Missing Councillors

**kwbrown111** · 30-Jun-06, 22:12

the bigman some of us do use our real names(do you)

**Pepsi** · 30-Jun-06, 23:35

Originally Posted by kwbrown111

Hi pepsi, i wasn't criticising you but i am still wondering why this important issue couldn't be postponed until all councillors were available. Just like to congratulate you on coming onto the Org with a response.

sorry strict code of conduct planning officer has to adhere to - it could be perceived as being corrupt. although I do sympathise. It

**Ann** · 01-Jul-06, 00:02

"Katrina MacNab here to defend myself regarding the flow of accusations - never been one to sit in silence."

Good on you Katrina; hope you had a good holiday; you deserve it.

**Margaret M.** · 01-Jul-06, 01:48

Originally Posted by DrSzin

I would like to congratulate Ms MacNab on her courageous and outspoken response, and on her many constructive suggestions. Some of the accusations made against her were utterly outrageous imo. Good on yer!

I totally agree. Kudos to those in public service -- the pay they get by no means makes it worthwhile. It has to be disheartening to hear/read some of the criticism whilst trying to do the best job possible. If anyone thinks he/she can do better, then a run for election is in order.

**Cattach** · 01-Jul-06, 08:21

Katrina McNab suggests a petition is started in Thurso shops to support ASDA - do Turkeys vote for Christmas?

Such

Originally Posted by Pepsi

hi not done this before so bear with me. Katrina MacNab here to defend myself regarding the flow of accusations - never been one to sit in silence.

We get the papers for a planning meeting usually on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the planning committee on a Monday. Although we know there is a planning meeting well in advance we have absolutely no idea what is coming up at the meeting until we get the papers. We do not see the detailed plans until the 15 minutes prior to the meeting. We are not allowed a proxy vote because we have to listen to the full arguement before we can make an informed decision based on the evidence and the debate that we have participated in.

When I went on holiday I had no idea that Asda was going to be coming up at that meeting.

I was flying home from my holidays on the day of the meeting. Yes I took my kids out of the school, but due to my husbands work commitments that was the only time we could go and whether you all agree or not I am entitled to a holiday and some quality time with my family. For clarification I paid for the holiday myself out of my salary I get for working, where incidentally I pay more tax than the so called 'wages' I get for being a counillor.

As you are aware the four councillors who agreed with the Asda have put forward along with 4 councillors from the PDET committee an appeal. I would suggest that it would be a good idea to inform the PDET Committee with a short, nice email your support for ASDA on the said location if you are so minded. I would also sugges that you may want to get as many people to do that as possible and the best time to do it would be the week before the meeting so there is a build up of community opinion at the time when they will be discussing it.

Someone may also want to organise to put petition forms in shops that are signed and have addresses of people who support ASDA in the said location. These could be forwarded to the Director of Planning a couple of weeks before the committee so they are also issued to the councillors sitting on PDET.

These are only suggestions.

Councillor Mowatt has also taken quite a slanging, in his defence I would like to say he is a damn good councillor and certainly fights the corner for Caithness. He has been consitstently voted back in by his ward even when he has had opposition.

People were considering going for councillor - I would say go for it, I did it because I was sick fed up that nothing was being done in Pulteney and Wick High. I have been involved in district heating system, Pulteneytown Regeneration Funding, Conservation Funding, Transfer of housing stock, All Weather pitch, upgrade of Rosebank Playing Fields and Airport House to name a few. It is a rewarding job and if it is for you go for it, or the local community council elections coming up. Young blood desperatley needed 'a mouth' is the only thing needed if I can do it anyone can do it.

The downside people think they 'own' you because you are paid 'tax payers money' even although I pay more tax than I get and work damn hard for less tax payers money than people who get tax payers money in the form of benefits and have never worked a day in their life.

They phone you morning, noon and night and expect you to drop everything, that you should know everything, and sort out some impossible situations.

You are rarely thanked, continually miscalled and always judged.

I hope this clears up a few matters, should anyone wish any further information please get in touch.

If anyone knows Mr Cannop they can maybe let him know when he sends a courteous email I will send a courtees reply.

**Cattach** · 01-Jul-06, 08:56

Since a petition in shops in Thurso is hardly a great suggestion can you say how we contact the PDET and exactly who/what is/are this group. Incidently Katrina are you for the ASDA development and if here for the vote how would you have voted? Afterall the councillors who voted against cited local plan but actually voted against the local plan in the Tesco case!

