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> Cllr Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Resigns, Time for a clear-out at the town-hall?
Do you have confidence in the Town Counci?
Do you think the Town Council is upholding the values of public service?
Yes, pretty much. [ 2 ] ** [10.53%]
Well, more or less. [ 0 ] ** [0.00%]
No, not really [ 17 ] ** [89.47%]
Do you think the Town Council are open and accountable?
Yes, we get to know the truth. [ 2 ] ** [10.53%]
Well, we find out more or less. [ 0 ] ** [0.00%]
No, we don't know the half of it. [ 17 ] ** [89.47%]
Business as usual then?
Yes, let's carry on as we are. [ 2 ] ** [10.53%]
Well, what's to be done? [ 4 ] ** [21.05%]
No, heads must roll. [ 13 ] ** [68.42%]
Doing a valuable job?
Yes, virtually everything they do is indespensible. [ 2 ] ** [10.53%]
Well, they're mostly harmless. [ 1 ] ** [5.26%]
No, they're essentially self-serving and unaccountable [ 10 ] ** [52.63%]
The Town Council? What do they do again? [ 6 ] ** [31.58%]
Total Votes: 19
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Andy Capp
post Dec 9 2014, 10:45 AM
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QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Dec 9 2014, 07:25 AM) *
Personally I feel that there should be a genuinely independent investigation into this matter for the residents of Newbury deserve to know the truth.


I think for this to be a story there has to be an element of deliberately keeping the information hidden, or perhaps evidence of a failure to respond to advice given at the time it would have been advantageous. It would be much worse if the 'clerical error' was contrived, then we would have a story.
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blackdog
post Dec 9 2014, 11:40 AM
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QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Dec 9 2014, 07:25 AM) *
There are a significant number of Newbury Town Councillors who are committed to supporting the public, but alas they have been 'treated as mushrooms' by a few who retain the real power. One never knows, perhaps the Councillors themselves will demand an inquiry?

Here is the core of the problem - the lack of democracy within the council itself. The same problem permeates throughout our political system.
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MontyPython
post Dec 9 2014, 06:11 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 9 2014, 10:45 AM) *
I think for this to be a story there has to be an element of deliberately keeping the information hidden, or perhaps evidence of a failure to respond to advice given at the time it would have been advantageous. It would be much worse if the 'clerical error' was contrived, then we would have a story.


Well they always seem to keep quite until they are found out, apart from that incompetence and wasting public money is a story.

When our local councils issue a press release of their own accord, and not because someone else is about to "spill the beans", will the public be able to believe they are really learning from their mistakes and being open and honest with the electorate.
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Cognosco
post Dec 9 2014, 06:27 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 9 2014, 10:45 AM) *
I think for this to be a story there has to be an element of deliberately keeping the information hidden, or perhaps evidence of a failure to respond to advice given at the time it would have been advantageous. It would be much worse if the 'clerical error' was contrived, then we would have a story.


I believe there is a major problem with our NTC. There is not a shred of transparency to be found. The continuous, at best lack of acumen, gaffs that are being made. The then continuous underhand efforts to not allow the public to find out about these gaffs. Is it any wonder that they like to declare anyone, who persists with difficult questions when answers are not forthcoming, vexatious.
It means that all trust in the NTC is now at rock bottom and they have brought an organisation that should be held with a high regard into total disrepute. It is not only the large amounts of precept payers cash that they have wasted, though this is important, it is the fact of not being open and transparent not only with this latest gaff but all the others in recent history.
They should all follow the respected decision of RUP, after being unable to persuade them to amend there unethical ways, and do the only decent thing that has ever been done by the rabble and all tender their resignations immediately. angry.gif



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Simon Kirby
post Dec 9 2014, 06:55 PM
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QUOTE (Cognosco @ Dec 9 2014, 06:27 PM) *
I believe there is a major problem with our NTC. There is not a shred of transparency to be found. The continuous, at best lack of acumen, gaffs that are being made. The then continuous underhand efforts to not allow the public to find out about these gaffs. Is it any wonder that they like to declare anyone, who persists with difficult questions when answers are not forthcoming, vexatious.
It means that all trust in the NTC is now at rock bottom and they have brought an organisation that should be held with a high regard into total disrepute. It is not only the large amounts of precept payers cash that they have wasted, though this is important, it is the fact of not being open and transparent not only with this latest gaff but all the others in recent history.
They should all follow the respected decision of RUP, after being unable to persuade them to amend there unethical ways, and do the only decent thing that has ever been done by the rabble and all tender their resignations immediately. angry.gif

In all seriousness, I agree. There is no rehabilitating this council. Resign.


