Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,875
To many are in it for the dubious power they think they have and the fact they can call themselves Councillor. The few good active representatives we have are excellent but are far out numbered by the others who only come out of the woodwork at election time.
Maybe the time has come to cut the number of councillors and pay those who remain a wage ( I will duck the flack
), but give the public the ability to kick them out mid term if they are useless.
Local politics should also be completely non political as these people are there for the good of the area not to blindly follow or oppose the dictates of whichever party is in power.
howard mcsweeney1, Guest 1849 and Paul M like this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
I agree with that Jan. Reduce the numbers by at least a half and increase the allowance paid which will hopefully encourage the better representatives to stand. The electorate can then choose those that can actually deliver.
howard mcsweeney1 and Guest 1849 like this
Guest 1849- Registered: 12 Sep 2016
- Posts: 440
It must be pointed out that Aylesham ward includes Nonington, very much a tory village, the candidate lives in Nonington and had lots of support.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
ok
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I would be happy if we know which way our councillors voted on each issue as this would help with our decision making at election times.
Guest 745, Jan Higgins and Guest 1881 like this
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I have read elsewhere that our MP looks at the Aylesham result through rose tinted glasses.Good sign that Aylesham is moving away from the traditional Labour vote.Hell. Will freeze over before that happens .David has already pointed out Nonnington is now for voting purposes joined to Aylesham and the traditional vote for that area is Conservative If a complete canvass is done, on polling day you should get your supporters out.Over thirty years of experience and you have to get the voters out.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
There were about 15 Labour activists out on polling day and about 12 knocking on doors on the two Saturdays leading up to the vote. I think that the central message that Labour are sending out nationally has a negative effect locally.
Reginald Barrington likes this
Reginald Barrington
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
Sensible policies and initiatives, less conservative bashing on the election literature would do more to sway my vote. Knocking on doors and being unable to answer simple policy questions and questions about the candidate do more harm.
What can an activist from Folkestone tell an Aylsham resident except trotting out the party line.
Guest 1881 and Jan Higgins like this
Arte et Marte
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
Reg I'm in complete agreement People just want to see the candidateI ..You cannot beat a smile and a pleasant conversation.At local level you are not selling national issues What the people need to know is can I trust this person to work for.me.Will that person go that extra mile
Button, Jan Higgins and Reginald Barrington like this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The Tory candidate is saying that she only got 160 out of 600 possible votes in Nonington with another 123 in Aylesham.
Reginald Barrington- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Dec 2014
- Posts: 3,257
Many Nonington residents would not be seen dead in Aylesham, even for the sake of democracy
Arte et Marte
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
nonington had its own polling station. I would say over all most did not vote for ether party .
Reginald Barrington likes this
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,920
Just to give a few observations;
1; The conservative may be well known in Nonington but needs to be known in all the ward, my understanding is the candidate got only a handful of votes in Aylesham.
2; Turn out was higher than expected on Christmas week
3; Labour didn't call the by election
4; You really do need to live in the real world If Charlie feels Aylesham is going Tory he needs his head testing, it will for some time to come return a labour candidate
5;Of course Sue if parties fully canvass any ward they are likely to increase the vote a little, but take a look at past results in the ward you seriously think this will be over turned? I don't think so
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 1881- Registered: 16 Oct 2016
- Posts: 1,071
With the huge new build housing estate underway in Aylesham, the likelihood is the ward will become more marginal - I very much doubt that 50% social housing is in the construction plan.
Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you. PERICLES.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
The conservatives will not overturn labour in Aylesham all the time the Tory’s in KCC and Dover council keep punishing Aylesham with no facilities or investment .
Aylesham is mostly white working class British and they do not like the direction of the labour party.
No love in Aylesham for mass migration or asylum seekers or EU membership, surprisingly all the things the labour party love.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,920
its up to labour to keep the vote
Guest 1881 likes this
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
If my information is correct there will be another District council by-election coming up soon in Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory ward.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,072
And if my (admittedly third party) information is correct there won't, as the person in question has merely left the party and not the council. We shall see.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I was told a while back that he had left the party and late last evening that he had resigned from the council. Will try to ascertain the facts later but a Tory Town Councillor intends to stand plus an Independent is thinking it over.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,072
A bit silly if he has resigned from council. By-elections cost thousands of pounds and the ward is served by two other councilors (personally I think we have far too many councilors on DDC anyway). Perhaps he could have just attended once every six months (minimum requirement) and refused to claim his 'allowance'? I don't think this would have affected the voters one jot as whatever the outcome it won't change the Conservative majority and would have saved council tax payers what must be cumulatively over £10,000.
Paul M, Jan Higgins and howard mcsweeney1 like this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson