tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post4199393979119283411..comments2023-11-05T09:37:36.840+01:00Comments on A View From Rural Wales: The Emergency Debate.Glyn Davieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10442114752573417252noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-46775976758862231622010-02-14T22:01:45.793+01:002010-02-14T22:01:45.793+01:00I have had great pleasure in reading this blog ove...I have had great pleasure in reading this blog over the last couple of weeks and I feel that all members of the conservative group in Powys did us proud. It shows we have a group that is open to the debate and is willing to listen to all not just the party whip. I work around the county and from what I herd Councillor Gary Price was whipped as he was one of the first names on the paper to call the meeting but had to pull his name. As for his comments about Councillor Mike Hodges he seems to be a man that listens and uses his head is that not what you want as a leader. Glyn you should be proud of all your conservative colleges in Powys as you have a group of people elected that listen to the residents that appointed them. I have never voted for the Conservatives before but I will now. You may have not won that vote but they know you are there delivering the free voice of the people. I am sure your group will be fighting them all the way through the process to keep our schools open. Keep up the workAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-11780913033328284252010-02-13T19:59:43.616+01:002010-02-13T19:59:43.616+01:00JB - The terms of reference is to be decided on by...JB - The terms of reference is to be decided on by the Mar 19th meeting following a recommendation from the Mar 2nd meeting (I think).<br /><br />Anon 1 Gary can answer for himself.<br /><br />Anon 2 - A really strong comment. Too strong for me to completely agree with. But I do agree with a lot of it. The affordable housing policies are almost design to be ineffective and damaging. The secondary schools proposals that we've seen so far seem designed to inflict maximum damage on our social and cultural infrastructure. I wrote a post a few days ago (which was completely ignored) that questioned whether Powys was a sustainable administrative area. A decision has already been taken that certain aspects of healthcare cannot be delivered on a Powys basis. The administrative structure currently in place is just too top-heavy for an area of such limited population. How different it all is from the 1980's when there was a real economic buzz about Montgomeryshire.Glyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-83793690157314874682010-02-13T11:18:54.785+01:002010-02-13T11:18:54.785+01:00We now have it all at Powys - a weak senior office...We now have it all at Powys - a weak senior officer management structure of former junior officers that have climbed the greasey pole at Powys and who embarrassed themselves at the meeting, and; local politicians who are quite unable to offer any intellectual debate, but rather squabble and undermine any political leadership. This subject is simply too complex for this County Council but I'm so pleased that you have contributed so well in exposing this naiive officer-led charge to the undermining of our social and cultural structure. This County Council has promoted unsustainable development that has torn the heart out of our communities. Housing that has been built has met the needs of affluent middle class and middle aged incomers rather than local young families, resulting in the demise of our linguistic and social culture. PCC has done nothing to counter population trends to provide family accommodation and we continue to see excess number of deaths in relation to births (and this trend is accelerating). This means that our schools have falling rolls. Our communities are full of characterless suburban developments and our previously strong rural communities with particular ways of life are now souless. The County Council has disbanded its economic development department and the demise of the WDA/DBRW has meant that we no longer have real local accountability but instead live off the scraps that the Cardiff/South Wales-centric Welsh Assembly periodically feeds us with. Jobs and homes are vital to our schools. I'm not straying off the point here Glyn but there is a much wider debate required as our High Schools are the last bastions of our communities. But thir future depends on far more than just more funding, although speak to any Head in Powys and she or he will tell you that they only receive 60-65% of the Central Government (Assembly) funding allocation - the rest is syphoned off for Powys County Council administration. Powys just can't be trusted to take a strategic view - their senior officers are largely in-bred with little or no outside experience, whilst their councillors are all former Community Council members who are not real politicians and are pawns to their officer-led strategies. We now have a Director of Education that previously was Head of Sports and Leisure at Powys!! This is symptomatic of the County Council and it is high time that the Welsh Assembly took notice of what is happening in Powys. But then again, we are the forgotten area of Wales.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-83651194132391821482010-02-12T16:01:39.523+01:002010-02-12T16:01:39.523+01:00Perhaps Gary should spend less time having a dig a...Perhaps Gary should spend less time having a dig at people and more time actually doing something constructive. At least Mike Hodges is prepared to listen to the people and act accordingly. Mike is being taken serious when he speaks and Gary...well ask aroundAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-8573863273704894942010-02-12T15:26:19.772+01:002010-02-12T15:26:19.772+01:00Glyn,
