Comments on: Wirral Council - “Not corrupt just incompetent!” http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/wirral-council-not-corrupt-just-incompetent/ His sister may be "Disgusted from Tumbridge Wells" but he is just slightly peeved from Wirral! Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:06:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: daveheswall http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/wirral-council-not-corrupt-just-incompetent/#comment-17 daveheswall Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:19:45 +0000 http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-17 John; I meant to ask you about David Green's statement to the Scrutiny Commitee. Did he give reasons or justify the decision not to sack anybody for the error? Becasue I think the general concenus amongst many people was that a manager should have gone for this, given that Knight concluded that the errors in procedures were such that such an error was bound to happen at some point. Also, 2 different people were at fault for not sending out the notices, yet only one was disciplined (and even then he was only made to retire early)...... it seems that technical services have ducked the issue, and refused to hold people to account. You have to understand that there is a very large groundswell of opinion and disillusionment with the council, and it goes far beyond the lib-lab executive. We have, as you know, council officials who were 3rd and even 4th choice candidates for their respective positions, and who show arrogant disregard for the feelings of the public.... we all know who these individuals are.... and I think it would be in the Conservatives interest (and the Council's as a whole) to take action on this matter if you win control of the council. Afterall, half of the council officials we have at the momet have never worked in the private sector, and have never had to take real-life decisions, where they are not cushioned by subsidies and relative lack of risk. Maddox for an example was a solicitor... and AFAIK has never run a business or worked in the private sector. When you consider that many councils have budgets exceeding that of many companies, is it not time for people with track records of sucess in the private sector to be brought in to turn failing councils round? Wirral Council would be a great place to start. John; I meant to ask you about David Green’s statement to the Scrutiny Commitee. Did he give reasons or justify the decision not to sack anybody for the error? Becasue I think the general concenus amongst many people was that a manager should have gone for this, given that Knight concluded that the errors in procedures were such that such an error was bound to happen at some point. Also, 2 different people were at fault for not sending out the notices, yet only one was disciplined (and even then he was only made to retire early)…… it seems that technical services have ducked the issue, and refused to hold people to account.

You have to understand that there is a very large groundswell of opinion and disillusionment with the council, and it goes far beyond the lib-lab executive. We have, as you know, council officials who were 3rd and even 4th choice candidates for their respective positions, and who show arrogant disregard for the feelings of the public…. we all know who these individuals are…. and I think it would be in the Conservatives interest (and the Council’s as a whole) to take action on this matter if you win control of the council.

Afterall, half of the council officials we have at the momet have never worked in the private sector, and have never had to take real-life decisions, where they are not cushioned by subsidies and relative lack of risk. Maddox for an example was a solicitor… and AFAIK has never run a business or worked in the private sector. When you consider that many councils have budgets exceeding that of many companies, is it not time for people with track records of sucess in the private sector to be brought in to turn failing councils round? Wirral Council would be a great place to start.

]]> By: daveheswall http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/wirral-council-not-corrupt-just-incompetent/#comment-16 daveheswall Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:01:59 +0000 http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-16 Agree with what you say completely, and if this had been in the private sector then somebody (probably more senior than an admin clerk) would have been sacked for it. I think Maddox and Green have created a rod for their own backs on this one; by refusing to take firm action, then they will be crucified for any future mistakes. Senior managers are responsible for laying down procedures for employees to follow- they did not do so, and therefore should take more responsibilty Agree with what you say completely, and if this had been in the private sector then somebody (probably more senior than an admin clerk) would have been sacked for it. I think Maddox and Green have created a rod for their own backs on this one; by refusing to take firm action, then they will be crucified for any future mistakes. Senior managers are responsible for laying down procedures for employees to follow- they did not do so, and therefore should take more responsibilty

