The ghost of Kent Community TV

Community TV I thought had died but it seems that David Cameron's Government have yet to learn from history, long suffering readers will know my view, on Kent councils disgraceful record on blowing large sums of money, on unwatched video, still it seems that £40 million from our hard earned money, is to be squandered on the creation of small local TV stations across the nation, despite ITV having pretty much abandon local TV.

Fortunately for Kent council, the spectre of their disastrous experiment, has faded to the background, even though it's still possible to catch a glimpse of past experiment through their digital Kent site, which for some reason nobody a Kent County Council are willing to talk about.

Briefly Kent TV, was an experiment in communication which never lived up to the fantastic vision of highly paid officers, despite KCC digging deep into taxpayers pockets, and spending two million quid, and flashing as I understand the KCC credit card, to promote Kent TV on Google search engine.

Whatever induced the Kent Conservative group, lead by Cllr Paul Carter to go along with such wasteful spending, is beyond my comprehension, still what can you expect of a council that stumbles from crisis to crisis and claims to perform excellently, despite losing £50 million in Iceland ( yeah I know it going to be recovered any day) or worse failing our children and then not investigating the root cause?

Even here in Thanet we've seen experiments in community TV like this "Champions TV" it was apparently launched with £100,000 of Government money as far as I can tell, this just flickered for a month or two and gradually faded, a bit like the spot on those black and white tellys of my childhood. Unfortunately the Champions website has  disappeared still this blog site still remains and a twitter account.

A couple of examples of community or local broadcast experiments which didn't succeed  anyhoo the government believe that there is room for a fresh approach, frankly I'd prefer if they didn't nick money that would otherwise go to the BBC.

I understand that the 40 million is for start up costs, Kent TV was going to generate income and well it never did, did it? The government have foolishly identified Dover, Maidstone and Tonbridge as possible locations for this nonsense, clearly nobody at the department of culture, media, sport has ever read Bignews Margate.

Surely if KCC and TenAlps couldn't make Kent TV, a success what chance anyone else?

Honours - Britain's Feudal system alive and well

A sore point for me twice a year, Britain's appalling honours system in which a few deserving recipient's get the recognition they deserve, lost in a fog of those, who receive awards for either looking after our political masters, having great wealth and bunging a few quid to charity, or those employed by the public sector at senior level who get rewarded for just doing a job.

Myself I'd like to see awards for all, particularly those of us who have spent a lifetime in the private sector, supporting the wealth creating part of the economy, enabling the bankers to get richer and the public sector generous pay and benefits.

In fact back in 2006 I awarded myself with the GBE (Grafter for the British Empire) so this is a regular gripe I'm afraid but it will continue whilst Chief Executives of local councils get awards for things like services to local government as is the case in neighbouring Canterbury City Council and I don't doubt the recipient has done an excellent job but doesn't he get paid to do a good job?

Anyway no doubt your asking, what has Tony Flaig "GBE " has ever done, well not a lot but readers keep coming back for more and I'm conceited enough to think that I made a major contribution to saving Kent taxpayers around a £600,000 on KCC's Kent TV project, cancelled this year and no doubt KCC Tory council leader Paul Carter will be recommending me for a gong in next years Queens Birthday honours for services to funders of local government.

I can see it now "arise Sir Flaigy of Bignews Margate" well maybe not, anyhow any suggestions of those who deserve but probably won't receive honours do please comment.

BBC Kent Honours post

BBC News post

KCC Accounts – No publicity please on advertising

Some time back in the summer, I was taking a gander at KCC accounts, just to see if the extravagant claims made for the now defunct KCC project Kent TV, saving vast amounts of wonger could be quantified or justified in any black and white way.

Not being an accountant, to be honest, despite my interest, I felt the life forces draining away, after a quick gander at the Statement of accounts, even though, it shed some light on the extraordinary, profligate spending by Kent Tories, I was drained.

At the time I could find no sign of Kent TV in the Statement of Accounts published by KCC, and haven't since, however stumbling across some comments I noted, I felt should revisit, KCC's Statement of Accounts for 2007-08 08-09 since to be honest the amounts spent on promotion are worthy of an enquiry.

As a public service Bignews Margate has to report on the mind numbing waste, of Kent council's advertising,  in fact an advertising campaign on the subject of waste cost £624,000 during the year 2008/09, still this is a drop in the ocean compared to the big ticket item "Recruitment" now I don't know if you're like me but when I'm looking for work, I tend to delve quite deep, like Jobcentres and company web sites as well as papers, still it would appear KCC prefer lavish advertising or how else can you explain not one, not two but a stonking great big figure of more than three million £3,009,000 during 2008-9 for job ads.

