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Tory removes wife as head of planning
BASILDON Council leader Malcolm Buckley has removed his wife as the chairman of planning, the Echo can reveal.
The decision to not reappoint Sylvia Buckley as chairman of the development control committee, which she has been for a number of years, follows criticism from opposition and Tory councillors about the over public perception of her position.
Council sources said officers have been informed she will no longer be in the role following tonight's annual meeting.
It is not clear who her replacement will be.
The sources said councillor Frank Tomlin will take over as council chairman from Geoff Buckenham and Tony Hedley, responsible for leisure, will leave the cabinet.
Labour councillor Paul Kirkman was the first to publicly critisise Mrs Buckley's position, claiming at a development control committee, the public believed Mr Buckley could influence decisions.
The Echo later revealed there was discontent within the Tory group over the issue. Mr Buckley refused to confirm any of the changes, aside from the fact he remains Tory leader.
He said: "If there have been any changes and it gets out before the meeting, it could damage us in terms of the way we run the authority. If people are putting out information, whether it is false or true, and they are the sources that I think they are, then they will suffer the consequences.
"If something appears in the paper before the meeting I have the power to change the appointments if necessary up to 30 seconds before the meeting."
2:22pm Thursday 22nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Alan Ball, Wickford on 4:45pm Thu 22 May 08
If she is 'Chairman on merit' as her husband ( Malcolm Buckley) said then she will stay as Chairman of the committee , if she is replaced then that will pose a question of why? Perhaps she should never have had the position.
The Council has only changed by one Councillor ,In Vange. Since the last round of appointments, so if it was the right appointment a year ago, it follows it should be now.
But if she is replaced then the cynics will wonder why and rightly so.
Many people have said one family should not hold two important positions anyway.
Your Call Malcolm!!
If she is 'Chairman on merit' as her husband ( Malcolm Buckley) said then she will stay as Chairman of the committee , if she is replaced then that will pose a question of why? Perhaps she should never have had the position.
The Council has only changed by one Councillor ,In Vange. Since the last round of appointments, so if it was the right appointment a year ago, it follows it should be now.
But if she is replaced then the cynics will wonder why and rightly so.
Many people have said one family should not hold two important positions anyway.
Your Call Malcolm!!
Posted by: dave turner on 5:13pm Thu 22 May 08
Maybe he can't live without her by his side 24/7.
Maybe he can't live without her by his side 24/7.
Posted by: The Vicar, Basildon on 6:24pm Thu 22 May 08
[quote][bold]dave turner[/bold] wrote:
Maybe he can't live without her by his side 24/7.[/quote] How romantic.
I hear her replacement will be controversial gypsy-baiter, Basil Brush.
dave turner wrote:
Maybe he can't live without her by his side 24/7.
How romantic.
I hear her replacement will be controversial gypsy-baiter, Basil Brush.
Posted by: Nigel on 8:59am Fri 23 May 08
This is a sensible decision. The Conservatives are well on course to win the parliamentary seat of Basildon, and cannot afford any unnecessary errors in the Council.
This is a sensible decision. The Conservatives are well on course to win the parliamentary seat of Basildon, and cannot afford any unnecessary errors in the Council.
Posted by: Walsingham, Basildon on 10:05am Fri 23 May 08
Yes Nigel, very sensible to remove her as head of planning and then... Appoint her as Chair of the most powerful oversight committee, one intended to challenge the Cabinet that Malcolm Buckley leads.
People are rightly cynical about politics because of how politicians make it look - it's one thing for a husband and wife to be on the same council. It's something else entirely for the Leader of the Council to appoint his wife to lead the Committee intended to challenge him! How can anyone believe that one won't influence the other privately?!
Yes Nigel, very sensible to remove her as head of planning and then... Appoint her as Chair of the most powerful oversight committee, one intended to challenge the Cabinet that Malcolm Buckley leads.
