know a lad who was a inde coucillor for a few years , was anything but tory in a labour heartland he was elected 2 -3 times , why? , because he was a local lad who people knew his heart was in the right place regardless , he wanted best for area , all of them should do so , instead of being shipped in to a area they know b***r all about !!!!!!
Andy Preston's Middlesbrough Council
- Thread starter BoroFur
- Start date
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
Does that happen? Would think it hard to be a councillor remotely and not know the area
TheLodger
Well-known member
Having read the full EY external audit report, the mayor must withdraw his statement yesterday. It's a total disgrace that he can somehow find elected councillors that are not part of his leadership team in anyway to blame for the reports findings.
He really should be ashamed of himself with the response he has put out, it's very clear that he doesn't see an issue with this report and plans to continue on as normal. I can now see why the CE has asked for immediate assistance from the national government.
He really should be ashamed of himself with the response he has put out, it's very clear that he doesn't see an issue with this report and plans to continue on as normal. I can now see why the CE has asked for immediate assistance from the national government.
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
A couple of things strike me and I preface this by saying I have had many dealings with a number of the councillors this report refers to and the mayor too.
There are many that are driven by playing student politics, rather than the act of serving the Middlesbrough area, resulting in petty squabbling and back-stabbling. In terms of their actual effectiveness to carry out the democratic role they were elected to do, many fail on all fronts.
The mayor, whose own conduct appears less than legitimate by the way, hasn't caused these problems, but has been ineffective in resolving then. To suggest he resign due to the behaviour of the problematic councillors I find disingenuous, to be blunt.
Separately though, his performance and conduct elsewhere, including the fact that his relationship with Tony Parkinson has broken down, raises enough red flags of its own.
Overall I think the take away from this is that too many of the elected members are unfit for the role and I'm sure that Middlesbrough Council see many as a nuisance.
There are many that are driven by playing student politics, rather than the act of serving the Middlesbrough area, resulting in petty squabbling and back-stabbling. In terms of their actual effectiveness to carry out the democratic role they were elected to do, many fail on all fronts.
The mayor, whose own conduct appears less than legitimate by the way, hasn't caused these problems, but has been ineffective in resolving then. To suggest he resign due to the behaviour of the problematic councillors I find disingenuous, to be blunt.
Separately though, his performance and conduct elsewhere, including the fact that his relationship with Tony Parkinson has broken down, raises enough red flags of its own.
Overall I think the take away from this is that too many of the elected members are unfit for the role and I'm sure that Middlesbrough Council see many as a nuisance.
TheLodger
Well-known member
Councillors, selfish or otherwise don't run the council, the Mayor and his handpicked executive run the council, how ward councillors who are in the minority can be blamed for anything that is going on in the council is for the birds.
TheLodger
Well-known member
So you don't think the people with the power should take responsibility for the results when exercising that power, instead blame the people who are suggesting that the direction is wrong?
Every councillor no matter what political party should share the common goal of improving Middlesbrough.
As residents, most of us know that there's something going on, and personally I think Preston's as bent as they come...
Ward councillors would gain more respect in my eyes, if they put party politics to the side and focused 100% of their energy and power on making their wards a better place.
TheLodger
Well-known member
Most of us do, so not sure what your point is.
Jonny Ingbar
Well-known member
If you believe the mayor runs the council, in practical terms, then you have a lot to learn I think.
You're not focusing 100% of your energy on your ward and your ward specifically right now though are you?
"we will demand the mayor resigns", "it's a disgrace", "he should withdraw his statement" - It's all typical party politics, and you've only been elected for 15 days.
TheLodger
Well-known member
Yes I am, I don't just become un-political just because I got elected as a local councillor, no one does, that just isn't human nature. If I think something is a disgrace then I will say it, councillor or not, and I think his response was a total disgrace.
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
imo part of being a ward councillor is wanting the best for your ward and how the council is ran and presents itself can dictate that, so don't really see the issue. It's an odd criticism really, you're paid a tiny allowance for being a ward councillor and rest of your time is free to work or do what you want; it's not like you're on a full time 60k a year council job and you're wasting time dealing with this?
Should MP's not be criticising Johnson and co and holding them to account for their failings?
DCI_Gene_Hunt
Well-known member
Mr Preston's response
Selfish Councillors Must Do Better
Middlesbrough has some great councillors…but way too many of them are selfish and lazy.
So much of Middlesbrough Council’s time and money is wasted by councillors putting in petty complaints against each other - when instead they should be looking after the people they’re paid to help. Please note that I am not pointing the finger at any one group of councillors here.
Today will see the publication of the council’s auditor’s report and I know that it makes for difficult reading, citing some procedural problems by senior staff and politicians (including me). The auditors also specifically stress that for many years there’s been a toxic culture between councillors on different sides and distrust between councillors and staff.
This unnecessarily hostile environment leads to bad decision making and wasted money - in fact the council currently wastes, in time and money, £hundreds of thousands - just looking into the complaints that a handful of councillors make against other councillors. This has to stop.
Because this horrible culture has persisted for years I would welcome a third party to come in a look at what is causing this and what keeps it going. We also need to understand why Middlesbrough Council has been so consistently weak at doing some important things properly. Middlesbrough Council needs to sort this out and root out the troublemakers.
I think that Middlesbrough Council works quite well overall but there are definitely pockets of waste and underperformance.
Councillors are paid to look after people in need. That’s what they should all be doing.
Andy
Selfish Councillors Must Do Better
Middlesbrough has some great councillors…but way too many of them are selfish and lazy.
So much of Middlesbrough Council’s time and money is wasted by councillors putting in petty complaints against each other - when instead they should be looking after the people they’re paid to help. Please note that I am not pointing the finger at any one group of councillors here.
Today will see the publication of the council’s auditor’s report and I know that it makes for difficult reading, citing some procedural problems by senior staff and politicians (including me). The auditors also specifically stress that for many years there’s been a toxic culture between councillors on different sides and distrust between councillors and staff.
This unnecessarily hostile environment leads to bad decision making and wasted money - in fact the council currently wastes, in time and money, £hundreds of thousands - just looking into the complaints that a handful of councillors make against other councillors. This has to stop.
Because this horrible culture has persisted for years I would welcome a third party to come in a look at what is causing this and what keeps it going. We also need to understand why Middlesbrough Council has been so consistently weak at doing some important things properly. Middlesbrough Council needs to sort this out and root out the troublemakers.
I think that Middlesbrough Council works quite well overall but there are definitely pockets of waste and underperformance.
Councillors are paid to look after people in need. That’s what they should all be doing.
Andy
Colin Warnek
Well-known member
And people wonder why Middlesbrough is a relative tip in a surrounding area filled with nice small towns/villages and natural beauty.
I don't like Preston and I think his response is massively hypocritical because he does the exact same, but the overall concept hits the nail on the head.
Stop the complaints, petty fighting, party politics, labour vs conservative BS... and spend every penny on improving the town.
Stop the complaints, petty fighting, party politics, labour vs conservative BS... and spend every penny on improving the town.
asredastheycome
Well-known member
That was the same under Mallam. That was the reason my mother resigned from council. She said all decisions were made by Mayor and his executive.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
Yes, many people standing to represent wards don't live in that particular ward.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
You'll find that they want to spend the money on different parts of the town. Hence the political divide.
We had £10m regen money for Tees Valley not long ago, for instance. The Tory mayor made sure it went to one of the wealthiest parts of Teesside, with possibly the poorest case for 'levelling up' you could find.
It reflects national political issues. If you vote Tory the wealthiest will get more help.