In fairness I suspect because of objective reporting from the likes of Bignews Margate, and newspapers like KOS and Kent Messenger, tuning into Kent Tories hare brained, slack grip on costs, has at least resulted in advertising spending having come down from a mind boggling near six million (£5,985,000) in 2008-9 to a still outrageous five mill (£5,130,000) in 2009-10.

Interestingly last years statement of accounts no longer carries detailed info on advertising, apparently its not a requirement and hell, why worry us taxpayers, anyway thanks to the helpful staff at KCC, not the ones on fat bonuses, but those who retain the public service ethos lost by those helping themselves to bonuses.

Still not surprisingly the often made assertion that Kent TV, saved Kent taxpayers money seems to me to have been without foundation and appears hidden from the accounts, still if you know different, please comment.

Kent council has to communicate with taxpayers but five million budget half of which is spent on job advertising is pure waste, still I suggest if you pay tax, take a gander at how KCC spends your money, also a final question the last years accounts now detail bonus payments made to the bosses (chief exec 31 grand for what its not explained 2008-9) why are these pages shown side ways, is this so we get a pain in the neck trying to read them?

Bob Geldof to get honorary degree

The University of Creative Arts, no I’d not heard of it either, it’s the university that specialises in creativity and straddles Kent and Surrey and is to award an honorary degree to local hero Bob Geldof.

According to the BBC’s report on the matter Dianne Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the university, has said: "As a broadcaster and musician, Bob Geldof's contribution to the creative arts has been substantial.

"He will be an inspiration to our graduating students."

She added: "As a Kent resident he has been tireless in promoting education in the local area, opening schools and supporting local campaigns."

Still I can vouch for the creativity of Bob Geldof’s colleagues in his media business Ten Alps, when they wrote to me complaining about my opinions on the Taxpayer funded Kent TV, a Kent Council project which they happened to be contracted to produce. No surprise that I found it a bit offensive & ironic, to have a contractor company working on behalf KCC, funded by taxpayers like you and I, advising me what I could or couldn’t say.

I myself would like to dish out a few honorary degrees from the University of Life, to those local bloggers and others who supported me most notably Eastcliff Richard in my quest to get Kent Council to accept my right to free speech, the matter eloquently reported by Eastcliff Richard at the time.

Well there is no doubt that Bob is deserving of honours for humanitarian relief and business acumen, I’m no expert but I’ll reserve judgement on his media career, no doubt this personal triumph will take his mind off this story from the Guardian “Ten Alps shares hit after revenue falls”

Still I have to say that Bob Geldof or rather his business has inspired me to keep this blog, and not allow myself to be influenced by big interests and even better Bignews Margate has at the very least outlived Kent TV without a penny from the taxpayer.

Lets hope that hope that our experience in Kent will stop other local authorities wasting another penny on similar projects which in my view will as was the case with Kent TV unsustainable.

Bob Geldof upset with BBC, what can you say

Well for me its difficult to be objective about Bob Geldof particularly since one of his companies wrote to me about my opinions over KCC’s Kent TV, in rather er robust terms.

Anyway Guardian readers will be aware that last week he went off on one, re the BBC world service, now since he seemed to be threatening legal action, I’ll keep my opinions to myself.

Still Rod Liddle a favourite of mine in the Sunday Times has considered the matter and written on the subject, I particularly enjoyed this “He has been bombarding The Guardian’s online site — the traditional refuge of embittered loons — with scabrous attacks upon the BBC. It seems as if the silicon chip inside his head got switched to overload. Oh lordy, I can feel a song coming on.”

Anyway read the whole article here “Hardly a charitable response from Bob the bludgeoner”

Kent TV what went wrong? From a Kent Dissident

It seems that Kent’s establishment is finally waking up to public opinion, which in the case of Kent TV is almost certainly un-measurable, but there’s a feeling in the public at large that British society has split into two, the public sector in which members live a charmed life of job security, good pay and fat pensions and the rest of us look on from a harsher world where our jobs are constantly under threat, income under attack and pension non-existent.

So its no surprise that Kent council’s public sector establishment, think it perfectly reasonable to fritter away the odd million or two on some ego boosting project like Kent TV, or indeed Kent Health Watch which is totally superfluous to traditional provision of council services.

Still we have a general election in the next month or so and even Paul Carter’s Kent Tories have to be objective and think, how do things look from the world outside Kent’s bloated authority in which top bods get bonuses of 10’s of thousands pounds for just doing the job their paid for.

