In response to the question "What is safer Recruitment"
Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education came into force 1 January 2007. You can read the full 152 page document by clicking here
Basically it sets out the responsibilities of all local authorities, schools and Further Education (FE) colleges in England to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. It sets out recruitment best practice, some underpinned by legislation, for the school, local authority, and FE education sectors.
The guidance is also relevant for supply agencies who supply staff to the education sector, contractors who work in education establishments responsible for under 18s, as well as other providers of education and training for those under 18 funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The document also details the process for dealing with allegations of abuse against staff.
This guidance does not cover the requirements of the new vetting and barring scheme to be introduced under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. These will be phased in from 2008, and updated guidance will be prepared in due course.
This Guidance replaces:
Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service;
Criminal Records Bureau: Managing the Demand for Disclosures;
Safeguarding Children in Education;
Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings;
Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and Other Staff (November 2005).
It also replaces the guidance contained in Checks on Supply Teachers which was issued in September 2004, Circular 7/96, Use of Supply Teachers, and in the associated Guidance Notes for Teacher Employment Businesses and Agencies.
If you really want to know more then below is the Hartlepool Borough Council Safer Recruitment Procedure. Please don't read any further unless you really want to know!
SAFER RECRUITMENT
The post for which you are applying is subject to safer recruitment measures. This is because it is located in a school, or is a position where the nature of the work and/or the setting(s) in which you may be required to work could lead children and young people to regard you as a safe and trustworthy adult, and/or you will have access to sensitive information about children or young people.
Safer recruitment measures include rigorous checking information you supply about yourself in your application e.g. verifying employment history and qualifications and references, enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check and assessment of your suitability in light of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
It is important, therefore that in support of your application you comply in full with our requirements, for example, by scrupulously completing the application form and prompt answering any queries we may have on your application. Non cooperation or lack of cooperation in this on your part will lead to your application not being considered.
How our recruitment process works
A selection panel is formed, made up of not less than two people, usually including the manager of the job. They agree the content of the Job Description and the essential criteria for the Person Specification. A job advert is then written.
When we receive application forms, we separate Part A and Part B. Only Part C is given to the selection panel. The panel does not see personal information about you. This is designed to reduce the chances of inadvertent unfair discrimination.
Each panel member then compares the information on Part C of your Application Form with the criteria on the Person Specification. They each read all applications, form their views and determine who will go through to the next stage. If there are a lot of applicants that meet the requirements, the panel will go through the successful pile again, keeping only those who best meet the requirements. References are then asked for and taken up at this point. If you specify on the application form that we cannot contact a referee prior to the interview you will be contacted and asked to explain why, if the reason you give is acceptable we may delay taking up the reference. However, if the reason given is unacceptable or the decision to delay taking up the reference is likely to cause an unacceptable delay in filling the vacant post, you will be contacted to be advised as to whether we intend to request references prior to interview or that your application will not be progressed any further.
If you have not received a response within 4 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful.
What do we value on Application Forms?
We are only looking for the things we have listed on the Person Specification. We believe that there are extremely talented people in the jobs market. People who, for one reason or another, have not developed their skills and abilities through a traditional academic route and gained a qualification.
So, in addition to qualifications we also value other things such as previous job experience, research projects or personal study, voluntary work, social experience or personal life experience. You will be asked to provide original certificates to verify your qualification(s).
How to best fill in your Application Form
Post Reference
You will find a box marked post reference on Part A, Part B and Part C. Complete the boxes with the details supplied in your recruitment package. It is essential that you fill the boxes in as the application is split into separate sections and this allows us to track the application.
Application I.D.
Application I.D. is an internal administration box. You are not required to complete this box.
General notes
The selection panel are looking for those candidates who can give real examples of when they have displayed the essential things on the person specification. It is quality, not quantity that is important.
Do not enclose a CV; we only want information on the application form. CV’s will not be considered.
Give details of your full employment history and details of all gaps in employment, e.g. to have a family, because of illness, career breaks etc.
Give details of any referees whom we can ask for information about you. If you are employed, include details of your current employer. If you are unemployed, give details of your last employer. If you have never been employed, please give details of a school, college or university tutor.
In the interest of Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children, the Authority reserves the right to request a reference from your current or most recent employer and any previous employer, regardless of whether or not you have indicated such employers may be contacted.
