The beautiful bouquet of flowers in the foyer also caused me to wonder just how much we (the community that is) are spending on flowers for the Dunny. It looks just like a conference centre, without the conferences.
Till next time.
Niall
PS This neat little Ford tractor is currently advertised on the M J Fry website (copyright of author is recognised) for a very modest £4,750. Why didn't Somerton Town Council buy something like this?
12 November 2009
What do we need?
Its just over two weeks since the great march into obscurity and, guess what, the world hasn't come to an end. The sun still rises. The birds still sing. The buses seem to run just as they used to. In fact, nothing much has changed with the exception that, in Somerton, some members of the community are starting to think about community driven projects. A group has already formed to get the christmas lights up and the group is made up of true volunteers. These are members of the community who just want to do something for the community. At least one business on the trading estate has volunteered ALL of its staff for a day to help get the lights up. This is really encouraging and it makes me wonder if the old Town Council was actually holding Somerton back.
Hard on the heels of that thought came consideration of what we might expect from a new Town Council quickly followed by a question as to whether we need one at all. What does the Town Council do that is of absolute necessity? The obvious answer is that it does offer a forum for planning issues but, beyond that, what did it do that the community couldn't do for itself?
Looking back on all the meetings that I attended, aspects of local life that were discussed at the Town Council were often already being managed by local people and all that happened was that a report was made to the Town Council. The Brighter Somerton group was, essentially, members of the community who pursued that interest and it is hard to see what the Town Council added to their efforts. Ditto footpaths. Ditto trees. Ditto street lighting. But the perception that the old Town Council promoted was that somehow it was at the heart of these activities and the myth that the Town Council promoted was that, without it, these activities wouldn't take place. But the truth is quite the opposite.
And here we come to an issue that clearly has a resonance across the United Kingdom and beyond - do we need government and, if so, what level of government? The myth that our government apparatchiks promote is that our world would fall apart without government's direct and all pervasive influence on our lives. And looking at Somerton's old Town Council, that is a view that doesn't hold water.
Years ago my brother talked to me about this subject and he illustrated it with the example of 'enabling legislation' as opposed to 'disabling legislation'. A good example of 'enabling legislation' is the law, here in the UK, which requires us all to drive on the left hand side of the road. This is a bit of legislation that makes our lives better and safer by making sure that (in most cases) we can drive around a corner and not have a head-on smash. Another bit of 'enabling legislation' is the law which says that the red wire is the one to be avoided in anything electrical. That also keeps us safe and enables our lives.
But disabling legislation is much more pernicious like the law which effectively bans freedom of speech within a kilometer radius of the Houses of Parliament. (Wags suggest that it is effective within those structures as well.) Disabling legislation was also represented by the old Town Council's commitment to exclude the community from playing an effective part in the 'community hall' project (see the blog dated 28th November 2006).
With these thoughts in mind, its worth wondering what shape a new Town Council might take. Could it, for example, make itself a forum where the community can decide the priorities for the coming year. Could a new Town Council see its job as enabling the community to achieve its own goals and ambitions rather than being a vehicle for the egos of its members.
This would be a sea-change moment for Somerton and, given the nanny-state mentality that the old Town Council operated within, such a change will be hard for the community to exploit. But the fact is that Somerton stands on the edge of opportunity. Can we look forward to the same-old same-old or will a new Town Council to do everything in its power to put the community centre-stage. Will the community of Somerton get the chance to find out what it wants to be rather than being told what to be by others.
Till next time, may your God walk hand in hand with mine.
Niall
Hard on the heels of that thought came consideration of what we might expect from a new Town Council quickly followed by a question as to whether we need one at all. What does the Town Council do that is of absolute necessity? The obvious answer is that it does offer a forum for planning issues but, beyond that, what did it do that the community couldn't do for itself?
Looking back on all the meetings that I attended, aspects of local life that were discussed at the Town Council were often already being managed by local people and all that happened was that a report was made to the Town Council. The Brighter Somerton group was, essentially, members of the community who pursued that interest and it is hard to see what the Town Council added to their efforts. Ditto footpaths. Ditto trees. Ditto street lighting. But the perception that the old Town Council promoted was that somehow it was at the heart of these activities and the myth that the Town Council promoted was that, without it, these activities wouldn't take place. But the truth is quite the opposite.
