Chrisy Morris - Parking Tickets and Bailiffs.

[TheNewSaint]

I don't agree with most of Morris' opinions but I do admire him for actually engaging in the political system even if it is at the lowest level.

I'll second this. I give Chrisy credit for trying to enact change through proper channels, rather than Fisher-Price play courts. Having to work with other people, abide by conduct rules, and find consensus, could be a good lesson for him.

And if Chrisy does act like his usual obnoxious self, then it's a lesson for the voters about paying more attention to who they're voting for in local elections. Which I think most localities would benefit from.

[Burnaby49]

In other words a low cost, low risk civics lesson all round.

[grixit]

There was one small town in southern California where the council was concerned that the residents weren't paying attention to local affairs. So they passed a resolution to double their own salary. That produced a short burst of resentment, but as soon as it came out that, in fact, it was just a ploy because the salary was zero, apathy resumed.

[dannyno]

The results are in & he's in.

http://www.maldon.gov.uk/download/downl ... e_west.pdf

Well, he's got one of 6 seats in Heybridge West, not sure of the size of the electorate. With the main parties being abandoned nationwide, not a difficult thing to pull off.

This is not the full story. He stood for two different seats, one for the parish council as reported above, and another one for the district council.

He also got elected to the district council, which was an actual contested election. The results are here:

/https://www.maldon.gov.uk/download/down ... e_west.pdf

There were 3184 potential voters, turnout was 22.7%.

There were four candidates for two seats. The two independents won over the two Conservative party candidates, as has been the national trend.

[ArthurWankspittle]

First thing to be miffed about right there: returning officer put his name as Chrissy. His abbreviation has one S.
As others have said, going to be interesting to see how he deals with everyday realpolitik in the office.

[AnOwlCalledSage]

I don't agree with most of Morris' opinions but I do admire him for actually engaging in the political system even if it is at the lowest level.

I'll second this.

I'll third it. I have more respect for people who put themselves through the democratic process than people who whinge about no matter who they are or what party. It costs nothing to stand for a local council so if you don't like who you have there is no excuse.

However, on past behaviour, I'm anticipating Chrisy will have a few problems to contend with. First will be his declaration of interests which is a public document. Second will be sticking to the councillor code of conduct!

Maldon Councillor Code of Conduct
is worth a read. Before people get too excited you have to be acting on council business as a representative of the council to be under those rules.

Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other
material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.

Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Maldon's basic councillor allowance is £5,053.70 (including broadband allowance). That's about £4.80 per hour if you do an average 20 hours of council work a week (which is easy to exceed) and is taxable (including National Insurance). If you are on benefits it is taken away from your Universal Credit.

[rumpelstilzchen]

If Morris does read this thread I would like to congratulate him on his recent success.
Acknowledging the success of someone who you disagree with but has achieved that position in a legitimate way is the only course.
I do not agree with his stance but I will defend his right to hold that position.

[Chaos]

I foresee him punching someone as is his default. could be entertaining.

[TheNewSaint]

He also got elected to the district council, which was an actual contested election. The results are here:

/https://www.maldon.gov.uk/download/down ... e_west.pdf

There were 3184 potential voters, turnout was 22.7%.

There were four candidates for two seats. The two independents won over the two Conservative party candidates, as has been the national trend.

Wow, Chrissy claimed second place by only 6 votes over the first Conservative candidate.

[Gregg]

First thing to be miffed about right there: returning officer put his name as Chrissy. His abbreviation has one S.
As others have said, going to be interesting to see how he deals with everyday realpolitik in the office.

He'll try to use the supposed or actual authority of the office to do outlandish things. Abolish taxes, make the police were pink tights, demand petitions be sent to the Queen...whatever. He'll do a thousand things he or his office have absolutely no authority to do while they things he's actually responsible for doing will go undone or done bizarrely.

[longdog]

He'll try to use the supposed or actual authority of the office to do outlandish things. Abolish taxes, make the police were pink tights, demand petitions be sent to the Queen...whatever. He'll do a thousand things he or his office have absolutely no authority to do while they things he's actually responsible for doing will go undone or done bizarrely.

This is I suspect the most likely scenario assuming he ever actually gets on a committee at all. While a lot of independent and fringe councillors do sterling work on behalf of the people they represent, there's usually a small subset of of one or two who are a bit too bat-shit crazy to ever be allowed anywhere near a decision that means anything.

They sit up the back in the Billy No Mates seat for a few meetings and then stop attending at all or 'defect' to one of the other parties just so somebody will talk to them

[AnOwlCalledSage]

He'll try to use the supposed or actual authority of the office to do outlandish things.

There are pretty strong rules about ultra vires activities which will be clamped down on by the monitoring officer.

And attempting a "don't you know who I am?" with police is not advised. As a Councillor you will end up in really deep shite if you try it!

[longdog]

And attempting a "don't you know who I am?" with police is not advised. As a Councillor you will end up in really deep shite if you try it!

I've always thought 'Don't you know who I am?' is the absolute worst thing you can ever say to a cop. It's only going to end one of two ways.

1) They find out or worse, you tell them, how high and mighty you are and they make sure they give you a type of special treatment you weren't expecting or

2) They take you off to the booby-hatch on a section 136 because they think you have psychotic delusions of grandeur.

[Gregg]

He'll try to use the supposed or actual authority of the office to do outlandish things.

There are pretty strong rules about ultra vires activities which will be clamped down on by the monitoring officer.

And attempting a "don't you know who I am?" with police is not advised. As a Councillor you will end up in really deep shite if you try it!

So, I'd say the over/under on how long it is before he's in deep shite for doing so should be measured in hours. If he can get past a traffic stop without trying it, I'll bring Chili Dog to England to pay his fine for him, in person.

[ManontheClaphamBus]

Acknowledging the success of someone who you disagree with but has achieved that position in a legitimate way is the only course.

I agree with that and am surprised that anyone based in the US would comment disparagingly on the (as yet uncommitted) acts of a District Councillor in the UK, who will not bring his country into disrepute due to the small scale nature of the system he is operating within.

[NYGman]

I think it is admirable when someone who disagrees with something enough to run for office, in the hopes of changing it. This is a path open to almost anyone. The public had elected unqualified single issue candidates before, and we continue. It can be a protest vote, catchy name, order in the list, or a genuine vote that gets them there. However unless they fill up the government with them, they will likely not be that productive. they can draw attention to an issue, but in this case, I doubt that will be good attention.

Time will tell, but at least he is going about something the right way this time.

[He Who Knows]

Morris was in court in August pleading Not Guilty, and is due to appear again in Feb 2020.
https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co ... own-court/

[JimUk1]

Morris was in court in August pleading Not Guilty, and is due to appear again in Feb 2020.
https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co ... own-court/

If he’s found guilty (which I suspect he will given he posts all his grievances over YouTube and Facebook) he’ll probably be asked to resign from council. They have a code of conduct and in surprised he’s currently lasted this long.

For someone who has always bashed the council as been corrupt and full of criminals, he’s living up to it well.

Has he also taken his allowances for been a councillor? Looks like he has.

Don’t think he realises the hypocrisy.

[hucknallred]

It's probin' time
https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co ... ve-bosses/

[JimUk1]

It's probin' time
https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co ... ve-bosses/

I’m not surprised. Councillors are expected to behave themselves and act as a force for good In their community, so say the councillor code of conduct, Chrisy is a “gobshite” who’s in it for himself.