Council to cut ties with Pier Trust
HBM
It seems that our beloved Council didn't like what they heard at the Pier Trust AGM, and have decided that the Pier Trust simply can't be trusted with the Pier.
Dawn Hudd has produced a document for consideration by the CCC Executive on 13th December, and it is peppered with sad and telling phrases:
Communication has proved challenging and agreements about lines of communication have not always been followed often causing confusion and additional or duplicated work.
It is to our mutual benefit to put some distance between us for the time being whilst keeping lines of communication open through our membership of the trust board.
The Council will say to the Pier Trust they will be consulted on major matters concerning the pier...
(Ms Hudd doesn't mention whether the Pier Trust was consulted about the mini golf course on the Pier.)
From the Council point of view the point of having Councillor Trustees is so that the Company can have the benefit of realistic authoritative advice on the Council’s approach to pier issues without breaking confidences. It is a role intended to influence rather than control. That way we hope to harness the enthusiasm of others. How well that has worked in the Pier Trust to date is the subject of debate, but having too strong a council voice may not encourage some to become involved who could have a contribution. The Council is not in a position to instruct its representatives not to stand, but is in a position to offer them advice about whether or not to do so. [my bold]
My reading of this is that CCC High Command will tell the two councillor trustees to leave the Pier Trust, and they will obey - of course.
On the positive side, this will mean that the Trust will be composed entirely of non-partisan residents focused entirely on the best possible outcome for the town - as it should have been from the start. On the downside, it probably signals the beginning of CCC's efforts to destroy the Trust by marginalising it to the point of irrelevance.
Please note that in section 7, Ms Hudd starts talking about a "leisure operator" for the Pier platform that could provide income to offest the cost of renewing/replacing the Pier decking. At the end of the report, you will see that the details are supposed to be confidential. In fact, the "leisure operator" is Cain's Amusements, who want to build a miini golf course course that would occupy almost all the Pier platform. Details of their application are HERE.
If you make it, and if you can face it, trot along to the Guildhall in Canterbury at 6:30pm this Thursday 13th December to see all the Herne Bay councillors, er, fight tooth and nail for the Pier's future.
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