Labour South Glos councillor attacks local democracy
Labour councillor for Filton, Roger Hutchinson has released a statement in which he attacks the actions of his local parish council and residents who attend meetings.
In the statement released to a local magazine, Mr Hutchinson writes to complain about the move by Filton council to introduce charges for boules and cycle speedway track use. As captain of one of only two teams who use the boules court and secretary of the Filton cycle speedway club, Mr Hutchinson claims his clubs were "shocked" by the level of charges introduced.
He says in his statement : " The council have set charges in line with other facilities elsewhere although these is nothing to compare them with",
He also claims the boules teams bring revenue to the Ratepayers arms but doesn't say how much revenue this has achieved in the last few years. Football teams who pay to use Elm Park fields are regular users of the bar, which recent reports by Filton council showing income on match days proved.
Dyson DC50i - Bagless upright vacuum cleaner - BALL Technology -...
View detailsThisi is Dyson's smallest upright vacuum cleaner with the performance of a full size upright machine. The DC50i has Dyson's most advanced cleaner head technology and 2 Tier RadialTM cyclones.
Terms: LIMITED STOCK OFFER. FREE delivery to most UK postcodes - Next working day dispatch.
Contact: 01664 491439
Valid until: Monday, May 27 2013
Mr Hutchinson also attacks residents who attend council meetings saying that "The charges are being welcomed as fair by residents who attend Filton council meetings and apparently represent the Filton community" He also says they "Apper to want both facilities removed"
But residents have responded to Mr Hutchinsons claims on the matter
One resident said " This councillor has lost touch with reality on this matter and is allowing his own personal opinions to cloud his judgement on what is right. It is also deeply concerning that he should feel it necessary to make comments about honest decent members of the Filton public, who take a genuine interest in local community issues. Many of the residents who attend council meetings are elderly and will be upset by these awful spiteful words. His behaviour at meetings is becoming a real cause for concern amongst residents"
Mr Hutchinson is no stranger to controversy having been found guilty of breaching the councillor code of conduct twice last year. He also stormed from a Filton council meeting in 2010, failing to vote on a crucial fieldworks project on behalf of voters. Mr Hutchinson also interrupted chair of finance committee, Bill Moore, repeatedly from the public gallery in November last year, in an attempt to stop them voting on boules and cycle track charges. Mr Moore had to request that he refrain from such behaviour.
Only last month it was revealed at a council meeting, that Mr Hutchinson had met privately Lisa Timbrell, Filton leisure centre manager, in an attempt to reduce proposed charges for boules and speedway. He then went on to make a statement saying he had no influence over such matters.
Filton Independent Party chair has released a statement condeming the actions of Mr Hutchinson it reads " We are disappointed councillors Hutchinson has taken this approach to continue to complain about Filton councils vote to introduce charges fairly. We wonder who Mr Hutchinson is representing on these matters, as its clearly not residents as his statement makes clear. These are the same residents who vote to ensure they have a democratically elected council. It is both unwise and unfair to attack the public who take the time to attend council meetings as is they're right to do so. We feel councillor Hutchinson should review his remarks in his statement and publicly apologise to residents"
Filton town council meeting on the 24th April 7.30 pm.
Comments
by rocketbob
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 1:03PM
“Regretably, in some ways, we must move with the times.Everything nowadays must be cost effective, particularly with Public Money.Sport is worthy thing to support, but must fit into the overall budget of Public Funds.Subsidised Pubs next to a Community centre with little used cycle and boules tracks should certainly be scrutinied at least.”
by lolly60
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 12:39PM
“Nasty man”
by Labourstitch
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 10:39AM
“@proudofmyview
Very true words indeed. What people voted for wasn't Mr Hutchinson though, it was the Labour emblem on the ballot paper not a name, of which as you say, we continue to see him push against the very people who voted for him.
Your words will strike a chord with every labour supporter in SouthGlos and even his own branch members are now turning on him publicly.
SouthGlos Labour must take action before they implode. To allow his name to be part of Labour is the most negative thing they could do. He should be thrown out and become "independent Labour" as its clear from his statement, this is how he sees himself.”
by brs_traffic
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 10:16AM
“Irony: a councillor who gets a loss-making cycle speedway put in, one nobody else wants, complaining about a lack of democracy.”
by Proudofmyview
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 10:04AM
“These accusations and claims have been coming out of filton for at least 2 years now. Yet in 2011 the people of Filton voted for Cllr Hutchinson to continue doing what he is being attacked for. A trip to the council website shows the following results.
Roger Hutchinson: 1200
Ian Scott: 1218
Adam Monk: 1234
Not a lot in it really is there. In a democratic nation you get what you voted for and residents clearly voted for Roger to continue. Perhaps the labour party should now do what they should of done and remove the embarrasment from under the labour name. He has already lost the leadership of labour at sth glos council, now is the time for Monk and Scott to listen to residents and call for Roger to resign and stop these embarrasing headlines.”
by groovygems
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 9:05AM
“i think hutchinson has lost the plot completely,perhaps he has had one too many at the ratepayers arms !!”
by GeorgeMilsoms
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 8:26AM
“Notice no mention of all other sports charges being raised by 5% that people have to pay...in his own selfish bubble.....”
by EllieM2010
Tuesday, April 17 2012, 8:21AM
“Does this Labour councillor have no shame? To have a go at residents who care about their community is stooping to a brand new low, even for Mr Hutchinson. It is clear to us all now that only personal interests drives this individual and he has been at the centre of wasting at least £100,000 of Filton taxpayers money.
After Filton councillors have debated and voted on this problem, Mr Hutchinson feels its right and proper to now turn on his own Filton Labour branch members and criticise them for serving their community.
The difference with Mr Hutchinson is we actually pay him to act as councillor for Filton on south glos council! This cannot be right anymore and he must step down and retire.”
by JRumpole
Monday, April 16 2012, 5:18PM
“Do not expect Labour to take any action, as they have condoned this councillors action for many years. They cannot function without him in Filton he is at the heart of every Filton Labour activity and he has his little soldiers who do his bidding. He isn't called the puppetmaster for nothing!
Even Phil Gaskin, regional director of southwest Labour told Filton Labour branch to ignore stories like this and they will go away...a disgraceful way to act and one which if ignored will cost Labour every southglos Filton seat.....”
by Labourstitch
Monday, April 16 2012, 3:16PM
“@Ddom
if you pay your subscription you are a member, even if you havent attended you are entitled to do so at any time.Thats whats great about democracy you are still part of it even if you havent been at meetings. The list of labour branch members is longer that the very few who attend.
You have a voice so to save the failing filton labour branch I would suggest you go to the next meeting and ask them face to face if they accept this type of behaviour.
It looks like they are crying out for people like you who have positive community at heart.”