KENTWATCH - KENT TORIES IN YET ANOTHER COVER UP?

Frankly tales of Kent's Conservative council secretive inner circle, drain me, but fortunately should you wish indulge, an interesting story appears courtesy of KentOnline and Paul Francis.

The last few years, of writing this blog, it has been clear to me that residents are deliberately, presented information by Kent Council, which in the main suits the ruling Conservative party. 

Over the years it has been difficult to come by information, on various issues, media spend, lavish payments to staff, councillors use of chauffeur driven limousines, expensive travel, entertainment, it seems only the freedom of information act, has allowed the grudging trickle of information, it's seems apparent, that Paul Carter's administration will never allow us, to know for instance how Kent child services degenerated to point that placed children at risk in the county and who is responsible.

Boring as it has become, it seems Kent Council leader Tory Cllr Paul Carter and his cabinet are once again sitting on information that should be in the public domain.

Understand this, not just cranks tapping out blogs are uncomfortable with the secrecy surrounding KCC, I'm sure last December quite a few of Carter's own colleagues were disquieted that for some weeks the senior officer of the council had been away from her desk for some long time before Paul Carter decided to mention a hitherto secret redundancy.

Some businessmen in Kent have been perturb as Kent Council has in the last few years, blundered into various commercial activities, still you'll be pleased to know that a report has been prepared independently, unfortunately if you've read Paul Francis account or even if you haven't you probably wont be shocked to find out that although the report has been recently leaked to Kent Messenger papers, Paul Carter and his inner circle choose not to release it to fellow councillors.

Paul Carter and other senior Conservative councillors hold their cards close to chest, still it's an unfortunate irony that the money on the table is that of hard working taxpayers of Kent and not the personal property of Tory toffs. 

Top Execs - Crisis at Christmas

Emergency Appeal !

A chief executive is not just for Christmas but for life or in the case of Kent County Council er ... at least 18 months (on a four year contract).

Still reeling from recent news of the departure of Kent council boss Katherine Kerswell, from KCC, Bignews Margate is appealing for help.

We here at Bignews Margate believe that execs, even local authority bods, deserve better, how cruel and insensitive was it for top boss Katherine Kerswell to have found herself made redundant just before Christmas, despite having been more than competent,  according to Kent Councils press wallahs and with little more than a few months memories of Kent and a few hundred grand to get by until the next job turns up.

I'm not entirely sure what can be done to save other public sector execs in similar circumstances, but it seems up and down the UK, hard working essential top bods are being disappeared and forced from their jobs with alarming frequency, and the methods used are brutal as they are crude, rarely spoken about in public, the technique, is referred to as the "golden goodbye", basically the victim is approached, by trusted colleagues or political masters, its made clear they've got to go, ever increasing bags of taxpayers money placed in front of the victim until they crack, and before you can say "lovely jubbly" lawyers have whipped out a confidentiality agreement and the victim adds a fresh paragraph to an ever increasing list of achievements.

Examples of big payouts to the upper echelons of local authorities are numerous in Southampton a couple of officers trousered £432,000  or Chief Exec of City Building Glasgow a quango stashing £615,000.

Meanwhile coming back to the extraordinary events in Kent, in which apparently a highly competent chief officer, was got rid of, for reasons which I guess have been hidden, at taxpayer expense by the Conservative  administration employing lawyers to draw up confidentiality or gagging agreements, it seems that Cllr Paul Carter,who has already offended staff with the big money sunk into the Kerswell matter,  has stirred up further controversy asking staff, some of whom will be losing jobs, for sponsorship, as he heads off to take part in month long motor rally see the Gazette page 2.

Anyway if you happen to be Paul Carter or one of Kent's Tory county councillors, maybe you could tell us how Kent council is going to operate with neither a leader or chief officer in charge of the two billion pound turnover organisation. Also could someone explain why so much taxpayer money is wasted not just by Kent's Tories but across the country in other local authorities and quango's on senior managers when lower orders are walked over?

KENT WATCH - Launch of Regional Growth Fund - Ironic choice of venue?

I see news reported in the local papers including Kent on Sunday, that "county hall chiefs" and local MP's have had an official launch, of a scheme to offer grants to local businesses in East Kent to encourage up to 5000 jobs in the area, 40 million is on the table from the billion pounds national Regional Growth Fund.

