Did you all see the list of Dumbo's largesse in tonights Mail?
Now I know it all for a good cause but why is so much of it earmarked for 'salary'?
The full list of groups to receive
funding is:
Epilepsy Outlook,
£9,163 towards the costs of the operations manager's salary;
Families First,
£21,958.89 towards the cost of three salaries, two core workers and one project worker;
Hartlepool Access Group,
£23,949, towards the cost of live salaries including a manager, administrator and equipment worker;
Hartlepool & District Hospice,
£24,314 of funding towards the salary of a head of bereavement;
Hartlepool PROP,
£7,070 to help fund a manager's post;
Owton Fens Community Association, £22,760 to help fund project manager and development worker;
Peoples Centre,
£l7,823 towards project manager's salary and contribution to running costs;
Salaam Centre,
£18,432 towards heating, lighting, telephone costs and caretaker salary;
Voluntary Wheels,
£6,058 towards the co-ordinator/drivers' salary.
I presume we will be bombarded by those set to recieve the money telling us how the 'lurve' to be in the voluntary sector-they just don't 'lurve' it enough to be a volunteer voluntary worker!
This next bit raised my eyebrows:
Voluntary Wheels has been operating in Hartlepool and the surrounding area for 25 years providing low cost transport to the voluntary and community sector, plus elderly and disabled residents.
The not-for-proiit scheme, which
has four voluntary drivers, has a 14-seater minibus and averages abou five bookings a week.
The grant of £6,058 will go towards
funding co-ordinator Haydn Austins salary.
Now is it really only used 5 times a week and if so has anyone ever heard of a Taxi?
I am sure it could be done at a fraction of the current cost.
what about the data protection act and the right of an individual not to have their salary made public by people looking to score brownie points
Quote from: kipperdip on June 01, 2012, 06: AM
Can we have the NAMES of all those being paid salaries and their connections to Hartlepool Labour Party?
Surely this must be available under The Freedom Of Information Act?
Why just the Labour Party, I know that there are people working in the VCS who are involved with other political parties.
What about their salaries.
My wife worked in a very well known charity shop in York Road three days a week when asked if she could spare a few more hours she agreed 'all unpaid' the mangeress asked would she come in 10am - 3pm five Mon-Fri and Saturday morning every other week.
Enquiring if it could be offered as a waged position to someone younger was told Oh No we depend on the likes of you, who are prepared to work for nothing.
'Well' my wife asked do you work for nothing? Of course not I'm paid as shop manager.
I'm sorry but I gave my time for free thinking I was doing the right thing but not to be taken for a MUG. and left the shop.
Quote from: dangerman on June 01, 2012, 08: AM
Enquiring if it could be offered as a waged position to someone younger was told Oh No we depend on the likes of you, who are prepared to work for nothing.
'Well' my wife asked do you work for nothing? Of course not I'm paid as shop manager.
You would not believe how these 'Managers' operate. They have finacial target just like any shop manager and they get a bollocking if they miss them.
I watched as one of these clowns recieved back a bought item that was faulty. The item in question was put straight back on sale because 'not everyone will look hard enough to find the fault'. He then laughed as he said 'some people will buy anything"
Quote from: kipperdip on June 01, 2012, 08: AM
ST - I'll stick to my original suggestion thank you and stick to the involvements of the Joseph Stalin Appreciation Society aka The Labour Party.
I'll extend it to other parties later, but lets see what skeletons 'fall out of the closet' with the examination of Comrades' first shall we?
Furthermore, I'd like to extend the request to include a list of 'Assets' acquired by each of these organisations and how they are accounted for in their 'articles of association'.
The true test of the integrity of these paid employees is when they are revealed to be self-serving to the extent that the preservation of their 'nice little earners' is visibly apparent to all and the purpose of the charity becomes of secondary consideration.
Seems a bit biased to me, KD. Can you clarify what you mean by "acquired"? As some charitable organisations have actually bought assets, in some cases many years ago, much the same way as others do that are not charitable.
I also think it is becoming quite tiresome that you label those involved with the labour party as "the Joseph Stalin Appreciation Society" - this is an inaccurate description and shows your own political bias.
I am sure that admin would have something to say if each time I reply to you, I include descriptions such as "goose-stepper, nazi salute", just a few of things taken from your own political past.
I am not asking for special protection, as I don't think that is needed, just a bit of fairness, with regard to what is said and what is deemed unacceptable.
Can I be first in the queue of those overcome with fear of being branded 'racist', Islamaphobic or similarly maligned' which is apparently the only explanation for anyone taking a different point of view to Mr KD.
Interesting that you should use the phrase "White, Christian people in Hartlepool" when none of the references to the Salaam Centre mention colour.
Anything sectarian what ever that sect may be proves that they have failed to be equal with the common person.
Hart Gables proves that the LGBT people in Hartlepool have not integrated into normal society if they have their own stand alone group.
Same goes when there are sessions for women advertised or a president is highlighted for being black.
It makes me laugh when I see things like gay bird watching groups. What has bird watching got to do with sexual persuasion !!!!
