Del Boy is looking for a comeback

I had to chuckle that Derek Giles is going to stand as an Independent at the elections on 3rd May 2012. In an article in the News and Crier announcing this the following was said:

After having two years out of politics I feel the time is now right to stand as an Independent candidate. 

Hold on where are the 2 years? Derek didn't re-stand in 2011 for the Town Council. He even attended a meeting of the Town Council less than a year ago.

In his time as Leader of St Neots Town Council, Derek Giles took the Town Council to the brink. This was a headline when the Town Council was under Derek Giles leadership.

I have a piece on why I thought Derek Giles should have resigned.

Derek goes on:

Leaving the Lib Dems will be hard, but I have become less and less enamoured over the last two years and I feel I can best service my community by not being attached to a political party. 

20 years as a Liberal Democrat Councillor and now he decides party politics is wrong?

Derek moans on:
Councillors should also live in the ward they represent. 

Gordon Thorpe who was Town Mayor and Deputy Leader of the Town Council when Derek was Leader. Gordon Thorpe was was also a Councillor for Eaton Socon although he lived in Eaton Ford. If Derek believes councillor should live in the ward they represent then he shouldn't have had anything to do with Gordon.

And the electorate are idiots:

Half of our elected councillors in Eaton Socon do not actually live in our village.

That is true. But they were elected with this knowledge by the electorate. Also Derek seems happy that Gordon Thorpe was elected although he didn't live in the ward.

Derek on his personal beliefs:
I believe that voting for the person not the party at a local level is the best way forward. 

Why 20 years in the Liberal Democrats? Is this change anything to do with Derek having left the Liberal Democrats?

What are Derek's chances?

The recent electoral history:
2004
St Neots Eaton Socon (2 seats)

Derek Giles  LD  680
Gordon Thorpe  LD  650
Rodney Farrer  C  608
Elaine Kadic  C  514
Douglas Brown  Lab  128

2007
St Neots Eaton Socon
Gordon Thorpe LD  671 47.5%
Mandy Thomas C 659 46.7%
Graham Hitchings Lab 82 5.8%

2008

2011

The highest vote Derek Giles has got is 680. But that was under the Liberal Democrat banner. The Conservatives scored a 911 vote. Even if Derek takes all the Liberal Democrat and Labour votes, he still needs more to get a majority.

There is enough out there for Derek's opponents to make hay on whatever Derek Giles says in his election literature. With the electoral history of Eaton Socon, even if Derek works full time on his election, knocking on every door and getting many leaflets out to the electorate he doesn't stand much of a chance.

Derek Giles and his predictions 2

Back in May Derek Giles, former Councillor and former Leader of the Town Council, said:    "this time next year we will all be hit by a record rise in our local community charge,"

So what is the Town Council proposing as a rise in their portion of the Council Tax? Err..ZERO.


Other predictions like:
DG: Grant aid will go down. Reality: Grant aid has gone up.
DG: Handing over land to other organisations for free. Reality: Nothing like this has happened.
DG: Ouse Meadows will be built on. Reality: No plans yet!

One prediction of Derek's that is coming true is the Conservative run Town Council is contributing to the CCTV system.

Derek Giles and his predictions

In a letter published in The Hunts Post, Derek Giles makes a statement and some predictions.

1.  "After years of striving to maintain a town council budget increase of below inflation," says Del. The only problem this just doesn't stack up.

The budget for 2007/08 was £695794. In 2008/09 the budget/precept increased to £759873. This was a 9.2% increase. Inflation was 2%. So this was inflation busting. For 2009/10 the budget was increased to £803576. This was a 5.75% increase. What Del says just doesn't stack up.

2. "this time next year we will all be hit by a record rise in our local community charge,"

The budget is in a good state. With more housing coming on in Love's Farm and elsewhere the likelihood is the Town Council will have a budget surplus. If the Conservatives do make cuts to the budget and keep cutting the waste, such as the extra spent on the ground maintenance, this will allow the Conservatives a bit of freedom in the Town Council budget.

Liberal Democrats asking what St Neots wants?

On their webpage St Neots Liberal Democrats have put up a survey. In the preamble it says this:

"Four years ago we asked residents what they wanted for our town. We prepared our manifesto accordingly. It's not been easy, but we've achieved a great deal, despite endless attempts to obstruct us and the actions of the District Council, such as doing away with free parking and closing toilets. We've built the new £1.2m Eatons Community Centre, refurbished the Priory Centre and all our playgrounds. Put in new Christmas Lights and bus shelters are made real progress towards a new pool and a cinema. This survey is designed to ask you what our priorities should be if you re-elect a Lib Dem Town Council in May.

The phrase: "despite endless attempts to obstruct us...." needs examination. The only people obstructing the Liberal Democrats have been the Liberal Democrats. With a majority of 8 (Liberal Democrats 13 - Conservatives 5) on the Town Council the Liberal Democrats should have been able to push through their programme without any opposition. They didn't and therefore the Liberal Democrats can only blame themselves for 4 wasted years.

