In his latest community newletter Fred Wildgust has finally given his reasons for not supporting the residents of St James' Field in their fight against a recent controversial planning application. (see page 2 "Significant Planning Applications ")
A reply by one of the residents of that area can be found here , with an earlier report here . The application was passed.
"Councillor Neil Mason gets paid £519 per hour to chair meetings."
Torfaen Chat...... Over the last couple of months there has been increasing use of our Grumble Sheet for everyday discussion and gossip on items of interest to Torfaen Voters. So, in response to this obvious need we now launch our new forum, Torfaen Chat, which we hope you will find useful and easy to use. Let us hope we have some good reasoned arguments! If people show an interest in Torfaen Chat then maybe we can agree times when a number of people might get together for a discussion on a particular subject.If people show an interest maybe we can agree times when a number of people might get together for a discussion on a particular subject.
Torfaen Chat might be a good way to get people of like interest in touch. Discussion needn't be just confined to politics but we hope that contributions will be of interest to many, and reasonable.
Council Meeting 22nd September 2009
This was the first to be held at the new time of 10:30am. The meeting was over in less than two hours and the public gallery was full. However it was clear that many in the gallery were labour party members and labour councillors' partners. The agenda consisted of 125 pages compared with the 259 pages of the epic meeting on the 30th of June,(the July agenda had 150 pages) more....
(Note PLEASE COMMENT HERE (on the Blog) This subject has attracted so much traffic that it requires a dedicated discussion thread.)
There is a lot of activity on the Grumble Sheet about the removal of a Garden to provide a few parking spaces in St James Field, close to the town hall. Residents are concerned that the council are not listening to what the public want and they intend to lobby the planning meeting.
More details and backround information HERE in a report from Janice Cook
Grumble Sheet Dialogue HERE
Do you want to object? Janice Cook has the following advice...
"Contact duncan.smith@torfaen.gov.uk and also (very important) copy email your local councillor and? if you want cc me janice2cook@aol.com sot that no one can say they never got the objection.
Telephone planning at 01633 647616 to object and remember you must also phone your local cllr.
Please help us preserve our town centre from Pontypool Park Estates' destruction by attending an informal meeting at 6.15 Monday 14 in Pontypool Civic Centre.
Write a letter to the Free Press send to nicole.garnon@gwent-wales.co.uk
Write or email Paul Murphy and copy your councillor and Duncan Smith? paulmurphymp@parliament.uk?
REMEMBER MAKE A PAPER TRAIL!!!!!"
The Last Straw!
(see update below)
At the 28th of July council meeting of the council the Deputy Chief Executive, at the request of the leader, will present a report seeking to change the times of monthly council meetings from 5pm to 10:30am, with a guillotine of 4 hours long maximum. (See agenda here (item 16), also report on pages (in pdf) 136 to 144 and 146 to150)
The majority of the labour supporting councillors don't work (only 2 out of 23 work, in fact at least one has never had a job). The majority of the opposition have full time jobs and will find great difficulty attending meetings that will interfere with both halves of a normal working day.
For the leader to suggest changing the times of meetings at this point in the current life of the council can only be seen as an attempt to stifle democracy.The majority of the opposition have full time jobs (13 out of 21) and they will find great difficulty attending meetings that will interfere with both halves of a normal working day. For the leader to suggest changing the times of meetings at this point in the current life of the council can only be seen as an attempt to stifle democracy. Discuss this on our blog HERE
IF YOU THINK THIS IS WRONG contact your councillor NOW and try to attend the meeting on Tuesday the 28th at 5pm!
Update
The proposal to change the meetings times got passed with the "Usual 23" members voting with the labour leadership, no surprises there.
MAKING ALLOWANCES (Leader finds an £8K extra allowance for yet another Labour Councillor)
perhaps the last thing you might expect is for a cash strapped council to create a new committee with the primary purpose of giving an extra allowance to one of their councillorsNowadays, with all the media attention focussed on politicians allowances and expenses, perhaps the last thing you might expect is for a cash strapped council to create a new committee with the primary purpose of giving an extra allowance to one of their councillors. However, on the basis of evidence received, that is just what has happened in Torfaen. (continued)
Sometimes letters or email to councillors
or officers just seem to get lost in the system, or you don't
get a satisfactory reply. Making the question public may help. Our first such letter is to Councillors Cathcart and Cunnington concerning their recent vote at the Annual Meeting of the council on the 19th of May. Click here to go to our "Dear Councillor" page
Did Torfaen Council Act Illegally?
