HartlepoolPost Forum

Politics => Local Issues and Matters => Topic started by: jawsbbc on December 06, 2016, 05: PM

Title: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: jawsbbc on December 06, 2016, 05: PM
they will get funding from anywere this lot 10,000 for cranny,s waverely terrace allotments  story in the mail tonight
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: jawsbbc on December 06, 2016, 05: PM
SAB's Allotment Spade Hits a Rock Suggested plans to slot one, or perhaps even two, councillors into lucrative employment  positions appear to have hit a problem. The names of both Stephen Akers-Belcher and Marjorie James have been linked to  proposals to create two, well paid jobs as part of plans to expand the existing Waverley  Allotment Group and turn it into a social enterprise. The plan, which involves an  application to the Big Lottery Fund for £400,000, would create two new positions: a  Business Co-ordinator earning £35,000 per year and a Volunteer Co-ordinator earning  £28,000. The problem has arisen because it is Hartlepool Borough Council itself which has applied  for funding from the Big Lottery Fund and because the fund insists that any new  employment positions generated through the application would therefore be direct  employees of the council. Employees of Hartlepool Borough Council are not allowed to  also be councillors of the authority. In the past, councillors have been employed by secondary organisations even though  those organisations may have been in receipt of council funding. Some, like Manor  Residents Association, have even received funding from the Big Lottery Fund but in  such cases it has been the secondary organisation itself which has applied for funding.  The Lottery Fund does not allow its grants to be re-directed to secondary organisations
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: jawsbbc on December 06, 2016, 07: PM
Waverley Terrace Allotment Project aims to expand over the next five years and is seeking £400,000 support from the Big Lottery Fund. 2015
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Inspector Knacker on December 07, 2016, 02: PM
Would that be sufficient for a combine harvester, assorted tractors with attachments and the crop dusting aircraft ?
It's Waverley Terrace, not the Ponderosa.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: mk1 on December 07, 2016, 04: PM
The bulk of the money is the wage for the 2 full time staff.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Inspector Knacker on December 07, 2016, 06: PM
I assume there'll be horticultural instructors  and how much would they be paid?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Inspector Knacker on December 09, 2016, 07: AM
The quoted salaries for the two 'co-or donators' seem very generous for the size of project.These projects should develop organically by natural progression and the need for such posts in my opinion are a mill stone around the projects neck. They become the cuckoos in the nest and a drain on the finances of such projects.... when the money should be going in at grass roots level.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: akarjl on December 09, 2016, 07: AM
Quote from: Riddler5 on December 09, 2016, 07: AM
........the need for such posts in my opinion are a mill stone around the projects neck. They become the cuckoos in the nest and a drain on the finances of such projects.... when the money should be going in at grass roots level.

= Standard practice it would seem at the Kremlin.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: steveL on December 09, 2016, 09: AM
Waverley Terrace Allotments is a decent enough scheme with decent enough aims but it lacks the same necessary control of the money surrounding it as Manor Residents. In addition, Cranney's championship of the scheme should be enough to alert anyone. Already, a whole lot of money has found its way to Waverley Allotments. It first attracted attention with a £75,000 cash injection from the council to build a fence around it.

Earlier this year, it received a £400,000 grant from the Lottery Fund, topped up with another £75,000 from the council, only for it to be revealed that the plans submitted to the Lottery Fund had forgotten to include a disabled toilet even though the scheme is specifically for the use of disabled people. Another £21,000 had to be raided from the council's Respite Care capital budget to build a toilet making £496,000.

That 400,000 Lottery Grant application covered the employment of two full-time staff for two years . Originally there was talk of one of the jobs going to the unemployable SAB but publicity on this site put an end to that. In the end, one of the jobs went to the guy who had been told to fix an interview for SAB with Mariner Care for the job of Manager. This was not long after he was sacked from his Newcastle job and we were all told by Stubbs that SAB's employment was a private matter and nothing to do with the council. In the end, SAB fluffed the interview anyway.

If the £10,000 is going towards the two salaries then it must be for the 3rd year.

On a lighter note, one of Cranney's stated reasons for the importance of the scheme is that it supplies free vegetables to the Cafe in the Cemetery

Personally, I think its a good scheme but I just wish HBC, its councillors and especially SAB and Cranney were nowhere near it.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Hartlepudlion on December 09, 2016, 10: AM
Stevel.
I thought only one post has been filled and that by an ex-council employee who had to resign from HBC to qualify. I don't know what position he was given but I am surprised he left a Council job for the uncertainty of a insecure grant funded job. Fishy?