The main problem has been finance and the inability of the Liberal Democrats to balance the budget for much of their term in office. So who was obstructing from within the Liberal Democrats? Cllrs Giles and Thorpe are prime candidates. The idea of setting up a Policy and Resources Committee was a good idea, but badly carried out. The idea of having a Council Leader was a good idea but was also badly carried out. The Town Council descended into financial crisis which was covered up for a time with not holding Policy and Resource Committee meetings and when they did eventually hold a meeting it was not to discuss finance. The only obstructions the Liberal Democrats encountered were their own.

Another phrase the needs examination is: "..the actions of the District Council, such as doing away with free parking and closing toilets." What has car parking to do with the Town Council? Now closing the toilets did put extra spending on the Town Council of £30,000 pa but shouldn't have deflected the Town Council from its course. The Town Council didn't have to takeover these toilets. Again deflecting the blame for the Liberal Democrats own problems.

Also: "refurbished... all our playgrounds." What about Shady Walk/Lane? This hasn't been refurbished. Turnstone Estates are looking to turn the whole area into a car park! Hardly refurbishment! This statement is saying something that hasn't happened.

Lastly: "This survey is designed...".There is something the Town Council produces which is called the Forward Plan. This plan says where the Town Council is going for the next 4 years. Were the public consulted over the formulation of this plan? Of course not. The Liberal Democrats put this through Town Council without asking what the public thinks of the future. Also when the Town Council was in financial crisis Cllrs Giles and Thorpe dumped the essential Town Plan, something which could have been used to point the way.

The preamble is about shifting the blame from the Liberal Democrats to somebody else. This is a classic tactic.

Whilst having a blast at the Liberal Democrats it should be noted the St Neots Conservatives have done nothing yet. At least the Liberal Democrats have done something. The Conservatives have closed their local website and the Huntingdon one doesn't have much to say about say about St Neots.

My Comments on letters in St Neots News and Crier - 29/04/2010

St Neots News and Crier - 29/04/2010

St Neots is getting a raw deal - Cllr Giles has come out to say the Conservative run HDC is to "Screw St Neots". A crude title which doesn't actually stand up to examination. Because HDC is trying spreading this pain throughout the District. "Screw St Neots" is a crude campaign to try to show St Neots is somehow treated differently. I have yet to find evidence of this. All this does is adds to the perception that St Neots is treated badly.

I also have to take issue with St Neots Town Council was able to reduce tax this year. This was only achieved by the extending the boundaries rather than anything the Liberal Democrat Town Council actually did.

Request is costing us - Name supplied (couldn't give there real name) says : "The Council turned down the appeal for information and that should be the end of it." That is so wrong. Are the decisions of the Town Council are always correct? They are not. After two damning audit reports I simply do not trust this Town Council.

What are they hiding? - Mr Hill is correct. Spending taxpayers money to stop the public knowing information is wrong. Looking at other crisis councils this is a method which they like to do. Mr Baldwin also hit the right spot with: "I thought the Liberal Democrats supported transparency? I guess when the inconvenient truths are involved, it must be resisted." Too right!

Disappointed by choice - T Lewis and I agree that Martin Land's leaflets are biased towards getting Labour supporters to vote Liberal Democrat. Rather than trying to attract Conservative supporters to his cause.

My comments on letters in the Hunts Post - 7/4/10

The Hunts Post St Neots - 07/04/2010 digital edition

Working to resolve problem - Why the Liberal Democrats allow Doug Terry a pen I have to wonder! What Doug missed was the new cemetery was supposed to be in Bedfordshire on the Eaton Socon side. The family wants a burial in St Neots!

All this goes back to the reign of Giles and Thorpe. After Devonald, the previous Town Clerk, left the duo cut back on the replacement of the Town Clerk. This left the Town Council in a mess. It is stupid that the Town Clerk had her holiday cancelled for what is a mess created by the Liberal Democrats.

Town is going to the dogs - E Page is right to point out what she feels is wrong in Huntingdon. I just wish our St. Neots politicians and some of the public also have a read of this letter. I know they look at Huntingdon through rose tinted glasses. Time for a reality check.

Looking for a spark - Bob Mullineaux is right about the Conservatives opening up the selection process. He is wrong though in thinking the Conservatives have money to carry out an all postal ballot selection contest. Since Djanogly became MP the HCCA finances have been on a slow nose dive.

This is really a test case - M King is right but misses the point over Hinchingbrooke. Franchising is Labour Government policy and the privatisation of the NHS by stealth has been underway for a decade.

Claims challenged - Derek Giles wades into the car parks charging issue. True, I can't find the Conservative petition being presented. It is a pity that Cllr Giles can't stand up and admit his mistakes when he was Leader of SNTC.

