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Tory removes wife as head of planning

2:22pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

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BASILDON Council leader Malcolm Buckley has removed his wife as the chairman of planning, the Echo can reveal.

The decision to not reappoint Sylvia Buckley as chairman of the development control committee, which she has been for a number of years, follows criticism from opposition and Tory councillors about the over public perception of her position.

Council sources said officers have been informed she will no longer be in the role following tonight's annual meeting.

It is not clear who her replacement will be.

The sources said councillor Frank Tomlin will take over as council chairman from Geoff Buckenham and Tony Hedley, responsible for leisure, will leave the cabinet.

Labour councillor Paul Kirkman was the first to publicly critisise Mrs Buckley's position, claiming at a development control committee, the public believed Mr Buckley could influence decisions.

The Echo later revealed there was discontent within the Tory group over the issue. Mr Buckley refused to confirm any of the changes, aside from the fact he remains Tory leader.

He said: "If there have been any changes and it gets out before the meeting, it could damage us in terms of the way we run the authority. If people are putting out information, whether it is false or true, and they are the sources that I think they are, then they will suffer the consequences.

"If something appears in the paper before the meeting I have the power to change the appointments if necessary up to 30 seconds before the meeting."


Your Say YourEcho

Alan Ball, Wickford says...
4:45pm Thu 22 May 08

If she is 'Chairman on merit' as her husband ( Malcolm Buckley) said then she will stay as Chairman of the committee , if she is replaced then that will pose a question of why? Perhaps she should never have had the position.

The Council has only changed by one Councillor ,In Vange. Since the last round of appointments, so if it was the right appointment a year ago, it follows it should be now.

But if she is replaced then the cynics will wonder why and rightly so.

Many people have said one family should not hold two important positions anyway.

Your Call Malcolm!!

dave turner, says...
5:13pm Thu 22 May 08

Maybe he can't live without her by his side 24/7.

The Vicar, Basildon says...
6:24pm Thu 22 May 08

dave turner wrote:
Maybe he can't live without her by his side 24/7.
How romantic.

I hear her replacement will be controversial gypsy-baiter, Basil Brush.

Nigel, says...
8:59am Fri 23 May 08

This is a sensible decision. The Conservatives are well on course to win the parliamentary seat of Basildon, and cannot afford any unnecessary errors in the Council.

Walsingham, Basildon says...
10:05am Fri 23 May 08

Yes Nigel, very sensible to remove her as head of planning and then... Appoint her as Chair of the most powerful oversight committee, one intended to challenge the Cabinet that Malcolm Buckley leads.

People are rightly cynical about politics because of how politicians make it look - it's one thing for a husband and wife to be on the same council. It's something else entirely for the Leader of the Council to appoint his wife to lead the Committee intended to challenge him! How can anyone believe that one won't influence the other privately?!

Pauline, Basildon says...
10:23am Fri 23 May 08

I think his decision is something to do with the Basildon Golf Course planning decision and the fact another of their members Frank Tomlin stepped down earlier this week and aplogised to the Friends of Basildon Golf course. Mr & Mrs B should both be outed from the Council as they are not in tune with what the people of Basildon want and that is not having 120,000 cu.mtrs of rubble dumped on our beautiful golf course. Both the Buckley's are in favour of this attrocity.

Steve, Leigh says...
12:08pm Fri 23 May 08

All he has to do now is remove himself and job done!

Wickford resident, at home says...
4:15pm Fri 23 May 08

Basildon Council has too many husband and wife or same family councillors. We are not getting value for money (just look at the amount of money each household is getting.

Comments are closed on this article.

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