RBKC CABINET CULTURE CHANGE? IMPOSSIBLE?

This, from the Kensington Society, was sent to all councillors. Appropriately, it was sent out on Bastille Day. The letter raises historic questions. Kicking Nick Paget-Brown is all very well BUT..... ....the rot set in when Merrick Cockell became leader. For twelve long years Cockell, or Pooter as he is known to his very few friends, ran the Cabinet as if it were a Masonic lodge. Standing up to Pooter meant banishment to the nether regions. The fact that he was notably thick besides being deeply unpleasant was another major obstacle. The Dame believes change is not possible with the current Cabinet system in place; the KS and ALL residents associations need to campaign for two innovations: * Reversion to the Committee System to kill off the rotten current system * Encouragement of Independent candidates to stand at next year's election They might also think of putting up their own sponsored candidates....... The Dame and friends have identified nine candidates ready to stand on independent tickets. There are sitting councillors who are picking up £13,500 for doing bugger all. It may seem little but if you are doing little it's jolly nice!

Dear Members, The following letter was sent to all councillors on the 3rd July.  Elizabeth Campbell, a councillor since 2006 and a cabinet member since 2010, who returned from her sabbatical, was selected.  Where we hope that as the new leader she can as we stated “will not be to close doors but to open them; someone who can engage both with all sections of the local community”, this week she will select the cabinet. A few facts: RBKC has 18 wards, 14.5 are in Kensington, 3.5 in Chelsea (Brompton and Hans Town is split); There are 50 councillors.  10.5 in Chelsea and 39.5 in Kensington (if you split Brompton and Hans Town in half). Chelsea has 21% of borough’s councillors and Kensington has 79%.  The cabinet has 10 members; The current cabinet has 6 from Chelsea and 4 from Kensington; Chelsea has 60% of the cabinet.   South verses north. One councillor has been a ward councillor since 1964, several since the 1980s, many since the 1990s. We ask you to write urgently to your councillors, copy to the leader and request that the new leader takes this opportunity to establish a new beginning with cabinet members which can and will guarantee a genuine culture change and that the appointments be proportional to the borough. The Kensington Society 14 July 2017