This Weeks Observer

park381 · 24-03-2005, 19:19

Well here we are again, Observer time, what a lot of gems there are, from the front page "Home Sec's Angry Blast on Wardens", to our leaders column "Its time to think of new beginnings" our Graham's letter to the editor, not forgetting "Labour veteran George defects to the Lib Dems" and "Crack down on illegal parkers"
The paper is so packed full of interesting reading, what would we do without it. Oh and sorry I forgot,............."The final design" put some lines on it and you could have a giant dart board, but only to be played from the air.

Graham Jones · 24-03-2005, 21:24

And I have to say I am eating humble pie. After giving the Ob some stick we [The Labour Party] have benefited from quite a lot of press coverage covering our point of view. I think different opinions [with good journailsm] makes for a better Hyndburn.

FRONT PAGE: Clarke blasts Council.
Mr Clarke responded to the election of Claire Hamilton with a visit. Aimed at promoting the Labour Party to young people it was a private function with Labour Councillors and some members there only.

However Granada turned up and a Mrs Stevenson [the person who challenged Tony Blair]. Then Peter Britcliffe turned up with a Unison rep. All waiting for Mr Clarke near the TV cameras to make out there was a cufuffule. Mr Clarke came in the side door and Mrs Stevenson was invited to privately speak to Mr Clarke. Which she did for most of Mr Clarkes stay. I think Debra has grasped that she was turned into a political pawn for Peter and the Tory and the issue is in fact how we in Hyndburn spend the money we have.

The wardens turned up [off duty] to spead the word of their plight. An officer of the Council rang them up and told them to GET OUT IMMEDIATLEY.

Mr Clarke talked about young people crime, issues affecting local councillors. He asked lots of questions and listened to the answers, responding accordingly.

He listened to the wardens for 10 minutes and asked them about going about the job and how effective they thought they were. After some sandwiches and orange he left after 2 hours.

The only bit of the article innacuate is Peter Britcliffe. It was a private meeting to promote young people. The wardens were added at the last minute and Charles Clarke needed to be briefed on the spot about the local dimension to this story. ie Peter keeps blaming govt shortfalls. Well he got a bloody nose and he has deserved it for misleading the public.

On this site I previously published how much extra monies [massive] had been pumped into Hyndburn Borough Council over Peters 5 years of reign under Blair's govt [check public records]. The council has never been as well funded with above inflation rises and way above inflation increases in government monies.

And how Labour will cut the number of back office staff, and loss making area's as well as move the Area Council budget into the warden scheme, funding 24 wardens, 5 or 6 extra cleasning staff and not implementing the £350,000 of front line cuts. Grass Cutting, sports centres, town halls, dial a ride, bus inspectors etc..
The labour budget was set against massive [and increasing] council debts and the emphasis was clear; 'less chiefs and more indians' - no more frontline cuts, lets clean [ALL OF] Hyndburn up and be proud of it.

The Unsion shop stewards are never out of Peter Britcliffes office and always support Tory policies within the Council. Howver they have gone to far as many members are discussing privately their utter discontent with this latest Unison-Tory blast. Some have mentioned withdrawing their membership and it looks like Unison regional branch may get involved in carpeting this maverick branch in Scaitcliffe House.

PANOPTICONS: Still not happy!

lindsay ormerod · 24-03-2005, 21:42

Thanks for the insights Graham.

Nothing more than we expected then really;cover-ups and b**lcks.Maybe people will get off their arses and vote but I seriously doubt it!Let's be honest now,who actually admires PB??? Let's have a poll.....

park381 · 24-03-2005, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

And I have to say I am eating humble pie. After giving the Ob some stick we [The Labour Party] have benefited from quite a lot of press coverage covering our point of view. I think different opinions [with good journailsm] makes for a better Hyndburn.
PANOPTICONS: Still not happy!