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Simon Kirby
post Dec 9 2014, 06:57 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 7 2014, 10:18 AM) *
Looking at the survey results, I think I can spot the leader of the council's responses! tongue.gif

We now appear to have been visited by a second councillor. tongue.gif


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NWNREADER
post Dec 9 2014, 09:26 PM
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Seems to me RUP is implying loyalty to Party is more important than loyalty to constituents. He was elected to serve his community. Many of those who voted will have voted for the person, not the Party. By staying as a Councillor he could have continued to serve. Now there will be an election and he will be replaced by another party loyalist.....
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Andy Capp
post Dec 9 2014, 11:02 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 9 2014, 09:26 PM) *
Seems to me RUP is implying loyalty to Party is more important than loyalty to constituents. He was elected to serve his community. Many of those who voted will have voted for the person, not the Party. By staying as a Councillor he could have continued to serve. Now there will be an election and he will be replaced by another party loyalist.....

By resigning he is saying he cannot be a part of what he sees as a 'broken' council. I'm not sure resigning was a great idea, but now he avoids censure! wink.gif
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Richard Garvie
post Dec 10 2014, 12:21 PM
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Sad to see RUP step down... I think it's time for a fully blown investigation into the conduct of officers and the leadership at Newbury Town Council. So much money has been wasted, and quite possibly any chance of getting what was owed and helping those residents / businesses who were affected is now gone.

Julian Swift-Hook and David Allen should be the first to resign over this.
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Ruwan Uduwerage-...
post Dec 10 2014, 12:40 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 9 2014, 09:26 PM) *
Seems to me RUP is implying loyalty to Party is more important than loyalty to constituents. He was elected to serve his community. Many of those who voted will have voted for the person, not the Party. By staying as a Councillor he could have continued to serve. Now there will be an election and he will be replaced by another party loyalist.....


I am saying that 'Principles' are more important, I for one do not blindly or silently support anything or anyone that does not demonstrate ethical principles, and sometimes there is a need to simply step aside, when it is apparent that the battle cannot be won from within.

Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera

Former Councillor
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Cognosco
post Dec 10 2014, 03:27 PM
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QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Dec 10 2014, 12:40 PM) *
I am saying that 'Principles' are more important, I for one do not blindly or silently support anything or anyone that does not demonstrate ethical principles, and sometimes there is a need to simply step aside, when it is apparent that the battle cannot be won from within.

Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera

Former Councillor


Some of us tried to inform you that we had been trying, when you invited us to join you in the past, for a very long time but with complete failure. There is a small minority that runs Newbury and unless you are a member of this clique then no matter what is attempted then you hit a brick wall. Until there is a clear out of not only NTC but WBC too then nothing will be achieved in obtaining openness and transparency for precept payers in Newbury. angry.gif
They are giving politicians an even worse reputation, if that is at all possible? rolleyes.gif


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Simon Kirby
post Dec 11 2014, 06:42 AM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Dec 10 2014, 12:21 PM) *
Sad to see RUP step down... I think it's time for a fully blown investigation into the conduct of officers and the leadership at Newbury Town Council. So much money has been wasted, and quite possibly any chance of getting what was owed and helping those residents / businesses who were affected is now gone.

Julian Swift-Hook and David Allen should be the first to resign over this.

Well said Richard, Julian Swift-Hook and David Allen should indeed resign over this and all the other manifest problems at the Council. The issues of probity, competence, and accountability are issues of poor leadership and they have to go and invite an independent inquiry to establish the truth of what has been going on. Only then will the Town Council put right its problems and account for its abuses.


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NWNREADER
post Dec 11 2014, 07:59 AM
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QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Dec 11 2014, 07:42 AM) *
Well said Richard, Julian Swift-Hook and David Allen should indeed resign over this and all the other manifest problems at the Council. The issues of probity, competence, and accountability are issues of poor leadership and they have to go and invite an independent inquiry to establish the truth of what has been going on. Only then will the Town Council put right its problems and account for its abuses.


Why those two?
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Mr Brown
post Dec 11 2014, 08:06 AM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 11 2014, 07:59 AM) *
Why those two?


Leaders are supposed to take the hit, but very rarely do these days!
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Simon Kirby
post Dec 11 2014, 08:47 AM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 11 2014, 07:59 AM) *
Why those two?

Actually I think they should all resign as nerry a one has challenged the Council's inaptitude and victimisation, but to start with the leadership has to take responsibility and resign after setting up a comprehensive independent inquiry into what has been a complete failure of governance.


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Ruwan Uduwerage-...
post Dec 11 2014, 10:09 AM
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Dear Forum Readers,

The Transparency International’s report - 'Corruption in Local Government: The Mounting Risks' (2013):

"warns that an unintended consequence of recent changes, such as those made in the Localism Act and the Local Audit and Accountability Act, may be the creation of an enabling environment for corruption.

The report notes that experts hold widely different views about the scale and prevalence of corruption in local government, but there was general consensus that recent changes would increase the risk of corruption happening in future.