I think its fair to say that KCC have done well getting this money, however its going to be even tougher I think to realise anything like the "up to" 5000 jobs figure quoted by Kent on Sunday, and I can't help think near impossible that jobs created will be solid, if you know what I mean.

This intiative is against a backdrop of the governments attempt to face up and deal with the very real instability in the economy in which half the population live courtesy of the taxpayer in a non productive or wealth creating world supported by the remaining generative industries.

Manufacturing appears to be one of those areas of the economy that no longer employs the numbers it once did either due to improved productivity or manufacturing having moved abroad, which as I understand has been the case with Hornby Hobbies in Margate who moved production to Guangdong Province, China in the latter half of 1990's.

This week will highlight the division in our economy and society between the " haves", public sector workers go on strike, and the rest of us who create the wealth are held to ransom. And yes of course some are getting a raw deal, but without those of us in wealth creation, the public sector wouldn't exist particularly those made up jobs.   

Clearly Hornby Hobbies, like other businesses has prospered having exported manufacturing jobs, particularly those which are labour intensive, hence the suggestion of irony, in launching this scheme where KCC did, still presumably since Council Leader Paul Carter, and  Kent Cllr Kevin Lynes, (regeneration and economic development) both represent divisions in prosperous West Kent, they would be unaware of local history.

Digressing slightly, in previous times, Kent Councils top officer would turn up for such events, however I see no mention Katherine Kerswell, the current Chief of KCC, and am reassured having rung KCC's press office that everything is still hunky dory, although they didn't comment on the suggestions that Katherine Kerswell has not been seen for a while, the Kent press bod could have allayed fears of another expensive high profile departure but didn't or rather couldn't, still if the worse comes to the worse, that's another job vacancy.

Its a pity few and certainly no one in the public sector, realises how important it is to have genuine wealth creating jobs, particularly with the countrie's gas and oil running out, although it's often been suggested that the UK is in terminal decline, maybe it really is, now that this country is more reliant every day on importing energy, and earnings from intangible services such as banking, insurance look every more shaky.

Finally if the top job at KCC has suddenly become vacant, then surely Paul Carter's position as leader of the Council will be untenable and no amount of shilly shallying from the councils press/PR department can save Carter, crikey that could be another job vacancy, blimey maybe the jobs market is looking better  already.

Still nobody takes responsibility Kent’s Child Care failings

BBC report that KCC are making significant improvements to child care and lord knows they need to. For details of how they’ve improved things click to read the BBC local news report.

Still no news, as to who within Kent County Council is responsible for placing children at risk of significant harm, I suppose we will never be told, as KCC seems committed to side stepping this for reasons, we will have to guess.

So just where does ” the buck stop “ on this issue? Will Paul Carter ever sort out that enquiry as to what happened?

Finally KCC have a least had the decency and honesty to drop the claim to perform excellently, a bit of an exaggeration given the seemingly endless er… cock ups unfortunate occurrences, with staff, media, money and by far the worst children's services, I must say it would be difficult not to put Kent first, seeing as its on the stationary.

Conservative stating the obvious

One of my readers pointed out this gem, a letter penned by Tory County Councillor Jenny Whittle (referring to the failure in child care) in this weeks "Kent on Sunday" clearly stating the flippin obvious "May I, in the strongest terms refute the suggestion that social workers are somehow taking the blame for the failings identified in last November's Ofsted inspection" of course you can, nobody in their right mind is going to criticise you for that or blame frontline staff.

Still here is where some of us at least would start to separate their agreement with Jenny's thoughts, when she states "I have been candid about what went wrong" and this is why Paul Carter, Tory Leader and presumably Jenny Whittle's boss, as I understand promised a review into what went wrong, which has yet to surface. 

Recently watching Jenny Whittle and Chris Wells respond to a KCC cabinet scrutiny committee, they seemed fully content to and of course this is just my opinion, evade the questions on whether we would ever see a review or not into how Kent child services allowed several hundred children to be at risk.

