I don’t know if CCBC is full of wannabe James Bonds or thinks of itself as an off-shoot of MI5 but they appear to use the LGA Schedule 12a (public and press exempt) rule so often that it does make one wonder.
Yesterday’s Cabinet meeting had no less than three exempt items; one, the award of the Waste Transport Contract, I can understand as being “Commercially sensitive” but the other two, The Chief Executives Annual Report and Job Evaluation/Modernising Employment are a different kettle of fish and certainly smell like it too.
The latter two are issues that affect us as tax payers, the CEO’s annual report will, undoubtedly, give us all a clear picture of the Council’s successes and failings over the last 12 months; why should we not be allowed to know that?, after all, are these services not what we pay them for?, it may well be that it is too embarrassing for them to want us know but that is no reason for not informing us. It may even tell us what services and works have been put on hold to pay for the massive cock-up on the costing of the Maesdu bridge repairs. Why do they want to treat us like mushrooms?
Job Evaluation/Modernising Employment; If someone is not doing their job correctly we have a right to know that too because, when all is said and done, we pay their wages. We also need to know if employment is being “created” for non-job personnel earning huge salaries. Perhaps, if we shed enough tears, we can all get a £10,000 wage rise for doing nothing.
Openness and transparency is not this Council’s forte, this may come from its Labour Party influence, I’m sure, but the one thing I do know is that it is about time we were treated with respect and honesty by our Council and Councillors; hiding behind rules and regulations is, at the very least, contemptible.
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8 comments:
Talking about openess, why havent the Conwy Council updated their planning decisions on their website since 15/11/09 ?
Anon 16.03,
It is not only Planning; have a look here...
http://voicesofcolwynbay.blogspot.com/2009/11/minute-of-your-time.html
Come on John, you don't expect the most corrupt council in the UK to suddenly decide to open up??
They face numerous investigations for refusing to release information to the public - see here:
www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/conwy_council
You really have no idea of the intricate and complex nature in which decisions are taken. Information is withheld from the press and public for varying degrees of reasons, mainly because it is within their best interests. Your continual attacks on the Council are a sign of your ignorance and lack of working knowledge involving real Councillors. May I suggest you keep quiet until you know what you are talking about.
Anon 22.46,
I note they use the term “Vexatious” when it suits them.
Anon 17.22,
Basically what you are saying is “the public should be kept in the dark about Council affairs because the Council thinks its better that way”; what a load of Tosh! The public have a right to know what decisions are being made on their behalf and whether those decisions are good or bad.
I will not be goaded by your last paragraph; enough is to say that I shall continue to hound the Council and Councillors if and when they make mistakes regardless of my position as a Town Councillor.
Anonymous said...
You really have no idea of the intricate and complex nature in which decisions are taken. Information is withheld from the press and public ............... I say Mr Oddy
is making many valid points the Council have made to many mistakes that are then hidden and buried way this is counter to the openess the public should enjoy in fact the whole quality and tone of your comment is condecending hopefully driving Mr Oddy and others to make you more accountable to the voters. Ron.
Socrates (c 470 BC – 399 BC) was a renowned Greek teacher, now recognized as the father of Western philosophy. During his life, Socrates often disrupted the status quo by questioning the public and creating controversy. His views on knowledge and truth have influenced the way many people view learning.
John,
Anyone who asks "difficult" questions of the Council via the whatdotheyknow website is branded "vexatious" - CCBC like to think they have found a loophole to hide the truth, however as you can see they are being investigated numerous times by the Information Commissioner - and lets not forget that Steve Hunt of Victoria Pier took the Council to Court AND WON a landmark case forcing the Council to reveal information they wanted to keep hidden! - the Council (IE taxpayer) also had to pay all the legal costs!
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