And here we come to an issue that clearly has a resonance across the United Kingdom and beyond - do we need government and, if so, what level of government? The myth that our government apparatchiks promote is that our world would fall apart without government's direct and all pervasive influence on our lives. And looking at Somerton's old Town Council, that is a view that doesn't hold water.
Years ago my brother talked to me about this subject and he illustrated it with the example of 'enabling legislation' as opposed to 'disabling legislation'. A good example of 'enabling legislation' is the law, here in the UK, which requires us all to drive on the left hand side of the road. This is a bit of legislation that makes our lives better and safer by making sure that (in most cases) we can drive around a corner and not have a head-on smash. Another bit of 'enabling legislation' is the law which says that the red wire is the one to be avoided in anything electrical. That also keeps us safe and enables our lives.
But disabling legislation is much more pernicious like the law which effectively bans freedom of speech within a kilometer radius of the Houses of Parliament. (Wags suggest that it is effective within those structures as well.) Disabling legislation was also represented by the old Town Council's commitment to exclude the community from playing an effective part in the 'community hall' project (see the blog dated 28th November 2006).
With these thoughts in mind, its worth wondering what shape a new Town Council might take. Could it, for example, make itself a forum where the community can decide the priorities for the coming year. Could a new Town Council see its job as enabling the community to achieve its own goals and ambitions rather than being a vehicle for the egos of its members.
This would be a sea-change moment for Somerton and, given the nanny-state mentality that the old Town Council operated within, such a change will be hard for the community to exploit. But the fact is that Somerton stands on the edge of opportunity. Can we look forward to the same-old same-old or will a new Town Council to do everything in its power to put the community centre-stage. Will the community of Somerton get the chance to find out what it wants to be rather than being told what to be by others.
Till next time, may your God walk hand in hand with mine.
Niall
10 November 2009
Call for Election
The notice below has been placed in the Parish Noticeboard outside the Parish Rooms.
This notice informs Somerton that if the community of Somerton want to avoid another raft of co-opted councillors then Somerton needs to request an election. 10 electors of Somerton must request an election by the 25th of November.
Do not leave this up to everyone else. Write your letter requesting an election and address it to:
Mr Roger Quantock
South Somerset District Council
Council Offices
Brympton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 2DH
Somerton needs your support to obtain a democratically elected Town Council which believes and practices democracy.
This notice informs Somerton that if the community of Somerton want to avoid another raft of co-opted councillors then Somerton needs to request an election. 10 electors of Somerton must request an election by the 25th of November.
Do not leave this up to everyone else. Write your letter requesting an election and address it to:
Mr Roger Quantock
South Somerset District Council
Council Offices
Brympton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 2DH
Somerton needs your support to obtain a democratically elected Town Council which believes and practices democracy.
7 November 2009
A Democratic deficit
"A democratic deficit is considered to be occurring when ostensibly democratic organizations or institutions (particularly governments) are seen to be falling short of fulfilling the principles of the parliamentary democracy in their practices or operation where representative and linked parliamentary integrity becomes widely discussed."
It's difficult to discuss recent events in Somerton without getting involved in the discussion about who or what actually caused the resignation of so many councillors. The idea that it was the 'lone blogger', aka the lone democratic activist, aka the lone outsider, the idea that these resignations were caused by one person, acting alone, just doesn't make very much sense. But it's an easy headline and, importantly, it attracts the sympathy of parts of the community who are afraid of 'the new' or afraid of 'change'.
This 'fearful' part of Somerton's community was represented in some of the letters published this week in the Western Gazette. The tone struck by one letter suggests that our democracy is a fragile creature and, speaking personally, I'd agree with that view. But it's frail not because of any debate sparked by a lone voice, it's frail because of the complacency of people who don't bother to engage. It's frail because of the complacency of people who think that 'someone else will take care of it'. It's frail exactly because many people can't be bothered to take part and then, when the majority of a council resign, those self-same people look around for someone to blame. And they do that because finding someone else to blame helps them ignore their own culpability.
