A few people contacted me about Cllr Dibbs clumsy remark in the alternate week bin collection story in the News, that I am against anything the Conservative Group propose. I would like to apologise for this remark, for a number of reasons.
1. It is inaccurate, and were it the case, I would have left or been expelled from the Conservative Group. I am true blue to the core.
2. Cllr Dibbs remarks led many of you to believe Alternate Week Collection (AWC) is a "Conservative" idea. This was clumsy of him. It is not a Party issue, and I am deeply sorry Cllr Dibbs gave this impression. Members of all parties locally support or oppose this scheme. There is also clear Conservative opposition to the scheme throughout the Country, where Conservative Councils elsewhere have led the way excluding this scheme in support of residents concerns. So Cllr Dibbs may want to read the speeches coming from Conservative Central Office that express the same concerns I have about the scheme.
3. I would also like to apologise for him because personal attacks are no way to conduct a public debate. This is not the new Conservative style, which I support. Policies not people should be challenged and scrutinised. It shows a lack of intellect when one resorts to personal attacks to "strengthen" a position in a debate. It is also one of the key things that have turned the electorate off politicians.
4. Empathy for another point of view is vital in public office, and lack of it can smack of arrogance. When conducting an informed debate about a scheme that has so much public interest we need to be very careful we do not come across as a "know all", this turns off residents who are often well informed and articulate. If we want to win over residents we need to have rational well thought through arguments, not cheap immature digs that people last experienced in the playground and do not expect to see used by those that represent us in the Council Chamber.
5. And lastly, I apologise as this is probably the only apology that will be forthcoming! I hope I do not come across as smug when I genuinely say I am never too proud to apologise - being mortal I inevitably fall short of perfection.
Cllr Dibbs regardless of what some of you have said is a good man, that is dedicating his time to public service, which few choose these days, and we need to remember, he comes from a generation where leaders were obeyed without question. That is just not the case these days, and some have difficulty coping with that. So I bear no hard feelings towards my colleague.
Now I pray, we can concentrate on debating not "personalities", but the issues, benefits and problems of Alternate Week Collections.....
5 comments:
What hypocrisy. Clifford is always seeking to undermine the Conservative Administration.
I have struck a nerve! It is a shame whoever left the comment was not brave enough to put a name to it - a current or past councillor perhaps. I have found most residents arn't that spineless. My policy has always been to put residents first and party second. I make no apologies for that. However, most of the time it is never an issue - in fact I believe the vast majority of Conservative policies are in the best interest of residents. Which is why I was keen to distance Cllr Dibbs remarks from the Conservative Party that has expressed the same concerns I have made about 2 week bin collection.
clifford always puts himself first
Dear readers. This is obviously not one of my residents!! And there is only one person that refers to me all the time as "Clifford", and only one person that I know who writes anonymous spiteful letters! Residents should be thankful they are currently not a councillor, but could be in the future. frightening thought isn't it?
It is such a shame that some people cannot debate an issue without getting personal. Here we have it again with a supporter of AWC - Mr Anonymous. It is a poor reflection on the supporters of AWC. The Bully Boy approach - disagree with me and I will make personal attacks!! They just do not have the intellect to argue any other way, nor in this case have the courage to put a name to their venom. It's enough to give politics a bad name!!
Post a Comment