Thanet Blogs how are we doing

You cannot help but be a little competitive, blogging, on occasion its worth standing back and accessing things so using an independent source here's how things stack up according to Wikio as of todays date with a cross reference to Google PageRank.

BLOG	WIKIO RANK	GOOGLE RANK
Bignews Margate	902	4
ThanetOnline	1209	3
Thanet Star	1462	4
Thanet Press Releases	1484	2
Thanet Life	1523	3
Thanet Coast	2140	3
Promote Thanet	4115	3

I have to fess up at this point, last month when I looked at my ranking it didn't look too good, so I didn't bother to tally the standings, as you might appreciate I do this for fun not to highlight my short comings of which there are many.

Still that said, on my previous posting local blogger, and purveyor of tasteful exotic photography, Peter Checksfield, has taken to berating me for not commenting on Tesco's development on Margate front, well the answers simple, do one Peter (by that I mean do your own blog on the subject).I work long hours, and can only do so much, so Peter stop playing with your camera and get creative.

Us bloggers do this stuff for various reasons, me to infuriate those who rule us, from politicians to jobsworths and all those Muppets in-between.

Still perhaps the best for me is knowing, that while I have limited talents, my original catalyst for doing Bignews (please note one word, wot I made up) Margate, was hearing Simon Moores wittering on about his blog at some public meeting.

In fact it's some joy to realise that Moores, such a talent!, who I find quite er..... ,  qualified that's the word, Doctor! Marines! Pilot! Security! Ex Teacher, Ex SDP?, Ex Labour adviser?,reborn Tory Councillor,  Airborne advertising hoarding even journalist, is not rated as highly as myself in the ranks of Thanet's bloggerati.

I appreciate some of you will feel I'm being harsh, re Moores but one other thought and this is why I mention Cllr Moores, he has access to council information, he and his Tory colleagues in Thanet council have blocked access to council information and even wanted to create a council blogging policy.

Blogging is also about the freedom to express, and enquire about stuff, without and this is the most important, being edited, controlled or censored.

None of us have to read blogs and that's all you really need to know, if it's crap we just move along.

Cllr. Mark Nottingham - winning here and a withdrawal?

Don't panic I haven't suddenly seen the light, by winning here, I don't mean like, me here at Flaig Mansions, taken up Mark's brand of Labour politics, my life long allegiance to Liberal politics, remains, at the time of blogging has Clive Hart confirmed his resignation (NO),  it's just here in internet space, checking out, Wikio rankings I see that Mark's bloggin rates highest of all, here on the Island.

Wikio Rankings for Feb 2011

From one end of Kent	669
Bignews Margate	762
Thanet Press Releases	1122
Thanet Online	1201
Thanet Star	1275
Thanet Life	1699
Promote Thanet	2714
Thanet Coast	2772

So as always, Bignews remains second rate, still the accolade or lack of, which cuts deepest for me, was the omission of Bignews Margate from this weeks Sunday ramble in Michael Child's Thanet Online, surely the cruellest cut of all.

The only crumb of comfort  for me is that along with Margate Architecture (which for some reason is not listed Wikio), Bignews and From one end of Kent, currently have a Google page rank of 4, which higher, than that of other local, blogs. I must say I'm a wee bit surprised that Thanet Life is currently in the "also ran" category, still that would explain why Cllr Simon Moores has been squatting on the comment pages of this blog recently.

Update on the Hart – Nottingham kerfuffle, I rang Cllr Nottingham tonight to see if there were any developments, unfortunately he was in transit and unable to comment or explain why his whistleblowing posting has vaporised as I type! Curious! hopefully Mark will find himself a wi-fi hotspot and let us know.

Margate Caves time for council to fess up

Its one of those unfortunate features of Thanet Council, that public statements or information coming from officers and councillors is often misleading and at worst one assumes deliberately intended to hoodwink and bamboozle, we who bankroll and suffer  the consequences of slipshod local government.

A prime example is Thanet councils decision to seal up the entrance to Margate caves, various figures have been quoted as too how much it would cost to make the caves safe, £100,000, £150,000 and even I am told a rather hysterical £250,000 at one point on Simon Moores Site ( apparently later changed to the more credible £150,000).

Both Thanet Extra and Gazette reporters quote a figure £100,000, so what are we to conclude, maybe council officers don't wish us to worry or maybe Cllr Simon Moores knows more and isn't frightened to let us know.

