For what it is worth, I for one have always found unlike some of his contemporaries Sandy Ezekiel to be well mannered and able to differentiate personal attack from political banter. Obviously the world moves on, but its worth noting that during his time in office, much of the groundwork for Margate regeneration took place.
Thanet Tories have issued a press release concerning news that Former Council Leader Cllr Sandy Ezekiel has stood down from the Conservative group on Thanet council .
Press Release 9th May 2012
Cllr Sandy Ezekiel steps down from TDC's Conservative Group, pending court proceedings
Cllr Bob Bayford, Leader of Thanet District Council Conservative Group today announced that Cllr Sandy Ezekiel would be voluntarily stepping down from the Conservative Group until the conclusion of legal proceedings.
Cllr Bayford said: “Conservative Group rules state that members facing criminal proceedings should be suspended from the Group until such proceedings are resolved. However, Cllr Ezekiel made it clear to me that, being aware of this, he wished to step down, in order to focus on refuting the allegations made against him and I fully support this decision.”
-ENDS-
Cllr Sandy Ezekiel steps down from TDC's Conservative Group, pending court proceedings
Cllr Bob Bayford, Leader of Thanet District Council Conservative Group today announced that Cllr Sandy Ezekiel would be voluntarily stepping down from the Conservative Group until the conclusion of legal proceedings.
Cllr Bayford said: “Conservative Group rules state that members facing criminal proceedings should be suspended from the Group until such proceedings are resolved. However, Cllr Ezekiel made it clear to me that, being aware of this, he wished to step down, in order to focus on refuting the allegations made against him and I fully support this decision.”
-ENDS-
So if a councillor is found guilty of council fraud in office can the voters expect them to pay back all the allowances they received during the time in question? In this case we could be looking at £40k.
ReplyDeleteThis should be so, but I doubt if it will be implimented
DeleteShould be paid back, but can't ever see this happening
DeleteI don't think Ted Watts-His-Name paid anything back (you know, the man who claims he lost everything yet is still a cllr), so probably not!
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know Ted Watts-his-name isn't a councillor any more, thank goodness, but I have heard he still hasn't paid back what he took from the Mayors Palour and someone is pushing this to be attended to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteI don't think any of these would have paid a penny back and they got done for far worse.
ReplyDeletehttp://eotp.org/tag/paedophilia/
8 36 I think you are mistaken
ReplyDeleteTed Watts-Ruffell didn't stand fro re-election in May 2011. Don't know about whether he paid back his mayoralor other allowances, though.
ReplyDeleteTony, since he was leader from 2003 he also oversaw the decline in Margate High Street with Westwood X openinging in 2005.
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of nastiness from people who do not realise how hard Cllr Ezekiel worked for Thanet, totally dedicated, an outstanding Leader who was always available for residents and colleagues. The nasty "brigade" should realise that in this country a person is innocent until proven guilty.
ReplyDeleteYou mean he's no longer a councillor Tony?
ReplyDeleteI hear that Ezekiel had the casting vote recently on which candidate would replace him should their be a need for a by-election? Could that mean the return of Roger Latchford or even Cyril Hoser?
ReplyDeleteGod I hope not!
DeleteSee all the spite and innuendo commentators are anonymous meaning, of course, that rather than a number there could actually be just one of them trying to make a lot of noise.
ReplyDeleteFor the benefit of the ill informed, the last TDC elections were in May 2010 when such paragons of virtue as Worrow and Driver were exalted to the chambers. You know, the ones who stand under one banner and then change after getting elected. Think I would rather have Sandy anyday, but then I am biased.
Yes, not guilty until proven but if proven its a very low crime stealing from an office of trust and a crime equal to tax and benefit fraud. That he was a decent chap is irrelevent. So are many in prison according to their friend and family. If he had been a teacher or worked at a bank, such charges result in suspension but it seems not as a councillor.
ReplyDeleteSorry disagree Stealing is a very bad crime and should be punished accordingly, no one should go unpunished.