That was an excellent post Graham, as you indicated a lot of good press for the labour party in this weeks Observer, also noted your comment about the "New Design" panoptican.
Such a shame that we can not get the views of the other sides on Accy web. As indicated on previous topics, Graham I thank you for your "open attitude"

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 07:33

I laughed a lot when I read the front page of the Observer. I laughed even more when I read Graham's post. How galling it must be for someone who believes that the world revolves around them, and them alone, to discover that it doesn't. Charles Clarke has gone up in my estimation.

Reading further, it seems that springtime has come to La-la-land! Our officially snubbed and justifiably much maligned leader has graciously given us a rundown of all the tremendously exciting non-events that will be coming our way this summer.

Make sure you are sitting down and have a bottle of Sal-Volatile handy before you read this next bit, it may be far too sensational for some of you.

More money will be chucked at the defunct fountains at the bottom of Ormerod Street, the site is to be known officially as Diamond Gardens. Which is not, as some of you might think, an oblique reference to the amount of rate payers cash already thrown away on it, but as a way of memorialising the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

We may also expect further episodes in that long running farce Project Phoenix. A bird that has taken so long to get off the ground that I am surpised that it has not succumbed to evolutionary pressure and become extinct. Or maybe it has and it is just that HBC are loathe to let it die with dignity.

This one made me giggle; The Neighbourhood Management Process, after months of false starts and misunderstandings has finally got down to what our dear leader describes as "The nitty-gritty of finding out what people want" As though the countless letters to the Observer, and the tidal waves of complaints that must be swilling around Scaitcliffe House didn't give them a clue!

Another "exciting new development" his words not mine, is the launch of the council's Contact Centre.

Ohh be still my beating heart! Quick nurse, the Valium!

"Meaning that we can offer a better service to you by Joining up District and County services. You'll only need to make one call to the council to access those services" Exciting development, one call, yeah, right. "please chose from the following nine hundred options - I'm sorry we are experiencing an unusual volume of calls, you are currently being held in a queue, your call is important to us" etc. etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseam!

To add to your collection of recycling recepticles there will now be containers for cardboard and textiles. If we carry on at this rate there will be no room in our homes for anything other than the storage of waste.

Saving the best till last - he is such a tease! - he informs us that work to improve the look of Broadway is expected to start at the height of the tourist season. So get your shopping done before June because after then you won't be able to get near Broadway till Christmas!

And you wonder where all the money goes. Tchh! How ungrateful!

.

Graham Jones · 25-03-2005, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

The Unsion shop stewards are never out of Peter Britcliffes office and always support Tory policies within the Council. Howver they have gone to far as many members are discussing privately their utter discontent with this latest Unison-Tory blast. Some have mentioned withdrawing their membership and it looks like Unison regional branch may get involved in carpeting this maverick branch in Scaitcliffe House.

PANOPTICONS: Still not happy!

I forgot to add, the two Unison branch secretaries jobs are within the Area Councils team, the department Labour proopsed withdrawing funding from to pay for the 24 wardens. There's no magic money, especially now we are so deep in debt. Wardens will be funded out of other budgets. As far as Area Councils are concerned Councillors can get off their backsides and run area councils themselves just like residents run resident associations themselves. And Councillors get expenses, residents dont.

The next Tory 'story' will be the above [it went out in the form of an A4 leaflet in Rishton last week]. Labour get rid of Area Councils. Its not true. We like area councils. We introduced the forerunner, Area Committees. Information the Tories dont want people to know. The Tories developed them much further and formulated them into the Council structure and gave them budgets, about £10,000 per year [plus support staff].

However we have divided their cost by the number of people who turn up and it is costing the ratepayer approximately £150 per person who comes through door. Therefore public money os not being spent well. So we will as above keep area forums but cut the budget putting responsibilty onto Councillors.

Area Councils are complicated things [in Hydnburn now] because many areas outside Hyndburn dont have them and the govt in poor areas is suggesting 'resident power' through a more robust, outcome orientated framework known as Neighbourhood Management.

