The bottom line is that TheCouncil consists of the 11 people we elect. It does not include TheOfficers or TheCEO.
It took me many weeks of questions during public question time to get to box “them” in and get this term defined in accordance with the Local Government Act 1989. I have now received confirmation from The Honourable Richard William; Minister for Local Government.
TheCEO and TheOfficers would like us to believe that they are part of TheCouncil but they are not. They are merely instruments to carry out TheCouncil’s’ will.
Their decisions are only binding and are referred to as the decisions of TheCouncil (the Council has decided) only so far as TheCouncil or other laws have delegated them the power to act in the name of TheCouncil. But they are not part of the decision making body of TheCouncil.
What this means is that everything that happens in TheShire is on the head of TheCouncil except where other legislation might supersede their authority (planning legislation for example) and there is therefore no one to blame for the culture of TheShire but your elected representative who is one of 11 who make up TheCouncil.
TheCouncil is responsible for the answers you get (or don’t get) to questions you ask. They are responsible for the rate increases we get each year without any significant inputs from us. They are responsible for the culture within which TheOfficers and TheStaff operate. They are responsible for the secrecy that perpetuates itself in the name of Transparency (completely open and frank) that is touted throughout TheShire. They are responsible for the answers of confidentiality and using this and the FOI process to deny us access to information. They are responsible entirely for allowing the culture to exist that caused the latest investigation and subsequent report by the Ombudsman. They are responsible for correcting systemic deficiencies.
The buck stops with TheCouncil (your elected 11)!!!!
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