My comments on letters in the News and Crier - 01/04/2010

St Neots News and Crier - 01/04/2010 digital edition

Parking claim is an insult to our intelligence - I. Turner hits the nail on the head. The Conservatives are to blame and Cllr Barry Chapman does insult of intelligence by trying to blame the decision on the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Steve van de Kerkhove is right about where the blame should be put. Where is disagree with Steve is I feel St Neots is being treated fairly.

Where has the extra tax gone? - R.T. Watson is right to ask the question. The answer is much of the Council Tax goes to CCC. HDC is running a deficit and has been doing so for years. The extra money HDC received has gone on provision of basic services and to cut the deficit.

Petition will be submitted - Cllr Derek Giles is right over his look at the Leisure Centres. My figures differ but there isn't the amount of money to be made in Leisure and make it available for all. Privatisation won't happen. Creating a Charitable Trust to run the centres would be much better.

Cemetery delay is a disgrace - Mrs M Jones is right to question SNTC over the provision of a cemetery extension. I feel there is a bigger question. What about the future. If land is going to be allocated for cemeteries where are these new cemeteries going to go. I feel it is time that St Neots Town Council plans to stop this service and for people to look at alternatives.

Town Council Charities are still not reporting!

St Neots Town Council is custodian to some local charities. Whilst the Swimming Pool Trust is the one I'm most interested in, there are many other charities with local council connections.

The St Neots Swimming Pool Trust. - All Town Councillors are trustees. Town Council custodian. I Understand that Cllr Ursell is the Chairman of this Council Charity. So why are the annual report and accounts overdue?

This is not the first time. In the graphic below late reporting of annual report and accounts has a long history of happening with this council charging the charity £1,980 fro this privilege.

Link to the Charity Commission page for this charity.

There is another charity that is marked by indifference of St Neots Town Council.

The Eaton Socon Children's Playing Field - This charity is currently overdue.

There is also a history of late reporting to the Charity Commissioners.

Link to the Charity Commission page for this Charity.

Those are the two charities that are known to be associated with SNTC. The Town Council does nominate Councillors and others to various outside bodies. Some of these are charities. I took a look at how these are doing. The first is:

Eaton Socon Charities - This has the report and account for 2005 still over due.

The Town Council representatives are: Fiona Birks and Derek Giles.

Link to the Charity Commission page.


Eatons Community Association - This report has everything reported.

The Town Council representatives are: Fiona Birks and Julia Hayward.

Link to the Charity Commission page.


Eaton Socon Institute (Jubilee Hall) - This had a bad reporting history which has got better in recent years.

The Town Council representatives are: Gordon Thorpe and Diana Collins.

Link to the Charity Commission page.

Newton and Hatley's School Foundation - A new one on me. Contributes to St Mary's C of E Primary School. Had a problem in 2005.

The Town Council representative is Jennifer Bird.

Link to the Charity Commission page.

The Pightle Millennium Green Trust - Still awaiting the 2006 report. The 2007 and 2008 were delivered late.

The Town Council representative is: Derek Giles.

Link to Charity Commission page.

St Neots Museum Limited - Reports and returns made on time.

The Town Council representatives are: Fiona Birks, Barry Chapman and Alan Cummings.

Link to Charity Commission page.

In looking up information I found the following charity which just hasn't reported at all. This charity owns the field where Eynesbury Rovers FC play. The charity seems to be run by Deryck Irons who is currently Parish Clerk to Eynesbury Hardwicke Parish Council and St Neot Rural Parish Council.

This Charity hasn't reported since 2004. How very bad.

Link to the Charity Commission page.

There is not real reason not to inform The Charity Commission as all these reports and returns as they can all be done online.

Will the resignation of Fiona Birks mean a by-election?

The unexpected resignation of Fiona Birks from St Neots Town Council expands the local elections a little further. With the local elections due on 6th May 2010 in only two of the four St Neots wards a by-election in Eaton Socon means a bit extra for the local parties to do.

Stretched as they will already be Eaton Socon will be a result which is at the fate of the Parliamentary election very likely on the same day. This by-election will be the first electoral test of the Town Council since the two damning audit reports. Eaton Socon Town Council ward is classified as a marginal. The 2009 County result confirmed this ward as a marginal.

snrednek says: In this election I would urge the electors of Eaton Socon to vote for the Conservative candidate. The reason is to send a message to the Liberal Democrats leadership that 2 damning audit reports are not acceptable. Cllrs Giles and Thorpe should have resigned over this. They didn't. So send the message!

Eaton Socon Town Ward Map.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey electionmap service. Image reproduced with permission of Ordnance Survey and Land and Property Services - where electionmaps, Ordnance Survey and Land and Property Services are hyperlinks to http://www.election-maps.co.uk, http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ and http://www.lpsni.gov.uk/ respectively.

More Community Centres!

So Cllrs Bob Farrer, David Harty and Barry Chapman have joined together to bring forward a plan to build a community centre in Love's Farm. Good for them if they are going to build and run a community centre themselves.

