HartlepoolPost Forum

Politics => Local Issues and Matters => Topic started by: steveL on May 23, 2012, 10: AM

Title: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
Three appointments - all Independents:

John Lauderdale
Cath Hill
Paul Thompson

Labour refused to put forward any of their Councillors and it looks like the ex-Cabinet members have also been told not to volunteer their services.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Stig of the Seaton Dump on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
Such a small list must beg the argument that the cabinet role should be got rid of and it should go to a democratic vote across all councillors for all issues.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
Which effectively means it would be in the hands of Mad Marge and her 7% share of the electorate which is much less than Drummond's mandate.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Stig of the Seaton Dump on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
Dumbo and Marge Simpson are are as bad as each other ...it appears to be a lose lose situation.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: rabbit on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
DID THE MAYOR ASK ANY OF THE NEW HARTLEPOOL FIRST COUNCILLORS TO BECOME CABINET MEMBERS?

AND IF HE DID AND THEY REFUSED,  WHY DID THEY DO SO WHEN WE EXPECTED SO MUCH FROM THEM?

Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
Drummond sent e-mails out to all Councillors individually, including the 4 HF Councillors who all said they would be willing to take part if asked - they weren't. The Mail story doesn't really make this clear and perhaps it should have done.

HF has effectively been locked out of the system as part of a stitch up between Labour and the Tories. No committe chairs or vice-chairs have gone to PHF Councillors, for example, even though the Tories have been given 4 Chairs/Vice-Chairs with fewer Councillors and a smaller electoral vote.

There's nothing going on here that wasn't expected. Putting an end to this kind of thing is part of the reason HF came into being in the first place.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Donkey Kong on May 23, 2012, 11: AM
Quote from: kipperdip on May 23, 2012, 11: AM
The eyes of UKIP on behalf of the town are watching how they act, and in particular vote in the coming months.

Didn't I read on here that these PHF people are UKIP with a different hat on?  ;D
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 23, 2012, 11: AM
...and does that make it true? ;D

I also read on here that SAB only made a few tenners from doing Mandelson's garden despite the later's £3,500 expense claim for gardening services or the fact that the two ABS set up a gardening services company.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: dangerman on May 23, 2012, 01: PM
I think the Mayor will be happy with three Labour closet cabinet members all posing to be truely independent of course.

Lauderdale had visions to be Mayor some years back he left the Mayors cabinet to do so. He didn't get elected thank God.

He would have fallen asleep at every meeting he ever attended.

Cath Hill also had visions, but she takes tablets for them now.

Paul Thompson Labour. Labour. Oh sorry Independent.

As P.H.F. well that was a forgone conclusion not a chance in Hades the Mayor would have any of them they belong to a recognised Political Group.

And we can't have that can we?.

If this is the pick of the crop of Cabinet Members for Hartlepool 'well' God help us all.

Roll on the referendum One out. All out.. Sooner the better.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: not4me on May 23, 2012, 01: PM
Great. And then all executive power will pass to Mad Dog and her bitches - which is th reason she's stopped any labour people sitting in the cabinet. If you could turn sheer spite into pound coins then Mad Dog would be very rich indeed.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: The Great Dictator on May 23, 2012, 02: PM
Drummond is a desperate man now, he sacked Lauderdale 7 years ago from cabinet and Thompson is in need of some cash.
Kath Hill is his only lap dog.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: mk1 on May 23, 2012, 02: PM
Mad Dog shows off her latest trophies.


(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3329/knackerlessdumbo.jpg) (http://img526.imageshack.us/i/knackerlessdumbo.jpg/)
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: The Great Dictator on May 23, 2012, 02: PM
Her balls are actually bigger than that..
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: for fawkes sake on May 23, 2012, 09: PM
Not that you're letting your personal feelings towards Lilley influence your opinion or anything. ;)
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: dangerman on May 24, 2012, 07: AM
Don't be too hasty in writing P.H.F off from little acorn's grow mighty oaks and so will this new party. 2014 will see local & National elections.

I'm quite sure that the lessons learned from the last election will not be repeated next time around we'll see more P.H.F. candidates being elected.

The leader of P.H.F has a lot of enemies within the council chamber from all political groups I understand that plans are in place for metal detectors on the doors to the Council Chamber.

I can imagine what he he'd say to the new chairman S.A.B.

Your a big man but your out of shape now behave yourself. 'I do this for a living'.  'Get Carter'  Michael Caine.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: The Great Dictator on May 24, 2012, 08: AM
When Miliband takes power in 3 years you will see a shift locally.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Straight Talking on May 24, 2012, 09: AM
Quote from: steveL on May 23, 2012, 10: AM
Three appointments - all Independents:

John Lauderdale
Cath Hill
Paul Thompson

Labour refused to put forward any of their Councillors and it looks like the ex-Cabinet members have also been told not to volunteer their services.

