Latest Thanet News.  

Tories tax Thanet carers.  27 February

Last night the ruling Conservative administration declined a Labour amendment to withdraw the £10 charge for carers who accompany the more severely disabled on our buses. The move was decried by the ruling group who showed no sympathy or compassion for those less fortunate in our community.

Labour members were accused of being cynical but Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr R Nicholson said,
“I was hoping sense would prevail but clearly the Tories were strictly whipped to obey whatever they were told. This charge is estimated to raise £1000 which is nothing in a £24 million budget. Also earlier in the evening the Tories pushed through a new Governance & Audit committee which gives the chair and vice chair £1216 & £279 respectively.

Despite the fact this new committee may go a whole year and not meet! Furthermore in a policy proposal going through the Council at this very moment the Tories intend to create the new roles of “Lead members”. There will be at least 12 of them and they are to get £500 each!

So more snouts in the trough but no pity for the carers of the disabled. It was stated last night that ‘nothing is for free’ well I vehemently disagree since many people care without a thought for loved ones or friends. They do a marvelous job, and yes save the country a lot of money besides. But to accuse them of doing nothing for free insults them all and I am sure most Thanet residents would not begrudge this help for the disabled.

I was ashamed that the Council is taking this step, all Labour members voted against this petty move.”

Save Ramsgate's Maritime Museum  23 November

Ramsgate's Maritime Museum is under threat of permanent closure as part of TDC's current Asset Disposal Programme.
It is suggested that the building could be sold off for use as a restaurant.

I would like to list the reasons why the loss of this building as a place to house and display our local maritime history collection, would be a tragedy for both the town and the Isle of Thanet.

The Ramsgate Maritime museum was opened twenty five years ago and is now a well established, nationally recognised, community asset, housed in a landmark listed building. In it’s prominent position at the Royal Harbour, it is visited and much appreciated by many local residents and visitors to the town, including students and tourists from across the world, as the museum visitor's book will testify.

In February this year, a petition signed by almost a thousand residents called on TDC to ‘save our maritime museum’ demonstrating their concern regarding the possible closure and disposal of the collection.

Every year hundreds of school children are able to make their history lessons more interesting and worthwhile, viewing the artefacts and displays detailing the work, courage and sacrifice of our maritime nation’s seafarers. From the 18th. century jack tars of Nelson's Navy aboard the Stirling Castle sunk on the Goodwins, to the brave 19th century Ramsgate Lifeboatmen and the 20th century’s generation of servicemen at Dunkirk and in the RN coastal forces based at Pleasurama, who helped to save our Country from the Waffen SS, the Gestapo and the concentration camp.

From 'England Expects' to the 'Dunkirk Spirit' they all deserve to be remembered and honoured by the people of today and future generations.

In the consultation document for the Potential Property Disposal, under site 1 (Maritime museum) The first alternative option (as opposed to sale and use as a restaurant) states ‘Retain in existing use, updating the lease agreement and rental provisions’. I would urge as many Thanet ratepayers as possible to use the opportunity given by the public consultation process, to call for this alternative option. Please write to

Freepost SEA 8273 TDC Margate CT9 1XZ

or email hannah.thorpe @ thanet.gov.uk But this must be done by 5th December, this local treasure must not be lost to our Thanet District.

RENDEZVOUS WITH (OR WITHOUT) TURNER  18 November 2008

The sea-front Rendezvous car park adjacent to the Turner Contemporary site in Margate has become the latest battleground in the desperate fight to make the art gallery project a success.

Local Labour councillors say that if a gallery is to be built then parking should be a priority whilst the Conservative administration at County Hall insist the Rendezvous car park has to be intensively re-developed with apartments and a hotel to help pay the estimated £2.3million annual running costs for the Turner scheme.

Margate & Cliftonville County councillor Clive Hart said:
"It's been proven over and over again that the success of major public projects like this one rely on good transport links and parking provision. In London the Dome suffered badly due to lack of parking and associated difficulties with access, but now as the 02 Arena and vastly improved parking, the venue is a great success. In Margate, and in particular the Old Town area, we have serious parking issues and we will need every parking space possible for the Turner project to succeed".

