Anyone made a secret Freedom Of Info request about me ? Andrew?

[Caz]

Originally Posted by turkishdelight

I dont feel you can ever over answer a question even if you just gain one vote i would go with a more in-formed decision the more information the better.

Never over answer a question? What does that mean?

[cashman]

Originally Posted by andrewb

We might not have an excellent council, as rated by the audit commission, if they spent all their time responding to Labour misleading people on AccringtonWeb. There's a very open debate for everybody to see called council. It's a shame expenses are not so open, then I wouldn't have had to FOI request them, and councillor Jones wouldn't have tried to trip the Tories up by starting this thread. Shame really, because it's all the Labour councillors whining, not a single Conservative councillor has contacted me over the issue, not even the leader himself.

WHY on gods earth should these conservative councillors contact you? yer reminding me of Humpty Dumpty. unless yer far more than a student doing a degree?

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by cashman

WHY on gods earth should these conservative councillors contact you? yer reminding me of Humpty Dumpty. unless yer far more than a student doing a degree?

Exactly. Why should they, when I'm requesting something I'm perfectly entitled to. Where as Labour councillors will was time posting on here when members of the public freedom of information request. No wait, let me rephrase, they post when it's somebody who voted Conservative at the last election, I can't find evidence of them being outraged at other FOI requests.

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by andrewb

Shame really, because it's all the Labour councillors whining, not a single Conservative councillor has contacted me over the issue, not even the leader himself.

I think thats probably because they don't read Accyweb which is understandable given that they have already created a premier website for the views of the local residents

[garinda]

Originally Posted by andrewb

We might not have an excellent council, as rated by the audit commission

Perhaps when you start paying for it yourself you might be in a better position to judge for yourself, if what is paid in Council Tax results in an excellent level of service here in Hyndburn.

As stated earlier, I've lived in both the most expensive and least expensive borough to live in in the country, and I don't think the level of services here in Hyndburn represents good value for money, when weighed against the amount of tax paid.

Still at least the people of Hyndburn can take comfort in the knowledge that Cllr. Britcliffe will be able to enjoy more than 'a hot dog and a can of Coke', the next time he's away from the borough on a jolly, thanks to the increase in subsistence allowance he chose to award himself...in defiance of the lower limit recommended by an independent panel.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by claytonender

I can tell you why I vote Labour - I remember the damage that apology for a 'woman' Maggie Thatcher (the milk snatcher) did to the ordinary working man and woman of this country. How she said 'there is no such thing society' and set out to try and break the spirit of hard working people, consigning so many to the scrap heap. Selling off all the utility companies, the railways, British Telecom, closing all the coal mines (when we had 600 years of coal left in them). Attempting to break the trade unions, decimating our industries, ending apprenticeships and brining in YTS (slave labour for 16 and 17 year olds. who were then consigned to the scrapheap, because there was a fresh supply of 16 year olds to fill their places). Allowing building societies to become banks, and loosening the financial control on them. Unfortunately we will have to live with the consequences of her incompetence for years to come.

Cameron is in just the same mould - last year he questioned why anyone would live in the North (maybe he would like us all to commit hari-kari). Over the past few years we have had millions of pounds of LABOUR government money, ploughed into Hyndburn for regeneration via Elevate, in 2009/10 there will be another £8.3 million pound to help to regenerate West Accrington. Cameron has said he will withdraw this funding - leaving East Lancashire to its fate (after all he doesn't think anyone should live in the North). As well as the regeneration money, there is money from LEGI and I am sure Graham will tell you all the other LABOUR government money that we receive in Hyndburn.

I am sure that the Tories would not be coping any better with the current economic crisis - they would probably be making sure the rich were looked after but it would be 'devil take the hindmost', after all the ordinary working person is expendable.

Are these enough reasons to let you know why I am proud to be a member of the Labour Party and a priveleged to be a member of the Labour Group on Hyndburn Borough Council.

I don't want to comment on the local politics aspect of this thread, as I've done so on here in the past and usually had my fingers burnt, probably due to lack of local knowledge.

However, can I just say, what a great post from Claytonender. Although I regard the present government as a bunch of unprincipled shysters and I will never ever forgive them for lying to the country to get us involved in an unnecessary war which has cost so many lives, this post reminds me of why I supported Labour in the past, way back before the cynicism set in...

