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. 

Kent at ease with itself

 

Kent Council TV rides again

Some people get the impression that Kent is run for the benefit of hunting and shooting toffs, however Kent is run by a progressive Conservative administration committed to an egalitarian society.

To prove that privilege and social exclusion has no place in our community, Kent County Council have recycled your hard earned money into a  short film, to illustrate the life style of ordinary Kent folk.

Fuel protest evaporates – Hurrah !–for now

This morning instead of my normal Monday routine, I made a big mistake and rather than listen to Desert Island Discs podcast (Dame Anne Owers, who?) as I travelled to London, I thought I'd risk BBC Radio Kent which at six, piped up with the usual depressing sort of news, KCC can't fix roads but they can pay out huge sums to departing staff.

As is the way with BBC Radio Kent, its seems to be policy that BBC reporters are not required to adopt a quizzical approach on Kent council business, least not from a balanced political type way (in my opinion).

Still could the Monday morning commute, be any more depressing, well yes, news that a group of fuel protestors are threatening to screw up rush hour traffic from 08:00 onwards, fortunately my rush hour is generally not the same as the office bods, mine takes place between 05:00 and 07:00 only getting busy with a bit of argy bargy as I shoehorn my way into the Blackwell Tunnel approach, once through the tunnel its an easy drive to my destination, assuming Hackney council don't decide block the road with a blimin dust cart.

Maybe direct action is the way forward, however, I have bad memories, of the last time fuel vigilantes took direct action, Mrs Me, not noted for filling the Flaig Limo at the best of times, didn't think to top up the tank, by the time I quizzed her it was too late. My complacent attitude meant a week with no car, I would have paid a pound a litre, premium to fill the tank.

Anyhow the expected protest didn't happen today and only 5 cars turned up and despite BBC Radio Kent building up the expectation, South East England was not plunged into chaos and when I got to the tunnel approach it was as if someone had squirted WD40 down the northbound barrel of the Blackwall Tunnel only a brief hold up. At work with time to spare, and a leisurely chew on my bacon roll, washed down with the finest coffee in North London ;–) 

Still with all the unrest in the Middle East fuel prices will continue the inexorable climb, any day now, Gaddafi will be out on his earhole and the US and EU will help smooth the path of democracy and the supply of oil but don't get too comfortable.

Long term, many of us are guaranteed to be priced out of the fuel market for our vehicles and reliant on public transport, its an idea, we need to get used to, the demand for fuel will accelerate in the growing economies like China who manufacture the goods in our shops and India who answer our phone calls, unless of coarse we go back to manufacturing and doing our own admin.

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

More power to KCC could harm Margate regeneration

This new world of political realism may not be all good, clearly the note left by one departing minister making a swift exit from government shows the depth of the continuing crisis which went something like "the moneys all been ****ed up the wall, enjoy !"

Apparently one of the new governments ideas is to give more power down to local authorities like our very own Kent council, and if the Kent on Sundays report is anything to go by Paul Carter KCC's Tory leader is looking forward to the prospect.

One method by which KCC will gain more power will be the winding up of organisations like the South East Development Agency and this is where it might effect us in Margate.

Kent council over the years has done little to benefit East Kent, preferring to spend most of it's money in and around Maidstone, much of the regeneration money coming from SEDA and I for one get the impression that our "County Tories" feel that they are doing us a favour when they spend our money in Thanet.

Maybe Paul Carters Tories will have been inspired by efforts of David Cameron and given up on the harebrained schemes of recent years, and maybe not.

Politics – should we be so cynical

Mentioning that I intend to vote Lib Dem in the General Election brings with it the inevitable, what’s the point type comments generally from I assume the jaded dinosaurs from Labservatives.

Whilst it would be totally naive, to dismiss such sentiments, it’s also dangerous and stupid to make such comments unless of coarse you happen to be happy to live in a world that never changes.

In Kent a couple of years ago, Labour was the opposition party in Kent council, last year Labour were wiped out in the county elections with the Liberal Democrats maintaining and building on their support.

Lib Dems in Kent are now the opposition at county level, challenging Tories on nonsense like Kent TV, recently putting pressure on Conservative led KCC to be more open in how they spend our money, no surprise then that when Lib Dems wanted to discuss expenses during a council meeting Tories decided to have a 90 minute lunch break instead, lets hope spendaholic Tories didn’t have to put their hands in their own pocket.