People are rightly cynical about politics because of how politicians make it look - it's one thing for a husband and wife to be on the same council. It's something else entirely for the Leader of the Council to appoint his wife to lead the Committee intended to challenge him! How can anyone believe that one won't influence the other privately?!
Posted by: Pauline, Basildon on 10:23am Fri 23 May 08
I think his decision is something to do with the Basildon Golf Course planning decision and the fact another of their members Frank Tomlin stepped down earlier this week and aplogised to the Friends of Basildon Golf course. Mr & Mrs B should both be outed from the Council as they are not in tune with what the people of Basildon want and that is not having 120,000 cu.mtrs of rubble dumped on our beautiful golf course. Both the Buckley's are in favour of this attrocity.
I think his decision is something to do with the Basildon Golf Course planning decision and the fact another of their members Frank Tomlin stepped down earlier this week and aplogised to the Friends of Basildon Golf course. Mr & Mrs B should both be outed from the Council as they are not in tune with what the people of Basildon want and that is not having 120,000 cu.mtrs of rubble dumped on our beautiful golf course. Both the Buckley's are in favour of this attrocity.
Posted by: Steve, Leigh on 12:08pm Fri 23 May 08
All he has to do now is remove himself and job done!
All he has to do now is remove himself and job done!
Posted by: Wickford resident, at home on 4:15pm Fri 23 May 08
Basildon Council has too many husband and wife or same family councillors. We are not getting value for money (just look at the amount of money each household is getting.
Basildon Council has too many husband and wife or same family councillors. We are not getting value for money (just look at the amount of money each household is getting.
Posted by: Insider Dealing, Basoildon on 8:33pm Sat 8 Nov 08
The Freemason Frank Tomlin to take over as Tory council Chairman?
Didnt Borther Tomlin vote through an application by his Fellow Tory Councillor to build low cost housing ?
[bold]Question to the Freemasonry of Basildon Council (including THOSE that still havent yet declared that they are Freemasons!!)[/bold] :
Exactly how much will that low cost housing be per unit ?
Shouldnt Freemason Tomlin now be publicly asked that question by The Echo Newspapers.
The Freemason Frank Tomlin to take over as Tory council Chairman?
Didnt Borther Tomlin vote through an application by his Fellow Tory Councillor to build low cost housing ?
Question to the Freemasonry of Basildon Council (including THOSE that still havent yet declared that they are Freemasons!!) :
Exactly how much will that low cost housing be per unit ?
Shouldnt Freemason Tomlin now be publicly asked that question by The Echo Newspapers.
Posted by: Banana Republic, Basildon on 12:48am Sat 29 Nov 08
In the 2008 District Diary, Basildon has been bestowed with Freemason Tomlin as Chairman of the Council.
But in that article, at the end where the new Chairman's Signature appears - What on earth are those [bold]TWO huge CROOKS[/bold] (in parallel) substituted for an F in Frank and a T in Tomlin?
Fair question - what do they signify ?
Didnt our [bold]Brother Tomlin[/bold] vote through an application by his Fellow Tory Councillor to build low cost housing?
Exactly [bold]how much[/bold] will it cost?
And what about the golf course ?
And now Green Belt land no longer the "sacred cow" that it was?
What is it about building on Green belt that would make it [bold]more sacred[/bold] than having natural, open spaces of Green Belt land ?
In the 2008 District Diary, Basildon has been bestowed with Freemason Tomlin as Chairman of the Council.
But in that article, at the end where the new Chairman's Signature appears - What on earth are those
TWO huge CROOKS (in parallel) substituted for an F in Frank and a T in Tomlin?
Fair question - what do they signify ?
Didnt our
Brother Tomlin vote through an application by his Fellow Tory Councillor to build low cost housing?
Exactly
how much will it cost?
And what about the golf course ?
And now Green Belt land no longer the "sacred cow" that it was?
What is it about building on Green belt that would make it
more sacred than having natural, open spaces of Green Belt land ?
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