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Councillor cleared after swearing at resident
A CROXLEY Green parish councillor has been cleared of wrong-doing after sending an abusive email to a resident.
In an email seen by the Gazette, sent on March 19 this year, Councillor Mark Saxon wrote 'f**k off you sad git' to Robert Ridley, of Scots Hill, Croxley Green.
Mr Ridley, an ex-parish councillor who resigned in March 2005, says he repeatedly tried to contact Croxley Green Parish Council (CGPC) to request a notice about local blood donor sessions be put on its website.
The 53-year-old hairdresser said: "Blood donation is a matter of life and death and I just don't understand why the CGPC would refuse to put that information on its website.
"I understand that Mr Saxon is a blood donor himself so I was appalled at his vile response."
After receiving the email, Mr Ridley lodged a complaint with the Standards Committee at Three Rivers District Council, which is responsible for maintaining high standards of conduct by district and parish councillors. An investigation was duly launched.
But Chairman of CGPC, Marion Birch, argued Mr Ridley is a 'habitual and vexatious complainant' who has been placed on the parish council's 'awareness register' and told his emails and telephone calls will no longer be accepted.
He has also been banned from entering the parish council premises and may only communicate with Mrs Birch via mail posted to her home address.
Mrs Birch said: "Robert Ridley is obsessed by the perceived shortcomings of our parish council which is demonstrated by a very large file of correspondence from him.
"He is on our awareness list after years of harassment and intimidation. We have a duty of care to protect our staff and had to take these steps to reduce stress in the workplace."
She said of the email, which was sent via Mr Saxon's personal address, listed in the contact details on the CGPC website: "Councillors do publish their personal email addresses to enable residents to make contact but that does not infer that all messages sent from those accounts are official council statements."
The findings of the investigation were heard at a Standards Committee Meeting on Tuesday last week (27) at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, where members decided Mr Saxon, of Frankland Road, Croxley Green, was not in breach of his role.
Mr Ridley, said of the decision: "I don't deny I am a thorn in the side of the parish council but it is pathetic they won't respond to my emails or take action, especially when it could help save lives through blood donations.
"No wonder people have lost faith in the political system in this country. I may consider taking this to appeal."
Mrs Birch hailed the decision as 'a victory for common sense'. She added: "We are delighted by the news.
"The taxpayer has to foot the bill every time there is an inquiry of this nature and it's a shame it had to come to this."
When the Gazette contacted Mr Saxon this week he declined to comment.
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So CGPC which is funded by the taxpayers were requested to post blood donor sessions and didn't, why?
Maybe Mr Ridley was right, as an ex councillor he might understand what they do wrong, lots of parish councillors have never run businesses. If has reported parish councillor Saxon is a blood donor and he resisted posting blood donor sesions, then in my opinion he is a disgrace, no matter what the verdict was and I wouldn't want him representing me!. I noticed that he didn't refute it. He also declined to comment. I checked out their website and parish councillors post their personal email addresses, except some who are via Three Rivers District Council, are those parish councillors also district councillors and why didn't they suggest having parish councillors email addresses via the parish website.
Original email sent and you know saxons reply.
-original message-
Subject: Stop pretending, you don't bloody care!
From: Family Ridley
Date: 19/03/2010 5:00 pm
Croxley cllrs.
Why hassnâÂÂt it been posted as of one minute ago?
Last year the Blood Transfusion Service phoned me on Nov 6th to enquire would I be attending the Nov 16th session at All Saints Church. After informing them I would, I told them to contact your clerk D Allison and request that the council publish the forthcoming session dates on your events web page, which hopefully might attract more donors and would be free and community minded. Instead of just posting them, which would be the sensible and public minded option, the clerk requested by return email that unless they informed him via a FOI request, who had told them to contact him, he might not.
Mr I Hamerton from the BTS phoned me on Nov 13th and requested me to allow them to comply, [with what in my opinion was completely the wrong attitude from the clerk, as I thought that saving lives was of paramount importance] which I granted and he sent me the email he had sent to the clerk. (email below included below]
Sent: 11 November 2009 10:03
To: info@croxleygreen-pc.gov.uk
Subject: FW: GENERAL QUERY - 0006503164
Dear Mr Allison
We would be delighted if you were able to display upcoming blood donation sessions on your website for us. I have listed the sessions below for the remainder of this year and next.
