HDC Councillors for St Neots allowances for 2010/11

I've eventually gotten around to producing the Councillors allowances as they pertain to our representatives from St Neots.

The interesting one is Mandy Thomas who went through such a "horrendous" year that Mandy was still able to claim her allowances and so expenses.

Mandy's in Jamaica

In the News and Crier it says:

She was unavailable for comment but Simon Burton, constituency organiser for the Huntingdon Conservative Association, released a statement on her behalf.

Of course Mandy Thomas was unavailable for comment. Mandy is on holiday again. According to a source Mandy has gone to Jamaica.

Can I believe what the Conservatives tell us?

On the News and Crier website there is a piece on the resignation of Mandy Thomas. Conservative Agent Simon Burton (a Djanogly placeman) said:

"Sadly, Mandy Thomas has encountered horrendous personal difficulties since 2008."

Err what? Horrendous personal difficulties! Looking at Mandy's Facebook wall this doesn't seem consistent with:

Nor with:

Nor with:

So what did Mandy have to do as a District Councillor. Basically turn up to 7 council meetings and 10 committee meetings. Mandy had such a "horrendous" time that Mandy made a St Neots Town Centre Initiative meeting to evade the 6 months rule and continue with the allowance money rolling in.

This "horrendous" story is a cover for the resignation of a District Councillor who fell out of love with the Conservatives. This "horrendous" line is a pure invention by the Conservatives so electors will not be able to question why Mandy actually resigned.

So Mandy has gone!

In a statement in the Hunts Post, Simon Burton says:

Conservative Party agent Simon Burton said Ms Thomas had had “tremendous personal difficulties over the past three years”. In spite of her attendance record, she had kept on top of her constituency workload, he added.

Hmm... tremendous personal difficulties. I don't know what that means. Mandy set up a Facebook Group against the Coalition imposition of Tuition Fees. Mandy was able to go on holiday to Mauritius and New York and various other holidays.

On one hand I feel sorry that someone has found being a Councillor, representing the people of her ward at Council, difficult and probably not what she thought it would be. On the other hand if Mandy had known this a long time ago Mandy should have taken the right course of action and resigned rather than hang this out.

The Huntingdon Conservatives website says nothing about this - so far.

Mandy doesn't do it again!

As ever the elusive Mandy Thomas has missed yet another meeting at HDC and continues to pick up her pay cheque for doing nothing. Mandy was supposed to be at HDC's Economic Well-being OSP on Thursday 10th March 2011. This time Mandy sent her apologies for not attending. Fine but that doesn't mean much. Mandy hasn't attended a Council or Committee meeting since 15th July 2010. Is this a record for not attending? If Mandy isn't going to turn up to Council meetings then what is the point of her continuing on the District Council. Oh yes the pay cheque and the free computer. The Conservatives are quick to jump on those who live off the state. When it is one of their own they keep very, very quiet. The time has gone when Mandy should have resigned. Mandy is elected until May 2012. It looks as though the Council taxpayer is going to keep Mandy to the life she has become accustomed to for another 14 months!

I just don't understand why the Conservatives let her stay in the party. Mandy is hardly contributing yet the Conservatives let here hang on. Time they got rid of Mandy from the Conservative Group for starters.

Remember what Mandy said:

Both Mandy and Andy don't turn up to Council Meetings

The Council Meeting on 23rd February 2011 is an important meeting on the District Council calendar. St Neots stay away Conservative Councillor Mandy Thomas didn't turn up for this meeting. The "going to work hard for Eaton Socon" District Councillor is once again missing from a meeting. The last meeting at Council or Committee that Mandy attended was on 15th July 2010. Mandy is elected until May 2012.

What of Andy Monk, the other stay away Councillor for Ramsey. Andy is the other member of the UKIP group on HDC. His seat is up for election in May 2011. As with Mandy he was also absent.