Focus on the ‘How you meet the essential requirements’. Take each of the criteria on the Person Specification in turn. Take time to think about all of your previous experience and knowledge, and give examples of where you have best displayed the things that are asked for. Simply stating that you have each requirement will not be considered as suitable evidence. Remember, you can use examples from your work life, study, personal life, voluntary work, social experience, vocational training etc.
Answer the points in the same order as on the Person Specification. You can present this as a list and use numbering if you wish.
How we acknowledge receipt of your Application Form
Return your completed application form to Human Resources, Hartlepool Borough Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY. We do not write back to every candidate that forwards an Application Form to us. It will tell you in the information pack how and when you will be informed.
After recruitment takes place
If you have not received a response within 4 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful.
Giving you a fair and equal opportunity to work for Hartlepool Borough Council
We are fully committed to providing a fair recruitment process for all. To do this, we need to know if you feel anything may prevent you from demonstrating your full potential. We will make any reasonable adjustment or arrangement to any part of the recruitment process.
Access to employment for disabled people
We are committed to equal opportunity in employment for disabled people. This means that we will not unfairly discriminate against a candidate with a disability, or an employee that becomes disabled whilst working for us.
One of the ways we publicise this commitment is through becoming a Two Tick Disability Symbol User. This standard relates to the way we treat disabled candidates and employees, supporting disabled people to work and stay in work.
Any disabled person who meets the essential criteria on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.
Complaints about the recruitment process
If you feel you have been treated unfairly, or are unhappy with any part of the recruitment process, we want to know about it! You can make a complaint by contacting the relevant service and explain that you wish to make a complaint. If you need help with making a complaint contact us on 01429 266522 and ask for the Recruitment and Retention Team in Human Resources.
Data Protection
The information you provide on the Application Form will be used to assess your suitability for the post and will be viewed only by those involved in the recruitment process. If you are appointed, the information will be used to create your employment record. If you are not appointed, it will be destroyed after 6 months, except in the event of a dispute.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to the recording and use of the information for the purposes mentioned above.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Job Vacancy - Chief Liaison Officer
Job Vacancy - Chief Liaison Officer
ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
TALL SHIPS OFFICE
CHIEF LIAISON OFFICER
REF: SR-AC75
Band 9 £21,306 - £23,473 p.a. pro rata
Temporary
18.5hpw September 2009 – March 2010
37hpw April 2010 – August 2010
This post is subject to Safer Recruitment measures, therefore, please ensure that a Safer Recruitment application form is completed.
You will carry out an important role in the busy Tall Ships Office developing the volunteer/Liaison Officer system for The Tall Ships Races – Hartlepool 2010. The role of Chief Liaison Officer is key to the success of the event as you will be responsible for recruiting, motivating, managing and supporting a group of volunteers who are giving their time freely and without whom the event could not happen.
Prior to the event you will be responsible for developing a volunteer training programme, and recruiting and training a team of 200 volunteers. You will be required to develop appropriate administrative and information management systems. At the event, you will be required to effectively manage and co-ordinate the tasks of the volunteers and ensure that the Captains and crew take full advantage of the fleet facilities and in-port activities that are arranged for them.
We are looking for a self-starter with lots of energy and who has excellent communication, people management, leadership and organisational skills, and a flexible approach to workload pressures and deadlines. Sailing experience and a knowledge of the needs of sailing ships is desirable.
The successful applicant will accompany key Tall Ships project staff on a fact-finding visit to The Tall Ships Races in Belfast Friday 14th August – Sunday 16th August 2009.
For further information or a confidential discussion, contact Michelle Daurat, Tall Ships Project Manager on 01429 284 390.
Hartlepool Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
This post is subject to safer recruitment measures, including a CRB check.
Application forms and further details are available from and should be returned to, Hartlepool Borough Council, Human Resources Section, Chief Executive’s
Department, Level 1, Civic Centre, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY, Tel: 01429 523331
Email address: personnel@hartlepool.gov.uk or apply on-line at www.northeastjobs.org or www.sector1.net.
Closing Date: Friday 17th July 2009 12 noon
ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
TALL SHIPS OFFICE
CHIEF LIAISON OFFICER
REF: SR-AC75
Band 9 £21,306 - £23,473 p.a. pro rata
Temporary
18.5hpw September 2009 – March 2010
37hpw April 2010 – August 2010
This post is subject to Safer Recruitment measures, therefore, please ensure that a Safer Recruitment application form is completed.
