“@Chris - I've seen, first hand, the day to day obligations of a long running labour councillor. His commitments went well beyond the normal remit expected from him and he switched to working night shifts to accommodate his additional workload. His phone never stopped ringing it seemed whenever I paid a visit. I will, however, concede that there are some councillors who are undoubtedly self-serving.”

“Although these EXCLUSIVE events should never have been organised in the first place, hats off to the guys for making a stand, especially over the dinner (though perhaps they know something about the caterers the other councillors don't! And I'm sure it's not opportunistic electioneering...).

Let's face it, the centenary celebrations have been a fiasco. Where's the list of events? How socially inclusive are they? How much have they cost in total? I get the feeling there's been some twiddling of thumbs in that gold-keyed ivory tower and there's been a significant amount of our cash ****** up the wall, self-indulgently, on "events" which openly exclude the people the Stoke-on-Trent: the Centenary Dinner, a huge painting in The Council Chamber or the lack of a public vote on the "Citizen of The Century" are prime examples here; or events which are FAR TOO parochial and don't reach out to the rest of Britain: the terminal local history events spring to mind. At best, one BIG FAT WASTED opportunity. At worst, an insight into the true feelings and motivations of councillors and council officers towards the people and City of Stoke-on-Trent.

The Centenary Dinner, in particular, smacks of a feudal banquet funded by the levies imposed on the surfs; barons and "the elite" ripping and chewing on meats and other gastronomic delights whilst the surfs themselves claw at the, security laden, iron doors outside. Or perhaps a mirrored analogy of Orwell's Animal Farm; in this case it's the point at which humans turn to animals.

The sad fact is that the perception of councillors and officers as individuals merely out for their own ends will strengthen further as a result of such "celebrations"”

“Was it a surprise, receiving an umbrella? The 5" worthies ", who quite rightly rejected, yet another example of, wanton waste and questionable taste articles, that were representative of nothing. Seemed to be surprised, why? Does one hand not know what the other is doing, as we suspect? Surely the purchase was discussed, ? Did everybody attend the meeting when it was proposed? was it voted on? what else is being proposed behind the backs of SOME of our "worthies" How democratic are the decisions being made supposedly on our behalf? We know that we are not going to get a referendum on everything that is proposed, that is why we have representatives, whose opinions we, supposedly, can rely on to be representative of the people that placed them in their lucrative positions. IT is apparent from the fiascos occurring almost daily that, many are representative of themselves, and others are in the dark about the decisions that are being made
Time for a clean sweep, lets try and find someone we can rely on, to represent us.”

“Mark were you in Newcastle that would be true, however in the City the meetings are held in the day, the Councillors park on Kingsway in thier special enclosure free of course, and then proceed to the members room for pre meeting jitters in some cases if they have bothered to check what the meeting is about given the immense logs of trees the City wastes producing minutes, items etc. that end up not re cycled in most cases. spare copies being produced if they forget theirs.

So no Mark they are like the rest of us parked in front of telly watching the soaps, unless of course theres the odd expense form to generate some more fre dosh.”

“@Richie - you must be seriously 'boiled in the head' if you think seven hundred quid will eradicate the city's pothole problem.

@Bert - I'm laughing so much I spilled my beverage.

@Paul - you are obviously clueless about the thankless, incessant hard work these (as you call them) 'parasitic city fathers' actually do. While you are lounging on your sofa watching your evening soap, picking at your teeth after a decent supper (prepared by your very own housewife), these 'parasites' are managing the affairs of our city - many of them already burdened with full-time jobs and families to consider.

@Fred & Eddie - blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

Perhaps you should all step up and have a go at this council 'milarky' yourselves since you are all so deeply disgruntled.”

“The only thing the council should be eating is humble pie........cutting tea and biscuits for visitors to save money.....telling cleaners to cut down on cleaning products to save money..........Job losses to save money.............SO, Tell us mr & mrs counilors where are you saving us our money?
As it is public money you choose to spend on this lavished dinner I think we the people that has paid for it therefore should be the ones attending........SHAME ON YOU ALL you are no better than all the MP's and roll on the elections as we the people will be glad to see the back of you all.”

“Interesting how the sentinel has an article criticle of spending £750 but not criticl of spending £25,000 on some posh nosh which they are supporting and no doubt the editor of the Sentinel will be there filling his face with all the other leeches who will be benefitting at our expense”

“i bet they will be on ebay soon!!! watch this space.Carnt they use the money on pot holes??? finishing the roads that theyve already started?? the list does go on but i must cut it short as the blood in my veins is starting to boil ;o)
rant over by a fella in Knutton”

“It's about time they starting raining in the spend.”

“It's a cover up!”