As only one person has been appointed, where has the other job's funding monies gone?

Apart from the salaries, don't forget the on-costs - NI, pensions etc at least another 20%.

£10,000 won't contribute much to the salary costs so what is it for?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: fred c on December 09, 2016, 11: AM
A question.......

Would Alan Sugar & his entrepreneurial panel award as much a penny to a Businessman who has around 20 failed businesses to his name ?

A different scenario.

In the public sector for instance, Councils don't appear to have any problems in funding all sorts of expensive proposals by a failed businessman.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Inspector Knacker on December 09, 2016, 12: PM
Quote from: steveL on December 09, 2016, 09: AM

On a lighter note, one of Cranney's stated reasons for the importance of the scheme is that it supplies free vegetables to the Cafe in the Cemetery


If that were true, why should it be supplied to a business instead of deserving groups or food banks ?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Land Phil on December 09, 2016, 12: PM
Is that why they won't release the accounts ?

Is it because the financially sensitive information is that the crem cafe is being propped up by free supplies, paid for through charity endeavours ?

Sounds dodgy to me. Then again what HBC venture doesn't ?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: fred c on December 09, 2016, 02: PM
Every user of the post should use......(apologies I can't copy & paste the addy, but just google)

WhatDoTheyKnow

To make a Freedom of Information request about the Cafe in The Crem....... or Any Other, of the decisions HBC  don't want us to know about.

It's easy to use & they don't like the public 'pestering' them.

This time last year HBC's CEO said at a full council meeting..... "The accounts of the Inspirations Cafe"would be made available early in the new year........... 12 months later, we are still waiting.

Has HBC really got that bad, that it is almost impossible to find anyone who actually tells the truth within the Kremlin.



Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: kevplumb on December 09, 2016, 03: PM
This time last year HBC's CEO said at a full council meeting..... "The accounts of the Inspirations Cafe"would be made available early in the new year........... 12 months later, we are still waiting.

ahh but did she say which new year ?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: stokoe on December 09, 2016, 03: PM
Earlier post Steve L said cafe in the crem gets free veg,walking in there today why would I see bales of hay stacked on a wagon pulling out of the cafe area,would that be cranibles?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: stokoe on December 09, 2016, 04: PM
In fact I have just had a walk round and behind the cafe there is some council out buildings,can I ask or am I missing something why would the council want bales of hay?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: akarjl on December 09, 2016, 07: PM
Well maybe it's to feed the donkeys at the Kremlin?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: jawsbbc on December 09, 2016, 07: PM
akarjl    Earlier post Steve L said cafe in the crem gets free veg,walking in there today why would I see bales of hay stacked on a wagon pulling out of the cafe area,would that be cranibles?

the answer is  yes his missus,  is the cafe in the crem paying for mrs cranny,s hay for her horses?? probs
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: kevplumb on December 09, 2016, 08: PM
does it come as any suprise ?
why do you think they wont publish the accounts

cranberry has more fiddles than the london philharmonic
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: akarjl on December 10, 2016, 07: AM
Quote from: fred c on December 09, 2016, 02: PM
Every user of the post should use......(apologies I can't copy & paste the addy, but just google)

WhatDoTheyKnow

To make a Freedom of Information request about the Cafe in The Crem....... or Any Other, of the decisions HBC  don't want us to know about.

It's easy to use & they don't like the public 'pestering' them.

This time last year HBC's CEO said at a full council meeting..... "The accounts of the Inspirations Cafe"would be made available early in the new year........... 12 months later, we are still waiting.

Has HBC really got that bad, that it is almost impossible to find anyone who actually tells the truth within the Kremlin.

Don't hold your breath https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/most_recent_accounts_of_inspirat#incoming-642592 (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/most_recent_accounts_of_inspirat#incoming-642592) April 2015 and refused.