You will carry out an important role in the busy Tall Ships Office developing the volunteer/Liaison Officer system for The Tall Ships Races – Hartlepool 2010. The role of Chief Liaison Officer is key to the success of the event as you will be responsible for recruiting, motivating, managing and supporting a group of volunteers who are giving their time freely and without whom the event could not happen.
Prior to the event you will be responsible for developing a volunteer training programme, and recruiting and training a team of 200 volunteers. You will be required to develop appropriate administrative and information management systems. At the event, you will be required to effectively manage and co-ordinate the tasks of the volunteers and ensure that the Captains and crew take full advantage of the fleet facilities and in-port activities that are arranged for them.
We are looking for a self-starter with lots of energy and who has excellent communication, people management, leadership and organisational skills, and a flexible approach to workload pressures and deadlines. Sailing experience and a knowledge of the needs of sailing ships is desirable.
The successful applicant will accompany key Tall Ships project staff on a fact-finding visit to The Tall Ships Races in Belfast Friday 14th August – Sunday 16th August 2009.
For further information or a confidential discussion, contact Michelle Daurat, Tall Ships Project Manager on 01429 284 390.
Hartlepool Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
This post is subject to safer recruitment measures, including a CRB check.
Application forms and further details are available from and should be returned to, Hartlepool Borough Council, Human Resources Section, Chief Executive’s
Department, Level 1, Civic Centre, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY, Tel: 01429 523331
Email address: personnel@hartlepool.gov.uk or apply on-line at www.northeastjobs.org or www.sector1.net.
Closing Date: Friday 17th July 2009 12 noon
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Tax Refund
Don't fall for this one!
The scams are getting more elaborate!
I received an e-mail today headed "Tax Refund Number 2009HMRC827141476XZ/925"
Opening it up I was told that after the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 284.23 GBP. Your TRN (TAX REFUND NUMBER): 2 7 9 0 2 1 6 8 1 5, please fill the payment form attached in the email.
Please submit the tax refund and allow us 3-9 business days in order to process it.
Note: For security reasons, we recommend that you close your browser after you have finished accessing your refund status.
- For security reasons, we will record your ip-address and date.
- Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicted.
Best Regards,
Greg Stephen
Tax Credit Office Agent
Preston
PR1 0SB
Telephone: 0845 300 xxxx
Opening hours:
8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, despite the "from" box on my e-mail header saying "From: HM Revenue & Customs" the actual e-mail address was < tax-credits-office@hmrc.co.uk > and I suspect it should really have been a .gov.uk address if it was genuine!
The 0845 number connects you to an automated voice service that sounds very good. However why do the Tax people need to know my mother's maiden name, and the three digit code on the back of my credit card? If they want to refund me money it would (theoretically) come through the on-line account that they use to take money off me on a regular basis.
Don't fall for this one!
The scams are getting more elaborate!
I received an e-mail today headed "Tax Refund Number 2009HMRC827141476XZ/925"
Opening it up I was told that after the last annual calculation of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 284.23 GBP. Your TRN (TAX REFUND NUMBER): 2 7 9 0 2 1 6 8 1 5, please fill the payment form attached in the email.
Please submit the tax refund and allow us 3-9 business days in order to process it.
Note: For security reasons, we recommend that you close your browser after you have finished accessing your refund status.
- For security reasons, we will record your ip-address and date.
- Deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and indicted.
Best Regards,
Greg Stephen
Tax Credit Office Agent
Preston
PR1 0SB
Telephone: 0845 300 xxxx
Opening hours:
8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, despite the "from" box on my e-mail header saying "From: HM Revenue & Customs" the actual e-mail address was < tax-credits-office@hmrc.co.uk > and I suspect it should really have been a .gov.uk address if it was genuine!
The 0845 number connects you to an automated voice service that sounds very good. However why do the Tax people need to know my mother's maiden name, and the three digit code on the back of my credit card? If they want to refund me money it would (theoretically) come through the on-line account that they use to take money off me on a regular basis.
Don't fall for this one!
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
AIDs to sweep the world” and “Millions at risk”
“AIDs to sweep the world” and “Millions at risk” Typical media headlines in the late 1990’s. UNAIDS released estimates in 1997 that, worldwide, 30 million adults and children had HIV with another 16,000 being infected each day and the media coverage reached such a height that it was almost impossible to open a newspaper, switch on a Radio or TV without AIDS/HIV being the story of the day.
