While political debate rages on at a national level ahead of the general election, peace appears to be permeating the parties of Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Less than a month after the historic local election in Caerphilly which saw Labour consecutively elected as the ruling party of the council for the first time, the leader of the Plaid Cymru group on the council has welcomed Labour’s decision to cut the number of cabinet members from ten to nine.
A new-look executive cabinet of councillors was formally selected at the council’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday May 18, with new council leader David Poole promising the cabinet would “deliver a clear vision for the authority over the next five years.”
Llanbradach councillor, Colin Mann, who is the Plaid Cymru leader on the council, said of the reduction: “This is good news for council taxpayers. It’s just a shame that it has taken five years and a new Labour leader for this to cut to happen.
“The long-term refusal by Labour to reduce cabinet members from ten to nine was against a background of people in Caerphilly county borough seeing cuts in their services with more planned in the coming years.
“Axing one cabinet member from ten to nine will save around £30,000 a year when national insurance and other costs are also taken into account.
“When you are faced by challenging financial times in the future, then it is right senior councillors should take their share of cuts.”
A reduction in the many tiers of management would also produce big savings – can us taxpayers expect to see that happen too ?
A reduction of one member!! Is this really going to make a difference to tax payers, i think not. It also proves that plaid and labour are closer than we think. Why doesnt the council look at departments that are a waste of money and either reduce these or cut the service all together. I can think of such department that can be cut straight away.
Another option would be to reduce the tiers of management that exist within this labour led council. Let Labour prove they really do support the many over the few.
Seems the Free speech trolls are at it again – why are you blocking free speech ?
Free speech does not exist anymore in Britain, only the freedom to be offended remains.
Observer have replied – apologising saying they didn’t realise ot was happening ( nearly all of my posts in past 24 hours come up as Detected as Spam – even though they comply with posting guidelines ).
Say they don’t know why that has happened
That may well the case for your particular posts but I have had posts taken off, and so have others. There are key words that get detected and the whole comment is removed.
Personally I don’t like this method of moderation as I am in favour of real free speech. As I said that has not been enjoyed in this country for some time now. We are actually told that our speech is ‘wrong’ if it offends some individual or group.
Funnily enough I was talking with my girlfriend earlier and she told me about a recent converstion with her daughter, who is a young woman in her twenties. Daughter said to mother “You can’t say that anymore, it’s not allowed!” On the contrary I believe in saying exactly what you believe to be true. History is littered with giant figures such as Martin Luthor, Galileo and so on, people who dared to speak the truth and often suffered for it. Freedom of speech is a precious thing; we are losing it.
I agree with you totally re Free Speech ( especially if its within guidelines when comments are made online ).
Indeed, in the example you give – who is it that decrees ” You can’t say that – its not allowed “where are we heading in society if we can’t have open debate and express opinions without the many ( or the few ) saying ” thats not allowed’
As for the issue regarding keywords detection for spam – a few of my comments were very basic so couldn’t possibly be triggered that way.
Both you and I have said it before and I’ll confirm it again here,if I have something to say I will speak up and will not be silenced.
I will continue the crusade for Free Speech and will continue to support those like yourself who also feel that it is a right that must be preserved.