It's a situation very reminiscent of the 'witches of Salem', where events took place which the community didn't understand, and leaders of the community, in their fear and ignorance, looked about for someone to blame. They latched onto anyone who they saw as being 'different', anyone who didn't obey 'their' rules, anyone who didn't come from 'their' culture and they made them the 'guilty' party. The letter writers in the Western Gazette are behaving in exactly the same fashion.
But the inconvenient truth is that Somerton Town Council slid into a 'Democratic deficit' because the very people who write today about 'the frailty of our Democracy' didn't bother to go to meetings and make sure that Somerton Town Council still obeyed the rules of our Democracy. For its part, Somerton Town Council slid into the maw of a 'Democratic deficit' because some members of the Town Council knew that no-one was looking and that no-one was calling them to account.
So, when I see a letter signed by a group of ex-councillors where they suggest that they (and only they?) know how things should be regulated and that writing a blog isn't how it's done, I feel terribly sad. This is the reaction of a political establishment who see that their own mechanism has failed and they can't accept than an alternative has succeeded. So they trot out the usual self-justification which is that 'it's just not cricket' in order to convince the community that the actions which did succeed are, somehow, unworthy of respect.
But something that should be pointed out to the community is that some of these councillors and ex-councillors are in possession of 'guilty knowledge' with regard to the regulation of the Town Council. This means that some of these councillors and ex-councillors knew that the conduct of the Town Council's affairs was improper, if not unlawful, and what did they do? Nothing. Not a damn thing. And that is exactly how Dr. Harold Shipman got away with murder for so long.
The good Dr. Shipman was described by many as being a 'good egg' or a 'pillar of society' and so his colleagues switched off their critical faculties and then threw their hands up in horror when the truth started to come out. Similarly, there are councillors and ex-councillors in Somerton who have the same sort of 'guilty knowledge' about Somerton Town Council and rather than going to the Standards Board or going to the Monitoring Officer at SSDC, they sat on their hands. And, as a direct result, Somerton Town Council ceased to represent the community of Somerton and started to reflect the ambitions and interests of individuals.
The truth that these ex-councillors wish to ignore that it was a 'Democratic deficit' which brought the resignations. Those who resigned were yesterday's people and blaming their downfall on the lone blogger actually denies that, collectively, those councillors had lost sight of the Town Council's focus. It isn't about them as individuals, it is about the community and forgetting that was what brought them down.
So my challenge to those ex-councillors who write so glibly in the Western Gazette about 'the right place for dissent being at public meetings', my challenge to them is that they come to public meetings of the Town Council and make sure that bullying, which was such a feature of this last 'administration', is truly a thing of the past. My challenge to them is that they make sure that Somerton Town Council never again tramples over dissent the way that it has done in recent years. My challenge to them is that they make sure that Somerton's Town Council consults with the community before squandering the Community's resources. My challenge to them is that they make sure that Somerton Town Council is and remains Somerton's Town Council.
Most people in Somerton would express, in private, their dissatisfaction with Somerton's Town Council but were afraid, unwilling or unable to speak up. (My broken windows bear silent witness to their fears.) Those that did were abused or ignored and they were then abandoned by those councillors and ex-councillors who knew what was going on but stood by and did nothing. And if those councillors and ex-councillors genuinely never knew that it was going wrong then, quite clearly, they never knew their job.
Till next time, may your God protect you from those who won't.
.
It's difficult to discuss recent events in Somerton without getting involved in the discussion about who or what actually caused the resignation of so many councillors. The idea that it was the 'lone blogger', aka the lone democratic activist, aka the lone outsider, the idea that these resignations were caused by one person, acting alone, just doesn't make very much sense. But it's an easy headline and, importantly, it attracts the sympathy of parts of the community who are afraid of 'the new' or afraid of 'change'.
This 'fearful' part of Somerton's community was represented in some of the letters published this week in the Western Gazette. The tone struck by one letter suggests that our democracy is a fragile creature and, speaking personally, I'd agree with that view. But it's frail not because of any debate sparked by a lone voice, it's frail because of the complacency of people who don't bother to engage. It's frail because of the complacency of people who think that 'someone else will take care of it'. It's frail exactly because many people can't be bothered to take part and then, when the majority of a council resign, those self-same people look around for someone to blame. And they do that because finding someone else to blame helps them ignore their own culpability.
