Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I see two Councillors are in the Dover Mercury for making offensive comments (in the opinion of those easily offended )remarks on social media .One Conservatives and the other Labour.The one part of this statement I found disturbing was the lack of attendance of one of said Councillor A Councillor can be given leave of absence for six months if medical evidence is provided.
Councillors on the DDC. And KCC are paid and it is a commitment to represent residents .i speak from experience and I can count on one hand the times I failed to turn up.During my tenure I moved house twice but still turned up for duty.
Social media has many faults ,however I only write what I would say to someone’s face .In the case of one of thecouncillors he has a wry sense of humour never frightened to express an opinion and does not follow the herd ,
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I haven't seen the Mercury so have no idea who the councillors are or what they said, as for attendance at meetings some have appalling records. If they don't have the time due to work or other commitments they shouldn't stand in the first place.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Sue, who are these mystery councillors? Surely the names are not secret if they are in a local rag that I have no intention of wasting my money on.
Howard, I agree completely with this " If they don't have the time due to work or other commitments they shouldn't stand in the first place."
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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 1590- Registered: 22 Oct 2015
- Posts: 86
As you know I am an avid reader and great supporter of this forum.I know I don’t post as much as I wish to,but being a shift worker I am do get pressed for time.In this fact and in the greatest respect to Howard and Jan,who’s opinions I hold in the greatest esteem,I have not read so much clap trap for along time.It seems to me that you are saying that if you have a job that entails shift working you should not seek to be or be a councillor of whatever affiliation.This goes against every thing that I have sort to express while being a councillor.It seems that the maxim being extolled is that it doesn’t matter how effective you are locally, just as long as you go to meetings you are doing great !!We shouldn’t have any more restrictions on people seeking to be councillors.If anything we should have a more open democratic process.This should entail encouraging more people to try and represent their community. I don’t care what your politics are or your family circumstances or for that matter what your shift pattern is get engaged and try to be a voice for your community not only within the constraints of a ‘meeting’,but also on the ground to try and effect real change.
Guest 1590- Registered: 22 Oct 2015
- Posts: 86
I do apologise for the last sentence being a bit long,but I have to run along to my late shift !!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
My husband worked on the ferries with their awful shift pattern so I lived with that work system for years. Anyone who works a shift pattern organises their life accordingly as would any shift working councillor so he/she could attend as many meetings as possible.
I am not sure why jheron is so upset, he is not my councillor but I have read he works hard for his ward. I thought I was referring to those useless councillors who do virtually nothing but revel in the dubious glory of the name once elected.
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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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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
The councillors are Bob Frost and Nathaniel Richards.
Cllr Heron is a good Councillor However if you miss meetings decisions are being made by the few.Planning is a good example .Sometimes it could mean that something important to your ward ..
Years ago Employers had to give you time off .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I stand by my comments in post 2 although I acknowledge that many councillors do a lot of work in their wards. Decisions made at full council can affect anywhere in the district so it is vital that all wards are represented as fully as possible. It's not as if there are meetings every week after all.
What were the spats about Sue?
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Two pages so a lot to remember.Some people donot appreciates Bobs humour ,as for the other chap well not sure .You have to be careful what you say on face book.If I called you a funny name Howard would you take offence Peioplem joke about my hats but I don mind .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
At least DDC show attendance figures for each councillor, with DTC and KCC you have to wade through the minutes of each meeting to collate it all which most of us could not be bothered with.
The Town Council meets this evening and having looked at the agenda I haven't much idea what they will be discussing.
ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
#9 Bob's humour? Is this our fishy friend who made such a splash referring to jungle bunnies a few years ago? I wasn't personally offended but I did think it was an incredibly juvenile remark from someone in public office. What made it worse was his pathetic attempts to mitigate the remarks by inventing spurious justifications for the terms "jungle" and "bunnies". It's all there on record if you're interested.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Interesting comments from John, although to be fair its a little difficult accepting them.
John without doubt is passionate about Dover but missing a fair number of meetings can have an ability to miss things.
But of course its not all about attending meetings if they last just 8 mins lol)
B Frost makes a number of offensive comments which can hardly be seen as jokes and not the first time.
The other geezer I warned labour (those that would listen) that they should think twicwe before selecting just anyone for buckland of course they didn't listen, and the result (lab won by just 2 votes in labours heartland) should have rang alarm bells.
Further outbursts on social media, and this latest crazy load of abuse towards someone he disagreed with, its fine disagreeing, but the use of foul and abusive postings?
A t the end of the day, as much as I can feel like I would like to swear at someone, I recognise I hold a position that it should never happen in.
You can only warn parties to be careful on selections,,,,,,
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ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
As all of us know there are times when we have to be quiet publicly. Luckily if we want to have a rant on any subject we can privately to our family and friends, much better than bottling it up.
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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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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Wise words indeed Jan.When I rant on about buses my family quietly agree ..
Guest 2890- Registered: 27 Sep 2018
- Posts: 8
The Conservative Party has now confirmed in a statement that Cllr Frost has been suspended.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,259
Would that be the snowflake labour PPC?
He'll be investigated and reinstated because he has broken no rules and done nothing wrong, incidentally my scouse mate said of the tweet, ' that's tame to what we say at home,'
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Arte et Marte
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
I'm all for having cllrs from all backgrounds but you have to draw a line on abuse and racism
Cllr frost is happy to court such controversy
But being a cllr comes with it responsibility
It will interrsting to see if the party takes any action
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ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Doubt it Reg, I reckon someone from the "Echo" was following it on Twitter and decided to bring everyone in to make a good article and then contacted HQ. My experience of the Mickey Mousers is the same as yours, they know the reputation of their City and just laugh it off.
Reginald Barrington likes this
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
keith, the definition of abuse racism is down to how much of a snowflake one is.
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