This is a bit more of a revelation. Because if Andy Monk stood down it would do a couple of things. Firstly the UKIP group on HDC wouldn't be a group any longer and the leader Peter Reeve wouldn't be a minor leader any longer!

As can be seen in the current Members' Allowances Scheme Peter Reeve gets an extra £723 for being leader of a minor party. The scheme changes in May 2011 to a minor leader being only able to receive this allowance if the group has 5 members. If Andy resigned now and UKIP won the election Peter Reeve would be £60.25 a month lighter until 3rd May when Andy Monk 6 months runs out.

With all this money being wasted (plus any council own computers etc) on stay away councillors and extra benefits for another, obviously both the Conservatives and UKIP are very comfortable with paying people to do virtually nothing. Especially from the Conservatives who are cutting the staff and services.

Both Mandy and Andy should resign now and let their seats be fought at the elections on 5th May 2011. In the case of Mandy this is doing a big disservice to the people Mandy is supposed to represent. A stay away Councillor isn't fighting for their ward and is just a burden on the council taxpayer.

Or is this what the New Homes Bonus will be used in St Neots for? Propping up this stay away councillor!

Mandy misses another meeting

Will the Conservatives ever get rid of Mandy Thomas? Mandy was supposed to be at a meeting of the Economic Well-being OSP on 10th February 2011 and didn't turn up. Another month, another pay cheque (£366.67 gross) This isn't right. The Conservatives are holding onto this seat in Eaton Socon with someone who isn't coming to meetings and is elected to May 2012. Another £4,235 (new lesser rate from 18th may 2011) wasted on Mandy.

Is this good use of council taxpayer money? Mandy could stand down right now and a by-election could be fought on the same day as other elections on 5th may 2011. The Liberal Democrats would be stupid not to use Mandy's appalling attendance record. Andy Jennings, the Conservative candidate, must be frothing at the mouth at Mandy's non attendance and this gift to the Liberal Democrats.

Remember:

Mandy and her council computer?

District Councillor Mandy Thomas who hasn't turned up to a meeting of the HDC for over 6 months is entitled to a computer, according to the HDC constitution.

I have to wonder whether Mandy took up the computer and other equipment. Not only is Mandy being paid for sitting at home, Mandy can browse the internet with a council computer.

Whilst rumour has it that pressure is being put on Mandy to resign, Mandy doesn't have too and can make here regular 5 monthly visits to a meeting of HDC and, apparently, the St Neots Town Centre Initiative to keep those council taxpayer wages coming in.

The other Eaton Socon seat is up for grabs in the local elections on 5th May 2011. Andy Jennings must be frothing at the mouth because may not win when the Liberal Democrats go to town on Mandy's non attendance.

A little bird told me....

There is something out there called Facebook. On this website the date and time of when you do certain things is recorded. In the case of Mandy Jayne Thomas the date was 3rd November 2010. On this night there was a Council meeting at 7.00pm

As ever Mandy Thomas was  absent. What my little bird told me was that Mandy was doing something else. At 7.01 pm Mandy was on Facebook creating a Group.

So rather than be at a boring Council meeting (which she is paid to attend) Mandy has started a one person campaign against the Coalition tuition fees. Nothing wrong is opposing your governments policy but should you be at a Council Meeting you are paid to attend?


I know being a District Councillor is a mixture of a part-time job and a volunteer. District Councillors with daytime and evening meetings may not make the odd meeting but missing 10 is an awful amount to be absent from. 


With the elections in May fast approaching, Mandy should do the decent thing and resign here seat so others may represent the people of Eaton Socon in her place!

Mandy's £2000 meeting was on 14th December 2010

I have received an e-mail from Roy Reeves, Head of Democratic Services at HDC. It says Mandy Thomas is still a District Councillor as Mandy attended a meeting of the St Neots Town Centre Initiative on 14th December 2010. 5 months without a meeting and Mandy turns up to the SNTCI. I have asked for proof of this as the SNTCI minutes are not available on the web. Nor are attendances recorded on the Councillor attendances page. 