It's a situation very reminiscent of the 'witches of Salem', where events took place which the community didn't understand, and leaders of the community, in their fear and ignorance, looked about for someone to blame. They latched onto anyone who they saw as being 'different', anyone who didn't obey 'their' rules, anyone who didn't come from 'their' culture and they made them the 'guilty' party. The letter writers in the Western Gazette are behaving in exactly the same fashion.
But the inconvenient truth is that Somerton Town Council slid into a 'Democratic deficit' because the very people who write today about 'the frailty of our Democracy' didn't bother to go to meetings and make sure that Somerton Town Council still obeyed the rules of our Democracy. For its part, Somerton Town Council slid into the maw of a 'Democratic deficit' because some members of the Town Council knew that no-one was looking and that no-one was calling them to account.
So, when I see a letter signed by a group of ex-councillors where they suggest that they (and only they?) know how things should be regulated and that writing a blog isn't how it's done, I feel terribly sad. This is the reaction of a political establishment who see that their own mechanism has failed and they can't accept than an alternative has succeeded. So they trot out the usual self-justification which is that 'it's just not cricket' in order to convince the community that the actions which did succeed are, somehow, unworthy of respect.
But something that should be pointed out to the community is that some of these councillors and ex-councillors are in possession of 'guilty knowledge' with regard to the regulation of the Town Council. This means that some of these councillors and ex-councillors knew that the conduct of the Town Council's affairs was improper, if not unlawful, and what did they do? Nothing. Not a damn thing. And that is exactly how Dr. Harold Shipman got away with murder for so long.
The good Dr. Shipman was described by many as being a 'good egg' or a 'pillar of society' and so his colleagues switched off their critical faculties and then threw their hands up in horror when the truth started to come out. Similarly, there are councillors and ex-councillors in Somerton who have the same sort of 'guilty knowledge' about Somerton Town Council and rather than going to the Standards Board or going to the Monitoring Officer at SSDC, they sat on their hands. And, as a direct result, Somerton Town Council ceased to represent the community of Somerton and started to reflect the ambitions and interests of individuals.
The truth that these ex-councillors wish to ignore that it was a 'Democratic deficit' which brought the resignations. Those who resigned were yesterday's people and blaming their downfall on the lone blogger actually denies that, collectively, those councillors had lost sight of the Town Council's focus. It isn't about them as individuals, it is about the community and forgetting that was what brought them down.
So my challenge to those ex-councillors who write so glibly in the Western Gazette about 'the right place for dissent being at public meetings', my challenge to them is that they come to public meetings of the Town Council and make sure that bullying, which was such a feature of this last 'administration', is truly a thing of the past. My challenge to them is that they make sure that Somerton Town Council never again tramples over dissent the way that it has done in recent years. My challenge to them is that they make sure that Somerton's Town Council consults with the community before squandering the Community's resources. My challenge to them is that they make sure that Somerton Town Council is and remains Somerton's Town Council.
Most people in Somerton would express, in private, their dissatisfaction with Somerton's Town Council but were afraid, unwilling or unable to speak up. (My broken windows bear silent witness to their fears.) Those that did were abused or ignored and they were then abandoned by those councillors and ex-councillors who knew what was going on but stood by and did nothing. And if those councillors and ex-councillors genuinely never knew that it was going wrong then, quite clearly, they never knew their job.
Till next time, may your God protect you from those who won't.
.
4 November 2009
The blog is more powerful than the vote
Since I was old enough to vote, I have done my democratic duty at every election (as far as I can remember) and, quite consistently, I've felt let down. No matter who I voted for, they never delivered in the longer-term. The pre-election promises were always overwhelmed by the post election horse-trading. But, on the up-side, I felt like I was being a truly democratic person - my vote earned me the right to bitch and moan about whatever the dingbat of the time was doing.
And bitch and moan I did, and that did less for me than my vote had done. I voted and political life went on regardless. I moaned and political life went on regardless. Politicians still helped themselves to the taxpayer's gravy and they made absolutely damn sure that they weren't accountable. You see, the con-trick in our 'advanced' democracy is to let everyone think that, once every 5 years, they can have a say. 'Cast your vote and enable your democracy'. What they mean is 'cast your vote and shut up for the next 5 years whilst we screw you, and if you get really lucky, you might enjoy it, but don't hold your breath'.