RICKMANSWORTH, ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL
THE GREEN,
CROXLEY GREEN,
RICKMANSWORTH,
HERTS.
WD3 3HJ
Date Time
Monday, November 16, 2009 12:45 to 15:30 and 17:00 to 19:30
Monday, March 22, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 17:00 to 19:00
Monday, July 5, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 17:00 to 19:00
Monday, October 11, 2010 13:00 to 15:30 and 17:00 to 19:00
Information correct as of Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thank you for your support of the National Blood Service."
After various emails with the chairman cllr Birch and Brading etc, which they are in possession of, a forthcoming session was eventually posted in late Dec. A total disgrace in my opinion. Do any of you give blood and if you do you should be ashamed. Will any of you table an agenda item for an enquiry and ask for all emails to be presented to council?
I immediately contacted kings Langley Parish Council and their clerk Mr P Dunham, to find out how other PCs react. He informed that they didnâÂÂt at that time post blood donor sessions, but considered it a fantastic idea to put the information on the their website and into the public domain. Posted within four days. Go to the KLPC web page and you will see that all this years sessions are listed. Go to ALPC website, click on calendar, then diary dates, a whole page of events and where they take place is posted including two blood donor sessions. One for March 23rd and the next for May 18th. Click on the box and you are taken via a link to the BTS web page, which your clerk could have done, as when he was interviewed he stated that he was something of a wizard with a computer, so it shouldnâÂÂt have been beyond him?
In the December issue of My Croxley on page 12 the chairman cllr Birch stated that information re associations etc would be published on the web page, including blood donor sessions. As the BTS sent the clerk all the blood donor sessions until the end of 2011, why hasnâÂÂt he posted any, yet has the revels on June 19th, the only event for the forthcoming three months posted? Do you as cllrs really take the councils sense of community pride and responsibility seriously? Why then as of todayâÂÂs date has the clerk not published forthcoming sessions?
That is why I proposed last year that as a FCM agenda item, you as cllrs should look at your own website and compare it with other local PCs. I now understand why you donâÂÂt!
In my opinion the lack of action by both the clerk and chairman and other cllrs has bought the parish council into disrepute. Especially as in the Dec issue of MC on page 5. There was a celebration of Patricia Foster for donating 75 pints of blood.
The BTS slogan is â Do something amazing, Give BloodâÂÂ
Should you as cllrs and the clerk, do something amazing and resign!
Then again so many statements on your website arenâÂÂt correct!
Why hasnâÂÂt the 2010/11precept been posted?
Why arenâÂÂt supporting papers posted?
R J Ridley
Have read the email you sent, seems a simple request and checked that other parish councils named by you do in fact list blood donor sessions and they do.
Why don't Croxley Green Parish Council have councillors email addresses via their own website?
Cllr Birch states I'm Vexatious etc, maybe she will inform residents why she ignored emails below as did the clerk, which might have improved the admin and running of the parish council? Sent on Nov 25th and 30th 09
CGPCs.
Why haven't any of you suggested implementing this system at the parish office? The system used can do this function, cant it? it would free up your own email system and allow all PCs to be contacted. In fact why hasn't the clerk proposed it?
R J Ridley
========================================
Message Received: Nov 25 2009, 06:37 PM
From: "Cllr John Wyatt"
To: "Family Ridley"
Cc:
Subject: Re: ALPC email system.
Good evening Mr Ridley
Yes the system works well, we can use it independently of the council offices and yes its password protected. I use this system totaly independently of my personal system.
I personaly only get an average of one emaiI a month.
If you would like better information you should have a word with Tim Perkins our clerk he set the whole system up.
Hope this has been of some help
John Wyatt
2009/11/25 Family Ridley
Dear Cllr John Wyatt.
I live in Croxley Green and the parish council have started their own website.