According to a Western Mail report, Paul Williams, Conservative Councillor for Llantarnam, believes that the council acted illegally when they appointed the Chair of the Audit Committee at the annual council meeting in May 2008, and all 23 members of a new ruling alliance were given posts that made them entitled to higher rates of pay.
Mr Williams, who works as a researcher for South-East Wales Tory AM William Graham, claims that in their enthusiasm to strike a deal, the new controlling alliance cut procedural corners and broke the council’s constitution. He is considering taking legal action. For further details see the links below.
Tom Huish, Independent for Blaenavon. He recently resigned from the independent group. He was nominated by the labour leader for the position of Deputy Mayor.On the 19th of May 2009 at the annual meeting, as predicted, Tom Huish, Independent for Blaenavon, who recently resigned from the independent group, was nominated by the labour leader for Deputy Mayor and someone then nominated Margaret Pead, conservative (and leader of the opposition prior to the last election). Tom Huish was elected by 28 votes to 15, with the Labour "group", including 3 plaid and the usual two independents voting for Tom Huish, together with the three Peoples Voice members, Independent Ray Pinto Williams (Abersychan ward) and of course Tom Huish himself. The 15 others voted for Margaret Pead.
Prior to this Bob Jones was elected as Mayor.
He was unopposed, having been Deputy Mayor for the last year. Prior to this Bob Jones was elected as Mayor unopposed, having been Deputy Mayor for the last year.
Next Bob Wellington was nominated as leader; then Elizabeth Haynes was nominated. At this time it became clear that she was now the leader of the independent group. Bob Wellington was elected by 27 votes to 16, this time Ray Pinto Williams voted with the opposition, but all the other votes were as before, with Plaid, the usual two independents, the new deputy mayor and peoples voice voting for Bob Wellington. Elizabeth Haynes stated that as she was leader of the largest opposition group, the independents, she was entiltled to a Special Responsibility Allowance but she would not be accepting this. (See statement from Cllr Haynes here)
The Deputy Leader vote was between Lewis Jones (Labour) and Independent Brian Whitcombe. Lewis Jones won by 24 to 19, Peoples Voice this time voting for the opposition choice.
"Bob Wellington then went on about a chat he had with Duncan Forbes.....
All this was a preamble to a proposal to form a new committee ... with a special responsibility allowance for the chair."
Bob Wellington then went on about a chat he had with Duncan Forbes, head of Bron Avon Housing, about grant money that they could get which the council could not get. Then he mentioned parking problems in housing estates, with roads often blocked so that service vehicles could not gain access and so on.
All this was a preamble to a proposal to form a new committee "Policy Co-ordination and Development Committee" with a special responsibility allowance for the chair. It was being introduced now as it was hoped to appoint the chair of this committee at the annual meeting.
Cllr Veronica German, Liberal, accussed the leader of creating the new committee as there would otherwise be just one of his supporters without an SRA. Cllr Veronica German, Liberal, accussed the leader of creating the new committee as there would otherwise be just one of his supporters without an SRA All the talk had been for less committees not more and there was now one less scrutiny commitee, so why create this new committee now? Many other comments followed, with labour members supporting the proposal and condemning the opposition for not welcoming the opportunity to take part in policy making.
Elizabeth Haynes proposed defering the decision, pending further information. See her statement here. This was seconded and on a recorded vote this ammendment was lost by one vote, 20 to 21. Tom Huish voted for the ammendment (ie to defer the decision), together with Peoples Voice, Conservatives, Liberals and the independent group councillors. Labour and Plaid voted as one against the ammendment but this time Councillors Cathcart and Cunnington, normally supporting labour, abstained. However when it came to the vote on whether the committee should be formed the famous five, including Cllrs Cathcart and Cunnington, voted with Labour, and it was decided that the committee would be formed by 23 votes to 20. (New Mayor Tom Huish voted against the formation of the new committee.)