NOT SO, the Mayor asked all members of the Council individually, by direct email and letter, to let him know if they wanted to be considered for a Cabinet place. No members of the Labour Group contacted him. The Mayor then spoke to Christopher Akers-Belcher, newly elected Leader of the Labour Group, to ask if he could speak to members and ask them if they would be prepared to provide him with a list of names (suggestion 8) from which he could choose Cabinet members. Again no one put forward their name.

So the Group has not made any decision, there wasn't any need to.

Interesting that The Mayor has selected an all Independent Cabinet, said that he has every confidence in them, but is bringing in a hand picked "Advisory Group". What for are the Officers of HBC not able to advise Cabinet Members. Maybe the Mayor should consider cutting their salaries then.

Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Straight Talking on May 24, 2012, 09: AM
Quote from: kipperdip on May 24, 2012, 09: AM
Interesting use of words by 'dangerman'.
"2014 will see local and national elections"

As PHF's declared aims are strictly confined to local politics (implicit in the party name) how will national politics further their progress?
Are you suggesting that their constitutional basis of shunning 'national politics' is not their true objective and we've been misled?

Well said Kipperdip, are you sure there is no behind the scenes plotting taking place - and the suggestion that PHF are actually UKIP under a new name is in fact TRUE.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: The Great Dictator on May 24, 2012, 10: AM
Will this advisory group be paid for their services ?
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 24, 2012, 11: AM
I've always believed, up until recently that is, that, cynical as I am, there still existed a few lines over which local politicians wouldn't cross. Even though I might disagree with what some councillors do or say, there was an assumption on my part of there always being a sense of common decency in all councillors that prevented them from engaging in behaviour that most people would simply find unacceptable.

I don't believe that anymore. Nor do I believe that all local councillors are in it because of principle or political belief - too many, though not all, really are, as many people always suspected, in it for what they can screw out of it financially or for what influence it brings them.

I haven't figured out as yet who Straight Talking is - the spelling is too good to be SAB and so it's a toss up between CAB and SAB's mother. Either way, the snippets of information that occasionally slip out which only someone very close to the SCABS points us in the right direction.

My money would be on CAB because of an apparent willingness to say anything whether, its true or not, if he believes it will further his cause. This is a characteristic that I've noticed about both SCABS whether in the council chamber or not.

So now we're told that PHF is really UKIP in disguise as if Straight Talking is in any position to know whether it's true or not. One person who is in a position to know is KD and yet here we have the unreal situation of Straight Talking telling KD of all people that PHF is really an organised part of UKIP.

As a member of PHF, I can tell you that I won't be voting for UKIP come the next General Election nor will many of those other members that I've come to know over the last few months. I can't actually say how many  members of PHF will be voting UKIP when the time comes but I suspect it will be roughly in the same proportion to the rest of the electorate. The Party doesn't have a position on the European question; it's not a local issue in the sense that the local council has no influence on the matter. Nor is there any appetite to field a PHF candidate in a general election. It would be a contradiction and against the basic principle of working with any national Government to the maximum benefit of Hartlepool.

Straight Talking has just had 13 years of a Labour council working with a Labour Government and a fat lot of good it did us.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Straight Talking on May 24, 2012, 02: PM
Quote from: steveL on May 24, 2012, 11: AM

So now we're told that PHF is really UKIP in disguise as if Straight Talking is in any position to know whether it's true or not. One person who is in a position to know is KD and yet here we have the unreal situation of Straight Talking telling KD of all people that PHF is really an organised part of UKIP.


Quote from: kipperdip on Today at 09:14 AM

    Interesting use of words by 'dangerman'.
    "2014 will see local and national elections"

    As PHF's declared aims are strictly confined to local politics (implicit in the party name) how will national politics further their progress?
    Are you suggesting that their constitutional basis of shunning 'national politics' is not their true objective and we've been misled?

Well said Kipperdip, are you sure there is no behind the scenes plotting taking place - and the suggestion that PHF are actually UKIP under a new name is in fact TRUE.

Thanks for the response and assurance KD, cant see where SteveL gets his information from. I have copied above his interpretation of what I said earlier. It was clearly a question not a statement of fact.
I think SteveL is becoming one of the most disillusioned politicians I have every come across, if one election does that to him I think he might be best advised to pack it in. I'm not sure his health can stand it.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 24, 2012, 02: PM
well thanks for that llta....

Sorry to say I'm not going anywhere ST. Admittedly, I used to think that the running of the local council was a matter of efficiency and taking the national politics out of it but I have learnt since that the council chamber not only needs to seriously raise its game but is, in fact, in dire need of disinfection.

I've also concluded, funnily enough, that the activities of the Manor Mafia, James and her b**ches are nothing to do with the Labour party. Standing as Labour councillors has only been the means to gain access to the public money they crave.

I wouldn't insult the memory of people like Nye Bevan by making a comparison between himself and the parasites which have infected Hartlepool Consituency Labour Party.

BTW, you people may like to complain about what we publish on HTH; the truth is you should thank us for what we don't publish.

Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 24, 2012, 03: PM
Quote:"Wouldn't want to inform the residents as from where their problems emanated would we?"

99% of what I hear from UKIP people is about Europe - it's not a policy; it's an obsession and since a local council has little say in the national direction on Europe then it's of no relevance whatsoever.

Incidentally, the 'problem' of fortnightly bin collections stems not from Europe but from modern wasteful habits. There's no shortage of people who will complain about the landfill sites at Seaton but how many make the connection with the amount of rubish they dispose of each week? So we blame the EU, who are only trying to encourage people to think more about their wasteful habits or we blame the retailers for the amount of packaging they use even though shoppers continue to shun products in more plain packaging.

A conversation with any UKIP person will, within seconds, consist of rantings on the EU, Asylum Seekers and Muslims. There is no scope for objective debate with such people. So even if I have my own concerns with any of those three subjects, I would choose to air them with people more capable of objective thought.

There. NOW someone tell me that PHF is really UKIP in disguise - you'll have to come up with something better than that ST.  ;D 


Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: mk1 on May 24, 2012, 03: PM
Can I remind people that the SCABs are only interested in trying to cause trouble her. The aim is to deflect attention from the money-grubbing antics of the Manor Mafia and what better way that to get you all defending yourself against their slurs.
We all know the SCAB's are for sale and we should highlight that fact rather than waste time responding to the baiting
Attack is always the best defence so just  let them howl.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: steveL on May 24, 2012, 03: PM
Fair Cop - I guess I was bit bored.

Worth checking out the retirement plans for the Hospital Trust £50,000 part-time Chairman and the work placement of SAB as Chair of HBC to gain experience.

If that sounds a little implausible, how plausible was it that his mentor, an ex-taxi driver and vacuum cleaner salesman, became the £50,000 Chair of the local PCT?

Makes you wonder what he was mentoring in?
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Micksmate on May 24, 2012, 04: PM
Quote from: kipperdip on May 24, 2012, 11: AM
I can categorically assure all readers that there is absolutely NO tie-up between PHF and UKIP.

A pity though that Steve L felt the need to slag off UKIP for trying to make a difference and telling everyone that he will never vote for UKIP - your privilege Steve.

Do I assume then that at national and European elections you would vote for one of the three establishment parties who collectively have sold this country out - lock, stock and barrel?

For someone who professes to want to represent a Hartlepool constituency to pretend that the issue of EU control of our national life at every level has no local impact is showing naivete at a vast level.
Presumably if you were on the council Steve and the issue of fortnightly bin collections came up you would act EXACTLY the same as the unholy trinity and not impart the information into the debate that it is only the EU Landfill Directives that have forced ALL local councils to pursue this universally unpopular practice?
Wouldn't want to inform the residents as from where their problems emanated would we?

what a load of dogs doodah, let me remind you it was you who brought national politics into PHF doctrine.

"Interesting use of words by 'dangerman'.
"2014 will see local and national elections"

As PHF's declared aims are strictly confined to local politics (implicit in the party name) how will national politics further their progress?
Are you suggesting that their constitutional basis of shunning 'national politics' is not their true objective and we've been misled?"  closely followed by the other piece of dog doodah.     "Well said Kipperdip, are you sure there is no behind the scenes plotting taking place - and the suggestion that PHF are actually UKIP under a new name is in fact TRUE.

Your complete obsession with the EU is getting you some strange bedfellows or should I say people who are happy to provide you ammunition to shoot yourself in the foot with.   
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: dangerman on May 24, 2012, 05: PM
I'm sorry I should not have linked P.H.F. with national politics I only meant to say that things may well change in 2014 local elections with more P.H.F Councillors being elected 'hopefully'.

I would never vote Labour or UKIP or Conservative as for 'Liberal' it not nice to speak ill of the dead. So I gave my vote to P.H.F. as did nearly 10.000 others.

Time will tell if I made a mistake or not. But at least I did vote.
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on May 24, 2012, 05: PM
I too have thrown my hat in with P.H.F. - one thing, however, that really amazes me are those souls who (barely three weeks after the election) are expecting P.H.F. to have already transformed the town...
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Lucy Lass-Tick on May 24, 2012, 06: PM
Well, they do say that patience is a virtue... 8)
Title: Re: Mayor's Cabinet
Post by: Micksmate on May 24, 2012, 07: PM
Quote from: dangerman on May 24, 2012, 05: PM
I'm sorry I should not have linked P.H.F. with national politics I only meant to say that things may well change in 2014 local elections with more P.H.F Councillors being elected 'hopefully'.

I would never vote Labour or UKIP or Conservative as for 'Liberal' it not nice to speak ill of the dead. So I gave my vote to P.H.F. as did nearly 10.000 others.

Time will tell if I made a mistake or not. But at least I did vote.

Not your fault really, i fully understood what you meant, but unfortunately others jumped on it to either try to score political points or they didn't/don't have the intelligence to read it properly.