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  • "Disparate minority groups can, numerically, collectively form the majority and "control" the council and its committees with united bums on seats voting power, but only if they come together in coalition as a united majority political group.
    They would have to agree policy and then direct highly paid paid officers to carry out such agreed policies.
    If they stand alone and remain as minority groups, a coalesced group of Independent/no-name councillors with no policy, could still form the majority and enjoy the higher rate salaries of Leader/Cabinet positions.
    Such a Group has allowed our Council to fail. In the absence of any political policy where , or who, provides the policies?
    The first job of the new Council is to get the Council working properly and ensure that all Councillors are properly and fully informed.
    From attending relevant meetings as a member of the public, it is clear to me the previous opposition parties and unaffiliated independent members have made the running in seeking reform of the Council's procedures, There has been sustained opposition for any change for years and only with external scrutiiny and spotlight have the gates been opened.
    From a recent letter issued by Ministers it seems that while (complacent?) leading Councillors are content that officers are now open to transparency and reform, independent external inspectors are not so convinced.
    Where in all of this are the future strategic policies and direction for our council?
    If we are not given any information, how on earth can we be expected to vote?
    Indeview - John Hudson"
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Pembrokeshire County Council Elections - 3rd May 2012

4:13pm Thursday 12th April 2012 in Andrew Lye Photograph of the Author By Andrew Lye

If you have read some of my other articles, you will see that I am a committed Liberal Democrat.

That said, I am not going to abuse the hospitality of the Western Telegraph and make some political rants that could be used by others to complain that the paper has breached its "independent" stance.

I was reading the list of nominations yesterday and I can see that there are 13 councillors already elected, as they have been returned unopposed. The same figure as last time. What a shame for democracy that 13 out of 60 seats are already filled!

There are just 4 nominations for the Liberal Democrats, 13 for Plaid Cymru and 18 for Labour.

There are 36 who call themselves Independent and 39 with no description at all, so its safe to assume they are independent as well.

The most obvious change from last time is the fact that there are 30 Conservative candidates. As many people invariably say that Independents are really Conservatives but afraid to show their true colours, the My 3rd elections are certainly going to be interesting.

Is it possible that the Independent Political Group could actually lose their majority this time round as its possible that the Conservatives could increase their number and thus deprive the IPG of the majority they've had alll these years.

So could there then be a ruling IPG/Conservative coalition?

Or could there be a Rainbow coalition of the other parties to deny the IPG of power.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, could we see some surprise on May 4th, once the results are known?

I look forward to seeing what the parties have to say in their manifestos. I understand the Conservative manifesto is to be launched today.

The big question is, will the Independents actually produce a manifesto?

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