Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
probably a stich up all round.
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
I think the choice of Councillor Rix as Mayor elect is good one. He has a presence, is a major employer in the town and a very successful businessman. When Green Park school were given the large wooden sculpture from The Discovery Centre, Councillor Rix had no hesitation in providing carpenters, scaffolding and transports at no cost when I asked him.
He reminds me of the 11 times Mayor and MP for Dover at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century whose name escapes me at the moment but we does a have an exibition to him in our museum.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
That must be William Crundall.
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
'Twas. Came to me whilst gardening so you beat me to it Howard. Quite a man he was.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The new Mayor takes over today will be a hard act to follow the last one.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
I agree Howard, Chris has certainly been an excellent Mayor who has always informed us what has been going on.
He has put the town and its population first unlike some previous dignitaries who only seemed to have been there for the dressing up and photo shoots.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 1735- Registered: 26 Apr 2016
- Posts: 90
Its all fixed anyway ,mayors should be elected by the town not behind closed doors
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Never heard of a ceremonial Mayor being elected by a town anywhere, would cost a fortune to organise and council taxpayers would see a sharp rise in their bills.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Neil formally elected Mayor by a clear majority.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 1385- Registered: 27 Oct 2014
- Posts: 322
Well done Mr Rix on your new post.
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
Quite a few unitary authorities have directly elected mayors. I seem to remember the conservatives in Deal also proposed it for their town council.
Jack of Hearts
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
yes do away with the town council making a saving of over £800.000 per year and let the public vote for the Mayor,Mr Nix will make a good job of being a Mayor.
Guest 1735 likes this
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
I agree with Vic on this one. Get rid and use the £800k a year saved on public services run by the DDC. I'd go further and also disband the pointless ceremonial Mayor position.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
My understanding is that central government want some services devolved to Town and Parish councils hence high precepts from the latter which they will be unable to do in the future.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Because over the years DDC have seen their working budgets squeezed ,local tier councils raise precepts to spend on improvements such as benches and flower beds.I agree less money should be spent on ceremonials but what an out cry if Mayor Making and robes were thrown out of the window.For my part I found a smart outfit and the hat of course was adequate.
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
Howard is partly right - parish and town councils are both Local Councils, and as such their precept isn't currently capped as it is at district and county level, though it might be in future.
So they are all, if they are acting responsibly, building up reserves for future use. And in many cases spending it now on things like verge maintenance that KCC are already cutting back on.
Legally they only have six duties that they must do. Four relate to following the relevant laws in their activities, then they must supply allotments on request if able to do so, and take on closed churchyards if requested by a Parochial Church Council. Everything else is voluntary but must be justifiable to their electorate, and in the case of DTC they own properties which have been left to them so they must look after those.
Having a mayor is an optional title for the Chairman, so it would be possible to keep DTC and not have the dressing up and bling (which sometimes looks ridiculous on people we know from down the street or enjoying themselves in the pub) but it is an important part of the heritage of the town.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
On the subject of DTC ownership the Western Heights playing field belongs to them and has been left derelict for at least 12 years. There is room for a few football/rugby pitches with plenty of space available for off street parking and changing rooms, I don't think it would cost a prohibitive amount to build what amounts to a toilet block, provide hard standing for cars and mark out sports pitches.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
We already have many under and unused football pitches in Dover, we do not need more. Having said that there are other sports and other activities that need space to develop their offering in Dover
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 1266- Registered: 8 May 2014
- Posts: 381
One of the main requirements of the proposed new Dover Leisure Centre which will cost DDC upwards of £25m is 5 a side football pitches.
Jack of Hearts
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Getting back to the subject of having a Mayor, the tradition is nearly a thousand years old in Dover and for the trivial amount of money involved I think it is worth keeping especially as the Mayor's diary is invariably full. For many in the town an awards ceremony or prize giving is not complete unless someone is there wearing a chain.
