“councillor bowyer must answer these questions - where did he get the confidential information that he leaked to the hearld? he is not on any panel that would make him privvy to this information legitimately.”

“maertin peverell - you are just like this tory council - avoiding and not answering the question and blocking debate.

we (the people of plymouth) demand answers from the tory councillors - it's our legal right!”

“Martin Peverell,
The only fact as presented on the PCC website state that PCB returns a profit to the city. This is, on average, £350k p.a. (unless the Council, lead by your party of choice, which would have to be a pretty stupid and unprofessional thing to do, are misleading the public).

It was suggested by Mr Bowyer that the capital from a sale might be put into an endowment fund (there was no facts on risk or return)!

If the sale of PCB is the right thing for the city then I will back the potential sale but remember this is only a discovery exercise, (as stated by the present cabinet) you intimate that you know more which Leaves me to think that you have access to the full facts?

What I am asking (it is not a moan and a groan) of the current administration is to convince me and the rest of the public through fact that this is the right thing to do and not to follow the courage of their convictions which appear too be based on suggestion and possibility.

If the full facts on the sale of this publically owned Bus Company are available, will (after the bid process has finished but before contract award) they be disclosed to the public who will be able to judge the wisdom of this proposal?

This is not about party politics but about listening to the People of Plymouth and keeping them happy (whichever road they choose) and if this leads as you suggest to paying less tax and earning more money!!!!! It would appear that we may have had politics wrong for so many years?”

“David Eggbuckland,
unfortunately like a lot of people on these posts you are one of those people that will moan and groan without ever having the full facts in front of you.

Never once have you ever stated anything from fact or truth. I do find your comments amusing actually and wonder what tripe your going to write next.

The point is this you actually know very little, and when you say anything you will say 'suggest' or 'possibly', this is because your whole point is made up. If and when you actually state some facts I will be more than happy to respond in the appropriate sense.

The other point you make about how the conservetives should be wary of the loss of vote at the next council elections is absurb. If all politicians did was to introduce policies to make the voter happy we'd be paying less tax and earning more money.

At least this present PCC has the conviction and honesty to try and do the right thing.

You should be more worried how you and your party are going to gain the extra votes. Of course that's why your jumping on the bandwagon regardless of the benefits to the people of Plymouth.

That's why I and many others will vote for the Conservetives rather than the desperate Labour party and thier supporters.”

“Whether you support the sale or not, a public enquiry into how it has been handled is an absolute must.

Locally the Herald has provided significant coverage on the Citybus sale with articles from both sides of the debate. The story has now reached national coverage within the Transport Industry thanks to the Heralds interview with the MD of First Devon and Cornwall.

The latest edition of Private Eye also has a very interesting article on the sale process. Private Eye has a very influential political readership.

Why is the City Council spending £130k per month on business advice for the sale process? (Source Private Eye) That¿s £0.5m so far, almost twice the annual budget for local bus service support. Why is the City Council is not providing subsidy to maintain FDC Service 17, and PCB Service 52? Both services clearly qualify for financial support under the 2001 local transport act. Why are the roads not being repaired?

Vivian Pengelly total control over local politics and her Conservative colleagues was clear to be seen at the special Council meeting held on the 23rd Oct 09, and it is a huge surprise that this very public display of control has not received wider coverage.

The sale process is making Plymouth look increasingly like a banana republic, rather than the regional centre it aspires to be.

Stop the sale? It is probably too late for that, Vivian Pengelly is clearly too powerful at this time.

A public enquiry, yes, absolutely, people need to explain why so much money has been spent on a very questionable sale process.”

“Martin, Peverall¿We the public through visibility of PCC documentation know that the present management structure of Citybus returns approx £350K p.a. to the city treasury.


It has been suggested by Mr Bowyer that any capital from a potential sale might be placed in an endowment fund, beyond the reach of politicians, but at what return and what risk?


You suggest that the capital raised could be invested back into the city, but fail to come up with any suggestions for its use.


Martin this leaves me to think that you know more than you are letting on, if you and your Conservative friends think that this is good for the city then convince us that this is the correct course of action.


A failing of the current government is arrogance too the majority (think EU referendum) and only a small minority would argue their fate next year.