It identifies sixteen recent legislative changes which increase the risks, as well as other trends such as the decline in scrutiny by local press and the move to more private sector out-sourcing. This report includes twenty-two recommendations, including that the Government should conduct a corruption risk assessment and strengthen whistleblowing procedures"

The full report can be downloaded via http://www.transparency.org.uk/publication...-mounting-risks

In relation to audit arrangements, Transparency International identified the following:

  1. The independence of internal and external audit, and of monitoring officers, financial officers and chief executives, is weakened because there is no longer an Audit Commission to act as a backstop and provide support;
  2. There will be no institution with wider powers of public audit to enable criminal investigations, which the Audit Commission used to have;
  3. There will be no institution to collect nationwide data on fraud and corruption or analyse trends;
  4. New external audit reports will not be adequately covered by the Freedom of Information Act;
  5. Local authorities will have a reduced internal capacity to investigate fraud and corruption, due to austerity measures;
  6. The responsibility for investigating and detecting fraud and corruption is being delegated to lower-level officers;
  7. Audit committees are weakened and may disappear because there is no longer a statutory requirement for an audit committee to be a full committee in its own right;
  8. External auditors appointed under the new arrangements may face incentives to avoid undertaking investigations or raising concerns about suspicions of fraud or corruption.


In relation to the new regime for regulating the conduct of elected members, the report said

  1. There is no longer a universal code of conduct to provide clarity to members serving on different public authorities and committees;
  2. There is no longer a requirement for members to declare gifts and hospitality and no legal requirement for either a standards committee or the monitoring officer to check any register of interests on a regular basis;
  3. There is no longer a statutory requirement for a council to have a standards committee;
  4. There is no longer any obligatory sanction for members that violate the local codes of conduct, with overreliance on party discipline as a sanction;
  5. Since the abolition of Standards for England, there is no longer a national investigations body for misconduct;
  6. Some local authorities may struggle to appoint the required independent persons of the appropriate calibre and legitimacy to perform the new role that has been created under the self-regulation system;
  7. The system relies too heavily on the new offence of failing to declare a pecuniary interest – which is arguably unenforceable and misses the point that transparency is not sufficient to deter corruption;
  8. The ability of chief executives, financial officers and monitoring officers to hold elected members to account would be compromised by proposals to abolish their statutory employment protection.


The report put forward 22 recommendations. These include that the Government should conduct a corruption risk assessment and strengthen [b]whistleblowing procedures. None of this has happened!

I am currently being cast in this theatre as the villain by some, who are trying to deflect quizzical eyes from themselves, but as I have nothing to be ashamed of, I will carry on challenging the processes, procedures and practices of Newbury Town Council, that do not appear to be as open and transparent as the precept payers have a Right to expect.

I personally wish to thank all of the people, many of whom do not share my political beliefs, for giving me their support and encouragement. As a police officer, I swore an oath to act 'without fear or favour' and I intend to carry on doing so, no matter what the impact is on me.

Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera
Liberal Democrat Member and Former Councillor
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NWNREADER
post Dec 11 2014, 09:17 PM
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If you perceive corruption, all the more important you stayed, methinks, as you no longer have insight or right to question. In no time you will have the V word applied.
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Andy Capp
post Dec 12 2014, 01:15 AM
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By resigning, Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera himself sets himself up for allegations of underhand behaviour; he is not able to be scrutinised and challenged through due process. And even though I thought I had the jist of the complaint understood, I am still not sure what Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera is complaining of. Has the council or councillors acted deliberately to cover-up anything? And if so, what? Where's the evidence?
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Mr Brown
post Dec 12 2014, 09:14 AM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 12 2014, 01:15 AM) *
By resigning, Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera himself sets himself up for allegations of underhand behaviour; he is not able to be scrutinised and challenged through due process. And even though I thought I had the jist of the complaint understood, I am still not sure what Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera is complaining of. Has the council or councillors acted deliberately to cover-up anything? And if so, what? Where's the evidence?


I'm not quite sure what else he could have done. As far as I can see, he's explained why he resigned very clearly and he's also explained why he doesn't like the enquiry. How anyone can suggest he is being underhand is beyond me.
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Andy Capp
post Dec 12 2014, 01:10 PM
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QUOTE (Mr Brown @ Dec 12 2014, 09:14 AM) *
I'm not quite sure what else he could have done. As far as I can see, he's explained why he resigned very clearly and he's also explained why he doesn't like the enquiry. How anyone can suggest he is being underhand is beyond me.

He can be accused of being underhand because he resigned before complaints about his behaviour could be processed. Other than that, he hasn't explained what the council didn't do that he thinks it should have done. It seems an individual made an executive mistake, but I don't know why the council have to resign en masse because of that.
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