Readers may remember that back in December we published an open letter to council leader David Pugh from care worker, John Luckett. John had invited all councillors to shadow a care worker for a day prior to making budget decisions later this month. David and John have both agreed to share the letter with VB readers (embedded below for your convenience). John has a few words to say too. Ed
I am genuinely grateful to Mr Pugh for the time and trouble he has gone to in order to respond to my original letter.
To receive a five-page letter from the Leader of the IW Council must be regarded as an honour of some sort, and to know that my questions and issues raised were worthy of such attention, (far from shutting me up) it is of great encouragement!
I will continue to challenge
I do appreciate the Island is in difficult economic circumstances but I still feel it necessary to continue to challenge the Conservative ruling group to change their ways and have a little more heart and compassion – and even if they have to make tough decisions, at least show a little humility.
It would make a lot of Island people’s lives so much better if they did and they would be thought of more highly for it. They also need to stop trying to tell the Island public they are not making cuts to the Care Budget when the reality is – they are.
Time to share Cllr Pugh’s response
For the public interest, I do think it is right that this letter should now be made available to the public (it has already been circulated to ALL COUNCILLORS) and it does, after all, concern us all.
I am sure the Island people will be very interested in Mr Pugh’s comments, make their own judgements and maybe challenge him and the Ruling Group with points of their own.
Not happening as it should
Throughout this I have tried to be polite and constructive – with a little gentle mischief – an approach which appears to be working as, credit where credit is due, I have been treated courteously and with respect by all the Councillors and senior officials I have met face to face with at Council meetings, this includes Mr Pugh. There are some I have yet to meet … so I not saying everyone is nice!
The main motivation for this is out of a sense of compassion and fairness to ensure vulnerable Island people of all age groups get the service provision they deserve.
I do not see it happening as it should and I will not rest until it does!
Image: Ambernectar13 under CC BY 2.0
