tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post7193833877402526032..comments2023-07-09T11:04:50.150+01:00Comments on Mike Barker: Lib Dem politics in a northern market town: Tories slapped down in CouncilMike Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-4231293149604183962007-07-23T16:10:00.000+01:002007-07-23T16:10:00.000+01:00Fair point, David: Charles Johnson's only chance t...Fair point, David: Charles Johnson's only chance to respond to John Williams' put-down was by intervening in the "debate" on the following paper. But by that stage he could only protest at JW's comments, and not actually continue to debate the original issue...This isn't how good and informed political debate should be conducted. <BR/>There should be appropriate mechanisms in place for proper Mike Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-53245505380758829292007-07-23T15:36:00.000+01:002007-07-23T15:36:00.000+01:00Slapped down is a bit harsh, Mike, it is easy to ...Slapped down is a bit harsh, Mike, it is easy to look slapped down when as you yourself pointed out we could not reply.<BR/><BR/>Nice to see Nick wanting more open debate, perhaps he should become labour group leader and make it happen.The Darlington Toryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921681423068530146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-41832006157126913302007-07-23T13:59:00.000+01:002007-07-23T13:59:00.000+01:00Thanks, Nick: you had to respond to so many commen...Thanks, Nick: you had to respond to so many comments from councillors about that road junction that I must have missed you saying that officers were still looking at the possibility of installing a forward line for cyclists. Thanks for clearing that up.<BR/>And, yes, we do agree about the need for better debate.Mike Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-84686434743043852832007-07-23T13:44:00.000+01:002007-07-23T13:44:00.000+01:00Hmmm. I thought I answered the Bondgate cycling q...Hmmm. I thought I answered the Bondgate cycling question fully (but then I would, wouldn't I?)<BR/><BR/>To repeat - Martin Swainston asked about the apparent absence of pro-cycling measures in the Bondgate traffic management scheme. Other councillors pointed out that the impact had been to greatly assist traffic movements at what has been a key bottleneck in the town.<BR/><BR/>I replied that weDarlington Councillorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15198741078189418710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-20196560347398361592007-07-23T13:09:00.000+01:002007-07-23T13:09:00.000+01:00Interesting that constructive debate should be wri...Interesting that constructive debate should be written of as "nit picking and twittering"!<BR/>Labour "won" the election but by polling less votes than the Conservatives. Therefore control was maintained by good luck rather than good management. If Labour are serious about making changes then it would seem fair to give the group who had the majority of the votes more involvement. That is what theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-64943620793064008232007-07-23T11:52:00.000+01:002007-07-23T11:52:00.000+01:00Fair enough, Mark: I look forward to your maiden s...Fair enough, Mark: I look forward to your maiden speech.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you were asleep, or distracted by the thunderstorm outside, during my contributions, which were based not only on a complete and thorough reading of all the Council papers, but also on studying the Local Government White Paper of 2006, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act of 2005 and the Parliamentary debate on the Mike Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15453607421766177229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-10473189326746419122007-07-23T10:18:00.000+01:002007-07-23T10:18:00.000+01:00As a newly elected Labour Councillor I have never ...As a newly elected Labour Councillor I have never been told that I can not speak out in Full Council. You’ll know this, but to help others to understand; all Councillors receive documents relevant to the agenda a week or so before the meeting, your group, the Conservatives, Independents and our group then hold a pre-council meeting. These meetings (held separately of course) provide me, along Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7565935975551949363.post-31111572052884148132007-07-22T00:58:00.000+01:002007-07-22T00:58:00.000+01:00Wonder which one of the 3 has been gossiping?Wonder which one of the 3 has been gossiping?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com