IâÂÂm asking if having your own email account via ALPC works, do you all retain your own personal password and can you access it from your own pc, so no need to enter your pc offices? Therefore releasing and stopping your own personal email becoming choked up?
What number on average of emails from residents would you say you receive on a monthly basis. I also approve of cllrs photos being included so that those who stand for election are therefore recognised.
I would appreciate your input on this issue as I intend to present to CGPC that they adopt the system used at ALPC.
Yours sincerely
R J Ridley.
To the clerk, I request and would like to make representation at the Dec 2009 F/A committee meeting on the following items and expect them to be included as agenda item, to allow cllrs to discuss and what actions if necessary should be taken?
If not put onto the Dec F/A by the clerk and the chairman, I request these proposals to be put onto the Dec FCM agenda, to be discussed by council and also I will make representation in accordance with Standing Order [d] and [e].
Council to have a monthly update as an agenda item on the Village Hall
Council to create an email address for all cllrs.
Council to purchase an additional laptop/PC.
Council to include on the website, photos of current cllrs.
Comparison website and website update.
CRB checks on council staff
Agendas and minutes on website.
Breach of Standing orders.
ãÂÂ
R J Ridley
If what you have posted is correct, then I can understand your frustration. So you requested that they create alternative email addresses, why?
Because it was logical, however CGPC ignore logic and stumble on, maybe it's because 95% have never run a business!
This is the attachment I sent on Nov 30th, which I allege the clerk, cllr Birch and the council ignored.
Public Representation.
To the clerk, I request and would like to make representation at the Dec 2009 F/A committee meeting on the following items and expect them to be included as agenda item, to allow cllrs to discuss and what actions if necessary should be taken?
If not put onto the Dec F/A by the clerk and the chairman, I request these proposals to be put onto the Dec FCM agenda, to be discussed by council and also I will make representation in accordance with Standing Order [d] and [e].
Council to have a monthly update as an agenda item on the Village Hall
As council have decided without obtaining alternative quotes [I.e. The Royal British Legion in Watford Rd or any of the church halls or other venues for hire] to create a village hall within the community centre, at an annual cost of ã9.1k and a first year cost of possibly ã20k, that a monthly report is given as an agenda item stating any increase of residents applying for or having been successful in applying to become members of the facility, also a monthly report of which associations etc have used the hall?
Also to be put forward from the Community Association details of their last three years annual membership, prior to the parish council funding them.
Council to create an email address for all cllrs.
As the council now have a website, an email address could be created for all cllrs so that it frees up their personal home email address,
I.e. cllr c.vassiliou. info@croxleygreen-pc.gov.uk . All cllrs to have their own personal password and it would also allow cllrs to read from their own PCs any emails received? On your website six cllrs have no email address, to my knowledge four Brand, Jefford, Seely and Vassiliou havenâÂÂt got a PC and the chair and vice chair of the P/D havenâÂÂt registered theirs, as they are the representatives on the F/A committee, defies logic. If all six decide not to allow themselves to be contacted by email by residents, in my opinion they should consider their position, as reading emails isnâÂÂt rocket science?
I believe that this should not involve any additional charge for the council? [as informed by ALPC]. Also all cllrs should be provided with the email password for the parish council email system, so that they can read as is their legal right any documents related to the workings of the council, stored on the parish councils compute system!
Note. ALPC/TRDC already do this, in relation to email addresses.
Council to purchase an additional laptop/PC.
Council to give consideration as a F/A budget proposal, to purchase an additional laptop or PC which could be used by cllrs who donâÂÂt have a PC attending the parish offices on a hot desk situation [within the chamber if necessary or if either the clerk or assistant isnâÂÂt working they can use the PCs currently in the office] to read any emails sent by residents, also enabling those without a personal system the ability to research if they so chose anything relating to parish council business.
Note. ALPC already do this and also allow residents access to their spare PC to research local government websites and all other website access is denied to them!
Council to include on the website, photos of current cllrs.
If all cllrs photos were included under cllrs contact details, it would enable residents to actually see and recognise the cllrs who represent them on the council.