What if I jumped on the bandwagon and looked for a community centre to host events for middle aged blue collar white socialist straight socialist men with mild christian views who don't really care if the person next to them is is not the same as them as long as they are not a dangerous extremist.
We are all unique but that doesn't mean we have to be a society of ones.
What a con, £24k for OFCA to fund a non existent job for one of Wilcox's cousin 3 times removed.
If thats not bad enough the Hospice are conning £22000 for a head of bereavement, did they have one when Alice Bendle run the place, i think not..
Then the Salami centre getting £380 a week to pay for phone calls to Pakistan and central heating that our pensioners can't afford.
Put this £70k towards reinstating the Seaton and Headland buses, everyone say AYE !!
FU**ING FU**ERS !! :-\
When the old Salaam centre was in Murray street N.D.C. funded another centre opposite Horizon Centre now closed.
I asked why a centre for black people and one for white? it was seen and taken as a racist remark.
I then enquired.
Why not use Lynnfield centre for everyone is'nt that what mutli-culture is all about, again this was seen by NDC people in charge as my being racist, so I walked away.
I'm not and never have been a racist. I respect people their culture & religion.
Horizon centre / Salaam costs ????? public money so what the heck.. SPEND SPEND SPEND.
Quote from: mk1 on May 31, 2012, 08: PM
Did you all see the list of Dumbo's largesse in tonights Mail?
Now I know it all for a good cause but why is so much of it earmarked for 'salary'?
The full list of groups to receive
funding is:
Epilepsy Outlook,
£9,163 towards the costs of the operations manager's salary;
Families First,
£21,958.89 towards the cost of three salaries, two core workers and one project worker;
Hartlepool Access Group,
£23,949, towards the cost of live salaries including a manager, administrator and equipment worker;
Hartlepool & District Hospice,
£24,314 of funding towards the salary of a head of bereavement;
Hartlepool PROP,
£7,070 to help fund a manager's post;
Owton Fens Community Association, £22,760 to help fund project manager and development worker;
Peoples Centre,
£l7,823 towards project manager's salary and contribution to running costs;
Salaam Centre,
£18,432 towards heating, lighting, telephone costs and caretaker salary;
Voluntary Wheels,
£6,058 towards the co-ordinator/drivers' salary.
I presume we will be bombarded by those set to recieve the money telling us how the 'lurve' to be in the voluntary sector-they just don't 'lurve' it enough to be a volunteer voluntary worker!
This next bit raised my eyebrows:
Voluntary Wheels has been operating in Hartlepool and the surrounding area for 25 years providing low cost transport to the voluntary and community sector, plus elderly and disabled residents.
The not-for-proiit scheme, which
has four voluntary drivers, has a 14-seater minibus and averages abou five bookings a week.
The grant of £6,058 will go towards
funding co-ordinator Haydn Austins salary.
Now is it really only used 5 times a week and if so has anyone ever heard of a Taxi?
I am sure it could be done at a fraction of the current cost."
Questions were raised at the time of the decision, but the Mayor decided to go with officer recommendations. He was just for clarity, acting alone, as the cabinet had not yet been selected.
if you actually read the post before yours kipperdip you will see a paragraph in bigger font than the rest , it explains the mayor accepted the council officers reccomendations, in other words no he did not suggest them he merely agreed with them. as for the racism question i will leave that for someone else to answer.
Quote from: kipperdip on June 05, 2012, 07: AM
It's an unambiguous question from me, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect an unambiguous answer.
My question to ST still remains - "Did the FULL council, or the appropriate FULL committee unanimously approve these payments"?
No the full council did not approve these grants. They are not required to.
Grants are dealt with by the Cabinet. Normally a 3 person committee is formed from the Cabinet to deal with grants.
However, as there was no cabinet, the Mayor acted alone. The report from officers recommended these grants be paid.
Despite questions being raised - he approved them.
The list of those who did not get any money at all, is just as revealing as the list of those that did.
Dont forget you guys these are the electorate who put the crosses on the ballot paper at election time. It's an effective way of gaining added publicity too.
What I can't understand is why the rush? this could have easily have been sorted when the mayor appointed his new cabinet, but he must have thought wow I can do a lot of good here 'for myself'.
The grants committee? what committee? a committee of ONE is that legal? I thought a committee had to be quarate but what do I know.
This guy the mayor simply does what he wants.
KD - Objections were actually raised by Cllr. James, who attended the meeting and requested the right to speak.
The Mayor agreed with the points made, but decided to go ahead with the officers recommendations anyway.
What you need to remember is that Cabinet members only use the powers given to them by the Mayor, powers which he can take away at any time.
He has also on a couple of occasions outvoted the whole of council.
What residents need to realise is that Mayoral Power is Absolute Power, with the exception of Council Policy and Budget. But even here, he only needs 1/3rd to outvote 2/3rds.
The Mayoral system is a lot of things but democratic isn't one of them.
With regard to the Mayor answering questions, I suggest that you use your own right to ask questions at council, you are allowed a direct question + once he has answered the original question you also have up to 2 supplementary questions.
