HBC - Does your face fit?

Acrylic-bob · 01-04-2005, 15:23

On walking through town this afternoon I noticed that a huge tent has been erected outside the main entrance to the Town Hall. I am half tempted to commend Daniel Thwaites, the brewers, for their public spirited intervention in resolving a long running problem. And I would were it not for the fact that this is merely a marketing opportunity for a new product. However, following the months of complaints and near fatal accidents outside the Town Hall and months of ineffectual hand-wringing and blame shifting by the Idiot-in-Chief and his seat-warming cronies, the problem does appear to have been miraculously solved - the road is closed to traffic! It did not require expensive traffic lights or self-raising bollards or any of the other ludicrous and money wasting proposals that have been put forward over the past few months. All it needed was a couple of portable road works signs which read “ROAD CLOSED”. Traffic is diverted up Eagle Street, along Paradise Street and down Church Street. No Problem.

Funny how HBC always seem to be able to come up with instant solutions where their pet projects are concerned, but find it damned near impossible to act with similar alacrity when residents raise concerns?

A vaguely similar situation has arisen with the “Go Scatty in Gatty” Festival due to be held in Gatty Park this summer. The organisers were almost certain that they would have to cancel this community face-painting bash through lack of cash. They were around £4,000 short and there were long faces all round. Then into the breach steps Amran Ghoni (a made up name if you ask me) who is Festivals Officer for HBC,( I’ll bet you never knew we had one of those did you?). There is no cause for alarm according to Mr Ghoni, and oddly he claims that there is plenty of money available. He also offered to help the organisers to apply for funding from the National Lottery, The council for Voluntary Service and HBC’s Creative Activities Project. Isn’t that nice of him? And so it looks as though Church’s “little darlings” will be having their faces painted after all.

One wonders then what the organisers of Accrington Carnival have done to put themselves in such bad odour with the council and the Idiot-in-Chief?

accymel · 01-04-2005, 15:30

Its so typical n yet not surprising nowt surprises me with regards to our generous n caring HBC i bet it was a lot safer today with the rd shut it should be pedestrain area only ok maybe bus route for now but the amount of ordinary cars flyin a short cut is beyond a joke - now where are the wardens then???? to quick n busy to be booking someone for a very minor thing or they dont like look of yer car or whatever!!

Tealeaf · 01-04-2005, 15:33

I'm puzzled.....what is the purpose of this Beer Tent outside the townhall?

As regards the HBC "festival organiser", then that is no surprise. (come to London & you'll get gay and lesbian festival organisers on the public payroll)Where do you think your council tax money is going to? What would be interesting to see would be a full list of every employment position and title, filled or vacant, with HBC, togeather with job description and salary. Possibly Graham could help on this one?

accymel · 01-04-2005, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

I'm puzzled.....what is the purpose of this Beer Tent outside the townhall?

Its for the fat cats at HBC??? or another bribe possibly????...... nowts for free so there must be a catch.

Acrylic-bob · 01-04-2005, 15:39

Errm the beer tent is part of the county wide launch for "Lancashire Bomber" Thwaites' latest beer, advertised in the local press and otherwise known as The Lancashire Food Festival.

I agree with you about the rollcall of jobs and salaries - How about it Graham?

Less · 01-04-2005, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

What would be interesting to see would be a full list of every employment position and title, filled or vacant, with HBC, togeather with job description and salary. Possibly Graham could help on this one?

You could start here T'

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/your%5F...vice_Areas.htm

Acrylic-bob · 01-04-2005, 15:47

Been there, done that, Less. I have the sneaking suspicion that the HBC website is set up precisley to discourage people from accessing information. It has to be one of the worst organised and painfully slow I have ever come across.

Less · 01-04-2005, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

Been there, done that, Less. I have the sneaking suspicion that the HBC website is set up precisley to discourage people from accessing information. It has to be one of the worst organised and painfully slow I have ever come across.

You know me A-B, if I can find something funny to put into a thread then I will, this link has to be one of my best!

I know what you mean so far as content is concerned, I've found that if you do a search for anything it always seems to reply with 'this is the best 10 results out of 300'.

Acrylic-bob · 01-04-2005, 16:22

And they always appear to be arranged in order of earliest first. I find that after three pages the server appears to get fagged-out and gives up.

Less · 01-04-2005, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

I find that after three pages the server appears to get fagged-out and gives up.

No, Bob, it's specially designed that way so that you give up by the time you get to the third page, because anything useful is buried somewhere after the fifth page!

Acrylic-bob · 01-04-2005, 17:54

Sounds about right.

Graham Jones · 02-04-2005, 07:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

I'm puzzled.....what is the purpose of this Beer Tent outside the townhall?

As regards the HBC "festival organiser", then that is no surprise. (come to London & you'll get gay and lesbian festival organisers on the public payroll)Where do you think your council tax money is going to? What would be interesting to see would be a full list of every employment position and title, filled or vacant, with HBC, togeather with job description and salary. Possibly Graham could help on this one?

yes I can do that. Got a lot on so it may take a while for my brain to engage and gather all teh info..

Graham Jones · 02-04-2005, 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Less

You could start here T'

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/your%5F...vice_Areas.htm

Actually it will probably be a bit of a disapointment. All teh spurious and daft names have been in the press and the rest are doing what seems obvious and often things we forget that councils should do. The question will be, have we got to many [YES seen as Labour Party Policy is less Chiefs and more Indians] and if we reduce staff, what happens when the public complains about the shortfall in service eg the CT & B Office/Env. Health [Enforcement] Officers??

garinda · 02-04-2005, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

I'm puzzled.....what is the purpose of this Beer Tent outside the townhall?

As regards the HBC "festival organiser", then that is no surprise. (come to London & you'll get gay and lesbian festival organisers on the public payroll)Where do you think your council tax money is going to? What would be interesting to see would be a full list of every employment position and title, filled or vacant, with HBC, togeather with job description and salary. Possibly Graham could help on this one?

Not just London dearie, Manchester held Euro Pride and Sydney holds the biggest Carnival in the world every year called Mardi Gras. Both receiving tax payers money, both well attended by all sections of the community at large.

Me thinks you doth protest too much, what with all your fear of 'lezzy' theatre and your comments about puffs parading about funded by 'normal' folks. Please feel free to PM me for information about organisations that could be of assistance re: coming out/ self hatred.

Gayle · 02-04-2005, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

I'm puzzled.....what is the purpose of this Beer Tent outside the townhall?

As regards the HBC "festival organiser", then that is no surprise. (come to London & you'll get gay and lesbian festival organisers on the public payroll)Where do you think your council tax money is going to? What would be interesting to see would be a full list of every employment position and title, filled or vacant, with HBC, togeather with job description and salary. Possibly Graham could help on this one?

I hate to be the one to defend HBC on this one but from what I understand the Food Festival is one of the events that actually makes money for the council, so no public money wasted at all.

Also, I'm not 100% sure but I think Amran's role was funded from an outside source, so again no public money used. I think they raised money seperately for it, possibly Arts Council or some other funding source. Can't say for certain but it's highly likely as these funding bodies are usually prepared to put money into that kind of role.

Mid Pennine Arts is involved in the big community festival, alongside Amran and the HBC team, at Oakhill Park and we're currently doing the rounds of funding applications to raise the money for it. Before you all say 'well it's public money anyway, it doesn't matter where it comes from', I'd like to point out that most of the funding for events and activities like this comes from lottery sales and not Government or Council.