Editor's note: Last week we reported that Wilmslow Town Council will spend £12,701 purchasing chains of office for their Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
The article 'Town Council to spend £12,700 on ceremonial chains' resulted in some comments from our readers who were not in favour of £12,701 being spent on regalia.
Below is a response to these comments from Cllr Trevor Jones who represents the Lacey Green Ward.
Cllr Trevor Jones said "The few adverse comments criticising the Town Councils' majority decision to procure a new range of civic insignia at the negotiated figure of £12,700 could be described as a knee-jerk reaction distanced from reasoned thought and dismisses tradition and heritage.
"The only existing chain, inherited from the defunct Wilmslow Urban District Council, is more than 40 years old, is inscribed 'Wilmslow UDC', bears the title 'Vice-Chairman', and is on permanent loan from Cheshire East Council.
Wilmslow Town Council has no assets of its own, no civic regalia and, since its formation in 2011, is busy establishing itself as a forward-looking, energetic entity pressing ahead with varied and ambitious projects to secure the future welfare and image of a major Cheshire town.
"The new insignia will be worn at prestigious local and county events whilst 'flying the flag' for our town, exhibiting pride and purpose in our identity and future.
"The cost? (the crux of the negative comments received) should be viewed in the context of a valuable investment on behalf of our community and is, in relative terms, a wise decision because, if the new insignia lasts as long as the old Wilmslow UDC chain, say 40 years, taxpayers will then have contributed just £3:50 per year, and the probability is that future council officers will be sporting this regalia into and beyond the next millennium!..... what cost and what value then?
"These stringent times should not dissuade an elected council, acting in the considered best interests of the whole community, from its civic duty in representing all our residents in the proper pursuit of civic pride, plus recognition and acknowledgement amongst other organisations of standing and influence, and setting an example to all observers that a vibrant and vital Town Council will seek to identify and obtain further benefits for our commercial, retail and residents interests plus the increased standards of living we all strive to achieve for our families and friends and the community as a whole.
"Optimism in adversity is an essential outlook for recovery, and progress in difficult times needs the enthusiasm and support of our constituents as an essential factor in improvement and survival.
"The views of the overwhelming majority seem to indicate that the Town Council has made an impact on the appearance and attraction of the town centre though there remains much to debate, and a healthy exchange of views, without rancour or spite, is always welcome."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
What is the point of these people who just want to prance around in fancy dress/
Of course they could sell it to help fund the new lot. After all, these new trinkets are going to be an "asset that will go up in value". So how much is the old lot worth? We will see then what sort of asset it really is?
The Councillors agenda is clear when they said it was about "establishing Wilmslow Town Council alongside neighbouring town and parish councils and getting ahead of some"
It's a case of one-upmanship for the next Council meeting "Look, my chain is bigger than yours". How exactly is Wilmslow a better place to live, just because we have new jewelry for our egotistical Councillors?
They deserve nothing but our contempt for this and I am a staunch Tory!
Where are these 'vast majority' who support this egotistical idea? They aren't on this web site! Cllr Jones, we abhor your warped sense of priorities in squandering a not inconsiderable sum of council tax payers' money on trinkets! If they must wear such regalia (and in 2013 is it approriate that they do?) then the old Wilmslow UDC bling at least carries some historic tradition and is a reminder of times when such baubles were perhaps appropriate. They are not appropriate today!
Times is tough, cllr Jones! Money is tight and getting tighter! You have a duty to us who pay the piper to spend it wisely!
Q what does a forward thinking council think is the best way to demonstrate its 21st. Century drive and enthusiasm to promote the interests of their hard pressed council tax payers?
A a large gold chain to be worn by the mayor in front of other mayors sporting similar chains.
Really? You couldn't come up with any better way of spending the money? Total arrogant nonsense IMHO ...and I voted Tory , never again this shows a shameful attitude to OUR money.
Given that it is used rarely and is made of metal, why would it wear out? What does it matter that it is 40 years old? Surely, it's age is all part of the heritage and tradition that the Councillors are so keen to on?
But it's not just the chain though. It's also pins and badges for every other tom, dick and harry on the committee as well. So why do we need these too?
Councillor Jones is using warped logic to try and justify this self-centered extravagance. If this is how he runs the council then lets scrap the whole lot of them before they start wanting chauffeurs and Rolls Royce's too.
I'd be surprised if new council regalia at a cost of £12,700 comes high on the list. Personally, I haven't bought myself any huge gold necklaces for a while now and, even though this is affluent Cheshire, I imagine that many others have been similarly frugal in their spending in this period of financial stringency.
The Council should probably consider a similar approach.
A suggestion to the Council, do a quick survey in the Wilmslow streets and ask people what their views are. Alternatively communicate with your local ward electorate and hold some meetings to see what their views are.
Next time round I will vote for whoever promises to sell the bling and use the money raised for the benefit of Wilmslow.
I would suggest that this money be better spent in reviewing the current needs of Wilmslow and its inhabitants not in self acclaimed grandeur for the end of year mayor photo!
If they want a new chain well as there are 14 of you cough up your selves (approx £907.1425 each)
When was the last time a councilor knocked on your door to ask your opinon? It s no wonder one bother s to vote these days!
Mind you, you do have to give him credit for the glorious nonsense that this is an investment that will be worn by the council's officers "into and beyond the next millennium". He then expresses a hope that it might last 40 years (assuming the counsel does). Does he know what a millennium is? It is 987 years until the next one, and another thousand years to get beyond it. Do we see a lot of counsels using 40 year old regalia made in 1013 (more than fifty years before the Norman Conquest), let alone in 13 AD?
