Having watched the recent interview Dave Hunter gave to Hartlepool TV, first of all I must say well done to Dave as I believe he is the first Hartlepool Labour Councillor to grant such an interview - as it was said at the end CAB was invited but didn't respond.
In the interview Dave talked about adopting the Preston model - not being up to speed in local politics I Googled it - it seems to be a Socialist model where community enterprise put money back into the community - we know of at least three community enterprises that operate or have operated in Hartlepool - for those not up to speed they are Manor Residents Association, Owton Fens Community Association and Rift House - the first was the subject of a police investigation, the second has just been wound up and the last we can't find anything about - one thing is for sure though is that none of them put anything back into the community - so where does Dave see the Preston Model making a difference.
What I was hoping for was something closer to home such as reintroducing uncensored public questioning, councillors facing their public in the council chamber, transparency in council funded projects, political balance in committees, no alliance with Conservatives .... as usual the list could go on.
So come on Dave we need quick fixes to go towards solving a long term problem
Thanks to Hartlepool TV: https://www.facebook.com/HartlepoolTV/videos/vb.1773778589599090/220535008841174/?type=2&theater
It's also known as the Cleveland model (as in Cleveland, Ohio), for your google/research purposes.
Quote from: UnknownUser on December 16, 2018, 07: PM
It's also known as the Cleveland model (as in Cleveland, Ohio), for your google/research purposes.
Thanks.
Is he the Messiah? I'll keep my powder dry for now.
Having just watched the vid, I can honestly say that he told me nothing of any substance! All talk and no action! How long has he been a HBC councillor? Why only now that he and the other muppets are rebelling? The Preston model! ??? Might as well be an Airfix model! At least we'd see an end result! The only time I'd even take a millisecond to believe ANYTHING that a HBC Labour councillor or our MP says, would be when they investigate those CIC's that jeffh has just mentioned! Btw, have you ever notices CAB's reg plate on his BMW? **04 MRA, If that's not taking the p&$%, then I don't know what is!
My thoughts are Dave Hunter is a nice chap but wonder if he is offering a better version
of a broken party when we need something completely new.
Quote from: Inspector Knacker on December 16, 2018, 08: PM
Is he the Messiah? I'll keep my powder dry for now.
Haven't met him myself, but most people do seem to consider him a decent chap. Some of his apparent disciples do send a warning bell ringing, however.
I really don't see what all the clamour for him is about. He's been a Councillor in what I consider the worst Council since since 1764 when a herd of Town Moor militant sheep were allegedly elected.
I don't want a 'nicer' version of what we already have. I've had more than enough.
I want change, not an airbrushed continuation of tired old local party politics.
Be done with them and turn a new page.
Come on councillors pick a side let's see where your loyalties lie. Make the right choice for the town.
Most of them couldn't decide which side of their nose to pick first.
No doubt their self survival gene will kick in eventually.
My reservations would only be assuaged if the Corbyn Pixies ( if they get control ) commit to an Independent forensic investigation into the labmobs financial dealings in the last 5 years.
I can't imagine any such commitment from them, the cost could be one excuse another could be any embarrassment to the council
I sometimes get the impression that people are desperate to have a sensible Labour Party running the town and will jump at any chance to resume normal service and carry on voting Labour. Normal service resumed. All's well in the world and God's in his Heaven.
And the same decades old tradition of following your ancestors voting pattern will continue and so will the stagnation.
I don't think it's as simple as 'get rid of the Akers-Belchers, Cranney etc' and all of a sudden 'all is well'. They've done untold damage to both Labour and the council as a whole.
There DOES need to be a forensic financial investigation facilitated by an new occupants of the 'power positions' within HBC.
Whether that power is occupied by Labour or other groups, it needs to happen. Either to fully refresh a tarnished Labour Party in Hartlepool, or bury them for a generation.
Both sides of the chamber need to push for it.
I suspect there'll be a seamless transition.
Quote from: DRiddle on December 17, 2018, 08: PM
I don't think it's as simple as 'get rid of the Akers-Belchers, Cranney etc' and all of a sudden 'all is well'. They've done untold damage to both Labour and the council as a whole.
There DOES need to be a forensic financial investigation facilitated by an new occupants of the 'power positions' within HBC.