I know Cllr Moores is a busy person and I just wonder, if perhaps he's taking on a bit more than he can handle, still it seems such is his omnipotence, that recently, I note he has taking to giving his opinion on how or whether I should blog, a bit like all that hypercritical nonsense spouted about blogging protocols for councillor.

Moores seems intent on engineering a spat, and I for one really have better things to do, still I sometimes wonder if "its just me" although I am truly indebted to the lady who emailed me earlier this week and used rather emphatic language which convinced me it wasn't.

Both officers and politicians have a duty to communicate clearly and in an objective way, there will always be politicians happy to fill the media with instant and meaningless babble and waffle.

My comment on whether or not Margate Caves is worth saving for a hundred grand is this, I'm led to believe by councillors, that senior officers, superfluous to a leaner council, will be getting generous enhanced severance pay, and its my belief that the sums involved would easily pay for safety work on the Caves.

If Thanet council could fess up and give us accurate figures, I think we know how the public would wish to see money spent, invested in local heritage for the future, or given to those who in some cases have contributed to the area's decline.

Goodbye from them and er Goodnight from me - The end of blogging

I like to think I don't get too introverted, I like to think I've something to add, I like to think, I like to expand, I don't give a flyer if you struggle to understand.

I blog therefore I am.

Fellow bloggers this week seem in melancholy mood, blogging is not what it once was, well neither are a lot of things, my looks, my future, even the laptop is beginning to look bloated and full, my blog has recently attracted the sort of fixated nutters I try not to emulate.

I don't think that anybody is saying that blogging is dead but there are clearly quicker easier shorter sharper methods of getting your message across like twitter and facebook.

It's not always that simple I feel, if I have something to say you need to know why I'm saying it, you need to know the emotions the facts or the reasons why I post as I do, and more depth  than 140 odd characters in a twitter post can offer. 

A simple four letter word like sh!t can be very expressive if you have just stepped off the pavement in front of a speeding juggernaut, the word conveying seriousness, desperation, futility and any other emotion that needs to be quickly expressed.

However an opinion on say a political policy, has to be more explanatory, otherwise you just come across as a complete moron ,as I suspect many of you view me, hey ho, do you think I give a     !!

Call it arrogance if you will but I'm convinced that blogging has given me some influence in the way things are perceived or indeed outcomes.

Blogs have become a very vital alternative to writing to the editor of the local newspapers I for one do not have any interest in sending a letter to the local newspaper to have it edited shortened or selected or not selected.

If there is one initiative locally in blogging that is interesting it's that Kent messenger group for instance who have a blogging section on their website, which I would suspect they maintain editorial control and therefore the ultimate product, I know this sort of thing appeals to the likes of some local Tories who are never more happy than when dreaming of blogging protocols but I prefer the blogging unfettered by editors.

Finally one of my long running themes is the manipulation of media which in Kent often means your local authority spending vast sums on advertising and  public relations or poor reporting as is the case with the BBC who have an  indifference to the local political structures, I hope I don't get side-lined into the dinosaurs and idiots section of Internet but who knows.

Have a happy new year and check out fellow highly inspiring bloggers Michael Child, Simon Moores, blogs come and go, they're not all about boring politics some have more interesting and uplifting items like Don's Promote Thanet. Blogs come an go I wont do this for ever so why not start your own.

Labour in disarray? And a bit of Clarity from Michael Child

Is it me or are Labour in disarray, on a national level Labour's new union appointee, Ed Milliband, has as yet to impact on any level, OK he nipped off, on, er paternity, and this time got his name on the birth certificate, but you'd think anyone with a bit of ambition or any idea, would have put some sort of stamp on his party as to its direction.

As leader of the opposition, Ed's making some of the Conservative failed opposition leaders, look damned good including Ian Duncan Smith, William Hague, and perhaps the worst even making Labour's most uncharismatic and inept leader Michael Foot, look good, if nothing else these guys had personality.

Labour has been reduced to name calling, the construction of the Con-dem tag is about as good as it gets and of coarse blaming Liberal Democrats for giving the country a stable government, locally I see "Local Labour" run by Cllr Clive Hart, has little to offer although it looks like they managed to send from the Thanet bunker a minor attack* on Tory leader Cllr Bayford.

