Sally Allen: 'There has to be one rule for all - not them and us’

I was very shocked to read this post on March 6 on ‘Spotted Torquay’. 

“I'm just warning people who think these gangs of cyclists are just having fun....I was driving though the coach station when I was surrounded by these cyclists with hoods up and bandanas over their lower part of face... they opened my passenger door as I was driving and shouting obscenities...now I'm in my 60s and I was scared ..I feel sorry if it was a lady on her own or an elderly person...this isn't fun this is terrorising the public. I shouldn't have to drive with my car door locked ..it's time these young people were sorted out ..I was so tempted to swerve into them but then it would be my fault..”

This is shocking at any level. My first thought was; where on earth were the police in what we all know is an undesirable area of the town? Of course, I know that the police can’t be everywhere, but I do believe that there must be some intelligence gathering on these young thugs. My next thought was to try and get a response from Alison Hernandez on the problem. Sadly, zero response from her. There were 324 comments on this post, none of them positive, and 53 shares and yet no feed-back from our Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner. 

My editor, Jim Parker, has asked me to try and cheer-up, and I seriously wish I could. For instance, I am delighted that Torbay has secured £20m in government funding from a scheme that aims to "restore pride" in neighbourhoods. The town will be given the funding over the next decade to "deliver meaningful change", the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said. It is one of 75 towns to receive funding from the £1.5bn pot. So, all very positive, but then I think again, and my biggest concern is how will the money be spent. The problem, as I see it, is that the town doesn’t have the best track record in spending government money wisely. 

Torbay Council has apparently said that residents and businesses will be consulted by a neighbourhood board to decide how to spend the money. I can only hope that is true and that as many of you as possible will have a contribution to make.

The BBC quoted council leader David Thomas saying: "We are delighted that Torquay has been included in the Plan for Neighbourhoods initiative. This funding will be used alongside the £110m of grant funding we have already received for the area to make Torquay a better place to live, work and invest in. As soon as we can, we will convene a neighbourhood board to start work on shaping and delivering projects that matter most to the community."

Of course, this is brilliant news and well done to those responsible, but as with all things, and particularly when CASH is involved, the devil is in the detail. We cannot afford to squander one penny of this funding as we are very unlikely to receive any further hand-outs in the near future.

I know I am constantly banging on about the council and its shortcomings, but I receive so many emails and messages from very unhappy residents and a few whistle blowers, which I don’t feel I can overlook. As I actually have ‘a voice’ through this column, I feel I have a duty to share these concerns in the hope that by writing about them it will make a difference.

I have zero political allegiance as I remain appalled by all party politics. I have long highlighted the fact that I do not believe that there should be any politics in Local Government as it is not in the best interests of our town or its residents. So, if it was an even playing field of no politics the following wouldn’t matter, because everyone would be voting for the best options for the town and community. Sadly, Torbay is far from an even playing field and councillors vote like political robots. Therefore, the fact that there are three LibDem councillors who cannot take part in debate or voting is very concerning. Why is that?

Under Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 a Member who has not paid an amount due in respect of Council Tax for at least 2 months after it became payable is precluded from voting on any matters affecting the level of council tax or the arrangements for administering the Council Tax.

And yet, one of these three LibDem councillors has recently been elevated to vice-chairman of the Standards Committee. All fine and dandy, except by their own rules of engagement, none of them should be allowed to debate or vote. So, what’s that all about? 

Equally, are we still paying them out of the taxpayers’ coffers whilst they haven’t paid their Council Tax and therefore not fulfilling their duties? I couldn’t get away with not paying my Council Tax for one moment. Is this a breach of the Code of Conduct we hear so much about? If not, how do councillors get away with not paying their Council Tax but a member of the public like me, or you, would be prosecuted?

Interestingly, in Lancashire in February, a councillor had to resign following revelations that he owed thousands of pounds in council tax and had missed many meetings. 

Local councillors are elected to represent their community to make decisions that affect the quality of the lives of the residents for the better. It is therefore a serious job and not to be taken on lightly and certainly not, if you can’t show a good example to the residents. It should never be one rule for them and another for us poor saps!