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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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30th March '08
At the last Full Torridge District Council meeting there was only one motion put forward. It came from councillor Miranda Cox who wanted ‘For the sake of balance and transparency one member is to be chosen from each political group to go on the Asset Management Group.’ It may sound fairly arcane to most people but given Torridge’s difficulties over the selling off of its assets, New Street car park in Torrington and the land adjoining Seagate in Appledore spring to mind, then its wider importance can be seen. Councillor Cox clearly thinks that if all the 5 political groups on the council are represented when asset sales are being discussed then there will be more transparency over such disposals – and less embarrassment to Torridge members who sometimes haven’t known what was going on. She saw this as so important that she wanted standing orders suspended so that all councillors could discuss it. Rather unexpectedly I thought councillor Andrew Eastman, who is generally vociferous in his support of ordinary councillors, demanded that this should not occur – rather he wanted it to go to the Policy, Performance and Resources Committee, which only consists of ¼ of the councillors, to be discussed. Councillor Cox said she regarded this as ‘a loss of democracy’ and she felt councillors who wanted to express an opinion were being ‘shut up’. The Leader, James Morrish, defended councillor Eastman saying ‘We operate a democratic system here’ – and the subsequent vote was to send it off to the committee. Make of it what you will.
This month’s Torrington ‘Crier’ – the town’s community newsletter – carries an intriguing piece about the search for new premises by the committee of the local Museum and Archive. They are having to move from the Town Hall and have been offered a new site by the Landmark Trust in South Street. The committee have now commenced numbering, packing and recording the thousands of items in their collection. Volunteers are still required and if you wish to help contact them on 01805 622306. I only mention this here as it does indicate just how much work would have been required if Bideford’s Burton Art Gallery and Museum had been forced out from its present building – though given the Chief Executive’s stated aim of recycling’ 10% of Torridge’s assets each year I suppose it could still come to pass!
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