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Parish Council - Robert Douglas (27th Feb 2010 - 11:36:12) How can we vote to scrap the parish council in its entirety and to have our money back? We now know, thanks to Jeremy Austin-Olsen, that it has absolutely no power or influence over the one thing it might be useful for (planning). So what is it that distinguishes the usefulness of this expensive and morally bankrupt institution from that of a chocolate frying pan? Let's get shot of it.

Re: Parish Council - bill mouland (27th Feb 2010 - 12:53:29) Funny you should mention that, Rob. I was thinking only the same thing myself. However noble the intentions of the three new parish council candidates, the fact remains that whoever wins will be immediately thrust into its poisonous atmosphere. Never mind what they think about roads, footpaths, youth clubs, heritage centres, planning, village surveys - the first question to be addressed is whether they support the parish clerk. At the moment the council is split between those who think he should stay in post and those who want him sacked for alleged - but unsubstantiated - gross misconduct. This long standing cancer, which goes back years, affects almost everything the council does - or doesn't do - because one side won't vote for things the other side proposes, and vice-versa. Last week, for instance, they couldn't even decide who should be chairman of the Millennium Hall Committee because one side wanted Dr Tough and the other Michael Croucher. Things have sunk to such a sorry state that councillors seem to spend most of their time firing off letters of complaint about each other to the standards board at EHDC. Of the prospective new councillors, we know that Mrs Hoskins has an axe to grind on behalf of Barry Hope and her neighbour Nikki Young. So a vote for her will just be a vote for yet more conflict. I don't know the views of Dr Judge or Mr Myall or whether they are even aware of the flea-pit into which they want to throw themselves. I think that to abolish the parish council will require 10 per cent of the electorate petitioning EHDC. It has happened in the past although the government is reluctant to see the disappearance of its lowest tier of government. And we are talking lowest here... See: www.parliament.uk/...

Re: Parish Council - Nigel Myall (27th Feb 2010 - 15:43:24) The short answer (in the Local Government Act) is that you can't. So, given that you WILL have some sort of council (parish or otherwise) spending part of your taxes, it makes sense to get involved in a positive way and ensure your money is spent in a sensible manner. The first part of this is to get out on March 11 and vote for the candidate of your choice.

Re: Parish Council - Sue w (27th Feb 2010 - 16:22:17) Robert You are absolutely right - Not only over highway planning either - remember the fiasco 1st time round with the new you know who supermarket, and the debacle of its extension. It was always stated that the new extension would only be granted if they kept to the planning rules of the garage, and only sold car related products. Yeah like hell. Not supposed to sell take out coffee, or hot pies and chickens either from their specially designed 'hot' cabinet!! One councillor actually got their friend to purchase takeout coffee, so she could get proof. Don’t know what they did with it - nothing changed!! This information was provided by some councillors - if for any reason its incorrect - they are to whom you complain. Basically - as you say they are ineffectual - most decisions are made higher up - all they can do is put forward recommendations - and ruffle the odd feather here and there. Perhaps that is why they are always fighting each other? It’s all they can do - probably due to frustrations.

Re: Parish Council - Dawn Hoskins (28th Feb 2010 - 12:21:30) I am sad to say that you a mainly correct Bill. The other candidates should have their eyes truly open to what they are proposing to do or they will soon become disillusioned. The ‘in-fighting’ has generally centered around the clerk who ‘as an employee’ can fire off employment grievances whenever he chooses – whereas the volunteer councillors are not afforded the luxury of answering his complaints against them without either entering into a tribunal situation or recruiting an independent investigator from another council. All of which wastes a lot of time and money. When you state that I have an axe to grind - you are largely correct. However it is not simply related to Barry or Nikki. My Axe ‘as you put it’ is against ALL the childish behaviour. It is outrageous that councillors had to find out about a payment made to ‘an employee’ by reading it in the local paper. It is also outrageous that the clerk should choose to park his car at the end of Lynchborough Road pointing at Nikki’s house in order to achieve some ‘ulterior motive’ (apart from her resignation). However, these incidents are merely the tip of the iceberg and it cannot be permitted to continue. Like the other candidates, I want to make a positive contribution to the parish. I’m sure we are all in the same mind about that. However, the rot needs to be cut away. It has permeated the parish council like a disease which prevents them from doing anything other than squabble. If the good people of Liphook actually witnessed a united group of community spirited adults – all working towards the same goal – that of improving the amenities of the parish, wiping out the miscreants that constantly foul up our public areas and making this beautiful village a more pleasant place – then the level of apathy would be substantially reduced and more people would want to be part of it. This is a great place to live – it has so much going for it. Lets have a parish council who can work together to make it better rather than drag themselves further into a bog of eternal stench.

