Following the recent election when the 11 people who voluntarily stood together and campaigned under the banner of Team Gilberdyke were elected, the Annual Parish Meeting, The Annual Parish Council Meeting, and the normal Parish Council monthly meeting were held last night (Tuesday 10th May).
In accordance with standing orders the Annual Parish meeting was chaired by the chair of the Parish Council and 3 minutes per person allowed for points to be raised by any resident of the Parish. The election was the subject of comment particularly from representatives of the Gilberdyke and District Leisure Association who criticised details of the campaign leaflet content and aspects of the support for the GDLA by the Parish Council. Also the failed twelfth candidate alleged that he had been bullied during the campaign apparently because in his mind it was unfair that eleven people had campaigned as a team (despite his own parallel campaign in the county council elections as a member of the labour party which, surely, is also a team).
The meeting concluded at 19.35 upon which the Annual Parish Council meeting was held. This saw the previous chair, Nick Norris re-elected as chair for the coming year and other parish councillors appointed to various duties in the normal manner. The elected councillors signed acceptance of office documents and completed register of interests to be placed on file with East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
On completion of this second meetiing the monthly meeting was held and agenda matters discussed. Notably the matter of safe means of crossing Clementhorpe Road for school children when ERYC reported that a traffic survey had been carried out and stated the results did not justify a crossing. The Parish Council reject this decision and it was resolved to continue press for a crossing and ask the ward councillors to do their utmost to ensure one is provided.
The flood works were discussed and it was reported that they were slow to restart following the legal enforcement notices being issued as the contractor was occupied on another job. However men and machines are now back on site and work is underway. A progress report and estimated completion date for phase 1 will be obtained from the Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board for the next meeting. A number of wild claims and unsubstantiated opinions about the works are still circulating but the works are professionally designed and supervised by the LOIDB therefore the legal enforcement notice was issued and will be applied if necessary.
For further information the minutes of the meeting will be available after the next meeting and will be placed on the parish website at a future date www.gilberdyke.org.uk
The Goole Times had an excellent article in this morning under the heading "Clean Sweep for Team Gilberdyke" It seems candidate Mike Whitley, who failed to be elected, considers the Team missed the mood of the village - judging by the result of the election clearly the misjudgement was his! He further claimed a recount had been ordered - however the returning officer on the night stated that as there was a clear and wide differential between the losing vote (293) and the next lowest (514) no recount would take place!
ReplyDeleteTime for the losing candidate to wake up and smell the coffee methinks. Continued attempts to stir up trouble with deliberate false claims and wild allegations, as has happened since the identity of the person who has obstructed drainage work progress became public knowledge, will not thwart the plans and priorities of the Parish Council for the next four years.
I see Mike Whitley who was the failed contender has commented in the Goole Times that Team Gilberdyke had misjudged the mood of the village. Exactly which part of Team Gilberdyke were all elected and he was not doesn't he understand?
ReplyDeleteThe election result was the community giving their verdict on his wild claims and obstructive behaviour over the period from the floods of 2007.
He also claims in the same paper that a recount had been ordered. Wrong - the counting officer stated that as there was such a wide difference between the losing candidate score and the lowest elected candidates score, no recount would take place.
The annual parish meeting is chaired by the previous parish council chairman (Councillor Norris) if present. Councillor Norris was present so he automatically chaired the meeting. It was quite obvious that there was an intent to let rip from the losing candidate but by following the rules his capacity for disruption was limited.
ReplyDeleteThe comments from the GDLA were presumably down to timing as councillor Bate had previously agreed to take on one of the Parish Council "spaces" on the GDLA and this was minuted by the council.
The village did make their decision and with a good turn out, all this in the paper is to make him look good and that he has been victimised (again), what about the parish council, I feel they have been a victim since he started his rant and vindictive accusations, this surely has to stop as it damages the reputation of innocent people. Who will loose, the people of Gilberdyke.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel, as vice chairman of the Gilberdyke Parish Council,that we have a well balanced, well distributed and the right mix of people to support the village. From the first parish council meeting I felt positive vibes and was actually excited at the prospect of the next 5 years ahead of us. Best foot forward as they say...
ReplyDelete