If your local party is not to follow the same fate then engage with people, let them decide, convince the electorate and put it to a vote. As Mr Cameron said:

By giving people more power and control over the services that are delivered in their areas, we can inspire a new spirit of civic pride in our communities. Its simple psychology.


Why are all our old school elected politicians so afraid of democracy?


VfM”

“Take thee my school bus
Then I take it City bust
March legs, wheeled alone
In empty gathering, I trust?

Where friendship did either Eden
Hast thine deeds left withen know wisdom
Ever forever breathed journey all on Earth all breadth
Wisdom, Wisdom, Wisdom, Council? Wisdom?”

“There are several incidences with the proposed sale of Plymouth Citybus which rhyme of corruption, nepotism, mis-management, and general lack of legal procedure. Firstly, spending nearly a million on valuation so far, with a further million planned; can only cream-off the small profit which would be returned to Plymouth public funds, rather than the half-million profit Citybus earns per year. If the sale goes badly, will ALL the profit from the sale have already been spent lining private pockets from public money; this is especially distasteful given the recent high-profile news concerning poor management of public funds.

Secondly, the strange manner in which privedged information is leaked between unrelated members as indicated by this story in The Evening Herald is worring; how are these people otherwise connected? Are abuses of power occuring between closed secular groups? A conspiricist might wonder if fellows of groups such as Freemasonary are involved; given the level of coincidence most would wonder if they drink at the same bar at least.

Thirdly, given recent blatant manipulations by the Council in ignorance of planning procedure, West Hoe Park etc as example, and perhaps the Athenaeum; the licensing handling of Dance Academy delayed to continue the long-held fools plan to close and demolish, to bulldoze through self-guided plans of an unknown archaic soul; and of course wholesale development around Sutton Harbour in complete breach of long-held and trusted regulations, such as height-restrictions, often at the expense of pushing out local fishermen, who, one might envisage are descended from the archetype of Drake's captained Armarda crew, in all once held in Plymouth's defence.

Fourthly, given that Plymouth Corporation Transport was conceived as Plymouth brethrened; and that in the sworn will of the Victorian Founders, a right defended in priveledge by those who sent their families to war in the first half of the previous century- and those who stayed as church; in order such that every Plymouth person, young, old, or infirm, would have free safe access to transportation around The City of Plymouth and beyond.

Fifthly, a major undeveloped asset of Plymouth Citybus stands as Bretonside Bus Station. Given its prime location between the Harbour developments and the Mall; would any sale subsequently result in a later sale of the land for retail development, failing to return publicly owned funds to Plymouth; and instead lend itself to profiteering via the aforementioned 'closed' clubs: birthed in pyramidic hierarchies of power, control and manipulatilation. Bowls?

A few years ago, there was a plan to progress the Council into open planned offices to prevent abuse behind closed-office walled doors; and at the time Councillors were asked to indicate any private allegences held, such as Freemasonary; many refused to acknowledge the question.

In the open democracy in England, Scotland, and Wales; personally, I'd visit their buildings and pray for their souls, then look to see these matters investigated in breadth by the up-most authority in Her Majesty's Government. A new dawn rings tomorrow in all faith in Plymouth's breath.”

“the drver.....great comments I'm surprised you managed to write as much as you did. I'm pretty sure anyone that reads your comments will wholeheartedly agree with your wit and intelligence.

It will be interesting to see how much Citybus is worth and if we as the people of Plymouth can get money invested back into the city then this has to be a good thing.

The easiest thing to do would have been to do nothing just like the labour party and wet libs, at least this council had the vision to try and do something about the economy.

Ian Bowyer will have to be pretty stupid to be unproffessionally involved as eventually once sale is complete all papers will have to be disclosed.

This is just scaremoungering by the desperate labour politicians who even now realise that they are going to struggle to regain control of PCC”

“The reason Ian Bowyer called for the debate was to protect his own interest in the bid itself. Being Privi to confidential information the Cllr in question has meerly succeeded in self serving and giving advanced warning to John Preece to ready his his legal team to screw us taxpayers of Plymouth out of yet more money.
Bill Stevens has every right as an elected member of our council to call into question the actions and dealings of Ian Bowyer and his privaliged position.
A Cllr in his position should remain inpartial and unbiased, clearly he is not capable of this and should be called to account.”