Thanet Blogging
I thought the start of a new year might be a good time to comment upon the Thanet blogging scene.
Perhaps I should declare my own interest first?
The way that the local Tories use their majority on Thanet Council, means that a local Labour Councillor such as myself, has very little direct influence over Council policies. It is only through adverse publicity and public opinion that we have influence at all. With every single issue seen as a power play and test of loyalty to the Tory leadership, I’m not sure that many Tory councillors have much more influence than the opposition.
It follows that the quality of information in the public domain, and the way it is reported is of major importance.
The local press do a sterling job, when one considers the restricted resources they have available. However, they are fed a constant stream of “propaganda” from the Council’s press office, and do not have the time, or sometimes the inclination to look beyond this for the real story.
As a councillor I have a particular perspective on local issues, and have a certain unique access to information and a duty to share this information with my electorate. This I do through comments and letters in the press, councillor’s newsletters, and through blogging.
Currently, the blog gets about 2000 unique “hits” a week, of which about 300 are regular returners. It is certainly read by the local press, many local politicians, and other bloggers. It can be expensive in time, writing entries, and checking every morning to reply to comments or delete those which have, very rarely, just gone too far. Some local bloggers get very worked up about online comments because they are so often rude and abusive. My view is to take a sticks and stones view to a large extent, particularly with regard to comments about myself.
I accept that this means that very often I am on the receiving end of comments. I can live with that!
I have been accused privately and publically of “bringing the council into disrepute through my blog”. Although I regard this seriously, I took some comfort in the accusations being thrown out by the UK Standards Board.
It is also pleasing that at least three other local Councillors are “blogging”. I hope more do so during 2009.
Stella Artwat
7 hours ago
18 comments:
You over estimate the abilities of any of the elected members of the council, it's well known that it is the employees who run Thanet District Council, not the elected members.
A worrying spectre, Anon of 11.02, if it means that policy, strategy and broad direction of travel are all determined by unelected individuals.
It would be good to see more elected councillors blogging, and through that both testing opinion and sharing information. There is a responsibility that attaches to this, though, namely not to bully those who offer alternative points of view and not to become vitriolic and offensive towards those who mount a robust challenge.
I have to say, Councillor Green, I have never witnessed that on your blog.
Surely you confuse a web discussion site with a blog site ?
The former (such as Army Rumour Service) any member can post and throw their chosen subject out to discussion. The threads are moderated by chosen members.
A blog is a log of the author's actions, thoughts, opinions. He has published so if you want to disagree then start your own blog, quote him and write your piece.
The point, of some blogs, is to publish free and leave it to readers to decide why the named individuals are not suing ? (the same thing used to be achieved by pamphleting)
I think its four david, a joint contributer to Mike Harrisons site is 'Nemisis'. I suspect that may be your leader?
Richard does sneak around but never puts his name to anything - bless
you are too kind about the local press. I'd call them pointless and spineless for all the propaganda they spout.
Surely it is upto you and people like you to shape and create the local agenda in Thanet.
You have had a number of issues in recent months which could have acted as the catalyst for this
- Maladministration of the council tax
- Ramsgate Maritime Museum
etc, a leaflet run and some leg work door to door and you create a local issue, inform the press and the council have to respond and bingo local democracy in action.
It is how the Lib Dems work with their Focus teams in labour heartlands up north and damn effective it is too.
We had Lib dem Councillors down here, but they were useless.
People in Thanet like Lib Dem Councillors
Thanet Lib-Dem Chair, Bill Furness thinks the LIB-DEM's will control Thanet after the next election. I think he is right!
You tell us Mr Green - I have been accused privately and publically of “bringing the council into disrepute through my blog”.
Good, keep it up. That accusation is a sure sign that some would rather keep matters of public interest out of Joe Public's view. We need more councillors like you.
David Green is a bitter old man who has nothing better to do than look under every rock looking for a story because he hasn't nothing else to do with his life. If he can't find a story, he'll make one up, or manipulate a tiny fraction of a point to try to make it look huge.
Bloggers on this site should be looking to expose the failings of the national government, which David Greene supports, who have made us the laughing stock of Europe, and the world. Rather than pin all of their feeble minded angst on the local council. With unemploment heading to 3 million, and our currency not much more highly regarded than that of Iceland or Zimbabwe, the good ship GB is well and truly on the rocks.
If there was genuine scandal at TDC I am sure the government and local authority auditors would have picked it up and dealt with it accordingly.
But seeing as they haven't, we can probably assume that the council is as clean as a whistle, and just trying to do its best in difficult circumstances like just about everyone elae. Which is what it would do whoever was in charge.
And are you really telling me that it would be a better council if such popular and forward thinking people persons as Richard Nicholson, Cleve Hart and Iris Johnson, John Watkins and Dave Green were in charge.
Don't make me laugh.
Anon 22.24 (7 Jan), I suggest that you read your own words and think about your accusation of bitterness.
We need councillors of all parties, and citizens, to look under stones and ask awkward questions of the ruling group, whoever they are. It's called enforcing democratic accountability.
And we're greatful that you do blog, David.
- TB
Before we get carried away with personal insults, David is right, we do need more councillors 'blogging' under their real names, not anonymously. More importantly, there is room for most points of view here, without sniping or insults, but hey ho , such is life.
Not the best blog around but the competition is poor.
Ben Kelly
Japan
The more the merrier I say. If we are all doing such poor job of it perhaps the "cabinet" would care to start blogging. Until then ...
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