RCT Ratepayers Action Group Candidates List
Posted by Graemebeard from Pontypridd on the 28th March 2012
Ratepayers Action Group Candidates.
Beddau. (Taff Ely) Nick Powell.
Ferndale. (Rhondda) Phil Howe & Martin Rees.
Graig. (Taff Ely) Bob Fox.
Tonyrefail East. (Taff Ely) Paul Wasley.
Pontypridd Town. (Taff Ely) Joe Payne.
Rhondda. (Taff Ely) Phil Price & Graeme Beard.
If you want change then change your vote!
Read more: http://pontypriddtown.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=polit...
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On his blog, Graeme Beard states he has never been in a Libdem Alliance.
This is untrue.
In 2001/2 he was in an Independent/Libdem Alliance with ex-Plaid then newly Independents Karen Roberts, Jim Davies, Katrina Jones - Independents Bob Fox and Paul Baccara and the Lib Dems Mike Powell and Stephen Belzak.
As a group they held the Chairmanship of Overview and Scrutiny which was given to Graeme Beard.
He took the extra responsibility allowance of £9,000 plus on offer which he now shouts about as being wrong and robbing the people of RCT!
More half truths and nonsense.
"The best lies sail closest to the truth." (Anon.) This was written by someone using the pseudonym of 'Whitelily' on the Pontypridd Town Website. I do wish people would wriggle out from under these masks if they want to post something like this.
"On his blog, Graeme Beard states he has never been in a Libdem Alliance.
This is untrue.
In 2001/2 he was in an Independent/Libdem Alliance with ex-Plaid then newly Independents Karen Roberts, Jim Davies, Katrina Jones - Independents Bob Fox and Paul Baccara and the Lib Dems Mike Powell and Stephen Belzak.
As a group they held the Chairmanship of Overview and Scrutiny which was given to Graeme Beard. He took the extra responsibility allowance of £9,000 plus on offer which he now shouts about as being wrong and robbing the people of RCT!
Glass Houses Graeme!"
More half truths and nonsense. I've already been through this.
Those people (including myself) were thrown together simply by virtue of the fact that they were not members of PC or Labour. It was no 'LibDem Alliance', or indeed any true working 'Alliance' at all and if it was, since that rag tag and bobtail group were mostly Independents then it would have been an 'Independent Alliance'. It wasn't that either. We all had different agendas on many an issue. There was as much disruption in that 'group' as in any other just as is the LP and/or PC. The difference being I suppose that this lot were not obliged to put their hands up to a proposal just by virtue of the fact that they were told to. Those members voted in the interests of the people who elected them and not along the lines of some faceless political party.
Alliances were certainly not the order of the day! And, by the way, you forgot to include Stuart Gregory who was/is also an Independent but I have no recollection of him joining any 'alliance' either. Bob Fox to my recollection never attended any meetings and was not part of this very loose group. And loose it was too.
It's like saying that if a decision came before Council and there was no division between PC and the LP so that they all put their hands up together then that's a 'Labour Party/Plaid Alliance'! If it's agreeable to both then it's a formality but that's not an 'Alliance' by any stretch of any furtive imagination. So if the Independents and the LibDems agreed with a proposal that came before PC but was opposed by the LP would that be a 'PC/Independent/LibDem Alliance'? How far do you stretch that one? Pretty distant logic that.
In fact as I remember we never even met as a full group of outlaws at all. Our 'group' numbers dwindled over time. We would meet on an ad hoc basis now and again when anything major was coming up. Even then the meetings were on a voluntary basis. The was no 'grouping' or any death defying master plan. We sat outside all that by default. LibDem Alliance? No! Even plain and simple 'Alliance'? No! I suppose it again depends on how it's defined but which ever way it was looked at there were very few 'alliances'. If we had come together as a group of people with a single mind (which is improbable I know) then possibly an 'alliance' but if that happened on any day then I can't remember it at all.
