Council's priorities aren't secret - they're confidential!

November 11, 2013HBM

Definition of secret: not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others. Definition of confidential: intended to be kept secret. [Oxford Dictionaries online]

Who does Cllr Gilbey think he's kidding?

Canterbury City Council is one of the most democratic local authorities in the country, claims leader John Gilbey. He hit out after the Kentish Gazette reported that the council had drawn up a league table of its 71 service areas and ranked them in order of importance but refused to reveal it.

Cllr Gilbey denies the council is guilty of secrecy. He told last Thursday's meeting of the ruling Conservative executive:

"Some of these documents are kept confidential for many reasons and are looked at very carefully. I think this is one of the most democratic councils we have, I honestly believe that. That is why I don't take kindly to people inventing stories."

Last week it emerged that the league table is a key document as the council prepares for the 2014/15 budget. It is facing a cut of 50% in income by 2017 and scored each service according to importance and against the pledges in its corporate plan.

The Marlowe Theatre was fifth in the table and refuse collection came 29th, but none of the other positions are known and some are almost certainly facing the axe.

The council claims it will make the league table public next month when the proposed budget for next year is published. But Cllr Alex Perkins, leader of the council's opposition Lib Dem group, is demanding it is released now. He said:

"The Gazette is absolutely right and deserves praise for bringing the council's appalling secrecy to everyone's attention. There is absolutely no reasonable justification for the current leader of the council to keep the council budget formation process confidential. And the Gazette has certainly not invented any of this as John Gilbey has claimed.

The current leader and a tiny handful of Conservative councillors keep jealous control of all the budget information declaring it 'confidential' and refusing to share it even with their own backbenchers, let alone opposition councillors or the public. It's completely unacceptable - it's your money after all."

Kingsmead Field campaigner Sian Pettman said:

"There's a worrying disconnect between Cllr Gilbey's perception of democracy and that of many of the district's residents. His authoritarian style of leadership is ill-suited to the 21st century."

University of Kent Emeritus Professor of moral philosophy Richard Norman added:

"If Cllr Gilbey thinks that this is one of the most democratic councils, he needs to be aware that there are a great many people in Canterbury who don't see it that way."

The council will begin its consultation on the budget in November and will look to approve it in February.

HB Gazette 17th October 2013

HBM

Council Priorities: where will the axe fall?

about 10 years ago

The Council's priorities. Theirs, not ours.

about 10 years ago

Council's priorities not secret, not confidential, just rubbish

about 10 years ago

Council's priorities aren't secret - they're confidential!

about 10 years ago

Our Council's secret priorities

about 10 years ago

Herne Bay Matters home page

categories CCC, Democracy
tags Priorities, Budget, John Gilbey, Alex Perkins, Sian Pettman, Richard Norman, Secret

Howes that! Army out. Is there a silver lining?

March 06, 2013HBM

Connected?

11th Feb 2013: the (almost) all-powerful CCC Executive have one of their all-too-common secret meetings - this one about a "strategic" (and cheap) property deal which is in a "key site for improvements to the road network in that area".

5th Mar 2013: the MoD announce the closure of Canterbury Howe Barracks. Cllr Gilbey says "I think this is a great opportunity for the city council" - not the City, or District you'll notice, but the council. Cllr Perkins said the site was "key to Canterbury's transport and infrastructure problems".

Hmmm, I wonder.

Executive Minutes 11-02-2013

160. Confidential business relating to the acquisition of a freehold investment for a property in Canterbury. The Executive Members considered the report of the Director of Resources which set out the details of the potential acquisition of the freehold investment in Canterbury and sought authority to conclude a purchase on the terms reported.

The Council had already negotiated the terms of the acquisition with the vendor. The options were therefore -

(i) the Council to confirm its approval of the acquisition of the property on the terms set out in the report;

(ii) the council could decide for whatever reason not to proceed with the purchase.

RECOMMENDED (to Full Council) - That the Property Services Manager, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to agree terms for the acquisition of the freehold investment of the premises detailed in the confidential report and to authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to conclude a purchase accordingly.

Reasons for recommendations

The valuation of the property justifies the purchase price as a strategic acquisition.

The acquisition is justified on the grounds that it helps meet one of the Council’s objectives in securing a key site for improvements to the road network in that area.

Canterbury Howe Barracks closure 'an opportunity'

The closure of Howe Barracks in the shake-up of the UK's armed forces is an opportunity for Canterbury, the city council has said. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed the base will be "disposed of" when personnel are redeployed.

Some 600 people are set to move out when the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland moves to Edinburgh in 2014. Members of the council's Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups said it was a "great opportunity".

Leader of the Conservative-run council John Gilbey said:

"Much as we will very much miss the soldiers and all the relationships that we've developed over the years, I think this is a great opportunity for the city council."

Liberal Democrat leader Alex Perkins said the site was key to Canterbury's transport and infrastructure problems. He said:

"There is obvious sadness at the closing of the [Howe] barracks, but we are left with a huge opportunity."

Mr Perkins called for the co-ordinated development of the land with infrastructure such as schools, medical facilities and public open space, adding:

"What we must avoid is just building housing estates. We have to build a proper community."

Howe Barracks has housed soldiers from the South East since the 19th Century. Other South East bases to be affected are the Folkestone home of Headquarters 2nd (South East) Brigade, which will be vacated when it merges with another brigade, and Pirbright barracks in Surrey, which will become home to the 1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards.

bbc online 6th Mar 2013

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