Apparently from a quick gander, it seems Conservative leader Cllr Bob Bayford might have made a grumpy comment about councillors being elected to make decisions, and Thanet residents lacking basic language skills, no surprise really, a typical offensive Tory view, if true, one might say.

Still as entertaining as it is to read of Bob Bayford's offensive remarks, it hardly contributes to any knowledge as to what Labours own views are on say proposals to tart up Margate seafront.

An item raised on Michael Child's weblog Thanetonline is the near invisible "consultation"  by TDC, on how or what sort of Leader is appointed to run the council, two choices a leader appointed for 4years by councillors or a Mayor elected by we the people.

Imagine the fun, if us mere mortals could vote for a Mayor, you could I guess have Labour's Cllr Clive Hart as Mayor, with a majority tory group, brilliant!

Still whilst we don't know what Local Labour stand for these days. apart from a photo opportunity, and a bit of nimbyism, we do know that a dedicated blogger, like Michael Child does a good job in trawling through the nitty gritty of Thanet Council to bring to light items, the council appear to deliberately wish buried, no press release no mention on their consultation pages and no mention in the local press, or even our local parties Labour and Conservatives

Whether Labour have a mature and business like approach is debatable, still if they want to make any head way in next years local elections or not get trashed, Thanet's Labour group are going to have man up and get a few policies, pointing out rude remarks made by conservatives is not going to get anyone elected.

PS. What's happening with Labours professional politician Cllr Mark Nottingham? He seems quiet on the blogging front.

Isle of Thanet Blogging just where did it all go wrong

Michael Child laments the decline in blogging locally in a recent posting on his weblog, its true that blogging is not what it once used to be, I've been posting for 4 years, when I started it was fairly novel, in these parts and is possible still unique in the concentration of bloggers on the Isle of Thanet.

Its clear there are far fewer postings and some of the best contributors are no longer posting, also he points out that blogs were a good source of news in the past,I agree with him that little fresh news is reported on our local blog sites for myself I've never really attempted to produce fresh news but maybe had a different outlook from my own cynical viewpoint .

It seems to me that the main reason that people don't post as much as they did in the past is, a change in the atmosphere, Michael mentioned back scratching, which has, I'm afraid morphed in to scratching each others eyes out. Michael's monthly assessment of the local blogging scene is always of interest to me and I suspect all other bloggers in Thanet. In fact I wonder whether he shouldn't change the title for this monthly report and remove the pinch and a punch reference as I'm not sure that, that reference isn't an incitement.

The political backdrop has changed and Tory councillors in agreement with senior council officers realising they were getting a bad press, did what they could to stem the flow of information from Labour councillors by creating a pointless and expensive blogging charter, so as not offend council bosses who have an aversion to the public gaze, particularly when in concerns their frequently inept and damaging actions or inactions.

On more than one occasion local councillors have resorted to law, mainly I understand at your expense through the crazy council standards board system, set up by a cretinous Labour government, which I think is being scrapped by the coalition, myself I have not been immune from the odd fracas, I take exception to personal abuse, none more so, than when a fellow blogger wants me, to ask "nicely" to remove utter sh!t from their blog, another instance of irritation for me is our local  "media fantasist" carries this description of Bignews Margate n. a fatuous blog that pays lip service to 'freedom of speech' but shits its britches at the first sign of trouble. which is good coming from someone who I recall on my first meeting, wore dark sunglasses and a hat, in the style of z list celebs and I note that at the first sign of trouble ECR makes his blog site unavailable.

Anyhow there was a sense of common purpose amongst a group of ageing opinionated bloggers and probably still is, however the worlds moved on, and unfortunately life for the bloggerati, is not what once was, now its often personal, and some prefer abuse to discussion using a pseudonym, then to campaign for free speech from behind the sofa as ECR does, maybe the author will man up one day and use his own name, of course there is nothing wrong with being anonymous however if its just a device to take liberties...