Most of us, are, after all frontline staff, in whatever sphere, we work, and we appreciate that frontline social workers were in no way responsible for child care failings, still that aside, what we, most of us, understand is this, almost certainly the poor state of child care services must have resulted from management failings and not from some mechanical failure like the photocopier jamming. Since Jenny has been candid she says, so how come none of us, who after all pay the bills, are the wiser.

Jenny Whittle and her Conservative colleagues surely can't have it both ways, either they are candid or they are concealing the root cause, which is not only important to Kent council so that they know what went wrong and don't repeat the same mistakes but more importantly vulnerable children are more important than Kent council's public image.

Incidentally I've emailed Chris Wells an occasional contributor, to Bignews Margate to enquire how vociferous his support for a lack of a proper review into events is, assuming he supports the veil of secrecy that appears to have settled over things, hopefully I got that wrong.

Remember this wasn't like losing 50 million pounds to the Icelandic banks, this isn't about Kent Conservatives "losing face" this is concerned with how we look after the most vulnerable in society.

THANET LOCAL BOARDS -What to do on a Tuesday evening

Every few months, Thanet residents are treated to an audience with local Kent county councillors, tomorrow night is that opportunity.

Now these are important people, they must be because a while back they voted themselves a fat increase in allowances, more than £1000 a month, and are busy because every few months they have to attend a council meeting in Maidstone.

What can you expect, at the meeting, well in truth not a lot, that is of significance, however there will be, upbeat info on small grants given out to local organisations, but don't expect any great insights into such things as

When is that 50 million pounds coming home from Iceland, or

What was the point of paying more than £400,000 in one year to retiring Chief Exec Peter Gilroy and not fessing up until later or

Why is the counties finance boss on gardening leave, is it really because she helped the media, surely that's what public servants might be expected to do or

Why push ahead with closure of old peoples homes in the county and not take seriously the consultation process or

Will you be making anymore "Gilroy" type payments or

In the time Bignews Margate has been published why has KCC spent around £25 million pounds on Advertising and PR

And finally why don't Kent Tories dump Leader Cllr Paul Carter

I believe the local board consultations are deliberately non controversial PR exercise mainly run for the convenience of the ruling Tory group, a more useful meeting would explain the counties finances, why children's services have been so criticised, why senior staff are given gold plated pay deals, still we wouldn't want anything unpleasant in public would we.

Anyway the Draft Agenda is available here, and remember Kent council is run by Conservatives, whom anywhere else, you would expect to be careful with public money here in Kent ,this is not the case, KCC has indulged itself in several high profile vanity projects such as Kent TV, which I'm proud to have helped get closed down. In my opinion if anyone is considering any err

Kent Tory Leader reassures public on money worries- Its just a technicality?

Kent council may have lost £50 million in Iceland, we may be in the midst of a big recession, massive public spending cuts, Kents finance boss may be on "gardening leave "the reasons we are not told but fear not, money it would seem is just a technicality!

News that the government will not be giving £38 million to Kent county council, to build a massive lorry park in the middle of the countryside, has been greeted it seems as just a trifling matter, conservative leader Paul Carter talking on BBC this morning said "this is a small technical issue"*

Thank god we can all sleep easy knowing that Paul Carter's in charge.

It's interesting that the BBC Kent are not using that* quote, still bureaucrats' and state funded organisations need to stick together.

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

What the hell is going on - This is Kent isn't it?

Yeah I suppose it is, its just watching the local news BBC Southeast a few nights ago, Tuesday I think, when eventually the presenters had dug themselves out of the unseasonal snow drifts, to report on actual news, I got the impression I might have just woken up in some totalitarian state.

Admittedly Kent is far from some Stalinist regime or even a Banana republic, however the report that I found so startling revealed how a senior officer at Kent Council has been asked to take two months leave of absence and county councillors have been informed by email that she will not be at work until further notice.

The officer in question Lynda McMullan, is the counties Finance Director, and if you click here, KCC have provided a web page which she herself explains her role.

Why? well the political editor of BBC southeast Louise Stewart mentioned that Lynda McMullan had agreed to take time off after concerns were raised about her relationship with the media and "sources" suggested that her emails had been investigated although no disciplinary action had been taken. Surely KCC officers can talk to the media?

