The Mayor Making began in the usual way with the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers welcoming people in.
In the first half of the ceremony the outgoing Mayor, Duncan Brown, presented the Mayor’s awards. One was to Stuart Jackson a former leader of the Morris Men. Very well deserved, as were the others. Duncan has raised a record £10,000 for his charities during his year as Abingdon’s youngest ever Mayor.
But somehow all that got forgotten in what followed. There followed lots of votes.
Normally there are just a couple of votes. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are voted in unanimously. But this time everything was fought over, way past the main council committees, even down to who would represent Abingdon Town Council in outside organisations like the Prince Albert Memorial Trust and River Users Group. The Conservatives won all votes by 11-10 or 12-9 depending how the solitary Labour voter chose to go.
Sandy Lovatt, seen here on a local TV report tonight talking about the army, is the new leader of the town council. That is equivalent in town council terms to Prime Minister.
Mike Badcock is Mayor. Unusually for Abingdon, this did not go to the next person in line but to a Conservative nominee – voted in by 11-10.
Peter Jones, another Conservative, is Deputy Mayor, and was voted in 11-10.
In their election campaigns all parties used phrases like ” put Abingdon people first”, many of their ideas were remarkably similar and I have no doubt that all have genuinely good intentions. There is a wealth of talent and goodwill among those who voluntarily give up their time to work for the town so I found last night profoundly depressing.
The first part of the meeting was led by the outgoing Mayor with his usual blend of sensitivity, humour and decorum but instead of building on that and using this ceremonial occasion put electioneering behind them and create a platform for the new Council to work collaboratively, it degenerated into political posturing and snide comments.
Even that might have not been so bad – politicians can rarely resist points-scoring opportunities – but there are long-term consequences for the town: with one soiltary exception, every single place on working-parties and committees – including those on outside groups (where the role is to get stuck in and work, not make political points), was allocated on party lines, regardless of considerations as to who might actually be the best person to do it, and in particular who has knowledge and experience in that area.
This does not seem to me to be a good start in putting Abingdon people first.
Looking at it mathematically, I note that well over 4000 Abingdon people voted for successful LibDem and Labour candidates: if last night’s meeting is a sign of how things are going to be for the next 4 years those councillors will have little chance to contribute to the town – either in TC committees or as representatives on community groups. What a waste.
The case for making councils at this level non-political could not have been more clearly made.
I wish I’d been able to be in the audience to witness this extraordinary event.
I understand that first the Conservatives chose to ignore the convention of electing the next mayor based on seniority not political party. They then elected themselves as chair and vice-chairs on all committees except one. They then elected themselves on to all outside bodies.
They seem to have given themselves a lot of work to do, while 10 elected councillors are left virtually idle. Doesn’t seem to me like good management of resources!!
Thats what happens when politics gets involved in Local matters. Local council should never be about politics but people who will work for Abingdon and its towns-people.
I sincerely hope we don’t get forgotten in all this!!??.
Sounds like we will have another 16 years of same old same old then?
Will we get free parking?
Will they open up the market place on a Saturday to a local farmers market?
Are they going to tackle the Greedy king monoply?
I dont think so.
They have now got themselves in for 5 years and theres nothing that can be done about it.
I think the commentators above should remember that the people of Abingdon are in councillors minds constantly and all their concerns. The Conservatives won a majority and so were within their rights to elect themselves onto the committees. They also kindly gave Cllr Mayhew-Archer the Chair of Museum management.
Also, the Mayoralty of ex-Cllr Brown was not as light as someone pointed out. Duncan was incredulous when announcing peoples names last night and the Conservatives had to elect a Conservative Mayor because the LibDem option was the wife of Neil Fawcett; The LibDem campaign manager known for unfair slating of candidates from all parties during election time.
Last night was depressing as there were jeers from the audience directed at many and it could be heard from others in the crowd despairing at certain LibDem councillors making long-winded speeches and snide remarks throughout the election process. It was disappointing to see ‘Museum Friend’ Ruth Weinberg taking it upon herself to lead the torrent of abuse from 2/3 members of the audience.
Just confirms what I thought about the recent local elections. I agree totally with ‘Col not Councillor’ that local elections should not be political. Particularly that they should no be seen as some sort of ‘vote of confidence’ in the current party in Parliament. But how can we stop it? Make everyone stand as an independent? (Then voters would have to think!)
John
I feel very sad for the people of Abingdon if the selection of their mayor is in some way dependent on the occupation chosen by said mayor’s spouse.
