Council Question

[Ted]

At Slough Council meetings both Councillors and residents can, provided 7 days notice is given, ask questions.

 

This one was asked at the the last Council meeting.

 

"....19. To Councillor Stokes from Councillor Zarait (Lab)

 

Since the discussion at the last Council meeting, at which it became clear that your only attempt to meet with Slough Town FC supporters was an accidental meeting in the street, what steps have you taken to arrange a formal meeting with Slough Town Supporters’ Trust?

 

REPLY

 

Your question contains some factual inaccuracies. I had no “accidental meeting in the street” with any member of Slough Town Supporters’ Trust. However, I understand that a senior officer did hold a brief discussion with a representative of the Supporters’ Trust in the Town Centre.

 

We have met with The Friends of Slough Town Football Club organisation on several occasions and Slough Borough Council officers have expended much time and effort in assisting Slough Town Football Club to achieve its ambition of returning to Slough.

 

Moreover, we have publicly stated that we are happy to meet with representatives of Slough Town Football Club, but as yet have had no response.

 

We understand that Slough Town Supporters’ Trust has no authority to take decisions concerning the future of Slough Town Football Club and, this being the case, should therefore be looking to the Club, and not the Council, for information and guidance on this matter."

 

I think his memory must be failing. He definitely said that he had bumped into a supporter in the High Street (Chris and Roger etc, can you confirm?).

 

How can we deal with someone who repeatedly says something, and then denies it?

[Barry Scott]

I'll tell you one thing, I'd love to meet someone from this "Friends Of Slough Town Football Club" organisation...

[BFR]

How can council officers have been assisting the football club if they have not met with the club?

[Martin]

The Trust has no authority to take decisions concerning the future of the club. Well neither do the Friends of Slough Town - so why is he meeting with them?

[HorshamRebel]

Next time a letter is sent to request a meeting, send a copy at the same time to Councillor Zarait, ensuring that both parties know that each has the letter.

[Frankie100]

Looks like your Councillor Stokes treats Slough like Thanet Council's Councillor Ezekiel treats Margate.

 

Does your councillor act the same. More interested in what cash they can get out of ratepayers.(Ezekiel picks up £30,000+ annually and does bugger all)

[Bernie Gogan]

As I understand it the "Friends of Slough" are no more than 3-4 individuals, one of whom is or was Bob Breen, who supporters will remember as Commercial Manager under the Thornes. They are certainly not an organisation. Obviously Mr. Stokes prefers to deal with them rather than the Trust out of some mistrust or perceived threat to his well being.

 

Presumably I and a couple of fellow supporters could make similar representation in the guise of being a "Friend of Slough" to the aforesaid individual.

 

Whether Stokes or any councillor is worth his salary is irrelevant in helping our cause. We do need to be talking with them and hopefully there is some hope now of dialogue.

 

We must try to avoid displaying frustration and annoyance, which has so alienated us from (some) councillors. Not the easiest task given the crap we've had to put up with.

[Ted]

Quote:

Bernie Gogan said:
We must try to avoid displaying frustration and annoyance, which has so alienated us from (some) councillors. Not the easiest task given the crap we've had to put up with.

It is difficult to know how best to deal with the council at the moment, given that some sort of talks are likely to be taking place. Bear in mind what various people associated with previous talks are reported to have said in the past, and I wouldn't expect there to be much trust at present. Any lack of trust is exagerated by Cllr. Stokes's last response. At the full council meeting he definitely said that he had met a supporter in the High Street and put a proposal to them. 3 weeks later he denies saying it. I don't know whether he is a liar, or just very forgetful, but either way he cannot be trusted.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

whether he can be trusted or not it is him we need to deal with so we need to have some faith in him before he will have any in us. hopefully he cannot go back on his word now he has promised some talks in front of many other councillors.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Quote:

A Rebel and a Saint said:
whether he can be trusted or not it is him we need to deal with so we need to have some faith in him before he will have any in us. hopefully he cannot go back on his word now he has promised some talks in front of many other councillors.

No. He cannot be trusted further than he can be thrown as he regularly goes back on anything/everything he says!

[Roger Rebel]

There is another explanation it could be the onset of dementia he is 82.

[Guest]

Roger Rebel (take notice) re entries 917580 & 919220 relating to the power of words. Or get a book on how to win friends and influence people. All concerned with S.T.F.C.need to CONSULT not INSULT.Whatever has been said is history all parties should turn the page and go forward.I doubt if Dartford F.C. progressed by insulting people.

[Frankie100]

Maybe Dartford just have a forward thinking Council who care about the town. We know Thanet lot dont give two hoots about Margate Ramsgate or Broadstairs.

 

How long has this Stokes been a Councillor for?

Does he treat it like an occupation rather than a responsibilty to his town as councillors use to when they only received expenses.

[brighton_rebel]

I agree with building bridges, but i think Cllr Stokes makes it impossible sometimes.

Dartford are very, very lucky to have such a forward thinking council. Others like Brentford and Charlton got support from the council by putting on pressure - ie standing councillors in the local elections.

