Councillors walk-out of meeting as dinner rumpus boils over
COUNCILLORS stormed out of a meeting in anger as the row over the cost of a mayoral dinner continues to boil over.
Members of Gorseinon Town Council were due to discuss the reported £4,000-plus "lavish" bash — which featured a magician and a harpist — at a meeting this week.
Town residents turned up to the meeting, and their calls for the council to explain itself were backed by a group of councillors.
But following a poll of members, mayor Victor Bruno gave the casting vote to shut out the public from the discussions — prompting a walk-out by five councillors.
Mr Bruno has since expressed his disappointment at the row, and said checks would have to be made to see if any councillors had breached the authority's code of conduct.
But councillor Malcolm Curtice, who was among those who left the meeting in protest, said the cost of the dinner should have been debated in public.
"People in the town are up in arms about the cost of the dinner, and the council still has not explained fully how much has been spent and why," he said.
Wednesday's walk-out is the latest in a long line of disputes over Victor Bruno's mayoral dinner, which took place at The Canolfan Gorseinon Centre on April 30.
Earlier this month, the Post obtained documents detailing the event had cost £4,442 — which included £425 spent on entertainment and £185 on table decorations.
The figure, more than twice the amount of a Gorseinon mayor's dinner in 2007, caused outrage among some councillors as well as residents — who have since called on Mr Bruno to stand down.
But Mr Bruno claimed the event was the "first mayoral community dinner" celebrating the "vast silent work" carried out by ordinary people in the community.
"Councillors agreed the community awards evening back in February," he added.
Policy
"The event was organised in accord with current policy.
"At present, I am only able to disclose the cost of the dinner is within budget and not the grossly exaggerated figures presented to the media.
"There is a code of conduct and standing orders that councillors have to abide by.
"Some councillors may be referred to the relevant body to consider if they breached the code. Statements presented to the press are, at best, factually incorrect."
But a number of councillors have hit back at the claims.
Plaid Gorseinon councillor Jim Dunckley, who also walked out on Wednesday, maintained the dinner was an extravagant waste of money.
"It's unbelievable that when the town council voted to cut funding for local charities and the children's summer play scheme, that money has been spent on magicians, harpists and fiddlers at this event," he added.
However, former mayor and current councillor Howard Payne said council members were well aware discussions were to be held in private.
"The meeting was to finish the items on the agenda left over from the previous and unfinished meeting," he said. "The Local Government Act 1972 allows councils to exclude members of the public from matters which may contain financial or personal information. A vote was undertaken, and it was decided the matter about the mayoral dinner should be discussed in camera."
Mr Payne said the "official" cost was still to be released by the council.
ben.wright@swwmedia.co.uk
10 Comments
by dj gorseinon, GORSEINON
Sunday, August 08 2010, 11:16AM
“Well Suz
Wrong again,Janet Curtis did loose out to Victor Bruno for the Mayors position this year it went to a vote and she put her name forward but lost out on the vote so you see its seems very political to me as he had the most votes from the town council and if you read the minutes on the web site you may be better informed, as for the dinner as you full well know, had not been disscused by council in full becouse of the dispute regarding the bill, it has been discused now in the last meeting but unfortunatley the councillors who are making such a fuss about it saw fit not to stay and left, so they couldnt have been that concerned or they would have stayed. They seem more concerned about making a fuss and bother rather than getting the truth, how desperate they seem to get rid of the mayor and you say it isnt party politics who are you kidding. The Mayor has also written on the web site perhaps you could take some time to read it. It would a good idea if those Councilors who signed the CODE OF CONDUCT abided by the rules after all ,they signed them,and if they cant abide by them then they shouldnt be on the council Dont keep making excuses for them thier behavior is pathetic and unacceptable”
by suz, Gorseinon
Monday, August 02 2010, 10:30PM
“It's difficult to know where to start with dj gorseinon's post. Firstly Howard Payne did not declare an interest and he DID vote.The rest of your post is garbled nonsense that I don't feel inclined to reply to.”
by john, gorseinon
Monday, August 02 2010, 7:51PM
“I had great difficulty reaadind dj gorseinon's post what with no punctuation,poor spelling etc..The matter is not political no matter who is involved,Mrs Curtice did not lose out to Czar Bruno,her year as mayor was completed and cllr.Bruno was next in line it was he who changed the rules to suit himself just as he has spent our council tax on smooching up to people and giving them free meals.You say the dinner has not been paid for,wny not?it took place in April.I think it time to refer the matter to the National Audit Office as a misuse of public money.”