Bob Wellington then presented his list of "appointments" for cabinet and chairs. Fred Wildgust (Independent) then nominated himself as Chair of the new committee without an extra allowance but no-one seconded his nomination and the full list was passed by a show of hands. Fred Wildgust (Independent) then nominated himself as Chair of the new committee without an extra allowance but no-one seconded his nomination and the full list was passed by a show of hands. You can see the agenda for the meeting here.
The cabinet members are the same as last year but some of the Committee Chairs have changed. See full list here. Some other committees and panels (e.g. the Appointments Committee) will appoint Chairs when they next meet.
Rumours are that Juliana Biggs will not get a position this year and that one of the Peoples Voice Party might be offered a chair, we shall have to wait and see. No sign of the outgoing Mayor, Nye James getting a position yet either.
May 19th 2009
The Annual General Meeting of TCBC is on Tuesday 19th of May
It will start at 5pm in the Council Chamber, Pontypool. The new mayor, who councillors have already been told is to be Cllr Bob Jones, will be elected. It has yet to be revealed who Leader Bob Wellington is to put forward as Deputy Mayor, or whether the opposition will put up a candidate. This may well be an interesting meeting, with relevations on all sides, see below. All other positions will be appointed but as each of the councillors supporting the labour administration already have a paid position there is likely to be little change. It is common paractice for the outgoing Mayor to receive a position of extra responsibility but it is difficult to see where he can be fitted in.
Update 4pm Tuesday 19th of May 4pm.
Whispers this morning confirm that Tom Huish will be Bob Wellington's Candidate for Deputy MayorWhispers this morning confirm that Tom Huish will be Bob Wellington's Candidate for Deputy Mayor at the meeting this evening. He resigned from the independent group around three weeks ago and apparently was approached about becoming Deputy Mayor around that time.
Other rumours? Stuart Evans is no longer to be the leader of the Independent Group, apparently Elizabeth Haynes was appointed to this post a number of weeks ago and this will be announced at the meeting tonight. Will she take the extra allowances that Stuart Evans turned down?
It Probably is Tom Huish for next Deputy Mayor! see BLOG
That's the best guess that anyone could come up with after the council meeting tonight. The AGM is next tuesday, the 19th of May and even senior labour councillors don't know yet who the labour leader will appoint to this position. However, Tom Huish (Independent Blaenavon) resigned from the independent group recently and he was the only non "labour led group" to vote for the recent pay rise so it all would seem to fit into place. The post of deputy Mayor is unlikely to be acceptable to labour members as it would mean a drop in their allowances.The post of deputy Mayor is unlikely to be acceptable to labour members as it would mean a drop in their allowances.
Also at the meeting a young lady (very young) made an excellent job at public question time asking for council help in starting a youth club for Brynwern and Wainfelin; Mark Crew asked Cllr Marlene Thomas, Executive Member for Resources yet another question about easements (more on this shortly) and Derek Saunders from New Inn presented a 456 signature petition requesting that council meetings be recorded. The retiring Mayor, Nye James, explained that this had been debated on a number of occasions recently (with motions being put forward by Fred Wildgust) and it had been turned down.
All Cabinet decisions were ratified without comment and the minutes of the last meeting were passed as a true record in a record 15 seconds. Fred Wildgust asked three questions and "applauded" Leader Bob Wellington on his first answer and his concern about public health. "I'll write this down!" Bob Wellington said in disbelief.("I'll write this down!" Bob said in disbelief.)
The council agreed unanimously to write letters of condolence to families of Torfaen servicemen lost in action, following a motion by Cllr Brian Mathews.
Agenda Item 11 was a report concerning a complaint was made by a family against Torfaen Local Health Board, Gwent
Healthcare NHS Trust and Torfaen County Borough Council concerning the delay
in locating a day-care service for their autistic son when he reached the age of 18. The ombudsman upheld the complaint (full report here). Torfaen CBC has set up systems to ensure thus could not happen again and have paid the family £5000 in trust for their son. Cllr Stuart Evans asked why this complaint could not have been settled before the family felt the need to go to the ombudsman. The Leader assured him that lessons had been learnt and that this would not happen again.
An emergency motion by Councillor Paul Williams was rejected by the Mayor. (Update: it is now apparent that this motion involved the appointment of the Chair of the Audit Committee at the May 08 Annual Meeting) see here.