Conservatives in Kent do not like us the public knowing too much about how they govern, which is why information on the failed Kent TV the wasteful Kent Health Watch is so difficult to get hold of.

My advice to anyone is vote for what you believe or for ever you’ll end up with lame deadbeat opportunist Labour and Conservatives for ever.

Kent Chief Exec – In the papers once again

Peter Gilroy Kent’s Chief Exec once again gets a mention in the national press (todays Telegraph 20/2/10), unfortunately not for his prowess as an administrator or manager but as you might expect for the thumping great big pay off of £200,000 arranged by Conservatives at Kent council.

For my money and your money, I cannot see the point of local authorities paying out fat bonuses for retiring executives, the idea is often put to us taxpayers that people like Peter Gilroy are constantly being offered large sums to go elsewhere, if this is the case its quite simple to deal with, when top bods are taken on just make it part of the contract that a long notice period has to be given or compensation for the employer which ultimately is the taxpayer.

Recently Leader of Kent council Paul Carter (Cons)was upset that this information had been put in the public domain, it will be interesting if he will indulge in yet another outburst against a free press, I do hope so, it shows just what sort of people are running Kent council.

Its my feeling that Kent’s Tories are very much against free speech and I have yet to be convinced otherwise, it really is time that Cameron’s team sorted out Paul Carters cronies.

I think it unlikely that Paul Carter will embarrass Kent residents with an attack on the Telegraph but you never know! I do wish Paul Carter and his mates would get it into their heads that Kent Council is here to serve the people of Kent, and realise that it is not a bloody business or a private Tory play thing but a provider of public services.

For Background on Paul Carters support of the local press or rather lack of it click here, also note that his outburst was apparently later withdrawn

How difficult is it Cllr Chard

Last week I emailed Kent County Councillor Nick Chard to ask why roads in these parts were in such a bad state after experiencing perhaps the worst driving conditions (wednesday evening around 8.00)  I’ve ever encountered thick ice, from Brooksend through to Margate, despite claiming that Kent Highways keep logs of their gritting lorries I am surprised that Nick has not got back to me, since Kent claims to be a 4 star council you’d think they’d be able to get straight back.

KCC did issue I understand and rather partial press release but didn’t acknowledge how poorly they’d performed in reality. The press release made great mention of how gritting crews worked all night (Shutting the Barn door) but made no mention of sheet ice  covering much if not all of east Kent roads? One local Tory Councillor with a sense of humour referred to a Blizzard?

Anyway here’s my email correspondence so far

11 February 2010 12:24

Hi Cllr. Chard
I am writing to you as, having heard your comments this morning on BBC Radio Kent, about Kent Highways treating roads, I find what you had to say astonishing I've been driving for many years, and I have to say that last nights weather conditions were in no way exceptional for the time of year, but the road surface leading into Birchingtion and Margate was without a doubt the worst I've ever encountered.
Could you please explain why there was no evidence of gritting the roads including the main roads which were thick with ice.
Regards tony flaig
PS for more information see my blog postings Snow worries <http://bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow-worries-roads-have-been-treated.html>
or Police contact KCC <http://bignewsmargate.blogspot.com/2010/02/urgent-warning-driving-conditions.html>

11 February 2010 14:35

Thank you for your email.
We log all of our gritting lorries so that we know where and when gritting has taken place.
I shall enquire and respond when I have the detail.
Yours
Nick Chard

11 February 2010 14:56

 

Thanks

tony flaig

If I get a reply I’ll do my best to let you know.

Snow worries, the roads have been treated say Kent bods!

Here in Thanet we are apparently experiencing a mass hallucination, those like myself who thought they were driving on ice, must be delusional since if you happened to listen to BBC Radio Kent this morning County Councillor Nick Chard seemed to be claiming that all major roads had been treated, which had that been the case, would have helped keep our roads safe for driving on last night.

John Warnett (BBC Radio) could have just clarified the issue by asking Cllr Chard, exactly when did you grit these roads?

Anyway if anyone actually saw one of Kent’s gritting lorries yesterday afternoon or even early this morning (before 6am) please do tell.

I heard recently that Kent council has had to pay out for pothole damage to cars, if there are any lawyers reading this, maybe you could tell me and my readers whether we could successfully sue Kent Council for not treating the roads, I know of about ten people who couldn’t get to work this morning including me.