However, since a peak at the beginning of the new millennium the number of stories relating to AIDS/HIV has shown a noticeable decline in almost all the developed world, with the exception of North America. The “Global Media Aids Initiative” launched in 2004, by the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has members in Serbia and the Ukraine but no other European Country appears on their home page. The BBC (and MTV) appear as global members but the BBC references the World Service as opposed to the domestic broadcaster.
The media coverage of AIDS/HIV shows an almost classic product life cycle (see chart below) as described by economists to explain product sales over time.
Media interest started development in the late 1950’s when the first cases were encountered, they were not always recognised as HIV and received little coverage. It was over twenty years before the media reported that Doctors treating gay men in New York and San Francisco were seeing the first properly identified cases of what The Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta had started calling “AIDS” – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
The media interest received a huge boost on 2nd October, 1985 when the actor Rock Hudson died of AIDS. In a message of condolence, US President Ronald Reagan used the word “AIDS” in public for the first time, more than four years into the epidemic. The media coverage entered a strong growth phase with “Gay Plague” and similar story lines appearing more and more frequently. Coverage in March 1987 of a speech given by New York gay rights activist Larry Kramer led to the formation of the radical Gay action group ACT-UP.
Over the next ten years the story continued to attract wide ranging media coverage but in most countries the focus moved from the Gay Plague to the risks of infection through heterosexual contact. The peak for media coverage was probably in June 1998 when the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva reported the existence of multi-drug resistant strains of HIV.
After this the coverage declined and by 2002 the creation of a global fund to fight AIDS had to be combined with Tuberculosis and Malaria in order to receive endorsement by the leaders of the G8 and African nations. The coverage of HIV/AIDs in the European media has fallen noticeably in the past five years and while stories continue to appear they are much less frequent and have much lower precedent.
The coverage of HIV/AIDs in the media has shown an almost classic product life cycle of slow development, explosion of interest, a steady, high level of reporting and then a decline. The period over which this has occurred did exceed half a century! The extended period shows the importance of the story. HIV/AIDS continues to get extensive media coverage around the world. Compare the 50 year cycle for HIV/AIDS with 50 day or even 50 hour life of many “celebrity” based media stories and it is obvious that HIV/AIDS will continue to be important and continue to receive media coverage for the foreseeable future.
However, since a peak at the beginning of the new millennium the number of stories relating to AIDS/HIV has shown a noticeable decline in almost all the developed world, with the exception of North America. The “Global Media Aids Initiative” launched in 2004, by the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has members in Serbia and the Ukraine but no other European Country appears on their home page. The BBC (and MTV) appear as global members but the BBC references the World Service as opposed to the domestic broadcaster.
The media coverage of AIDS/HIV shows an almost classic product life cycle (see chart below) as described by economists to explain product sales over time.
Media interest started development in the late 1950’s when the first cases were encountered, they were not always recognised as HIV and received little coverage. It was over twenty years before the media reported that Doctors treating gay men in New York and San Francisco were seeing the first properly identified cases of what The Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta had started calling “AIDS” – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
The media interest received a huge boost on 2nd October, 1985 when the actor Rock Hudson died of AIDS. In a message of condolence, US President Ronald Reagan used the word “AIDS” in public for the first time, more than four years into the epidemic. The media coverage entered a strong growth phase with “Gay Plague” and similar story lines appearing more and more frequently. Coverage in March 1987 of a speech given by New York gay rights activist Larry Kramer led to the formation of the radical Gay action group ACT-UP.
Over the next ten years the story continued to attract wide ranging media coverage but in most countries the focus moved from the Gay Plague to the risks of infection through heterosexual contact. The peak for media coverage was probably in June 1998 when the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva reported the existence of multi-drug resistant strains of HIV.
After this the coverage declined and by 2002 the creation of a global fund to fight AIDS had to be combined with Tuberculosis and Malaria in order to receive endorsement by the leaders of the G8 and African nations. The coverage of HIV/AIDs in the European media has fallen noticeably in the past five years and while stories continue to appear they are much less frequent and have much lower precedent.
The coverage of HIV/AIDs in the media has shown an almost classic product life cycle of slow development, explosion of interest, a steady, high level of reporting and then a decline. The period over which this has occurred did exceed half a century! The extended period shows the importance of the story. HIV/AIDS continues to get extensive media coverage around the world. Compare the 50 year cycle for HIV/AIDS with 50 day or even 50 hour life of many “celebrity” based media stories and it is obvious that HIV/AIDS will continue to be important and continue to receive media coverage for the foreseeable future.
