Today's most viewed
| WALTHAM FOREST | | | WANSTEAD/WOODFORD |  | | | EPPING FOREST | | | FEATURES | | | LEYTON ORIENT | | |
|
|
|
WALTHAM FOREST: Tory u-turn over £71,000 'unnecessary' councillor training
TORIES on the council have made a u-turn and are now supporting a £71,000 councillor training programme which their leader previously described as 'a waste of time'.
All councillors will be taught lessons by hired consultants as part of the borough's bid to be awarded the London Member Development Charter, which requires the backing all council group leaders.
Conservative group leader Matt Davis previously said the training is an unnecessary attempt to 'depoliticise' councillors.
But at a meeting of the full council members changed their minds and are now supporting it, although group Cllr Davis and Cllrs John Gover and Michael Lewis abstained from the vote.
| "This is not a u-turn. We have still not signed up to the charter itself." | | Cllr Matt Davis |
|
Cllr Davis said: "The rest of our group voted for it because very significant concessions have been made.
"This is not a u-turn. We have still not signed up to the charter itself, we have merely signed up to the idea that this is something that the council should move forward."
Cllr Davis said alterations, including the removal of a clause stating that training should "complement the council's strategic priorities", was behind the decision to support it.
He added the £71,000 would not all be spent on training, but would also be used for other purposes, such as conferences.
The Member Development Charter prompted criticism from campaigners and Guardian readers earlier this month when it was revealed that it will not be awarded on the basis of the competencies of the councillors.
Courses with titles such as Managing TIme, Public Speaking Skills and Dealing With The Media have formed part of similar schemes by other councils.
8:40am Friday 28th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Mr. T. C. Hull, Walthamstow on 9:35am Fri 28 Mar 08
This just shows how untrustworthy/two faced ALL politicians are!!
This just shows how untrustworthy/two faced ALL politicians are!!
Posted by: DEXTERDOG on 10:18am Fri 28 Mar 08
Thats good lets all have a conference, will someone sponsor me to learn conferencing.
Agenda
The art of spin, but hang on they know that one.
Thats good lets all have a conference, will someone sponsor me to learn conferencing.
Agenda
The art of spin, but hang on they know that one.
Posted by: Mr Khalid, walthamstow on 10:48am Fri 28 Mar 08
is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book
is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book
Posted by: dave, walthamstow on 12:35pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Mr Khalid[/bold] wrote:
is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book [/quote] More nonsense from khalid.
Somebody must be able to stop him writing this crap!
Mr Khalid wrote:
is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book
More nonsense from khalid.
Somebody must be able to stop him writing this crap!
Posted by: mdj, e10 on 1:01pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Mr Davies,
Please read the following article about MENCAP cuts, and ask yourself where £71,000 would be better spent.After years of disillusion with Labour and Lib Dem, people have been bracing themselves to vote for your party, despite its awful record in the past: now they know they needn't bother.If you really want to impress us that you care about this Borough, return the pay increase you all took last year: only those who put themselves in the firing line deserve to be called leaders.
Mr Davies,
Please read the following article about MENCAP cuts, and ask yourself where £71,000 would be better spent.After years of disillusion with Labour and Lib Dem, people have been bracing themselves to vote for your party, despite its awful record in the past: now they know they needn't bother.If you really want to impress us that you care about this Borough, return the pay increase you all took last year: only those who put themselves in the firing line deserve to be called leaders.
Posted by: Mark, Loughton on 2:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I agree with Mr.Khalid, this money could be better spent or go towards reducing our council tax bills.
I agree with Mr.Khalid, this money could be better spent or go towards reducing our council tax bills.
Posted by: Henry, High beach on 2:46pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]dave[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Mr Khalid[/bold] wrote: is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book [/quote] More nonsense from khalid. Somebody must be able to stop him writing this crap![/quote] Yes? And? Have you any comment to make or are you just bleating about Mr Khalid?
I have and agree, that in the current climate where everybody is being careful, such a waste of money cannot bejustified and questions should be asked as to who is providing the training? Any favours being done?
dave wrote:
Mr Khalid wrote: is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book
More nonsense from khalid. Somebody must be able to stop him writing this crap!
Yes? And? Have you any comment to make or are you just bleating about Mr Khalid?
I have and agree, that in the current climate where everybody is being careful, such a waste of money cannot bejustified and questions should be asked as to who is providing the training? Any favours being done?
Posted by: Mr Jenkins, Walthamstow on 3:50pm Fri 28 Mar 08
"Any favours being done?"
If the council stopped hiding its register of interests from the general public we'd all know!
"Any favours being done?"
If the council stopped hiding its register of interests from the general public we'd all know!
Posted by: Observer, Walthamstow on 8:54pm Fri 28 Mar 08
"Mr Khalid wrote:
is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book
More nonsense from khalid.
Somebody must be able to stop him writing this crap!"
It seems Clyde Loakes has nothing better to do than spend all day posting nonsense on a website as "Mr Khalid". I don't pay my council tax for that.
"Mr Khalid wrote:
is rubish this and westeded mony for talk and wat sandwich drinking tea and talk rubish. why no giveded this mony for scool kid read book
More nonsense from khalid.
Somebody must be able to stop him writing this crap!"
It seems Clyde Loakes has nothing better to do than spend all day posting nonsense on a website as "Mr Khalid". I don't pay my council tax for that.
Posted by: Morris Hickey, Chigwell (Redbridge) on 10:50pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Clearly the point has been reached at which comedy turns into farce.
Clearly the point has been reached at which comedy turns into farce.
Posted by: Tracey, Chingford on 12:19pm Sat 29 Mar 08
MR KHALID FOR MAYOR! VOTE KHALID!
MR KHALID FOR MAYOR! VOTE KHALID!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
