Thanet council have they finally lost it?
As you will appreciate, for some of us, this blogging business is quite addictive, and naturally I and other bloggers like to checkout what's going on within Thanet Blogarati and the biggest story has to be on Eastcliff Matters, councillor David Green's website. The author makes this remarkable statement 'This blog is closed for the time being.
The author is under threat by the administration at Thanet District Council of referal to the Standards Board for England* over certain remarks made that were critical of the Council and its actions.
These were:
Remarks on this blogsite(Eastcliff Matters) that criticized the proposals for Ramsgate and Margate Libraries.
The "tone" of an email that criticized the actions of the Chair of Council in refusing to allow questions to Cabinet members at Council meetings.
Remarks on another blogsite cricizing failure to publish the detailed reasons behind the collapse of Turner Offshore.
The author belives that these were nothing more than acceptable political comment, but is obtaining advice.'
If the above statement is true, one can only assume that Thanet District Council are trying to emulate some of the worst practices of a Banana Republic, in trampling on free speech. I just wonder about the calibre of our local politicians, last week one Tory had the cheek to suggest that a fellow councillor was being political?
As you will appreciate, for some of us, this blogging business is quite addictive, and naturally I and other bloggers like to checkout what's going on within Thanet Blogarati and the biggest story has to be on Eastcliff Matters, councillor David Green's website. The author makes this remarkable statement 'This blog is closed for the time being.
The author is under threat by the administration at Thanet District Council of referal to the Standards Board for England* over certain remarks made that were critical of the Council and its actions.
These were:
Remarks on this blogsite(Eastcliff Matters) that criticized the proposals for Ramsgate and Margate Libraries.
The "tone" of an email that criticized the actions of the Chair of Council in refusing to allow questions to Cabinet members at Council meetings.
Remarks on another blogsite cricizing failure to publish the detailed reasons behind the collapse of Turner Offshore.
The author belives that these were nothing more than acceptable political comment, but is obtaining advice.'
If the above statement is true, one can only assume that Thanet District Council are trying to emulate some of the worst practices of a Banana Republic, in trampling on free speech. I just wonder about the calibre of our local politicians, last week one Tory had the cheek to suggest that a fellow councillor was being political?
Does anyone have more detail on this, I find it hard to believe that Thanet District Council would be threatening to refer councillor David Green to the standards Board for England. Surely Thanet District Council, is hardly likely to get excited about criticism and contained on this blog(eastcliff matters) or any others, this is a democracy isn't it.
What next, community wardens, arriving at midnight to arrest us!
* what is the Standards Board of England, well this is a piece of nonsense ironically by that highly respected Labour figure, John Prescott, which to be honest I had never heard of, and is meant to police ethical standards in local government, outlawing as an example car owning councillors from discussing parking schemes. If you would like to know more this article from the Telegraph may enlighten.
Eastcliff Matters website click here
It's ridiculous isn't it? I thought that it is one of the purposes of the opposition - to highlight any shortcomings and apply pressure.
ReplyDeleteI suspect this has also got the Doctor scared, even tho he's not a councillor - he's deleting messages all over his blog at the moment. I have given up posting there as I don't like the way he appears to be tailoring the conversations.