Is this the return of the Tebbutt ??

What a surprise we all got this week, when the leader of the Council, Michael White announced that the Chief Executive was to leave at the end of March 2007, he had even managed to keep it a secret from the whole Tory group, including his Cabinet and his Deputy Leader, so much for working as a team.

Now the interesting fact in this story is around the amount of time that a Councillor who loses his seat has to wait until he can seek employment at the same Council, its six months actully.

We have all been waiting for Tebbutt to role on up into a ward near you and stand in a by-election after some poor sod has been persuaded that they should stand down due to a new job at work, or they are not feeling to well, you get the picture.

But maybe, we have all been wrong, maybe the big plan was for Tebbutt to return, not as a Councillor, but as the new Chief Executive !!. We all know that the Leader and Tebbutt are joined at the hip, we all know that the Leader can not make a decission without the big man's say so. It all makes sense now it will be like having Laural and Hardy running the Borough. (again)

You can see it now. "No, no, no, Michael, not like that, you dont want to do it like that, you want to do it like this" he says with his head in his hands.

Now, where did i leave those Boulders ?

North Romford Area Committee

The first North Romford Area Committee was held this week, it was always going to be fun with 5 tories and just little old me as the only Residents Assoicaton Councillor. Anyhow, we got off to a good start, i nominated myself for Chairman, but low and behold, none of the Tories would vote for me, so i thought i would try for the vice chairman spot, but no, they would still not support me, oh how they must hate me sitting at that table with them.

The meeting was o.k, a few complaints from residents about parking on pavements, which i have to say is becoming an increasing problem, as the Council push for issuing more tickets to bring the money in, if anyone gets issued with a dodgy ticket, just drop me a line.

A resident wanted to talk about the flats in Essex Road, but the Chairman would not let her, suggesting that because a report was in front of full Council next week we could not talk about it, i dont actually go along with that, but she is the chair, if she wants to stop the residents of North Romford having their say its up to her, come back soon for a full report into the goings on of ex Cllr Tebbutt and the very dubious decission to approve planning permission.

We talked at length about a traffic calming scheme in Havering Road, it would seem that that the officers report was upside down, as the slowest part of the road was going to receive the speed warning signs and the fastest part was to receive nothing. So after a quick change around and a suggested change by me and i must say supported by my old tory friend Cllr Starns, we changed the oficers report.

At the end of the meeting, i presented the Chairman, Cllr Binion with a petition from some residents in Chelmsford Avenue, concerning the state of the play site, unfortunately she did not seem that interested and went on about how she was going to present it at Council next week.

I seems to have rattled the Torries a bit over this park, they have to be seen to be doing things at all costs, but upto only a month ago, they had no interest in the park, yet your Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association had actually highlighted it in our election material for action if elected as it has been neglected for years, would you beleive that on visiting last year, one of the Councils Parks officers did not even know it was there.

Watch this space for more on the park.

Welcome to my blog, come back soon for updates on what is going on in Collier Row and Havering Council. As your local Councillor i am always on hand to deal with any of your problems.