Its difficult to see quite what's going on here, and lord knows just how sensitive the KCC establishment are about the media, KCC spends in excess of £5 million pounds to project its image, media manipulation has involved lavish presentations, its own magazine in which one edition had both Leader and Chief Executive go on about how marvellous the council was and of course that sacred cow Kent TV which despite all sorts of efforts failed.

Now you might think I have a downer on all bureaucrats, not so KCC clearly has some very competent staff,  I don't think I've ever spoken to Lynda McMullen, however I have corresponded concerning the claims by Peter Gilroy of savings made by Kent TV, Lynda McMullen dealt with my request in an efficient and business like manner this week a senior Kent Councillor who would know informs me that Lynda McMullan does a first class job.

This issue was first raised by Paul Francis, and it seems a complete mystery as to why.

Hopefully this is an issue that will be resolved shortly, I hope this hasn't arisen as a result of hostility toward our open and free media, I reminded of how upset Conservative Leader Paul Carter was when the Kent Messenger wrote a story concerning Peter Gilroy “I feel very strongly and I am extremely upset by the way the Kent Messenger has orchestrated their story regarding KCC Chief Executive Peter Gilroy’s contract renewal that was agreed in November 2006.

Incidentally its just been revealed that a one year extension to the former Chief Exec contract cost in excess of £400,000 a lifetimes earning for many of us.

Leave for Kent's Finance Director at a time of great financial restraint ought at least warrant a statement from Paul Carter, its a pity the national press don't start taking an interest in Kent, something is clearly wrong here

Kent County Council the excellent delusion

Is it, just me, who is sickened by the constant claim, now plastered on Kent's KCC website, suggesting the local authority is  somehow excellent.

The recent news that KCC, has left children at grave risk, underlines the danger of KCC's mind set, the notion that both Cllr Paul Carter has promoted, along with senior officers in the past, of Kent council being excellent, does nothing to deter the sort of complacency that resulted in Ofsted's damning report.

Currently KCC website, is promoting itself with this very questionable claim "A council that performs excellently" when clearly it doesn't. Obviously this is complete bollix, who exactly endorsed this assertion I wonder, no doubt, some fellow public sector dib dobs?

Cllr Paul Carter, the leader of the controlling group of KCC, ought to explain why KCC justifies suggestions of excellence when the council have made so many cock ups, I just wonder if KCC had to put its claim to trading standards, how long the excellence tag would stand up.

Here are just some examples of why, this surely cannot be true, 50 million pounds melted away in Iceland, many hundreds of thousands wasted on projects like, flights to America (hushed up), Kent TV, film finance which failed on any commercial level, poor performing schools,  fat bonus payments to council officers that fail to convince the public and others of worth.

Just as an example of the continuing controversial management of KCC take a gander at this report from Paul Francis, political editor for KM group.

KCC spend spend spend

Reporting on Kent county council matters is fairly sparse in our local newspapers, although Paul Francis, Group political editor of the Kent Messenger does a first class job of scrutinising Kent county council .

I've just been taking a gander at a fine example of his work and that of Bob Bounds (Editor Kent Messenger), which concerns some of the more extraordinary spending by KCC bureaucrats on , well themselves actually .

As many of you will be aware and county council is a four or five star council, I believe part of that rating surely must come from the extravagant manner in which they treat themselves, an example is quoted of how on one occasion staff were helped themselves to nearly £400 worth of chocolate (Thorntons), £200 worth of commemorative photographs and £1000 taxis.

If you feel strong enough, to read more about the extravagant lifestyle of KCC's staff, bearing in mind that you pay for it, then do please click here for the Spending Files an insight in to Kent's lavish spendthrift culture.

Every time I read of fresh excesses by Kent council, I have to pinch myself to remember that Paul Carter, leader of the council is actually a Tory and not some spendaholic socialist, nutjob from the 1980's.

Any danger Cllr Paul Carter learns a lesson from George Osborne

Spotted in a couple of newspapers yesterday, the story that George Osborne (Chancellor), Mervyn King (Gov. Bank of England) and advisors took the trouble to walk down two flights of stairs to the canteen at the Treasury, even queuing so that the group could eat lunch for around thirty two quid rather than have it delivered to the office for an excessive 148 pounds.

