Freedom of Information, Xmas Lights Report and the Town Council

I just looked on the SNTC website and found they had produced the minutes of a Special Town Council Meeting held on 22nd February 2010. This was a meeting not held in public. I've published the following extracts:

"The Acting Town Clerk informed members that she had received a letter from Kester Cunningham John Solicitors to advise members of the recent letter received regarding the Christmas Lights report.

The Information Commissioner’s Office requests that the Town Council consider each individual redaction it has made and consider whether the information is in fact already in the public domain and/or whether it is trivial information. Kester Cunningham had advised that for this work to be carried out would cost a further £1500 to £2000."

"Members RESOLVED

That the Town Clerk be instructed to formally write to the Information Commissioner’s Office to request a further extension of time in supplying the information due to the outstanding HSE Executive findings. The working group to review the redactions within the report."

So from all this I find the following:

There is a working group of Town Councillors. First I knew about this. This WP isn't on the list at the Annual Council Meeting.

The Town Council has appointed Kester Cunningham John Solicitors to look after this Freedom of Information request.

This is costing the Council Taxpayer more money - previous amounts not disclosed - to prevent the publication of a report, into a public accident, which was paid for by the taxpayer.

Ups and downs in villager' protests?

The Hunts Post St Neots - 31/03/2010 digital edition

As I've been saying for a year or more, Eynesbury Hardwicke/Eynesbury Manor residents were in for a bit of a shock. What has added to this shock was neither EHPC nor SNTC didn't inform the affected residents of the changes. This is bad Government and was something THIS BLOG RAISED.

Cllr Barry Chapman unhelpfully weighs into this controversy with "Something could have been done to ease the burden or phase in the increase, but they did nothing." I can't find anything in law that allows any of what you are telling people. My question to Barry Chapman is what could have been done and by whom?

As for they it was the Conservative run HDC which did decided to move this area into St Neots. It was EHPC that agreed to this move. So they isn't the Liberal Democrats it is his colleagues - The Conservatives.

Bob Barnes in right in saying this is a consequence of joining St Neots. It is a pity the "St Neots Conservative Councillors" can't get their collective heads around all this.

The Swimming Pool will have to wait?

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

Not too sure what to make of this. The site has been in problems for ages. The likelihood is the reliance on Government cash has gone. I still say this is the best site for the Cinema as it would be next to the Eat n Bowl.

What worries me is Cllr Ursell linking of the open air pool with another form of Leisure outlet. SNTC has a bad track record with the newly finished ECC. I have no confidence the Swimming Pool Trust has the ability to manage this type of development. Especially when they have a history of not getting the returns and accounts into the Charity Commission on time.

Cllr Gordon Thorpe is hardly impressive with "...but the Town Council will do what it can to redress the balance." What does that mean?


It is time the St Neots Swimming Pool Trust comes forward and publishes the future plans.

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.

Hard Times, Hard Choice - What Options?

Having received a magazine from the Town Council. Another from the District I now get one from the County Council. Well part from the CCC. Much of the middle was from the NHS.

On page 3 Council Leader Jill Tuck says: "This edition, we focus on our budget and a tough set of decisions, created by central government’s need to cut public spending."


The first question I have to ask is: where is the focus in on CCC's budget and the tough set of decisions? Apart from a small piece on Page 6 saying: "The Council had a budget ‘gap’of just under £16 million for the coming financial year, so savings have had to be made." there isn't much else.

The second question is: where are the options? Time and again the District and County Councils are informing us that cuts are on the way but nothing about what could be cut.

At least I can read this magazine on-line. Unlike HDC or SNTC which don't have their publications on-line.

Cuts are going to happen. But where the axe is going to cut is a secret.

April Fool's Day: The Answer

The Answer:

snrednek is running for District Council in the Eynesbury ward

I'm not standing for Council. Nor will I. I want to hold the elected to account. There are reasons why I wouldn't stand. Some of these are:

1. I would not be bound by the SECRECY so I would publish everything.

2. I'm out most nights and would rarely turn up to council/committee meetings.

3. I'm not interested in what the public thinks.

April Fool's Day

One this day a whole load of jokes will be played on the public by the news media. I have to say I'm no different. So here are some stories and you have to guess which is one is the lie.

Djanogly lives in a 5 storey semi detached house in Little Venice. The property doesn't have a garage nor does it have much garden. The garden is provided by a large open space open to all residents backing on the housing estate. The value of the house is currently badly estimated at: £4,097,419.

Locals pay more tax to cut tax for others. The happy residents annexed from Love's Farm and Eynesbury Manor/Parklands are paying higher taxes to cut the rest of the Council Tax of the St Neots residents.

snrednek is running for District Council in the Eynesbury ward. He is standing for the newly formed Popular Front for St Neots. In announcing his candidature snrednek said: I've had enough of these Councillors running this Town Council so I have now set up a blog called Pravda or Truth. I will be running under the banner of no more muck ups from these people. Up the revolution comrades!

Huntingdonshire District Council spent £573,000 on upgrading the public conveniences only to decide to close them. They tried to get the Town Councils to take over these facilities. SNTC took 2. St Ives 1.

Martin Land said the "Tories remain a coalition between the blatantly self-interested, closet racists, and homophobes.."

April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day

One this day a whole load of jokes will be played on the public by the news media. I have to say I'm no different. So here are some stories and you have to guess which is one is the lie.

Djanogly lives in a 5 storey semi detached house in Little Venice. The property doesn't have a garage nor does it have much garden. The garden is provided by a large open space open to all residents backing on the housing estate. The value of the house is currently badly estimated at: £4,097,419.

Locals pay more tax to cut tax for others. The happy residents annexed from Love's Farm and Eynesbury Manor/Parklands are paying higher taxes to cut the rest of the Council Tax of the St Neots residents.

snrednek is running for District Council in the Eynesbury ward. He is standing for the newly formed Popular Front for St Neots. In announcing his candidature snrednek said: I've had enough of these Councillors running this Town Council so I have now set up a blog called Pravda or Truth. I will be running under the banner of no more muck ups from these people. Up the revolution comrades!

Huntingdonshire District Council spent £573,000 on upgrading the public conveniences only to decide to close them. They tried to get the Town Councils to take over these facilities. SNTC took 2. St Ives 1.

Martin Land said the "Tories remain a coalition between the blatantly self-interested, closet racists, and homophobes.."