Dear Sir,
We have already lost a couple of Councillors this year due to non-attendance and restricted attendance. Great Aycliffe Town Council are being put in a disgraceful position as another absent Councillor turned up at a meeting last week convened to ratify its budget. Counc Tom Twissell was just in time to keep his position on the Council.
Seemingly Councillors must attend once every six months to qualify for their allowance of £1000+ per annum. Last week’s meeting lasted less than an hour which breaks down to £500 per hour. One wonders if the Prime Minister is on such a wage?
Seriously though Councillors should represent the electorate who vote for them and be seen to do so. We are all aware that decisions affecting our town are discussed at Labour group meetings and as such are passed off in the council chamber through sheer strength of numbers, but even the illusion that we are being represented falls away when seats at the table are empty.
Seated in the public area of the meeting were members of the public interested in the proceedings and included prospective candidates for the forthcoming By-Elections. Not a good example for prospective newcomers.
There are always questions to be asked on behalf of the public such as: When is the West Park lake to be cleaned out? When is the Whinlatter bridge to be replaced?
Which lights are going to be removed in Newton Aycliffe?
What is to become of the Elmfield site?
It is my intention to contest an election in the West Ward as soon as a seat becomes available.
Ken Robson
ACORN Chairman
