We were unable to attend last night’s full council meeting, but heard from several people that some in the ruling group of Conservatives responded to suggestions that came out of the State of the Island debate in a rather derisory manner.
We’ll have more to follow on this later, but in the meantime, VB reader Tanja Rebel shares below an email she’s sent to all councillors this morning. In her own words. Ed
Dear Councillor,
When attending the Full Council Meeting yesterday I became deeply perturbed and the reason for this is twofold:
The first reason is that the very important State of the Island Debate was squeezed into the meeting instead of getting the focus and forum that it deserves.
The second reason is the way in which this debate was conducted. Instead of focussing on the issues at hand, several councillors (and you know who you are) used the debate for political point scoring in the form of deriding public opinion as well as congratulating themselves on various “successes” achieved.
Hurtful descriptions of public opinion
It was deeply hurtful to hear some of the terms that were being used to describe the opinions that had been put forward at the Saturday Debate organised by the Independent Councillors and it shows that the main message that came from that debate – that people want politicians to listen – is still not getting through.
The Independent Councillors had put great effort into inviting island residents to come and put forward their thoughts on the Saturday and overall that debate was a success where many valid points were made.
Public opinion fell on deaf ears
This debate stands in stark contrast to what happened in the Council Chamber yesterday. Some Independent Councillors tried to put forward several of the issues raised on the Saturday, but it seems as if it all fell on deaf ears, which is deeply saddening.
Instead of “ranting”, several citizens had asked for urgent measures to be taken to make this island more self-sustaining in energy and food as well as creating a more sustainable transport system. These, together with many other valid suggestions, were nothing but constructive and I was deeply ashamed to see that those of you in the ruling seats did not take the chance to focus on these.
Showing your true colours
Instead, some of you showed your true colours (and it wasn’t yellow) in the form of pure disdain or by patting yourselves on the back for various achievements. Fact is, you missed a real chance there. Above all, the debating time could have been utilised in a far more constructive manner.
Ecological crisis as well as economic
This island is indeed in an economic crisis. However, what we often forget is that underlying that crisis is a far more disturbing ecological crisis.
The global economic crisis is in fact a crisis of resources. As long as we don’t address the environmental issues and have a structural overhaul in all we do nothing will be solved. Yesterday’s debate could have been used to start looking at the whole picture and how we want to move this island into a more sustainable direction.
Take a leaf out of Todmorden’s books
Just like Todmorden, where food is grown on the streets and people do everything to produce and buy local food, this island could become a beacon and a magnet for green living and green jobs, which – incidentally – could boost the (monetary) economy as well.
The Council must take a strong and decisive lead in this overhaul and yesterday’s debate could have been the starting point. But you missed the boat…
Offer of talk rejected by Cllr Pugh
A few years ago, I wrote to Councillor Pugh, offering him and you a talk on Eco-Philosophy. He wrote back asking me why you would need to hear this talk.
Yesterday’s debate (or rather, the way in which it was conducted) shows why. I think that if you had heard this talk and taken it to heart the debate would have been conducted very differently.
The offer still stands….
Yours sincerely,
Tanja Katarina Rebel
