Borough council leader set to go out on a high
THE leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has decided to step down less than a week after leading his party to a 10-seat majority.
Councillor John Leek decided a new person should take the helm after leading the Conservative administration for two years.
The Gazette understands that Cllr Andrew Finney is set to replace him. The Conservative group unanimously agreed on Tuesday to put Cllr Finney's name forward and the Tory majority should ensure the nomination is confirmed when the full council meets next Thursday.
Cllr Finney, who is currently deputy council leader, refused to comment.
But Cllr Leek said: "Being leader of the council is quite a demanding job and I'm getting older and, frankly, I'm looking forward to doing more of the things I like to do.
| I’m coming up to 67 and I think it's time for a change | | Councillor John Leek |
|
"I'm coming up to 67 and I think it's time for a change."
He listed his administration's successes as securing the arrival of clothing store Primark in The Malls, working on the regeneration of Basing View and the Central Area Vision and the reopening of The Haymarket.
"The fact that we obtained a majority of 10 at the last election demonstrates we did a fantastic job for two years," he added.
Cllr Mark Ruffell was reappointed Conservative group leader on Tuesday after stepping down a month ago for work reasons that proved to be less pressing than anticipated.
He said: "We now have 35 councillors and we really want to roll out the Conservative programme.
"We look forward to putting green policies at the top of the agenda and, at the same time, making the borough safer with more visible policing and working to improve the services we provide."
Labour has selected 46-year-old Cllr Laura James as leader after an election where it lost two councillors, including group leader Gary Watts.
Cllr James said Labour councillors would work hard in their wards.
"It's about listening to, and working with, the local communities," she said.
Her priorities are housing, regeneration, anti-social behaviour and the services people receive.
The Liberal Democrats meet on Monday to pick their group leader. So far, the only name put forward is current leader Cllr Paula Baker.
1:24pm Thursday 8th May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: David, Chineham on 3:26pm Fri 9 May 08
Is this: http://www.basingsto
kegazette.co.uk/sear
ch/display.var.20830
72.0.gresley_road_fi
asco_leads_to_calls_
for_resignation.php a heavilly commented article from the aftermath of the Gresley Road Fiasco relevant to his resignation?
Is this: http://www.basingsto
kegazette.co.uk/sear
ch/display.var.20830
72.0.gresley_road_fi
asco_leads_to_calls_
for_resignation.php a heavilly commented article from the aftermath of the Gresley Road Fiasco relevant to his resignation?
Posted by: Simon Preedy, Basingstoke on 4:06pm Fri 9 May 08
LOL. That's precisely the point I made on the www.kempshott.com website David!
LOL. That's precisely the point I made on the www.kempshott.com website David!
Posted by: Billy Nomates, Basingstoke on 5:45pm Fri 9 May 08
www. kempsnot is a troll website and has no relevence on a properly run board like this.
www. kempsnot is a troll website and has no relevence on a properly run board like this.
Posted by: Carlos Tilbury, overton on 12:21am Sat 10 May 08
This has been the worst kept secret going, I heard about this over a month ago, he was under pressure over Gresly Rd, wont be long before Cllr Reid is leader and then the infighting starts.
This has been the worst kept secret going, I heard about this over a month ago, he was under pressure over Gresly Rd, wont be long before Cllr Reid is leader and then the infighting starts.
Posted by: Simon Preedy, Basingstoke on 9:08am Sat 10 May 08
Carlos Tilbury wrote:
[quote]... wont be long before Cllr Reid is leader...[/quote]
Yes, I was surprised that Stephen's name hadn't been put forward, given he experienced the position of B&DBC's Leader some years ago. Perhaps it's a workload issue, what with being a County Councillor, part of the Save Manydown Group as well as holding down a full time job... We'll await to see what happens next Thursday.
Carlos Tilbury wrote:
... wont be long before Cllr Reid is leader...
Yes, I was surprised that Stephen's name hadn't been put forward, given he experienced the position of B&DBC's Leader some years ago. Perhaps it's a workload issue, what with being a County Councillor, part of the Save Manydown Group as well as holding down a full time job... We'll await to see what happens next Thursday.
Posted by: Carlos Tilbury, overton on 10:29am Sat 10 May 08
By what I hear Cllr Leek is a pretty nice chap, and he did express that in my view when they lost the Warden call in.
Its funny that Cllr Ried says that he didnt have any idea that the CC is going to spend £100k at looking into the Manydown building program, think someone is telling fibs! and lets not forget he was leader in the 90's of the party that sold it for future development.
Its going to be interesting to watch this one unfold.
By what I hear Cllr Leek is a pretty nice chap, and he did express that in my view when they lost the Warden call in.
Its funny that Cllr Ried says that he didnt have any idea that the CC is going to spend £100k at looking into the Manydown building program, think someone is telling fibs! and lets not forget he was leader in the 90's of the party that sold it for future development.
Its going to be interesting to watch this one unfold.
