Fenland Council should start afresh - starting the day after the new Leader is elected
CHIEF executive Tim Pilsbury s plea to return to mutual respect between officers and members and between members themselves will not happen any time soon. There is too much rancour within the ranks to expect a quick fix to the myriad of issues that has
CHIEF executive Tim Pilsbury's plea to return "to mutual respect between officers and members and between members themselves" will not happen any time soon.
There is too much rancour within the ranks to expect a quick fix to the myriad of issues that has brought about the current disintegration of the Tory group.
Mr Pilsbury's team would rather the media report on the plaudits lavished upon the council by the Audit Commission, yet it's impossible to reconcile these achievements with the astonishing break down in trust among elected representatives.
There are standards board investigations under way or being started against a wide range of councillors affecting planning decisions, chairmanship of committees and breaches of confidence. It may be a flight of fancy but we can imagine a New Year in Fenland where the standards committee is permanently in session, such is the back log of complaints now beginning to pile up.
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Mr Pilsbury's plea for a return to mutual respect could happen but it would need a massive step of faith and reconciliation; indeed one question is what will happen in January if Cllr Melton wins the leadership only to find himself engaged in a standards board battle prompted by a complaint by Mr Pilsbury himself.
Here's what we suggest. The day after Fenland elects its new leader, Mr Pilsbury should sit down with the successful candidate and the Conservative group and agree to call a halt to all complaints.
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Tear them up, make them go away, and start afresh with a clean slate.
Then, and only then, can Fenland move forward and since it is the Conservative Party that wants to abolish the whole system of standards committee they could, effectively, start the ball rolling in Fenland and, metaphorically at least, kick it into touch.
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS.
