Latest NTC Legal Costs Options

[Simon Kirby]

NTC's Policy and Resources Committee meets Monday, and the agenda comes with the latest on our beleaguered Council's legal costs - £33,676 in the last three months. That's around 3% of the precept.

This is a council in crisis.

Don't worry though, our vigilant NWN newshounds are sure to sniff out the story here...

[On the edge]

And they wonder why people don't want to stand as Councillors! Fourty pages which could be condensed to one. Sir Ernest Gowers need not have bothered.

Just a few observations.
1. Rather than paying solicitors fees, the amounts mentioned suggest it would have been cheaper to permanently employ a junior solicitor!
2. From their comments, it looks as if the auditors don't appreciate these things called 'computers'. Actually recommending reversion to a paper system for tender opening records!!! it's ok lads, the century has now turned...
3. That this prolific and finely detailed document could be created whilst the work of the council continues, do we actually need to replace the CEO and the Financil proper officer?
It's also worth remembering that this is just a tiny Parish Council, with hardly any real powers.

Oh well, back to the dressing up box. Now we have a flag, what about a motto to go with it, such as:- Important are we.

[Cognosco]

And they wonder why people don't want to stand as Councillors! Fourty pages which could be condensed to one. Sir Ernest Gowers need not have bothered.

Just a few observations.
1. Rather than paying solicitors fees, the amounts mentioned suggest it would have been cheaper to permanently employ a junior solicitor!
2. From their comments, it looks as if the auditors don't appreciate these things called 'computers'. Actually recommending reversion to a paper system for tender opening records!!! it's ok lads, the century has now turned...
3. That this prolific and finely detailed document could be created whilst the work of the council continues, do we actually need to replace the CEO and the Financil proper officer?
It's also worth remembering that this is just a tiny Parish Council, with hardly any real powers.

Oh well, back to the dressing up box. Now we have a flag, what about a motto to go with it, such as:- Important are we.

It appears that the precept payers in Newbury don't give a monkeys how much money our moribund lot lose or spend it's only a few of us on here that are trying to hold the shambles to account? Even our local paper refuses to make any serious query? If the petrol prices go up a couple of pence then they are up in arms about it but let our beloved NTC lose thousands and it does not even register with them?

Until such times as there is a very large outcry then it's business as usual at our Gothic town hall after all remember the NTC motto..........."it's our club that runs Newbury and precept payers can jolly well cough up"

[On the edge]

It appears that the precept payers in Newbury don't give a monkeys how much money our moribund lot lose or spend it's only a few of us on here that are trying to hold the shambles to account? Even our local paper refuses to make any serious query? If the petrol prices go up a couple of pence then they are up in arms about it but let our beloved NTC lose thousands and it does not even register with them?

Until such times as there is a very large outcry then it's business as usual at our Gothic town hall after all remember the NTC motto..........."it's our club that runs Newbury and precept payers can jolly well cough up"

Spot on!

Frustrating isn't it