Margate Central District councillor Iris Johnston said:
"The problem of car parking is one of the most significant issues in our ward and the matter has been raised by local residents and businesspeople at numerous public meetings."

KCC Labour Communities spokesman Terry Birkett said:
"An artistic icon like Turner Contemporary cannot regenerate Margate and East Kent on its own. If County Hall's Conservative leadership insist that it can, why is it being led by KCC's Communities department - with other purely cultural activities - and not by its Regeneration department? The fact that it's not integrated with Regeneration helps explain why in Margate, it often seems as though one bit of KCC doesn't know what the other bit's doing. It's too late to change responsibility over now, though - another example of how this project, which could have been so promising, has been mismanaged by KCC."

Free Parking for some!  25 June

The announcement about 3 hours free parking, every Saturday till the end of September, in Mill Lane car park Margate has outraged members of the Labour Group on Thanet District Council.

Cllr Richard Nicholson Leader of the Opposition said,
“ I welcome this move which will undoubtedly assist the hard pressed retailers in Margate. What I fail to understand is why this is restricted to just Margate, what about Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Cliftonville, Westgate and so on? Each commercial area should be treated equally as I am sure they would all benefit from a spell of free parking at the weekends to compete with Westwood Cross and other out of town sites. I am told this is a trial, but if successful or a failure it will only apply to Margate. Success in one area may not mean the same elsewhere, but we will not know, except how Margate fares.

This trial should immediately be extended to all our shopping areas covering all the year and not just part. That will prove where it is successful and where it should be kept. If the Conservatives had not decimated local trade with the exorbitant car parking increases this year local traders might not be struggling so much. So come on TDC, you are Thanet District Council, act like it and treat everyone equally.”

Tories fail to listen.  9 May

At Thursday night’s Thanet District Council meeting there was a proposal to change the existing Planning Protocol. Most of what was proposed was welcomed by all members, but one proposal was to prevent public speaking at site visits.

Labour Councillor Steve Ward put forward an amendment that would have allowed public speaking to continue, and while the new Chairman of Planning said he could see reasons to maintain the present system, when it came to the vote the ruling Tory group voted unanimously to change the system.

This means that from today at any planning site visits members of the public will be prevented from pointing out their concerns.
This is just another example of the Tory administration not wanting to listen to the members of the public.

TDC LEADER HAS LOST ALL CREDIBILITY.  8 May

The Labour Group on Thanet District Council strongly opposed the election of Cllr Ezekiel as Leader of the Council for a further year. During a “heated debate” at the TDC AGM it was made absolutely clear that the nominee from the ruling Conservative Group did not come anywhere near the standards expected of those in civic office.

Genuine debate on Cllr. Ezekiel’s merit or otherwise was regrettably stifled when Cllr. John Watkins was cut short by Tory chairman John Kirby who suddenly informed members that he would not allow matters relating to the recent Standards Board investigation into Cllr. Ezekiel’s behaviour to be discussed.

Later, when Cllr. Clive Hart raised a completely different issue concerning unsavory behaviour from Cllr. Ezekiel, which occurred on yet another occasion, the Conservative chairman also stopped him speaking too.

Even when Conservative members desperately tried to rally round and defend their ‘damaged’ leader Cllr. Martin Wise found himself stuck for words in mid sentence and finally referred to Cllr. Ezekiel as someone with ‘interesting’ behaviour.

Leader of the Labour Group Cllr R Nicholson said,
“My Labour colleagues and I firmly believe as civic representatives we must all maintain the highest standards of behaviour. Clearly in light of the findings of the Standards Board of England & Wales, Cllr Ezekiel has not done so. Residents of Thanet look to us to set an example to all when we are in the public eye or representing our area elsewhere.

How can we as members of the Council be critical of others when the person chosen to lead and represent the Council has patently failed to act accordingly? The rest of us in Council behave in a sensible and proper manner, we cannot however support the person found to have failed in this task.

Cllr Ezekiel’s election is an affront to those who follow and maintain proper standards in public life”.

Cllr. John Watkins said
“Giving regard to the problems with anti social behaviour nationally, to which significant extra police resources have to be allocated, the deplorable conduct by a senior elected representative was an appalling example to set the youth of Thanet.

