This has proved to be a stable situation where democracy is actually working following; the much needed re-working of the Labour Group, a “new listening man change of outlook” by the Leader, sound advice and sensible ideas from the Plaid Cymru members and some fresh ideas and experience from Peter Cathcart and myself.

For myself, I considered that following an initial pre-meeting of the TPC, it was clear that the main interest of the group was to “settle old scores”. It was also apparent that with so many people pulling in different directions that it was doomed from the start for disaster.

More importantly, I can confidently announce that - I am more convinced now than I was at the start that I made the right decision, since having heard first hand some of the ludicrous proposals that have been presented in the last ten months of council - and I firmly believe that had the Coalition been successful - Torfaen would have been wrecked and become a laughing stock as with some of the antics by its members.

Initially, this became apparent when, after Cllr Wildgust’s failure to campaign and organise an Historical Overturning Petion ( promising thousands and thousands of signatures by dissatisfied voters) and mass marches, (presumably bringing the streets to a standstill) - when after just two months as an Independent, he then decided to join the Peoples Voice party!. After several months, he then “left” the Peoples Voice Party and unsuprisingly has recently left the TPC as well - and is currently in the wilderness, I am not aware to date of any other party that he would be able to join, presumably after such memorable proposals like building a new Incineration Plant…baring in mind that after years of campaigning the good people of Torfaen have only just got rid of Rechem!

Since it was only a matter of time, as per my initial prediction; I now present the latest farce with the publication by Cllr Liz Haynes of the much awaited press statement, as follows:

“Statement from the Independent Group - Torfaen.

The Independent Group have reflected on their membership of Torfaen People’s Coalition. On Monday 16th February 2009 at 6pm, at an Independent Group meeting, the decision was taken to withdraw from the Coalition.

In May 08, a Coalition was formed with the sole purpose of ousting the Labour Controlled Administration. Due to the decision of 5 newly elected members, this was not to be.

The Independent group are strong and focussed and we wish to step back from the Party politics that is currently evident in this Council.

As an Independent group, we will continue to work hard in our communities, whilst scrutinising the decisions within Council.

We are still opposition Councillors and even though not a Coalition, we will continue to hold the Labour administration to account.”

It is apparent that the infighting within the TPC group has caused it to fall apart at the seams, yet still it persists in trying to blame the 5 councillors with any sense who didn’t join…with its failure by not being members ! - thereby acknowledging and confirming that the 5 councillors that they criticised initially have made the right decision. With statements like “scrutinising the decisions within the Council and holding the administration to account”, I would have to point out that thus far they can’t even hold themselves together let alone claim that they could run a council.

This alone confirms that a gung-ho approach, inexperience and personal ambition is ultimately rewarded with failure.

To date, as a result of lack of cohesion, direction and poor leadership, not one sensible proposal has been presented by the TPC, save for endless rhetorical questions and political diatribe in the council chamber much to the weary dismay of people in the public gallery…and councillors & officers. The subsequent current dissolution of the group will be a magor benefit to the people of Torfaen since presumably any remaining floating councillors with any forsight and sense will see fit to actively join in with business rather than theatrically voting against every proposal simply because they are in opposition.

Unfortunately, due to the initial lack of forsight and following a farcial 10 months where they have achieved absolutely nothing, manifest in the Coalition falling apart, it is difficult to to forsee any sensible councillor wanting to form an alliance with any of the former members of the TPC now posing as new Independent Councillors (Group?), since I am sure they would not want to be aligned with the same track record, or lack of it and its only a matter of time when the “new group” will fall apart when greed and ambition take root.

Thus far in council the TPC will only be rememberd for wasting ten months with continuous critisism, repeated pointless questions, monthly policy change proposals and taking up space.

Sadly, as a badly fragmented collection of groups with no direction or leadership even the largest formation of members as a sub-group will have little or no effectiveness since no one will take them seriously, given the nonsense thus far.

I can’t help saying - I told you this would happen….actually I did at the first meeting

Firstly in my opinion a below the belt political stab has been made using the Farm as a lever by two naive and inexperienced council members without thought for the community or the knock on effect to the whole community which I am sure will backfire, since comments in support for the farm and in condemnation of the critisism far outweighs their claims.

