Getting the facts right!
September 6, 2010 12:00 AM
By David Chappell in BFP
By David Chappell in BFP
John Griffiths in his letter (BFP 27/8/10) requested that we get the facts right? I agree so when will the public be given the facts? When will the secret Developers Agreement with Centros be made public? Why did the Council spend £1,457,372 on consultancy advice on the Cattle Market development when according to the Council all they have done is the rent the land for a fee?
The Council have admitted spending on £7,506,718 on consultancy fees. They have explained that £3,604,900 was spent on advice with regard to the Cattle Market and Public Venue. So what was the other £3,865,818 spent on? I asked at the last Full Council meeting for the Council to explain on what and why this money had been spent. That is what Councillors are elected to do, represent the public, ensure value for money, and ask the questions that need asking and ensure we have good local government.
The Council and the administration do not seem to want to answer this question, so it is no good saying get the facts right if you won't release the facts?
Cllr Griffiths states in his letter that the Council did not pay £30,000 to name The Apex. Perhaps he may be right as the Council Member's bulletin states that the Council paid £35,078 for Venue Naming and Branding Advice. The Council can argue that it did not overspend on the budget because year on year they increased the budget. This is playing with words by an administration that lost all control over the process. A council that has seen no leadership or decisive decision making but instead collectively sat on its hand meeting after meeting and 'wrung its hands' as allegedly unavoidable costs arose and then voted them through.
The Borough are going to have I suspect a wonderful venue. That is not the issue. The issue was how the costs got out of control, what has been learned and what steps taken to bring those responsible to account.
Last September I called on the Council to publish all its bills over £500 online so taxpayers could see where there money was being spent. Taxpayers may now understand why John Griffiths and his crew block voted to prevent that. Now we have a Coalition Government which has made it public policy to publish all such expenses online. So end this debate and give us the facts!
It is the public's money that is being spent and the public have a right to know if it has been spent wisely and effectively, or if the Council have been profligate and careless before they make the decision next year on who should run the Local Council again.
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