And then I discovered blogging. If I look back, the blog was driven by events that made me mad. I started Muck&Brass when I heard the then chair of Somerton Town Council explain the extent to which the community was going to be excluded from the Community Hall project. But the energy dissipated quite quickly and the blog fell silent for a while. Then there were rumours of the Etsome Terrace/Tin Dunny swap and that got me going again. And that was when I discovered that a blog, allied to even the most basic research, made a powerful tool.
After that, a lot of the frustration that I felt just melted away. I was able to focus on the things that really annoyed me and, if not change them, then at least name them. Magic! Now I could do the research, find out how much the Precept had been hiked in the last 10 years, make a graphic and show people how they were being reamed. It was a revelation. OK, so it didn't change things, at least not immediately, but I felt far better and the process felt a lot more constructive than standing around moaning whilst waiting for the next pointless ballot box.
I have to say at this point that I didn't set out to bring down Somerton Town Council. Nothing could be further from the truth. I thought that, if I was lucky, I'd shift the direction a few points this way or a few points that way. The mass resignation, when it came, came as much of a shock to me as it probably did to everyone else. And I still don't think that Muck&Brass was anything more than a catalyst. Muck&Brass only voiced what many local people had been saying for ever, that the Town Council was doing its thing in complete isolation from the community. And it was that aspect of the Town Council's character, that self-reverential pomposity, that was its undoing. Eventually the community became seriously dissatisfied and, at the same time, the Town Council endeavored to ignore that dissatisfaction.
So there was a happy coincidence of events - the Town Council ignoring the community, the community becoming dissatisfied and then Muck&Brass popped up with its cheeky brand of irreverent fun mixed in with hard facts plus a bit of commentary and opinion. This recipe cooked for a little while and then blew with the result that we saw on the evening of the 27th. A real team effort. Go Somerton!
And now I've also seen the political establishment's response. Originally some members of the Council sought to use Muck&Brass as a conduit but, as the cake began to rise, they stepped back and aligned themselves with the old-guard. When the lid blew off the whole dynamic changed. Instead of being a 'mechanism for change' which might deliver opportunity, Muck&Brass is probably now being seen as a threat because, in some eyes, Muck&Brass has achieved what the ballot could not or, maybe more accurately, Muck&Brass achieved change without the ballot box.
Now I don't really believe this view because, from where I was sitting, it was the community who started to question the Council and the Council, for its part, couldn't take the heat. But some believe that the blog was the culprit and I'm sure that there are those in the political establishment who will take a very dim view of this development. Maybe bloggers will be the new Taliban. But do I care?
Till next time.
Niall
And bitch and moan I did, and that did less for me than my vote had done. I voted and political life went on regardless. I moaned and political life went on regardless. Politicians still helped themselves to the taxpayer's gravy and they made absolutely damn sure that they weren't accountable. You see, the con-trick in our 'advanced' democracy is to let everyone think that, once every 5 years, they can have a say. 'Cast your vote and enable your democracy'. What they mean is 'cast your vote and shut up for the next 5 years whilst we screw you, and if you get really lucky, you might enjoy it, but don't hold your breath'.
And then I discovered blogging. If I look back, the blog was driven by events that made me mad. I started Muck&Brass when I heard the then chair of Somerton Town Council explain the extent to which the community was going to be excluded from the Community Hall project. But the energy dissipated quite quickly and the blog fell silent for a while. Then there were rumours of the Etsome Terrace/Tin Dunny swap and that got me going again. And that was when I discovered that a blog, allied to even the most basic research, made a powerful tool.
After that, a lot of the frustration that I felt just melted away. I was able to focus on the things that really annoyed me and, if not change them, then at least name them. Magic! Now I could do the research, find out how much the Precept had been hiked in the last 10 years, make a graphic and show people how they were being reamed. It was a revelation. OK, so it didn't change things, at least not immediately, but I felt far better and the process felt a lot more constructive than standing around moaning whilst waiting for the next pointless ballot box.