On the other hand if they are going down the route of building this themselves and then expecting the Town Council to own, run and pay for the facility then they are wrong.

There is a whole load more development due to the east of St Neots. So why is there a need for a community centre on this site? At this rate the new developments could have three separate community centres. More than the rest of St Neots put together!

There is roughly £350,000 and a piece of land for a community centre to be built on. £350,000 won't go that far. The Conservatives need more money to make a fist of this. But don't get too carried away with all this hype. Cllrs Chapman and Harty were on the Committee and/or Working Party building the Eatons Community Centre. At least they have the experience of how it can all go so wrong.

This isn't how Town Councils should work. The whole reason for having officers and professional support is they do the work. With Councillors seemingly going off at tangents I have gained the impression there is a power vacuum in the Town Council. This is not the staffs fault and must be laid at those Councillors currently in charge and mainly at those who were in charge (Cllr Giles and Thorpe).

So No Pre-school for ECC!

As trailed in a previous article, the Town Council has finally admitted it hasn't found a tenant for the specially built pre-school area of the new ECC. This wonderful area was always part of the Town Council plan. The reasons why this was part of the plans have been very hazy.

How local councils can work is someone thinks this is a good idea. Councillors run with it and push the idea through committees without any real business plan for the project. This is how the Town Council ends up in this mess.

Remember the Town Council told the public back in 2008 that:

“We have had a lot of interest from local organisations and community groups keen to use the centre and we have no doubt that we will be able to fill it. It is much-needed and it will be a well used multi purpose community centre.”

So just 5 groups (probably including the The River Church) have come forward to use the centre. Not filled then.

Of course the current economic problems are used as an excuse as to why the centre is failing. This is wrong. The problems are basic. The ECC is too big and in the wrong place. Instead of building to a design, the Town Council should have taken account of the area and built something far smaller. These Grand Designs will cost the St. Neots Council Taxpayer dear as we have to subsidise this facility.

In this weeks Hunts Post Cllr Barry Chapman goes on the offensive. The articles says:

"However, town councillor Barry Chapman branded the building “an absolute white elephant” and said it was too large for what was needed. “We could have built something a quarter of the size, like the Jubilee Hall, and it would have been adequate. It was madness to build something so big when there is a desperate need for facilities in Eynesbury and Loves Farm."

I agree with Councillor Chapman this is a white elephant. A building far too big for what is needed. Where I disagree with Cllr Chapman is the desperate need for facilities elsewhere. There isn't. There is no evidence of need. This is just the politics of envy. 

The blame for this problem needs to be shared. An example is Cllr Ursell who said:

“This much needed community centre will be a tremendous asset for the residents of the Eaton Ford and Eaton Socon communities who will undoubtedly make full use of its facilities.”

Lastly, the eternal optimist Cllr Derek Giles wades into this by saying:

"it was still “early days”. "It is a great community facility and I am confident that the pre-school will be used once the word has got round."

Cllr Giles is always optimistic. Word about the pre-school has already got round with the Town Council having put the whole thing out to tender to local pre-schools. The Acting Town Clerk says 200 letters had been sent to potential interested parties. No takers. Well not at that rent. If we believed Cllr Giles the outdoor swimming pool would already be opened. The cinema would already be built. As with the Town Council 2008/09 budget Cllr Giles gambles at the casino with public services. Sometimes he wins. Mainly he loses. Cllr Giles continues with his losing streak. 

Sinking in the pool of despair!

As the Town Council/Swimming Pool Trust can't get the documents in on time I thought I would look at some quotes about the Open Air Swimming Pool from a couple of Trustees.


Councillor Derek Giles said: "Obviously, our first concern is to provide a new outdoor pool. We have identified Riversmead as the likely site, as it already hosts a number of leisure activities."
"In my opinion the new pool could be ready by summer 2009 as long as there no delays in planning."

The oracle that is Cllr Derek Giles was wrong again. There were no planning delays. So where is the swimming pool?


Cllr Giles said: "...who is also a member of the Swimming Pool Trust, says that a favourable deal has been struck to sell the old site on Huntingdon Street and that a replacement lido will be built on town council-owned land at Riversmead, near to St Neots Rugby Club."


Again Cllr Giles has jumped the gun with favourable deal! The land has yet to be sold and the lido built.

Cllr Ursell said: “The Swimming Pool Trust only exists to provide a swimming pool in the town. St Neots will get a new pool.” 


The council plans to choose a site big enough to accommodate a gym and a café. It is hoped that the revenue provided by the gym will cover some of the costs of the swimming pool. So not all the money will go on a pool!

And who thought this idea up? Cllrs Giles and Thorpe? The former Town Clerk P. Devonald? This won't work. Where is the business plan? Time and again this council uses the casino to gamble on outcomes.

So is the Town Council still a Quality Town Council?