**willowbankbear** · 01-Jul-06, 09:06

Leave the girl alone cattach, why attach the blame to her?? She is a very good councillor for her ward ie-Pulteneytown. Stop blaming her for Thurso`s shortcomings, Im sick of it, the woman had a very well earned hol with her hubby, Whats wrong with that? exactly NOTHING, He works on the rigs & ye cant pick & choose yer time off there. Rantover for now

**Moby** · 01-Jul-06, 09:09

The local plan for the Tesco in Wick actually stated that the land was "disused land" "allocated for airport use" with " very few residential neighbours" . Permission was granted for the Tesco development as "the land is surplus to airport requirement". This land was not amenity land as is the ASDA site.

**webmannie** · 01-Jul-06, 10:05

Amenity Land?

It was tenanted farmland, which the owners (Thurso Bay Trading Co Ltd) decided could be a money earner for them. They ousted the tenant and whacked in a planning application for a Hotel on the land opposite the Pennyland Service Station. They failed, then decided to get in tow with Tullochs as they had significantly more experience on planning matters.
Oh and they opened up a field for peoples horses to back up the amenity land claim.

There is a grand scheme to all of this, I don't particularly care about the strip of land along to the Business Park, they can do what they like with it, stick a row of windmills if they want.

However, I will object strongly to anything along the Victoria Walk! Your Thoughts?

**gleeber** · 01-Jul-06, 10:13

Fair play to Katrina for coming on here to defend her percieved shortcomings.
What really interests me though is what does she think about religion, or science, or the naked rambler or cats?

**Cattach** · 01-Jul-06, 10:26

The point remains the Councillors did not vote consistently and logically as in both cases the local plan did not 'Recommend' retail activity. I fully backed the Tesco and other Wick developments as being good for the county and feel the same about ASDA.
Regarding objections to both this development and the earlier hotel development the main objectors were those people who bought Dounreay house at knock down prices. One objector lives there on a fixed term contract and will be moving in the not too distant future, other objectors, I an told, have enlisted relatives outwith the county and also there appears to be multiple objections from members of the same household - let the 'kid's' have an objection! It is futher said in Thurso that one of the voting councillors is selling a property overlooking the site - not an accusation just the reporting of a rumour!!

Originally Posted by Moby

The local plan for the Tesco in Wick actually stated that the land was "disused land" "allocated for airport use" with " very few residential neighbours" . Permission was granted for the Tesco development as "the land is surplus to airport requirement". This land was not amenity land as is the ASDA site.

**cuddlepop** · 01-Jul-06, 11:30

Ms MacNab is a credit to her community that she serves.You guys have no idea how lucky you are to have a councillor that will stand up for herselve.
Far too many appear to be doing the job for the prestige it gives them .
Come and life here for a while and you'll see what i mean.

**JimH** · 01-Jul-06, 11:42

It is good of you to have posted a reply to the various bits of flak, that have been flying around against various people. It's a fact of public life that you will get shot at some time. However, I'm sure that you understand that the majority of people understood that ASDA was a done deal, and were completely taken aback when the application was refused. OK, what's done is done, now we need to put it right and I believe that the process has already started. If you or Niall or anybody else in the know would be good enough to let us minions know what we have to do - then I am sure that it will be done. It will give us the opportunity to put our actions were our mouths are.

**Pepsi** · 01-Jul-06, 17:46

yes I will do I am not on Planning Committee but will get you names and contacts and you need to let them know your thoughts. Get it to you on Monday.

Cheers

**Loch not Lock** · 02-Jul-06, 07:18

I would like to applaud Mrs.MacNab for replying on here but would like to stress that I do not agree with her. Could Mr.Mowat do likewise and explain his absence from the vote.

**Cattach** · 02-Jul-06, 09:38

If you read me postings properly you will see I did noyt criticise Mrs Mcnab. Far from it! I actually asked how to protest to the PDET or whatever, asked her views and pointed out that putting a petition in the Thurso shops was hardly an alternative. As I said do Turkeys vote for Christmas. I think Katrina McNab is a good representative. Regrading holidays and husbands work I past no comment. Before you rant read all the postings carefully!!

Originally Posted by willowbankbear

Leave the girl alone cattach, why attach the blame to her?? She is a very good councillor for her ward ie-Pulteneytown. Stop blaming her for Thurso`s shortcomings, Im sick of it, the woman had a very well earned hol with her hubby, Whats wrong with that? exactly NOTHING, He works on the rigs & ye cant pick & choose yer time off there. Rantover for now

**Loch not Lock** · 02-Jul-06, 16:34

Anybody spotted Willie Mowat??????????????????????????????????????

