Handford Parish Council debacle

Questions, who and where was the normal PC Clerk ? Was this a PC meeting or another sub committee meeting ?

I think Jackie did a sterling job dealing with the level of aggression she encountered with such a calm demeanor. Didn't she say something about as Tolver had decided to call himself the Clerk , they should refer to her as Britney Spears or some such ?

I have to admit I’m really surprised at the reaction to this! I watched it and thought Jackie was massively over-reaching like a power crazed autocrat. I think it was unacceptable to kick the Chair and Vice Chair out of the meeting (assuming they’re elected), and it didn’t appear that she is or had the proper authority to just arbitrarily kick elected officials people off the meeting. It’s extraordinarily rude!

Yes the Vice Chair kicked off immediately after the Chair was unceremoniously removed (and I thought the Chair’s gripes were valid, if they are accurate) so I don’t understand all this “go Jackie” sentiment. Is it because they’re men and she’s a woman? (I have Aspergers so maybe not seeing what others can see, but from my perspective I thought she was totally out of order! Although the whole thing was generally embarrassing for all parties!)

Nb. If they’re not elected, then my feelings are less strong - to the point of utter ambivalence - but I still don’t hold Jackie up as anything to aspire to!

Reminded me of my local Labour Party during the worst of the Momentum years .

I haven't seen it. It did make me think, not even slightly fondly, of the nightmare period when I was Chair of Governors at my children's primary school and got caught in the middle between a willy-waving contest (metaphorically, fortunately) between the Head and some of the other governors. Guess who was forced out in the end. (Big clue: it wasn't any of the men.) Grim. Put me off anything involving committees ever again.

It was also glaringly obvious that only AFTER the complete frothing-at-the-mouth nutters had been removed by the wonderfully calm Jackie, and the other two women had spoken up to denounce their behaviour, did the other men start to creep back on to say 'can I just make it clear that this behaviour was unacceptable'.

Couldn't they have made that clear earlier? Say, when Jackie was being screamed at and bullied?

FFS.

It's bloody depressing that it's being seen as funny, It wasn't funny for Jackie was it?! The positive is that most commentators are on Jackie's side and think the men are pathetic.

I live in a village where the PC is run by old white men, my female friend lasted 6 months on there before she resigned, she said she was constantly belittled, talked over and ignored. I promised her that once Covid is over, we will join up together, so we can support each other. This village is all run by men for men, eg-the beautiful large field which was left for whole village use, is fenced off for most of the year as it used by the (male) cricket team.

Ales Brewerton’s behaviour was shocking. Of course he wasn’t the only one, but his sheer venom and anger stood out to me. If I was exposed to that sort of anger in person I’d be frightened. I wonder if he makes a habit of behaving like that towards people.

www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/19067927.handforth-parish-councils-jackie-weaver-clip-explained/

This explains a bit more

Thanks DavidBowiesEyeMakeUpArtist!

Haven't listened to WH yet but also gobsmacked that so many people found this hilarious. The longer video is indeed rather funny but that initial clip of 2 blokes almost exploding with rage is anything but. I watched this unfold last night on Twitter and I keep thinking am I watching the same thing? It says A LOT about what people see as acceptable misogyny. For FS!

I think this would mean that the majority of the Chairman, V-C and other councillor(s) would be gone if someone else stood in that place. So, if the new person happened to agree with the 2 women councillors and the other man (who seem to form a group of 3 as well) this would make this opposing group a group of 4. Would mean that the Chair, V-C and the other chap would now be outvoted where previously they have been in the majority with the 4th person (the one who didn't show up) or with the Chair taking the deciding vote anyway if tied 3-3.

The Chair, V-C and other councillor disagreed with this casual vacancy decision and sacked (not sure that's actually the correct terminology for what happened) the clerk for calling it back in August. He has not been reinstated yet.

Mrs Weaver stepped in for some meetings in December to give clerk advice.

Chair and then V-C and other councillor were rude as they totally disagreed that the meeting was legal and could even be called by 2 other councillors (and not the Chair).....after trying to engage for some time and staying very calm, JW put them into the waiting room.

It's all clearly a mess and, reading back earlier minutes and other meetings, those 3 (and possibly 4) councillors have ruled the roost and ridden roughshod over the other 3 councillors and the members of the public who've attended as well for some time.

Think maybe they had this coming......

Just imagine the absolute fury of the man being kicked out of the meeting by an actual WOMAN!!! Just imagining his impotent rage makes me smile. (But also makes me sad that men can be so openly bullying)

The 'Flatpack Democracy' movement is trying to change this... have a look, it's very interesting.

I’ve just seen this.

That man was screeching like an actual 4 year old who wanted sweeties. How embarrassing for him.

I'm another who didn't find it funny - how WH can take the tack of it being amusing rather than bullying is beyond me. Honestly if they can't identify blatant misogyny the whole program may as well be shut down.

I kinda want to know the proper backstory now. All I've gleaned is that the unpleasant chair hadn't attended meetings for 6 months and she'd been called in (by whom?) in her position as Chief Executive of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils to mediate? Intervene? Advise on protocol? I'm unsure.

I want to know more.

"You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver"
...

Fabulous

Yes Nick Ferrari presented this as highly amusing this morning too - bloody depressing. The one man was screaming at her.

Indeed, Barracker!

How wonderful that she had the ability to mute or kick those men out for behaving that way.

Would that it were always so easy.

the men just look pathetic

They do, now it has been exposed to wide public scrutiny. But how many men are behaving like this and getting away with it because councils, boards, management committees etc are largely made up of men who either actively enable it or simply accept it as they see it as the unproblematic norm?

I dunno she comes across as the only sane one amongst them (there's another woman who is also quite sensible) and the men just look pathetic. They're quite rude to each other as well so it's not only misogyny. I think it just shines a light on how a little bit of responsibility for some men translates into a ridiculous notion of power. They are ludicrous.

It was appalling behaviour. No wonder Parish Councils have trouble finding people.

I have been along to quite a few of my local Parish Council meetings. Thankfully, they have always been civilised and good humoured in spite of what they put up with.