A report in today's Isle of Thanet Gazette, brings fresh light on the controversy surrounding councillor David Green's suggestion that council officers tried to shut him up!
Only yesterday, I tried myself, to get further information on the story from Thanet District Councils oddly named communications office, from my experience yesterday and today communications would seen to be the least of their abilities.
With the information supplied by Nick Dorman's article, I have tried to speak with Paul Moore today, and was surprised that he was unavailable, just like his colleagues yesterday, not put off, I thought I would talk to the top man, Richard Samuel chief executive and ask if he endorsed his colleague Paul Moore's actions. It was with some surprise that I learnt that he also was unavailable and in a meeting.
Just so that you can keep up to speed, here are links to my previous stories
Thanet Council have they finally lost it
PS I will let you know, whether either Mr Moore or Mr Samuel ever get free of endless meetings appointments etc and make themselves available for comment.
UPDATE
Have once again, this afternoon attempted to speak with either Paul Moore (unfortunately he has already left the building at 2: 23 PM) and Richards Samuel is still unavailable according to a very pleasant corporate project officer.
Just as a sideline, Richards Samuel's role within the council is quite clear as Chief Executive, but I am now a little confused to say the least, because in my last conversation with the Corporate Project Officer, I understood her to say that Paul Moore is actually Corporate Director not Strategic Director so if anyone could actually clarify his role within the council I would be most grateful.
These council officers think they can get away with anything, and generally they do.
ReplyDeleteThis is typical arrogance of local government, thanet over the years has had many a scandal, associatied with itself, Chair of Finance printing his own money, arabs in ramsgit , long running police invesigation that found nothing, fortunatly the were most likly in the same lodge wink wink
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:17 maybe the think they are doing a competent job according to the gazette, David Green received 3 letters I think now 1 would by most be considered a gentle reminder but three seems to convey a message.
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:49 pm Yes tdc is a big organisation and associated with it has been the whiff of scandal how real we will never know, but I’am not sure what this affair should be placed in, over helpful official or political pressure, perhaps a lot fuss about nothing still nobody likes to see free speech stifled do they?.
We are dealing in, and commenting on, the difficult and grey area between valid political comment and truth. I have been aware of general warnings to all councillors about comments and their impact on the integrity of the council and councillors, was not aware of the specific (3) warnings. Paul Moore has a specific task as Monitoring Officer for such activities. It must be a truly tough job trying to pick a line through the interplay and crossfire. I have not alwats agreed with his decisions concerning my own comments or complaints but accept he has an apolitical job to do in protecting the good name of the council and councillors. To portray David Green as an innocent martyr in all this is a bit rich, you only have to read the interplay on his blog to realise his commentary often pushes the boundaries of political comment, I have myself challenged him on more than one occasion on what I saw as his lack of honesty.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways its all part of the push and shove of politics. But there comes a time when, if you are not involved in the cut and thrust directly, you begin to see a damage to the institution over and above political punch up. I have not raised this with Paul Moore, but clearly he must feel some boundaries have been pushed too far - something that any councillor could be warned about at any time. Even me saying this!
Chris – I appreciate the sensitivity of this subject, shades of gray and all that crap. Yes I do accept the David Green might well be indulging in a little politicking as well. The facts however speak for themselves to some extent, Mr Moore (job title and purpose/function unknown to me but apparently an officer (high ranking) of the council has sent more than one reminder in presumably a short space of time now this if I were a councillor would seem more threatening than helpful.
ReplyDeleteMr Moore ought to explain why he is saddened by comments as well is it because he disagrees.
The bringing Thanet Council into disrepute gumpf is nonsense really spurious, I think threats to free speech and I bet my backside (which is not inconsiderable) that you thought long and hard about whether you could yourself comment without the intervention by some jumped up functionary from whatever quarter (local government or party hack) getting on your case.
The thing is some civil servants’ giving heavy-handed interpretation to rules on ethics should not impede the free flow of information.
This law was created in part, with help of the Labour Party, so really David Green ought to have the balls, to direct us in area the office of deputy dawg, who had he not been concentrating, on shafting his staff, might have given us legislation, which covered, political corruption i.e. bribes ethics and back scratching not free speech.
I may stand as councillor, myself next year, given the fact I have expressed firm opinion of virtually every topic under the sun I would have course have the represent the SILENT MAJORITY since I would not be able to say a word.
You would lose your bet, Tony, though what I would do with my winnings god only knows! I did think long and hard before commenting, but more about the wisdom of getting into exchanges like this than anything to do with Paul Moore. I have a pretty good idea what is permissable, and what you have to prove. If you think for a moment, David Green has accused the leader of the council and council officers involved in the library project of deliberate falsehood in the way they have gone about the project. Anywhere other than a blog he would have had to prove the truth of his allegation not just the fact that the end result was avoiding scrutiny as he claimed, although it didnt avoid scrutiny at all, but that the avoidance of scrutiny was a deliberate act. Then it is fair comment.
ReplyDeleteI should just add, have you noticed how few councillors are now commenting publicly on websites? I am sure some are commenting anonymously, however if others have felt threatened enough to withdraw then that seems to me a real loss.
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