The Scrutiny Chair was given over to the group in 2001 (not me in particular) as was (is?) the law governing such as that and I Chaired the meetings for some months (it was then passed on to another which I think was Katrina Jones but I'm not quite sure) but at least half the 'extra allowance' (which again was given over by Katrina too as I remember) was placed in a central pot to buy goods and services that RCT would not and said they could not provide. There was talk about providing extra street cleaning services and buying a street cleaning machine etc. We bought ties for the first year students of a local school. Gave money to this and that cause. £100 here and £200 there. Nothing big but as best we could. It all helps. The other half was spent on my ward and elsewhere. (Archives Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer.) So I actually didn't 'take the money and run' as is implied. It was used at the sharp end. If it had stayed with RCT it would have simply disappeared and never been seen again.
An extract from another page there;
"In my opinion every Councillor should spend at least part of their allowances on their wards. A large part actually. There are Pensioners Organisations; Youth Clubs; Schools; after School Clubs; Nurseries; and a multitude of other worthy causes just about everywhere. If you give it to them in cash or bought goods then all the better. If you leave it with RCT there'll be forms to fill out; a long drawn out pointless process to go through; a wait that seems interminable; lobbying at Councillor level etc. In effect begging. Just give it away for goodness sake and bypass that idiocy that only goes to keep people occupied in pen pushing exercises." (Me writing).
When I Chaired the Authority (1999/2000) I had an extra allowance. (Can't remember how much it was though. It didn't seem important since it would be gone soon anyway.) Again it was spent on my ward and elsewhere on the people (in the end I was just giving them back their own money) as can be evidenced by the Pontypridd Observer Archive material I have recently put out in a leaflet. There's no lies there either unless the reporters were in on some Graeme Beard conspiracy as well?! Utter nonsense. And they are just a few instances. But it's all a matter of public record anyway. Anyone can check it out at any time. I have never denied taking the allowances paid out at the time. In my opinion it's how I used them that's important. Left in the coffers of RCT it would have simply melted away. Bypass that and give it straight to the people. In the end it's their money.
An extract from that blog you mention 'Whitelily';
"No need to believe me out of hand. This is all in the Pontypridd Observer and Rhondda Leader archives at the local Library. Yep - I took my allowances, but if you look overleaf (on a preceding page of that leaflet there is proof of what I'm saying) there are a couple of examples of how I used to spend them. If I had left it with RCT the money would have simply disappeared in to some useless black hole (or deep pocket) without the people on my Ward seeing any benefit at all. I would rather spend it on them myself. So I did. No doubt you’ll be told otherwise but the evidence speaks for itself. The expenses I gave away came out of my own pocket either as cash gifts or bought goods. I made sure that the money went where it would be better used (to the people of my Ward in the main, but others too) so that it didn’t remain in the coffers of RCT where it would be wasted. Give it to those who deserve it, trust them and they’ll spend it right."
In fact, and this is just one example;
Western Mail on August 1 2002.
"The Democratic Alliance opposition group of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council is setting up an action group to ensure that part of Pontypridd’s Ynysangharad War Memorial Park is not compromised by a proposed shopping centre development.
They are donating £100 towards a fighting fund to help cover the cost of independent legal advice.
The money is from the special responsibility allowance of Graeme Beard."
Check it out from your comfortable desk 'Whitelily'.
So we were called a 'Democratic Alliance' eh? Not something I remembered until I got hold of this a few hours ago. Now I remember though! Thanks for the heads up. You are handing me gold!
Graeme, as long as you are not LAB/PC you can have my vote, I see my local councillor to be another free loading Jarman PC is popping leaflets through my letterbox (cwmbach) like buggery.
WE have no option in the Cynon valley as no matter who you vote only Lab/PC will get in. So no doubt Cocman will be voting TORY but its like peeing over the windy hill with a force 10 blowing up the slope.
Talk about choice??? its like going to tesco and only being given the option of brown sauce or red sauce, well I want some mustard not tesco own brand cheap n nasty ketchup or nasty tangy brown sauce. A bit of Dijon or colemans, something with some fire, I may even want some chillie sauce on my chips.
But fed up with the foul tasting cheap and nasty sauce we have thrust onto us everytime there is and election.