I was going to list this week, some of the non achievements of Kent TV but that’s history, although its probably a sobering thought even for blinkered functionaries of Kent Council that a Kent Dissident (at least that’s how I see myself faced with Kent’s establishment) can produce videos on a nokia phone and plonk them on Youtube and which have some cases, have been far more popular than Kent TV’s product.

Tonight I had intended to write about Kent Press office which I estimate, must cost upwards of £250,000 and from my point of view seems pretty ineffectual, since I am still waiting for a response to a question about Kent Health Watch from Monday last week, as far as I can see KCC need to get their act together.

It would be fair to say that Kent are right to look toward improving communication in the digital age but they could learn from amateurs like me and millions of others who have used low cost or no cost media like Youtube an Blogger to get our thoughts out to a greater world.

I hope KCC officers salvage something from the wreckage and perhaps move content already created to cheaper platforms like Youtube instead and maybe retain a couple of Kent TV personnel to advise schools and local organisation for instance how to produce content.

Kent council should review its media policy across the board like press, internet, lavish advertising budgets and stop treating the public like half wits or dissidents for wanting to know how our moneys spent and services run.

Contrary to allegations by one of Kent’s contractors who objected to me discussing Kent TV, I am sure that Kent TV staff are professionals who have done a good job.

I’d like to thank KCC officers and Cabinet members who supported me in my quest to comment on Kent council, unfettered but I can’t, so instead a big thank you to Thanet’s Blogging community and in particular Eastcliff Richard.

P S Finally why have I campaigned so hard against Kent TV, its simple really my money is hard earned and I’d prefer that Kent conservatives don’t throw it away like confetti on hare brained schemes.

ITS OVER FOR KENT TV

I just received news that KCC's bold and ill considered project Kent

TV has been cancelled .

As Im travelling home from north London it will be a while before I

comment further .

Try this link http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/february/9/kent_tv_to_close.aspx&wsc=eb&wsi=c30d8da30e962fa7

--

Sent from my mobile device

tony flaig - Bignews Margate Thanet's unparalled and unmissable blog

A quick reminder – KENT TV’s future

As many of you will know, I have never been a fan of Kent TV in the same way KCC bods officers and members (Cons) have, never criticising Kent TV as if it were some sacred cow (except of course, for that scrutiny meeting which was later er re-scrutinised, after Tory Back benchers were challenged or given new info)

By there own admission, viewing numbers have at times been difficult to get at, two and half million visits as its mentioned on the agenda or what we bloggers call hits, seems a big number but does not reflect regular viewers, ask yourself this, has anyone come up to you and said I watch Kent TV, or try asking anyone who does not read about or follow Kent Politics if they have heard of Kent TV.

Anyway give yourself a chortle, today if you have the day off as I do maybe you’d like to watch KCC’s cabinet webcast today from 10am click here (webcasting of democracy is something worthwhile) were no doubt KCC’s bods will speak highly of what many consider a huge waste of time and remember despite not having agreed to continue they have er just in case decided to start the bidding process to continue on the off chance also don’t forget that an extensive totally unbiased report has been generated by asking 36 people some of whom are directly involved in Kent TV work for the council and or have very strong connections with KCC for funding and the like.

Anyway click here for KCC webcast follow the links and if you’ve missed the start I understand that it will be available for viewing after the meeting.

As always when referring to Kent TV I like to remind interested parties that I am entitled to comment (freedom of speech) without receiving intimidating advice.

Points – Kent TV bad news I think

Kent on Sunday this week carried the above story about Kent TV  “Thousands watch KCC soap”  referring to the Hollywould drama and if you don’t analyze this it looks like a good news story, which it isn’t*, firstly the cost per viewer assuming the same viewers were hooked to each episode, is just over £2 per viewer (based on average viewer figure per episode 10K) or £1 per eye ball.

This “soap”, was aimed at a teenage audience, reaching an average 10,000 per episode, now I may be mistaken but I understand that Kent’s secondary school population is around 90,000 plus, so even if the viewers were Kent’s young adults the show has failed to get much more than 10% of the audience and of coarse had this been any good one might have expected it to have gone “viral” which from these figures it doesn’t appear to have.

Still we’re told that Kent Council Leader Paul Carter will be discussing the future of Kent TV, at his cabinet meeting Feb 1, now its my prediction that Kent TV will continue not because its saving the county a penny, which hasn’t so far, or because anyone watches it, it will get the go ahead because KCC bods wish it to continue.

Finally I’ve been told that the only report to evaluate Kent TV relied on interviews with around 36 “stakeholders” many of whom either worked for KCC or Kent TV or had strong links with county establishment.