Note. ALPC/TRDC do this already, consideration should be given on the next edition of the pump to include photos on the back page as a reference for those residents without a PC? Also it should be noted if any cllrs are on the council under any political banner [as I believe Brading/Dann/Seabourne stood on a Lib/Dem ticket?]
Comparison website and website update.
Council to have a monthly agenda item to note any additional items that the clerk has added to the CGPC website and also a quarterly agenda item which would show by projector [as with the budget presentation] the other parish councils websites within the TRDC district, so that if in any cllrs opinion there are better presentational aspects of those alternative websites, how best to incorporate them [or plagiarise] onto CGPC website. It would also allow those cllrs without a PC who want to possibly use an additional laptop/PC [if purchased] the ability to understand what is being posted.
CRB checks on council staff.
As the council have undertaken to assist with gardening clubs within the certain schools within CG, have CRB checks been undertaken on all staff, should it be statutory for all staff to have a CRB check, as the rangers site visit the schools and children who participate at the Junior Council attend the offices. Also should the clerk ensure that any teachers or others attending JC meetings at the parish offices, sign a register of attendance? If staff havenâÂÂt had CRB checks, should JC meetings and school site visits by the rangers be suspended until CRB checks have been undertaken?
Agendas and minutes on website.
Council to create a sub committee who can oversee the agendas/minutes posted on the website. Why havenâÂÂt all previous agendas/minutes been published since 2004? FCM minutes start with Oct 2007, with no agenda posted for that meeting, then the next minuted meeting is March 2008, what happened in-between?
E/A agendas start June 2008, Minutes June 2008.
P/D agendas start Jan 2009, Minutes Jan 2009
F/A agendas start June2008, Minutes June 2008
FCM agendas start June 2008 Minutes Oct 2007
ECM Just one, no mention of the agenda relating to spending the Village Hall where ã20k was proposed to give to the CA, to create the VH. No agenda, no minutes.
Breach of Standing Orders.
Cllrs to discuss whether the council have breached any SOs, I.e. in the case of the council giving ã9.1k on an annual basis to create a Village Hall, [when four companies were contacted to provide the delivery of the pump at a cost of ã425x2pa] the deliverance of the pump and full council not having the possibility to discuss the report regarding the CTS. Whether Standing Orders were observed and if not and any other concerns might be raised by cllrs, what action should be taken.
R J Ridley
I cannot see why Mr Alison did not post it on the web site.. As a man reprisenting the public you would assume he would welcome ideas that would benifit the public. especially as he was contacted direct from the NHSBTS. I think its a total Discrace.
Reading the above, it seems to me the Parish council have some sort of Vendetta againts Mr Ridley, because all he seems to be doing is bringing good ideas and making suggestions to make the council more professional and not amateur as they appear now. I say put him back on the Council.
Birch states I,m obsessed, because i allege they waste money. They spent ã29k on a 5 seater air conditioned landrover when replacing their old one and could have purchased a similar vehicle for ã16k, after all it's Croxley Green not the Serengeti. They agreed to be sub contractors for TRDC to cut the green and empty the bins for nothing, when the cnntract could have been worth ã40kpa? yet the cost of employing two rangers, admin staff and running plant etc was never put before council. All I see are cllrs putting up their hands and voting our money away.
What would you do if you thought they were wasting your money?
If what you have stated is corect, what are the councillors there doing?
That's the question, they also voted for boots for their rangers at ã72&ã115 when TRDC supply steel toe health & safety approved boots for ã20. When Saxon was chairman he and the clerk without council approval spent ã400 on business cards to create a coporate image. i could have got them done for ã100 with profit for the printer and as I objected to them when I rejoined the council, the practice stopped. I also instigated that the council install water butts at the offices and had the guttering at their depot which backs onto the allotments reversed so that they could use the rainwater instead of paying premium price, I also attemted to get CGPC to pay for water butts at the six churches as they have large roof areas, Saxon opposed it as did others initially.
You have made allegations, can you back them up?
Contact the clerk and birch and ask them also ask Saxon if when his brother was the clerk did he sign either as first or second signaturie a rescinding resolution that CGPC overturn the pay rise and give his BROTHER who was the clerk a higher rise than awarded?
