Greenwich Down Under.
I think I may be a little late to this story - sometimes I miss Greenwich Watch sorely. But lovely IanVisits has sent this to me and I'm guessing that if I didn't know about this, some of you didn't either.
He pointed me to a blog which reveals something I find truly shocking. Dizzy Thinks is politically poles apart from myself, and I note the BNP has also picked up on this which makes me uncomfortable - but hey - allegations like this need to be looked at especially if it doesn't feel good.
Let me paraphrase. We have a Greenwich Councillor who is currently residing in AUSTRALIA. Danny Thorpe, of the Shooters Hill Ward, has buggered off to Australia on a backpacking holiday, missing, so far, six months worth of meetings.
What's worse, is that the deputy leader of the council was happy to stump up the cash to fly him home so he could take part in a vote.
The Bexley Times says that the deputy leader, Peter Brooks did not deny he'd paid the fare, though claimed it wasn't taxpayers' money. It would seem that the vote was a hastily-arranged affair to avoid a by-election.
How on EARTH can a councillor who is on a BACKPACKING holiday represent his constituency? Brooks claims that "modern communications mean that he is in regular touch with the leader of the council."
In the outback? His 'modern communications' must be better than mine. My mobile goes out of range in the cafe at Waterstones in the town centre. Maybe the council's paid for a satellite-phone too?
I thought the whole idea of backpacking was to get away from human contact. But even if he wasn't trudging through the bush and was just sitting by the pool, with nothing to do other than sort out his constituents' tiniest whims, the fact is, he's bloomin' thousands of miles away. Maybe he has a cyber-surgery too.
It just goes to show that all councillors are not created equal. On the one hand we have dedicated people devoted to public service and getting things done for ordinary folk, no names, of course (cough, Mary Mills, ahem) on the other we have young gadabouts who are singing as they watch their billy boil rather than making their voice heard on the council...
Of course, he may just have got lost. Perhaps his GPS has taken him to Greenwich, NSW?
He pointed me to a blog which reveals something I find truly shocking. Dizzy Thinks is politically poles apart from myself, and I note the BNP has also picked up on this which makes me uncomfortable - but hey - allegations like this need to be looked at especially if it doesn't feel good.
Let me paraphrase. We have a Greenwich Councillor who is currently residing in AUSTRALIA. Danny Thorpe, of the Shooters Hill Ward, has buggered off to Australia on a backpacking holiday, missing, so far, six months worth of meetings.
What's worse, is that the deputy leader of the council was happy to stump up the cash to fly him home so he could take part in a vote.
The Bexley Times says that the deputy leader, Peter Brooks did not deny he'd paid the fare, though claimed it wasn't taxpayers' money. It would seem that the vote was a hastily-arranged affair to avoid a by-election.
How on EARTH can a councillor who is on a BACKPACKING holiday represent his constituency? Brooks claims that "modern communications mean that he is in regular touch with the leader of the council."
In the outback? His 'modern communications' must be better than mine. My mobile goes out of range in the cafe at Waterstones in the town centre. Maybe the council's paid for a satellite-phone too?
I thought the whole idea of backpacking was to get away from human contact. But even if he wasn't trudging through the bush and was just sitting by the pool, with nothing to do other than sort out his constituents' tiniest whims, the fact is, he's bloomin' thousands of miles away. Maybe he has a cyber-surgery too.
It just goes to show that all councillors are not created equal. On the one hand we have dedicated people devoted to public service and getting things done for ordinary folk, no names, of course (cough, Mary Mills, ahem) on the other we have young gadabouts who are singing as they watch their billy boil rather than making their voice heard on the council...
Of course, he may just have got lost. Perhaps his GPS has taken him to Greenwich, NSW?
Labels: News
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:44
14 Comments:
Funny really. I've just found Danny on Facebook and he looks rather tanned. I now know why! It was ironic to see the page entitled: Find Your Local Councillor. I bet nobody thought they'd have to look 26,000 miles away! This is how, according to the council website, you get in touch with him:
Contact Cllr Thorpe in writing at the Town Hall, or by using the contact details on the right.
Ward surgeries
Visit the Shooters Hill page for ward surgery details.
Committee membership
Cllr Thorpe is a member of the following Committees and Panels:
Best Value Review Team: Homelessness
Best Value Review Team: Libraries
Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel
Greenwich Council Joint Committee
Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel
School Teachers and Lecturers Joint Committee
'Best Value' indeed!!!!!
Well I guess he is sort of 'homeless' just now, though I suspect he'll need strong glasses for any 'scrutiny' work...
I love to read Ian Sinclair on "Best Value" (he goes on at length about the concept in London Orbital...)
I guess it's possible he IS in contact with the leader of the council. But that is irrelevant if he is not in touch with his constituents.
I have long since given up on the idea of Politicians, of any party and any level, actually doing their job 'for the good of the community'.
The days of doing good deads for your fellow man without the need for ego boosting headlines or payouts is long gone.
Maybe they should start having 'League Tables' showing when and how our Representatives vote. I bet that would shake up a few of them!! Or at least make them have to work for the cash we give them.
@dazza TheyWorkForYou.com will give you a lot of statistics on your right hon. MP, including how they vote in Parliament and transcripts/videos of their speeches.
I don't know of anything similar for councillors though.
I did see a new Councillor in the pages of the Mercury / Newshopper this week. Presumably he's still around the borough. Shame he looked like a spare part because Chris Roberts had highjacked the photo-op with Harriet Harman. Does he have to be EVERY press photograph taken in Greenwich?
He does, yes.
I can only interpret these as the actions of a council and councillor who have complete contempt for their constituents and who don't care how this looks.
He only won his seat by 140 votes in 2006, so I think he can reckon on losing it next time around, but to take a year off so soon after seeking election absolutely stinks. The opposition should be shouting about this from the rooftops. How come it's only just come to light?
If it wasnt taxpayer's money, whose money was it?
I spent five miserable months working for Chris Roberts, putting up with his tantrums, his ego and his fondness for the odd tipple during working hours, and can confirm that there is nothing Mr. R. likes better than a camera lens pointing his way.
Is there a case for referring this to the ominously titled Standards Board (who have the power to kick people out of office I believe)
http://www.standardsboard.gov.uk
Any complaints should go to the Council's Probity and Conduct Committee - three councillors (one from each party) & three independent members - rather than to the Standards Board.
I have complained to the Committee that Danny Thorpe has failed to treat people with respect and has brought the Council into disrepute. The complaint is currently being considered.
Councillor Paul Webbewood
This all sounds familiar. There was a young (25ish) councillor from Camden who was enrolled at the University of Arizona, a few months ago and still receiving pay! The council initially defended him saying he only had to attend 2 votes (I think) each year to qualify for wages. They have since releived him of his duties, and pay packet.
Ah...found it
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23554309-details/Camden%20councillor%20is%20living%20in%20Arizona/article.do?expand=true
deja vu or wot!
anybody who's had to work with someone on the other side of the world will tell you that mobile signal strength is not the problem, daylight however is. This guy will be hitting 'beer o'clock' just as whoever he purports to be in contact with is getting to work.
If he was in South Africa I can see it working but trying to get anything done when any email takes two days to get a reply to is a complete waste of everyones time.
fair comment bentos if you are talking banking, IT or financial services etc., but if someone is expected to represent constituents they would need to have surgeries.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home