The only justification for maintaining Kent TV as I see, is to create or maintain jobs not something that is actually tenable in the real world or that of Kent Council.

*(this incidentally is my view, which I’m entitled to express as previously pointed out to those interested parties who previously tried to er influence me, again a big acknowledgement to ECR for his help) FOR MORE ON THE EPIC SAGA THAT IS KENT TV CLICK ON THE LABEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST 

Dear Mr,Mrs or Ms “Check your facts” and Kent Press Office

In my last post I touched on the visit by Kent officials to the eGovernment bash in Malmo where its likely that Kent TV may win some award in connection with “the use of information and communication technology in public services”.

I received this rather helpful comment on which I’d like to remark.

Tony,
Given recent events I should warn you to check your facts about the 'jolly' to Sweden. I was at a conference in Maidstone yesterday where Peter Gilroy gave a presentation. He's definitely not in Sweden.
Strangely though, one of the other speakers was a guy from capgemeni.

Thu Nov 19, 12:42:00 PM

Firstly I didn’t refer or imply a “jolly”, secondly I was informed by a KCC officer that Peter Gilroy Cheif Executive and Tanya Oliver Director of Strategic Development and Public Access would be attending the eGovernment conference in Malmo Sweden, with a third person representing Kent Councils Kent TV whom I understand to be John McGhie.

Now rather surprisingly in my opinion, I actually received a reply to a request for information, from KCC’s press department via an email which in the past has not always been forthcoming and this is it.

Tony,

In your response to your query, the European Commission is covering the costs of accommodation and flights for Tanya Oliver and a colleague to present Kent TV at the award finals. Peter Gilroy has been invited separately as guest speaker and his costs have also been covered by the European Commission.

There is no cost to KCC.

Regards

The answer arrived more than a day after my request and surprisingly late in the day @ 17:39

I relied on other sources when I mentioned this now, so didn’t have to wait around for our 5 star council to answer a simple question.

This afternoon I received a call at my other office which happens to be out on a construction site, it seemed that KCC press office were most interested that I impart information from the above email.

Now one thing seemed to niggle KCC and its this thing, the suggestion, that the Kent taxpayer might be funding the trip which was an opinion, conjecture, hypothesis.

Well folks I was wrong or perhaps right in someway, since as I understand, we are part of Europe and as nation a large contributor to the European Commission therefore Kent taxpayer will almost certainly have made some contribution however small.

I do not always, just throw this stuff together, and generally attempt to check facts, however I find the prospect of KCC officials nit picking on what is an opinion and or commentary yet another waste of public resources just like Kent TV, and finally when I’m told there is no cost to the Kent Taxpayer I take it then, the time spent in Malmo will be unpaid.

I’d like to remind KCC how much effort it took for them to acknowledge my right to express myself in relation to council policy.

I haven’t commented on “recent events”, that being local blogs being pressured, just recently but I will and despite the chasm between me and the Ramsgate blogger I owe a debt to all local bloggers for the support I received and particularly ECR.

This posting may well contain errors but the council officer whom was "on the case" seemed to think I should impart the funding issue pronto why ? I haven't a clue. but as a result this hasn't been checked in as much detail. Still if I've got it wrong you can instantly comment.

Kent TV the jury’s out and probably in Sweden?

Here is my latest view on the saga that is Kent TV, as you will know in common with many others, I consider Kent TV to be a complete and utter waste of Taxpayers money.

Just last Friday the Corporate Policy Overview Committee discussed a document prepared by Capgemini, the document imaginatively called “Kent TV review”, now I’m no expert but hopefully my readers are able to distinguish between a well thought out objective report and polished media waffle.

A quick glance at this report is all I needed to wonder at what is the purpose of a review, is it to critically evaluate, appraise, question, or perhaps report in a manner which would please the organisation commissioning it.

Now I wouldn’t seek to promote my own view in fact I’ll remind you that in connection my comments concerning KCC’s Kent TV I have myself found myself subject to some hostility as a result.

So with that preamble, you form your own judgement but one big concern I have, must be the fact that the author of the report consulted with only 36 people of whom 16 were directly linked with Kent Council or Kent TV in addition several of the remaining 20 people consulted would have to a greater or lesser degree, links to Kent council and that artificial world of the public sector.

Mrs Trudy Dean Leader of Kent council Liberal Democrat group during last Friday’s Overview meeting, made it quite clear, that the report has a lack of meaningful figures in it and for me she’s right on the mark and gave a better report of Kent TV than the anyone else.

Still you make your own mind up click here for Capgemini Kent TV Review also click for a webcast of the meeting fast forward to 02:17.

