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From: Walmsley, Stephen <Stephen.Walmsley@stockton.gov.uk >
Date: 16 Nov 2007 00:55
Subject: RE: Park view
To: DL TIA Group <TIAGroup@stockton.gov.uk>, DL IBIS <DLIBIS@stockton.gov.uk>, DL Billingham Independent Association <DLBillinghamIndependentAssociation@stockton.gov.uk>, DL LibDem Group <LibDemGroup@stockton.gov.uk>, thornabytc@btconnect.com, peterbrennan.vpra.org.uk
Following TIA members meeting with Ann Baxter and other officers where we tore proposals to bits, a meeting took place at Thornaby Pavilion where members of the public attended, Thornaby TIA Councillors (there are no others), Leader of IBIS, Lee Narroway, Tory PPC, James Wharton, and representatives of New Labour which also included Dari's potential son-in-law. Interestingly, there was some suggestion that the meeting was non political even though attendees were there to debate what will ultimately be a political decision. So, unsurprisingly, the meeting developed into an exercise in political one-upmanship - i.e. my political dad can fight your political dad.
James Wharton (Tory) spoke for himself (I think he should have been at the cubs tonight) and basically said what the audience wanted to hear - though he probably put his foot in it with the Tory Leader of SBC who seems to be all for closure in line with Tory Policy (bugger public service and namby-pamby caring. Equally fatuous was former New Labour Councillor, Beryl Robinson's suggestion that committee process should be adhered to even though there is no committee process. Of course it goes directly to Cabinet.
To cap it all, Dari's representative, Matthew Whatsisname suggested that he was present in an advisory capacity and that he would be 'reporting' back to our MP - though it became unclear just what it was that he would be reporting back. TIA's suggestion was that we should cut straight to the chase - or in other words, ask all major players for a straightforward opinion. That is: Do they support closure of Parkview or should the home be kept open - especially based upon the distorted facts which a five year old could drive a coach and horses through? Or, is the question too difficult? Supplementary question: Is Labour Party and Tory Party policy the same on public services - i.e. throw the lot out, abandon any safety net, and allow the free market to decide how our elderly are cared for (bank the cash, park them up, and wait for God?
Steve
PS Billingham Leader is Colin Leckonby. Also, you've omitted Lib Dem Leader - Maureen Rigg. Total Independent members and Libs is 21.
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From: Walmsley, Stephen <Stephen.Walmsley@stockton.gov.uk >
Date: 18 Nov 2007 14:00
Subject: RE: Parkview Home.
To: peterbrennan@vpra.org.uk
Cc: DL TIA Group <TIAGroup@stockton.gov.uk>
I refer to other e-mails sent to you which I'm sure that you would concede indicate total opposition from the whole elected body within Thornaby - i.e. 7 TIA Borough Councillors and 13 TIA Thornaby Town Councillors - all of whom will campaign in the most robust manner and expose leaked rumour, contrived statistics, and bogus claims as the most scurrilous practice. What this amounts to is the abandonment of public service in favour of market forces whereby our elderly and frail, their families, and a community committed to providing genuine care, are callously brushed aside in yet another cheap and transparent act of savagery in pursuit of suede economics.
I do hope the point is made.
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