Euro Critical Group in European Parliament launches
At 3pm today (1st July) a new Euro-critical Group in the European Parliament will launch. The event will take place in the European Parliament in room ASP 1E2. The Group will comprise of the following members, alphabetically,
Denmark: Dansk Folkeparti, 2 MEPs
Finland: True Finns, 1 MEP
France: Libertas (Mouvement pour la France - CPNT), 1 MEP
Greece: LAOS, 2 MEPs
Italy: Lega Nord, 9 MEPs
Netherlands: Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, 1 MEP
Slovakia: Slovenská národná strana, 1 MEP
United Kingdom: UKIP, 13 MEPs
Nigel Farage the UKIP leader and the current President of the Group said,
“I am delighted to announce the formation of this group. It is a cohesive and broad based Group that will be able to build on the effectiveness of the Independence/Democracy Group from the last Parliament.
It will be able to provide real opposition to the centralising consensus of the other groups. Something that this Parliament, and the free peoples of Europe have been crying out for”.
The name of the new Group and its program will be presented at the launch.
Press are, of course welcome to come and ask questions of the new Group members who will be present.
For further information contact
Gawain Towler
Press Officer
0032 496 510 711
Denmark: Dansk Folkeparti, 2 MEPs
Finland: True Finns, 1 MEP
France: Libertas (Mouvement pour la France - CPNT), 1 MEP
Greece: LAOS, 2 MEPs
Italy: Lega Nord, 9 MEPs
Netherlands: Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, 1 MEP
Slovakia: Slovenská národná strana, 1 MEP
United Kingdom: UKIP, 13 MEPs
Nigel Farage the UKIP leader and the current President of the Group said,
“I am delighted to announce the formation of this group. It is a cohesive and broad based Group that will be able to build on the effectiveness of the Independence/Democracy Group from the last Parliament.
It will be able to provide real opposition to the centralising consensus of the other groups. Something that this Parliament, and the free peoples of Europe have been crying out for”.
The name of the new Group and its program will be presented at the launch.
Press are, of course welcome to come and ask questions of the new Group members who will be present.
For further information contact
Gawain Towler
Press Officer
0032 496 510 711
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Cross Party Support
In the past UKIP support in the North East has often suffered from the impression that the Party are mainly former Tories. This impression has been hard to shake off even though the level of votes UKIP is now receiving in many areas is much higher than could be accounted for by such a simple explanation.
Hard evidence that UKIP is getting support right across the political spectrum was at last provide by a recent poll by ComRES. Asked which party did current UKIP supporters voted for in the 2005 General Election, those saying UKIP split Labour 16%, Lib-Dem 16%, Conservative 15% with the rest (41%) saying they didn’t vote or they wouldn't say!
UKIP has proved it is a party that appeals to anyone who wants common sense back into politics. UKIPs policies are decide by real people and NOT career politicians. The main parties are now dominated by career politicians with little or no experience of the realities of life outside the political bubble. This is why real people are turning to UKIP and away from the artificial, out of touch and self absorbed main parties.
Hard evidence that UKIP is getting support right across the political spectrum was at last provide by a recent poll by ComRES. Asked which party did current UKIP supporters voted for in the 2005 General Election, those saying UKIP split Labour 16%, Lib-Dem 16%, Conservative 15% with the rest (41%) saying they didn’t vote or they wouldn't say!
UKIP has proved it is a party that appeals to anyone who wants common sense back into politics. UKIPs policies are decide by real people and NOT career politicians. The main parties are now dominated by career politicians with little or no experience of the realities of life outside the political bubble. This is why real people are turning to UKIP and away from the artificial, out of touch and self absorbed main parties.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
False Colours, Quislings or just scurrying for Labour's crumbs?
The Annual Council Meeting used to be the "Mayor Making" in the good old days when we had a real Mayor who wore red robes and a chain and went along to open things and be photographed by the Hartlepool Mail. Now of course we have an elected Mayor and a "Chair of Council" Neither of them wear robes but the "Chair" does wear the Mayor's Chain and the elected Mayor is very goof at being photographed by the Hartlepool Mail (especially in the run up to an election). Despite Labour not having a majority on the Council the Chair of Council for eight years in a row has been Labour Councillor Carl Richardson. Despite not having a majority on the Council the Chairs of all three Neighborhood Forums are held by Labour Councillors and every Councillor's Seat on the Hartlepool Partnership is also held by, yes you guessed it, Labour Councillors.