]]> By: johnmeyer http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/wirral-council-not-corrupt-just-incompetent/#comment-15 johnmeyer Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:32:06 +0000 http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-15 Dave; the medical opinions are lagging behind the medical facts! But that is not the point! The elected members of WMBC voted against all the masts concerned.... and due to a cock up by staff of the Council the notifications to the applicants did not go out! Imagine if the department of Authority concerned was in the hands of a private sector company; and an individual failed to perform their job! Do you really think they would still be employed? My business mind finds it hard to believe that so many months later no one has lost their jobs over this episode and the people who have campaigned to stop this travesty have been prevented from speaking at the Scrutiny Committee meeting! The members of the public elected various representatives to Council and their views were cast aside by the incompetence of (please note that it was incompetence and not corrupt practices of) Council staff!.. I do not wish to imply any corrupt activities; I just wish to dwell on the facts! I have known David Green for many years and I was sad to see him "take the stand" on Tuesday evening; however he ran the department at the time and had a duty of care for both his directly employed staff and to the Council Tax payers of WMBC! Planning law is complex and that pertaining to Phone Mats is even worse! My solution to stopping this happening againing is simple and straight forward and probably will fall at the first hurdle but.... Campaign to scrap the 56 day rule as Esther and Jackie Lait have been doing for over two years; or at least have a WMBC “Standing Order” rejecting any and all Phone Masts in the future so applicants have to appeal as standard; thus making sure the 56 day rule is complied with! Dave; the medical opinions are lagging behind the medical facts! But that is not the point!

The elected members of WMBC voted against all the masts concerned…. and due to a cock up by staff of the Council the notifications to the applicants did not go out!

Imagine if the department of Authority concerned was in the hands of a private sector company; and an individual failed to perform their job!

Do you really think they would still be employed?

My business mind finds it hard to believe that so many months later no one has lost their jobs over this episode and the people who have campaigned to stop this travesty have been prevented from speaking at the Scrutiny Committee meeting!

The members of the public elected various representatives to Council and their views were cast aside by the incompetence of (please note that it was incompetence and not corrupt practices of) Council staff!.. I do not wish to imply any corrupt activities; I just wish to dwell on the facts!

I have known David Green for many years and I was sad to see him “take the stand” on Tuesday evening; however he ran the department at the time and had a duty of care for both his directly employed staff and to the Council Tax payers of WMBC!

Planning law is complex and that pertaining to Phone Mats is even worse! My solution to stopping this happening againing is simple and straight forward and probably will fall at the first hurdle but….

Campaign to scrap the 56 day rule as Esther and Jackie Lait have been doing for over two years; or at least have a WMBC “Standing Order” rejecting any and all Phone Masts in the future so applicants have to appeal as standard; thus making sure the 56 day rule is complied with!

]]> By: daveheswall http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/wirral-council-not-corrupt-just-incompetent/#comment-14 daveheswall Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:20:56 +0000 http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-14 Also want to add John that David Green and the Technical Services department as a whole are the laughing stock of most local government circles. Their incompetence and stupidity is one of the main reasons (along with the complete failure of social services) why the council was awarded 2 stars, and is on a par with Liverpool City Council under the likes of Warren Bradley (even he couldn't do a worse job!!!! Also want to add John that David Green and the Technical Services department as a whole are the laughing stock of most local government circles. Their incompetence and stupidity is one of the main reasons (along with the complete failure of social services) why the council was awarded 2 stars, and is on a par with Liverpool City Council under the likes of Warren Bradley (even he couldn’t do a worse job!!!!

]]> By: daveheswall http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/wirral-council-not-corrupt-just-incompetent/#comment-13 daveheswall Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:17:26 +0000 http://johnmmeyer.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-13 Agree with your comments John, although I wonder what you mean by "blight" the lives of residents? I live in the area affected, and have some knowledge of the "health issues" (working in the area of electro-magnetic stuff!) involved to say that there is little or no health effects from the masts. Otherwise you tend to find the cranks and loonies from Powerwatch and "Mast Sanity" get involved, and try and spread their mistruths! The effect on the visual amenity and house values in the area is what has concerned most residents. Is that what you meant? Agree with your comments John, although I wonder what you mean by “blight” the lives of residents? I live in the area affected, and have some knowledge of the “health issues” (working in the area of electro-magnetic stuff!) involved to say that there is little or no health effects from the masts.

Otherwise you tend to find the cranks and loonies from Powerwatch and “Mast Sanity” get involved, and try and spread their mistruths!

The effect on the visual amenity and house values in the area is what has concerned most residents. Is that what you meant?

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