I only mention ECR as abusive comments placed on his site remain an irritation, probably the main reason I don't blog much these days, for others its the threat of legal proceedings. So anyhow blogging is not just about finding a subject, its competitive, some of us are honest and know our limitations, my ambition is to one day to post a blog that is concise and that gets a point across grammatically and without offending anyone

Still regrettable as some blogging relationships go, maybe, its healthy not to get too matey, coming back to Michael's monthly pondering on Thanet Blogs here's my own Chart list created by visiting Wikio as you can see, this seems as erratic (bollix) surely ECR ought to be at the top of the heap, and how the hell does Simon Moore**** bag first place still how come Michael gets second with his own largely original content but third with recycled press releases from the council and how far has Labour boy Mark Nottingham slipped. I should point out that my ranking was unavailable till last month I don't hold much reliance in such things although the brief time I had a google page rank of 4 was a real ego boast. The most important thing is if you don't like a blog move on, find one that suits.

Thanet life 2150 (General ranking)  275 (political ranking) Therfore No1 for politics

NO.1 Thanetonline 596

NO.2 Thanet press releases 675

NO.3 Eastcliff Richard 789

-  also runs -

Bignews Margate 1143

From one end of Kent 1776

Thanet Star 2263

Thanet Coast Life 2776
****** OPPS! Sorry! there might well be some errors in these numbers above **** In general ranking Michael Child is the winner in first & Second place ECR beaten into third place by regurgitated press releases from Thanet district Council (Well done Cherly Pendry and colleagues) Still Simon Moores is number one as far as political influence, I quickly compiled these in about 2minutes, apologies for those not mentioned it was just a quick compilation!

Ramsgate – Boulogne and wannabe experts – And what’s the fuss about

I know pretty much damn all, about the recent controversy concerning Euroferries, proposed ferry service from Ramsgate Port to Boulogne.

I’m vaguely aware that two local bloggers Adem Djemil (The Big Blog) and ECR were sent correspondence from legal firms acting on behalf of the ferry company, I’m also aware that this country has rather draconian laws of defamation which have created a new bread of customer for Britain’s specialist law firms which deal with Libel.

Please note before more avaricious lawyers get briefed, I’m not referring to specifics cases, but it seems the custom in this country that if you don’t like what somebody says about you and you’ve deep enough pockets, you can bully and threaten people into silence by merely suggesting taking legal action.

As many will know I had my own run in with a contractor working for Kent Council who made suggestions, that should I continue to comment on the project I was referring too they might well involve me in expensive legal actions, fortunately I had the support of the blogging community.

Tonight BBC 1’s “Inside Story” will I’m told by the Big Blog & Eastcliff Richard site report on Euroferries association with Ramsgate port and the long awaited and often delayed service to Boulogne. I see in the trailer for that show that multi talented local author Jane Wenham-Jones, sometime columnist and critic of this blog, has been dragged into comment, quite what she knows about maritime affairs etc I don’t know, I suspect its a case that the BBC have used her before and have chosen her for that reason rather than expertise.

Anyway programme is about to start but its a feature of English life, that people can pontificate on matters they little knowledge just like this blog and hopefully without being sued by big interests and greedy lawyers.

AFTER INSIDE STORY

As I said at the top of this I knew little before and perhaps even less, after watching the story of Euroferries proposed ferry service, which was covered BBC1 SE Inside Story, the report was filmed, in what I’d term, sub Roger Cook style and had everything broken promises, mildly miffed interviewees Plain Blimin Jane a bit upset that she hadn’t been able to sail on the Bonanza Express, Paul Wells (Bertie Biggles) worried about heavy handed legal threats, the only thing, missing of course was any victims, alright if Euroferries is not about to go into administration they have every right to protect their image, if customers have had refunds to cancelled sailings, strange as all of this seems, where is the beef?

A storm in a teacup would just about some up the episode, a couple of bloggers may have been treated harshly I don’t know the background if so, this is wrong and maybe that is the story, lawyers pressuring this new blogging media a bit like TDC’s over the top response to freedom of expression by elected representatives.

By Election Special - Dane Valley the final stretch and whatever happened to Labour

Just a quick posting before I head off to cast my vote, this election is, when all is taken into consideration only remarkable for its origins and background.

The resignation of absentee, Cllr Broadhurst I recall never really occurred, since his letter of resigning, was found not to be acceptable by council officials, eventually he was automatically removed from the council, the handling by the local Conservative party of the situation was typically of the light, sloppy and weak managerial approach shown by their administration of Thanet council.