DeleteMany of the crimes Councillors have committed would have been immediate dismissal at any other job, this is why I personally have no respect for the majority as they deserve none, in my world you have to earn respect until they do this, they get none from me. There are a few good ones but more bad ones
anon 10.09
ReplyDeleteAbsolute rubbish that in our corrupt courts you are innocent until proven guilty.
Try telling that to all the parents who have had their children stolen in Kent's secret family closed courts whilst every single elected official has stood by and done nothing !
02 41 It's rather difficult I find to rate crime on any scale as you have Sandy Ezekiel is clearly innocent until proved otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAll crime is"low" as you put it however maybe some of us find the shenanigans of local councillors fairly low on occasion such as those who chop and change party just to get elected or grandstand on various issue a just to promote their sympathies for the dark would of socialist left wing parties.
Clearly the behaviour of local councillors is on occasion disgraceful, deceitful, duplicitous despicable and dodgy and I'd say that party leaders are not immune however my assessment of Sandy Ezekiel is that he has always appeared clear and straight in his public dealings unlike some who've been publicly challenge on their dealings.
Well done Tony it is interesting to some of the comments, however your balanced view must be of comfort to Sandy and for those who do not subscribe to some of the comments,give Sandy a call of support
ReplyDeleteBut its lucky for you 3:19, for otherwise you would be found guilty of being a crushing bore without trial and be duly incarcerated in a place where you cannot ruin any more sensible blog debates.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is a crushing bore it must be that Tom Clarke/Bluenote/Ren Wood character.
ReplyDeleteSo predictable, so MI5... a treasonous snake, basically.
Tom,
ReplyDeleteThe last TDC elections were in May 2011 not 2010. 2010 was the year of the last general election.
We will probably see more of the few decent conservtives become independent to distance them selves from the likes of so-called Tom Clarke and the double standards brigade of CAT lovers soon
ReplyDelete08:58 My sincere apologies. Of course the TDC elections were in May last year and the year before was the General Election.
ReplyDeleteSee some anonymous troll is linking me with others, one of whom I have never heard of, simply because of similar views. You know there are more than one of us who are not Labour luvvies or conspiracy theorists.
Anymore of the treasonous snake name calling and I shall be obliged to report you to Cllr. Worrow. Anyway, I am a Royalist and pro government so where is the treason?
Did anybody notice this? what a shame they took 4 years to let us know we all could have had a whip round ?
ReplyDeleteKCC said the mistake arose when a member of staff inadvertently entered a change of bank details from leader Paul Carter on to Commercial Services Paul Carter's record.
"My secretary and my own office suggested to me that I needed to rein back on expenditure," said the council leader.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18074577
I know the KM and BBC can be a bit slow but 4 years to tell us that we are going to have to cough up another £20,000 plus for lord carter is bloody ridiculous !
ReplyDeletethe plot thickens the other 'carter' can now be found in china
ReplyDeleteisn't it funny they couldnt find him for 4 years and the BBC have suddenly found him in hours ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18111595
Who ever wrote this press release and made this statement
ReplyDelete"I for one have always found unlike some of his contemporaries Sandy Ezekiel to be well mannered and able to differentiate personal attack from political banter" All I can say is, you haven't attended many TDC meetings. On many ocassions his temper has been released at a fellow members or at the public gallery. What about the personal physical attack on a female councillor in a shop in Margate, also another attack on council member at a New Years Eve dinner at the Winter Gardens when Ezekiel used atrocious language on another Councillor.
I do not call this behaviour well mannered, but unacceptable for any Councillor, he should have been thrown out a few years ago.
Perhaps someone can answer this question why are councillors allowed to change parties without the vote of the people and still expect to be paid their wages? There are at least 4 councillors guilty of this act, why should we be forced to accept their flipant attitude towards politics, in fact why should this Council be run politically any way. If someone is suspended or arrested by the Police and charged, they should not receive wages of any kind.
What about your sick Labour colleague who is now in a senior role who made jokes about the holocaust, dont you think you need to get your own house in order eh!
DeleteWhat about the cabinet bod on sick leave "stress" you know the one, still able to deal with council business and happey to help themselves to taxpayer hard earned cast, Labour you know you couldn't make it up