Wilmslow Town Council has agreed to spend £12,701 on purchasing chains of office for their Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Speaking at the Town Council meeting on Monday, 17th June, Cllr Adrian Bradley said "This is another step forward towards establishing Wilmslow Town Council alongside neighbouring town and parish councils and getting ahead of some.
"It's agreed by everyone that the Chairman's chain which has been used for the last couple of years has not been the standard we would have wished."
The regalia cabinet at Cheshire East Council has been searched but nothing was found likely to be of use by Wilmslow Town Council, so they have been in talks with two major suppliers of council regalia.
Cllr Adrian Bradley said "We have at last the opportunity to take steps towards Wilmslow Town Council receiving the recognition it deserves."
Speaking about the quality of the regalia he was proposing, Cllr Bradley added "We were mightily impressed. It was wonderful and the price far more reasonable than we expected. Price is important but the regalia will last 30, 40 years - even 100 years has been mentioned - and it will remain an asset to the Council."
Cllr Gary Barton commented "This is an asset for the Council so it is not money that's disappeared but money transferred into assets. I think the investment is well made and at a sensible price."
Cllr Jim Crockatt said "I think we'd do well to invest in this regalia because in my two years (as Chairman) getting round to the various towns and villages in the county it was pretty obvious that what I was wearing was a fob.
"I think it is an investment for the future, it is like putting money in the bank, it is not money that is going to be frittered away. I think a chain like this will increase in value over years and think it will be a worthy investment of the Council."
However, not all councillors were in support of the proposal.
Cllr Christopher Dodson said "I'm afraid that I am not in agreement with this proposal. I feel especially in these stringent times that this is not good use of our money and I would sooner we spent the money for the benefit of the people of Wilmslow - on for example the magnificent planters - so I am afraid I cannot support this."
Cllr Don Glover added "I don't think it is a good use of taxpayers money."
The £12,701 covers the purchase of a Chairman's chain and pendant (£7869), ribbon with enamelled bar and pendant for the Vice-Chairman (£2876) and ten past Chairman's medals (£1956).
A debate also took place over the use of the word 'Chairman' and whether this should be replaced with 'Chair'.
Cllr Ruth McNulty said "I think these designs are most attractive and a step change improvement on what we have currently.
"But when we looked at the titles proposed it will come as no surprise I think to anyone in this room that I would not support the continuous use of terms dating back to an age before woman even had the vote, let alone had the temerity to stand for office.
"We're a new Council, we only came into being in the 21st century our focus is not to any heritage but rather to the future. We should use terminology and titles which are suitably of our time that not only our children but our grandchildren would judge appropriate."
Cllr Hilary Shepherd responded "Speaking personally I think the term is generic, everyone accepts it whether you are a man or a woman. It's like professor and doctor."
The proposal to spend £12,700 on purchasing new civic regalia was passed by nine votes to four. It was also decided, by 11 votes to 2, that the word 'Chairman' be used.
Photo: The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Cheshire East Council wearing their regalia.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Chairman is short for chairmanager, the person who arranges the seating at a meeting..We ought to stop this so called upsetting people because the name might upset them. I have read in quite a few papers, that actresses are being called acotors. What a ridiculous waste of money for these chains of office. There is not one parish councillor or Cheshire East one on this earth. The money wasted is phenominal, such as resurfacing part of Booth's carpark this year, when the money could be put to repairing pot holes, which, from what I have seen, will be as bad as what they were, come a period of intense cold.
Seriously, what another waste of public money. 9 voted for this!! They should be voted out at the earliest opportunity.
Got a few minutes to spare? Watch Channel 4's programme, Despatches, How Councils Waste Your Money. It'll make you weep - unless you're a certain type of councillor of course, when it might just give you more ideas on how to waste other people's money. http://bit.ly/SG8ki
Speaking about the quality of the regalia he was proposing, Cllr Bradley added "We were mightily impressed. It was wonderful and the price far more reasonable than we expected. Price is important but the regalia will last 30, 40 years - even 100 years has been mentioned - and it will remain an asset to the Council."
Cllr Gary Barton commented "This is an asset for the Council so it is not money that's disappeared but money transferred into assets. I think the investment is well made and at a sensible price."
Cllr Jim Crockatt said "I think we'd do well to invest in this regalia because in my two years (as Chairman) getting round to the various towns and villages in the county it was pretty obvious that what I was wearing was a fob.
"I think it is an investment for the future, it is like putting money in the bank, it is not money that is going to be frittered away. I think a chain like this will increase in value over years and think it will be a worthy investment of the Council."
However, not all councillors were in support of the proposal."
Adrian, the few comments above from electors show that we understand what recognition you deserve.
Gary, You are a young person; why are you living in the 1800s?
Jim, thanks for your service over many years and the numerous times that you have reminded the Wilmslow Town Councillors that they were elected to SERVE the electors. Unfortunately, with a couple of exceptions, they seem to have missed your point.
Christopher and Don; thank goodness for the likes of you.
One-party administrations simply do not work- Idi Amin, Muammar Gadaffi, Kim Il Sung, Benito Mussolini- what did they have in common? They all loved to dress up in ridiculous costumes, adorned with badges and ribbons.
If the council has so much money sloshing around in its bank account how about taking less from the taxpayer next year?
Alternatively, how about using the money to give some employment to a local person in a job which would benefit the comunity as a whole?
But if Cllr Bradley and his mates really can't bear the thought of appearing in public without something round their necks, how about a competition for schools to produce something appropriate from recycled materials, with an upper cost limit of, say, £100?
I note that there is a vacancy for a councillor at the moment; an opportunity for someone with a better sense of public finance than the present lot?
Thank you for your comments regarding the recent decision by the Council to
purchase Civic Regalia.
These comments will be discussed at a meeting I have planned with the
Chairman of the Council next week and will be communicated to Town
Councillors.
I suggest that others do the same.
So how exactly will this make us money? When do they plan to sell them and what is the 2nd hand market for Wilmslow memorabilia like?
They must take us for fools - they are just interested in self-aggrandisement and having more bling than their counterparts.
They have completely lost the plot.
Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. Perhaps voting is like that? I've been a lifelong Tory but I have to say that, were we to have an election today, I just wouldn't know how to vote. All the major parties seem untruthful, self-serving and dismissive of the taxpayers who elect them. Maybe it's time for some really top-class independents?
They would quickly see how important it is to the people of Wilmslow then.
So the town centers only public toilet due to close through "lack of funds", but never mind as our councilors are spending £12k to avoid the shame of wearing substandard bling.
How David Cameron manages without a chain of office is a real mystery though.
Elaine I feel the same been a Tory all my life but they are all the same
just in it to bulge their bank accounts Blair seems to have done very well
worth £70 million I believe , not bad for a socialist :) so who do we vote
for :(
Not flash enough against the other councils.. The Govt are trying to cut another £11billion with the financial crisis. Even £12700 should be saved..It all adds up along with the wastage at Cheshire East.. Councillors.please don't expect to increase the Precept next year.Live within your means as we all are doing.
why don't they spend the money on what matters - WILMSLOW!
According to the draft minutes of the June 17th Town Council meeting those who opposed the decision were councillors Trevor Jones (author of two articles defending this decision), Don Glover, Christopher Dodson and Ellie Brooks.