Anyway we, that is us voters, have in the last few weeks had more than a few leaflets, on the blog sites’ there has been the usual insight, from middle-aged gits like myself, some with an axe to grind like I think a rather cheeky Cllr Nottingham who comes out with this tosh “I note that Tony Flaig rejoined the Liberal Democrats recently and think with his frequent comments on the by-election campaign it would be best if readers saw writing or an image or clear writing so that they knew they were reading a yellowtinted opinion. In what looks like typical sanctimonious Labour style, we then read, that he, puts his party membership at the top of his blog, as well he might being employed as a Eurocrat Labour functionary (and has for some time). Please note my joining the Liberal Democrats (about three weeks ago) does not make me a zombie.

Down to the nitty-gritty, this election was eventually triggered for no other reason, than we have had an absentee representative in Dane Valley and the law at least requires our representative to show their face at council, but the electorate prefer more than some party member, who’s been given a seat by the local hierarchy what we want is someone who will actively represent us.

Therefore it would be nonsense to pick a candidate because they happen to be more local than the next which seems to be the thinking of some of our lightweight contenders, also we need to ignore emotive nonsense like this from one candidate “ I will simply not get into the mud-slinging " blah blah blah…. presumably that’s down to somebody else then.

Here’s what my choice is based on, knowing that the candidate I’m voting for has done much hard work for this constituency has already shown a willingness to do a bit of hard graft.

So I’ll be voting for Bill Furness (Lib Dem) today, because this is a local election, not a referendum on how Labour has impoverished the ordinary people of Dane Valley (which they have), or whether the Conservative Party should take over from Labours onslaught on working people.

Finally I see Clive Hart’s crew, seems too embarrassed to be associated with Labour, maybe upfront Cllr Mark Nottingham could explain that one ? instead they have in the most recent communication put the logo “thanet Local Labour” rather than remind the electorate of just who they represent.

Things to do on your day off – Listen to “Mandelson Hypocrisy”- BBC Radio Kent product placement – Blogging – Political Redemption

Firstly listen to radio four's “Today” programme for as long as you can bear, which in my case was until Peter “Chump” Mandelson came on and proceeded to criticise the Murdoch Press (not that I'm to keen), I think the suggestion of bias towards the conservative party was more than a bit rich, quality Mandelson hypocrisy failing to mention that for the last ten or twelve years, Labour had been more than happy, to have Murdoch's support, which might explain why the Murdoch Press has such a huge influence in the British media, and how astonishingly in the large parts of the country, SKY TV represents a monopoly provider of subscription TV, which for some reason “honest” Labour politicians like he, have never thought to question.

Over breakfast, I thought I'd give radio Kent a go, so I could experience the uniqueness of BBC's regional broadcasting, one of the things we're told justifies paying the BBC broadcast tax, listening to John and Jules Breakfast was the usual disappointing tripe made up of a shameless a promo for documentary on George Best's son, followed with an equally outrageous item on “SimplicITy computers” which as far as I'm concerned was an unquestioning promotion of a commercial product.

Any way my attention turned as it does to blogging so after my second cuppa, I thought I'd launch into top Thanet politician, Cllr Mark Nottingham, his style is often sanctimonious and written in that “Labour knows best sort of way” which always hacks me off.

Afterward I thought I’d ring up BBC Radio Kent and pass on my displeasure at the unapologetic plug for “Simplicity Computers”, apparently the way these regional stations (BBC) work, is that some of the content is shared and somewhere in London, BBC boffins create content for their far flung outposts around Britain including Kent, which is why I feel vindicated over my often levelled criticism that Radio Kents content could be broadcast anywhere.

I feel that BBC's Radio Kent frequently use topics that require no research or effort to fill their tedious Breakfast with show makes regional broadcasting utterly pointless. It may be trivial but the real irritation of this promotion of a computer for the more mature citizen (blimey that's me) wasn't just the unchallenged condescension but the failure to refer to comparable products, assuming that there are some, like asus eeepc favoured by myself and Mr Puss (seen using here).

Pondered on Luke Edward’s tweet, concerned at the invitation only access on Ramsgate's most notorious blog sites, which I no longer visit but would suggest this is normal procedure when things get a little heated and its probably the usual cut and run tactic, when the author goes too far.

After blogging I thought I'd do something positive which I have done, which was rejoining the Liberal Democratic Party after lapsing some years back.

That was this morning, topped off with a quick visit to Rooks the home top quality lunch time snacks.

Should KCC Chief Executive Put Up or Shut Up ?