Maybe birch and brading will explain why they ignored this email sent to them on Nov 6th 09.
Cllrs.
The next NHS blood transfusion session is on Nov 16th at 12:25-15:30; 17:00-19:30;
At ALL SAINTS CHURCH HALL CROXLEY GREEN.
Should this be included onto your web page along with future dates and any other relevant blood donor information, also future dates could be included in an article in the pump!
You might not want to save money, but how about saving lives?
Also the dates could be put into the media,
R J Ridley,
Are you stating you sent the above to the chairman and Councillor Brading. who according to his listed email address is not only a parish councillor but a district councillor also. If that is correct, then both should consider their positions and possibly resign. If they had acted then councillor Saxon might have not replied in his manner, especially when you consider you had asked them both and the clerk to create alternative email addresses for all parish councillors. It appers to just get worse for the parish council every time you leave a comment.
This is the comment by birch from the article.
Mrs Birch hailed the decision as 'a victory for common sense'. She added: "We are delighted by the news.
"The taxpayer has to foot the bill every time there is an inquiry of this nature and it's a shame it had to come to this."
As only 4% of the population give blood and in an effort to publicise sessions which are ignored and then getting abused.
The findings of the Standards Committee are that CGPC create alternative email addresses for all parish councillors, which is what I suggested 8 months ago. Also when replying not to be abusive and that saxon should go on a course so that it never happens again.
So common sense isn't listing blood donor sessions even when requested by the NHS and a resident, therefore should whatever the cost of the enquiry be laid at the feet of birch, brading and the clerk.
I agree with the comment from Parishioner above.
The parish council website is paid for by precept [parish council tax] and not by the 16 cllrs and the clerk. Iwas informed by the duty manager at the last blood donor session that a pint of blood from donation to NHS use in whatever form costs in the region of ã120 per pint. Imagine if CGPC and tehir families were charged if they ever needed blood, do you think they would screeam, yet none of them and I believe they are all aware of the issue has ever raised it as an agenda item. Why?
Having read through the comments, it appears that Mr Ridley has been classified Vexatious because it suits Croxley Green Parish Council to do so, so that they can ignore his proposals.
Summary.
After being contacted on November 6th 2009 by the NHS blood donor section, he informed them to contact the clerk at Croxley Green Parish Council with the request that they list future blood donor sessions on their website within Croxley Green, to possibly attract more blood donors. Also on that date he emailed two councillors Birch and Brading asking them to list future blood donor sessions and even include them in an article in the pump. Which they didnâÂÂt.
The clerk requested from the NHS the name of the person who had told them to contact him and might not list sessions until they did. When informed that it was Mr Ridley, the clerk appears unilaterally to choose not to list them. As Mr Ridley states that it was never put before council. In my opinion it appears to be a decision based on the fact that it was Mr Ridleys suggestion. The clerk could then be accussed of holding a grudge against Mr Ridley by not listing the sessions. The question is why didnâÂÂt the clerk just list them?
In the December issue of My Croxley it is alleged the chairman stated future blood donor sessions would be listed on the parish council website. Which appeared to assure Mr Ridley that future sessions would be listed, he also states that an article was published about another resident who had donated 75 pints. Which might have made him believe the chairs statement.
The next session was Monday march 22nd and when Mr Ridley checked the parish councils website on Friday march 19 he found that sessions hadnâÂÂt been listed as stated and that he contacted all parish councillors who had their email addresses on the parish council website, informing them of the history and asking why sessions hadnâÂÂt been listed.
He received only one response from parish councillor Saxon which he found to be vile and so reported councillor Saxon to the standards committee at Three Rivers District council, also stating that councillor Saxon was himself a blood donor, which made his response even more appaling.
Mr Ridley has logged on emails last November showing that he had requested to both councillors Birch and Brading and the clerk that the parish council create alternative email addresses for all parish councillors via their website which occurs at both TRDC and ALPC and also at most places of work in my experience. If the figure quoted by Mr Ridley of blood costing ã120 per pint is correct, the attitude taken by the parish council defies logic and one would think that the more donors who could possibly attend sessions would be for the greater good of the majority.