Re: Parish Council - Phil (28th Feb 2010 - 21:37:27) Perhaps the 3 prospective candidates should withdraw, and leave the vacancy open? Then we all pledge to ignore the PC generally, and over time if no new candidates pop up it will simply - hopefully - just fade away into oblivion. Assuming someone is crazy enough to stand despite the above plea, perhaps we the residents of Liphook should organise and attend a nice event elsewhere on the day of the by-election, so that the total turnout is 0% and not a single vote cast!! What greater message could there be for the PC than "we're just not interested in you".

Re: Parish Council - Helen M (28th Feb 2010 - 22:56:36) what power DO they have?

Re: Parish Council - Nigel Myall (1st Mar 2010 - 19:34:12) There have been quite a number of posts since I last wrote here. I will take them as points made rather than reply to individuals and risk repeating myself. A poisonous atmosphere / flea pit / bog / in-fighting. There will always be sources of conflict. I have been in high-stress conflict situations before (including trying to conduct delicate negotiations with tear gas blowing around and rubber bullets flying) and come out a survivor with some successes. I don’t believe the council can throw anything worse at me. I see it as part of my mission to reinstate the standing of the council in the eyes of you the electors. I honestly believe that I can best achieve this standing by my principles and doing what a councillor should – improving the lives of the electors I hope to represent. Like Dawn, It is my clear and firm intention to make a positive contribution to the council and parish. Abolition. This really is a red herring. You will still have a council making decisions for you, whether it be parish, district or other. There are options for reform, but these should start at the ballot box. Even if the candidates wished to withdraw, the date for that has passed. The by-election WILL happen on March 11th. What happens after that will be partly up to you as electors as you lobby your councillors. Ignoring the council will not make it go away. Ineffectual / powers. What Parish councils can do can be found here: compton.parish.hants.gov.uk/powers.htm. Clearly, we are not in the realms of central government here, so let’s not pillory the council over matters outside of its control or remit. PS: I’m not in favour of “wiping out the miscreants” – that’s the realm of films like “Hot Fuzz”; I have no wish to see Simon Pegg riding up the Midhurst road armed to the teeth.

Re: Parish Council - Steve Read (1st Mar 2010 - 23:38:11) Admirable intentions of all the prospective candidates for the coming election, I can fully understand your views and opinions and the need to change things. However I also believe that matters have regarding the way this PC conducts its business are now beyond repair. The proof will be in the turnout, I honestly believe it will be poor to the extreme, I hope I am proved wrong. Thanks to all who put their name forward for election I admire your optimism for the future here in Liphook. Just a quick note for the candidate who has experience of rubber bullets, negotiations in hostile environments, flak jackets, high stress situations or basically working in a war zone. Sorry my friend you are ill equipped for this PC, good luck!

Re: Parish Council - Carl B (2nd Mar 2010 - 03:02:59) As a Liphook resident on an overseas assignment I have travelled the world and seen how many communities in under developed countries thrive with a spirit of team work and cooperation. These communities thrive not based on party political lines but because each community member is committed to the betterment of their community. There is a lesson here for councilors: Nobody voted councilors in to office based on the ability to put other councilors down or act in a manner not becoming of an elected public officer, they were voted in for the betterment of the community and obviously many residents are not happy with what is happening within the Parish Council. Councilors could learn a lot about teamwork and cooperation from the Liphook in Bloom team. Here is a team built from a dream, no funding originally - Look at what they did, the awards they have, the sponsorship they have mustered, the planning they do and the fun and personal reward they get in doing something for the community- This is teamwork at its best. Whatever any Councilor does for Liphook, they must put the community above petty squabbles and engage the whole community to support in any major community initiatives you have. Every member of the Liphook community (and a few already do a great deal) should do a good deed for Liphook whatever that may be. Everybody should feel good about Liphook and giving some time to the community in which they live will ultimately make everybody’s lives better. I make a plea to some residents: lets stop the community negativity and build a community culture of doing good with positive feedback to all, Promote the good, learn from the bad. Its all too easy to write E-mails. Picking up poop for the betterment of the community is doing something positive about the problem rather than E-mail response after response just talking about it. Don't let the poop problem fester, Act now! If you have a meal at Whitleys and it was good pass it on to a friend about your experience. If it was not so good talk to the chief, he doesn't want to get bad experiences fed to him through the public domain, that ruins his reputation because 1 bad experience can be mis-read and is public knowledge

Re: Parish Council - Neil (2nd Mar 2010 - 09:36:59) Carl, your dream sounds like what Liphook use to be like 15-20 years ago, peoples work life has changed, 20 years ago there would be a handful of people commuting out of the area for work now your lucky to get a seat on the train. There are a lot of people that have moved in just to be out of the city and larger towns and not all want to join in the village spirit. I do think Liphook is on a slippery slope and with even more houses due I am sure it will only get worse. But back to the thread, I think it is a shame the PC don't hold respect within the local CC, but they do do a lot of good work that we don't always get to hear about or get to see. Hopefully the good ones can keep up the fight or all hope is lost, so lets think who gets voted in hopefully someone that will as you say Carl bring team spirit and not conflict.

