Diverting away from the Cannes junket, I see.My understanding : The Conservatives won the 2006 election by outnumbering the Labour councillors as might be expected given the trend in London, but did not attain an overall majority, so I understand. One reason for this is a new development at both ends of the borough, one at the Bedfont-ish end and another in Isleworth, which may have arisen as a result of disatisfaction with the then 2- or 3-party set-up on the Council and infighting within the parties previously prevailing. Quite what these quasi-Independent groups originally stood for and now stand for, and how representative of their local communities they are, I don't know. Whatever, this trend, and also the floor-crossing of one of the several family pairings on the Council, has meant that the non-Conservative strength appears no longer to be a Labour monolith. For good or ill, the Conservative have formed a coalition with at least one of these groups, Isleworth Community Group, and allotted some roles to the other, though as an outsider I don't know whether you would count the western group as part of the coalition - it seems to benefit from an association with it without necessarily being part of it.Why do I call this coalition unsavoury? Because of your own past (in my view a long quarantine period after National Front activism is appropriate, including eschewing of any form of public office), and because ICG has attained power without responsibility, a hidden veto voting strength within the counsels of the coalition whilst sheltering behind the skirts of the bigger party. Thus you are not willing publicly to defend the Cannes junket whilst maintaining in power those who supported it.It is also unsavoury because the tactics, as manifested here on this Forum, of ICG councillors appear to be similar to, and have all the charm of, those of Rottweilers. The Conservatives meanwhile can smilingly distance themselves from their attack dogs, pointing out they are of another party. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are implementing, apparently unchecked, their agenda for cutting public services in their quest for the holy grail of lower council tax at all costs. But at least they do so civilly, for the most part. I don't, incidentally, doubt that Conservatives also seek value for money and greater efficiency - what has always got up my nose hss been the holier-than-thou attitude that only they have the key or the ambition to seek value for money and greater efficiency.You remain convinced that I am some kind of cover for others in my posts. Far from it, I am - manifestly - an innocent observer of the mayhem of your playpit. My questions about the Cannes were quite genuine and remain unanswered (as a result of your diversionary tactics) - what was the intended benefit of this trip, and what did it achieve? £13k between 3 people (2 councillors, 1 officer) to Cannes is a lot of money and your public hould know the answer. Simply saying they should answer for themselves abdicates your role as a trustee of public money.
Dan Filson ● 6204d