I was looking at the Town Council website when I realised something! Where is the Quality Town Council logo?

How can a Town Council with an Acting Town Clerk, 2 damning reports from external auditors be a Quality Town Council? In previous articles I found out this status will end on 31st January 2010 if not renewed.

Is the missing logo a tacit admission the Town Council is not renewing its Quality Town Council status? Looking further I cannot find a statement about this loss of status.

There is no doubt this is a blow to St Neots Town Council. Whilst the Town Council is moving S L O W L Y in the right direction, this loss of status is a result of the actions/inactions of the previous leadership of Cllrs Giles and Thorpe.

The Conservative Alternative Part Deux

In the ever excellent News and Crier there a couple of letters from the Conservatives Town Councillors. One is from Leader of the Opposition, Jennifer Bird and one from Barry Chapman.

The first letter is from Jennifer Bird. Having read through this I would like to know the following:

• Does her stance on the so-called bodge-up job of the Eaton Socon Church Car Park mean that a future Conservative run Town Council would use Taxpayers money for a church car park?
• You say unexpected items of obviously occurs. So how much would you put by as a contingency?
• Income from letting of the ECC is an estimate. What is your estimate?
• The Priory Centre gets a subsidy. In the budget just passed this subsidy was increased by £11.5k. Contrary to your letter, the Priory Centre in 2008/09 under shot its budget by £85,000. With this undershooting do you still feel this budget is not enough?

Lastly, I disagree with your statement that the Liberal Democrats have made the decision to close the public toilets. These facilities are owned and run by HDC and it is HDC which decided to end this service. All Jennifer Bird is doing is defending her Conservative Party colleagues decision on HDC to try and introduce a Conservative Stealth Tax on St Neots.

-----------------

Onwards with Cllr Barry Chapman and his letter.

With Barry's letter I have some sympathy and agree with some of what he is saying. Where I differ is over the new residents in the annexed areas for 1/4/10. The residents in the area annexed from Eynesbury Hardwicke Parish had every right to get their Parish Council to provide these facilities. Their Parish Council didn't. The residents paid zero in the parish portion of their Council tax. The SNTC average was £87.55. I feel it is wrong for the hard pressed SNTC taxpayer to pick up this tab for these residents. Apparently, Cllr Barry Chapman does thinks this is alright.

If Cllr Chapman wants more information on what EHPC didn't do he should contact his colleagues, Cllr Ursell and Cllr C. Hutton. Bob Barnes (letter in about Church Car Park) was Chairman of EHPC. He should be a good source of information.

Where I feel Cllr Chapman missed his attack is on Cllrs Giles and Thorpe 2008/09 casino budget. The reason SNTC is having to raid the windfall is the mess these two made of the finances of SNTC during their reign. The public toilets closure is clearly a Conservative HDC decision. The Church car park is again a waste of taxpayer's money and should be paid by the church.

In my opinion this budget is a fair reflection of the running costs of SNTC. I feel it is deficient in not having a capital budget which will cause problems in the future. I feel the Conservatives have not come up with a clear alternative to this budget.

Cllr Barry Chapman is wrong over public conveniences

In a letter to the ever excellent News and Crier 7/1/10 Cllr Barry Chapman informs the residents the public conveniences are not the responsibility of the either the District or Town Councils. True. This is a power given by Parliament to both Councils to provide this service. The District Council owns the buildings and surrounding land these toilets are situated on. Both Tebbutts Road and Riverside Park Toilets are provided by HDC. It is HDC that is closing the service. It is essentially a Conservative Stealth Tax on St Neots.

What about South Street Toilets? If you read up on HDC minutes you'll find they want to demolish this building. More here. HDC has been talking about selling South Street Toilets for the last few years.

The basic problem is Cllr Barry Chapman wants to up the St Neots Council Tax. This will help out his Conservative colleagues on HDC out. The £100,000 windfall turns out to be £85,000. It is untrue to say much of this money will  be spent on consultants and solicitors. It will be spent on sorting out the mess of the budget that the Giles and Thorpe regime left this Liberal Democrat Town Council run in.

Are the Town Liberal Democrats good employers?

At the end of the Policy and Resources draft minutes 16/12/09 there is a little sentence which I feel shows that the Acting Town Clerk is getting towards the end of her tether.

"The Acting Town Clerk advised members that her work load is very heavy due to lack of staff and that this is adding to the stress within her role."

I can understand this. Giles and Thorpe cut the money needed for a replacement Town Clerk for 2009/10. Helen King was promoted to Deputy Town Clerk in mid 2008. A few months later the Town Clerk, P. Devonald, left under a cloud. Helen has been clearing up the mess since.

I said at the time that not appointing a full-time Town Clerk was wrong. The Liberal Democrats should have appointed a Town Clerk at the beginning of this year. They should have also properly resourced the effort to get the Town Council back on track.