Still in all honesty some are made of tougher stuff including Mrs Me, who trudged to work, through the snow instead of the usual drive, taking 1 hour. Pictured above

Still these questions need answering

When were the roads in east Kent and Thanet gritted yesterday?

And why are BBC radio Kent so easy on Kent Council?

More importantly is Kent Council going to stop wasting money on big pay offs/bonuses to officers and vast PR spending, and compensate us when they cock up?

Once again Kent council have shown that here in East Kent we continue to be second class citizens

Award winning Kent Journalist shows once again why he is the best

Not knowing or interested by the machinations of regional politics in other parts country, I am however keen, on what goes on in Kent.

The reason I post on Kent Council, so often, is with one exception, my view is that Kent news organisations, steer clear of Kent politics, other than bland, non analytical reporting, strangely the BBC (Radio Kent) seems reluctant to cover county politics in any consistent way, Kent on Sunday, this weekend, had rare but rather sycophantic comment referring to KCC’s vision of Kent in 2030 “…actually it is an inspirational masterplan…”, Kent Regional Newspapers like the Isle of Thanet Gazette belatedly have started to cover Kent wide issues, probably as a result of the recent overhaul of a rather stale product.

The exception to rather bland reporting comes from the Kent Messenger Group, and in particular, the KM Group political editor Paul Francis, who has been named Kent’s Best Newspaper Journalist of the Year, for the third time in Shepherd Neame’s annual awards.

An example of why Paul Francis is ahead of the competition, is this report on the rather generous pay out for retiring Kent chief exec Peter Gilroy (click here) enjoy!

 

Hidden News Tory KCC – Introduce “Kent Day” for a mere £1.5 million

Kent day, what the hell is Kent day, you might well ask well that’s what the telephone operator at KCC called the authorities latest give away.

Let me explain trawling through my email inbox for things I’d missed, ignored, etc. a regular source had pointed out that their child’s school would be closed for an additional day this summer.

The reason apparently all Staff employed by KCC will be given an additional day off, the reasons are none too clear, since no surprise Kent press office were unable or unwilling to expand on this day off which I calculate will cost around £1,500,000.

Now in fairness eventually a helpful staff member was kind enough to assist in giving information, suggesting additional costs will not be that great, except in the case of those that actually do something, since who would notice if someone sat at a desk has taken the day off, like I’d imagine would be the case for KCC’s press wallahs.

Its a pity that Paul Carters Tory led council couldn’t save tax payers money as easily as they give it away. Its also sad that Kent School children will miss out on a days education, still Kent Tory councillors are never troubled by the underperformance of KCC education.

Just what does the BBC stand for in Kent

If the random samples of BBC’s local Kent and South East offerings are anything to go by the following seems to fit Bland, Biased and Craven at least in my view.

Bland? having the day off, I had the chance to hear whether Radio Kent’s Breakfast programme had got any better and realising it hadn’t with ususal diet of dross including a bit about internet shopping and people being grumpy first thing in the morning. I fitted the grumpy, irritated as BBC Radio Kent continued its fearless mission to ignore controversy, and meaningful debate.

Biased? watching tonight’s BBC 1 South East Today, was surprised that although they covered the eleven plus crisis in which an incompetent Kent Education, spends I guess several hundreds of thousands educating kids from outside Kent and is going to penalise east Kent by moving grammar school places to west Kent (see previous blog post), the report didn’t refer to Cllr Paul Carters earlier Radio Kent comment which I’ve hopefully transcribed fairly as “There is an over provision of places in east Kent and under provision in west Kent it is just a minor adjustment er which is attracting er er unnecessary publicity in my view, its commonsense and we should just get on with it”

Craven? I get the view that regional BBC exec’s are committed to being as non controversial, as they can be, hence a breakfast talk show which is all about talk and no substance, experienced journalists replaced with grinning younguns on the BBC news/magazine programme all smiles and no bite is not what BBC journalism should be.

The BBC should in a democracy, report the consequences of politicians who concern themselves with “unnecessary publicity” particularly when a local authority losses control of its money and then side steps the issue with er er commonsense.

Cameron's Kent Tories "commonsense" approach deprives children in East Kent

Unless I am going completely deaf, I understand that BBC radio Kent, are reporting on news bulletins this morning, that Cllr. Paul Carter leader of Kent conservative administration believes depriving children in East Kent of grammar school places as being commonsense or as its describe as moving places I think.