Having been found by the Standards Board to have breached the code of conduct by failing to treat others with respect and conducting himself in a manner which could bring his office or authority into disrepute, Cllr. Ezekiel has lost all credibility.”

Housing Issues Ignored.  6 May

TDC CABINET MEETING – MAY 2008

Thanet Council welcomed the Housing Inspector’s report from the Audit Commission, which rated the service as one star. But the Tory cabinet chooses to ignore the real warnings revealed clearly in the report.

Cllr Michelle Fenner Shadow member for Housing said, “I pointed out the strengths they highlighted were mainly due to Central Government targets and resources and housing in general only became a priority because Labour persuaded the Council to adopt it as such.

Improvements for the future are solely down to Neighbourhood Renewal Area funding from Central Government, which is targeted at Cliftonville West and Margate Central, this is welcome of course but much more needs and should be done around Thanet.

Also much more needs to be done in complaint handling, acquiring housing funds through section 106 agreements and the way the Council deals with key housing partners. Plans need to be more robust and have real targets which will make a difference and those that use the housing services need more attention taken of the feedback they give.”

At Cabinet Cllr Fenner was not allowed to put all the facts before the committee for consideration, time constraints being cited as the reason but the whole Cabinet meeting lasted little over 30 minutes in total.

Cllr Richard Nicholson went on to say,
“I was disappointed Cllr Fenner was cut so short then attacked by some Tory members for daring to highlight what was in the Audit Commission report. It was clear whilst she had read the report fully; those that berated her appeared not to have done so. Labour members will continue to speak up on matters on behalf of all residents in Thanet and we will ignore this sort of behaviour.”

Labour demands lower Council Tax  22 Febuary

At the Thanet District Council Budget setting, Labour members moved a series of amendments which would have meant a lower Council Tax rise than that sought by the Tories.

Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr R Nicholson said,
“I am clear as to what the problem with the TDC budget is. We have an unsustainably high salary bill and it is crippling everything, the increase from last year is over £1.4 million.
There was nothing in the Budget which sought to deal with this, in fact I was astonished to find that by March 2009 there was planned to be another 10 staff! The upshot of this huge and increasing bill were proposals to put up car parking charges by 66% in some cases, green waste collection to be charged, the Pest Control service to end, charges for using toilets, grants for leisure reduced and to voluntary bodies cut.
I moved that the bill for staff is cut by 10%, saving £2.37 million and steps taken top ensure it remains at or below this level. By doing so we can reverse some of the cuts or price increases, especially for green waste and pest control.; Also I moved that the Council Tax rise is held at 2.1%, the RPI level.
It was pathetic to see again the Tories refuse to face up to the mess they are presiding over and of course they refused to back these measures. At no stage last night did any Tory express any concern for Council Taxpayers, I raised their plight several times but this administration sees the public as mere cash cows!”

So local taxpayers face another large hike in Council Tax and the prospect next year of more rises in charges and more service cuts because they need to find another £1.76million to bridge the gap, a gap solely down to staff costs and a Tory failure to even recognise there is a problem.

Words are cheap - Actions are better!  14 Febuary

At the Cabinet Budget setting meeting last night Cllr Richard Nicholson challenged the Tory administration to make good their promises concerning museum provision in Thanet.

Cllr Nicholson said, “I noted the actions being taken with the withdrawal of the £80K grant to the East Kent Maritime Trust. In view of the failures to carry out their statutory obligations and the failure of the TDC nominated representatives to do their job my colleagues and I feel this is the correct step to take.

However it is vital that both Ramsgate and Margate keep their respective museums and immediate steps are taken to ensure this. Therefore I requested that the now withdrawn £80K grant was set aside and ring fenced to use to ensure a continuation of museum services.

Despite this reasonable request all I got was some vague promise that some sort of service would continue but there is in fact no plans in place and I feel once closed it will a long time before we see museums in our areas again, if ever.

This issue is causing a great deal of upset in Thanet and why not, just once, will this Tory administration not listen to those they claim they serve.

Unfortunately we find that these Tories say one thing in public and then do another in reality, who is in charge, or perhaps no one is?”

It was clear last night that the withdrawn grant is one of the ways that TDC are seeking to close the gaping hole in their budget.

Return to the main page.