Posted by: Billy Nomates, Basingstoke on 1:36pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote]Its going to be interesting to watch this one unfold[/quote]
You may need to get out more often ;-)
Its going to be interesting to watch this one unfold
You may need to get out more often ;-)
Posted by: Carlos Tilbury, overton on 4:08pm Sat 10 May 08
in fact I'll have 50p on Cllr Reid being in that role in 6 months, but when he does thats when the splits start in the party.
You have to remember, B&D are putting off building on Manydown, but HCC has £5 million tied up in the land and the farmer who sold the land, who is a tory wants to get his money back, if you didnt know the farmer will be getting a dollop of cash for every house built.
If you voted Tory on the basis of them saving manydown then you might be short changed, the land is worth a fortune, so you may well have put the cross in the wrong box.
in fact I'll have 50p on Cllr Reid being in that role in 6 months, but when he does thats when the splits start in the party.
You have to remember, B&D are putting off building on Manydown, but HCC has £5 million tied up in the land and the farmer who sold the land, who is a tory wants to get his money back, if you didnt know the farmer will be getting a dollop of cash for every house built.
If you voted Tory on the basis of them saving manydown then you might be short changed, the land is worth a fortune, so you may well have put the cross in the wrong box.
Posted by: Stephen Reid, Home on 10:15pm Sat 10 May 08
Carlos: you lose your 50p. I have told my colleagues that I cannot let my name go forward for Leader. With the Cabinet system it is impossiable to do that job at the same time as holding down full time employment. I am therefore delighted to support Andrew Finney, who will make a superb leader.
With regard to Manydown, you are repeating misconceptions that are, in fact, very wrong.
I played no part in acquiring the land for development. I chaired my last meetings in April 1995. The purchase was, in fact, initiated in July 1995 by the new Policy Committee chaired by the incoming Leader of the Council, Councillor Paula Baker (Liberal Democrat). (Minute R286 refers).
The new administration used part of the money gained through the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer of the housing stock, for which I had proposed a very different use - I wanted to establish a 'trust fund', the interest from which could pay for housing initiatives and improvmeents in perpetuity (Leader's speech Feb 1995 refers).
Actually HCC does not have £5million tied up in the land - it has never paid the money. Instead it pays interest to Basingstoke and Deane on the £5million Basingstoke stumped up on Hampshire's behalf - a deal to which I would never have lent my name.
In the event that the land is developed, the profits from the land get split 25%, 25%, 50% with the 50% going to Manydown. So you are right: there is a huge financial carrot for the Councils - so big that I worry about the separation within the two Councils of the planning and the revenue-generation functions. The Officers assure me they have 'chinese walls' in place.
I was unaware that the County Council Officers planned to pay outside contractors to conduct the topographical survey. At the last Manydown meeting the Borough asked the County to note that it was still wishing NOT to promote the land for development and I would have hoped that the County would have noted this.
I have therefore tabled a question for the next HCC meeting asking whether it is sensible to incur external expenditure whilst Basingstoke is seeking not to promote the land.
My Group at the County knows that, if Manydown comes to the vote there, I will vote against developing Manydown and in defence of the green fields. I hope you will agree that this is a position of principle: the promise I give to my constituents takes precedence over Party loyalties.
The fact is, that had it not been for the Save Manydown Group, which I have had the honour to lead, the bulldozers would be on the Manydown land right now. We won the day at the public enquiry but, as I warned, the argument will start over again.
As I see it, the only people fighting to Save Manydown are the all-party Save Manydown Group amd the Conservative Borough Councillors who have pledged to fight for that cause. I have stood for the Borough Council in the hope of strengthening its resolve not to develop on Manydown.
Will we win? I don't know: the forces ranged against us are huge, including the Government with its very high housing numbers. Will we fight? Yes.
I hope this clarifies a few points for you.
Carlos: you lose your 50p. I have told my colleagues that I cannot let my name go forward for Leader. With the Cabinet system it is impossiable to do that job at the same time as holding down full time employment. I am therefore delighted to support Andrew Finney, who will make a superb leader.
With regard to Manydown, you are repeating misconceptions that are, in fact, very wrong.
I played no part in acquiring the land for development. I chaired my last meetings in April 1995. The purchase was, in fact, initiated in July 1995 by the new Policy Committee chaired by the incoming Leader of the Council, Councillor Paula Baker (Liberal Democrat). (Minute R286 refers).
The new administration used part of the money gained through the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer of the housing stock, for which I had proposed a very different use - I wanted to establish a 'trust fund', the interest from which could pay for housing initiatives and improvmeents in perpetuity (Leader's speech Feb 1995 refers).
Actually HCC does not have £5million tied up in the land - it has never paid the money. Instead it pays interest to Basingstoke and Deane on the £5million Basingstoke stumped up on Hampshire's behalf - a deal to which I would never have lent my name.
In the event that the land is developed, the profits from the land get split 25%, 25%, 50% with the 50% going to Manydown. So you are right: there is a huge financial carrot for the Councils - so big that I worry about the separation within the two Councils of the planning and the revenue-generation functions. The Officers assure me they have 'chinese walls' in place.
