Watford councillor Sheila Smillie explains resignation decision (From Watford Observer)
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Watford councillor Sheila Smillie explains resignation decision
11:47am Friday 3rd September 2010 in
A member of Watford Borough Council who retired this week has explained the reasons for her decision.
Councillor Sheila Smillie, former member for the Central ward, stepped down on Tuesday to begin a new life in Florida.
She said: “Last year my husband Cameron resigned from his job and since then has been looking for a new role within the sports sector.
“Cameron and I are now in America on an extended holiday and we have decided to stay for a while to see if things work out here.
“While my term of office as a councillor is not due to end until next May, I thought it would be wrong to remain on the council as an absentee councillor - which I would be allowed to do.”
In a message to residents she added: “It has been a true honour to serve you on the council and be involved with so many aspects of life in Watford... I have really enjoyed working with so many residents' groups and helping out many of you to solve everyday issues and I will certainly miss council life.”
Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said: "Sheila made a very positive contribution to the town and was a hard working councillor.”
Comments(12)
Andrew1963
says...
9:09am Sat 4 Sep 10
Harry Caine
says...
3:07pm Sat 4 Sep 10
What kind of dupes does he think we are?
Probably the same kind who voted Lib Dem and got Tory
Veritas
says...
3:04am Sun 5 Sep 10
It amazes me that this Fib dem regime, feels it is ok for dodgy councillors to claim allowances when they have clearly no intentions of serving the Watford community, when out of the country.
Thousands of Pounds we must have handed over to these unethical individuals, at a time when people are suffering in a recession, they feel no remorse.
We need to bring in a law to stop such alleged stealing.
Whilst we are there, what about the Central Ward councillor claiming allowances, whilst up in Luton
Canvassing as a prospective MP. Does he really think he was serving the Watford
Central ward whilst engaged in canvassing up in Luton? we heard he could not be contacted by
Numerous residents about various issues at the time.
As to Smillie; good riddance.
She was one of the useless planning committee we can blame for the state
of Watford, and a policy of anything goes.
Steve, Abbots Langley
says...
10:22pm Sun 5 Sep 10
The Lib Dems don't have a good record on this sort of thing. The last one spent loads of time in Dubai when he was supposed to be serving those who elected him to the council. He finally quit.
Now the Lib Dems are at it again - taking people for granted. Time for a change in Central Ward.
The whole article is just Lib Dem spin faithfully reproduced by the paper, which even manages to include a supportive quote from her mate the Mayor for good measure!
yleon
says...
10:47pm Sun 5 Sep 10
Andrew1963
says...
10:57pm Mon 6 Sep 10
Cllr Andy Wylie
says...
9:28pm Tue 7 Sep 10
I really was expecting her back in early to mid August after a (presumed) 8-10 week stay. Long holidays are not just the preserve of LD councillors, by the way and we don't deduct allowances for being on holiday, however long they are. Some councillors seem to rack up weeks of leave - I just don't know how they manage it!
She sent me an e-mail last week saying that they hope to buy a business out there and are now applying for a business visa.
She describes it as an adventure and it certainly will be if she fails and US Immigration take a strong dislike to them being there. She could be back by Xmas.
The comment about her performance on development control is really sad and mean spirited. DC don't make policy - they just have to carry it out.
She just didn't want to do to her residents what our friend in Leggatts tried to do or what councillors (non LD) did in the past. You can't represent your residents from outside of the Borough. Fortunately we have 3 councillors for each ward in Watford so you can cover illness or holidays but obviously not on a permanent basis.
yleon
says...
9:01am Wed 8 Sep 10
Cllr Andy Wylie wrote:People are getting tired of Lib-Dem spin. Do you really have nothing better to do the come on here and give a long winded explanation to defend the indefensible. 10 week holiday don't make me laugh many people in her ward cant afford a 1 week holiday.
No spin. Sheila is there on a visitors permit which, if memory serves me correctly, ends in either late Nov or early Dec.
I really was expecting her back in early to mid August after a (presumed) 8-10 week stay. Long holidays are not just the preserve of LD councillors, by the way and we don't deduct allowances for being on holiday, however long they are. Some councillors seem to rack up weeks of leave - I just don't know how they manage it!
She sent me an e-mail last week saying that they hope to buy a business out there and are now applying for a business visa.
She describes it as an adventure and it certainly will be if she fails and US Immigration take a strong dislike to them being there. She could be back by Xmas.
The comment about her performance on development control is really sad and mean spirited. DC don't make policy - they just have to carry it out.
She just didn't want to do to her residents what our friend in Leggatts tried to do or what councillors (non LD) did in the past. You can't represent your residents from outside of the Borough. Fortunately we have 3 councillors for each ward in Watford so you can cover illness or holidays but obviously not on a permanent basis.
Your attitude appears arrogant and out of touch and you patronise and treat with contempt your constituents and readers of this paper, the Lib-Dems have been in power way to long here in Watford.
Disgusting !
Parishioner
says...
6:44pm Wed 8 Sep 10
Parishioner
says...
6:46pm Wed 8 Sep 10
Steve, Abbots Langley
says...
9:41pm Thu 23 Sep 10
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Harry Caine says...
6:33pm Fri 3 Sep 10
It seems if you are a well connected Councillor from Watford, all you have to do is go on an "extended holiday" and look for a job.
Marvellous, you don't have to go anywhere near Grosvenor Square