**ywindy** · 02-Jul-06, 21:30

Originally Posted by Pepsi

hi not done this before so bear with me. Katrina MacNab here to defend myself regarding the flow of accusations - never been one to sit in silence.

We get the papers for a planning meeting usually on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the planning committee on a Monday. Although we know there is a planning meeting well in advance we have absolutely no idea what is coming up at the meeting until we get the papers. We do not see the detailed plans until the 15 minutes prior to the meeting. We are not allowed a proxy vote because we have to listen to the full arguement before we can make an informed decision based on the evidence and the debate that we have participated in.

When I went on holiday I had no idea that Asda was going to be coming up at that meeting.

I was flying home from my holidays on the day of the meeting. Yes I took my kids out of the school, but due to my husbands work commitments that was the only time we could go and whether you all agree or not I am entitled to a holiday and some quality time with my family. For clarification I paid for the holiday myself out of my salary I get for working, where incidentally I pay more tax than the so called 'wages' I get for being a counillor.

As you are aware the four councillors who agreed with the Asda have put forward along with 4 councillors from the PDET committee an appeal. I would suggest that it would be a good idea to inform the PDET Committee with a short, nice email your support for ASDA on the said location if you are so minded. I would also sugges that you may want to get as many people to do that as possible and the best time to do it would be the week before the meeting so there is a build up of community opinion at the time when they will be discussing it.

Someone may also want to organise to put petition forms in shops that are signed and have addresses of people who support ASDA in the said location. These could be forwarded to the Director of Planning a couple of weeks before the committee so they are also issued to the councillors sitting on PDET.

These are only suggestions.

Councillor Mowatt has also taken quite a slanging, in his defence I would like to say he is a damn good councillor and certainly fights the corner for Caithness. He has been consitstently voted back in by his ward even when he has had opposition.

People were considering going for councillor - I would say go for it, I did it because I was sick fed up that nothing was being done in Pulteney and Wick High. I have been involved in district heating system, Pulteneytown Regeneration Funding, Conservation Funding, Transfer of housing stock, All Weather pitch, upgrade of Rosebank Playing Fields and Airport House to name a few. It is a rewarding job and if it is for you go for it, or the local community council elections coming up. Young blood desperatley needed 'a mouth' is the only thing needed if I can do it anyone can do it.

The downside people think they 'own' you because you are paid 'tax payers money' even although I pay more tax than I get and work damn hard for less tax payers money than people who get tax payers money in the form of benefits and have never worked a day in their life.

They phone you morning, noon and night and expect you to drop everything, that you should know everything, and sort out some impossible situations.

You are rarely thanked, continually miscalled and always judged.

I hope this clears up a few matters, should anyone wish any further information please get in touch.

.

Just caught up with this thread.
I have no strong views on ASDA although I can sympathise with local residents who believed that the LOCAL PLAN in force would safeguard their immediate environment unless there was an overwhelming public need.

I have read the thread through and commend Councillor MacNab on standing up to be counted, although it seems fairly clear that Cllr MacNab supports ASDA in Thurso.

Councillor Macnab could not attend the ASDA hearing for good reason.

BUT! What good reason did Cllr Macnab have for not attending the Lieurary Windfarm and Stroupster Windfarm hearings?

And where was Cllr Mowat on those days?

Stuart Young

**Pepsi** · 02-Jul-06, 22:50

[quote=ywindy]Just caught up with this thread.
BUT! What good reason did Cllr Macnab have for not attending the Lieurary Windfarm and Stroupster Windfarm hearings?

Yes Stuart you are right I never attended either meeting through choice.

A very close member of my family has his own business and over the last 10 years a large proportion of his contracts has been related to windmills throughout Scotland.

Because of the controvery I took the decision not to get involved as I personally felt it was not appropriate.

**JAWS** · 03-Jul-06, 05:18

Pepsi, good on you for being brave enough to have put yourself in the firing line, not many people would have been willing to do so.

As for you not attending the Lieurary Windfarm Meeting your explanation should, I think, satisfy most people as being not only reasonable but also the decent thing to do.
Had you gone to the Meeting you could well have been put in a position whereby an accusation of "Conflict of Interest" could have been made.

If only more people were willing, from time to time, to come forward and provide such simple explanations it would prevent so many misunderstandings or misinterpretations about the actions of those in Public Positions.