Figures have been quoted which are wholly misleading and one sided to the detrement of one of the better public flagship venues within Torfaen and I have actual details of the main amenities which I have listed below:

The report shows the Venue, The User Numbers, The Grant Subsidy and the Subsidy Per User.

Pontypool Museum 6500 Visitors per Annum £104,000 (£16.00 per user)

Blaenavon World Heritage 17000 ” ” ” £141,700 (£ 8.33 per user)

Blaenavon Workmans Hall 4000 ” ” ” £ 33,234 (£ 8.30 per user)

Greenmeadow Farm 44000 ” ” ” £284,000 (£ 6.45 per user)

Fairwater Leisure Centre 140000 ” ” ” £429,576 (£ 3.06 per user)

Cwmbran Stadium 304159 ” ” ” £969,774 (£ 3.18 per user)

Pontypool Active Living 362000 ” ” ” £957,000 (£ 2.64 per user)
Ski Slope 13745 ” ” ” £ 34,000 (£ 2.47 per user)

Congress Theatre 46700 ” ” ” £ 76,700 (£ 1.45 per user)

Firstly to support my suggestion that the farm has been used politically, it can be clearly seen from the figures that it ranks fourth and that there are three other amenities which receives far greater subsidy per visitor with the highest being £16 for the Torfaen Museum.

Why then have these not been highlighted in the first instance since they are draining resources at, in balance, a colossal rate compared to the Farm.

Unsupported arguments have claimed that the figures are incorrect, in that more persons have visited the venues, however this claim fails when actual “visitors via the till” figures are used which is the real test against people who simply visit to ask directions to others venues without purchasing entry.

In most local authorities many amenities require subsidy and because they are leisure facilities, are in the frontline public eye.

However there are many other civic amenities that are provided by the council which go unnoticed, yet still are subsidised.

The Farm provides a working environment encompassing learning and heritage, which is supported by the vast number of school children that benefit from it by visiting a natural feature that they may not normally have the means or reaching. The staff are skilled, passionate about their craft and professional and work well with the facilities they are presented with. The farm provides a regular meeting place for various craft subjects which also double up to provide a craft attraction for visitors.

Therefore any sane thinking person must agree that before this venue is considered for closure, the venues causing a greater drain on taxpayers should go first which would place in question predominantly Pontypool Museum first, followed by the Blaenavon World Heritage Cente and Blaenavon Workmans Hall.

I would not like to see any of the amenities go since they are a vital part of our heritage not to mention the leisure aspect.

The article reported in the Argus was ill founded, damaging, irresponsible and wholly defeatest.

It is clear from the content of some of the comments that have been posted on the Argus blog that they are politically motivated - as they follow a pattern similar to the comments made by the two Councillors who made the original complainant.

It is particularly sad to see that Councillor Haynes feels the need to criticise an amenity within her own area which may appear as a simple means of gaining self publicity which has been suggested in some comments on the blog, additionally the comments from Councillor Wildgust are equally bizarre since it would seem that on one hand he is calling for what is in essence the closure of one facility in someone elses ward yet on the other hand is promoting the provision of a new facility of a Caravan Park in his own area, which would suggest unfairness, partiallity and duality at a time when finance and Holidays on any part of the Atlas are Limited, baring in mind that the main argument in the first place was about money.

The Greenmeadow Community Farm is not in my ward, but I believe that it provides a valuable facility within Torfaen as a whole.

I urge you to strongly support this facility. Additionally if you have any thoughts on the closure of facilities in succession of cost liability, I would be keen to receive you comments.

If you don’t have anything constructive to say, given that this is a serious topic, don’t bother to comment since they will be fltered out, however reasonable arguments will be posted.

Given the state of the country, I am fed with people criticising and waiting to gloat on failure. Some things have a value greater that money and this Farm is one of them.

Regards.

Alastair

On the face of it and the mis-reporting by the Argus (which they agreed was as a result of incorrect information given to them initially), I quite appreciate that the electorate will feel betrayed, I would feel the same, however my decision when explained will I hope, prove to get the best deal for our ward, which is what I promised to do - and to achieve this I had to seize an opportunity to gain what is probably the most important casting voting position in the County, which I intend to use as a lever to get facilities in Two Locks and Henllys in particular, not forgetting the rest of the county.