Re: Parish Council - Nigel Myall (2nd Mar 2010 - 21:41:20) Thank you very much Carl. With that positive outlook, perhaps you would consider standing for the parish council yourself next time round?

Re: Parish Council - barbara (3rd Mar 2010 - 12:10:54) In answer to the person who asks what would happen if no one wanted to stand, for election, this has happened in the past, and then it is a case that a co option happens. This is an unsafe method because it can mean that friends of the councillors could be persauded to stand, and then as the chairman always has a casting vote, even if the vote is an even split, the chairman would decide who becomes a councillor.

Re: Parish Council - Neil (3rd Mar 2010 - 14:44:08) Barbara interesting, do you know of any current councillors that have been co-opted on to the PC? Thanks

Re: Parish Council - Neil (12th Mar 2010 - 11:00:12) barbara did you manage to find anything out with reagrds my question? Thanks

Re: Parish Council - bill mouland (12th Mar 2010 - 15:28:03) Here you are, Neil. This should do it. An item from the minutes of the parish council meeting of Monday June 25th, 2007. The chairman referred to is Dr John Tough... 122/07 CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLORS The Chairman checked that members had the list of candidates. The Chairman read out the names of the candidates who had put their names forward for co-option and asked that they should make themselves known to the Council if they were present. The Chairman said there were four vacancies, eleven candidates and eight councillors to elect them. He outlined the co-option process which consisted of nomination and election. The Chairman explained the nomination process which was for four vacancies, and said that as long as a candidate was nominated and seconded they could go on the ballot sheet. Cllr Dr Carne raised the possibility of a short oral resume from the candidates to assist in the process. The Chairman said he was not inclined to do this because not all the candidates were present at the meeting and that would be unfair. The nomination of candidates was briefly discussed. The Chairman invited nominations and secondors for each vacancy. The following persons were nominated and seconded; Mrs Arber, Mr Crawford, Mrs Easton, Mr Evans, Mr Everett, Mr Hope, Mr Jewell, Mr Jordan, Mr Stead, Mr Walters, and Miss Young. The Chairman explained the election process that would be followed, and that any candidate with a clear majority would be co-opted and votes would then be taken for the remaining three vacancies. Further voting forms would then be issued and voting would be for up to three candidates. If there was not a candidate with an overall majority then the candidate with the lowest number of votes would drop off. At least one name would be deleted from the second voting form and so on. The Clerk prepared ballot sheets based on the nominations which were circulated, as appropriate, for each of the votes. A first vote was taken. The Chairman said that Mr Everett was co-opted to the Council, and his name would be deleted from the next ballot sheet. A second vote was taken. The Chairman said that Mr Jordan was co-opted to the Council, and that his name would be deleted from the next ballot sheet. A third vote was taken. The Chairman said that Miss Young was co-opted to the Council, and that her name was to be deleted from the next ballot sheet. A fourth vote was taken. The Chairman said that Mrs Easton was co-opted to the Council. The Chairman referred to the need to sign the declaration of acceptance. The Clerk advised the Chairman that the new members would receive a letter setting out the administrative requirements. The Chairman thanked everyone for participating. Results: Mrs Easton, Mr Everett, Mr Jordan, and Miss Young were co-opted to the Parish Council.

Re: Parish Council - barbara (12th Mar 2010 - 15:34:15) Yes I did look it up the last co-option was in 2007. 4 Councillors had chosen not not stand in the 4 yearly elections, eleven people put their names down and 4 were coopted. Nick Everett, who has since moved to Wales, Phil Jordan who is still on the council, Nikki Young who resigned and myself still on the council. I do not know of the co-options further back in time but when I have time I could look into it. o

Re: Parish Council - Neil (12th Mar 2010 - 16:49:52) Thank you for the information so it looks like we do have friend on the council does this cause friction when casting votes are needed

Re: Parish Council - scott (13th Mar 2010 - 15:47:37) At the moment the council is split between those who think he should stay in post and those who want him sacked for alleged - but unsubstantiated - gross misconduct. The alleged Gross Misconduct what has the parish clerk done please explain.

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