Firstly David Gunnell is a member of the Portishead Independent Political Party which hijacked the Residents’ Meeting and he was involved with Roger Whitfield, Mike Johnston, Bob Cartwright and their party leader Paul Gardner in completely changing the process of the Portishead Residents’ Annual Meeting by pushing residents to the end of their meeting and not allowing agenda items put forward by the public.
Secondly, Paul Gardner had used the Residents’ Meeting along with those named above, to abuse residents at their own meeting, deceive the public, give incorrect information (yes if we are talking facts these were in short supply from Paul Gardner and Roger Whitfield), and delay the reason for the meeting ie Portishead Residents, until there was little time left.
Thirdly, it is not the Town Council Chairman’s decision as to who takes “notes”, but the Residents of the town.
Fourthly, it was decided many meetings ago by residents of the town to have a chairman for their annual meeting who is entirely independent of politics to ensure impartiality and prevent bias. Roger Whitfield refused to allow the residents to choose their own chairman which has become custom and practice. It was clear to see why once he hijacked the meeting for his party political agenda.
Fifthly, as pointed out by a resident at the meeting, there is no need whatsoever, for “subject headings” to be put forward for discussion. That’s not how a Residents’ Meeting works. Residents can speak on whatever topic they like, for as long as they like and irrespective as to whether it appears on a flip chart managed by a political party leader who just happened to be Paul Gardner, at the request of Roger Whitfield who had hijacked the meeting! Unbelievable!!
Finally, Minutes are usually taken by the Town Clerk and there is absolutely no need for a party political leader like Paul Gardner to ingratiate himself by writing on a flip chart and telling people what to discuss.
So taking the above into account, shame on David Gunnell who gives his “understanding” of how the public’s concerns should be acted upon. Most residents had walked out of the Residents’ Meeting so disgusted were they at the party political bullying that the meeting was commandeered for by the Portishead Independent Political Party that controls Portishead Town Council. The same councillors and Party that harassed and bullied our town’s two best councillors Ben Aldridge and Paul Churchill out of their leadership positions and ultimately that led to their resignations. Yes we know what happened and unless Portishead residents stamp down on the Party causing the problems that has brought the town council into disrepute, nobody, not even the gentle and personable Community Matters Chairman Emma Blackmore, will be able to move forward. It has already been alleged that she has been intimidated by her Party and we certainly cannot afford to lose more councillors like Ben Aldridge and Churchill.
30 июн 2024