Chairmane states that Mr Ridley should be put back onto the council, if what has been claimed is even half true, then I agree with them. I would rather have a Mr Ridley than the rest of them and how councillor Saxon was not found guilty amazes me and I believe anyone else who has read this article.
The last statement by councillor Birch the chair of croxley Green Parish Council defies logic, if she and others had listed blood donor sessions then there would not have been a need for the Standards Committee to met and then no taxpayers money would have been spent.
Mr Ridley, I can see why you complained and what you appear to be up against!
Lady Smoe said:
Surely any fool can see that all of these letters are written by the same person.
Tush and Push
As a former English teacher at the now defunct Yorke Road school in Croxley and now in my ninth decade of life, it amazes me how both Mr Ridley and Parishioner seem to be able to murder the English Language in such a tremendous way. The vexatious hyperbole that hangs over every word printed from both parties indicates to me that, as Lady Smoa points out, the rantings are from the same individual.
I say let the voters decide at the next election.
It would appear to me that Mr Ridley should be seeking some form of help for his apparent paranoia.
Perhaps he would like to stand again as a Councillor, or is he one of these men who like to complain but do nothing for their community at all?
Think of the cost to the taxpayer Mr Ridley of your complaint.
As Councillor Saxon was not found to have broken the code of Conduct peehaps you would like to contribute to the cost of the investigation and subsequent hearing?
If you had been one of my pupils, I would have smacked the back of your hand and sent you to stand in the corner.
As a retired psychologist I have been fascinated by the numerous messages left by this one individual. His paranoia is acute, leading him to ask himself questions and reply to himself. The most well known example of this is the character Smeagol(Gollum)from Lord of the Rings.
I couldn't agree with Charles more and wish him well in the next Parish Council elections.
The complaint was because I received a vile email, fortunately for Saxon the ammendment of 2000 to the code of conduct that stated that parish cllrs are on duty all the of the time hadn't been implemented. False names? You sound like bainsdavisaxon all entwined, keetle calling copper black applies to you all surely?
As for doing something for my community,as a parish cllr I instigated along with R Cattermoul the building of the skate park for our youth, the transformation of the vandalised tennis courts in Barton Way into a multi sports area, the reversing of guttering at teh depot so taht teh allotment society could use the rainwater, the installation of water storage facilities at the offices to be used by the bowser CGPC bought. Ran Fun on the Green for 10 years, to which 140 people attended. Got council when discussing the budget to use the RPI as an indicator instead of guessing how much to possibly increase individual items. The refurbishment of the war memorial etc etc.I didn't vote for wasting money. It could be alleged some were more ego than eco. Could go on but wont.
saxon, only remember him erecting a flag pole, spending residents money on business cards for a corporate image, bringing the council into disrepute with TRDC by letting out stones orchard without consent and failing to return the money as they demanded.
Be happy you little lot, Croxley Green residents deserve better than you and your ilk!
Post your achievements or haven't you any!
The complaint was because I received a vile email, fortunately for Saxon the ammendment of 2000 to the code of conduct that stated that parish cllrs are on duty all the of the time hadn't been implemented. False names? You sound like bainsdavisaxon all entwined, keetle calling copper black applies to you all surely?
As for doing something for my community,as a parish cllr I instigated along with R Cattermoul the building of the skate park for our youth, the transformation of the vandalised tennis courts in Barton Way into a multi sports area, the reversing of guttering at teh depot so taht teh allotment society could use the rainwater, the installation of water storage facilities at the offices to be used by the bowser CGPC bought. Ran Fun on the Green for 10 years, to which 140 people attended. Got council when discussing the budget to use the RPI as an indicator instead of guessing how much to possibly increase individual items. The refurbishment of the war memorial etc etc.I didn't vote for wasting money. It could be alleged some were more ego than eco. Could go on but wont.
saxon, only remember him erecting a flag pole, spending residents money on business cards for a corporate image, bringing the council into disrepute with TRDC by letting out stones orchard without consent and failing to return the money as they demanded.
Be happy you little lot, Croxley Green residents deserve better than you and your ilk!
Post your achievements or haven't you any!