New 'review board', same terms of r...Glyn,<br /><br />New 'review board', same terms of reference? Totally unabashed and intent on the same outcome.<br /><br />http://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/85073/breaking-news-school-closures-still-possible-following-extraordinary-council-meeting.aspxJBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-8343265791758042562010-02-12T13:23:56.508+01:002010-02-12T13:23:56.508+01:00Anon - Thanks for answering Roman's comment. F...Anon - Thanks for answering Roman's comment. For the record, what Stephen said was completely untrue, and as the outraged Russell George responded, he has no evidence whatsoever for saying it. To make matters worse I'd sent a private letter to Montgomeryshire Councillors telling them telling them what happened. Its also rather cowardly to make comments in a context when others cannot correct.<br /><br />Another incorrect statement was made by Councillor Ken Harris about 'whipping'. He suggested to all those watching that the Conservatives were taking up a position because they were 'whipped'. Not only was this totally untrue, but ironically it seemed to everyone else that his own group had been 'whipped'.<br /><br />Gary - Thanks for clarification. This blog likes readers to be accurately informed.Glyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-91953190681797532010-02-12T12:40:56.598+01:002010-02-12T12:40:56.598+01:00Glyn, Just to clarify for those that are reading t...Glyn, Just to clarify for those that are reading this and didn’t attend County Hall, I make reference to the Mick Hodges Group Leader of The Conservatives from Llandrindod Wells.Gary Pricenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-18623131507769260872010-02-12T10:38:37.492+01:002010-02-12T10:38:37.492+01:00Who was the PIG councillor who attacked? We want n...Who was the PIG councillor who attacked? We want names!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-11394602028547107972010-02-12T10:23:06.907+01:002010-02-12T10:23:06.907+01:00what did you think of councillor hayes speech yest...what did you think of councillor hayes speech yesterday. your expression didnt give much away. I was watching.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-15218110264395340082010-02-12T00:06:32.925+01:002010-02-12T00:06:32.925+01:00Anon - I think David Cameron trusts me to be loyal...Anon - I think David Cameron trusts me to be loyal. Must admit that my tendancy towards quirky humour has caused a a slight rustling in the grass in the past - but until the election I going to be angelic.Glyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-27310772841209453342010-02-11T23:59:25.373+01:002010-02-11T23:59:25.373+01:00When did you run this past Tsar Cameron?When did you run this past Tsar Cameron?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-30352228569430069802010-02-11T23:38:22.393+01:002010-02-11T23:38:22.393+01:00anon and Gary - Fair points. But I tend to talk ab...anon and Gary - Fair points. But I tend to talk about the 'Montgomeryshire Six' I suppose. They are the Councillors I work closely with. But there's no issue really. The Conservatives were not 'whipped' in any way - contrary to the silly comment made by one Councillor today. They were all free to vote as they thought right. Personally, I like to support those who are in my team whenever possible - but that's me. Seemed to me that the only ones whipped were those who agreed with Aled, but then voted against him!Glyn Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17344589217554138315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-77919847465608083932010-02-11T23:00:58.604+01:002010-02-11T23:00:58.604+01:00Glyn - Good to see you in the Chamber taking an in...Glyn - Good to see you in the Chamber taking an interest, However I'm a little concerned that the Conservative Councillor and leader of the Conservative Group at PCC stood up and spoke passionately in favour and then seconded the Conservative groups proposal actually voted contrary to the Conservative group and in favour to the amendment put by Cllr David Jones. It makes you final line “They fight for their people, and they're just not willing to be pushed around by anyone.” A little un true, how does that happen?Gary Pricenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34112832.post-20731624234559202152010-02-11T22:49:23.369+01:002010-02-11T22:49:23.369+01:00"I was really proud of the Conservative Group..."I was really proud of the Conservative Group. They fight for their people, and they're just not willing to be pushed around by anyone"<br /><br />Were you proud of the two Tory members that voted with the ammendment and against the rest of the Conservative Group Glyn?<br /><br />Interesting one of them was one of the Tory group leaders and in fact he was also the Tory member who seconded the motion put forward by Cllr Aled Davies. Fancy that! A Tory group leader who seconded the motion but ended up voting against it! Perhaps he is in the wrong group?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com