For Mandy to keep her seat she had to attend a meeting and did so by not attending a Council Meeting but by going to the SNTCI. For that Mandy was paid effectively £2000 - being roughly 5 months of the District Councillor Allowances. Mandy's attendances at SNTCI aren't even recorded on the HDC website. Looking at Mandy's dire attendance record she is just absent. 

If HDC is going to record attendances they should do them properly. Attendances at Working Groups were taken off because they threw light on the internal workings of HDC. Now the attendances at outside bodies is kept secret.

I put my hands up and say I called this wrong. I can only go on the information that HDC provides. The information on the website says Mandy hasn't attended a meeting for 6 months. HDC got the rabbit out of the hat and says Mandy attended a meeting of SNTCI. The Council Taxpayer is paying for Mandy to do a job. Obviously not as hard working as Mandy said at her election.

I've asked the Chief Executive whether Mandy Thomas is still a Councillor

The last time the illusive Mandy Thomas was at a meeting was on 15th July 2010, according to HDC's website. Having not attended a meeting for 6 months (her last opportunity was 13th January 2011) Mandy should now forfeit her job as District Councillor. I have therefore e-mailed David Monks, the CEO of HDC to ensure Mandy is no longer a Councillor or why Mandy can continue as a District Councillor. I await his reply!

Note: Although down as expected on 9/12/10 Mandy was absent.

Should I Stay or Should I Go - Mandy Thomas

Cllr Mandy Thomas has to turn up to the OSP Environment today or Mandy is no longer a District Councillor. That is the stark fact behind of this Councillor who promised "to work hard for you" in her election literature back in 2008. The law is very specific. Unless this Councillor is given dispensation by the Council, they are automatically out of office if they don't attend at least once in 6 months.

According to the HDC website Mandy last attended a meeting of the Council on 15th July 2010. Her last chance of staying in office is the meeting today.

Even if Mandy puts in an appearance this Councillor will have attended 1 meeting in the last 6 months. The equates to £2,200 a meeting. Good money when you can get it. Hardly hard working!


If I was running the Liberal Democrats this would be on the front page of every leaflet. An own goal for the Conservatives.

Better Deal for Eaton Socon said Mandy Thomas

Conservative District Councillor Mandy Thomas, who has made only one meeting in the last 8 months, said this when she was running for election in 2008.

Well, Mandy was given the chance and now isn't attending meetings. Is this the first real resignation over Car parking Charges by default. I feel we should be told!

Are our District Councillors attending meetings?

I thought I would see how the District Councillors we send from St Neots are doing at attending HDC meetings. On the whole they put in good attendance. You can check here.

Whilst Cllrs Farrer and Ursell are a few meetings short, the District Councillor who stands out like a sore thumb is Cllr Mandy Thomas. Only 1 meeting out of 9. This isn't good. There may be very good reason why Mandy isn't attending meetings. Her attendance, in the past, isn't that good.

But here is the crux. Mandy attended the meeting of OSP Economic Well-being on 15th July 2010. I don't know if Mandy attended the meeting of 9/12/10. If she didn't then she may fall foul of the 1972 act.

According to Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972: “If a member of a local authority fails throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of his last attendance to attend any meeting of the authority, he shall, unless the failure was due to some reasons approved before the expiry of that period, cease to be a member of the authority.”

Unless Mandy turns up to the next OSP Economic Well-being on 13th January 2011 then there will be a by-election.

If Mandy fulfills her basic duties and does attend, there does remain the question over her attendances. With so few attendances I have to ask why are we paying Mandy to continue to be a Councillor. She is elected until May 2012. But the Conservatives are carrying her. St Neots needs representatives at Council. Not an absent one. Mandy should resign her seat and a by-election can be held at the local elections in May 2011.  

How odd - found another letter from Mandy Thomas

What is the difference between these two letters from Cllr Mandy Thomas?