It is unusual for an Officer to take this course of action, but not unknown. I do feel the Liberal Democrats leadership has imposed and asked much of the Acting Town Clerk. I just hope the Acting Town Clerk is being rewarded for taking on this emergency role. With the inclusion of this minute, it looks to me the Liberal Democrats are bad employers.

Quotes about Eatons Community Centre

To coincide with the ECC Open Day, I thought it would be a bit of fun to see what our local politicians and others have said about the ECC.

Start date for work on community centre - Huntspost - 11/07/2007
It is hoped the new facilities will be open to the public in September 2008.

Paul Phelps, architect for FrankShaw Associates, said he was confident he could meet the key dates set and that “things were moving forward”.

Former town mayor, councillor Paul Ursell said he was disappointed that a kitchen/bar are not a separate bar was incorporated in to the designs. “It is one thing building it, but a project like this has to be sustainable and that is why it needs a dedicated bar.”

snrednek says: Bars used to be the money earner for a centre like this. But there is no real need for a dedicated bar. Times have changed. If I can get passed the secrecy which surrounds this council then we will have to see whether this bar will make any money in the future.

Go-ahead for £1m community centre - Huntspost - 30/04/2008
Councillor Paul Ursell, vice chairman of the development control panel, said St Neots Town Council can now progress this important project. “This much needed community centre will be a tremendous asset for the residents of the Eaton Ford and Eaton Socon communities who will undoubtedly make full use of its facilities.”

snrednek says: If the Conservatives become suddenly in opposition to the ECC remember the above quote. Cllr Ursell along with Cllr Harty are on the ECC Committee. The other two are the usual suspects: Cllrs Giles and Thorpe.

The going gets turf ... - Huntspost - 20/08/2008
A turf-cutting ceremony was held at the Maltings in Eaton Socon on Friday to mark the start of work on the Eatons Community Centre.
Philip Devonald, clerk to St Neots Town Council, said: “The idea for a community centre for the Eatons was first aired four years ago. “We have had a lot of interest from local organisations and community groups keen to use the centre and we have no doubt that we will be able to fill it. It is much-needed and it will be a well used multi purpose community centre.”
Building work is due to start on September 1 and is estimated to take about 35 weeks.

snrednek says: From this article I get the very strong impression that building work was to start on 01/09/2008. 35 weeks in the middle of May 2009. Also there is lots of interest from local groups to use this centre.
But just one month later......

£100k budget blow-out for community centre - Weekly News (now News and Crier) - 18/09/2008
Cllr Gordon Thorpe said: “The original money allocated is now insufficient due to increased costs such as the cost of steel and the cost of copper for electrical goods going up all the time.”
Cllr Thorpe said: "the district council also required CCTV and a holding tank for rainwater be installed, which added to the cost of the project."
Philip Devonald, town clerk, said: “It is a combination of increased construction costs and increases in the requirements imposed by the district council. “Also, members decided to go from a gas boiler to a biofuel boiler, which is more expensive but also more environmentally friendly.”

snrednek says: I can find no requirement for CCTV. I can find a planning condition which means any CCTV erected would have to be approved by HDC Planning.

I also cannot find anything about a requirement for a holding tank for rainwater. Maybe I missed this but I don’t think so!

So Councillor Thorpe is blaming HDC Planning for imposing conditions which HDC didn’t.

The killers of this centre are the restrictions placed on it because of the housing abutting the centre. The open hours are restricted and noise is limited. Building this centre next to housing is the basic problem behind the restrictions. Right from the start the Town Council seems to have been blinkered about the what they could do with this centre with housing right next to it.

Council loan may rise to fund new centre - Huntspost - 08/10/2008
Mayor of St Neots, Cllr Bob Eaton, said that despite the funding shortfall, the centre was still on track to open early next year. He said: “The costs have increased because we want to use green fuel in the centre and because of the rising costs of building materials because of the state the economy is in at the moment. Despite this, the project is still on schedule.”

snrednek says: So the previous Town Mayor Bob Eaton declared the centre was still on track and on schedule. Work was supposed to start on 1 September 2008. He dug the turf at the ceremony. It didn’t start. Despite what this Town Mayor was quoted as saying at the time the project was not going anywhere. It didn’t until January 2009.

Book the hall that has yet to be built - St Neots News and Crier - 19/02/2009
The Council is looking for St Neots based businesses willing to sponsor some of the equipment required for the facility.
Work by Deejak building contractors has commenced and St Neots Town Council is inviting anyone interested in hiring the centre's facilities to get in touch with them.

snrednek says: So this centre, in which lots of local groups were interested in using, is now looking for anyone interested in hiring this hall

Bar open at new centre - Huntspost - 16/09/2009
Cllr Gordon Thorpe, town mayor, said: “The licence is good news otherwise it would have limited what we could use the centre for. We do not intend to use the alcohol license every day and night but just for functions such as weddings receptions.”

snrednek says: Wedding receptions at this hall? Parking problems and the noise will cause neighbour disputes. Rather than have the River Church on the committee, local residents should be strongly represented.

