The local authority has, once again, snubbed representations for a meeting with Island residents ahead of today’s full council discussions relating to their new round of cuts.
On 1 September 2011 Alliance joint chairs Geoff Mason and Tanja Rebel wrote to Councillor David Pugh inviting him, and other council officials, to a meeting to discuss the way forward for the Island.
The letter pointed out that, unlike the local authority, senior national government figures were ‘apparently agreeing with some major planks in the Alliance’s platform, such as cutting senior officials’ pay and reassessing PFI contracts’. It went on to say that a meeting between the two sides would be an ‘opportunity for a meaningful and, it is hoped, fruitful consultation to take place in order to better inform elected members and officials of the wishes of the electorate’.
Under the council’s own guidelines the authority is required to respond to all communications within 21 days of receipt. This letter was emailed directly to Councillor Pugh, with copies to Councillor Brown and chief executive Steve Beynon, on 1 September, with hard copies delivered by hand to County Hall on the same day. The 21 day mark passed with no response, not even an acknowledgement of receipt.
Geoff Mason stated, “I have to say that I’m disappointed, not angered, by the actions of the local authority. Not only have they snubbed our polite representations, but, unsurprisingly, they have disregarded their own regulations relating to communications response times.
“The ball is now in their court. Our invitation to meet is still open. With the budget cut proposals for 2012/13 already on the table I would hope Councillor Pugh will show more willingness for discussions than he did earlier this year.”
