Council leader ‘farce’ attack in new U-turn (From Daily Echo)

Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Quite frankly, the City is doomed with these morons in charge. Whatever the shortcomings of Smith and his people, they are nothing compared to the levels of incompetence we are going to be exposed to now. And when they are finally voted out again, the City will be deeper in debt and the Tories will have to make more cuts and still people will cry 'why, why, why???' And the answer will be 'because you wanted a labour Administration that is not fit to run a corner store'.

I have no axe to grind either way - I am emigrating in September. Suggest those who can do the same.

The self-righteous Smith does not like the fact that he can no longer prune himself in view of the public by constantly having his mug plastered across the Echo.
.
No longer can it be "Council Leader Smith said ....etc.
.
No longer do we have to endure everything that related to SCC having a quote from Smith.
.
A breath of fresh air,
.
All he has left is the little bits of petty sniping that if he continues with will cost him his seat at the next elections.
.

Smart Bomb wrote:
Quite frankly, the City is doomed with these morons in charge. Whatever the shortcomings of Smith and his people, they are nothing compared to the levels of incompetence we are going to be exposed to now. And when they are finally voted out again, the City will be deeper in debt and the Tories will have to make more cuts and still people will cry 'why, why, why???' And the answer will be 'because you wanted a labour Administration that is not fit to run a corner store'.

I have no axe to grind either way - I am emigrating in September. Suggest those who can do the same.

Amen

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

I think for the first time ever, I in part agree with you Goerge4th, Keith Morrell bottled it plain and simple.

My thoughts on Royston have been well aired over the years,so no need to go there any more.

I do however have one question, why is the leader of the opposition and his chums wasting council money calling for a meeting to gain a vote of no confidence in the Labour leader, does he really expect to win such a vote?

or

Is finding money a tight now he's not leader that he has to boost his expenses by wasting time on pointless meetings and votes.

Royston look at the difference in Tory and Lib Dem councillors compared to Labour, unless a majority of Labour councillor vote with you, you will NOT win, I suggest you go home, sit down and think real about your political career, well what political career you have left that is.

Good lord peeps, it's called Politics, relax!

Good lord peeps, it's called Politics, relax!

To be fair Cllr. Noon is very good ward councillor and has been loyal to right wing establishment that has dominated this party for many years. Unlike Cllr. Keith Morrell who is well known for inconsistency, joining groups or parties within the party when it suits his ego and interests and then leaving those, to the best of my knowledge Cllr. Noon is not member of any such thing but only the Party. 

But has he got the ability for such an important role? Or has the well paid post been awarded because he will be hundred percent loyal to the 'Dear Leader'?
If that's the case then while services will be cut and jobs destroyed public money will appear to be wasted for securing a harmless loyal poodle for flip flopping 'Dear Leader'.

I do not share the views expressed by some NuLbourites, who normally write very good stuff, that Cllr. Smith and his Tory group are irresponsible or exploiting the situation with cheap comments. 

NuLabourites should face the fact that this is Britain not North Korea where dictator must not be questioned but worshiped as 'Dear Leader'.

Rather than moaning about Tories, who are only trying to be party of opposition, they should be facing the fact that Cllr. Williams may be nice enough chap with very good taste in cars but he has proved to be a disaster as Leader of their group and the Council. 

They should stop worshipping Williams as 'Dear Leader' and get rid of him before he creates more embarrassment not only to their party but also for our City.

.. John Noon is just about the most useless councillor I have ever come across.

Efficiency tsar??? That’s a laugh.

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

Then how can be criticise Cllr Smith for behaving like Ed Milliband?

Tribal politics is hurting our democracy

freefinker wrote:
.. John Noon is just about the most useless councillor I have ever come across.

Efficiency tsar??? That’s a laugh.

Yes. Unfortunately very expensive comedy

Over the Edge wrote:

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

I think for the first time ever, I in part agree with you Goerge4th, Keith Morrell bottled it plain and simple.

My thoughts on Royston have been well aired over the years,so no need to go there any more.