Where residents run their area through a NM board and tackle THEIR problems.

However, if we dont watch it here in Hyndburn we will have 2 schemes running similarly with the same people and the same issues. So where NM exists we will merge the two for simplicity. This is in the poor areas where the govt wants robust action [led by residents - discribded as a 'bottom up' process based on 'residents know best about their area']. So watch out for Peter not telling the truth. Bare in mind as well the funding for NM boards is 30 times that of Area Councils. So we need to manage the two and increase resident participation whilst cutting bureacracy and cost.

News not in the press yet is the progresss of NM. I know I am speaking close to the knuckle. ELEVATE has given the Council £600,000 approx for 2 years NM in West Accrington. Without any paperpwork or authority that money was given to Eavesbrook HA who did as they thought fit. Nigel Rix ran the show convincing a confused Leader of the Council who didnt understand what it was all about. In manipulating things his way Rix disliked the Labour Party because we were scrutinizing his department, his tricks, and warning the public where possible of any negative outcomes.

**Nigel Rix resigned last year not long after being removed as a Director of Globe Enterprises [and others] with generous perks. A Labour Party motion [to downgrade officers on outside boards from voting members to advisors] that was supported by Peter Britcliffe and some confused Tory Councillors.

Typically in West Acc. not one resident was ever been involved in NM [a bottom up process!] or knows or has seen any evidence as to what the £600,000 has been spent or has improved. Not one outcome was agreed [so we dont know whats going on] by the Tory council when it handed over the money without ANY contract or agreement. Eavesbrook have emplyed several staff on good wages and refurbished one of their properties.

As it stands now the residents are up in arms at what appears a gross waste of public money as little or no improvement has occurred. Its a scandal.

The residents with the help of Jean Battle keep trying to set up a residents board to oversee it but it keeps getting knocked back either by officers or the malaise/various factional interests within the Council and Eavesbrook themselves. The sticking point is the constitution of the Board. Its no surprise when you realise the Area Councils [yes that dept Labour wants to cut funduing from] team are helping co-ordinate the makup of the NM Board. in conjunction with Eavesbrook who seemingly want to exclude local [opposition] Councillors on the basis of officers are party political free and professional. The most powerful party at HBC has been the Officer Party [with their own empire builders]. The Tories just want to keep Labour out of power so you have this grossly egotistical inefficient system.

Long battered residents in West Accrington WANT Councillors on because a favourite tactic of officers [RIX] was to drip feed residents selective information in order to control all decisions favourably and to prevent any criticisms or questioning of decision making by officers

Haveing opposition Labour Cuncillors there however unhealty, guards against b****t.

WA residents have always supported oppostion councillors for that reason [and Jean Battle is a very hard working supportive ward councillor], having opposition and county councillors around keeps them much better informed.

12 months on 60++ meetings later and we are still at position A. NM is in total chaos here in Hyndburn and Max Steinberg, Chief Exec of ELEVATE is as equal to blame as the local Tories. More public money down the drain.

On wednesday the residents had a private meeting I believe as to what to next there. In Peel & Barnfield we are setting up a board in advance of next years funding so its done right, free of any intervention by those who couldnt run a soup kitchen.

park381 · 25-03-2005, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

More money will be chucked at the defunct fountains at the bottom of Ormerod Street, the site is to be known officially as Diamond Gardens. Which is not, as some of you might think, an oblique reference to the amount of rate payers cash already thrown away on it, but as a way of memorialising the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.
.

That will make it even better for the cider drinkers in summer, since they lost their benches on broadway, and were banned from drinking there.
Yes this weeks Ob, was so full of gems I think the editor and his staff should be given 10/10 for their efforts.
The next couple of months are going to be very interesting

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 08:49

So we are to have Neighbourhood Management run by residents and councillors through area councils, because they know best what is needed for their area. Fair enough and very sensible.

