New Demand for the End of the Town Council, Letter in the Newbury Weekly Options

[Simon Kirby]

Letter in the Newbury Weekly today questioning the need for the Town Council and challenging the council's track record.

Things won't just improve on their own, the Council is just too damaged, too arrogant, and too invested in hiding their problem. Matters will only get worse until there is an independent investigation into the goings on at the Council.

Allan Law also calls time on Swift-Half in another letter. Certainly the Leader of the Council could do much to resolve the institutional failings at the Council if he acknowledged the Council's failings and resigned, and any decent leader would do just that, but I don't see that happening, and an independent warts-and-all investigation into the problems at the Council is the only way I see this ending well.

[On the edge]

Yes, sadly I think you are quite right. At best it's incompetence, but it's now institutionalised. I find it astounding that they still just carry on regardless with no constraint or challenge whatsoever.

[Cognosco]

Yes, sadly I think you are quite right. At best it's incompetence, but it's now institutionalised. I find it astounding that they still just carry on regardless with no constraint or challenge whatsoever.

If they had to perform to the same standards as the private sector they would have gone out of business years ago if they treated customers the same as they do those who they are supposed to be serving!

I know I keep repeating this but I just can't fathom out why there is no public outcry in Newbury?

[On the edge]

If they had to perform to the same standards as the private sector they would have gone out of business years ago if they treated customers the same as they do those who they are supposed to be serving!

I know I keep repeating this but I just can't fathom out why there is no public outcry in Newbury?

I quite agree - almost a conspiracy of silence.

[Simon Kirby]

If they had to perform to the same standards as the private sector they would have gone out of business years ago if they treated customers the same as they do those who they are supposed to be serving!

I know I keep repeating this but I just can't fathom out why there is no public outcry in Newbury?

I think we have to ask seriously why the Newbury Weekly isn't doing more to get t the bottom of the problems at the Town Hall. We get a picture of the ceremonial mayor pretty much every week, but very little challenge of the arrogance, unaccountability, and relentless ineptitude of the Town Council. It paints a false picture of a happy parish council when the reality is that the organisation is irredeemably dysfunctional. The Newbury Weekly is a commercial outfit that wants to sell newspapers, I understand that, but the paper also has a moral obligation to the public to expose the truth, and while the paper props up the Council's establishment spin it is complicit in the tyranny.

[On the edge]

This week's printed NWN carries a piece about RUP. It seems that the party enquiry has completley exhonorated him. I'm surprised they released this information before the election but pleased because it demonstrates there still some honorable behaviour at the centre.

[blackdog]

This week's printed NWN carries a piece about RUP. It seems that the party enquiry has completley exhonorated him. I'm surprised they released this information before the election but pleased because it demonstrates there still some honorable behaviour at the centre.

Not so. The article clearly says that a WBC enquiry has exhonorated him - we still await the results of the party enquiry. I fear we may wait for a long time, certainly until after the election and probably a lot longer.

Apparently some councillors (presumably NTC) complained about his behaviour using the complaints procedure in place to deal with errant parish councillors. WBC have investigated and found Ruwan has no case to answer. I'm not too sure how independent this inquiry was, after all WBC is a Tory dominated organisation.

Nevertheless I am looking forward to JLH's response to this development.

[On the edge]

Not so. The article clearly says that a WBC enquiry has exhonorated him - we still await the results of the party enquiry. I fear we may wait for a long time, certainly until after the election and probably a lot longer.

Apparently some councillors (presumably NTC) complained about his behaviour using the complaints procedure in place to deal with errant parish councillors. WBC have investigated and found Ruwan has no case to answer. I'm not too sure how independent this inquiry was, after all WBC is a Tory dominated organisation.

Nevertheless I am looking forward to JLH's response to this development.

In any event the usual delay and obstruction from the controllers at our local mini council yet again amply demonstrate the catastrophic state of local democracy. When can we have done with this expensive, pointless pretence.

