OPCC refers me to the Monitoring Officer

Well it's been a long time coming, I guess.

My blog and reports have been noted for plain speaking and none of the normal corporate fluff. Greens do things differently, I guess.

Yesterday, I was attending an excellent session on Mental Health Awareness at Ebley Mill. Actually, I thought it was for councillors and how one can identify metal health problems and help others. It wasn't, it was about you as an individual. Wow, I tick so many of those stress boxes!!

Rather foolishly, two thirds through, I checked my e-mail in one of the breaks only to discover that the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner have reported me to the County Council Monitoring Officer. :(

I momentarily contemplated the news and made my excuses then took a few minutes out. It made me realise the enormous stress that councillors have to deal with doing what we think best for the communities they represent. So, I picked myself up and went to check-in on two colleagues, in particular, who I'm certain needed a bit of a hug right now.

Needless to say this has all been very distracting re the preparation required for Audit & Standards Committee later this evening.

Here is a link to my report to Community Services & Licensing Committee that caused the offence at the OPCC.

Here's the e-mail from the OPCC CEO referring the matter to the Monitoring Officer.

And lastly here's my apology which I fired off as soon as I got home:-

Hi Ruth,

Wow. Firstly let me apologise for any offence and stress this has caused you. It was not my intent whatsoever.

Secondly, I copied you in so that you (and by extension the PCC) were aware that my question to the PCC, at the panel, was grounded in genuine concern in the community and their need to see accountability, not political shenanigans.

The reference to floundering were initiatives like PRAP, Better Together, PCSO football, Legitimacy Panel etc. etc. all are believed to have been driven through CC Hansen's leadership. CC Hansen seems well respected in these sections of the community. Some have told me that they feel the PCC/OPCC has, at best, de-prioritised these areas. Maybe I didn't articulate this background/context well enough? If so, for that I'm sorry for that(sp.).

You know me by now, I'm plain speaking and prefer to tell it how it is. But, it is a scrutiny panel, after all, and I'm elected to ask questions, convey what I learn by reporting back to my constituents in a way that's clear understandable. This is my role as a councillor.

Anyway, I guess, that I'll have to explain all this to the Monitoring Officer, which is OK, but I feel that a coffee and a chat would have been preferable.

Regards
Gareth