To get some balance I contacted the author Nigel Waterson and briefly spoke with him, despite interrupting his lunch, he was kind enough to give me some context to his report and it seems that his report was balanced in context that he undertook it, as his understanding is, that whilst he spoke with “stakeholders” (which in this case predominantly means public sector bosses) rather than members of the public, its his understanding that KCC were also getting views from proles like us via some questionnaires.

Intriguingly and rather surprising I though I’d contact Tanya Oliver (Director of Strategic Development and Public Access), only to be told as I understand, that she would be out of the office till next week, apparently in Sweden along with Peter Gilroy KCC Chief Executive and I think John McGhie of Kent TV.

I assume that this means that Kent Council’s Kent TV have won the er highly prestigious award for eGovernment “in the use of information and communication technology in public services” I think the e stands for electronic although I reckon, eccentric, extraordinary, exorbitant might also be applicable.

My final thought if and when Kent TV win one of the eGovernment awards, will there be a highly charged tearful acceptance speech, from either of the local authority bods, in which, after they’ve thanked their mum and dad, they might add, that without the contribution of hundreds of thousands of Kent Taxpayers, most of whom have never heard of Kent TV (unless the read Bignews Margate) it wouldn’t have been possible which it wouldn’t.

PS I’d like to think that Kent taxpayers aren’t being saddle with the cost of hotel and accommodation but with two mill flushed down the drain that doesn’t seem likely.

Should KCC Chief Executive Put Up or Shut Up ?

Ray Parker, another Kent blogger, pointed out on his blog recently that Peter Gilroy KCC Chief Exec had written a letter which appeared in this weekends “Kent on Sunday”, now I don’t know whether you share my view of the role of government employees, whether local or national I feel they should confine their opinions to themselves or their colleagues or political masters.

I share Ray Parkers concerns about impartiality, now I don’t care how important Peter Gilroy thinks he is or even how others judge him but its my feeling that he should keep his views to himself unless of course he has been asked to comment by his democratically elected bosses.

Now just to clarify, by Put up, I mean he himself should perhaps stand for public office once he retires from KCC or Shut up by which I mean he should keep his views to himself whilst employed by the Kent Taxpayer.

Still what do I know?

Well what do you expect, Mr Gilroy would support this and me as taxpayer knows, that most do not, and having been given figures concerning the “savings” frankly don’t share his view.

Finally if Peter Gilroy wants anyone to take his views seriously why doesn’t he write as Peter Gilroy member of the public like tony flaig of Bignews Margate.

May I suggest

Given the little spare time I have at the moment, as much as I enjoy contributing to the blogosphere, its not possible so I shall suggest you have a read of Paul Francis KM (Med-edt) writing on a frequent topic of these pages Kent TV.

One thing I did note this morning around 4:20 was that on top of the frankly inappropriate spending, on Kent TV ( 2 million) KCC has now compounded this excess by trying to ramp up interest and advertise the much criticised “Hollywould” soap.

I’m just wondering if, as I’m one of the few to have heard this, whether I’m their target audience, a whingeing middle aged blogger and white van man.

Still if you want to know more you can always click the Kent TV label at the bottom of this post.

Kent TV a last throw of the dice or indeed “What the Hells going on”*

In yet another attempt to make Kent TV work, it seems our county councils TV boffins have come up with the ultimate weapon in attempting to justify the least essential council services ever.

Its been said before that nobody has ever lost out, in under estimating the peoples intelligence and it seems that theory is being put to the test, in

a final attempt to justify Kent Council throwing our money down the drain toward the Kent TV experiment.

Those of us of a certain age might just recall a time when 70’s ITV drama Crossroads, was perceived as the ultimate in poor story lines, cheap production values and the frequent look of terror from startled actors who appeared shocked to be in front of a camera.

Why mention the above, well, its seems as part of an attempt to get an audience, KCC TV media experts, have come up with the tried and tested audience generator the Soap Opera “Hollywould”.

I strongly advise you take a gander at the trailer, a word of caution, Corrie it aint, but just taking a glance at the trailer might amuse and I feel could become a cult in a “What the hells going on” sort of way. I’d imagine that poor acting, plot will be combined with heavy, none to subtle, public service messages. God knows Kent council seems to full of clowns so the chances of a comedy classic are high.

Anyway honed under the exceptional circumstances of public indifference, failure to attract an audience and against a back drop of Kent Council cutting genuine services to the public, I think this mini soap opera could be so appallingly bad that it will be required viewing for our Youtube generation.

I reckon with a bit of luck not only will we Kent taxpayers be laughing at “Hollywould” but also Bob Geldoff’s execs might just salvage something from this which has so far failed to justify any of the money invested.