Just wonder when such thinking will filter through to Kent's Champagne Conservative councillors, if you read my previous posting, you will see that here in Kent neither officers or indeed Tory councillors have quite got the hang on the difference between public service and business or the fact that people like you and I work hard to earn our money and don't relish the thought of greedy public officials and friends largeing it up on our money.

Incidentally if you wish to complain or express your concerns about Conservative Cllr Paul Carters profligate, extravagant, spendthrift, excessive administration you could always contact your local Conservative County councillor who is entitled to minimum £13,000 a year expenses (your money), for what, who knows. Thanet's Conservative county councillors who presumably support Paul Carter,  are Robert Bayford, Robert Burgess, Bill Hayton, Charles Hibberd, Michael Jarvis, John Kirby, Chris Wells contact details can be found on this page. Please note Cllr  Elizabeth Green is a Labour member who has I assume never supported Paul Carter.

Story in the Sun or Daily Mail

No limits on Kent council credit card

Over the years I've been writing this blog, a rich vein of material has been provided by Paul Carters Conservative KCC administration, at some considerable cost to the taxpayer. All sorts of waste, millions on half baked ideas, like links to Virginia, Kent TV, Health watch, Icelandic banks, bonuses paid out to fat cat officers for simply doing their jobs, all the while, services to children and the elderly are being cut.

It seems that officers and KCC councillors, maintain a taste for the high life, whilst you and I are wondering if we will have a job next week or can pay our bills, top knobs even on their way out, have no such worries, if they fancy a meeting or a trip, why not! with the exclusive KCC credit card no worries!. 

Expenses include a meal costing £360 at Rules a top restaurant, now retired (Hurrah!) chief exec Peter Gilroy on a trip up to Edinburgh (£800 approx) with deputy Tory Leader Alex King just to celebrate the nomination of a film for an award it didn't win, you've probably never heard of "The Calling" which also cost a further 75,000 pounds of Kent public money. Breakfast for KCC Chief Executive & Chief Constable how expensive could that be, McDonalds maybe an Egg Sausage McMuffin and cup of coffee or a cafe for a  full English breakfast what are we looking at a tenner? No of coarse not 47quid KCC credit card that will do nicely! welcome around the world at the more expensive establishments.

One thing is clear to me, the concept that Kent Council is funded by your hard earned money doesn't seem to register with Kent's Tories or senior officers, as it seems any time is the right time spend big on hospitality and why not when you can just whop out your KCC Credit Card.

I find the words to characterise such behaviour difficult, not because I can't think of them but because I have no wish to offend Kent's top knobs, still words I don't think apply to such spending are reasonable, understandable, acceptable.

Anyway if you'd like to read the detail take a gander at this exclusive article by Paul Francis click here .

Paul Carter's Conservative administration seems to be punctuated by extraordinary waste here's my advice STOP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY ON LUDICROUS VENTURES. To Conservative county councillors dump Paul Carter now. Taxpayers expect public services, not public excess on expenses.

Finally if you'd like to live like Kent's top bods it seems, you could always try London restaurant Rules, and assuming your paying with your own money I'm sure the meal probably taste better. Click Here it looks very good indeed

Kent Leader Paul Carter ought to explain £365K payment or go! (it is our money after all)

Last week after all that malarkey with Kent council paying out big sums to former employee Adam Wilkinson, the thought occurred even in the somewhat exceptional world of Kent council paying out all large sums of dosh, for the sheer hell of it, this was nothing if not improbable.

Then I got to thinking the rather bland, none to conclusive statement from Kent Councillor, Roger Gough Cabinet Member, quoted by km online in this article was interesting for the part in which he mentioned the onerous legislation but did not detail exactly why it was necessary to hand out large sums of Wonger (365K) to Mr Adam Wilkinson.

I just wonder whether we were hasty in conclusions drawn and whether Mr. Wilkinson, might have been placed in a situation by the council, that made his continued employment untenable, in which case maybe the payment of £365,000 was compensation for some failing of the council.

That might explain why Cllr Gough said this “We are unable to say more because of the contractual agreement made with Mr Wilkinson” its often the case that when legal teams settle disputes, the side required to pay out, offers settlement on the basis of confidentiality, usually so as not to appear, to have been in the wrong, a face saving exercise.