I do however have one question, why is the leader of the opposition and his chums wasting council money calling for a meeting to gain a vote of no confidence in the Labour leader, does he really expect to win such a vote?

or

Is finding money a tight now he's not leader that he has to boost his expenses by wasting time on pointless meetings and votes.

Royston look at the difference in Tory and Lib Dem councillors compared to Labour, unless a majority of Labour councillor vote with you, you will NOT win, I suggest you go home, sit down and think real about your political career, well what political career you have left that is.

The meeting is going to cist 50 quid. Goon is 11k to remove cones. You lot are so bitter you cant see the wood from the trees

Just loving the way all you 'lefties' avoid the actual point of all this in the first place. The labour leader LIES and somehow its Royston Smith's fault !! Unbelievable

Smart Bomb wrote:
Quite frankly, the City is doomed with these morons in charge. Whatever the shortcomings of Smith and his people, they are nothing compared to the levels of incompetence we are going to be exposed to now. And when they are finally voted out again, the City will be deeper in debt and the Tories will have to make more cuts and still people will cry 'why, why, why???' And the answer will be 'because you wanted a labour Administration that is not fit to run a corner store'. I have no axe to grind either way - I am emigrating in September. Suggest those who can do the same.

Shut up and p**s off then. No axe to grind - NOT.

misbehaving wrote:

Over the Edge wrote:

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

I think for the first time ever, I in part agree with you Goerge4th, Keith Morrell bottled it plain and simple.

My thoughts on Royston have been well aired over the years,so no need to go there any more.

I do however have one question, why is the leader of the opposition and his chums wasting council money calling for a meeting to gain a vote of no confidence in the Labour leader, does he really expect to win such a vote?

or

Is finding money a tight now he's not leader that he has to boost his expenses by wasting time on pointless meetings and votes.

Royston look at the difference in Tory and Lib Dem councillors compared to Labour, unless a majority of Labour councillor vote with you, you will NOT win, I suggest you go home, sit down and think real about your political career, well what political career you have left that is.

The meeting is going to cist 50 quid. Goon is 11k to remove cones. You lot are so bitter you cant see the wood from the trees

The meeting is going to cost £50? my eye

Are you sure, expenses for travel for the full council members, heating, lighting of the chamber, officer time preparing the paperwork, legal fee's charged by Crapita, making sure the council is acting correctly and within the law.

This meeting is a waste of money, called by man who is extremely bitter about losing the election, the very same man who thought it was ok for a Sholing councillor to represent the people of Sholing whilst living in the USA and who allowed expenses to be paid for travel from the USA so that councillor could attend full council meetings.

Great story. It's good to laugh once in a while.

You are all missing the point as to why there is a councillor whose job will be to promote efficiency and reduce costs. SCC is an organisation which spends £500million per year. We have a contract with Capita which costs £35million per year. When John Noon makes savings in his post that will more than pay the extra £11,000 for the extra post.

The cost of an extra council meeting is £3,000. Royston Smith could have waited until the July 11th council meeting to raise this but his ego led to him wanting the publicity now.

Can the Tories on this site see that spending an additional £11,000 over the next year so a cabinet member can investigate and reduce costs is a good investment. Regardless of party affiliation we all want better public services at minimal costs.

All you to do is look around the city to see the cuts , grass not cut , litter not picked up , and our bins have not be emptied for four weeks , we phone action line and all they say is " we will log your call". the council are a total joke!

sottondave wrote:
You are all missing the point as to why there is a councillor whose job will be to promote efficiency and reduce costs. SCC is an organisation which spends £500million per year. We have a contract with Capita which costs £35million per year. When John Noon makes savings in his post that will more than pay the extra £11,000 for the extra post.

The cost of an extra council meeting is £3,000. Royston Smith could have waited until the July 11th council meeting to raise this but his ego led to him wanting the publicity now.

Can the Tories on this site see that spending an additional £11,000 over the next year so a cabinet member can investigate and reduce costs is a good investment. Regardless of party affiliation we all want better public services at minimal costs.