Personally, i think this is the way to go for now and that while Stokes is in charge he won't budge and instead muddy the waters. However, individual councillors who oppose the club being found a ground in Slough could also be approached by local electors at their surgeries.

What happened to the idea of a presentation evening?

[Barry Scott]

Quote:

Frankie100 said:
Maybe Dartford just have a forward thinking Council who care about the town. We know Thanet lot dont give two hoots about Margate Ramsgate or Broadstairs.

How long has this Stokes been a Councillor for?
Does he treat it like an occupation rather than a responsibilty to his town as councillors use to when they only received expenses.

well I know he hasn't been in the Labour party in 30 years since he flounced out in a huff over not getting the leadership - an event that was all my Grandad's fault.

[Guest]

We agree about building bridges. We must therefore find a way to turn what appears to be impossible to possible and then reality, a difficult task but one we must achieve.I agree with keeping pressure on the council with a positive slant but insults will only reap a negative response and continued failure

[Roger Rebel]

It was not an insult but an observation, you were not at the Council meeting like i was.

[Ted]

The Trust officials probably need to be a tad careful about what they say, but Roger is an individual who can say what he likes. I would pay Anonymous's post more respect if it came with a name---hopefully with one of someone who supports the club.

 

I too was at the meeting and heard, along with others, Stokes say that he had passed a message onto a supporter who he bumped into in the High Street. 3 weeks later he denied saying it. I really don't see why fans should pretend that something hasn't been said, when it clearly has been. If Stokes finds such things a problem then the answer is clear----don't deny saying something that you have said.

[Guest]

I hope you don't mind me adding my two-pennyworth to what should be very much a forum for Slough people but I was alerted to the fact that Dartford was getting a few mentions on your site.

 

Let me say first of all, that no two Councils are the same. I know Slough's position pretty well and I can tell you that the authority has been starved of cash for even its basic services and its Leaders are actually doing a remarkable job in steering the town forward. Sadly, the government has turned the screws on Council funding (probably to pay for all the Health & Safety, Human Rights and Political Correctness cobblers that we all face every day!) We were able to release a valuable land asset to fund our Stadium and few Councils can do that. Slough certainly can't and is doing remarkably well just to deliver its core circumstances given the hopelessly inadequate grant it gets from Westminster.

 

That doesn't mean your cause is hopeless and as I said in my very first statement that got picked up and published in your programme - "I happen to believe that Conservative led Councils can do these big projects better because they tend to have more courage and appropriate skills for the large visions. That has certainly been the case in my experience" I say that as someone who has absolutely no axe to grind politically in Slough and who doesn't know either the Tory or Labour Councillors.

 

The thing that has prompted me to write is your discussion about standing for election.

 

Some of you have been kind enough to applaud my common-sense and plain speaking on the subject of football stadiums as a means of regenerating a town so let me speak equally plainly about the suggestion that you might stand as candidates.

 

If Dartford Football Club, its supporters, or anyone connected to the club had responded to its traumatic time away from the town by standing in elections, I believe its credibility would have been shot to pieces and there is, in my view, not a SNOWBALL IN HELL'S chance that this Council would have EVER built the Stadium. Not Now. Not Ever. Not under Conservative Control. Not under Labour. You would (and it's only my opinion that you can dismiss or ignore at will) be setting back the cause of the club and damaging it irreparably.

 

What you need to do, just as Dartford FC did, is build a relationship built on respect and understanding with local Councillors. Invite them to matches, send them matchday programmes, invite them to present MOTM awards once in a while.

 

I can only speak for myself but if a Club tried to blackmail me by suggesting it might disrupt the balance of local politics by standing in an election, I would a) ignore it and never, ever forget it.

 

I understand that I have been quoted by a Labour Councillor in the Chamber at Slough in an attempt to embarrass Council leaders. I don't know why he felt he ought to do that but it's precisely the kind of stupid, yah-boo, simple-minded party-driven idiocy that stands in the way of Slough Football Club getting the cross-party help and support it needs. I can't tell you much he has got it wrong, wrong! WRONG and it makes me want to scream with frustration for you. Although I don't know any of them, I do feel great sympathy for the leading groups on Slough if this is the kind of daft comments they have to put up with.

 

Bringing you home needs diplomacy, partnership, goodwill and ... I'm sorry to say this... patience.

 

It DOESN'T need confrontation, threats, silly yah-boo politics and division. It CERTAINLY doesn't need any of you to be popping up on ballot papers making more enemies in just the place you need lots of friends. It's your democratic right to stand for election and I would defend that right to the death, but it doesn't make it sensible and it ain't free of consequences.

 

I'll close there, and I repeat again that I hope you don't mind me intruding on your forum. It's been interesting to read your discussion threads and I wish you nothing but good luck in your battle to come home. Just remember, as Dartford Football Club did, where your friends and helpers might be found.

 

best wishes.

 

jeremy Kite

Leader of Dartford Council

[Roger Rebel]

Jeremy have you been got at ie told to come on our site with this post,you know nothing about our Council i have been to meetings you have not. As our puting up candidates for election made them so worried that you were ask to come on here and sprout your tory garbage.