The answer is the one on the left was sent into the News and Crier and printed in their 28/10/10 edition. The one on the right (blue) was printed in the Hunts Post edition of ...... wait for it ...... 5th March 2008. The reason I looked this up is because the Conservatives are denying it was them who sent it in. Except the letter in the Hunts Post is from Mandy Thomas.

Why did I investigate? There was a rumour that something was amiss with the letter posted on 28th October 2010. Re-reading the letter I saw some clues. Mandy stood and beat Derek Giles in May 2008. The Liberal Democrats had won the Town Council in May 2007. This letter made sense if it was written in March 2008. I therefore looked on the Hunts Post website and found this letter.

The first question is: Who sent this in? The answer is either a diabolical plan by the Liberal Democrats who re-wrote this letter and sent it in or it is a Conservative muck up and they sent this letter in by mistake.

The Liberal Democrats are worth looking at because, as a party, they have form for doing a Woolas. The Liberal Democrats are not pure in this respect. The second option is the Conservative muck up option and they sent the wrong letter into the News and Crier. This is very credible and is the probable answer.

On the balance of probabilities I feel the answer is the Conservative muck up option. They sent the wrong letter into the News and Crier. Having found out it was the wrong letter they decided to make the News and Crier apologise for the printing the Conservatives mistake. This is wrong!


We all make mistakes and some of us can take the blame and apologise when we are wrong. But to blame the News and Crier for printing a letter the Conservatives sent in is wrong and not worthy of the St Neots Conservatives. Maybe the St Neots Conservatives are taking lessons from their HDC who blame the previous Government/new Coalition for all their woes.

Ignorance is bliss for St Neots Conservatives

In a letter from Conservative Cllr Mandy Thomas, in the every excellent News and Crier, the District Councillor shows her ignorance in both politics and maths. I'm no fan of the Liberal Democrat run St Neots Town Council. There is plenty to attack the Liberal Democrat over their running of the Town Council. Mandy misses these issues.

Mandy writes: "..would rather commission reports and steering groups to investigate ideas and possibilities". Where is the evidence? Mandy is not a Town Councillor so how does she know what is going on? The charge of commissioning reports and steering groups (read working groups) is something that should be levelled at Conservative run HDC rather than SNTC.

Mandy rants on: "The Liberal Democrats seem more interested in raising tax - Conservative run HDC has looked at an increase of over 100% - spending thousands of pounds of public money on town plans - much to my dismay the Liberal Democrats cut funding to the Town Plan, so spent nothing - and establishing champions over which the Town has no jurisdiction - This is wrong. The Town Council has a Transport Champion. The Town Council has the power to:

Transport*

establishment of car-sharing and taxi fare concession schemes; making grants for community bus services and bus services for the elderly or disabled; investigation of public transport, road and traffic provision and needs; provision of information about public transport services.

So Mandy, the Town Council has a champion over a policy area it has jurisdiction.


Mandy lies on with: "The electorate of St Neots were promised so much last May." Well Mandy, there were no Town Council election last May. I didn't see any promises about the Town Council at the General and District elections last May, nearly 6 months ago. "and nearly 10 months on" Mandy needs help with her maths "there has been absolutely no progress made." There wouldn't be Mandy, as no promises were made.

Mandy writes as part of the St Neots and District Conservative Forum. This seems to be yet another new grouping within HCCA. The previous group was the St Neots Conservative Councillors Group which made a splash and a mess. The Conservatives should be looking at their own local website which still headlines "Vote Conservative on 4th June 2009".

This is the first shot of the Conservative campaign for the Town Council as elections are due in May 2011. Where are the Conservative leaflets, up to date website and canvassing? This seems to be a Conservative campaign that will rely on writing letters to the newspapers rather than actual campaigning. Next time get your facts right!

This is a dismal start to the Conservative campaign. Pity, the Liberal Democrats really need to be dumped from the Town Council. If this is the level of Conservative candidates this may be out of the frying pan into this fire.