Dave, your argument may be playable but whether we like it or not, fact is that Tories are doing nothing illegal, and hardly any different than what mob led by Milliband is doing in parliament.

In fact if Tories had not taken this action we would have been poking fun at them, and describing them as clueless lazy lot.

I may be wrong but am under the impression that motion in front of Council was not signed by Cllr Smith but by some other members of his Group. According to a Tory mate of mine.

Actually if I was in their shoes that motion would have been different. As apart from Keith's word that he and Richard conspired to tell a lie, there is no other evidence against Cllr. Williams. So their whole case is based on allegation made by a man who in his own words agreed to lie. If it was a criminal case in front of jury, will they hang Williams by trusting Keith???

Labour could have taken wind out of Tory sails, by simply publicly kicking Keith out.

Why could they not do that? Is it because the Group is really so stupid? I don't think so, at least not all of them. So what could be the real reason for failing to act against Keith? Either 'Dear Leader' was part of plot to lie or he is exceptionally clueless weak leader. So my advice, ditch Dear Leader before Monday and make the motion irrelevant.

I am surprised Tories haven't made any mention of NuLabour blocking or interfering with Freedom of Press. As to the best of my knowledge Echo is not owned by Murdoch, and Ian Murray may not even have horse I wonder why???

"He said he changed his mind after hearing how red tape had delayed the removal of a cone by three days and felt that he needed someone to re-examine the council’s contract with Capita,"

Three days is nothing, coming up to nearly three years since I reported a broken road sign in Weston, (and I send inActionLine occasional reminders)...

Noon is a member of Unite?
Rewarding that Union for the industrial action to oust a Tory council?
Why not just ask Unite to write out what they want?

Paramjit Bahia wrote:

sottondave wrote:
You are all missing the point as to why there is a councillor whose job will be to promote efficiency and reduce costs. SCC is an organisation which spends £500million per year. We have a contract with Capita which costs £35million per year. When John Noon makes savings in his post that will more than pay the extra £11,000 for the extra post.

The cost of an extra council meeting is £3,000. Royston Smith could have waited until the July 11th council meeting to raise this but his ego led to him wanting the publicity now.

Can the Tories on this site see that spending an additional £11,000 over the next year so a cabinet member can investigate and reduce costs is a good investment. Regardless of party affiliation we all want better public services at minimal costs.

Dave, your argument may be playable but whether we like it or not, fact is that Tories are doing nothing illegal, and hardly any different than what mob led by Milliband is doing in parliament.

In fact if Tories had not taken this action we would have been poking fun at them, and describing them as clueless lazy lot.

I may be wrong but am under the impression that motion in front of Council was not signed by Cllr Smith but by some other members of his Group. According to a Tory mate of mine.

Actually if I was in their shoes that motion would have been different. As apart from Keith's word that he and Richard conspired to tell a lie, there is no other evidence against Cllr. Williams. So their whole case is based on allegation made by a man who in his own words agreed to lie. If it was a criminal case in front of jury, will they hang Williams by trusting Keith???

Labour could have taken wind out of Tory sails, by simply publicly kicking Keith out.

Why could they not do that? Is it because the Group is really so stupid? I don't think so, at least not all of them. So what could be the real reason for failing to act against Keith? Either 'Dear Leader' was part of plot to lie or he is exceptionally clueless weak leader. So my advice, ditch Dear Leader before Monday and make the motion irrelevant.

I am surprised Tories haven't made any mention of NuLabour blocking or interfering with Freedom of Press. As to the best of my knowledge Echo is not owned by Murdoch, and Ian Murray may not even have horse I wonder why???

You say it was only Morrell that called Williams a liar?
What about Barnes Andrews before the election?
Be prepared for sky high council taxes to appease the Unite union.
How could you put someone in that job knowing you had to find the means to fulfil your promises & restore pay to Unite members?
What happens if you can't? will he resign or will he suggest rocketing council tax to pay off Unite?