Why Town Cllrs Derek Giles and Gordon Thorpe should resign!

What I care about is Good Government at whatever level. To me Good Government at Town Council level is:

Making the right decisions for the right reasons.
Ensuring the Council has the right resources to implement the policies.
Failure should not be rewarded.

So what was the background?

SNTC had received 2 damning external auditors reports! Some of what was wrong was inherited from previous administrations. The Town Clerk and his team should take some of the responsibility. But who was in charge of the Town Clerk and should also take responsibility? I feel it must be the former Leader and Deputy Leader (Cllrs Giles and Thorpe).

After the 2007 Town Elections, the Liberal Democrats started bringing in much needed reforms to the Town Council. The setting up of a Policy and Resources Committee and bringing in the offices of Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council are very good reforms. These reforms don't go far enough and that is for another article.

What these reforms achieved was to bring about a proper committee to ensure Policy implementation and that Resources go with the policies. The first Chairman was Cllr Derek Giles. The first Deputy Chairman was Cllr Gordon Thorpe. Being in charge of Policy and Resources means these two were in charge of much of what went on at the Council. Cllr Giles was also leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Town Council. Bringing in the offices of Leader and Deputy Leader in 2008 also made a clear line of authority in the Town Council.

We now have a clear line on who to commend when things go right and who to blame when things go wrong. If there are problems with Policy and/or Resources the leadership of the P and R committee can be to blame. If there are problems with the Town Council administration the Leadership of the Council is ultimately to blame.

There are many things I will not blame the leadership duo of Cllrs Giles and Thorpe. These relate to decisions of the Town Council and decisions of the Town Clerk prior to the Annual Council Meeting of 2007.

This is not a rant because things have gone wrong and someone is to blame. This is a political rant because I believe Cllrs Giles and Thorpe running of the Town Council was bad government. Failure should not be rewarded.

So what went wrong?

The 2008/09 Budget was found to be wrong. This casino budget was under the auspices of the P and R Committee and much of the detail needed to be agreed with the leadership of this Committee.

The 2009/10 Budget never went to the P and R Committee for review and discussion. Giles and Thorpe were in charge of this committee and failed to have this budget discussed. This is wrong and is bad government.

The P and R Committee is supposed to "scrutinise the budget performance during the council year". During 2008/09 it didn't. Giles and Thorpe were in charge of this committee. This is wrong and is bad government.

The P and R Committee was supposed to "review the effectiveness of the work of the whole Council and the standards and levels of service provided". Cllrs Giles and Thorpe didn't do this.

The P and R Committee was supposed to "monitor and review the Council’s organisation and management processes and to recommend to Council such changes as the Committee considers appropriate". Again Cllrs Giles and Thorpe failed to do this.

The P and R Committee was supposed "to oversee the production of the Annual Report and other statutory plans and policies". Again Cllrs Giles and Thorpe failed to do this.

The P and R Committee was supposed to "monitor and review the management of the Council's assets, the financial health of the Council, expenditure against budget allocations including the total level of expenditure of the Council, and reporting to Council as necessary". Again Cllrs Giles and Thorpe failed to do this.

The P and R Committee was supposed to: "advise the Council generally as to its financial and economic policies and as to the allocation and control of its financial resources". FAILED
To make recommendations to Council on:-
a) the annual estimates of revenue and capital expenditure FAILED
b) all proposals relating to the setting of the Council tax precept FAILED
c) the setting of fees and charges for Council services FAILED
d) the management of the CounciI’s finances and the budgetary framework and processes. FAILED

Again Cllrs Giles and Thorpe failed to do this.

I argue that when Cllrs Giles and Thorpe, as Leader and Deputy Leader, found out about the problems with the accounts, budget and administration the whole mess should have been brought to council and an action plan hammered out. This didn't happen. This is a massive failure and an effective cover up of the massive problems.

I further argue that when Cllrs Giles and Thorpe, as Chairman and Deputy Charman of the P and R Committee, found out about the problems with the accounts, budget and administration they must have brought these problems before their committee. They didn't. In fact the number of meetings were cut and and the P and R Committee didn't do its finance functions. This is wrong and is bad Government.

Further, when the annual report and accounts for 2007/08 were not presented to the Town Council before the legal deadline this was a failure by Cllrs Giles and Thorpe not only as Leader and Deputy Leader of Council but also Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee.

I could go on about the Forward Plan, ECC and much else. But I'll stop here for now.

Under the leadership of Cllrs Giles and Thorpe the Town Council ended up with 2 damning reports from the external auditors. It is not as though these Councillors didn't know what they were doing! Cllr Thorpe is still a serving District Councillor and Cllr Giles was a District Councillor until 2008.