How can this be you might ask? The answer is simple. In Hartlepool if you vote Conservative you actually get Labour, if you Vote Liberal Democrat you actually get Labour and in some cases even voting Independent (such as allegedly our Mayor) and you get Labour.
Its the Tories on Hartlepol Council that really stick in my throat. The Lib-Dems toadying up to Labour doesn't surprise me in the least as that's what Lib-Dems do. Some of the Independents toadying to Labour also doesn't surprise me as some of them are just Labour supporters who think they might not get elected in their wards if they declared their real allegiance. But the Tories behavior astounds me.
At the Annual Council the Tories received their 12 pieces of silver in the form of the Vice Chair of the Council going to one of their Councillors. I return for this crumb from the Labour table the Tories supported every one of the Labour nominations for Committees and Chairmanships that keep Labour in power in Hartlepool even though they are not the majority group any more.
If the none Labour councillors stood together then Labour would be out of power in the Hartlepool Council Chamber as far as Committees and Chairmanship's were concerned, but NO, the Tories and Lib-Dems are more scared of the Independents (and UKIP!) getting any influence than they are of Labour remaining in charge.
I wonder if the West Park Tories realise they have elected three Quislings who might as well be Labour Councillors?
How can this be you might ask? The answer is simple. In Hartlepool if you vote Conservative you actually get Labour, if you Vote Liberal Democrat you actually get Labour and in some cases even voting Independent (such as allegedly our Mayor) and you get Labour.
Its the Tories on Hartlepol Council that really stick in my throat. The Lib-Dems toadying up to Labour doesn't surprise me in the least as that's what Lib-Dems do. Some of the Independents toadying to Labour also doesn't surprise me as some of them are just Labour supporters who think they might not get elected in their wards if they declared their real allegiance. But the Tories behavior astounds me.
At the Annual Council the Tories received their 12 pieces of silver in the form of the Vice Chair of the Council going to one of their Councillors. I return for this crumb from the Labour table the Tories supported every one of the Labour nominations for Committees and Chairmanships that keep Labour in power in Hartlepool even though they are not the majority group any more.
If the none Labour councillors stood together then Labour would be out of power in the Hartlepool Council Chamber as far as Committees and Chairmanship's were concerned, but NO, the Tories and Lib-Dems are more scared of the Independents (and UKIP!) getting any influence than they are of Labour remaining in charge.
I wonder if the West Park Tories realise they have elected three Quislings who might as well be Labour Councillors?
Easy to critisise!
There is a sadly little read (they have taken their hit counter down!) website that I visit occasionally when I want a bit of light relief. It's been going quite a while and has some good articles sometimes, however it's discussion forums are the best bit. It has half a dozen hardy souls who howl about the injustices of Hartlepool Council and an equal number of apologists for the establishment for whom the Civic Centre can do no wrong and who leap on any criticism of anything as evidence of trying to pull Hartlepool down.
I don't get (directly) involved with this website anymore. I did when it first started and I had high hopes for it but then the moderators allowed a small group of people to use it to attack me personally and use it to throw mud at me and my family. I was eventually forced to have my solicitor write to the site moderators asking them to remove statements that were libelous!
Anyway, some of the 2009 Mayoral Candidates posted on this site and one of the unsuccessful ones has now posted that
QUOTE "I've just woken up to the fact that our council is run by morons."
And there in a nutshell is the problem! Not that the Council is run by morons but the fact that has he only just woken up to this? The answer is that he, in common with the vast majority of Hartlepool residents, have not cared enough to get involved! He then says
QUOTE "most of you lot have known about this for YEARS and did sod all about it".
Well some of us have been trying for years to get things changed but constantly run up against the wall of inertia created by the people who just blindly vote in the same old faces without thinking about it or just don't vote at all and so allow the same old faces to keep coming back again and again.
Prior to his realisation what did he do about changing things? Did he go and vote for a Councillor who wanted to do things differently or did he vote the party Ticket without thinking or did he just not vote at all?
