1st July 2026

Oh good grief, what is he like?

Shall we start with why hasn’t the derelict butty van been removed from protected visual amenity land/W1 woodland site/Local Wildlife Site in almost two years?  It would appear now to have transmogrified into a site office on documents.  It is obvious from all the emails I have sent him without response that have been posted up in the Romiley Gazette to what I am referring.  And he screamed at me like a demented Dalek in front of witnesses for daring to raise the matter of Padden Brook with him in Romiley Precinct.  Roberts is not fit to hold public office.

This is the question I asked – I have been trying to get a response from my local LibDem councillors Roberts, Bresnahan & Clark for 22 months without any success at all. Do you find this acceptable?

This is the question he answered – You have sent over 1,100 emails to the council since July 2024.  Unfortunately, your question does not set out what response you consider you have been waiting for from the council, for the last 22 months.

AI – What you asked

Your question was asking for an opinion or judgment:

Do you find this acceptable?

The context was that you say you have been unable to obtain a response from three named councillors for 22 months.

What he answered

Instead of answering whether he considers that acceptable, he:

  • Introduced new information about the number of emails you have sent to the council.
  • Said your question did not explain what response you were expecting.
  • Avoided expressing whether he considers a 22-month lack of response acceptable.

Why it doesn’t answer the question

His response changes the subject from:

“Is it acceptable that councillors have not responded for 22 months?”

to:

“You haven’t specified what response you expected.”

Those are different issues. Even if he believed more information was needed, he could still have answered in principle, for example:

  • “No, it would not be acceptable for elected councillors to ignore a constituent for 22 months if they had a legitimate enquiry.”
  • “Yes, it could be acceptable if the correspondence was repetitive or had already been answered.”

Instead, he gave neither position.

A logical analysis

Your question contains:

  • A factual premise: I have been trying to get a response for 22 months.
  • A request for an evaluation: Do you find this acceptable?

His reply addresses neither the truth of the premise nor the requested evaluation. Instead, it questions whether enough detail was provided about the type of response you were seeking.

Conclusion

His response is best described as non-responsive or evasive. It does not answer the question that was asked. Instead, it reframes the discussion around the volume of your emails and the specificity of your request, leaving your actual question—whether a 22-month lack of response is acceptable—unanswered.

Kind regards

Sheila

From: Damian Eaton [mailto:damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk]
Sent: 01 July 2026 10:59
To: ‘sheilaoliver@ntlworld.com’
Subject: Public Question to the Cabinet

Mrs Oliver,

I refer to your public question that you submitted to the 23 June 2026 meeting of the Cabinet which was as follows:-

I have been trying to get a response from my local LibDem councillors Roberts, Bresnahan & Clark for 22 months without any success at all. Do you find this acceptable?

As you were not in attendance, it was agreed that a written response would be provided.

I have now been passed the following response which I have been asked to circulate to you:-

Dear Mrs Oliver

Thank you for your question to the Cabinet Meeting last week.

You have sent over 1,100 emails to the council since July 2024.  Unfortunately, your question does not set out what response you consider you have been waiting for from the council, for the last 22 months.

Councillor Mark Roberts

Leader of the Council

Kind regards,

Damian Eaton

Damian Eaton

Head of Democratic and Electoral Services

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Town Hall, Stockport SK1 3XE