Westbury town council vote to replace mayor's chain

[badger]

During last night's meeting at the town council they voted to replace the mayor's chain with a new one , and the old one to be placed In a cabinet In the Laverton.
the motion read

Due to the Increasing weight and unwieldy nature of the mayoral chain , to consider the purchase of a new chain without medalions and foundation collar with a display case for the current chain.

well apart from the cost In these times of cuts and financial woe for many out there , the majority of Councillors voted this through  .
so the council Is now going to buy a new chain and display case for the old one and then they will have to Insure the old one forever.
Good way to spend our money.
Im fuming with them

[Soup]

How much will the new one cost?

[badger]

£1285.21 , which Is beside the point  , for me as this chain Is not needed and It shows total Irelevance to the people of westbury In these times of cuts , when we are all supposed to be In this together , the council then goes onto choose a piece of civic jewellry .

[Andy]

So did you vote against it Mike?

And how many votes were cast each way?

With what I'm learning of Warminster Council since living here for the last 18 months, it's little surprise nobody stepped forward
to be elected when places became available in Westbury recently.

It seems that most of the councillors (not you Mike) are out of touch * with what people in their towns really need, and this vote
for a new chain is an example of that!

*And one in Westbury was was in touch with an important age group (Adam Berrisford) stood down!

[badger]

The way last nights meeting was carried out was as follows
present who voted

To buy a new chain

FOR

Cllr Christine Mitchel  the current Mayor

Cllr David Widness Deputy Mayor

Cllr Bill Braid

Cllr Sue Ezra

Cllr David Jenkins

Abstentions

Cllr Dorian Jones

No Vote

Cllr Francis Morland


Against

Cllr David Tout

Cllr Mike Cuthbert-Murray

It Is a Shame Cllr Derry Ohara , Cllr Russell Hawker where absent as I know 100% they would have been against and voted so .And Cllr Dorian Jones was voting In his eyes which he believed was a referal to the full council of this motion layed down by the Mayor , and Did not realise , and was against buying a new one , so reduced the against to two members.

[Soup]

It does seem a little bit nuts - I have to admit that I haven't seen our one for a while. If it is falling apart and looking scruffy I can totally see the point - if it's just replacing it for the sake of replacing it then it's a farce.

[badger]

to my knowledge the chain is not under any distress or of need of repair and this is only going to serve the councillors only and not the local community.

Let those who voted for this explain themselves what next a limo, tiara

[Soup]

I think the thing is, when our Mayor is representing the town in the offcial capacity and wearing the chains, they have to look good, respectable and portray the right image. I agree with you though, if they don't need replacing then it is a waste of money. I'm sure a couple of local community groups / charities would certainly have benefitted from a cash injection!

[badger]

quite agree with you soup first time for that one lol , how many groups out there are In need many I know off , grassacres , scouts  etc , words can not explain how angry I and others are over this .Last night the press and public sat in the public forum , well as soon as the motion was read out , and I watched their faces they said a lot.
To my mind they have made a terrible judgement last night , and one I hope they will come to regret.

[badger]

http://http://www.westburycommunityforums.com/index.php?topic=1320.msg5924;topicseen#msg5924


more thoughts from the community forums .com

[charlie finbow]

Here is a copy of an email i have sent to various people and press.

Dear Sir.
 
May I register my total disgust at the decision by Westbury Town Councils decision to spend a vast amount of taxpayers money to replace the magnificent current Maroral Chain because it is to heavy and unwieldy.
 
This is lunacy of biblical proportions in these times of financial hardship, especially as they, the Town Council voted not to increase the precept during these times.
 
The decision not to increase the precept is commendable whilst the decision to replace the chain is totally unacceptable and cannot  be justified at all.
 
Speaking as someone who proudly wore the current chain during my mayoral year on over 130 occasions I never once found it heavy or unwieldy.   It was an honour to wear such a magnificent piece of civic regalia.
 
To spend taxpayers money on something which only benefits councillors is absurd, there are many voluntary groups within Westbury who are also having to struggle due to the current financial situation they would love some of this money which is being wasted by a few councillors who may feel they are unable to carry such a weight round their shoulders.
 
Perhaps those Councillors who voted for this nonsense would like to use your paper to justify their actions.
 
Kind regards  Charlie Finbow, Westbury   

[Old Codger]

Well said Charlie

[King Smurf!]

Come's to mind...

 

[badger]

Thank you charlie , you as a former councillor and Mayor know full well  , this Is Indefensible on Behalf of Our town council , and thank you for coming forward with your 100% knowledge and sense In this matter.
The meeting In reflection last night harped on about the quotes they had along with a printed out picture of a new chain certain members had decided on, It was brought to the attention of the town council by one member the previous mayor sue ezra that to have fixed the last chain would be costly and a new chain to buy would be cheaper was met with only the quotes for a new chain . I find It quite hard to believe the current chain which has been used for 50 years by past mayors Is suddenly need of replacing ! there It was sat around the current mayor's neck as this was being discussed , with the only cry from the mayor I and others heard was she had to get sue ezra to help pin it on her back !

well the chain has always needed assistance from others to wear when on a civic visit or when the mayoral chain needs to be worn , so as no quotes or evidence was forthcoming concerning why the current chain needs replacing as far as I am concerned It Is a no go, end off .

[Monica Reyes]

Perhaps the councillers who voted in favour would like to dip in their own pockets and pay for it, so that the town doe not have to waste its money on such things?