Ray Parker, another Kent blogger, pointed out on his blog recently that Peter Gilroy KCC Chief Exec had written a letter which appeared in this weekends “Kent on Sunday”, now I don’t know whether you share my view of the role of government employees, whether local or national I feel they should confine their opinions to themselves or their colleagues or political masters.

I share Ray Parkers concerns about impartiality, now I don’t care how important Peter Gilroy thinks he is or even how others judge him but its my feeling that he should keep his views to himself unless of course he has been asked to comment by his democratically elected bosses.

Now just to clarify, by Put up, I mean he himself should perhaps stand for public office once he retires from KCC or Shut up by which I mean he should keep his views to himself whilst employed by the Kent Taxpayer.

Still what do I know?

Well what do you expect, Mr Gilroy would support this and me as taxpayer knows, that most do not, and having been given figures concerning the “savings” frankly don’t share his view.

Finally if Peter Gilroy wants anyone to take his views seriously why doesn’t he write as Peter Gilroy member of the public like tony flaig of Bignews Margate.

Local Thanet Blogger quoted in today’s Sunday Times

Another example of just how influential Thanet Bloggers are is found in the pages of today’s Sunday Times, admittedly mention is not found until somewhere in the middle but it is in the news section, I usually dont get that far before Tuesday evening except when I’ve the weekend off, as is the case this week.

Any how page 12 “Kent Blogger” gets a mention, if you’ve not a copy then click here.

If you’d like to read more about the subject matter Kent TV click here

Kite flying and the blogger who cant get it up

Just a reminder that this weekend is the Big Sky International Kite Festival, held over two days with some pretty impressive displays of Kite Flying on Margate’s Main Sands. Full details are here or just get yourself down to Margate front.

Oh, on a blogging related matter, I see that Cllr Mark Nottingham, Thanet’s favourite Eurocrat has been named as one of Labours top 100 bloggers, (Crikey! how many can there be), also see Ramsgate’s self proclaimed premier blogger (ECR) uses the opportunity to take a side swipe at other local bloggers including me, with a link to this site as “another local loser”.

What I’d say and this will no doubt come back and bite me on the bum, is this, what matters is how colder hearted more analytical assessments are made and judging by googles PageRank, despite being authored by a shovel wielding F-wit, Bignews Margate ranks higher than most scoring 4 which is more than Dr Moores (3) but less than Corporate Presenter (5) both of whom had the privilege of attending Charles Dickens School around the same time as me. (Margate Architecture is also rated 4).

Anyway unlike Ramsgate’s limp “premier blogger” I’ve managed to get my google PageRank up and keep it up at least since June and without artificial stimulants.

It seems that Ramsgates “king of bloggin” is consumed by the knowledge that despite his education and breeding an oik like me can out rank him which I do, he may be funnier he may be more popular but so what.

From June

Moving on and some new talent

I may be spending less time blogging for a while, in fact I have, this last week, nothing to do some rather excitable malarkey hitting the fan from a southerly direction.

Anyway mentioning last weeks side show, which I’m sure will rumble on from the Eastcliff bunker, ECR now deserted by facts and truth seemingly devotes his energies into marshaling his diminishing empty flawed and vacant accusations and crafted slurs to what end I don’t know.

Make no mistake, I’m happy to accept my limitations, some see me as an Oaf, a blundering idiot, bereft of talent and grammar, who cares, references to me being partial to pies, sausages etc.so what, however what I won’t do is swallow “porkies” from ECR or anyone.

Sorry, yes moving on I’d like to praise newcomer to the Thanet’s bloggerati Luke Edwards and his Thanet Waves blog, I like his style and his first few posting are good, I see from his profile he’s already an experienced blogger. Assuming Luke is as prolific, as some of Thanet’s old farts, then I think we (local bloggers) might all be put in the shade.

Eastcliff Richard Why I’ve cut my links

Trust, earlier this week a comment was placed 15 minutes after he finished a critical post of me.

The comment was bogus, a complete deception from whom I do not know.

Yesterday he refused to delete the comment, today, you will find an elaborate prevarication at the bottom of that same posting.

I’ve gone out of my way to help protect the anonymity of author of ECR on more than one occasion and would do so right now.

The author of ECR is a likable person and its with more than a little regret I have cut the link and ironically not for the last time, I acknowledge the great help he gave me over Ten Alps and the KCC TV affair.

