Dear Gazette 

 

In last week’s Gazette reader Chris Kitcher (Cabinet ought to be smaller) gave two good examples of why Tendring District Council’s cabinet should be reduced in size from its current 10 members. It seems that at least two portfolio holders have not been as effective as they might have been recently in representing and championing the needs of the district. 

 

But as expected, at the cabinet meeting on 14 December ‘ the Town Hall turkeys did not vote for Christmas’ so for now the current 9 portfolio holders will remain taking £10,494 per annum (in addition to the £4,962 which all councillors receive) until the leader of the Council, Neil Stock, decides the time is right. 

 

Having sat through five full council meetings since I was elected for the first time in May of this year, it is difficult to be convinced of the value of some of the cabinet members when the vast majority sit silently through most of the meetings. A regular agenda item…… cabinet members’ statement …… is usually followed by an eerie silence…. while I wait expectantly to hear what they have been doing for their money…… At the last council meeting two important questions about the district's Leisure facilities (submitted 7 days in advance as the constitution states) to Cllr Stephen Mayzes were not answered but referred to an officer to answer in writing. Did the portfolio holder not know the answer? Does he not make very important decisions based on his knowledge of his portfolio? 

 

Perhaps I just expect too much, but to put this into context a person on the minimum wage of £6.08 per hour would have to work approx 37 hours a week to earn £10,494 per annum……. Are the people of Tendring getting value for their money? I think not. 

 

If the Chief Executive of the Council, Ian Davidson, thinks he can now run the council with 5 heads of department, why can’t the leader of the council do the same and reduce the number of portfolio holders to a maximum of 5, resulting in a annual saving of approx £42k? 

 

Or dare I suggest – he should be more radical - as his powers allow - and put together a cabinet not based on numbers but effectiveness and ability to do the job in hand. 

 

Cllr Irene Tracey 

Tendring First, St Marys Ward, Clacton