Karma sent.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by andrewb

Exactly. Why should they, when I'm requesting something I'm perfectly entitled to. Where as Labour councillors will was time posting on here when members of the public freedom of information request. No wait, let me rephrase, they post when it's somebody who voted Conservative at the last election, I can't find evidence of them being outraged at other FOI requests.

nice response, who said "eels" were the slippiest of creatures?

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by garinda

As stated earlier, I've lived in both the most expensive and least expensive borough to live in in the country, and I don't think the level of services here in Hyndburn represents good value for money, when weighed against the amount of tax paid.

Ah, you mean the council that gets a budget of £1,800 per head. Compared with our council that gets one of £187 per head. I couldn't imagine why the services you had before were better.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by andrewb

Ah, you mean the council that gets a budget of £1,800 per head. Compared with our council that gets one of £187 per head. I couldn't imagine why the services you had before were better.

Well trust me they were, both in Conservative Wandsworth, and Labour run Glasgow.

Like I said you'll hopefully be in a better position to judge for yourself as to the excellence of service versus money paid out of hard earned wages, when you start paying it yourself.

[claytonender]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

I don't want to comment on the local politics aspect of this thread, as I've done so on here in the past and usually had my fingers burnt, probably due to lack of local knowledge.

However, can I just say, what a great post from Claytonender. Although I regard the present government as a bunch of unprincipled shysters and I will never ever forgive them for lying to the country to get us involved in an unnecessary war which has cost so many lives, this post reminds me of why I supported Labour in the past, way back before the cynicism set in...

Karma sent.

Thank for the Karma. Not everyone in the Labour Party agreed with the Iraq war and it something that I have never agreed with. I can also appreciate that it is difficult for anyone who doesn't live in the borough to make comments about the current situation. As you are no doubt aware, the only councillor, who has served on the council longer than PB is Bernard Dawson- however rather than acknowleging that Bernard has much (if not more) knowlege of Hyndburn coucil than himself he constantly belittles every contribution he makes to any debate.




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[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by claytonender

As you are no doubt aware, the only councillor, who has served on the council longer than PB is Bernard Dawson- however rather than acknowleging that Bernard has much (if not more) knowlege of Hyndburn coucil than himself he constantly belittles every contribution he makes to any debate.

Very sorry to hear that. Although I've never met Bernard, I know from other people's opinions going way, way back to when I lived in Accy just how well-respected and experienced he is. You would think that Councillor Britcliffe would treat him with the respect he deserves, despite their party differences.

One other good thing about Bernard...he actually turns up to watch Stanley as a matter of course and not just when there's some publicity involved!

[Bernard Dawson]

Originally Posted by andrewb

We might not have an excellent council, as rated by the audit commission, if they spent all their time responding to Labour misleading people on AccringtonWeb. There's a very open debate for everybody to see called council. It's a shame expenses are not so open, then I wouldn't have had to FOI request them, and councillor Jones wouldn't have tried to trip the Tories up by starting this thread. Shame really, because it's all the Labour councillors whining, not a single Conservative councillor has contacted me over the issue, not even the leader himself.

The leader Peter Britcliffe would contact you Andrew, if you if you put on here what allowances he claims

[g jones]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Very sorry to hear that. Although I've never met Bernard, I know from other people's opinions going way, way back to when I lived in Accy just how well-respected and experienced he is. You would think that Councillor Britcliffe would treat him with the respect he deserves, despite their party differences.

One other good thing about Bernard...he actually turns up to watch Stanley as a matter of course and not just when there's some publicity involved!

Quick story about Bernard and Peter. Peter often says in public he loathes Bernard (but I think it is anything red to be honest).

One day Bernard asked a question at Cabinet and Peter said;
"I am not taking that question from you Bernard sat in that seat." (He was on the front row in a half empty room).

"I am afraid you'll have to sit another seat before you can put your hand up again".

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by garinda

Well trust me they were, both in Conservative Wandsworth)

No doubt they were, having £1000 extra per head does wonders if spent correctly.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by andrewb

No doubt they were, having £1000 extra per head does wonders if spent correctly.

Amazing how you know what years I was living, and paying Council Tax, in Wandsworth.

Did you use the Freedom of Information Act to find out, so you could quote an accurate figure?