Whether that power is occupied by Labour or other groups, it needs to happen. Either to fully refresh a tarnished Labour Party in Hartlepool, or bury them for a generation.
Both sides of the chamber need to push for it.
Does HBC use the services of an external auditor to check financial procedures etc are being adhered to ? Such as checking invitations to tenders are managed ethically and with integrity .......To make sure councilors are not awarding themselves contracts or moving money between alleged charities and personal companies of the same name......
Quote from: Disgruntled voter on December 18, 2018, 01: PM
Quote from: DRiddle on December 17, 2018, 08: PM
I don't think it's as simple as 'get rid of the Akers-Belchers, Cranney etc' and all of a sudden 'all is well'. They've done untold damage to both Labour and the council as a whole.
There DOES need to be a forensic financial investigation facilitated by an new occupants of the 'power positions' within HBC.
Whether that power is occupied by Labour or other groups, it needs to happen. Either to fully refresh a tarnished Labour Party in Hartlepool, or bury them for a generation.
Both sides of the chamber need to push for it.
Does HBC use the services of an external auditor to check financial procedures etc are being adhered to ? Such as checking invitations to tenders are managed ethically and with integrity .......To make sure councilors are not awarding themselves contracts or moving money between alleged charities and personal companies of the same name......
In the words of ex-councillor Martin-Wells they have robust procedures in place via Audit & Governance to ensure there is no impropriety - since then he stood down from the chair of the Audit & Governance Committee and disappeared - I'm sure Brenda Loynes will be running a tight ship.
We only need to look at the MRA scandal.....there was bucket loads of information out there and instead of freezing all of MRA's assets and financial records they gave them several months to put things right.....Where were Audit and Governance then, or come to that matter there were 2 Trustees both labour councillors, both bailed out before any court appearances.
Did anyone, either senior councillors or senior officers question the awarding of £680,000 to Who Cares Northeast and even more of a mystery was the awarding of a further wodge of cash to the same WCN 12 months later.
There was also the awarding of another grant funded contract that didn't conform to HBC's contract protocols....2 years accounts etc etc if memory serves, it was for a £130,000......I can't for the life of me think who it was awarded to ?
As Dave Riddle says......A full forensic investigation is needed by whoever takes the reins and speaking personally, I don't think the cost of such an investigation should come into it.
Quote from: fred c on December 18, 2018, 05: PM
We only need to look at the MRA scandal.....there was bucket loads of information out there and instead of freezing all of MRA's assets and financial records they gave them several months to put things right.....Where were Audit and Governance then, or come to that matter there were 2 Trustees both labour councillors, both bailed out before any court appearances.
Did anyone, either senior councillors or senior officers question the awarding of £680,000 to Who Cares Northeast and even more of a mystery was the awarding of a further wodge of cash to the same WCN 12 months later.
There was also the awarding of another grant-funded contract that didn't conform to HBC's contract protocols....2 years accounts etc etc if memory serves, it was for a £130,000......I can't for the life of me think who it was awarded to?
As Dave Riddle says......A full forensic investigation is needed by whoever takes the reins and speaking personally, I don't think the cost of such an investigation should come into it.
spot on Fred if they manage to hold on for a year it will be ar$e covering time
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/hartlepool-borough-council-chief-faces-leadership-contest-as-councillors-vote-tonight-1-9499156/amp
He doesn't expect to win ?...
Jeepers, he seems to have lost a fair bit of weight if that photo is anything to go by.
Where his other half routinely looks like he's been drinking Dolmio straight from the jar, Chwissy looks like he's been on the Russian takeaways. . .
Must be the stress of knowing you're likely to be remembered as the man who was at the wheel when the council went bankrupt.
After reading that, is he for real?
He states he doesn't expect to win and he isn't challenging Christopher.
Then what's it all about, jolly jousting?
I really can't take this seriously. Odds now on for a seamless transition of power on a mutually agreed date?
Say nowt and there's a backhander to go quiet.
Half of CABs face looks worried.
The other half looks bemused.
A total farce, Labour is not the answer.
CAB has won by 11 votes to 6. Roll on bankruptcy and the death of local Labour.
Who voted for who?
Will have the names in a few minutes.