I have to say at this point that I didn't set out to bring down Somerton Town Council. Nothing could be further from the truth. I thought that, if I was lucky, I'd shift the direction a few points this way or a few points that way. The mass resignation, when it came, came as much of a shock to me as it probably did to everyone else. And I still don't think that Muck&Brass was anything more than a catalyst. Muck&Brass only voiced what many local people had been saying for ever, that the Town Council was doing its thing in complete isolation from the community. And it was that aspect of the Town Council's character, that self-reverential pomposity, that was its undoing. Eventually the community became seriously dissatisfied and, at the same time, the Town Council endeavored to ignore that dissatisfaction.
So there was a happy coincidence of events - the Town Council ignoring the community, the community becoming dissatisfied and then Muck&Brass popped up with its cheeky brand of irreverent fun mixed in with hard facts plus a bit of commentary and opinion. This recipe cooked for a little while and then blew with the result that we saw on the evening of the 27th. A real team effort. Go Somerton!
And now I've also seen the political establishment's response. Originally some members of the Council sought to use Muck&Brass as a conduit but, as the cake began to rise, they stepped back and aligned themselves with the old-guard. When the lid blew off the whole dynamic changed. Instead of being a 'mechanism for change' which might deliver opportunity, Muck&Brass is probably now being seen as a threat because, in some eyes, Muck&Brass has achieved what the ballot could not or, maybe more accurately, Muck&Brass achieved change without the ballot box.
Now I don't really believe this view because, from where I was sitting, it was the community who started to question the Council and the Council, for its part, couldn't take the heat. But some believe that the blog was the culprit and I'm sure that there are those in the political establishment who will take a very dim view of this development. Maybe bloggers will be the new Taliban. But do I care?
Till next time.
Niall
1 November 2009
Breakout!
The events of last Tuesday evening and the ensuing media interest have been something of an eye-opener. It has been fascinating to see how this story broke out into the wider press and TV arena and, on the way, lost much of the detail.
As far as I can understand, the story started off with a local reporter, Dave Nichols from the Western Gazette, reporting the story without actually being at the Tin Dunny to witness events unfolding. Around midday on Wednesday, David couldn't explain exactly what he was basing his story on. The piece then became 'front page' on the Western Gazette on Thursday morning and contained references to events which observers on the night cannot confirm took place. That story was picked up by the South West News Agency who called me around 09:30am wanting a photograph. I spoke at some length with Paul Adcock (from South West), not realising that he had already cherry-picked the Western Gazette story and was busy with other things. That 'story' was duly picked up by some of the national press (Daily Telegraph, Express, Mail) and their online counterparts including BBC online. Everyone beleved the 'facts' that they were given by the last person in the chain and no-one checked.
The story on the BBC website on Thursday evening was pretty hard to take because there was nothing to it other than 'Lone Blogger brings down Council' and it claimed that the BBC had tried to contact me without success. It turned out that their reporter, Daniel Thomas, had sent an email to M&B, not knowing (why should he?) that I only look at M&B emails once a day at best. (Or at least that was what I used to do.)
By early Thursday evening I was trying, and failing, to contact BBConline until a phone number on a letter from Mark Thompson (Director of the Beeb) got through. That reached the BBConline newsdesk in London which led to the Birmingham office where I was able to speak with a sub-editor, Katie Smith, and that was when I started to understand what Max Clifford gets paid for.
Try as I might, I couldn't get Katie to add anything to the story that had been written by Daniel Thomas. He was the journo and only he could make changes. The story had become a runaway train and, in the case of runaways, you are either in front of them or behind them, there is no in-between. Had Max Clifford been managing this, he'd have had a press-pack out on Tuesday evening with the story that his client (whichever side that might have been) wanted published. But Max wasn't there, and neither was Dave Nichols, but Dave's piece, focusing on the 'Mass Walkout' (a major part of the story) and the Blogger (a side show) became the lead. The community didn't get a mention.
By midnight on Thursday I had finally found Daniel Thomas' mobile number and he called me back sometime in the small hours of Friday am. Our conversation was a bit tense (understatement) because I felt that the story had been seriously misrepresented. Daniel, for his part, hadn't misquoted me and he had tried to contact me before placing the story, so his hands were clean. We eventually got things onto an even keel and Daniel agreed to some changes but, in the event, they were pretty minor and didn't change the imbalance.
