Inspirations Cafe Accounts

[Gustaf I of England + BWH]

I'm sure it'll all come out in good time about the talk in the civic about the carpets. The funny thing about instructing people not to say anything is . . . The more you do that, the more inclined people are to get the word out there.

Is this the one about the flooring at the CIL that wasn't to Cwistopher's liking and so had to be re-done in corporate colours (with the approval of the CEO)- thereby costing the council another £100,000 or so. Or is that another story of waste waiting to break ?

[Inspector Knacker]

The 'previous administration' line will be seen by most people as fact. Most people relying on the Mail for news will assume this to be true. Maybe that's the whole point, to give the masses who aren't going to recall or enquire into these comments, their version of events
Also, shouldn't any self respecting local paper be aware of who opened the place and be asking questions. Trouble is, they're slavishly in Pyongyang Mail mode or totally and utterly out of touch with local events.

[fred c]

The 2 punters who opened the place are a pair of proven liars...... simple as that.

They should have the Nolan Principles tattooed on their foreheads..... so they can keep reminding themselves what they stand for.

[Land Phil]

Sorry it is probably an obvious one but what is CIL ?

[Gustaf I of England + BWH]

Sorry it is probably an obvious one but what is CIL ?

Centre for Independent Living. I had to ask too when I first became aware of the story.Sorry LP and anyone else who didn't know, I should have spelt it out the way I was taught at school many moons ago. Sometimes it's too easy to easy to assume that everyone knows just because we do. And we all know what they say about assuming things (makes an "ass" of "u" and "me" in case anyone doesn't).

[Johnny Bongo]

"Labour councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher, chairman of the council, officially opened the coffee house. He said: "This is innovative and it shows that the local authority is thinking outside the box. "

It certainly is innovative...in fact I dare say it's unique!  Was he taking the p*%S when he said ''thinking outside the box''...box as in coffin?   In fact I'm surprised that they didn't go all the way and follow the US funeral industry's ideas....your loved one's ashes turned into quartz and mounted on a ring! 

[jawsbbc]

  CHRISSY  GOING MAD ON HARTLEPOOL MAIL FACEBOOK PAGE
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley 'Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, chair of the finance committee, said the talks between the cafe's management and union should be allowed to happen, but added: "If that doesn't come to fruition my leaning would be I'm sick to death of defending the indefensible of something that carried over from the previous administration." What total cobblers, Calamity Chris was Leader when this was first proposed, him and his husband had their pics in the Mail stood in front of the cafe at the opening event. There's spin and then there's bare faced lies. Its about time 'Calamity Chris' manned up and accepted his responsibility, then resigned. Run and Council? I would would not trust him to run a warm bath. Hartlepool deserves better
Unlike · Reply · 7 · 10 hrs · Edited
Christopher Akers-Belcher
Christopher Akers-Belcher If you get your facts right it was a decision of the Mayor's cabinet when you were a Councillor and before labour took control of the Council. We are still clearing up the mess
Like · Reply · 9 hrs · Edited
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley I voted against it, you voted for it and it was opened under your leadership. Your leadership has cost the rate payers of this town at least £4 million, scrapping the town plan, buying Jacksons Landing are only a start I could go on. Really I could
Like · Reply · 9 hrs
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley Quote Hartlepool Mail 2013; 'Labour councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher, chairman of the council, officially opened the coffee house. He said: "This is innovative and it shows that the local authority is thinking outside the box. "This coffee house is based within the cemetery, but is part of wider plans for the garden centre. "It means visitors to the cemetery now have a warm and friendly place to go and shelter from the cold and it is quite a comforting place, especially with the pleasant garden area." One full-time and five part-time jobs have initially been created, although the council was inundated with applications from over 150 people when the posts were first advertised. Coun Akers-Belcher added: "The coffee house is called Inspirations and it shows that we as a council are looking at different ways to make income. "We are doing our best to create much-needed jobs and although it is not a massive amount we are still trying to do our part. This project has also helped bring an empty building back into use.

Read more at: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/.../treat-yourself-to-a...