The meeting was over in about an hour. The AGM next Tuesday 19th May will be more interesting! May 14, 2009 20:32
Fred Wildgust To Stand For Parliament
Fred Wildgust, our outspoken Independent councillor for Pontypool, today announces that he will be standing for parliament as an independent candidate against Paul Murphy.
"...I know the value of a pound, I know what needs to be done to develop Torfaen and I actually care about people…. Our local political representatives have completely lost touch with reality, we need a fresh start a politician that is free of party politics and will listen to the voice of the people, represent their views and then act in the best interest of Torfaen and its residents…"
See his full statement, and comment here, on our blog. Maybe he needs a new boiler?
(See Freds questions to council meeting tomorrow here)
13th May 2009
Paul Murphy Claims £3000 for New Boiler
Following relevations by The Telegraph this article in the Argus is well worth a look. The comments (119 of them at the last count) go off the subject a bit and include an extraordinary exchange between Cllr Alastair Cunnington and various contributors concerning the recent Torfaen Borough Council pay rise vote.. 8th May 2009(updated)
Blaenavon Councillor Leaves Independent Group
Tom Huish, one of the three Independent Councillors for Blaenavon, has decided to leave the Independent Group and "to perform my role as an fully Independent member of the council"
In a letter to the Argus he also says " The use of party politics can be devisive, whether it is used by a single party or by a coalition of parties. Instructions to toe the party line by the leaders of such groups can be counter-productive to the smooth running of local councils."
Tom Huish was the only one of the independents to vote with the labour led group for the recent payrise and maybe pressure was put on him by the other independents to vote with them. Good for him to act independently but other opposition members hope his resignation is not the first step in him being nominated as Deputy Mayor.
See Tom Huish's Letter here. Article here. Argus comment here.
6th May 2009
The New Mayor Announced Two Weeks Before Vote!
5th of May 2009
Councillors today received an invitation to the inauguration of Cllr Bob Jones as Mayor. It is customary for the Deputy Mayor to become Mayor but it not certain by any means and should depend on the vote at the AGM of Torfaen CBC which will be held in 14 days time on the 19th of May.
It is quite clear therefore that the three Plaid councillors and the two independents who shored up the labour administration in May 2008 have promised to support them for another year. This will be disappointing to many but no surprise to those that have followed the proceedings of the council over the last year. Will there be any other defections?
AND who will be the new Deputy Mayor? Has this already been decided as well? Any rumours?....... more (see blog)
Plaid looks forward to defeating Labour in Torfaen next time!
A Plaid Cymru blog expresses regret at not fielding a candidate for Cwmbran Council'ls bi-election in The Upper Cwmbran East Ward (where an independent beat labour by 291 to 99 votes)
The Blog also describes Paul Murphy and Gordon Brown as Plaid's best assets.30th April 2009
"The Fourth Option"
There are alternatives to the Leader/Cabinet system that is operated in Torfaen. One alternative, operated successfully by Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil and Powys Councils is known in Wales as "The Fourth Option" . Could this be a better system for Torfaen, maybe less confrontational and more democratic?
"The Independent Remuneration Panel are quite clear that the modern councillor role should be respected as a professional one requiring a significant amount of time for constituency business, which can be conducted at all times of the day and every day of the week.
"This may affect work opportunities and personal income and could be a deterrent when people consider whether to enter the political arena.
"The remuneration paid to councillors intends to strike a balance and ensure councillors broadly reflect the citizens they represent."
Who is right, the leader of Monmouthshire Council who considered a payrise at the present time to be "wrong and immoral" or our own council leader? Please comment here.
At a previous meeting, last September, when the opposition proposed cutting allowances, Councillor Wellington said some of his councillors were getting less in allowances when they became councillors than they previously received in benefits.
Also reported in the Argus was that the three Plaid Cymru Councillors have pledged that the pay rise that they receive will be donated to the Tenovus charity, so clearly they also believe that to accept a payrise at this time is wrong.
The Argus does not mention what the two independents councillors who support the labour leadership will do with their payrises.
