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News release from Planet Thanet Labour group.
Ramsgate Port Brexit shambles.
Thanet Labour councillors are extremely concerned that the budget was withdrawn from the agenda at Thanet District Council at the very last minute. The expectation was that the Seaborne contract, would have been signed. Or not. Labour Group leader Cllr Jenny Matterface explains, ‘We operate in good faith and expect our most important councils’ meetings, including this budget setting meeting, to go ahead as planned. We’ve been pressing for a clear plan for the Port and we’d be delighted if the contract was signed as it would mean some additional jobs in Thanet and would safeguard exist employment. It’s frankly outrageous that no one knows the contents of the ‘secret’ phone call between Bob Bayford and Chris Grayling’.
Whilst the announcement was totally unexpected, there is also consternation that so many UKIP councillors, including Group leader Cllr Chris Wells and two of his shadow cabinet who form the official opposition, failed to attend with only three from a group of fourteen there. Labour Cllr Karen Constantine put a number of questions to Conservative Leader Cllr Bob Bayford after the meeting.
‘Is this an open ended process?’ ‘When will these negotiations be concluded?’ ‘Who is actually managing the process of dealing with the contracts, is that TDC staff or DfT?’
Cllr Constantine explains, ‘It’s frankly astonishing that the budget meeting has been cancelled at this late stage, at Chris Grayling’s request. Is Mr Grayling running the council now? At an absolute minimum I would have expected an explanatory statement from Mr Grayling that should have contained a clear outline of his plans to move forward and an apology for the disruption to all the Councillors and more importantly to Thanet residents. The whole process is shrouded in mystery. The lack of transparency is astounding and was a complete slap in the face for locals when Chris Grayling promised £14m to a private sector profiteers whilst the real needs of Thanet are ignored. It’s contempt’. She added, ‘It appears to us that Bob Bayford has relinquished control and that Chris Grayling is now running the council to prop up the failing Brexit plans. Meanwhile Thanet residents foot the bill’. Thanet Labour Group is calling for full disclosure of the ‘secret’ phone call, a clear plan to move forward, and for the Government genuinely to invest in Ramsgate and the rest of Thanet. The decades of neglect need to end.