by djgorseinon, GORSEINON
Sunday, August 01 2010, 9:28PM
“it really does amaze me that most of the people that write in and show up at council meetings dont even live in Gorseinon as i said before its all about labour politics and the fact that they no longer have the control and by making all this fuss and dragging it out for as long as they possibly can they are hoping that the mayor will resign and then maybe janet curits labour will have another chance at being the mayoress as she lost out against victor bruno its seems to me as if thats more of the issue”
by Rich, swansea
Sunday, August 01 2010, 9:11PM
“Why do Gorseinon have it's own council what a waist of money come on Gorsienon people get your act together an kick these free loaders out”
by dj gorseinon, GORSEINON
Sunday, August 01 2010, 1:11PM
“well suz
for someone that attended the meeting you didnt pay attention Cllr Howard Pyne did declare an interest and sustain from voting and i believe it was you who commended the two plaid cymru councillors for brining the cost of dinner to everybodys attention and as you are so well informed you will also know that the invoice presented to the council was to be discussed at council becouse the price on the invoice was not the price agreed so as the councillors
are all aware NO MONEY HAS BEEN PAID and just to correst you once again it was 5 councillors who walked out mr mrs curtis labour darren thomas and jim dunkley plaid cymru and christeen freeman independent but what really amazes me is that these are the 5 that have been on local radio, commented in the papers and yet they chose not to sit in on the council meeting where they would have all the answers they needed to take back to thier constituants as you are fully aware this had not been disscused in council and futhermore to put the record straight the councillors that stayed were 2independants of swansea 1 lib dem 2independent and 1 labour
and they were the democratic responsable majority that voted to hold the meeting in private on the advice of the councills responsable legal adviser not becouse they wanted to hide anything becouse as you should know the minutes are made public for all to see so once again NO MONEY HAS BEEN PAID so stop missleeding the public i would imagaine most people in Gorseinon are responsable adults and can see that this seems more political than anything else and another bit of information for you every councillor when ellected or co-opted on has to sign the code of conduct i suggest that some of those councillors actually read it i find their actions and behavior unaceptable let the people of Gorseinon make thier own mind up when the facts are available for all to see lets leave petty politics out of our town council and get on with the job most of you were elected to do djgorseinon”
by Steve, swansea
Sunday, August 01 2010, 7:36AM
“I suppose the real question is why do the people of Gorseinon vote for these councillors. It must be because many people in Gorseinon actually want them and agree with what they are saying. If not, then just vote for someone else next time. Or stand yourself.
You get what you vote for.”
by Ken Snow, Gorseinon
Saturday, July 31 2010, 10:25PM
“At least they seem to see the folly of their ways.It was agreed at this meeting that there would NOT be a Mayor's dinner next year.I was at this meeting and was amazed at the arrogance shown.I admire the councillors who walked out after we the public were refused to air our views.
Mr Bruno,Forget hiding behind the "Code of Conduct"and come clean with the people of Gorseinon.Don't forget that we voted for you to look after our interests,not to become the Local Dictator”
by leigh richards, morriston
Saturday, July 31 2010, 2:37PM
“what a sick joke the 'code of conduct' victor bruno refers to is!!! Once again we see it being used against councillors making a legitimate protest against an appalling decision - in this case banning the public from hearing council proceedings!!! The sooner this so called code of conduct is scrapped the better.
If victor bruno believes that the people of gorseinon arent worthy of hearing in public why such obscene amounts were spent on this dinner he clearly holds the people of gorseinon in complete contempt....and they should vote accordingly at the next town council elections.
I applaud all the councillors who walked out in protest at this obvious attempt at a cover up by victor bruno!!!”
by suz, Gorseinon
Saturday, July 31 2010, 1:16PM
“As someone who attended this meeting I would like to point out three things.
1. "current councillor Howard Payne said council members were well aware discussions were to be held in private." How could councillors know in advance that the public were going to be excluded when the vote to exclude was taken on the night ?
2. As a trustee of the Canolfan centre should councillor Pain not have declared an interest and abstained from voting ?
3. There were claims made as to the honesty of whoever "leaked"the costs of the Mayors dinner. Can I suggest to the councillors that whoever is responsible for putting the minutes of the councils meetings on- line is the culprit. After all up until today anyone can go to the councils web site and read all the costings for themselves here;-
http://www.gorseinontowncouncil.gov.uk/records.php
click on the above then go to 12 May 2010.
Half of the councillors present voted for an open and democratic debate on the use of Gorseinon Towns peoples money. That half were made up of ALL Plaid and Labour councillors along with one Independent. The half who wanted to keep the spending of our hard earned money a secret were entirely made up of Independents and I believe Independents@Swansea. Mayor Bruno, Howard Payne, Beverley Howard etc.”