The Argus Article has attracted 10 comments to date. 19th April 2009
Councillors Vote Themselves a Pay Rise
It came as little surprise in the end, but, at tonight's meeting on 31st of March 2009 the council voted by 23 to 16 to reject a conservative amendment to freeze allowances because of the present economic crisis. See minutes of meeting here, (page 15 etc)
Ordinary Councillors will now get a basic allowance of £13,030 per annum. All the labour members present and the three Plaid members and two independents who support the labour controlled council all voted for the full pay increase whilst all but one of the others, voted to freeze the allowances.
So apart from Independent Blaenavon Councillor Tom Huish all those who voted to increase the allowances will get, in addition to the £13,030 per annum a special responsibility allowance which varies from an extra £5,534 per annum up to an extra £27,679 for the leader. Cabinet members will get a total of £26,869pa plus expenses, the leader will get £40,709pa plus expenses (he claimed £5,651 last year) and everyone who voted for the increase will now get a minimum of £18,564pa plus expenses. everyone who voted for the increase will now get a minimum of £18,564pa plus expensesThey also benefit from a pension scheme, and many of them are already retired and in receipt of a pension or pensions.
Is Payrise Wrong and Immoral?
Is this payrise "wrong and immoral" at the present time? This is the opinion of the leader of Monmouthshire Council, that council voted to reject the current 2.5% payrise, See the Argus article here. See Free Press comment here . It is noted that neither paper mentioned the Torfaen decision to reject the suggestion of a pay freeze. Why?
Update. Caerphilly council voted overwealmingly to reject the payrise, the labour leadership agreeing to a Plaid proposal to freeze their allowances. See here.So Plaid, in opposition, propose a freeze on pay in Caerphilly yet Plaid, in power in Torfaen reject a pay freeze out of hand. Should being in power alter the way you vote? No, but it does. So Plaid, in opposition, propose a freeze on pay in Caerphilly yet Plaid, in power in Torfaen reject a pay freeze out of hand. Should being in power alter the way you vote? No, but it does.
This subject has been posted on our blog, for discussion, where our elected members right to vote themselves a pay rise? click here
Independent Group Leave Coalition The following statement has been issued by Cllr Liz Haynes
"Press Statement from the Independent Group - Torfaen
The Independent Group have reflected on their membership of Torfaen
People’s Coalition. On Monday 16th February 2009 at 6pm, at an
Independent Group meeting, the decision was taken to withdraw from the
Coalition.
In May 08, a Coalition was formed with the sole purpose of ousting the
Labour Controlled Administration. Due to the decision of 5 newly elected
members, this was not to be.
The Independent group are strong and focussed and we wish to step back
from the Party politics that is currently evident in this Council.
As an Independent group, we will continue to work hard in our
communities, whilst scrutinising the decisions within Council.
We are still opposition Councillors and even though not a Coalition, we
will continue to hold the Labour administration to account.”
We have received a response to this statement from Councillor Alastair Cunnington, and we are posting this onto the blog, for information and comments.
Is The Petition for Democracy Dead?
Nothing has been spoken about it for months, any information would be gratefuly received!
Confusion at Council Meeting Councillor refuses £13,500pa additional allowance!
Torfaen help people get off benefits
The meeting of the council on the 23rd of September did prove quite entertaining, culminating in coalition councillors demanding an apology from Bob Wellington, the leader, for being rude about Councillor Tom Gould. The Australian visitor sitting alongside me was amazed!
The motion to reduce the councillors allowances was rejected, or rather an amendment to it was, by a recorded majority of 22 to 20. Then Councillor Gould withdrew his motion.
The good news is that Clause 4.16.9 of the constitution (see link left) has now been altered and many of the reasons for rejecting questions from the public are no longer valid. Congratulations to the working party involved, led by Cllr Mary Barnett. (more information on this later)
And the big news from the meeting? Leader Bob Wellington indicated that at the next council meeting he would be offering Stuart Evans, leader of the opposition, a place on the cabinet. Councillor Evans said that on principal he would not accept this post (with its £13.500 additional allowance). Might this indicate that this is the sort of man who should be in a position of power?
The startling news is that Bob Wellington twice stressed that some of the labour councillors were getting more on social security benefits before they were councillors than they were now getting in allowances! some of the labour councillors were getting more on social security benefits before they were councillors than they were now getting in allowances!Seeing that the lowest "paid" labour councillor is getting £18,120 plus expenses per year that is an extra-ordinary claim! However is good to see that Torfaen is helping support the long term unemployed.