Some background to this issue can be found on page one of this week's Kent on Sunday, also it has been reported in some detail here on Bignews Margate.

Essentially the situation is this, schools in West Kent, have in the pursuit of some might say excellence and others might say league tables been applying a tough selection process designed for and selecting only the brightest students, now this may seem OK but the net effect is children of Kent, who have reached grammar school standard, as laid down by KCC, are finding it difficult to obtain the grammar places despite they having earned the right to a place through hard work and diligence.

Simply put Kent Council is subsidising children from outside of Kent, probably to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds, therefore depriving children Kent, the education that we pay for and they're entitled to (I understand that Paul Carter resides near Maidstone).

Of course most of us, would consider it commonsense if Paul Carter the leader of Kent Council, tried to sort out this mess, where local taxpayer funded schools, act against the interests of the communities that fund them as is the case of those in West Kent. Also you might think Paul Carter would have the "smarts" in an election year to look after Kent taxpayers rather than take the easy option.

Perhaps David Cameron's team might like to have a word with Paul Carter on some of Kent council's rather contentious issues, like millions wasted on advertising, Kent TV which is yet to establish itself into Kent mainstream, health watch, etc. and of course the above.

PS I don’t agree with Kent’s Grammar Schools since they have been consistently cited as favouring middle class kids and have resulted in poorer performance than other areas.

The happy complacent world of Kent Conservatives

I’m often amazed at just how stupid Kent Tories think we are or perhaps how stupid they are and we are to elect them.

Example Kier the building firm have been awarded business worth 600 million pounds to build 36 secondary schools in Kent, and it just so happens that Kier have been fined 17 odd million for “cover pricing” by the office of fair trading which is basically understood by many to be what we would more likely call price fixing.

Therefore its rather extraordinary that Kent Council is not about to review the massive contracts it has with Kier even more remarkable are the comments made by Paul Carter Kent Councils Conservative Leader take a gander at this load of tosh from Kent on Sundays story.

“In the good days before the global recession when firms were working flat out, contractors were very worried about not filling in tender documents for fear of being struck off future lists.

“I don’t know the details of the cases, some companies have been found wanting in terms of collaboration through the tender process, which is not good or right.

“But I have not read the details… It is a highly complex area.”

Cllr Carter stood by the company and said he was “enormously” confident.

Now I’m also enormously confident that not reviewing contracts when a firm has been found to have been involved in misleading tenders smells like a week old fish grilled on hot radiator.

Still I’m sure Cllr Paul Carters spot on and right as ever, just as he has been with the in no way negligent Iceland Banks issue, as we all know a cheque for 50 million quid from Icelandic banks is on its way because Kent Tories have told us so.

Indifferent of Tunbridge Wells or BBC South East & Radio Kent a threat to local Democracy?

It sounds pompous but I’ve thought longer and harder before posting this blog than the previous 1090 odd and in writing it, I might well have sidelined myself to the community of cranks and nutters of which the blogosphere is known but the following is my subjective view of the BBC in Kent and South East, based on my impressions and recollection which might well be faulty.

All my life till now, I’ve shared the notion that the BBC’s output on balance is benign, over the years its been accused of bias particularly during the Thatcher years when Mrs T (the friend of democracy) claimed “I have fought three elections against the BBC and don’t want to fight another against it.

Excuse the preamble, the point is the BBC have a strong record nationally of reporting on the political system, in the face of strong critics and because of its depth and volume of reportage it remains neutral overall a good thing for a democracy.

In the last few months its dawned on me that regionally the BBC actually don’t cover local politics in any depth, I accept that most people are bored witless by the national news being dominated by Labour windbags and Tory toffs but the lack of news covering local politics is I feel a scandal.

Nationally the BBC has obsessive coverage of politics, however regional news output is limited mainly to reporting crime, traffic and cats up trees.

Tune in any night to BBC 1’s South East Today, there might just be a “hard news story”, almost certainly there will be mind numbing banality, in the last ten minutes of the show, five will probably be devoted to some someone cycling underwater, living in a cave or maybe a bit of animal magic with giant rabbits, loud peacocks etc. then another five minutes spent on inane conversation, between the presenters of the show and one of the three weather girls or the occasionally stand in Fish.

