Letter to Editor: Are Labour councillors doing their homework?
General / Mon 1st Aug 2022 at 01:19pm
Dear Editor,
I watched YourHarlow’s film of the July 28 full Council meeting and councillor (Cllr) Jodi Dunne’s comment at 1 hour 39 minutes and 40seconds in caught my attention. Cllr Dunne said: “Imagine my shock when I found that the Cabinet Policy Development Working Group was cut from the list this year”.
Imagine my shock that Cllr Dunne did not know this matter had been dealt with at the Cabinet meeting the week before, especially considering Labour got ‘egg on their faces’.
Cllr Russell Perrin told Labour member at Cabinet that he “thought Labour didn’t want it” after the Labour administration had cancelled 5 out of 7 meetings of the Working Group prior to them leaving office in May 2021.
I wonder if all Labour councillors fail to do their homework like Cllr Dunne?
Well, at the full council on July 28, Cllr Tony Edwards demonstrated he didn’t understand a Point of Order when he interrupted Cllr Perrin at 2hrs 00mins and 5secs in. The Chair asks Cllr Edwards against which Standing Order he was raising his Point of Order. Cllr Edwards replied, “Point of Information” to which the Chair replies: “There’s no such thing as a Point of Information”!
You can see the evidence justifying the Chair’s comment in Part 4 (Rules of Procedure) of Harlow Council’s Constitution under 15.12 Point of order:
‘A Councillor may raise a point of order at any time. The Chair will hear them immediately. A point of order may only relate to an alleged breach of the Council Rules of Procedure or law. The Councillor must indicate the Rule or law and the way in which he/she considers it has been broken. The ruling of the Chair on the matter will be final.’
Given the fact that Cllrs Dunne and Edwards have both been re-elected to office, you would think they would know their councillor trade craft by now! However, give them a placard to waive and you will see masters of the art in action. So, which skills do you think justifies them being responsible for spending millions of pounds of our money if Labour ever manages to win control of the Council?
Regards,
David Forman
David Vincent
2022-08-02 09:48:01
Councillors' allowances (wages) are paid out of Council Tax and therefore deserve scrutiny from the public. They should show up to meetings being properly prepared and understand how their meetings are structured. I know my old boss wouldn't tolerate that behaviour.
Nostradamus
2022-08-02 22:28:58
David it looks like nit picking ya boo point scoring political games, both parties fiddling with Rome burns.What we want to see is more social, affordable and quality housing, better transport and health services and schools, things neither party seem capable of doing. Harlow is about 20th in the Country in the league tables for how disadvantaged towns are.
Nostradamus
2022-08-02 22:42:27
David it looks like nit picking ya boo point scoring political games, both parties fiddling while Rome burns.What we want to see is more social, affordable and quality housing, better transport and health services and schools, things neither party seem capable of doing. Harlow is about 20th in the Country in the league tables for how disadvantaged towns are.
David Forman
2022-08-03 12:57:41
To Nostradamus, perhaps if Labour councillors showed up to meetings properly prepared and paid attention to detail then we might get better decision making. As councillors are paid money from the public's purse, it is reasonable to check if they are doing their job properly.
Pauras
2022-08-19 00:34:58
David, I hope you and Waida are well. Been a while since we spoke. But, your comment about rule of law is quite surprising. As you and Waida are aware (and much evidence given to Your Harlow) this is a lawless council that has acted fraudulently, discriminated and lied since 2010 to this present day causing damage to our property. So, the pretense of Harlow Council acting legally is completely wrong. The people of Harlow deserve to know the truth, not the smokescreen that Harlow Council is legal, when it clearly is not and suspected as not being legally by many in Harlow, who are now having their fears confirmed. Mr Keane's sudden departure is just part of much bigger picture as I am certain you are aware. So, did Mr Keane care about Harlow Council when he decided to pick up and go; or was he (rightly) pushed? Why was there no investigation into his behaviour? It's only taxpayer's money who are paying for this farce of a council that has complete contempt for the people of Harlow, allowed by crooked councillors (those I have been involved with) who refuse to hold crooked officers to account because they are too close to them to scrutinise them. Fraud is a very serious issue, but NOT to Harlow Council officers, 'Leaders' of the council and councillors who do nothing when presented with irrefutable evidence. From my experience, there is no law and order in Harlow Council. This is a fact. Sorry, I think that is called a point of order! But stay well. Pauras
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