Meeting of the Full Council 8th September,2014. 7.30 pm Residents at the Parish Council meeting last night had the opportunity to hear some background to the Skatepark Saga at first hand. The four main FoMPF protagonists had an opportunity to explain their actions but failed to speak, A resident directly asked Mr Paul Campbell ( Vice-Chair of the FoMPF) to address the meeting but he sat there dumbfounded unable to utter a word.. It would appear the FoMPF can sit at a computer and send abusive e-mails, are able to make their views known in lengthy allegations to the council (and on their web-site) but in the presence of a full audience they sat in silence. Some of their supporters bravely tried to contribute but were lost without their puppet master. The reason why the council must now act with greater circumspection in relation to the MPF is because of Unfettered Action which Ian Alexander was able to explain clearly. We live in a FoMPF era and this is why the MPF can no longer be managed with consensus as previously. The difference the FoMPF and their supporters refuse to recognise. Residents were able to hear about the deluge of Fo I requests to which the FoMPF has subjected the council and the abuse the council has received over two years. It was explained that the sole reason for the registration of the Rublees end of the MPF was to overturn the democratic mandate in the town poll and deny our young people their skatepark. The FoMPF were observed setting up their recording equipment (as they have done at other council meetings since the recent change in the law). This appears to be a bit excessive. I expect they will transcribe this, dissect every utterance, sit and discuss the contents and plot their next actions. When do they ever get a chance to live their lives?. To loud applause Cllr Barling made an impassioned speech about how the FoMPF has subjected individual councillors to personal abuse and vilification. Given this sort of undemocratic behaviour he said he would not be surprised if the skatepark was never built. He described Cllr Bowell as a hero. Cllr Toomey wanted to make it clear to the press that the council would continue to seek the reversal of Village Green status and pursue the objective of a skatepark on the MPF. In an unrelated agenda item Cllr Barling proposed a motion to register Steyning Police Station as a Community Asset under the Localism Act 2011. Perhaps The FoMPF might consider putting in a request to have the Tarmac Strip similarly registered. Just a thought. Mike Kelly
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 09:55:49 +0000