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Lib/Lab pact has one agenda in town council debate
RE: The debate over whether High Wycombe should be given a town council.
I AM somewhat confused by the behaviour of local Labour and Lib Dem councillors.
Firstly, they decreed that the best way forward is for a unitary authority and criticised the Conservative administration for wanting to avoid this route in favour of retaining as much responsibility as is possible on a local level.
Then, they begin to shout about needing a High Wycombe town council.
The existing committee system is a waste of time, they tell us.
They arrange an invitation-only meeting for like-minded individuals to prove' their case and claim Conservatives are putting politics before the people by not wanting a town council, or so they tell us. Everyone, they tell us, wants a town council and no one is interested in how much it will cost taxpayers because it's what everyone wants.
And at a recent council meeting they put forward elected members to run the town committee that they have declared a waste of time.
Clearly, the Lib/Lab Pact has only one agenda - gaining a political forum at the expense of the taxpayer without considering the locality or the electorate.
With such meanderings, let's hope this Lib/Lab pact remains a minority.
Julie Pritchard, Conservative councillor - Micklefield
8:25pm Thursday 15th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: HWMAN, High Wycombe on 8:58am Fri 16 May 08
The High Wycombe Town Committee is a useless committee. It has no powers, to direct the District Council. On Planning issuses, High Wycombe has no voice. The majority of Development Control Councillors come from OUTSIDE the town. Thus High Wycombe is forced to take more in-fill housing. Lets face it, as been seen with a recent application in Greater Hughenden. The town has a RIGHT to be given the same democratic rights that the people of Marlow, Princes Risborough and the other people in the distrct covered by Parish Councils. I truely believe, there are some High Wycombe Consersatives who would welcome a Town Council. they are just to frightened to put their heads up. I have seen how Conservatives turn on their numbers if they don't toe the vocal line. The people of High Wycombe are already paying Special Expences, Cllr Pritchard. So bring on a town Council.
The High Wycombe Town Committee is a useless committee. It has no powers, to direct the District Council. On Planning issuses, High Wycombe has no voice. The majority of Development Control Councillors come from OUTSIDE the town. Thus High Wycombe is forced to take more in-fill housing. Lets face it, as been seen with a recent application in Greater Hughenden. The town has a RIGHT to be given the same democratic rights that the people of Marlow, Princes Risborough and the other people in the distrct covered by Parish Councils. I truely believe, there are some High Wycombe Consersatives who would welcome a Town Council. they are just to frightened to put their heads up. I have seen how Conservatives turn on their numbers if they don't toe the vocal line. The people of High Wycombe are already paying Special Expences, Cllr Pritchard. So bring on a town Council.
Posted by: Pierre, HW on 9:55am Fri 16 May 08
Will Cllr Julie Pritchard tell us how much money she is paid as Vice Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee?
So far, the only Tories to write in as part of this debate receive annual allowances for their positions on the HW Town Committee.
Ask other Town councillors (Marlow, Princes Risborough and Stokenchurch)and Parish ouncillors how much they are paid.
Will Cllr Julie Pritchard tell us how much money she is paid as Vice Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee?
So far, the only Tories to write in as part of this debate receive annual allowances for their positions on the HW Town Committee.
Ask other Town councillors (Marlow, Princes Risborough and Stokenchurch)and Parish ouncillors how much they are paid.
Posted by: morty, High Wycombe on 12:12pm Fri 16 May 08
God help our Town if Cllr Pritchard is the standard of Councillor serving us. Whenever I see her ramblings the only thing I hear is clown music.
God help our Town if Cllr Pritchard is the standard of Councillor serving us. Whenever I see her ramblings the only thing I hear is clown music.
Posted by: Town Cryer, Wycombe on 7:03pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]morty[/bold] wrote:
God help our Town if Cllr Pritchard is the standard of Councillor serving us. Whenever I see her ramblings the only thing I hear is clown music.[/quote] Afraid Cllr Pritchard is a typical Tory.
Doesnt appreciate what local residents really want and is whipped by the controlling Tory party to toe the party line.
[bold]Park the politics Pritchard and lets have a none political Town Council[/bold] -- When it comes to the next election im voting for the person(dont care which party) that is supporting a Town Council
morty wrote:
God help our Town if Cllr Pritchard is the standard of Councillor serving us. Whenever I see her ramblings the only thing I hear is clown music.
Afraid Cllr Pritchard is a typical Tory.
Doesnt appreciate what local residents really want and is whipped by the controlling Tory party to toe the party line.
Park the politics Pritchard and lets have a none political Town Council -- When it comes to the next election im voting for the person(dont care which party) that is supporting a Town Council
Posted by: Heartyr, High Wycombe on 10:45pm Fri 16 May 08
Dear Julie, You are not the only confused person, your rambling letter added nothing to the issue of democratic rights to all citizens of the Wycombe District. Are we really living at Animal Farm, were all are equal except that some are more equal than others. By the way I understand that a Unitary authority would have made the decision making more local, but the Tories of Amersham, Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfieldd did not want to work with the Tory members at Wycombe. Are you one of the reasons why they reached that opinion?
Dear Julie, You are not the only confused person, your rambling letter added nothing to the issue of democratic rights to all citizens of the Wycombe District. Are we really living at Animal Farm, were all are equal except that some are more equal than others. By the way I understand that a Unitary authority would have made the decision making more local, but the Tories of Amersham, Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfieldd did not want to work with the Tory members at Wycombe. Are you one of the reasons why they reached that opinion?
Posted by: segedunum, High Wycombe on 1:03pm Wed 21 May 08
I agree with the comments here. The only interventions Cllr Pritchard has made on the issue of a Town Council have been all over the place and pushing the Tory agenda that was reinforced at the last town Committee meeting by all of them. She can't divorce the politics from what is an aim to give residents of High Wycombe better representation from a locally elected and accountable body. As for the Unitary it was the twin hatted Tories who didn't want what would have given a much simpler and less costly delivery of services than the Stakeholder approach they agreed on together. I'm sure it couldn't have had anything to do with the fact that they receive allowances from each authority - turkeys voting for Xmas comes into mind. Maybe if they had agreed to relinquish one of them it might have at least seemed more genuine
I agree with the comments here. The only interventions Cllr Pritchard has made on the issue of a Town Council have been all over the place and pushing the Tory agenda that was reinforced at the last town Committee meeting by all of them. She can't divorce the politics from what is an aim to give residents of High Wycombe better representation from a locally elected and accountable body. As for the Unitary it was the twin hatted Tories who didn't want what would have given a much simpler and less costly delivery of services than the Stakeholder approach they agreed on together. I'm sure it couldn't have had anything to do with the fact that they receive allowances from each authority - turkeys voting for Xmas comes into mind. Maybe if they had agreed to relinquish one of them it might have at least seemed more genuine
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