This particular meeting however had Councilor Brash quivering with moral outrage as he tore into me for daring to ask, on behalf of a constituent, about absenteeism levels at Hartlepool Council. His lip trembled as he paid fulsome tribute to the hard working families of Hartlepool, sorry wrong Labour Sound bite there, I mean of course the hardworking employees of Hartlepool Council, who struggled through the snow to carry on their endless and thankless task of providing four star services to the socially deprived masses of the poor and downtrodden who live under the terrible conditions imposed on the town by monsters such as Margret Thatcher!
Councillor Brash once again attacked me for not paying Council tax in the town. The fact that he's wrong there doesn't matter to him of course and how that is related to absenteeism levels in Hartlepool Council isn't quite clear to me. I think he was trying to make the point that like him and a large number of his supporters I shouldn't care how high Council Taxes go because I don't pay them? He then had a go at my attendance at Council Meetings and pointed out three years ago I had the second worst attendance of any Councillor (the worst was by a labour Councillor but we won't go there). The point he missed there of course was I don't measure my performance as a Councillor by how often I sit in endless meetings but by how much I contribute to meetings that effect my constituents and the town as a whole. I've been a Councillor for several years for example and there are many Labour Councillors with excellent attendance records who I've never heard speak. Their only function is to vote how they are told to. Their contribution to the debates and discussion ZERO.
Councilor Hargreaves then weighed in with a speech about Occupational health and with a voice dripping with concern suggested I might like to see the Occupational health nurse because asking this question clearly showed I was ill and in need of help. Thank you Councillor but I'm keeping my paranoia under control. Are you?
I was born in (the now demolished) Cameron Hospital, attended Fens Junior School (the same school as our current MP) and Hartlepool Grammar School for boys. Was a member of 54th Hartlepool Cub Scouts, played in the Hartlepool Table Tennis League and sailed my racing dingy in Hartlepool bay most Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays during the racing season for years. I even participated in the "Icicle Series" which was sailed in the dock, in the pre-marina days, every Sunday Morning from October to March. Both of my Children were born in Hartlepool Hospital. Apart from three years in Kent in the mid 1980's I have worked in Hartlepool all my life, setting up my first business in my bedroom at my parents house in 1986, a business that I still operate and which has kept my gainfully employed now for 23 years. Going backwards my family has been in Hartlepool for generations, Boagey and Bond being two well known names in my family tree. My grandfather on the Allison side being one of the residents of the Croft! To attack me for not caring about Hartlepool is not only inaccurate its wrong! However, since when has the Labour Group cared about truth or honesty? Spin, spin and more spin, that's the Labour way!
The answer to my question about absenteeism by the way eventually came out as 9.1 days per employee per year. That of course was an average so some long term sick will balance people who are never off. I'm not quite sure which part of my question attacked the hardworking employees of Hartlepool Council but of course if Councillor Brash is so quick to leap to their defense and protect them from questions that HE thinks are attacking them, then maybe the general public might think there is no smoke without fire? Rightly or wrongly there are members of the public out there who consider Hartlepool Council to be over manned and a soft touch as an employer. We cannot challenge that view if every time someone asks a question the immediate reaction is to try and ridicule the questioner rather than deal with the question itself!
I have always tried to keep personalities out of public politics. There are some members of Hartlepool Council that I think off as loathsome and who make my flesh creep at the thought of them. However, I hope I would never use personalities in debate. If ever I have done I apologise now. Council debate should be grown up discussions about the issues not childish name calling or petty point scoring about who is a fat bastard with body odor problems.
Hi Steve, Well done , your report of the council meeting was excellent, now I now why I have to pay my full council tax every month,and I do,a weekly column of your political obsevations of what is really happening in Hartlepool would I think be most enjoyable, no-doubt after a life time of supporting the labour party I will now be classed as a well known local lunatic late of Galley's Field School for giving you my whole-harted support, best wishes,alan flounders
ReplyDeleteWhat about the fact that you asked a question at Council that quoted figures that were patently untrue? You said absenteeism was running at 12%, when in fact it is 4%. How do you think that affects the workforce?
ReplyDeleteStephens mother and I are proud of him and the way he refuses to be intimidated by Brash and his foul mouthed gang of Labour Party councillors. There ARE one or two sincere people but they are in a minority in what is, in my opinion, the nastiest bunch of people ever gathered together in one place I have ever come across.
ReplyDeleteThe role of the majority of them is to stick their hands in the air when told to do so and otherwise keep their mouths shut.
As an ex councillor for St Hilda Ward I that over the 3 years I went to lots meetings, both council and committee, the vast majority of them never uttered a word - they were only there for numbers not for their intelect or the debate.
As for answering questions, they (Brash and co.) always resort to abuse because they have no answers to give.
As Alan Flounders suggests, Stephen, why don't you do a weekly column and annoy Brash even more than you do now ?