Its still my view that Kent TV is an outrageous waste of local Taxpayer money, and even in the world of public authority waste Kent TV has been so far a star, I’d just love to know how Kent top Conservative Paul Carter justifies this nonsense particularly if he attended the Tories conference last week, when Cameron was letting us know that how tough life is about to get in the public sector.

Although vaguely aware of this latest Kent TV tosh I’d much like to thank the journalist, who flagged it up for me.

* A line from KCC’s Kent TV drama “classic”

Those million pound savings from Kent TV Explained

When Peter Gilroy Chief Executive of Kent council was kind enough to inform me that Kent TV, would contribute a gazillion sorry million pounds in savings to Kent Council I simply couldn’t believe it, still that was before Lynda McMullen KCC Finance Director was kind enough to furnish me with details to substantiate that figure.

As you would expect from a 5 star council when they say they’ll save a million, they mean it and now the figures have been revealed exclusively to Bignews Margate, although I have sent a copy to a rather miffed Paul Francis Political Editor for the KM Group who seemed to get short shrift having enquired for similar figures earlier.

To save you the headache of reading through the highly scientific calculations it seems most savings have come about as a result of not printing leaflets, oh and also not wasting money on expensive advertising telling you the er blimin obvious like for Highways er speed is not a good thing and accidents happen.

Still for the more curious, you’ll appreciate the elegant way the figures add up exactly to the right amount, if only my finances were so clear cut. (if you click on the image it should expand a bit).

I’m not entirely convinced the savings made couldn’t have occurred without squandering a couple of mill on Kent TV.

unfinished media business

Firstly despite requesting figures from KCC’s Finance supremo Lynda Mcmullen, after a month KCC are finding it a tad difficult to justify their claims to be saving gazzilions by pouring large sums of money in to the Kent TV project.

Peter Gilroy KCC Chief Exec made this polite and non-partisan comment in an email to me some time ago "Whilst you may not support Kent TV, it is contributing to savings on publications of £1 million in the current year..."

All I’m asking is that KCC, actually prove how they arrive at what I find to be highly questionable figures, since as far as I can know Kent TV, has probably not had much more than a million unique visits. Still miracles do happen so next time you click on Kent TV presumably you’ll be saving me and the other Kent Taxpayer around a quid. Hooray ! quite how this miracle occurs will remain a mystery until 4 star KCC reply to my freedom of Information requests.

Still maybe John McGhie (Kent TV Editor), will be able to pipe up with some viewing figures.

Secondly that other Taxpayer funded broadcaster, the BBC, has yet to respond to my long winded, boring commentary, on how, the BBC’s regional output Radio Kent and their South East News was complete pants, in the main, they’re quite happy to waste hours of broadcast time on performing animals but reporting on social and political issues is a tad difficult, particularly on the evening news when they’ve generally got a performing meerkat or colourful peacock lined up and ready to go on an outside broadcast.

Still in the hope that David Holdsworth, Controller, English Regions gives a toss cares I have, this day, sent him a reminder of my earlier email, whether he comments or not, I cannot understand how BBC Radio Kent can justify a licences fee when it doesn’t report or reflect on local issues.

Should a response be forthcoming from either of these media related issues I shall report back to you.

PS of course the progress KCC or even KCC Kent TV are issues you might expect to be covered by the BBC, clearly they have an obligation to report in an objective way but seem not to upset anyone.

PPS thats all for now, have scheduled an editorial meeting with MR PUSS (the Flaig families very own Fat Cat), we're not sure whether to keep a hard nosed approach to local issues or soften the style with more cuddly animals and such like, to encourage taxpayer funded journalists @ the BBC to take an interest in local issues.

Kent TV more dual standards? and councillors groan at mention of Bignews

The webcast of yesterdays meeting is now available, the reason it was called, seems trivial to me but clearly important to those for whom it was requested. Having had chance to see the thing from the beginning I'm not much wiser.

Firstly much of the meeting was devoted to the fact the earlier scrutiny cabinet meeting, had discussed the process of giving Ten Alps a fresh contract for Kent TV and the role of council officers, who had not been present at the prior meeting.

It was felt that it was not entirely correct to have done so, which leads me to the apparent dual standards, in discussing this the Chair of the original Committee was not present, but this didn’t stop mention of her role in the previous meeting.

So in the haste to accommodate Peter Gilroy & fellow officer Tanya Olivier Leader Paul Carter presumably a further discourtesy? has occurred by mentioning Trudy Dean in her absence, which I believe Paul Carter did on more than one occasion. This meeting clearly could have waited till September.