Why include Cllr Gordon Thorpe. He was only the Deputy? Yes he was. As Deputy Leader he should have known what was going on. As he would need to step in an do the job of the Leader if Cllr Giles couldn't fulfill his duties. He should have been told what was going on and should have insisted these problems were brought to Town Council. If he didn't know then he should have known.

Then again, Thorpe is now Town Mayor. So failure has been rewarded by the Liberal Democrats!

Why they should both resign as Town Councillors?

The main reasons are:
These Leaders failed miserably through both their actions and in-actions to ensure the financial viability of the Town Council.
They also failed in the good conduct of the Town Council as measured against the Town Councils' own constitution.

If Cllrs Giles and Thorpe had resigned as Town Councillors this would have drawn a line under the mess the Town Council found itself in. Instead we have a tainted Town Council which has both Cllr Giles and Thorpe still very much involved in the decision making process. Whilst the new leadership wants to draw a line after these reports, whilst Cllrs Giles and Thorpe continue to serve they will continue to draw questions and controversy.
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Below are links to documents.

Policy and Resources - Terms of Reference
Standing Order 65 - Council Leader

I had to chuckle over Lib Dems call for Cllr David Harty to resign!

Some Liberal Democrats in Cambridge have called for St Neots County Councillor David Harty to resign! I find that funny. Because the Liberal Democrats aren't willing to put their own house in order. They are happy for Liberal Democrat Town Councillors Giles and Thorpe who made a mess of St Neots Town Council to carry on! It seems to me to be one rule for the Conservatives and one rule for their fellow Liberal Democrats.

Simply Complicated - The 2010/11 draft budgets.

I went down to the Town Council offices to collect the draft budget. Only to find there are two draft budgets! I've scanned in the summaries for Option1 and Option 2.

There has been a bit of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. The first thing to point out is neither option has regard to any provision for public toilets or the Eaton Socon Car Park. The second point is some of the under budgeting in the 2009/10 budget have come back to bite this council. I blame Giles and Thorpe for this.

Option 1
This draft budget increased from £803,576 to £892,997. An increase of £89,421.  This is equal to £87.59 band D or  + 4 pence increase over 2009/10. The main cost increase is a massive £67,996 on Central Administration. The vast majority of this is a hike in salaries of £67,991. About half of this of this increase is due to the under budgeting for the Town Clerk in 2009/10. The other part I don't know. Other increases are: Priory Centre + £13,542; Capital Projects + £14,751.

Option 2
This draft budget increased from £803,576 to £858,727. An increase of £55,151. This is equal to £84.23 band D or -£3.32 decrease on 2009/10.

The main changes to Option 1 are:

Capital Projects are now zero. -£26,500
Priory Centre -£2,000
Eatons Community Centre -£4,650

The changes at the ECC are strange. (ECC Option 1 + ECC Option 2)

Staff salary: Option 1 = ££ / Option 2 = £9,000
Hall Hire: Option 1 = £25,000 / Option 2 = £40,000
Pre School Lease: Option 1 = £12,000 / Option 2 = £6,000

In my opinion there are three problems with these budgets.

The first problem is central staffing. We seem to be in the savage circle. An increase in the central bureaucracy without a massive increase in services delivered to the residents. The Town Council is over staffed and needs to be cut back rather than keep increasing.

The second problem is the budget for the Eaton Community Centre. Option 1 has an entry is just ££ for staffing. So the Town Council has made no budget for this section in Option 1. This is wrong. An estimate should be made and a figure entered. There are major differences in the estimates on income and on the lease for the pre-school. The assumptions behind these figures should be the same. The lease cannot be £12,000 in one option and £6,000 in another. Nor can you have hall hire income at £25,000 in Option 1 and £40,000 in Option 2. There should be only one view on these income items, not two.

The third is there is not much money for capital projects. This Council needs to keep setting aside large amounts of money in a capital programme to renew the Town Council facilities. Otherwise these facilities will continue to deteriorate and will cost more money in the future.

What we should remind ourselves is this budget would have been much worse if it wasn't for the extra £89,000 from the annexed areas. If we took the new council tax base and applied it to the old budget we would be paying £78.82.
Option 1 we would be paying £87.59. An extra £8.77 or 11%.
Under Option 2 we would be paying £84.23. An extra £5.41 or 6.4%.

Whilst this is not a cost increase for 2010/11 it should be remembered that Grounds Maintenance is still costing SNTC £83,000 more than in 2007/08. This is a major underlying cause of the budget problems.

In conclusion, this budget is partly a carry over from the 2008/09 casino budget which left SNTC in a right mess. What is troubling is the lack of funding for a capital programme or indeed a capital programme. But what is most troubling is the salaries increase of £67,991. We should be reducing the central bureaucracy instead of increasing it!

These draft budgets are due for discussion at a Special Town Council Meeting on 15th December 2009.

Documents
Option 1 Summary
Option 2 Summary
ECC Option 1
ECC Option 2
Salary Increase