Tony Ball Nominated for Council Leader of the Year Faces Opposition

Friday, 17 February 2012 16:43

After spearheading the eviction of travellers from the Dale Farm site, Tony Ball could be crowned council leader of the year after being nominated by a government think tank.

Basildon Council are currently working on evicting more travellers from the legal Oak Lane site in Crays Hill, Essex.

Mr Ball was the figurehead who took overall responsibilty for the removal of nearly 86 families from the Dale Farm site and is up against 9 other council leaders.

There was constant media coverage over the Dale Farm eviction worldwide between September and October 2011 after a series of court proceedings and other reports hindered the opration.

Mr Ball said: ”It is a great honour to be shortlisted for this award. I was aware I had been nominated, but did not expect this. The operation was an extremely challenging time for the council as a whole and other agencies involved.”

Mr Ball spoke at a conference of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Hampshire after being invited to share his experiences of working with the police during the clearance.

The awards, in their third year, recognise councillors who have made a difference to the communities they serve under challenging circumstances.

Tory councillor Malcolm Buckley, former council leader, said: “Throughout September and October there was immense pressure on Tony. Attending the High Court in London is daunting for anyone coupled with the focus of, not just local, but the world’s media.”

Prizes will be announced at a ceremony on February 27 at Westminster City Hall.

Basildon Lib Dem group leader Geoff Williams, who voted against the operation on humanitarian grounds, questioned handing out awards over such a sensitive matter.

He said: “If that is the principal reason, it does strike me as a bit misjudged. If there are other reasons then fair enough.

“It may even be somewhat premature given still outstanding issues to be resolved.”

Community Wrecker of the Year Ward Facebook Event

The Dale Farm Solidarity Facebook group have organised an event with over 3,000 members already invited to present him with "an alternative 'Community Wrecker of the Year Award.'"

Outlined on the Facebook Event page are several reasons for wanting to present the award including:

• CLARITY OF VISION: particularly his desire to deal with the problem that there are 'too many Travellers in Essex' [Tony Ball]
• OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO HIS ROLE: Tony Ball said he would resign if he did not evict Dale Farm - the eviction was about the continuation of his career and not the welfare of the community.
• EFFICIENCY SAVINGS: spending 'only' £7 million of public money on evicting the Dale Farm Travellers from the land that they own.
• HOUSING: making 83 families homeless, and refusing them to offer them alternative sites.
• PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST: protecting the interests of the first literate generation at Dale Farm by forcing them away from the local school.
• PROTECTING THE GREENBELT: Tony Ball transformed a beautiful home into a bombsite filled with sewage and old scrap.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: upholding the planning law by evicting Dale Farm and giving planning permission to a Dogs Home two months later in the same area of 'protected greenbelt'.
• STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS: 'allowing' the displaced Dale Farm residents to stay on the private road leading to their former home in unsanitary and cramped condition, cutting the electricity supply.
  

Quotes from the Echo and Dale Farm Solidarity Facebook Group.

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