Anyhow if you’d like to assess just how pointless this meeting was, I suggest that you listen to how upset acting chairman Roger Manning is about the previous meeting.

Still one light point was a reference to an earlier Bignews Margate Headline (Kent TV - If at first you don’t succeed or best out of three) clearly pretty influential, in the corridors of Sessions House, still I’m not sure quite what those sounds that accompanied the mention, were adulation! derision! joy! you decide they occur around the end (around 1:17) laughing, groaning, crying, braying Tories? I just can’t tell, if you know for sure, such disrespect might result in a complaint by Bignews Margate to the Standards Board of England except I don’t believe in such nonsense.

Admittedly this webcast is not your best TV but if you’ve nothing else to do give it a go. At a complete tangent totally unconnected mentioning TV I suggest if you ever have chance that to watch “the wire” which is currently showing on BBC 2 a great mix of life, dirty dealings and politics, which is without a doubt the best television ever.

Cabinet Scrutiny Special click here

Kent TV another day another result

The Kent TV controversy will continue for some time, today it seemed to be another little victory for executive power over commonsense was outcome of today’s new improved scrutiny committee.

Now I unfortunately missed much of the meeting (live webcast) due in part to a long cue at Rooks for a couple of their finest saveloys and attending a brief training course on the “bleeding obvious” (2nd in a week) as is prevalent and mandatory, in much of our working life.

Paul Carter, Tory boss and his Chief Executive Gilroy had demanded their day in committee as it were, also present was Kent Director of Strategic Development and Public Access, Tanya Oliver.

Paul Carter and his colleagues Peter Gilroy and Tanya Oliver were it transpires not happy, to have had the previous scrutiny committee discuss the new contract for Kent TV, without them present although as far as I can recall no disparaging comments were made about either.

Today’s meeting pretty much came to the same conclusion, although the atmosphere had changed as had the chair and several of the previous committee members, the flavour I got from the last meeting was that ordinary members of the council, were a bit put out, at the lack of referral to backbenchers, still I understand that KCC TV is off the schedule for a long time after today’s, occurrences.

It seemed to me, that having the bosses present quelled any rebellious inclinations, like members asking to be at least consulted on policy. Sill it would be wrong to draw an analogy with rebellious school boys confronted by the headmaster and chairman of governors asking if they had any grievances.

I’m sure if there were any genuine concerns, Kent councils Tory backbenchers (mainly substitutes for the regular committee members) have as much backbone as you might expect. I just wonder why this matter could not have waited till September and whether 5 of the original 8 committee members being absent skewed things a tad, probably not eh.

Still something that has troubled me over the Kent TV contract is that despite Peter Gilroy’s mention of chronology of events, you would have thought that, given the council had more than two years, to anticipate the end of the current contract, they appear to have waited till rather late in the game to do something about it.

Kent TV is hardly a big hit, with the public, with funding stretching toward two million pounds of public money, it would be nice if the county, had some method in place already monitor benefits but it appears not, so far no credible figures appear to have been published, on any real or more likely imagined savings that Kent TV has delivered.

How often have the chief executive and leader of the council, told us that Kent is an excellent authority, if its true, why given more than two years, were they not better prepared to handle the end of the original contract.

If Paul Carter and his colleagues, expect us to believe that Kent TV is anything more than an affectation, lets see some figures that justify its existence. So often I’ve heard the business analogy, that KCC is a big business, if this is the case I suggest they start using proper business methods not just thinking that something's a good idea and not prove it.

Still I see that the influential Bignews Margate got a mention during the discussion, proving that the best things in life are free unlike Kent council or its media obsession. If I had the same money as Kent TV, having invested maybe 5 or 10 quid in electricity, pro rata, Bignews Margate would be blog of choice for every man women and child on the planet.

A question for Cllr Paul Carter whom I understand is a businessman would you invest the best part of two million pounds of your own money and wait more that two years to assess the effectiveness of you investment? I think not and nor should taxpayers!

The bosses have a weird relationship with Kent TV if you dare criticise they go bananas I just wonder why? Yet you ask them to take responsibility for it and they run a mile it took months for me to get KCC to accept they were responsible for Kent TV.

Its a pity KCC could not have convened a similar meeting when one of their own contractors made an extraordinary attack on me for publishing honest opinion about KCC media, still mustn't grumble.

I’ll let you know or maybe you can let me and the readers when this meeting is available to view on KCC’s WebPages.

Kent TV more wasted time & money? Will KCC Chief Executive & Council Leader, convince public everything's OK!