Given the election result, a meeting was called of all the political parties and the Independants. At that first meeting I asked the question who is going to run the council, when no answer came, I asked who was qualified to run the council and who had any relevant experience. No one came forward and it was evident there was no credible contenders.

At this point I left the meeting, feeling that the meeting was going no where. I decided that given the balance of Labour against the other Independants who subsequently then agreed to form as a group led by the Conservatives, I was keen to keep my independance and not be tied by a group whip, but would work with anyone in the best interests of democracy. I then discussed the position with Labour re-enforcing their fragile position and the value of my vote which would be crucial, I considered that not changing the existing cabinet members to be the least disruptive option - and setting personalities aside, it cannot be denied that they had more experience in there relative posts for the moment - laying out very strict conditions and making them aware of my requests in respect of my own ward, an agreement was reached.

If you are prepared to think about what I am trying to achieve, you’ll see it’s not to help Labour, but to establish a foothold where, as someone commented earlier, they need me more than I need them (and that applies to the opposition group as well). What does the average non-labour voter want in Torfaen… Change, but what we need is long term change in the way the council is run and importantly making it more accountable to the people.

To do that we need to ensure that in future no group or party has a position so secure that they can ignore public opinion. I knew that it would not be easy and that I would come under heavy critisism until the plan could be explained in full and this is in itself testimony as to how determined I am to work for change. ..But you need a workable plan. I will work with the rest of the non-labour group providing that they are prepared to do it

The Labour group are aware of their fragile position and have been forced into listening since they can’t move left or right without my input, and they are aware in no uncertain terms that if they try to railroad items through that I do not agree with, then I will block them. Gone are the days where decisions are taken for granted and to be fair they have agreed to listen.

As a safe guard I have made it plain in no uncertain terms that if they do not listen, I will simply remove the power of my vote, which is considerable….and then end of Labour.

I have not signed any agreement with Labour ( a matter of Public Record).

I am not there to make political friends with Labour or anyone else in fact, simply to get the best for the community and yes by any means, which I have done and I have to say that I have achieved something good for the ward, by siezing an opportunity that the others missed - which has caused a few sour grapes comments, but in the game of politics its about strong character and its either lead or get out of the way which is what I have done - a matter of fact.

When things settle and the “festival atmosphere” dies down - and some of these newly elected councillors present some sensible ideas and proposals - and I do believe that there are some clever, talented and good people amongst them, then I can look at making some changes.

But ultimately I am not prepared to be part of any group which could potentially jepodise communities, services, peoples livelyhoods and a budget of £240+ million by simply voting in a new crew of mainly inexperienced new councillors and “experimenting” with the running of a council.

As for the over zealous reporting of my committee membership, well there is not much point in being a councillor if you have no useful voting power or input… and if anyone thinks that I am a new wet behind the ears kid that has been “granted” a bit of power by the Leader, who then runs around shouting Yippee…then think again.

In reference to the jibes in the press that I have “sold out” for a few thousand pounds over the basic salary that everyone gets, then I can assure you that I am not so badly off that I need to do that… and as I stated, without trying to portray bravado, but as an example, my rolex watch cost more than the allowance, which is an illustration as to what I am trying to say. Furthermore, to support my motives, bare in mind that I sat as a councillor for five years without the allowances all councillors enjoy now.

In fairness to the Leader, Councillor Wellington has promised me that the Labour Group will listen - I have re-enforced that they will have to, since without my steadying and cautious casting vote they will cease to be, which they well understand. This should also be a warning to any Maverick executive officers who think that they will slip in any items in un-noticed - be warned that in my case, you won’t have to get up early to do it, you’ll have to stay up all night!

I hope that this in some way explains the situation.

I will not let my voters down. Sometimes you need a veiled or obscure plan to achieve the obvious.

I’ll always listen and if you have any sensible ideas I’m always prepared to discuss them and remember - nothing is cast in stone

Regards

Alastair