AT the Full Council meeting of the GainsboroughTown Council earlier this month I was attacked publicly by another councillor for wasting Council money by calling an election in the Gainsborough East Ward after the resignation of Coun Penny Smith.
I am appalled at this insinuation as I do not live in the ward and my name does not appear as one of the ten individuals - this can be viewed at the District Council through the Freedom of Information Act - that called for a democratic election rathe
r than a co-option from within the ruling group of councillors. This same ruling group of councillors increased the pay of the Clerk and Assistant Clerk last year, on the advice of the clerk at a meeting at which both the press and the public were excluded, by about 80 per cent.
This led to an increased cost of over £25,000 year on year to the taxpayers of the town (which can also can be viewed at the Town Council under the Freedom of Information Act).
Last month this same group of councillors decided, in another meeting at which the press and public were excluded, to fast track the take over of Roses, Marshall’s and Richmond house, again on the advice of the Clerk.
This could lead to a substantial increase in the precept and no doubt another increase in wage costs.
I believe that decisions about the future of this town should be made democratically in public and not in secret.
Coun David Dobbie
Gainsborough.
The full article contains 264 words and appears in Gainsborough Standard newspaper.