ECR’s abusive comments, physical intellectual blah blah blah the difference is I’m comfortable with my mediocrity, clearly I shall never have the same talent as he however when fact turns to fiction, forget about it.

PS Its only from Tony Flaig if its got my name tag, although clearly some try to imitate.

Dilemmas – How to respond to public abuse from “Thanet’s Premier Blogger”

I found it, a bit rich that Ramsgate’s self proclaimed “Premier Blogger” had the cheek to accuse me recently of being a two faced pillock.

Two faced indeed, in order to substantiate, the slur, a private conversation was quoted accurately or not, I could care less its the principle.

Clearly Thanet’s Premier blogger seems to have his own ethical standards, something along the lines of having his cake and eating it.

Should I respond by similarly breaking confidences, its not like me but since its less than a year since the last insinuation.

Cllr Broadhurst almost the invisible man

As you might expect I like to check things before I post up one of these rant’s and in the course of things I felt it necessary to check on whether or not or on what grounds it would be possible to report one of my councillors to the standards board for possibly, bringing the council in to disrepute.

During the course of my conversation with TDC’s deputy monitoring chap, the subject of Cllr Broadhurst came up, and it was mentioned that his last attendance, was on 23rd July, now this was news to me, and recalling that I had also attended the meeting, I felt sure that had Cllr. Broadhurst been present, he would have most likely introduced himself.

The monitoring chap said he would check, after I pointed out that Sandy Ezekiel had not mentioned his recent attendance at council either when he email me on the 29 July.

I rang round a few councillors eventually finding one in who confirmed that they had not seen Cllr Broadhurst in July, not for the first time I had been proved right, this incidentally makes Simon Moores suggestion that Cllr Broadhurst has an attendance record of 40% also incorrect and is 33% as I previously stated.

On ringing back the council bod, confirmed that having checked the attendance record and video of the meeting they had amended their records and the website although I see still no apology for his absence in the minutes of that meeting, tut tut.

This means Cllr Broadhurst will still have to attend council some time before or during October if he is to keep his seat, lucky I spotted it really otherwise he could have waited till just before Christmas to come back.

I see Moores and Nottingham are slugging it out on this issue and must say I'm much enjoying it.

PS How this "phantom attendance" came about is something the monitoring officer or chief exec needs to explain pronto, it might well be he was "signed in" by a mate, or an error on the part of an "officer".

“a public duty to be both courteous and responsible”

A quote and a belief I understand from Simon Moores as to values that councillors should share and the latest defence of Thanet councils attempt to curb free expression of elected representatives, (this is a reference to a proposed blogging policy understood to be work in Progress (for Simon Moores Benefit)).

No doubt these are values that everyone should aspire to, that said I’m sure that Simon Moores adheres to these, still there are other considerations, assuming my memory is accurate, didn’t he recently back Cllr Jo Gideon in a leadership contest against the incumbent Cllr Sandy Ezekiel, then the following day accept her cabinet post from the man he opposed.

I’m sure that he showed all the due respect and polite manners in accepting Cllr Ezekiel’s offer to sit at the top table and no doubt was acting responsibly in filling the vacancy. I’m sure he would measure up as well as his colleagues on all those other idealistic values, we like to think our politicians ought to possess.

The simple truth is that politicians if anything are mostly honest, mostly decent and always human.

If the council continue to pursue a blogging policy in addition to the already controversial “Standards Board” nonsense, they will in doing so, I feel bring Thanet Council in to disrepute.

I myself resisted the temptation to report one of Sandy’s colleagues who told me that all bloggers were “perverts”, clearly the councillor was “barking” but so what, it takes all sorts to make a council.

Email Received From Cllr Clive Hart Leader of Thanet Council Labour Group

I thought this text of an email sent to me by Cllr Clive Hart might add some balance to the concerns of Parish Councillor John Worrow.

Please note that I have enabled comment moderation, since it would appear there has been a concerted theme on some comments made earlier which I will remove should Mark Nottingham request, having already offered the same facility to John Worrow.

From my perspective this all seems a mountain of a molehill, it is the case as I understand that Mark Nottingham is not in a position to respond, until he receives official conformation that a Standards board complaint has been withdrawn.

