Author: simon
Voting Against The Public - To Keep Them Quiet
Friday, 28th March, 2008 at 1:07 pm, Isle of Wight
The most telling and we think, shameful vote conducted at the schools reform debate last Wednesday was in reaction to when Cllr Deborah Gardiner suggested that the public question time should be increased, as so many people in the public gallery were keen to raise points concerning the future of their children’s education.
After the chairman, Roger Mazillius, asked her to quantify how much longer it should be, Cllr Gardiner made the suggestion of a total 30 minutes - 15 minutes longer than the time normally set aside for public questions.
When it went to the vote, the councillors responsible for voting it down — ie. stopping the public from having their full say — were all from the Tory party.
Let’s not forget, that all that was being asked for was an extra 15 minutes for public questions.
No explanation is required when a vote is taken, so quite why the ruling Tory party decided to vote against the public having sufficient time to express their views and concerns on a matter like the future of their children’s education, remains a mystery.
The behaviour that the Tories displayed, in our minds, shows a high level of arrogance, indeed of such a high level, that it’s led them to forget who voted them into the position of power that they currently hold.
It’s not rocket science to understand that when the public feel that they’re not represented by the people they elected, they’re highly likely not to vote them into that position again.
Why would you?
School Reform, Island-wide, Politics
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March 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Absolutely right. The 15-minute restriction meant that cogent and searching questions were rattled through, and there was no time for supplementary questions following the equally rushed answers. For a debate of such importance, it showed a shameful disregard for public input.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
No surprise there for anyone who has been attending Development Control/Planning Committee over the years, exercising their right to a 60second slot (only three allowed per planning application). It all seems designed to humiliate public objectors - councillors are not listening and the chairman is only interested in exhibiting the trappings of democracy. Ivan Bulwer (current committee chairman) at least allows you to finish a sentence, but Muriel Miller never looked up, only at her watch with gong in hand, ready to cut you off in mid-sentence. No wonder Planning has lost the confidence of the people.
March 31st, 2008 at 7:55 am
I won’t be voting for the current INGSOC council next time - I find them a very arrogant bunch.
And don’t get me started on the clowns in the planning department.
The Isle of Wight is truly a Rotten Borough with the current administration.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
OK, maybe the Ingsoc word a little strong in this case (I’ve only known the council to rewrite the past once), but decisions which are going to have an effect on many shouldn’t be in the hands of the inexperienced few.