A Date Certainly Not To Be Missed!
The next ordinary meeting of Council will take place on Tuesday 23 September
2008 at 5.00pm in the Council Chamber. Judging by the excitement generated at the last meeting (July 29th, click here to read the draft minutes) then it may be well worth an hour or two of your time.
"At the meeting a motion will be put by Cllr Tom Gould to freeze their basic allowances, and reduce the extra allowances allocated to the Leader, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members and all Chairs of Scrutiny Committees by 50%."
Follow a lively discussion on this matter on our Blog
Petition for Democracy, Official Launch Day 23rd of July
The Petition, in pdf form, together with supporting information, is available here
We wish to establish a fully representative
council giving appropriate weight to all elected interests that
operates in a fully transparent manner
Petition for Democracy Mission Statement
Press Release from Councillor Fred Wildgust 14th July
08
I am pleased to inform the residents of
Torfaen that ‘The campaign for democracy’ entered
a new phase on the 6th July at 2.30pm,......
Councillor Fred Wildgust
14th July 2008
The Council Meeting Thursday, 26 June 2008 was
quite lively, with lots of
questions from residents who live close to the Trevethin School
(formerly The County School) site, which is destined for housing
by the planning department. The old school has been demolished.
We await information from the local residents association with
a view to publication. Some people were not happy with the consultation,
and the decision was deferred until the next meeting. See grumble
sheet.
There was also a presentation concerning the proposed Gwent Hospital
site that the planning department want built on prime farming
land adjacent to the Llanfrechfa Grange site (which was a hospital
but is now designated for housing.)
Councillor WiIdgust has issued his first Newsletter,
The
Pontypudlian, read it here.
(pdf format)
Editorial Note
We support democracy, therefore we invite and encourage
input from everyone.
If you feel a particular point of view is not being covered
please comment on the Blog
or email us with your contribution.
Councillor
Wildgust is organising a Torfaen-wide petition calling for
proportional representation, and is planning a major protest
march from county hall in Cwmbran to the civic centre in
Pontypool at the beginning of July.
He said: "I have had dozens of letters and e-mails
calling on me to act. I want to motivate the population
and get people marching for democracy.
"My message to the Labour leadership is democracy is
coming.".
South Wales Argus 19th June
2008
Help and Information wanted, confidentiality assured.
We hear that morale amongst council employees is low, is there
anyone prepared to tell us more?
We believe that some officers have more power than they should
on certain council actions and decisions, please tell us we
are right or wrong.
Is money being wasted in Torfaen on un-necessary entertaining
and expenses, please tell us what you know? Is the food and
drink after full council meetings necessary and how many councillors
attend? Is a lot of food wasted?
Do you know anything that the people of Torfaen should also
know?
Is anyone prepared to enlighten people how the cabinet system,
the committees and the full council end up making decisions,
and is there a better way?
Residents of Torfaen, is this
you?
I think Torfaen Borough Council are doing a really good job
and I would like somewhere to say this publicly
I want to know more about the way the council is run
I am unhappy with the way I have been treated by the council,
I have complained but I feel I am just banging my head against
a brick wall
I voted for a change in Torfaen but the councillor I voted
for has joined the labour group
The seats in my ward went unopposed and I want to find out
why no-one except labour is interested in standing
My longstanding labour councillor is good but is
afraid to speak out or vote against the labour group
I want the facts
and I want all council decisions are made openly and democratically
I have an issue
concerning Local Government in Torfaen which I want to make
public
I was elected as
an independent candidate and I am angry that a labour minority
has taken power
I am not happy with
the cabinet system and I want to see real discussions at council
meetings
Whatever your opinion
if you are interested in Local Issues and you believe in freedom
of speech and freedom of information
then Torfaen Democratic Forum
is for you.
"The Fourth Option"(UPDATED) 
Tom Huish, Independent for Blaenavon. 
Prior to this Bob Jones was elected as Mayor.
of
questions from residents who live close to the Trevethin School
(formerly The County School) site, which is destined for housing
by the planning department. The old school has been demolished.
We await information from the local residents association with
a view to publication. Some people were not happy with the consultation,
and the decision was deferred until the next meeting. See 
(You will have to type this address into your email program. This
is to help reduce spam, sorry!)