It is also worth putting in context that some members of the conservative group, are apparently backing moves by council officers to curtail or constrain what councillors can and cannot say via the internet. Why they would wish to restrict or “bully”*, councillors in what they say is a matter of conjecture, but I have my theories.

*since that seems to be the buzz word this week

 

Tony

 

On your blog Cllr. Worrow has very selectively quoted just a very small part of an email I sent to him which I thought was a private matter.

 

However, as he has seen fit to quote from it, please feel free to print it in full for your readers.

 

Please be absolutely clear - I was certainly not commenting on any particular article or blog as Cllr. Worrow was not at all specific, I was simply responding to his earlier email of 12th July which I also paste below.

 

Regards

 

Clive

___________ 

 

14/07/2009

 

Cllr. Worrow

 

I respond to your email of 12th July, pasted at the end of this email.

 

Firstly, please be absolutely assured that in the Labour Group we will not tolerate bullying of any kind from anyone and I hope you will note that wherever and whenever necessary, Labour members have stood firm and fought strongly against such behaviour up to and at the very highest level within TDC.

 

I'm afraid I am not aware of the 'cyber bullying' to which you refer but the Labour Group has very strict checks and balances in place and every member is aware of their personal responsibility for their own blog sites. You will know as a politician yourself that we all have to accept some political knockabout and indeed in the run up to the last local and Parish elections I understand you spent a considerable amount of time attempting to work with other parties in an adverse way against your Conservative opponents in Birchington.

 

I do understand that some Conservative members at TDC may want to exert 'control' over internet blog sites but I can assure you, we in the Labour Group value freedom of speech.  I am also aware of statistics that clearly indicate there is a real issue with the number of Conservative members reporting other council members on standards issues.  If TDC MEMBERS decide these matters should be debated at full council, we in the Labour Group would be only too happy to do so - and robustly!

 

As for the tone of your email, I take exception to the arrogant manner in which you try to tell me what is, or is not, my moral responsibility in the first sentence, and I am offended by the sentence near the end written in red ink - you can expect what you like but I will do whatever is correct in any given circumstances after giving all matters, views and opinions my full consideration!

 

Cllr. Clive Hart - TDC Labour Group Leader.

____________________________________

 

Dear Cllrs Hart, Mc Castree and Ezekiel

 

As TDC group leaders, I am sure that each of you will acknowledge that you have a moral responsibility to ensure that your members do not engage in cyber bullying.

As local government representatives we all have a duty to set an example to young Internet users.

A number of  parish, town and district colleagues have expressed the view that new rules are needed relating to this subject; therefore I feel that it is necessary for TDC councillors to debate the anti-cyber bullying issue at full council, in particular the need to adopt new rules relating to councillors that run their own Internet blogs.

 Cyber bullying is insidious; bystanders can become accessories by passing on a humiliating message.

If a council member continues to engage in this destructive activity after being reported, I would expect the leader of the group concerned to take unilateral action against the member.

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours sincerely

Cllr John Worrow

Birchington Parish Council member 

Thousands of Wheelie Bins on the move to counter bad publicity

In a shock move, the council has decided to issue wheelie bins after reading Eastcliffs Blog and noticing a couple of photographs showing thousands of bins they’d forgotten about littering Ramsgate Harbour.

Thanet council are putting a brave face on things with Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson (Cabinet Member for Environmental Services) saying “This roll-out is part of the council’s ongoing work to try and get as many properties as possible on to the wheeled bin scheme and has been planned for some time.” Yeah rigtheo!

Planned for some time I’m sure but why haven’t they mentioned it previously, how come Sandy Ezekiel didn’t think to mention this a couple of weeks ago when he was advising us to go and buy our own bins, on his “one man crusade” Click here for Thisiskent story

New collections will be starting during September through to November.

Would this of happened, had not some council officer had his memory jogged by reading Eastcliff Richard Blog I think not. see his story click here

EASTCLIFF’S LATE BREAKING NEWS

There is breaking news and breaking news, ECR who rarely visits this part of the web, has on Thanet’s other top Blog, Eastcliff Richard a “Breaking news feature”, unfortunately for him, its not as quite farm fresh, as he might think, since it refers to the extraordinary decision of KCC to extend the life of KENT TV.

The story was covered at some length (yawn!) on Bignews back on the Tuesday 30th June but its fair to say that the story ECR links to by Paul Francis serves up the facts in a more professional and agreeable form than is likely on these pages.