Whatever the case Kent owes us more than some vague twaddle, perhaps the previous Chief Executive could give an account of the reasons for the payment because surely he would have been involved. It is important for the taxpayer to know if this money was simply given away on a whim, which certainly appears to be the case.

Paul Carter in my opinion, needs to explain why a council officer, after 12 months of service, decided to leave and then presumably request compensation, and why, was then necessary to pay £365,000 for what we don’t know, all this frankly does not stack up.

Kent Messengers Paul Francis also wonders if there is more to this than meets the eye and this comment piece is a bit more informed than mine. Its worth noting I recall around the same time as Mr Wilkinsons leaving there were a few other changes in senior posts at KCC which might be relevant.

ITS ALL SIMPLE REALLY, KCC WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT £360,000 TO COMPENSATE SOMEONE FOR LEAVING THEIR JOB, SO WHY DID THEY? WE SHOULD BE TOLD!

Kent explains big bonus but are things any clearer?

KM's Kent online website has a story which quotes a statement from Kent council which I assume seeks to explain the highly controvershall payment to ex-employee Adam Wilkinson who resigned on personal grounds from the council. An astonishing sum of £365,000 was paid out after just 12 months service.

Having read the article I find myself with no clearer idea of why KCC handed over so much money.

Below are some extracts taken from Paul Francis's article of Cllr Roger Gough, KCC cabinet member for corporate services, statement "We fully understand how people feel about large payments and we feel the same way.

"Kent County Council does not enter into contracts to pay people large sums of money when they leave.

"This happened two years ago and has no impact on decisions we are making now. We are unable to say more because of the contractual agreement made with Mr Wilkinson. The problem we face is that employment laws are onerous and need to be reformed. We will lobby the Government for a change of the law."

My view if KCC don't enter in to contracts to pay employees big sums what's this all about also just onerous law forces KCC to make fat payments and bonuses like that for example given to Peter Gilroy another two hundred grand.

Finally until Kent council can give a credible reason for this payment, many of us will continue to call for Paul Carter Conservative leader to reasign.

For the full story paste the link below into your browser(I'm using my mobile to blog )

http://tinyurl.com/39nrpvu

Time for Kent Council Leader Paul Carter to resign?

I thinks so and for those of you unaware, take a gander at the Daily Mail Story, yet another shocking example of a Kent Council officer, apparently being paid an outrageous bonus although this time its not for doing his job its worse than that.

In a nutshell Adam Wilkinson was employed by KCC as director of environment and regeneration, on £70,000PA which for the important sounding job title is not unreasonable, now here is the controversial part after 12 months he decided the job was not for him, unlike you and I, Kent Council paid out a fat bonus of £365,000.00 which works out a grand a day. What for, KCC wont say?

Never forget this is your money, and we elect councilors to guide, govern and scrutinise the running of our local government, to provide services, at the top of the heap is Conservative Leader Paul Carter, who surely must be aware one hopes of such arrangements.

Assuming that is the case, ask yourself this is Paul Carter the right person to lead the council, presumably at some point someone in Kent councils cabinet must have endorsed this payment?

Its my view that there is a culture shared with officers and conservative councilors that they are in some fantasy commercial organisation run for the benefit of senior officer and a weird idea that such officers should get bonuses for doing their job. Its your money being wasted which should be spent on services.

RESIGN NOW

The Prime Minister David Cameron has in my mind, given a lead, on what is expected in the public sector, Paul Carter’s administration has given us enough examples of waste and reckless spending. If I was the Prime Minister I’d be putting pressure on Kent Tories to get their act together and persuade Cllr Carter to resign now.

PS There was a time when we referred to public servants, I’m not sure of an apt name for Kent Councils senior officers! suggestions welcome

Kent Council’s new conservation programme

I like to think of Kent’s Conservatives, as being a sort of rare breed, outside the mainstream of political life, indeed I believe that Paul Carter (Kent Councils Tory Leader) was one of the few hiccups apart from Nick Clegg in David Cameron’s recent election campaign.

Anyhow its seems that politicians at national level in the Coalition, Tory and Libs are pretty much on message as far as sorting out a bloated public sector.