It's extremely unlikely we will be seeing his name on a ballot paper for the Council next May. Would he put in hours and hours of thankless work trying to change things or will he just go away, like Cameron, until another shot at the top job comes up? I will never vote for Ian Cameron or anyone who just pops up every four years seeking the top job and the big money. Spend four years as a back bench councilor, spend four years seeing up close how labour still run this town and how they are kept in power by the collaboration of the Tories and the Lib-Dems who are so desperate to keep out independents (or even worse in their opinion UKIP!) to prevent them upsetting their cozy club.
There are probably three or four Councillors who really want things to change. The rest desperately want things to stay as they are. Of the few who want change none of them are on Drummond's Cabinet for exactly that reason, they want to do things differently, they don't sing off the Chief Executive's Song Sheet and so they must be marginalised and kept down at all costs.
Any of the "independent" candidates for Mayor who were really serious about it will be on the ballot papers again this May. Any of them who were just there for an ego trip or who thought they might have a chance at a big pay day will disappear without trace. All those Candidates who said they wanted to change things, wanted to work for the people of Hartlepool, wanted to contribute? Then come and do it on a back bench allowance of about £100 a week rather than the £1,000 a week plus the Mayor receives.
Maybe then I might even vote for you!
I don't get (directly) involved with this website anymore. I did when it first started and I had high hopes for it but then the moderators allowed a small group of people to use it to attack me personally and use it to throw mud at me and my family. I was eventually forced to have my solicitor write to the site moderators asking them to remove statements that were libelous!
Anyway, some of the 2009 Mayoral Candidates posted on this site and one of the unsuccessful ones has now posted that
QUOTE "I've just woken up to the fact that our council is run by morons."
And there in a nutshell is the problem! Not that the Council is run by morons but the fact that has he only just woken up to this? The answer is that he, in common with the vast majority of Hartlepool residents, have not cared enough to get involved! He then says
QUOTE "most of you lot have known about this for YEARS and did sod all about it".
Well some of us have been trying for years to get things changed but constantly run up against the wall of inertia created by the people who just blindly vote in the same old faces without thinking about it or just don't vote at all and so allow the same old faces to keep coming back again and again.
Prior to his realisation what did he do about changing things? Did he go and vote for a Councillor who wanted to do things differently or did he vote the party Ticket without thinking or did he just not vote at all?
It's extremely unlikely we will be seeing his name on a ballot paper for the Council next May. Would he put in hours and hours of thankless work trying to change things or will he just go away, like Cameron, until another shot at the top job comes up? I will never vote for Ian Cameron or anyone who just pops up every four years seeking the top job and the big money. Spend four years as a back bench councilor, spend four years seeing up close how labour still run this town and how they are kept in power by the collaboration of the Tories and the Lib-Dems who are so desperate to keep out independents (or even worse in their opinion UKIP!) to prevent them upsetting their cozy club.
There are probably three or four Councillors who really want things to change. The rest desperately want things to stay as they are. Of the few who want change none of them are on Drummond's Cabinet for exactly that reason, they want to do things differently, they don't sing off the Chief Executive's Song Sheet and so they must be marginalised and kept down at all costs.
Any of the "independent" candidates for Mayor who were really serious about it will be on the ballot papers again this May. Any of them who were just there for an ego trip or who thought they might have a chance at a big pay day will disappear without trace. All those Candidates who said they wanted to change things, wanted to work for the people of Hartlepool, wanted to contribute? Then come and do it on a back bench allowance of about £100 a week rather than the £1,000 a week plus the Mayor receives.
Maybe then I might even vote for you!
Friday, 26 June 2009
Savings without cuts
The ever upwards rise in Hartlepool's Council Tax is always justified by claims from the Mayor that either Council Tax goes up or services will be cut. There is even the strong possibility that this is to be the battle cry of Labour in the forthcoming general election.
However, a recent Yougov Poll showed that 77% of people believe it is possible to save 10% off public spending, without reducing front line services. Only 14% believe it isn't possible with the other 9% not being sure.
Not surprisingly the belief in no-pain cuts is highest amongst Tories, but even among Labour and Lib-Dem voters more than 7 out of 10 think savings could be made through efficiency savings.
Of course just because you think the savings could be made that doesn't necessarily translate into votes. I'm sure there are lots of Labour supporters in local government who know that waste and inefficiency is rampant. Unfortunately I'm equally sure many of those people will never vote anything other than Labour.