[Cognosco]

Not so. The article clearly says that a WBC enquiry has exhonorated him - we still await the results of the party enquiry. I fear we may wait for a long time, certainly until after the election and probably a lot longer.

Apparently some councillors (presumably NTC) complained about his behaviour using the complaints procedure in place to deal with errant parish councillors. WBC have investigated and found Ruwan has no case to answer. I'm not too sure how independent this inquiry was, after all WBC is a Tory dominated organisation.

Nevertheless I am looking forward to JLH's response to this development.

As long as Parkgate you think? I can foresee they will not want to publish a negative just before an election though?

[blackdog]

As long as Parkgate you think? I can foresee they will not want to publish a negative just before an election though?

It is almost bound to include a negative - either Ruwan or JLH was, presumably, in the wrong?

I do wonder which carpet it is being swept under. Or who has been tasked with writing it up along the lines of 'all just a minor misunderstanding', 'we will be reviewing our procedures', and, of course, 'we are committed to open government at all levels.'

[Cognosco]

It is almost bound to include a negative - either Ruwan or JLH was, presumably, in the wrong?

I do wonder which carpet it is being swept under. Or who has been tasked with writing it up along the lines of 'all just a minor misunderstanding', 'we will be reviewing our procedures', and, of course, 'we are committed to open government at all levels.'

Surely they can't sweep this one under the carpet too? If they do they are going to need a step ladder to be able to get across the room!

[On the edge]

It is almost bound to include a negative - either Ruwan or JLH was, presumably, in the wrong?

I do wonder which carpet it is being swept under. Or who has been tasked with writing it up along the lines of 'all just a minor misunderstanding', 'we will be reviewing our procedures', and, of course, 'we are committed to open government at all levels.'

You've missed your vocation Blackdog. They pay a lot for concise, lucid reports like that!k

[Simon Kirby]

Nevertheless I am looking forward to JLH's response to this development.

I think it's great that JLH is taking an interest in the shambolic chaos that is Newbury Town Council.


I wonder though what response the Leader of the Council Julian Swift-Hook will make. Resignation would be good.

[blackdog]

I think it's great that JLH is taking an interest in the shambolic chaos that is Newbury Town Council.


I wonder though what response the Leader of the Council Julian Swift-Hook will make. Resignation would be good.

Whoops! - Swift Hook, not Left Hook - my mistake.

So who is this JLH? Off to google.

[Simon Kirby]

So who is this JLH? Off to google.

That's the last we'll hear from you tonight then...

[Andy Capp]

I thought it was Julian Swift-Half?

[blackdog]

That's the last we'll hear from you tonight then...

Googled - impressive list of film credits. Sadly I haven't seen any of them!

[Biker1]

Googled - impressive list of film credits. Sadly I haven't seen any of them!

Is that a euphemism?

[Cognosco]

I think it's great that JLH is taking an interest in the shambolic chaos that is Newbury Town Council.


I wonder though what response the Leader of the Council Julian Swift-Hook will make. Resignation would be good.

With JLH now taking an interest in the Council I think Simon ought to produce a spreadsheet of recent Expenses Claims?

[Ruwan Uduwerage-...]

At best it's incompetence, but it's now institutionalised. I find it astounding that they still just carry on regardless with no constraint or challenge whatsoever.

Although the problems at Newbury Town Council may have started out as "incompetence", they moved swiftly beyond this years ago, as I found out last year.

I do not agree that the problems are "institutional" for frankly NTC is too small an organisation not to benefit from immediate changes introduced by those in charge.

There are many fine people within Newbury Town Council (both officers and members), but sadly they do not challenge their "shambolic" leadership and hence are guilty of the 'cabal's' actions by association.

Newbury Town Council has the ability to become a truly effective, efficient and economic organisation that truly provides a high level of service to the public, but to do this openness and transparency are desperately needed.

The residents of Newbury have the opportunity to change the management at all levels of Government this May, and I would commend them to make sure that those standing for election are 'fit for purpose'.

Being in service to the public is a huge honour, so please make sure that those representing us are up to the job!