DISAPPOINTMENT AS NEW LEADER’S POOR JUDGEMENT REWARDS FAILURE

DISAPPOINTMENT AS NEW LEADER’S POOR JUDGEMENT REWARDS FAILURE

The Labour Group on Tendring District Council is extremely disappointed by the announcement of the new cabinet released this morning by Cllr Peter Halliday.

Whilst welcoming many of the changes which are in line with what Labour has been calling for over recent years, the decision by Cllr Halliday to reward failure by retaining Tory councillors who have not performed in the old cabinet calls into question the new leader’s judgement.

Labour Group leader, Ivan Henderson, says

“We welcome the reduction in the cost of the cabinet which we have been calling for since September last year. It begs the question why over £50,000 has been paid out to Tory cabinet members during that time when, as the new setup confirms, it wasn’t necessary.”

Labour has serious issues with whether it is possible for one councillor to devote sufficient time to both lead the council and oversee its finances and questions whether Cllr Halliday is showing good judgement in insisting on holding both posts. However, Labour’s main concern over his judgement is his decision to reward failure by retaining Cllr Sarah Candy and Cllr Stephen Mayzes within his cabinet.

“Cllr Candy has shown no initiative as Regeneration Portfolio holder for the last three years. I have described Regeneration as the engine room of the district and this vehicle badly needed a new engine. Changing the name of her department does not alter the fact that what is required is a change in the name of the councillor leading it,” continued Ivan Henderson.

As recently as last week Cllr Mayzes was forced to admit that he had got it badly wrong over the fiasco of increased prices in pitch hire charges and his previous insistence that it was wrong to spend money refurbishing Dovercourt swimming pool has also been proved wrong with the announcement that refurbishment is finally going to take place.

“The policy decisions taken by Cllr Mayzes will take years to recover from and yet he is being retained in Cllr Halliday’s cabinet. This does not suggest that Cllr Halliday realises that the old guard badly failed the people of Tendring,” added Ivan Henderson.

Further evidence of this is the baffling decision to retain Cllr Nick Turner and give him the additional responsibility of coastal defence. It was Cllr Turner who sent the leaked e mail suggesting that the funds allocated for Holland on Sea coastal protection should be re allocated if the Tories failed to win a by election and, nine months later, he is being put in charge of that area of policy.

“Cllr Turner’s e mail implied that coastal defence funding should be determined on political expediency and he is now being made responsible for coastal defence in Cllr Halliday’s new cabinet. I don’t think I will be the only person questioning the new leader’s judgement with this appointment,” said Ivan Henderson.

For further information please contact

Ivan Henderson on 07889 367822