On the inside wrote:

Smart Bomb wrote: Quite frankly, the City is doomed with these morons in charge. Whatever the shortcomings of Smith and his people, they are nothing compared to the levels of incompetence we are going to be exposed to now. And when they are finally voted out again, the City will be deeper in debt and the Tories will have to make more cuts and still people will cry 'why, why, why???' And the answer will be 'because you wanted a labour Administration that is not fit to run a corner store'. I have no axe to grind either way - I am emigrating in September. Suggest those who can do the same.

Shut up and p**s off then. No axe to grind - NOT.

Aaah, I see the level of debate continues to soar. In four years' time you will still be spitting your bile and Southampton will be in the national news for being and will have to be run by national administrators. Local services will be savaged (not the mild cuts we have had of late) yet you will still be singing 'keep the red flag flying', no doubt. I wish you luck I really do. I hope it works. I believe in pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, too. You, on the other hand, will need to find one which is slightly more difficult.

If this had been the Tories then the Labour supporters on here would have created merry hell.

The whole thing is a nonsense.

The Tories manged to save money without an efficiency and improvement tsar.

The Lib Dems managed to save money without an efficiency and improvement tsar.

The job of being council leader is to provide oversight. Cllr Williams should be doing this himself.

And as for the point about the cllr in the USa, it then came out that Labour had one living in North Wales who didn't attend any meetings for six month and took his full allowance.

Of course the Labour supporters on ehre kept that quiet.

owen, Cllr Williams is the councillor for the Weston area. I suggest you email him.

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

The point that I was attempting to make is that it is no good Royston Smith throwing his toys out of his pram because Williams makes one U-Turn, when U-Turns appears to be the only consistent policy followed by his beloved leader, Dodgy Dave.

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

The point that I was attempting to make is that it is no good Royston Smith throwing his toys out of his pram because Williams makes one U-Turn, when U-Turns appears to be the only consistent policy followed by his beloved leader, Dodgy Dave.

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

The point that I was attempting to make is that it is no good Royston Smith throwing his toys out of his pram because Williams makes one U-Turn, when U-Turns appears to be the only consistent policy followed by his beloved leader, Dodgy Dave.

You keep on about the national party exactly what Labour did in the LOCAL elections.
You've got Ed Milliband now saying you got it wrong on EU immigration Funny that when we said Brown had B*llsed up you lot on here sprung to hid defence the same way your trying to deflect attention away from a lying Labour leader

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

The point that I was attempting to make is that it is no good Royston Smith throwing his toys out of his pram because Williams makes one U-Turn, when U-Turns appears to be the only consistent policy followed by his beloved leader, Dodgy Dave.

U-Turns sometimes mean honesty. Honesty is a word Labour don't yet understand?

IronLady2010 wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

Linesman wrote:

George4th wrote:

sottondave wrote:
Does Royston Smith have to ramp up the hysteria every time the Labour council does anything. This man is constantly at full volume and has no subtlety.

If Labour got things right, Smith would not have anything to comment about. As Smith has made many comments, you can draw your own conclusion!

Royston Smith should be aware that as Richard Williams has made a Policy U-Turn, he is just following the example set by Royston's Leader, David 'U-Turn' Cameron.

So, you're saying Williams is paying Cameron a back-handed compliment then?
>
Given that it is a human resource issue, policy doesn't come into it!!!
>
Besides, it wouldn't have been a problem if Keith Morrell hadn't run scared from the job!

The point that I was attempting to make is that it is no good Royston Smith throwing his toys out of his pram because Williams makes one U-Turn, when U-Turns appears to be the only consistent policy followed by his beloved leader, Dodgy Dave.

U-Turns sometimes mean honesty. Honesty is a word Labour don't yet understand?

What we have to understand is, Royston was honest all along, he tackled the Unions head on, he made mistakes which we all accept, but he done so honestly.

Our current Labour friends are looking out for each other and are slowly being caught out. This latest post Richards has created is going to bite his back side more than he ever imagined!

Time will tell and I'm looking forward to the future ;-)