One local source of news and comment should be BBC Radio Kent, every weekday morning it has a three hour, talk based show, (Breakfast with) presented by John Warnett & Julie George, these two are clearly competent professionals, as are the backroom staff and manage to make the banal subjects almost bearable.

I assume that senior BBC management does not to allow these professionals to do anything dangerous, such as discussing the news. And by senior management I mean those who I assume must set policy for BBC regional services as a whole.

The point I would like to make is that this programme in particular is talk based, and you might expect as well as reflecting life in Kent, that some of its output would include perhaps just a modicum of local politics but on more than one occasion big issues, have just seemed to have been buried and certainly not referred to when I’ve tuned in around eight which is generally after I’ve had my fill of Radio 4’s today programme.

Here’s some items I didn’t hear discussed on “breakfast with” in the last month or so, Conservative councillors helping themselves to a large pay increase, Kent council extending Kent TV contract, the resulting row over scrutiny, the report by Yorkshire police in to Kent constabularies policing of last years climate camp, Kent council cancelling Septembers full council meeting.

What you are most likely to hear discussed is inane trivia such as “does your cat do something remarkable?”, “tell us about your funny naked experience”, “what’s your biggest fear?”

One subject that could have had a local dimension, Arlene Phillips getting sacked for being to old for come dancing, this could have been expanded to include colleagues Beverly Thompsett and Geoff Clark from South East Today, also down the river to be replaced by some young uns (the story put out was they wanted a more journalistic approach, I suppose this means that next performing animal on the show will have a microphone thrust in its direction) .

It seems that BBC regional output consists of nothing that would offend or cause a moments thought, even the Taleban could listen unperturbed.

Particularly astonishing to me is the failure to cover the democratic process, I spoke with editor Alex Bish a few weeks ago, who as I understand suggested that Paul Francis of the Kent Messenger group, covering the recent pay hike for Kent councillors had a journalistic coup, in reporting the Tory councillor backed pay hike, of course had any BBC hack bothered or even cared what was going on in this counties principal authority KCC they would have, like Mr Francis spotted the item in the agenda for the first full meeting of the council, which at the time of the MP expenses scandal, would have given a local perspective to national debate.

Some time later I had a conversation with the “management” at BBC radio Kent, it was desultory and I soon lost the urge to penetrate through management waffle and that politicians trick of addressing a question that’s not been asked.

What I glean, from those BBC managers that I have spoken with, in the last year or so, is that the public aren’t interested in politics and maybe not, myself I’m not too interested in endless animal stories on South East Tonight I’m not too keen on vegetables but realise if I avoid them completely I’ll end up dead, just like democracy carried out of sight of public scrutiny, it will wither.

Its my feeling that BBC regional news is no better than Meridian, so the recent suggestion that part of the license fee goes elsewhere although an alien idea is for me is justified and not unreasonable.

In a democracy the process of government should be reported especially local government since this effects us directly, clearly this in not happening with BBC radio Kent or BBC South East. In recent weeks I’ve listened to Breakfast with John Warnett and Julia George and thought what am I hearing that’s unique to Kent, very little.

Last week I emailed this comment to the breakfast programme (they were discussing the citizenship test) “The point of a citizenship test is proving that a candidate is committed, in the same way BBC Radio Kent could make your show cover Kent issues once in a while to justify your public funding” the presenter Julia George thought I was “taking a Pop” or similar and yes I was, as this show most days could be broadcast pretty much anywhere in the world on any station without public funding.

Take my last posting (Cllr Broadhurst) here on Bignews Margate about a councillor who has apparently emigrated to Panama, no contact with local electorate, but managed some how to be marked as present in the council chamber when he wasn’t, surely even a BBC hack could sex up a disappearing Tory councillor, well maybe not although it seemed to have been newsworthy here in Thanet.

Last year one BBC journalist interviewed me about Ten Alps, KCC and Kent TV, broadcasting a fairly innocuous remark I made, the more important issues of my freedom to speak was brushed aside, at the time I was told the public would not be interested in member of the public being pressured not to write about Kent TV by a taxpayer funded contractor, still local blogger Eastcliff Richard managed to rustle up a readable story as did the Sunday Express.

To me the democratic process in Kent is hidden by a state a funded broadcaster who rarely reports.