However, the recent European Elections, where UKIP topped the polls and finished ahead of Labour, do show there are some voters deserting the labour flag. It was the first election in my life that Labour has been beaten in a national vote in Hartlepool. I hope this is repeated in the General election when a UKIP MP could replace the current snout in the trough Labour incumbent MP and so would give a clean start for the town!
Regionalisation continues......slowly
In the past there was lots of discussion and possible controversy over the establishment of regional control rooms for the Fire and Rescue services. However, it's all gone quiet recently since the system, which will link all fire and rescue control centres via nine regional hubs and will cost £380m, was meant to be completed by the end of 2007.
According to a Public net briefing A series of delays had pushed back the deadline for a national roll out to spring 2012 but leaked documents have now revealed that the program faces a further 10 months delay, meaning the new system will not be on line for the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.
One justification for the Regional Centers was improved ability to respond to and control major incidents such as terrorist attacks. The Olympic Games of course being a target for such attacks. The government deemed the project vital to security and our resilience to a terrorist attack. They have spent over a billion pounds of taxpayers' money to supposedly make them safer. Unfortunately its now going to take over five years, and counting, for it to be completed.
According to the Fire Brigades Union the project is in "meltdown" and unless the network was working by the summer of 2011, it would not be tested enough to work effectively for the 2012 games. The whole project was difficult to justify in the first place and the options being looked at to continue it appear to be the last gasp of civil servants desperate to justify their previous recommendations. According to the Union spokesman the government need to take the opportunity to look at this project afresh and end it now. This will give the fire service certainty and end the anxiety being caused to control room staff. The only real option is keeping and upgrading our existing fire controls and getting the new digital radio system in place.
The government's response was that schedules for projects of this kind are kept under constant review. The department's focus is making sure the benefits of this project are delivered to the fire and rescue service and the public.
Just another massive government IT project that has failed! and these are the people who want to give us a national identity data base! If it wasn't so pathetic it would be laughable.
According to a Public net briefing A series of delays had pushed back the deadline for a national roll out to spring 2012 but leaked documents have now revealed that the program faces a further 10 months delay, meaning the new system will not be on line for the start of the 2012 Olympic Games.
One justification for the Regional Centers was improved ability to respond to and control major incidents such as terrorist attacks. The Olympic Games of course being a target for such attacks. The government deemed the project vital to security and our resilience to a terrorist attack. They have spent over a billion pounds of taxpayers' money to supposedly make them safer. Unfortunately its now going to take over five years, and counting, for it to be completed.
According to the Fire Brigades Union the project is in "meltdown" and unless the network was working by the summer of 2011, it would not be tested enough to work effectively for the 2012 games. The whole project was difficult to justify in the first place and the options being looked at to continue it appear to be the last gasp of civil servants desperate to justify their previous recommendations. According to the Union spokesman the government need to take the opportunity to look at this project afresh and end it now. This will give the fire service certainty and end the anxiety being caused to control room staff. The only real option is keeping and upgrading our existing fire controls and getting the new digital radio system in place.
The government's response was that schedules for projects of this kind are kept under constant review. The department's focus is making sure the benefits of this project are delivered to the fire and rescue service and the public.
Just another massive government IT project that has failed! and these are the people who want to give us a national identity data base! If it wasn't so pathetic it would be laughable.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Buckingham needs a voice, not a Speaker
UKIP today announces that it will be contesting the Buckingham parliamentary constituency at the next election against the new Speaker in the House of Commons, the Conservative MP John Bercow.
"John Bercow is not the man to bring the much needed transparency and honesty to Parliament," said UKIP Leader Nigel Farage.
"His own behaviour over expenses claims, second-house flipping and the rest have made him untenable as a long-term choice.
"We in UKIP will therefore be standing against him at the next election.
"Our prospective candidate is Dave Fowler, 57, who has lived in the area all his life and runs his own plumbing business there.
"Buckingham needs a voice, not a Speaker, so we will take Bercow on and when we defeat him, Parliament will have an opportunity to think again."
"John Bercow is not the man to bring the much needed transparency and honesty to Parliament," said UKIP Leader Nigel Farage.
"His own behaviour over expenses claims, second-house flipping and the rest have made him untenable as a long-term choice.
"We in UKIP will therefore be standing against him at the next election.
"Our prospective candidate is Dave Fowler, 57, who has lived in the area all his life and runs his own plumbing business there.
"Buckingham needs a voice, not a Speaker, so we will take Bercow on and when we defeat him, Parliament will have an opportunity to think again."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