A week or so back, Kent councils cabinet scrutiny committee met and one of the items as I recall, was whether the renewal of the Kent TV contract was handled properly.

An extraordinary meeting has been called which will take place at 1pm Wednesday 5th August click here for a link to the live webcast or hopefully later recording of said event.

Its suggested that the Chief Executive Peter Gilroy, Paul Carter Tory boss and others didn’t like the outcome of the previous meeting, hence I assume the emergency meeting.

Now here’s the situation again as I understand it, Kent TV was set up to run for two years, the contract was awarded to Ten Alps, the council has had a long time to consider whether to continue the project.

However for some reason between council officers Peter Gilroy Chief Exec & Tanya Oliver (director of strategic development and public access), Paul Carter Tory Leader and Mr M Banks KCC’s Barrister the need to make a long term decision on Kent TV appears to have been put off.

The situation means that Ten Alps have apparently had their contract to supply Kent TV renewed for another seven months without the tiresome worries of competition.

As I can see, no suggestion was made at the previous scrutiny meeting, that council officers had acted in any improper way or for that matter Paul Carter, although naturally questions of public perception were raised as well as lack of member involvement.

My view is this Paul Carter, who is after all the elected leader of the council, appears to me, to be lead by the officers, rather than the more usual way of doing things in a democracy. Why else are we wasting money with further meetings

The following are views expressed by members as per the summary of the scrutiny meeting.

• Mr Manning raised concerns about the sensitivity of the issue and the public perception of Mr Gilroy being both the Chief Executive and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Kent TV.

• Mr Christie raised concerns whether, perception wise, it was a reasonable decision for the Chief Executive to take, his views were that public perception might be that somehow there was a conflicting interest.

• Mr Hotson suggested that for the future, the Chief Executive should not be in a position to take such decisions and it should be another officer or a Member level decision because there could be the perception of a conflict of interest.

• Mr Hotson stated that it was unforgiveable that there was a period of four of five months when there was no Member involvement of knowledge, and that should not happen in the future.

• Mr Kite stated that this situation failed the public perception test

• Mr Christie remarked that the decision to extend the contract was taken during April, but the contract was only signed on 15 July, the same day as the informal meeting.

• The Chairman explained that neither she nor the spokespersons had exercised an official call in of this issue firstly because they were satisfied that the Chief Executive had the authority to exercise this decision. The issue was whether it was an appropriate decision for him to take and that was a matter of judgement.

• Mr Parry raised concerns about the period of time in which there was no Member involvement. In future Members should be notified at the earliest opportunity of what was going on.

• Mr R King explained that it was a matter of Member involvement and which decisions should be made by the Cabinet.

As regulars will know I have had a fair amount of grief over Kent TV the council run TV station, a year back or so I feel that an attempt was made, to restrict what I could or could not say about Kent TV. I don’t recall Carter or Gilroy demanding meetings to discuss that matter, wonder why?

After some months a grudging acceptance was made by one legal officer that I did have the right to comment freely, also more importantly was the acceptance the KCC was ultimately responsible for the output Kent TV.

Time for a more democratic approach at Maidstone?

Yesterday's posting concerned Peter Gilroy's role as Chief Executive, ostensibly it was about whether Peter Gilroy had a conflicting interest, when he authorized the extension of the contract with the Ten Alps to produce another seven months of Kent TV.

But having the chance to view the discussion on KCC's website (not Kent TV and why not?), clearly there's a lot going on, firstly the decision to extend the contract itself, seems to have been handled in a particularly poor way, council officers, Peter Gilroy and Tanya Oliver were well aware of the contract period and when it would need to either be extended, put back out to tender, or canceled as one assumes councillors themselves might also have been aware, so why wasn't this matter dealt with by elected politicians.

It's clearly the case, that Kent TV itself, is a bit of a red herring, since the real point of issue appears to be democratic control. I suggest if you're interested in democracy, that you take time to examine the video from KCC's website covering the debate, listening to the councillors it's clear are concerned about democratic accountability.

Since Kent TV was first suggested, I've not thought it, necessarily the best use of council taxpayers' money, but beyond that, it's very creation appears to have come not from a political agenda, supported by County councillors but at the suggestion of council officers with some support from Cabinet members but not I suspect the majority of councilors.

As I say, I suggest you watch, this part of the meeting, because I'm sure you'll get a very strong sense, that ordinary county councillors, are worried about the democratic process being sidestepped "It's really a question of who makes the decisions." Cllr Richard King

To view the meeting please note the section to be watching starts at Index Point 02:39:55 Mrs Dean (Chair) which you will need to click on once you arrive at the web page click here