I was unaware that the County Council Officers planned to pay outside contractors to conduct the topographical survey. At the last Manydown meeting the Borough asked the County to note that it was still wishing NOT to promote the land for development and I would have hoped that the County would have noted this.
I have therefore tabled a question for the next HCC meeting asking whether it is sensible to incur external expenditure whilst Basingstoke is seeking not to promote the land.
My Group at the County knows that, if Manydown comes to the vote there, I will vote against developing Manydown and in defence of the green fields. I hope you will agree that this is a position of principle: the promise I give to my constituents takes precedence over Party loyalties.
The fact is, that had it not been for the Save Manydown Group, which I have had the honour to lead, the bulldozers would be on the Manydown land right now. We won the day at the public enquiry but, as I warned, the argument will start over again.
As I see it, the only people fighting to Save Manydown are the all-party Save Manydown Group amd the Conservative Borough Councillors who have pledged to fight for that cause. I have stood for the Borough Council in the hope of strengthening its resolve not to develop on Manydown.
Will we win? I don't know: the forces ranged against us are huge, including the Government with its very high housing numbers. Will we fight? Yes.
I hope this clarifies a few points for you.
Posted by: Carlos Tilbury, overton on 11:59pm Sat 10 May 08
ok, so the B&D has 5 million invested in the land doing nothing when it could have been put to better use supporting services in the borough.
Will you win saving Manydown? you have no chance, the money involved is too great, and the need for housing is to big, rightly or wrongly the government is saying build house, thats because we need them! this area is screaming for housing, and we cannot go on any longer with increasing numbers wanting somewhere to live be it private or social housing, as much as I hate seeing the country side being concreted over we have to do something, I guess if you ask the 5000 - 6000 people on the housing list if they would like Manydown to be built on I think we know what nmost people will say.
We need a good mix of housing in the area, from flats to family homes, although in my view the flat market is top heavy and estate agents tell me that they need family homes.
I'm like many many others who cant afford to buy, see shared ownership as a con and renting is just too expensive, and when your told that you maybe waiting upto 15 years for social housing then the future is bleak for alot of people.
If you didnt know I got myself on natioal TV last year, I spoke my mind, how I saw the market, and I do except that I didnt speak for everybody, but I can tell you I had messages from all over the country and I lot of feed back locally, even on friday when I paided my bill at my mechanic they told me I was spot on, they're worried about what their children are going to do for housing in the future and this is a concern is repeated to me alot and many questions are being asked about what the council is doing about it.
As to promoting the land, the B&D has already spent nearly £600k, this isnt advertising the land for development, this is money spend by B&D internally, Tony Curtis sent me all the relavent doc's detailing this and explained the difference between promotion and advertsing.
Its very confusing Cllr, are you saying you had nothing to do Housing stock transfer and Manydown, if you can clarify that then that would be good.
If you want to speak to me on a one to one basis then please feel free to email me.
ok, so the B&D has 5 million invested in the land doing nothing when it could have been put to better use supporting services in the borough.
Will you win saving Manydown? you have no chance, the money involved is too great, and the need for housing is to big, rightly or wrongly the government is saying build house, thats because we need them! this area is screaming for housing, and we cannot go on any longer with increasing numbers wanting somewhere to live be it private or social housing, as much as I hate seeing the country side being concreted over we have to do something, I guess if you ask the 5000 - 6000 people on the housing list if they would like Manydown to be built on I think we know what nmost people will say.
We need a good mix of housing in the area, from flats to family homes, although in my view the flat market is top heavy and estate agents tell me that they need family homes.
I'm like many many others who cant afford to buy, see shared ownership as a con and renting is just too expensive, and when your told that you maybe waiting upto 15 years for social housing then the future is bleak for alot of people.
If you didnt know I got myself on natioal TV last year, I spoke my mind, how I saw the market, and I do except that I didnt speak for everybody, but I can tell you I had messages from all over the country and I lot of feed back locally, even on friday when I paided my bill at my mechanic they told me I was spot on, they're worried about what their children are going to do for housing in the future and this is a concern is repeated to me alot and many questions are being asked about what the council is doing about it.
As to promoting the land, the B&D has already spent nearly £600k, this isnt advertising the land for development, this is money spend by B&D internally, Tony Curtis sent me all the relavent doc's detailing this and explained the difference between promotion and advertsing.
Its very confusing Cllr, are you saying you had nothing to do Housing stock transfer and Manydown, if you can clarify that then that would be good.
If you want to speak to me on a one to one basis then please feel free to email me.
Posted by: Picket Dewfury, Basingstoke on 10:16am Sun 11 May 08
I think Councilor Reed has covered your points very well Mr Tilbury. If you don't mind me saying so he has made you look a bit of a tit too.
I think Councilor Reed has covered your points very well Mr Tilbury. If you don't mind me saying so he has made you look a bit of a tit too.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
