The Proposed Civic Centre

This discussion is generally about the proposed civic centre and the referendum.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Promoter on November 22, 2011 at 10:29

YES The referendum on Thursday. It seems a sad state of affairs that if a Town Councillor, who disagrees with a resolve, of his fellow elected Councillors: can get together with defeated candidates in the May Elections and demand that a Public Meeting is held to call a Referendum, costing at least £800 of taxpayers money. (although 50% of the final figure has been pledged by M/s Handley)

Does this set a precedence for the future, I sincerely hope not. How would they have felt, if those Councillors of which I was one, who voted against the skate park, on the basis that no maximum grant was set in principle, decided to call a referendum
.
Calling this Civic/Community Hall referendum does not show "common sense" as quoted by Irene Handley, but it does show that the electorate, had the common sense to elect Town Councillors who they felt would make democratic decisions, without making a mockery of our voting systems and the integrity of our Councillors.

The Town Council resolved by democratic vote to form a Working Party to determine the viability of this project. So I would appreciate it if the electorate gave the Working Party time to complete its report, which incidently is well under way, by voting on Thursday for a Civic Community Hall, with the vote YES

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Permalink Reply by David Evans on November 23, 2011 at 21:12

Derek

The law states that we can challenge, so what's your problem?

As for the Civic Centre, neither you or any of your fellow Councillors are qualified to undertake a feasibility study and you will ultimately have to employ the experts in the end, so why waste your time and that of your fellow councillors.

I would also have thought that surely your position on the working party is untenable given that you have quiet clearly pre-determined how you are approaching the whole issue as can be clearly evidenced by your correspondence to the Journal.

Vote No on Thursday 24 November 2011. You know it makes sense. Clearly Derek, doesn't.

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Permalink Reply by Will Dunscombe on November 23, 2011 at 21:01

Just say NO to the lunacy of some of the Town Councillors

Why is it so sad to some people that when others want to exercise their democratic right to vote, some people do not like it? Is it that some like to preach about democracy, but the truth is that they are really dictators? I recently stood up at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday to pay my respects to the fallen, those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom of speech and freedom to express. I find it very upsetting that in this day and age, we put a cost to everything and yet we value nothing. The parish poll was introduced so that people could have a say when councils make stupid decisions, this is one of those occasions.

Now for the skate park, it you felt that you would like to have a vote on whether to give £20,000 to the skate park project, then do so, it is your democratic right and I welcome it. But it will be you that will be setting the precedent. If you take the time to read the resolve of town council on the £20,000, it states that it is £20,000 no more, just the sum that was passed.

I would question the integrity of the Town Council who would borrow a huge amount of money when the country is almost on it's knees.

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Permalink Reply by Irene Handley on November 24, 2011 at 23:38

Delighted to report that we won! Though it was a low turnout - 488, it was a resounding blow to those who were fervently in favour of committing us to debt over the next 20 - 50 years! 438 people voted NO to the proposed Civic Centre, whilst only 50 people were in favour This sends an important message to the proposers of a new Civic Centre - i.e. we do not want the Council to plunge us into debt! This is the voice of common sense, and I want to thank all those who voted in favour of our campaign! I consider that we have definitively proved that Sheptonites have more common sense than the people who have been voted in as Councillors. As I have previously stated, there is a group who consider their votes to be infinitely more important than the opinions of those who have voted. If you are in public office your first duty is to be accountable to your electorate, but sadly some of our Town Council members consider themselves to 'in charge' and therefore fail to undertake their first public duty to represent the views of the electorate!

Time for a change methinks, and more importantly time to remember that your vote does really count. Again,I thank all those who have supported our campaign.

Having now officially retired (23/11/11) I now have even more time to concentrate on Town issues, so I will not be silenced!