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Peter Dolman

This weeks Wiltshire Gazette and Herald has 2 items which, in my opinion, should give residents of Wiltshire cause for concern.
Both concern letters written in by members of the public.

The 1st a letter from a KC Mellor regarding the area board for Corsham. Mr Mellor complained that he was not allowed to express an opinion about a certain topic by the chair a councillor Dick Tonge. I understood from all the blurb prior to the recent election that area boards were exactly the forum for local residents to air their views, obviously not in the opinion of Councillor Tonge!

Dick was formally leader of the defunct North Wilts District Council.

The 2nd letter from a Mr Norman May relates to the cost of recruiting a new chief executive officer (ceo). The council have increased the post holders annual salary by £25,000 to £180,000 per annum (plus I assume expenses and allowances!!!!). In addition they (the council) have agree to pay £50,000 for a recruitment agency to "find the right person".

Does this seem like a council that is in touch with the voters of this county?

The whole point of the new Unitary Council was to do away with an extra tier of beaurocracy and to give back to the electorate the opportunity to be involved in decision making.

Here is where I will make an overtly political statement so anyone with a sensitive dispostion look away!

Dick Tonge is a conservative and the council is controlled by conservatives. Their MP's were just a guilty as Labour MP's when it came to dodgy expense claims.
Why then did people vote for them, the conservatives were the architects of the current economic crisis if you read the press (I have the telegraph 7/7 a solid tory paper) and listen to radio 4?

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A lifelong Calne supporter

Biggles

Peter Dolman · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:25 pm Post subject:

I did post a warning but I think its relavant given the fact that a general election is due in the next 10 months.
We have had 2 periods of government over the last 30 years (Labour/Conservative) with large majorities but we are no better off.
Just perhaps we can do better as surely we cannot have done worst.

But back to the original thread, the new council was supposed to give more opportunities for the "ordinary" voters to express their views, a bit like we do on this splendid forum.

Perhaps Chuck , if he still cares, would like to explain the actions of the Corsham area board and the councils decision to pay such high fee to a recruitment agency.
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A lifelong Calne supporter

rosco · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 5:57 pm Post subject:

As regards the person's opinion being supressed, it's hard to know with only one side of the story being presented: perhaps it had already been made, or the person was being agressive/difficult in presenting or any other of a number of reasons.

Talking about the salary, you are looking to recruit someone in charge of a bigger council than the previous two ones. So you are replacing 2 people that cost £155,000 with one that cost £180,000 (assuming both previous posts were the same cost), so you still have a net saving.
Paying a recruitment agency to help find the right person is surely sensible, do we really want to play 'pot-luck' and get someone who's no good and ends up costing a lot more in the long run?

(Not saying this is all true, but can be other side of the story.)

Peter Dolman · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject:

Cannot disagree with you but how much does the prime minister earn? He is responsible for much more than the ceo of Wiltshire Council PLC who after all is one of the smaller unitary/county councils in the country.

Why cannot the councillors take responsibilty for recruiting and appointing the ceo. As a school governor I was jointly responsible for recruiting and appointing a new head teacher. We managed that ok!
What a waste of £50,000 lets alone the £180,000 year salary. With the "on costs", pension contributions etc I suspect the actual cost to council tax payers will be nearer £250,000.

This exercise was supposed to bring about considerable savings, it will not if we start paying inflated salaries!
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A lifelong Calne supporter

GTB · Bushton Bushwacker Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 2206 Status:

Inflated wages in the public sector has always been a bit of a puzzler. Any manager of a public sector business/operation has to show accountability to tax payers but when you see that some of them are on £150k + per/annum it does make you wonder if they are really doing their sums right. There was a case only last week where an NHS boss was on something like £220k per/annum which is vastly more than what the Prime Minister is on. The big question is: are they worth it?
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Chuck · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

Hi Peter directly in answer to you it is not really my concern as to how Corsham run their area board it is up to them. Dick is a pretty reasonalbe man so I am not usre what his take on the situation is but I suspect this early on in the Area Board situation he felt that other discussions were more important but I do not know.

My concern is our area board and how we make it work with our people - there was some concern that it crossed over some Town business but this was because it was people led and that is where the audience took us with suggestions.

Calne Town Council is a godd strong body supporting the Town and its people, of course more participation is needed at their meetings and I must say your input appears to be welcome there.

Been on my hols recently so out of contact

Chuck
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Roger Chuck Berry

Peter Dolman · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject:

Chuck after some critisim after my last questions I have decided that I will no longer attend any council meeting.

There will always be cross overs between arean boards and town councils as it was in the days of NWDC. In general people don't know or care whose responsibility it is, if they have a problem they want it fixed.

I will also not be standing in any future elections for any body!

I do feel though that we should have a regular feed back from you on what you have been involved in. You kind of promised that in you comments on this site, so lets hear whats happened or not no matter how boring.

ps I am on annual leave from Monday 17th
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A lifelong Calne supporter

Chuck · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject:

Enjoy annual leave as regards what I am involved in wher it impacts North Calne or Calne I will make a point of expressing it. Obviously things which are private will remain so! I expect to do as I am asked.

I am not at all sure why you came under criticism for your questions they seemed pretty sensible to me.

Whilst you get a bit pithy and political your heart is in the right place so please don't give up - I am just a member of the audience at the TC like you and I would be happy to welcome you and listen to your questions it would be pretty quiet sometimes without I reckon!

Chuck

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Roger Chuck Berry