Would you mind explaining to me then why it was necessary to abolish the "Old" area councils, you know Accrington, Oswaldtwistle, Church Clayton, Rishton, and Great Harwood and gather them all together into that grotesque travesty known as HBC? And while you are at it, could you also explain to me, now that residents and councillors will be shifting for themselves and their respective areas, what is the point in maintaining HBC in the style to which it has become accustomed?

Graham Jones · 25-03-2005, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

How galling it must be for someone who believes that the world revolves around them, and them alone, to discover that it doesn't.

Thats exactly what happened. And if only you could have seen his expression!

For once the world didnt revolve around Peter.

The wardens thing was a late addition. Had it been planned I wish Peter had been invited upstairs [and I bet he is glad he wasnt] to meet Mr Clarke. What Clarke said was right. We've had 4 years of funding we asked for and we should have developed a forward plan to carry on the service as other councils have done.

I can undertsand Peters position. He has made a balls of things grand style but cant be seen to taking any of the blame as it will cost the Tories a lot of votes. So blame the government. Its only Hyndburn, no-one outside of it will know any different.

park381 · 25-03-2005, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acrylic-bob

So we are to have Neighbourhood Management run by residents and councillors through area councils, because they know best what is needed for their area. Fair enough and very sensible.

There is some good information on Neighbourhood Management here
http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/publ...s.asp?did=1040

park381 · 25-03-2005, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

The wardens thing was a late addition. Had it been planned I wish Peter had been invited upstairs [and I bet he is glad he wasnt] to meet Mr Clarke. What Clarke said was right. We've had 4 years of funding we asked for and we should have developed a forward plan to carry on the service as other councils have done.

Thats true, but how many other Gov. funded projects have been scrapped at the end of funding, and its all been blamed on the Gov. " they have withdrawn funding"
PB's cover is well blown on this one

Graham Jones · 25-03-2005, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by park381

There is some good information on Neighbourhood Management here
http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/publ...s.asp?did=1040

BOB URBAN DISTRICT COUNCILS - yes there is a lot to be said.. [off shopping!]

Neighbourhood Management [Independent resident survey]
https://survey.nop.co.uk/NME/Wave2/D...th=Reports/PDF

And the ODPM web page is
http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=577

NM here is being 'supervised/funded' by that Quango ELEVATE. God help us all! [and Im not religious!]

Graham Jones · 25-03-2005, 09:49

and b4 I have to part with my wages...

Here is the long standing government position on Neighbourhood Wardens
http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=576

THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS [See below for Hyndburns funding source]:
ODPM Funding for Warden Programmes

Total grant funding for neighbourhood wardens is £91m running from 2000/01 to 2005/06. This has funded 245 schemes. There have been three rounds of grant programmes:

Neighbourhood wardens (2000)
Street wardens (2001)
Street crime wardens (2002)

The recent decision to give the second and third rounds parity of treatment with the first round, means that each will last 3.5 years. Funding for the first round neighbourhood wardens ended in March 2004. Funding for the second round street wardens ends in March 2005 and funding ends for the third round street crime wardens ends in March 2006. There are no plans for further rounds of funding. In addition there are at least another 250 schemes funded from outside the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Grant Programme.

Hyndburns comes from Govt NRF funding. Hyndburn BC got £2.9m to kick start and help mainstream the initiatives it came up with, wardens being one of them. ie to give monies to help because of the risk involved in new schemes, therefore this is up front monies to kick start..etc...
see here http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=611

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) aims to enable England's 88 most deprived authorities, in collaboration with their Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), to improve services, narrowing the gap between deprived areas and the rest of the country.

A key element of the strategy is the improvement of mainstream services to produce better outcomes in the most deprived areas.

lindsay ormerod · 25-03-2005, 15:46

Just seen our "glorious leader" in town struggling with 5 bags of Icelands finest! Why the miserable face PB? You buy one,you get one free!

Acrylic-bob · 25-03-2005, 15:58

Perhaps he is throwing a bit of a do now that he has Charlie and Purplelass to support him.