Another drama regarding conflicts of interest has been playing itself
out in the less glamorous surrounding of Manorbier Community
Centre.
This involves cross-membership of Manorbier Community Council
(MCC) and Manorbier Community Association (MCA).
The difficulty
arises because most of MCA's income comes by way of a grant from
MCC.
Cllr Malcolm Calver has consistently argued that, because it is
a backdoor method of picking the taxpayer's pocket, MCC members, who
also sit on the committee of MCA, should take no part in the Community
Council's discussions about MCA matters
This "debate" has been going
on for some years but it now looks as if resolution is in
sight.
According to the website www.manorbier.com (editor M Calver)
Cllr Calver again raised this issue at the MCC meeting held on 11
November.
The website records that one of those affected, MCC
chairman Cllr Tony Wales, refused to declare his interest saying that,
as hanging had been abolished, he would stay and take whatever lesser
punishment his actions might bring down on his head.
Another with
double-membership, Cllr Neads, is reported as claiming that he had been
told by the County Council's Monitoring Officer Huw James that it was in
order for him to take part in discussions involving MCA business.
It
would seem that at that point Cllr Calver deployed his secret weapon - a
letter from Mr James saying the exact opposite.
At this Cllr Wales'
earlier boldness seems to have deserted him and he made his excuses and
left, closely followed by Cllr Neads.
It is not reported whether the
latter was muttering "neads must" as he made his exit.
For full
picture of what is going on in the picturesque little village you will
have to log on to the website.
When I first read it, I thought it
might be a script for the village pantomime, but I am assured it is a
serious account.
( Extract from the 23rd November 2004 page )