I got to bed at 5:00am on Friday morning and was up again at 07:30am to 'work the phones' but they were already working quite happily on their own. BBC TV Southwest was on the blower wanting to film a piece for the 6pm news and they were closely followed by BBC Newsnight wanting a piece for the 10:30pm slot. Given that I thought that the reporting of the story was a complete disaster, the idea that the BBC were going to do not one but two pieces on it, and one was going to be done by Michael Crick, filled me with horror.
In the event, the BBC SouthWest crew were easy easy to work with and helped me regain some of my composure. Then I did the piece with Michael Crick which went out on Newsnight aroun 10:45pm. In all fairness, the Newsnight piece brought the story into sharper focus and for that I have to thank them. They also gave my Westie (Trilby) her little slice of 'fame pie'.
Today, as I write this, I'm once again looking forward.
Watch this space and may your God check the copy.
Niall
As far as I can understand, the story started off with a local reporter, Dave Nichols from the Western Gazette, reporting the story without actually being at the Tin Dunny to witness events unfolding. Around midday on Wednesday, David couldn't explain exactly what he was basing his story on. The piece then became 'front page' on the Western Gazette on Thursday morning and contained references to events which observers on the night cannot confirm took place. That story was picked up by the South West News Agency who called me around 09:30am wanting a photograph. I spoke at some length with Paul Adcock (from South West), not realising that he had already cherry-picked the Western Gazette story and was busy with other things. That 'story' was duly picked up by some of the national press (Daily Telegraph, Express, Mail) and their online counterparts including BBC online. Everyone beleved the 'facts' that they were given by the last person in the chain and no-one checked.
The story on the BBC website on Thursday evening was pretty hard to take because there was nothing to it other than 'Lone Blogger brings down Council' and it claimed that the BBC had tried to contact me without success. It turned out that their reporter, Daniel Thomas, had sent an email to M&B, not knowing (why should he?) that I only look at M&B emails once a day at best. (Or at least that was what I used to do.)
By early Thursday evening I was trying, and failing, to contact BBConline until a phone number on a letter from Mark Thompson (Director of the Beeb) got through. That reached the BBConline newsdesk in London which led to the Birmingham office where I was able to speak with a sub-editor, Katie Smith, and that was when I started to understand what Max Clifford gets paid for.
Try as I might, I couldn't get Katie to add anything to the story that had been written by Daniel Thomas. He was the journo and only he could make changes. The story had become a runaway train and, in the case of runaways, you are either in front of them or behind them, there is no in-between. Had Max Clifford been managing this, he'd have had a press-pack out on Tuesday evening with the story that his client (whichever side that might have been) wanted published. But Max wasn't there, and neither was Dave Nichols, but Dave's piece, focusing on the 'Mass Walkout' (a major part of the story) and the Blogger (a side show) became the lead. The community didn't get a mention.
By midnight on Thursday I had finally found Daniel Thomas' mobile number and he called me back sometime in the small hours of Friday am. Our conversation was a bit tense (understatement) because I felt that the story had been seriously misrepresented. Daniel, for his part, hadn't misquoted me and he had tried to contact me before placing the story, so his hands were clean. We eventually got things onto an even keel and Daniel agreed to some changes but, in the event, they were pretty minor and didn't change the imbalance.
I got to bed at 5:00am on Friday morning and was up again at 07:30am to 'work the phones' but they were already working quite happily on their own. BBC TV Southwest was on the blower wanting to film a piece for the 6pm news and they were closely followed by BBC Newsnight wanting a piece for the 10:30pm slot. Given that I thought that the reporting of the story was a complete disaster, the idea that the BBC were going to do not one but two pieces on it, and one was going to be done by Michael Crick, filled me with horror.
In the event, the BBC SouthWest crew were easy easy to work with and helped me regain some of my composure. Then I did the piece with Michael Crick which went out on Newsnight aroun 10:45pm. In all fairness, the Newsnight piece brought the story into sharper focus and for that I have to thank them. They also gave my Westie (Trilby) her little slice of 'fame pie'.
Today, as I write this, I'm once again looking forward.
Watch this space and may your God check the copy.
Niall
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