However Kent’s Conservative County Councillors appear to be bucking the trend, suggest you take a gander at this from Paul Francis “Storm brews after council advertises jobs worth £70K – while staff face redundancy”.

Basically while 260 jobs in the children services department are about to go down Swanee, KCC led by Kent Tories are making up creating jobs and are seeking 12 “district heads of primary standard and school improvement” at around 70 grand a year, why?

All I can assume is that Kent Tories who themselves, strike me, as caricatures from a bygone age, with plumy voices, aloof manner, use to delegating tasks to the servants or rather “officers”, so my theory is this, as they themselves might well feel threatened, they empathise with useless Fat Cat bureaucrats, hoping to protect them, so that future generations of hard working taxpayers will be able to see Fat Cats in their natural environment, the local authority.

Imagine a world without pompous over-promoted bureaucrats, who would write long winded incomprehensible documents, never to be read, arrange or attending insanely boring and pointless meetings, not answer the phone, never clear clogged up voicemail boxes, and forget to change the out of office message on the email something like “at some ridiculously expensive conference having my ego massaged - please P Off”

Well done, KCC for creating a safe environment for Fat Cats to exist, one day I’m sure we will all thank you for having the courage to decimate your children's’ services department to conserve an endangered species.

In away it’s reassuring that Kent Council is immune from recession and austerity.

Kent Conservatives how can you trust them?

At a time of severe economic restraint it’s almost reassuring that Kent Council have got money to burn, on pointless PR exercises.

Some time ago I asked KCC’s press or PR department, to tell me how the council had managed to spend around £600 per enquiry on the pointless, needless and utterly wasteful Kent Health Watch advice line.

No surprise that the KCC PR wallahs took forever to reply and even less surprising that the answer was little more than the drivel that I had expected.

The NHS have in place procedures to deal with and consult on issues, that the public might have, anyway in the absence of a proper answer, I now realise that much of the money must be wasted on radio advertising as listening to Heart FM this weekend all I seem to hear is some women rattling on about blimin Kent Health Watch and in an attempt to get callers the health advice line now includes enquiries re. social care.

Maybe Paul Carter Kent Tory Leader, ought to give Health Watch a go himself, and ask whether its just him that thinks this is a proper use of public money.

Still Kent councils megabucks PR budget is never ending as the KCC Magazine has Paul Carter filling almost a page waffling on about this and that the bottom of the page is then devoted to the retiring Chief Executive as if this matters to anyone in Kent except himself and a few colleagues.

David Cameron spouts on Fat Cats maybe he should checkout Tory Kent’s Gilroy Payments

There is little more embarrassing than a party leader taking the moral high ground with worthy tosh about “value for money” and “tightening belts” when his own party are possibly the worst offenders.

As I waited for my Chinese I chanced upon this article in the Sun, apparently David Cameron has pledged to “out” town hall fat cats “I’ll shame £60K council fat cats” and I couldn’t help but think what a load of Bull , does this bloke ever ask around before spouting.

I’m not going into detail but Peter Gilroy KCC’s retiring Chief Exec has been trousering around £200,000 plus (even I understand selling back his holidays), in addition he will be bagging an additional £200,000 bonus for doing his job and working up to retirement age.

Clearly council staff are not stupid and KCC have made similar Gilroy type payments to senior officers, for just doing the job their paid to do, last year creating another embarrassment when it was revealed that top bods had been getting bonus payments for god knows what, since I don’t think we were told.

Paul Carter leader of Kent’s ruling group seems out of step with thinking at the top of the Tory party, isn’t it time he just stepped down and stopped giving away our money and wasting it on rubbish projects like Kent TV & Health watch.

If Cameron does win the election it will be interesting to see if he does sort out fat cats, my feeling is it will be business as usual

Points - Opps! Cllr Paul Carters (Con) blog post disappears

You’ll remember last week Bignews Margate covered Cllr. Paul Carters rather passionate condemnation of a reporter er reporting on council business or how taxpayers money gets redistributed to deserving officers like Chief Executive Peter Gilroy.

I’m not sure why but it seems that his blog posting on the subject has now disappeared from KCC’s website, perhaps Camerons boy’s are smoothing things out before the election.

Anyway my posting still exists as does KM ONLINE’s report but the link to Paul Carters blog is dead.