Treat yourself to a cuppa at the cemetery gates in Hartlepool
HARTLEPOOLMAIL.CO.UK
Like · Reply · 2 · 9 hrs
John Charlton
John Charlton Mr Christopher Akers-Belcher when you mention still clearing up the mess...... do you have any estimate of the number of years it will take to clear up the absolute disaster that you persinally have presided over? Failure to put in place a town plan? C...See more
Like · Reply · 6 · 8 hrs
Andrew Small
Andrew Small Well said John Charlton
Like · Reply · 5 · 8 hrs
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley The trouble with Calamity Chwis is he's started to believe in his own publicity and is surrounded by sycophants. Bring back Stuart Drummond, at least he listened to advice.
Like · Reply · 4 · 7 hrs
John Charlton
John Charlton I guess the unglorious leader will be seething when he realises that somebody within the Civic Centre has had the backbone to stand up as a whistle blower and inform the public that the carpets in reception and the corridors are to be changed at an estimated cost to the town of £60,000 and all because..........the council leader does not like the colour of the current carpet!!!!!!!!!!!! Would you care to explain yourself Christopher Akers-Belcher? The whole town waits with baited breath for your rationale on this one...... over to you leader
Like · Reply · 5 · 6 hrs
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley
Geoff MacKenzie Lilley Lets hope he chooses a better colour for the carpet than the diarrhoea brown of their wedding suits.

[steveL]

Anyone notice something odd about this?

The standard accounting convention of showing negatives in brackets and in red has been reversed.

The total operating costs so far (end of 2016 year) have produced a cash loss of £77,000 with no prospect of recovering the £280,000 set-up cost. In other words, a straight loss to the taxpayer of £357,000 - and it's not over yet. I'm hearing talk of a 'Golden Goodbye' to existing staff as the council throw more money at it to 'make it go away'

[fred c]

It will stay a rumour.. If it is true, the Pink Paper will be as thick as an Andrex Bog Roll.

[Johnny Bongo]

In the table of accounts...what are 'Other running Costs' ....which total, to 2016, £38,000?  Seems a lot!

[Inspector Knacker]

Staffing costs rose by nearly 50% in three years, how many staff did it employ. It would be interesting to see the rates paid.

[seaton]

CAB was on Radio Tees earlier, just before 9, they were asking for his opinions on the Council Tax rises for Social Care. As usual blaming Central Government, the presenter couldn't or wasn't aware of the wasted millions in Hartlepool although I believe he is from the town. I forwarded an email outlinng the losses but no reply or mention on the air although it was near the end of the programme.

[the_exile]

Are these the actual accounts published?

Apart from the definite attempt to mislead by showing the loss as a positive (going against all accounting conventions). The major stand out of these accounts is the wage bill. currently running at 71% of turnover!!!!!

being generous with the average hourly rate of pay lets say £12 per hour inc employers NIC, that works out at approximately 150 man hours per week paid hours in the current year. I am not fully aware of the opening hours but I believe that it doesnt open on an evening?

So if the cafe is open 40 hours per week that means that the cafe is staffed by 3.75 staff................ I would imagine for most times during the day there are more staff than customers.

The Councillors who sanctioned this shouldnt be allowed to run a bath let alone a business

[steveL]

There have been a couple of public questions to council recently asking about the date when the accounts would be published. Both were rejected on the grounds that publication was imminent. That excuse has been used for over a year but it's used deliberately because the Information Commissioners Office specifically gives 'imminent publication' as a valid reason for refusal.

The figures we've published and used by The Mail are lifted from the summarised version published in a report to the Finance and Policy Committee. If the council was true to its word it would now publish the full set of accounts but I have feeling that they will need to asked to do so once again.

Most Cafes in town will employ their staff on minimum wage. In the case of Inspirations, there was one full-time staff member and 5 part-timers all of whom were recruited on council salary bands and standard council terms and conditions using NorthEastJobs.Org - the recruitment site specialising in the public sector.

This is one of the reasons that it could never hope to compete with privately run cafes but we are dealing with idiots here who believe their personal opinions should override any other considerations, including the need for a properly thought out business plan.

Incidentally, I don't know if they still do it but the council used to award a £500 grant to new start-up businesses. To qualify, budding entrepreneurs had to attend a one-day-a-week business course for 10 weeks at the end of which they had to produce a business plan with full market analysis and projections together with a two year projected cash flow analysis.

Hypocrisy on the grandest scale.

[fred c]

The Cafe in the Crem will be put to the Finance & Policy Committee again on the 6th of March....... maybe then Cwissy the Clowncilor will be able to explain why the ruling coalition kept the cafe open for almost 4 years when they knew it was making substantial losses from day 1.