BBC Radio Kent, seem to pussy foot around Kent’s political structure rarely reporting on it, frankly it makes me feel that locally the BBC have nothing unique to offer the taxpayer, so why are we funding local radio.

Its a shocking reflection on the quality of news output from the BBC that your more likely to find a political story about Kent Council on Bignews Margate than the taxpayer funded BBC, written by someone who shovels ballast for a living, struggles with dyslexia, than a professional journalist.

Anyway unlike the BBC, local politics is not a taboo subject here at Bignews Margate as appears to be the case with our friends “Indifferent of Tunbridge Wells” BBC South East & Radio Kent, feel free to comment.

More controversy over KCC’s business activities

Its clearly not just me, who has qualms about the sometime almost delusional attitude which seems to pervade county hall when it dabbles in the commercial world.

According to Kent online a report is due to be delivered to KCC from the Audit Commission into their controversial business activities.

I myself wonder, having requested details on the supposed savings made by Kent TV, only to find that although a projected figure is easily found, it might take a few weeks for them to actually give details, as to how these figures were arrived at, my own theory is that one of the top knobs, thought one million sounds good and so now council officers are I guess reverse engineering to substantiate that number.

Despite the councils “Backing Kent Business” campaign it seems some businesses are yet to be convinced like HR-GO who are furious that they have to compete with KCC.

One rather telling comment from the article, pointing to the counties relationship with the Audit Commission, referring to Jack Parkinson, Chairman of HR-GO this comment “He is concerned that KCC appear to have advance knowledge of the findings. “Why do they know all about it before it’s been issued?”.

Indeed some long time ago why when I wished to complain about KCC multi-million cock up over Turner gallery mark 1 why did I get referred to TDC auditor, makes you think.

Anyway if you’d like to know more click here for KM Report

Thanet's streets made safe once more

Residents of Cliftonville can once again thank mild mannered councilor Clive Hart for making Thanet’s Streets safe to walk again. Pedestrians have had to dice with death, since the recent fire in Northdown Road as no safe walkway has been provided around the fire damaged building.

Incredibly Kent Highways did not arrange for a safe walk route around the burnt out building, to separate pedestrians from road traffic, it seemed that little or no thought was given for pedestrian safety, this has now been rectified, after Thanet's Labour supremo applied pressure to Kent highways.

I understand that Kent highways department will now get off their backsides and arrange for a pedestrian walkway around the obstruction.

UPDATE

Kent Highways, fearing further wroth from Clive Hart, have now put in the walkway.

On my daily cycle around Cliftonville I spotted the walkway being inspected by the Great Man himself, and Pam Pople – Community  Development Support Worker who is involved helping the local community and business.

KCC meaningless consultations

I suspect that many of you, while away the odd hour sauntering through the pages of KCC's website in the quest to find some meaning, in your otherwise drab lives?

No, so it is just me then, is it, anyway whilst researching another topic I stumbled upon some rather meaningless consultations. Like Learning From Experience Consultation, Spatial Strategy Consultation the and the Web Jam Survey?

I must say I’m rather intrigued so I have left an a message asking what the hell it means, I’ll update you as soon as I know.

One consultation which did interest me was re Kent TV no surprise that the contact number was not answered by the contact Tanya Olivier blimin meetings.

Anyway more on Kent TV shortly.

KCC Election Snippet – Tories stroke of luck

How handy and timely that the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), were able to announce recently that Kent Council might just get back some of the money they’d invested in Iceland.

As some of you will remember senior Tories not to long ago throw their toys out the pram when the Audit commission accused Kent Council of negligence, fortunately that little misunderstanding was cleared up when Cllr Paul Carter Kent Tory head honcho and neutral KCC chief executive Peter Gilroy penned a letter demanding both a retraction and apology. See KOS report.

Its seems strange perhaps even a case of duel standards that neither the of above could bring themselves to apologise or retract claims made against me by contactors working directly for Kent council. See Daily Express report

Any how good news that Kent Council are likely to get back 90% of £50 million thought lost, wonder when it will actually turn up, still a cynic might also point out and maybe KCC Press Office could have presented the facts differently maybe something like this KENT COUNCIL LOSE £5,000,000 FOREVER, still its not that much money, about 20 years salary for one highly paid chief executive! and less than Kent Councils annual media spend for them to tell us how blooming marvellous their doing.