How about something with fire or balls, not about toe party line and filling their pockets with all the battenburg they can stuff into their fat, reddened, money grabbing chops.
Thanks for that Russell.
Just by way of proof of what I say though;
In fact, and this is just one example;
Western Mail on August 1 2002.
"The Democratic Alliance opposition group of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council is setting up an action group to ensure that part of Pontypridd’s Ynysangharad War Memorial Park is not compromised by a proposed shopping centre development.
They are donating £100 towards a fighting fund to help cover the cost of independent legal advice.
The money is from the special responsibility allowance of Graeme Beard."
Check it out from your comfortable desk 'Whitelily'. And Valleyboy stop it man! It's silly. The evidence is overwhelming.
So we were called a 'Democratic Alliance'. Not something I remembered until I got hold of this a few moments ago. Now I remember!
Graeme.
Democracy comes from the Greek language. It literally means 'power to the people'. As a form of government, democracy is either government directly by the people, or by officials elected by the people they represent.
Liberal has two primary meanings. Liberal philosophy is a distinct realm of thought that is often ascribed to many Enlightenment thinkers who talked and wrote about humankind's ability to understand the world through reason and investigation. Liberal politics is a separate thing entirely. Liberal politics, often represented by the Democratic Party in the United States, seeks to use government laws and policies to improve the lives of people living in this country.
Or liberals in the UK, sod the uk citizens give it to any tom dick or mohammed and they will not have to pay a bean and UK citzens have no more rights than a terrorist or less .
Don't try to fudge the issue, Graeme.
You signed the declaration of group according to the Local Government Act and it was indeed called 'LibDem Alliance'. You also took the wonga. Whilst it mat be true that you gave some of it to charity, I'm sure five jobs Roberts does a bit for charity, too. There is only ONE person and ONE party who did not take ANY cash in the years 1999,200, 2001 and 2002, and that's Cllr Jarman, Plaid Cymru, Mountain Ash East.
It's a real shame you have let yourself down, by making these false claims.
After passing through Labour, then LibDem Alliance, then Indy, then Forward Wales, then RAG, what will you next opportunist bandwagon be ?
VB stop - you are trying to create a fantasy world. These make believe worlds of yours are getting out of control. I signed no 'declaration' at all. Produce it and prove it or stop this nonsense. This latest 'report' by someone who is trying to discredit what I did (on behalf of someone else) by the creation of an illusion is no doubt orgasmic for you, but truly you are beating yourself to death on this one. I have shown over and again where my allowances went and unless you can prove otherwise you have no case. It's just assumption and feeble attempts at muck-raking.
If the truth is no defence then we're all in trouble.
Graeme.
ooooh someones angry
See below
I'm not angry at all Russell. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Well, not now anyway. I was a bit peeved when first I saw this drivel but I calm down just as quickly. Especially when I can so easily counter it.
If you look at the list of people this 'Whitelily' supplies there is a name conspicuous by its absence. I added Stuart Gregory's name but I'm sure you'll see the deliberate omission. I believe that's where this came from. Befuddled by alcohol no doubt and a memory altered by the same. They say it kills brain cells and in this case it hadn't much work to do.
Graeme.
Stuart gregory used to live opposite my gran in Abercynon, he was a nice chap of what I remember
A nice chap does not make for a good councillor. There are quite a few "nice chaps" in the council chamber I shouldn't wonder, but whether or not they serve their constituents well, or themselves, is another issue altogether.
They say that quite a few brutal dictators in history were all good boys to their mothers; the Kray brothers in particular, sadistic thugs and scumbags of the first order, looked after their mother quite well so I'm told.
Of course, I'm not suggesting for one moment that Stuart Gregory is anything like the aforementioned bunch of towrags, but just because he's a "nice chap" to certain people doesn't make him any good as a councillor.
Sorry if all that sounds a bit extreme, but I'm trying to emphasise a point. We shouldn't get carried away by someone's amiability, and thereby assume that they are up to the task they've been allotted.
