Husband and wife joining Great Coates Parish Council 'not morally correct'
VOTING for another husband and wife to join a parish council could lead to "block voting," a councillor warned.
The concern was raised as Great Coates Parish Council co-opted husband and wife Carol and Mike Frankish on to the nine-member parish council.
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Voted on: Chairman of Great Coates Parish Council Councillor Nicola Maasdam, left, welcomes new councillors Carol Frankish, Steve Souter-Smith and Mike Frankish to the council.
It already has a husband and wife on the council with Brian and Lesley Winterburn.
Councillor Steve Souter-Smith, who was elected in a by-election just a few weeks ago, said before the vote to co-opt two new members it was "morally not correct" to have yet another husband and wife on the council.
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He said: "It could be constituted as a block vote."
His comment came after four candidates put themselves forward as co-opted councillors to fill two vacancies.
Mike Frankish was first to be voted on after securing five of the seven councillors' votes.
His wife then secured four votes over the two other candidates Shiney Thomas and Jim Masterson.
Mrs Frankish, a former clerk to the parish council at Thorton Curtis, said she hoped to use her experience of service to a parish council to the benefit of the villagers of Great Coates.
She said she and her husband had lived in the village for nearly five years.
Chemical and civil engineer Mr Frankish is also a magistrate at the Grimsby court.
He said he hoped to represent the community and enhance the village and improve it as a pleasant place to live.
Both signed the declaration of acceptance of the seats on the council and were welcomed by chairman Nicola Maasdam.
All the councillors agreed they would submit a profile and statement, which will be posted on the council website.
Later, Councillor Lesley Winterburn told the Grimsby Telegraph she did not always vote with her husband.
She said: "There are often times when we don't agree. I vote as an individual. I am not in my husband's shadow."
ON THE WEB: What do you think? Do you think it makes a difference if a married couple is on the same council? Comment on this story at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
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by lawrence61
Friday, March 29 2013, 11:07AM
“You sound like a very bitter old person labourladie. You are the type of person who dislikes anyone trying to improve anything. I say good riddance to you and I pity the "village" you've moved to! You say you know me, do you have the courage of your conviction to tell us who you are? Or are you another one of these people who like to hide behind anonymity to annoy others?? If I don't know who you are I treat your comments with the contempt they deserve and they are basically not worth reading.”
by labourladie
Friday, March 29 2013, 12:30AM
“Clari.....sorry,I mean Lawrence61 or whatever today's special is. Can you PROVE that I never invested anything in the former village all those years ago when you don't even know me? Did it ever occur to that half walnut floating around in the void of your cranium which you call a "brain", that I and others left the village because it CEASED to be just that? Turning Great Coates back into a village is a non entity, as with Little Coates. They are now an integral part of Grimsby and that will NEVER change. Unlike the FORMER village of Great Coates. However, the former village was absorbed into the borough of Grimsby in 1968 and it's civil parish council abolished, so at this much later date what really mystifies me is why a minority of people who occupy that portion of north west Grimsby wished to resurrect a long dead village ? Unless, however, there was a nice little earner in it for somebody.”
by labourladie
Friday, March 29 2013, 12:27AM
“Clari.....sorry,I mean Lawrence61 or whatever today's special is. Can you PROVE that I never invested anything in the former village all those years ago when you don't even know me? Did it ever occur to that half walnut floating around in the void of your cranium which you call a "brain", that I and others left the village because it CEASED to be just that? Turning Great Coates back into a village is a non entity, as with Little Coates. They are now an integral part of Grimsby and that will NEVER change. Unlike the FORMER village of Great Coates. However, the former village was absorbed into the borough of Grimsby in 1968 and it's civil parish council abolished, so at this much later date what really mystifies me is why a minority of people who occupy that portion of north west Grimsby wished to resurrect a long dead village ? Unless, however, there was a nice little earner in it for somebody.”
by lawrence61
Thursday, March 28 2013, 9:50PM
“And what exactly did YOU invest in the village?? Nothing!!”
by labourladie
Thursday, March 28 2013, 1:10AM
“Lawrence61. (KP) Thank you for the conformation. You have given me, and all those who are interested, the perfect answers. We now know where you stand and that is sufficient, nothing more. What has it got to do with me? Absolutely nothing other than a great deal of my life was invested in that village, But I was an outsider, just like you. The difference is, I am not an appointed public servant making a lot of noise when I shouldn't be.”
by lawrence61
Wednesday, March 27 2013, 11:03PM
“Labourladie, 1) That's obvious to all but the deluded and it has everything to do with the problems; 2) No 3) None of anyone's business 4) What's it to do with you??!!!”
by labourladie
Wednesday, March 27 2013, 10:00PM
“Hello Lawrence61, or whatever other pseudonyms you wish to use, a little bird whispered in my ear that you maybe the most educated and intelligent person in the "village" of Great Coates though you allegedly hail from Healing but can you give the me the answer to four questions ? First, why is the word "mysoginist" so frequently used in these pages by so many other people when it has no reference to the problems in question. Secondly, do you happen to know how much a parish clerk receives as fees for their duties as a non elected servant of a parish council ? Thirdly, what would be the annual income of a parish clerk that serves the villages of .. Great Coates, Habrough(interim), Humberston, Healing, New Waltham and Stallingborough? Finally the conclusion. Would loss of even one these posts hit the pocket of a parish clerk (unelected of course) detrimentally?”
by lawrence61
Monday, March 25 2013, 6:41PM
“Wasting your time hallyesplease. They think they're so clever and "know" who we are! So far off the mark doesn't even cover it....!!! Hilarious. If only they knew.......”
by lawrence61
Sunday, March 24 2013, 11:06PM
“Have a great holiday Pete!
Nice reply BTW ;)))”
by peterpecker
Sunday, March 24 2013, 11:01PM
“Kittycloe, you are a farcical creature. I really shouldnt be wasting my breath on an odious cretin as yourself. I have no idea if you are actually refering to me in your questioning as you mention others as well (Bogcherry????) Cant see any of the names you think I am anywhere on here and Ive told you before I have one email and one pseudynym but there you are. Reading your comments I can see you cant spell and have very little grasp of the English Language and Grammar so I imagine this is just a typo from you. Were you trying to spell something different to bogcherry??
Now, you ask about the WI. Were you at this meeting? Did the WI members in question declare and interest? If so they can vote. Did the Grass councillor declare an interest? If not he should have. He shouldnt have voted anyway as him being Deputy chair would preclude him from voting due to a prejudicial interest. But this has all been explained on here already by myself and others. Bore off now. I am off with my lovely wife for a well deserved holiday for a month (dont ask me anything as I shant be posting from the beach) and when I get back the hall will nearly be ready and I cant wait to see it!”