That must have been some punch up between the Lovatts and Badcocks when this lot was carved up between them, I hear it got so messy one drone threw up, but my, my all the drones are going to be very busy little bees.
You shouldn’t make comments if you can’t say anything mature. Act your age and not your shoe size ‘jumbo pig’.
@resident: If I get the gist of your post right, the conservatives had to break decades of precedent and tradition which has kept the mayor’s position from being a party political football because they did not like a councillor’s husband? Good grief. I thought this was a council, not a playground.
the usual case is the last person to put in charge is the person who wants to be in charge.
Let’s hope the Conservatives don’t become the Conswervatives when it comes to their promise re. free carparks in The Town. As they’ve neutralised the opposition there’s no political impediment to them making free parking a reality by the end of (this) May.
I am absolutely gobsmacked that our councillors could act in such a childish and self-serving manner, rather than in the best interests of the people they were elected to serve.
Just one point of fact about newcomer’s mention of the car parking. It will be for the district council to decide, not the town council. However, stranger things have happened, maybe the town council will be asked for a sub by the Vale? For example, at the moment, the town council ‘subs’ the district council to keep the outdoor pool going.
I see the Town election was decided by one vote in Fitzharris! Hence the new political realities which mr Badcock points to. So much for the coalition ruling for the good of the people!
We had labour party mayors in the past. That party never had any majority!
Deary, deary me! The trouble with any elections is that you tend to only be able to vote for politicians, professional or amateur, and that’s never a good thing. Here in the New Forest we only have Conservatives and a few conservatives so there’s none of this messy bickering afterwards because it’s already been sorted out over G&Ts down the con club long before. Democracy, eh!
Monday evening was a very sad day for Abingdon traditions. The position of Mayor of Abingdon has been seen as an honour and apolitical. In the past Conservatives have supported the election of Liberal Democratic mayors and vice-versa and no one has allowed himself to take this honour twice for more than 100 years; what a pity that the new mayor should feel himself to be above such traditions and put himself forward and then support his fellow councillors in taking all the other posts, including that of Deputy Mayor.
See it has made the Abingdon Herald today (`18/05/11).
http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/hsabingdonnews/9031826.Free_parking_before_Christmas___Tories/
JohnS, apparently that may be the plan, a lot more Independants standing in the next Town Council Elections.
Is there a system of Vote of no confidence in Town Council? (same way as MPs House of Commons??).
Col,
I’m apolitical in that I haven’t got any personal brief for a political party.
I did some work for Alastair this time as I think this Blog is better than anything that The Council does to let people know what happens in this town … Alastair is an absolute star and the Calecott Ward haven’t, really, had a clue. Wake up, you numpties!
Alastair knows who I am and I’d be willing to do work for him whatever his ‘badge politics’. He’s a ‘good fella’.
The new Mayor … the new despair.
@Resident Are you seriously suggesting that the Conservatives decided to tear up more than a hundred years of tradition (with all that will entail for the town and how we view our Mayor) on the grounds that they don’t like the husband of the councillor who was next in line?
If so this is an even worse reason than Cllr Lovatt set out on the night itself.
By the way – what is your source for this information?
@Col not councillor – you have a fair point about party politics in local councils, but it is worth remembering that we have party politics in Abingdon for decades and until Monday they always managed to keep the Mayor non-party political. In fact between 1991 ans 1995 – the last time the council was closely balanced – Lib Dems seconded Conservatives and vice-versa for Mayor and Deputy.
It was not 100 years of tradition; Abingdon Mayors have only been elected due to seniority for the last 30 years and that’s mainly been LibDems who have never shared out any sort of power.
The LibDems would not have bothered to do the same for anyone else, they only think about themselves. That’s why they lost.
@Oi – Until 1991 the Town Council was mainly Conservative. Between 1991 and 1995 it was closely balanced. During that period councillors of all parties supported a non-partisan approach, and Tories supported Lib Dems and vice-versa. From 1995 to 1999 it was 17 Lib Dems and 1 Labour. From 1999 until 2011 it was entirely Lib Dem so there were no other parties to share power with. Throughout this period the Lib Dems stuck with the most senior councillor who had not yet been Mayor getting the job.
@LadyDi Do you have any evidence for that assertion?
Has anyone else noticed that this political fight between the Lib Dems and Tories has broken out, and got people in the town to fight amongest each other?