If they want to get in the dressing up box use the UDC chain. No one will read it, and if they do, claim that we are upholding an older tradition. And by the way if this is the chain of the Deputy Chairman, what happened to the Chairman's chain?
On creation of WTC in 2011 all that could be found was the WUDC Vice Chairman's chain. Who is to say history will not repeat itself?
CEC have 'history'. Many of Romany;s artefacts were in 'safe' storage never to be found.
At least MBC did not 'lose' the Vardo, CEC gave it away, an asset valued at around £30K+. . Another part of Wilmslow's community heritage written-off!
I wish to express my dismay at the idea that any money at all is spent on regalia. People are voted for and judged by the benefits they bring to Wilmslow, not by the chains they wear round their necks. If they feel they need to be identifiable to the general public I suggest a conference badge with their names and office written on it.
This decision erodes my confidence in the judgement of these people. What has happened to them? When the public toilet is under threat how can they justify spending our money on this nonsense. Please bring them to their senses.
Insurance has been a significant part of this discussion. Were the items insured when they were put into the care of CEC? Who paid for that insurance? Was it ongoing and, if so, can anyone claim for the loss?
This seems like another of those "We've made a terrible mess here but, hey, it's ok. We'll just say we're sorry, spend some more taxpayers' money and the whole thing will stop being a problem."
Bit like Lyme Green really.
Go away and devote your efforts to finding the original regalia, Mr Jones, and you may just win the approbation of the people of Wilmslow. No-one wants you to spend their money on something new.
It seems our Councillors were too busy visiting jewelers to bother fighting to keep this open.
It is just as I feared when they argued for creating a Town Council. Cheshire East can blame Wilmslow Town council for any cuts and vice-versa. Now we have the dubious privilege of paying extra tax for less accountability, less services and more bureaucrats pampering their egos on vanity projects like this.
When do we get to vote Wilmslow Town council out of existence?
I only want to point out that this is perfectly possible.
I believe the starting point should be a petition containing the requisite number of signatures from local voters; the next council in the hierarchy (in this case Cheshire East) also gets involved. In view of the consistent opinions expressed in this case, I think it should be possible to arrange the removal of the town council without having to resort to standing for election in their place.
My 5 minutes on Google indicate we would need about 3,000 signatures to force Cheshire East to consider its abolition. But is this possible, especially so soon after its creation?
I am happy to meet up and start this process as I don't think the Councillors will pay much heed to our complaints unless they feel the strength and depth of feeling over this issue.
Alternatively, go along and air your complaints to them at the Artisan Market on 20th July (assuming that they haven't bought the chains by then that is!)
I have also done a 5 minute search on google. How have you come to the conclusion that "we would need about 3,000 signatures to force Cheshire East to consider its abolition."
I also think Trevor Jones should cough up the £12700 himself if he wants bling. All that's happening now is Ches. East are passing more responsibilities to Wilmslow, without the funding.
The streets are dirty,grids are blocked, hedges uncut,poor maintenance of grass verges.Potholes in every road.So, we get a few plants to pacify the peasants.Whilst the Grandees dress up for drinkies at out expense.
Google SN/PC/04827 to get a House of Commons Library document that sets out the procedure. As Wilmslow has more than 2,500 voters, we need 10% of them to sign a petition to commit Cheshire East into a review of the Parish.
Wikipedia has Wilmslow with a population of 30,321 (2001 Census - so population is probably higher now but we only need 10% of voters, not population, so it probably balances out) hence my initial figure of 3,000.
I would prefer however to learn how "decisions " like this one regarding the" Chains" can be rescinded. I need to feel that steps to do this have been put in place.
They have the stomach for buying bling but not for; ejecting travellers, fining travellers, fixing roads, fighting for local businesses, the list goes on...
Either the council is forward thinking and dynamic or not, if it is then it surely doesn't need a relic of old style councils to state that. Richard Branson seems to get by on a beard and a jumper and personality, maybe we need politicians with personality or at least visibility!
Lacey Green Ward - 3530
Dean Row Ward - 5100
East Ward - 3179
West Ward - 7591
The next full meeting of Wilmslow Town Council will be at 7:30pm on Monday 15th July 2013
at Oakenclough Children's Centre, Colshaw Drive, Wilmslow, SK9 2PZ.
The agenda for the meeting is set 7 days in advance.
So if you want the issue to be raised again and rescinded then I suggest you contact one of your ward councillors and ask them to have it put onto the agenda for this meeting.
Details of all of the councillors can be found at http://bit.ly/1aIYJnW
Hopefully, councillors will see sense and retract the decision to squander £12K on
trinkets. Cllr Jones talks of a vocal minority against the decision. He seems to forget that
the Parish Council is only 2 years old and was created by a mere 17% of Wilmslow
residents voting for its formation. 83% of residents either voted against a PC or were
not aware of the issue or could not be bothered to vote. The PC has not yet proved that it is
needed or wanted. It may not be around long enough to merit a so called investment in
civic regalia. I voted against the formation of a PC because it is ano layer of administration
which always leads to more frivolous waste. If councillors go ahead with this decision, they will be seen to have run out of ideas. Final note: I have been pleasantly surprised so far with the work of the PC so I hope that they can put this issue behind them and continue to use OUR money wisely.