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Councillor's Aggressive Conduct 'Unacceptable', Investigator finds former deputy leader in breach of code. |
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Sep 12 2015, 11:08 AM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Sep 12 2015, 06:42 AM) All rather sad. Of course, the real questions and issues just go unanswered and to this day remain hidden. An 'independent' investigator turns out to be WBC; a bit like two kids at school having a row and the teacher getting one of their dads to investigate. From what the report said, what happened was really just a robust conversation, the words used hardly insulting or being a 'non word'; demeaning, but in the calm cloistered world of local government apparently not acceptable. Far worse is seen even on this forum. So, nothing is going to change and it really wasn't worth voting - they are all the same. I agree with all you have said apart from the 'nothing is going to change' bit because I think things already are, due primarily to social media ( and forums such as this one) which have given Ruwan the opportunity to present the underlying reasons for his conduct. Clearly I am not a 'reasonable' person because on the basis of what I have read, I disagree with the 'independent investigator's' opinion. Moreover I thought investigators were supposed to establish facts, not provide opinions..... Also can't help feeling that the decision would have been different if Ruwan had been a Conservative Councillor
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Sep 13 2015, 12:31 PM
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From: Newbury
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Dear Colleagues,
Was the term "numpty" used. Yes, and for using such a heinous word I stand guilty as charged, so an angel I am not, but did I claim to be?
The interesting thing is that these so-called independent investigations, which were undertaken in the strangest of ways without statements of evidence or collating actual evidence, were not interested in the apparent mismanagement of public funds and the subsequent cover up. Why? Tens of thousands of pounds of public money has been needlessly spent and nobody seems to be bothered, not even the current Tory Council leadership.
To this day there is at least one Councillor in Newbury Town Council (no need to guess who) and one Officer (again no need to guess who) actually know what happened, but they have apparently avoided being questioned by making what I believe to be malicious complaints against me. Both of these people from 2010 have kept the truth from the residents of Newbury how there was an apparent 'management error', and when this came to light, oddly it was I and not they that has been branded in negative terms. There is even documentary evidence to support me assertions.
In hindsight, "numpty" is far too low a level a word to use for the behaviour that I have witnessed and I am still experiencing. Numpty is merely being silly, what I have seen is far more unscrupulous than that.
I will carry on challenging those who seem to believe that they are 'untouchable', for I took that oath and I just cannot let misbehaviour go unchallenged.
Yours fraternally.
Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera
Liberal Democrat Activist and 'Whistle Blowing' Former Councillor at Newbury Town Council
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Sep 13 2015, 08:13 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Sep 12 2015, 06:42 AM) So, nothing is going to change and it really wasn't worth voting - they are all the same. I thought you stood for election?
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Sep 14 2015, 05:53 AM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Sep 13 2015, 09:13 PM) I thought you stood for election? So I did and the people spoke. No issue with that. However, I then saw democracy as it happens. Let's just say Thatcham North? Subsequent events have underlined a growing conviction that nothing will alter here unless there is a complete clear out; across the board.
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Know your place!
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Sep 14 2015, 08:41 AM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Sep 14 2015, 06:53 AM) However, I then saw democracy as it happens. Let's just say Thatcham North? Subsequent events have underlined a growing conviction that nothing will alter here unless there is a complete clear out; across the board. Wasn't there supposed to be an investigation in to what happened at Thatcham North? Have I missed the outcome?
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Sep 14 2015, 12:23 PM
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QUOTE (Lolly @ Sep 14 2015, 09:41 AM) Wasn't there supposed to be an investigation in to what happened at Thatcham North? Have I missed the outcome? I think there was but it was subsumed into a general investigation into the election itself. The main issue from the Council's view was simply holding three elections on the same day is too hard to manage properly...
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Know your place!
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Sep 14 2015, 12:58 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Sep 14 2015, 01:23 PM) I think there was but it was subsumed into a general investigation into the election itself. The main issue from the Council's view was simply holding three elections on the same day is too hard to manage properly... If that is the case then I can completely understand your view. You would have thought that there would be a few new Councillors, not least the one for Thatcham North, who would be very uncomfortable with the situation, but I guess if they make their views known publicly (or even 'robustly' privately) regarding the apparent incompetence of officers, then they risk a code of conduct complaint!
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Sep 14 2015, 02:00 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Sep 12 2015, 06:42 AM) All rather sad. Of course, the real questions and issues just go unanswered and to this day remain hidden. An 'independent' investigator turns out to be WBC; a bit like two kids at school having a row and the teacher getting one of their dads to investigate. From what the report said, what happened was really just a robust conversation, the words used hardly insulting or being a 'non word'; demeaning, but in the calm cloistered world of local government apparently not acceptable. Far worse is seen even on this forum. So, nothing is going to change and it really wasn't worth voting - they are all the same. The investigator, Liz Howlett, was apparently the legal services manager for WBC some years ago. With all due respect to Ms. Howlett it is not what I would call independent. They should have appointed someone who had no former ties with either WBC or NTC.
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Sep 14 2015, 02:17 PM
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QUOTE (Jay Sands @ Sep 14 2015, 03:00 PM) The investigator, Liz Howlett, was apparently the legal services manager for WBC some years ago. With all due respect to Ms. Howlett it is not what I would call independent. They should have appointed someone who had no former ties with either WBC or NTC. It's a fair point, and I would go further and want the investigation conducted by someone who hadn't had a career in local government anywhere which is how it currently works as it does tend to create a substantial pro-establishment bias. It also needs the whole complaint handling taken out of the hands of local government and given to an independent body backed by a judical tribunal, with a remit to consider general maladministration too and not just breaches by councillors of their Code of Conduct.. The code of Conduct also needs beefing up to include the Nolan Principles in their entirety as the 2011 Localism Act does not go far enough and councils are able to set themselves the most anodyne standards - yet calling an officer a "numpty" is still aparently covered.
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Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
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