As much as I hate to say this, as I am angry at what has happened, the people of Abingdon voted him on the the council, along with the other Tories. We should have seen this coming…
@Jenny – you have a good point, but this fight isn’t ‘between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives’. Many Conservatives, including several former Mayors, are just as unhappy with the actions of the new Conservative regime.
They deserve credit for speaking out.
I don’t blame ‘the Conservative’ in general – many of them are decent folk who would uphold our town’s traditions – just the current Conservative leadership on the Town Council.
In fact I understand that the new Conservative leadership on the Vale has rightly supported a Lib Dem Vice-Chair of the Council and a Lib Dem Chair of the Scrutiny Committee.
I sit on the Committee of a local youth organisation that, last year, took the decision to install the incumbent of the post of Mayor of Abingdon as its Honarary President. This was done as the incumbent was, until this week, elected on a basis of seniority, not on party politics. I shall be tabling a motion to overturn this decision as ours is a non-political organisation.
On a personal note…. this stinks. The people and town of Abingdon will suffer as a consequence. To the barricades!
Firstly all credit to Alastair Fear . If all Lib Dems were as genuinely committed to the town and its people, as him , this problem would not have arisen .
After 16 years of a town under one party rule and 4 years of a Town Council with no opposition whatsoever , Abingdon desperately needs to move on . Too many Local Lib Dems reached the point of political decline years ago where they actually believed their own propaganda ! Too many of you have been living in your own little bubble for far too long . The main achievements of the Lib Dems in 16 years has been merely , to keep the Tories out and to dither . 10 years to summon up the courage , face up to the inevitable and sell off the Old Gaol – pathetic !
Stop fretting about your ” traditions and heritage” and get on with building a future . The Lib Dems have had long enough
@Thames Town. I happen to think that most councillors, of whatever party, tend to be genuinly committed to the town. They just have different views about what should be done.
The Lib Dems achieved a lot in their 16 years running the town council, and I’m sure the Conservatives will have their acheivements too. It is silly to suggest that they have not acheived anything, just as it would be silly to claim that they have acheived everything.
However this issue isn’t about the party politics of the council, or which party has more acheivements than the other, it is about an important tradition of having a non-partisan Mayor that everyone can support.
It is sad that this is the first ‘acheivement’ of the new Conservative regime, and even sadder that some of their supporters still don’t seem to get the point.
“What I would say is grow up and shut up, and accept the reality of political life.” (Mr Badcocks quote in the Abingdon Herald).
Good start to get Abingdon’s residents confidence?
I think not!
What a shame, the comments seemed to have all dried up.
I’ll miss the laughs I’ve had every day when I’ve logged on to the Blog. It has been most entertaining!!!!
In proposing Mike Badcock as the new Mayor Peter Jones said that one of Mike’s ancestors, also a Badcock, had become Mayor for a second time after 21 years in the 1800s, and that after 21 years Mike Badcock was becoming Mayor for the second time. I will be asking the town archivist to check out that historical parallel. If true then it does throw a new light on the reasons for Mike accepting the Mayorship a second time.
@Isabel. At least the comments here are still available to be read. The comments on the Abingdon Herald website have all been removed and no further comments allowed, I suspect at conservative pressure. It really bodes ill for the free press in Abingdon if they have indeed caved in so easily to demands. This place will soon be the only place in Abingdon you can engage in open debate.
The local rag will always side with the local handshakers,
Always has and always will be the way,
As for online debate what happened to Action4Abingdon ?
There is now a greater need than ever for this kind of site.
Expect another 5 years of same old ,same old
They have now been voted in,they will be sticking 2 fingers up to the people that elected them.
And doing what the hell they like,not what they promised.
Tsk, morris dancers cause nothing but trouble.
At least the local liberal democrats have one thing to be grateful to mike badcock for. Nick cleft is now the SECOND most unpopular man in town!
Darn you, spellchecker! Nick Cleft = Nick Clegg, obviously.
Wonderful! wonderful! the comments keep coming, but we won’t bring the Morris Dancers into this debate. Remember, there are two teams in Abingdon, and we wouldn’t like another 37 comments slagging off the dancers, whatever team they belong to.
@DavidofAbingdon – you shouldn’t have corrected that spelling. Was fine the way it was!
Wasnt the new mayor a morris dancer some years back but not for the same side as the last mayor?? So now we know what its all about! Abingdon is run by morris men!!!!!!
http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/hsabingdonnews/9051343.CHAINS_OF_OFFICE__Abingdon/?ref=mr
There’s another article about the new mayor in this week’s Herald. Will this story run and run?
Pingback: Abingdon Blog » Another Worthy Cause