Silence from “The Thinking Man”

Council Leader declines to reply

In a sure sign that much of the openness and transparency hailed as essential by our leaders on South Tyneside Council is nothing more than a sham, Cllr. Paul Waggott the Labour Group Leader has so far declined to enter into a dialogue over who is responsible for running our Council. I have sent two emails to Cllr. Waggott recently, which have been opened by countless aides and advisors within South Shields Town Hall, but none of them seem willing to spill the beans on whether or not there is any truth in the rumour that our elected councillors are accountable for setting the policies and directions of South Tyneside Council.

Many times, I have argued in this blog that I suspected that the Labour Group was essentially not strong enough to counter any recommendations proposed by council officers, and that they were in danger of allowing policy to be decided from outside of their ranks. This is not how any council ought to operate, our councillors are elected on a policy platform and given a mandate by us to turn those policy aspirations into reality, they are accountable and can lose their seats if we show displeasure at their failure to achieve results. Officers, however are paid officials accountable to us, via the Chief Executive of South Tyneside Council, who are responsible for the implementation of decisions agreed by council committees following deliberation over policy recommendations. It is not the foremost priority of officers to decide the policy and directions of the council, this remains the responsibility of those who we elected.

These important points were brought into focus when a member of the Corner Shop staff posted a light hearted look at a “back-slapping” event held for council employees at Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields. The post received a comment from the Executive Director for Regeneration, David Slater, posting from his Telewest/Blueyonder connection at home (IP address recorded) in which he stated;

“Last Friday was great at Temple Park. yes, we do it every year, because every year we set direction for the council, and reflect what has gone well (and not so well).”

Kind of blows the gaffe a bit, doesn’t it? Begs a few questions too, doesn’t it?

So Cllr. Waggott when you ask;

“I am unsure what you are trying to infer.
Can you explain your reasons for asking”

then I hope that this post makes it abundantly clear, as we head into a new municipal year that we expect to see a very clear division of responsibility between elected councillors and paid officials. If councillors are unable to set the policy and direction of our council then please say so, and make way for someone who can!

Perhaps we ought to be told the exact cost to the borough of the event held at Temple Park too, David Slater in his comments suggests that regional and national guests sponsored the event thus outweighing the cost to us.

Sponsored? What was in it for them?