There are a lot of requests refused or not closed out. Probably the only value of the site is that multiple request will bog the kremlin legal team down- probably resulting in funds being allocated to create a manager and team to deal with request?
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Inspector Knacker on December 10, 2016, 08: AM
Quote from: Riddler5 on December 09, 2016, 12: PM
Quote from: steveL on December 09, 2016, 09: AM

On a lighter note, one of Cranney's stated reasons for the importance of the scheme is that it supplies free vegetables to the Cafe in the Cemetery


If that were true, why should it be supplied to a business instead of deserving groups or food banks ?
As a footnote to this, it sounds like the entire organisation is regarded by some as one huge fiefdom where everything is inter-connected in some blurred way that defies basic logic.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: kevplumb on December 10, 2016, 09: AM
nothing new there then
that lot seem to think they own this town
must be pi**ed of with us serfs causing ripples
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: fred c on December 10, 2016, 10: AM
Quote from: akarjl on December 10, 2016, 07: AM
Quote from: fred c on December 09, 2016, 02: PM
Every user of the post should use......(apologies I can't copy & paste the addy, but just google)

WhatDoTheyKnow

To make a Freedom of Information request about the Cafe in The Crem....... or Any Other, of the decisions HBC  don't want us to know about.

It's easy to use & they don't like the public 'pestering' them.

This time last year HBC's CEO said at a full council meeting..... "The accounts of the Inspirations Cafe"would be made available early in the new year........... 12 months later, we are still waiting.

Has HBC really got that bad, that it is almost impossible to find anyone who actually tells the truth within the Kremlin.

Don't hold your breath https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/most_recent_accounts_of_inspirat#incoming-642592 (https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/most_recent_accounts_of_inspirat#incoming-642592) April 2015 and refused.

There are a lot of requests refused or not closed out. Probably the only value of the site is that multiple request will bog the kremlin legal team down- probably resulting in funds being allocated to create a manager and team to deal with request?

That was the idea.... but it does work, I have had more requests denied than granted, but if enough people make the same requests a collective complaint can me made, in law they have to have grounds for refusing to answer........ Embarrassing the Council isn't a reason for denial.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: steveL on December 10, 2016, 10: AM
It's important to see the whole process through. We know that HBC's default position would be to refuse everything, if only it could. If a valid request is refused, the next step is to ask for an Internal Review. This is unlikely to make any difference with HBC but it is a necessary step before moving on the step 3 which is to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner. He will back-heel it if you haven't followed the procedure.

I have some faith in the Information Commissioner's Office but you need to lay out a timeline of your complaint and spend some time making sure that you provide sufficient detail.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: kevplumb on December 10, 2016, 10: AM
steve pm me a specimen request
i havent a clue with all this  :-[
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Devils advocate on December 10, 2016, 03: PM
Quote from: kevplumb on December 10, 2016, 10: AM
steve pm me a specimen request
i havent a clue with all this  :-[

A few more people may make requests if they knew the process. Maybe admin or someone in the know could make a small tutorial for people like myself who do not really undersatnd the FOI process but would like to get involved.
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: fred c on December 10, 2016, 04: PM
Just go to the WhatDoTheyKnow website.....

You need to create an account, the usual.... email addy.... password

Using the site is pretty straight forward.

Type into search .... Hartlepool Council

Ask your question.

ie.    Could you supply me with the total cost of the Inspirations conversation including legal & architectural fees..... or....... what was C Akers Belchers expenses in 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 /to the presentt time.

They are supposed to reply in 20 days

If they dont you can ask for an update.

If they refuse you can contact the information minister..... as long as you followthe correct steps..

If I can do it..... anybody can
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: Steely Dan on December 10, 2016, 05: PM
You know what? I'm going to have some fun with this. I want to know why those Marina toilets are never open. In fact I want to know if they've ever been open
Title: Re: hbc / cranny tesco carrier bag charge fund
Post by: kevplumb on December 11, 2016, 08: AM
Quote from: fred c on December 10, 2016, 04: PM
Just go to the WhatDoTheyKnow website.....

You need to create an account, the usual.... email addy.... password

Using the site is pretty straight forward.

Type into search .... Hartlepool Council

Ask your question.

ie.    Could you supply me with the total cost of the Inspirations conversation including legal & architectural fees..... or....... what was C Akers Belchers expenses in 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 /to the presentt time.

They are supposed to reply in 20 days

If they dont you can ask for an update.

If they refuse you can contact the information minister..... as long as you followthe correct steps..

If I can do it..... anybody can
thanks for the help fred  ;)