From Jim Moody, Ryde:
Independent councillors allegedly running the IW Council now want us to tell them what cuts we should like them to inflict on us (CP 6-01-17).
Cllr Bacon is asking people affected by decisions what services they feel should continue to receive funding.
Essential services further carved up on central government orders, administered by councillors seeking to wash their hands of responsibility and foisting the blame onto service-users. Do they think we are fools?
A 'spending priorities consultation’ in which the most popular services get saved and the rest go under is a bogus and deceitful disgrace.
Little wonder then the ship of state is listing locally.
Former Independent leader Stephens blames current leader Bacon for a lack of dialogue, having only recently taken up the mantle so abruptly put down by fellow Independent Ryde member Jordan (also CP 06-01-17).
Cllr Stephens knew what his Independent colleagues were like before taking on his executive posts — he has been part of its leadership. Hubris, chaos and instability — just like central government.
What are we going to get next? Come council elections in May, are the alternatives really Tories or Independents?
Or maybe yet another party of demoralised Tories or lost LibDems to try our patience? Rather should we build opposition to cuts demanded by Whitehall, mobilising Islanders behind an ongoing fight for what we need.
Labour will give voters a genuine and constructive choice here in a few months. Let’s look forward to its new councillors and the public forging an alliance against cuts and for a caring Island of which we can be proud.