Anyway, I don't know graembeard's past form on the council, so I'm not in a position to comment.
i realy do wish that "ann williams rip" was around to read some of your comments, as the ONLY person to ANYTHING for abercynon and her political persuasion was COMMUNIST.
I REST MY CASE
mmm communism another bag of shite
communists, china, north korea, russia, and look at the daddies at the top, animal farm i rest my case.
four legs good two legs bad
I was a nightmare for them when I was there. They want sheep not shame. I even had to push them (certain LP members) in to buying their own wreaths for Remembrance Day. They cost just £13 at the time. They expected the Civic Budget to pay for them - all 75 of them on 54 Wards! I said "no way" and shamed them in to paying for their own. It was appalling. And when they found out I had done all this in close consultation with the Royal British Legion they turned very red indeed. Not normal these days for them to be red eh?
Stuart - yep, nice bloke and I think it is important to have a good 'bedside manner' as much as it's important to, on ocassions, be a street brawler in the Chamber. It's a kind of 'mix and match' thing and judicious use of your personal skills is crucial. Good Councillor too is Stuart.
Graeme.
I do think the council should lay a wreath on the designated war memorial and the cost of the wreath should be paid for from council funds.
This is as a remembrance of those who died in the wars who were former employees of the old urban district councils, and those council staff who gave their lives in both civil and military service. I do not think it should be 'politicised' by the laying of the wreath by a mayor or leader of the authority, but done, for example, like other councils, where a nominated person, usually a new apprentice or a volunteer pupil from a local school. My trade union (RMT) always lays a wreath and it's part paid for by the current employers. The employers directors and union officials jointly nominate a person from 'longest service' to lay the wreath and say a prayer. I cannot see why one object to this. If MPs or AMs or local councillors wish to lay an additional wreath, fine, but it must not be claimed back on expenses. This is different from a 'council' wreath, which is the same as that from the seaman's mission, the colliery, the factory, or the chamber of commerce.
I also find the 'grandstanding' over this issue, by both Graeme and Roberts a tad distasteful. Such services of remembrance is beyond politics.
Reading your comments, Graemebeard, I take it that at some point you served as a councillor. May I ask why you gave it up?
Now now VB you're back in La La Land again! If you read my blog as you claim before you swallowed that ridiculous fabrication of 'Whitelily' you will have seen that I did indeed purchase not one but six to be laid in honour of those who died for us. Two for each area of Rhondda, Cynon and Taff. Do try to keep up. I also purchased one myself and laid it on the day. All done in complete and close co-operation and on advice from the Royal British Legion's area Commander, (at the time) Colonel Tony Davies.
The 'posturing' was back in 1999 when I was taken to task for refusing to pay for wreaths for 75 Councillors in 54 Wards. At £13 each that would have come to £975 out of the Civic Budget and working on the two maxims that it's always very easy to be very easy with other people's money and that they could pay for their own if they were as committed and concerned as they said they were I refused to do it and had to shame them in to buying their own. Already paid handsomely (even then) out of the public pocket, they could well afford it. It was no more than transferring cost from public to private pocket.
If you read the letter posted in the 3 locals papers at the time you will see that I stayed silent until all that 'posturing' had come in (and it was not mine) before telling people the truth. You've heard of that have you not?
Yes William I was once an elected member of RCT. I gave up my seat (Rhondda Ward) in the main because of the disruption it was causing to my domestic life and because I was trying to concentrate on a new business venture. I must admit though, in honesty, I also gave up because of disillusionment. It was a constant battle and I didn't have the time to give it my full attention. Now I have.
Graeme.
As older posters will remember Stuart Gregory was one of a number of councillors who used to post on this site, typical councillor out for himself had communications with him but he refused to meet me face to face.
Published RCTC official letter to private individual on this site totally illegal but he got away with it no action taken by RCTC WHY?
Sorry to disagree with you on this one Russell.
Lies and damned lies!
http://graemebeard.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/more-half-truths-and-nonsense-...
Graeme.
Stuart Gregory not standing again is he? Talk about milking a cow.
The Indy thats far from Indy and in fact is in some sort of group with Lib Dems and the Torys in RCT if I have the right guy