Mayor chain decision 'not democratic' (From Oxford Mail)
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting OXFORD NEWS to 80360 or email us
Mayor chain decision 'not democratic'
5:00pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197
Buy this photo »
Councillors Les Sibley, left, and Nick Cotter with the list of past mayors. Picture: OX57333 Andrew Walmsley
COUNCIL leaders have been accused of “running roughshod” over democracy in a bid to approve a controversial £8,600 new Mayoral chain.
Bicester Town Council members who opposed the move said a vote was taken too quickly in an attempt to get the chain approved.
Now they are warning they will take their case over the council’s heads unless a new vote is taken. But ruling Tories say the vote stands.
Members approved the £8,636.52 chain on February 11 despite concerns the “vain” purchase was not right during a time of austerity. Three councillors “called in” the decision for review, putting the purchase on hold.
They planned to put forward an alternative on March 26, but Mayor Dan Sames then called an extraordinary council meeting for February 25. The call-in was discussed at that meeting and the chain decision then approved on March 11 at a meeting brought forward from March 26.
But Labour’s Les Sibley and Nick Cotter and Conservative Debbie Pickford said the council should have waited until March 26 for a decision.
They say if it is not resolved “satisfactorily” they will take the matter to the district auditor or Local Government Ombudsman.
Mr Sibley told councillors on Monday: “I believe the calling of an extraordinary meeting by the town mayor and chief officers was a blatant attempt to frustrate and run roughshod over the council’s standing orders”. The move was “to undermine the democratic calling in”.
Miss Pickford put forward an “olive branch” motion on March 11 to call on the council to hold off buying the chain until the complaint was resolved. But it was rejected nine to three by her Conservative colleagues.
Council Conservative group leader James Porter said: “This is an absolute undisputable democratic decision by this council. Everything following is full of bluster trying to put up a smoke screen.
“If people want to put in a complaint let them do so but this council has made its decision.”
Comments(14)
steve1955
says...
6:45pm Fri 15 Mar 13
What are you saying Naughty Naughty they are all honest people in political parties have tou ever known a politician be convicted of anything in a court of law????????
tired99
says...
8:34pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Severian
says...
9:21pm Fri 15 Mar 13
It just goes to show that absolute power allows people to behave with absolute contempt.
The solution is obvious - we need to vote them out of office in this May's elections, and every year thereafter until they learn to care about the people not themselves.
Arkright
says...
10:05pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Matlowsrule
says...
10:50am Sat 16 Mar 13
The cost that we tax payers are paying is only £1700 that is less than is spent those stupid snow machines at Xmas lights. Apparently this will last for 34 years so that makes £50 a year. A small price for recording the Town's history.
The rest of the money (just over £5k) comes from the sales of some statue that was sold yonks ago and can only be spent on something the Town can keep.
I don't see how it is selfish or vanity when the councillors don't get anything out of it. Perhaps you think they should sell the current chain if you think it is that unimportant. Quite frankly there are more important things going on and I don't see why so much fuss is being made about something so trivial!
Lezzo1
says...
11:13am Sat 16 Mar 13
If the Bicester Council have that Extra money to spend. Then why not put it to good use.
Use it for the upkeep of The Garth Park House, Grounds, Animal Graves and Stables which belong to the People of Bicester. The condition of the Garth House is the Bicester Council's responsibility. They have made use of the house ever since it was given (Left) to the People of Bicester. They have sold off various parts of the Garth Grounds. They sold off the Garth Fields. They have sold off any thing of Value. (Such as the Othello Bust that sat half way up the Stairs) All money's made from these sales should have been spent on the Upkeep of the Garth House, Park, Stables and the Animal Graves which the People Bicester left in their Care. Now that the Bicester are due to move to new offices, Will the Garth House be used for Bicester's Museum and the Various Groups in Bicester that have wished to use it over the years, but have been told that upstairs are is in an unfit state.
What I am trying to say is
"Will the Garth House, the Stables, the Animal Graves be left in the same condition when Bicester Council moves out, as it was when Bicester Council moved in"
If not, then surely they are responsible for putting it right, as it was Left In Their Care For The People Of Bicester by the People of Bicester. Thankyou Lezzo.
P/s I have Photo's of most of Animals in the Graveyard 1917 onwards.
Arkright
says...
11:41am Sat 16 Mar 13
The cost that we tax payers are paying is only £1700 that is less than is spent those stupid snow machines at Xmas lights. Apparently this will last for 34 years so that makes £50 a year. A small price for recording the Town's history.
The rest of the money (just over £5k) comes from the sales of some statue that was sold yonks ago and can only be spent on something the Town can keep.
I don't see how it is selfish or vanity when the councillors don't get anything out of it. Perhaps you think they should sell the current chain if you think it is that unimportant. Quite frankly there are more important things going on and I don't see why so much fuss is being made about something so trivial!
ONLY £1700 ... says it all really !
bicester born and breed
says...
12:02pm Sat 16 Mar 13
It is the same with the position of the mayor. When we had independents sitting on the council the mayor was someone who had served the town, now it seems to be a party political reward.
Could it be that the councillors want their names engraved in case the town forgets they were ever the mayor!
Lezzo1
says...
12:37pm Sat 16 Mar 13
It was sold at a very good auction house for around £80,000 give or take a bit. Was that money, at that time, spent on the upkeep of the Garth ? just give me some idea of what £80.000 then, would be worth now, in todays money (plus bonuses).
The Stupid Snow Machine/Lights.
Well Facts. Who's Idea was that. ?
Well Facts. As shown in the Photo above, we have a perfectly good Board for recording previous Mayors, that can be read quite easily.
Well Facts. Chain of office, which nobody can get close enough to read, must therefore be for Selfish and Vanity as it can't be for any-thing else.
Well Facts. I find it strange that you should read my letter and yet only comment on the 'Othello Bust' that belonged to the Garth House and People of Bicester.
Well Facts. The Current Chain Of Office. This was presented to the Council at the time by a Bicester Person and is an important part of Bicester's Heritage and should be kept as Part of Bicester's History.
Well Facts. Why do we need the so called Chain, when we have a perfectly Good Board (Plaque) that has been used for recording Bicesters Past Mayors, if there is no room on the board. We can get another made. Lezzo.
tired99
says...
1:10pm Sat 16 Mar 13
It's a sad state of affairs when the purchase of a chain headline news. Maybe the real story should be a review of the Town Council as a whole!
Lezzo1
says...
3:22pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Severian
says...
10:03pm Sat 16 Mar 13
steve1955
says...
11:27pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Myron Blatz says...
6:03pm Fri 15 Mar 13