Quote from: DRiddle on December 18, 2018, 07: PM
CAB has won by 11 votes to 6. Roll on bankruptcy and the death of local Labour.
According to the Mail it was a secret ballot, but I should imagine the 11 will be
CAB
SAB
Belcher
Cranney
James
Barclay
Thomas
Lindridge
Cook
Truman
Marshall
I wonder if we could get Louis Theroux to do a programme on this?
Quote from: Inspector Knacker on December 18, 2018, 07: PM
I wonder if we could get Louis Theroux to do a programme on this?
;D
I'm hearing from a well placed Labour source that the six who voted against CAB (and for Dave) were Dave H, Paddy, Lesley, Brenda, Carl and loadsamoney lindridge.
Dr Pothole didn't turn up and all of the others voted for CAB.
People need to make sure there are certain names in the 11 who by 2020 never again walk the corridors of the civic centre.
Vote them out.
With thanks to Hartlepool TV. https://www.facebook.com/HartlepoolTV/videos/vb.1773778589599090/262516674445033/?type=2&theater
Quote from: DRiddle on December 18, 2018, 08: PM
I'm hearing from a well placed Labour source that the six who voted against CAB (and for Dave) were Dave H, Paddy, Lesley, Brenda, Carl and loadsamoney lindridge.
Dr Pothole didn't turn up and all of the others voted for CAB.
People need to make sure there are certain names in the 11 who by 2020 never again walk the corridors of the civic centre.
Vote them out.
CAB, SAB, mammy belcher, Jean Robinson, mad dog, Cranney, Steve Thomas, Barclay, cook, trueman and Marshall.
Jose Mourihnio got the sack for being s....t, whats the difference
After reading the piece in the Mail, Hunter came across as deferential to the Dear Leader and for me that rules him out of running anything. This jaded column of the unelectables shuffles on and we now know the Party is toothless to implement change, assuming they actually wanted change and this wasn't for effect. I've never heard of a coup where the ones wanting power meekly signal those about to be deposed that it's just an theoretical exercise in democracy and don't ecpect to take over.
Does this now mean that CAB has lost his whip?
If we are to believe the 7 councillors, who voted against CAB, did so with the town's interest at heart we can now expect them to vote accordingly in the Council Chamber.
The split in the chamber would now be 11 CABs plus 3 Conservatives - giving 14 against 19 others, so this would be the time for the Independents to table motions to bring back democracy to the town.
QuoteDoes this now mean that CAB has lost his whip?
I think he did yes, but then Stephen found it in the bottom of the wardrobe . . .
Quote from: jeffh on December 19, 2018, 07: AM
Does this now mean that CAB has lost his whip?
If we are to believe the 7 councillors, who voted against CAB, did so with the town's interest at heart we can now expect them to vote accordingly in the Council Chamber.
The split in the chamber would now be 11 CABs plus 3 Conservatives - giving 14 against 19 others, so this would be the time for the Independents to table motions to bring back democracy to the town.
When the dog whistle's blown they'll come to heel at the trainers knee.
"Party before Town" and its residents everytime, no ifs, no buts everytime......Lets see what The Member does if the call comes for a second referendum on Brexit.
Itwas convenient for him last time, that two opposites aligned. That was a one off. Interesting times lay ahead.
Quote"Party before Town" and its residents everytime, no ifs, no buts everytime......Lets see what The Member does if the call comes for a second referendum on Brexit.
It's almost inevitable that Labour nationally will move to support a second referendum. If they think they have the numbers they might allow certain MPs a free vote to appease constituents in areas with high leave votes (like Hartlepool). But if they go three line whip and as a party block vote for a second referendum, i imagine Mike Hill will do what he's told to do.
Quote from: DRiddle on December 19, 2018, 12: PM, i imagine Mike Hill will do what he's told to do.
Has he ever done anything else?
Quote from: DRiddle on December 19, 2018, 12: PM
Quote"Party before Town" and its residents everytime, no ifs, no buts everytime......Lets see what The Member does if the call comes for a second referendum on Brexit.
It's almost inevitable that Labour nationally will move to support a second referendum.
Corbyn is a die-hard Brexiteer. He will only agree to a vote if he believes it delivers some electoral advantage. It is not a matter of principle to him but he will do or say anything to get a shot at No.10.