Dangerman - The Grants committee has in the past been made up of 3 Cabinet members, the Mayor + 2. This is the minimum amount of members to be called a committee. The minimum constitutional quorum is 3.
Which organisation is racist and why ?
Do you know I voted for this guy 'mayor' thinking that things may well change [silly me] if I understand what is happening past / present cabinet members must agree with officers recommendations if this is correct are you simply having nodding donkeys?
I can find these on Redcar Beach 'But' I didn't expect them in Hartlepool Borough Council chambers.
All looks pretty reasonable to me. You would have to find some outstanding individuals to donate 40 hours per week to do those jobs
Quote from: Greg X on June 05, 2012, 08: PM
All looks pretty reasonable to me. You would have to find some outstanding individuals to donate 40 hours per week to do those jobs
You miss the point.
As the money is mainly aimed at providing 'Salary' then no one is devoting anything-it is a waged job.
Quote from: kipperdip on June 05, 2012, 05: PM
ST - Which of the 'charidees' that Councillor James and her extended family were involved in wasn't being given enough of our dosh to satisfy her / their personal needs / greed enough for her to raise objections?
Your honest contribution that Mayoral Power is "absolute" power does you credit. What it also does is destroy the fiction we were sold in the first place - by all establishment parties - as to what an elected Mayor would mean to the town. I hate to say "I told you so" but, "I told you so".
What it also does is prove completely that the worst days work ever done (and there are many) was when we (not me I hasten to add) disastrously said 'YES' to having an elected Mayor.
Many warned of what was to come if we went down this path - we were proved right.
Returning to a system where EVERY councillor has an equal say and voting power is where we should be aiming. The abolition of the position of elected Mayor AND the cabinet system must be a priority.
Every councillor is elected under the same system by their constituents, this is known as 'democracy'.
What we have now is anything but democratic.
ST - I do believe there may be a danger of 'peace' breaking out.
KD - I am not going to participate in an attack on Cllr. James, as I understand it, she was actually arguing against such large amounts of money being paid to any organisation, when many who were being refused would potentially go to the wall over the next year.
So if all you want to do is attack someone, who you obviously have a problem with, count me out.
Quote from: Straight Talking on June 05, 2012, 11: PM
I am not going to participate in an attack on Cllr. James
Quelle suprise!
You have no problems making very personal remarks about the Mayor but you baulk at impugning Mad Dog!
Would not do much for your career prospects if you had a go at her and given she has a propensity to physicaly spit in the face of any percieved enemy (quite a large group!) I would say a wise move on your part.
Lap dogs rarely bite their master.
Not so, MK1 - You probably don't even know her.
You really shouldn't believe the things people say, without checking them out.
As to "personal remarks" about the Mayor, not sure what you mean. The information I have provided has been about his public life, not his private life.
Quote from: Straight Talking on June 05, 2012, 11: PM
Not so, MK1 - You probably don't even know her.
Here is a thought.
Say something politicaly negative about a serving Labour Councillor.
When you do that then you might be taken seriously.
Until then you are little more than the official mouthpiece of the collective ruled by the Manor Mafia.
Quote from: Straight Talking on June 05, 2012, 11: PM
I am not going to participate in your personal slagging off arrangements.
I will also not attack anyone, Labour or otherwise just to satisfy your demands.
It doesn't really matter to me whether you believe me or not.
I will post what I believe to be right.
Wrong answer.
The fact is you are at the heart of the Manor Cabal and it is impossible for you to say anything 'bad' about a serving Labour Councillor. If you did it would be the end of your expenses/allowance gravy train.
You have repeatedly questioned Dumbo's decisions and judgements yet you can find it in you to point out a single Laboutr failing.
Giving the extent of corruption and graft in Manor and the huge empire building going on (present services denied funding so favoured Labour councillors can swoop in and pick up the contracts) you would either have to be terminaly stupid or one of the carpetbaggers not to find any concerns.
You fool no one with your pretence of impatiality.
MK1 - I have no interest in your petty rantings about Mafia's or Cabals.
I responded to a question from KD, he accepted my answer. End of Business as far as I am concerned.
Quote from: Straight Talking on June 06, 2012, 01: AM
I responded to a question from KD, he accepted my answer. End of Business as far as I am concerned.
The mantra of the War Criminal Blair.
When he was caught lying and cheating he would trott out
'Let us put this behind us and move on'Much like you tried with the Hospital sell-out.
Mandy left his mark on Hartlepool. His disciples are '
relaxed about people getting filthy rich'More relaxed since they are the ones getting filthy rich!
They plunder the taxpayers money to create personal fifedoms based on graft and corruption. Patronage and nepotism rule and you are well and truly outed as a Labour stooge.
Deny it all you want but if you walk like a duck...........
I suppose it would depend on whether they would refuse white british membership ?
The Salaam Centre works in partnership with a variety of organisations and groups, demonstrating that they would not discriminate. The reason that the Salaam Centre gets funding is because by belonging to a minority ethnic group, people may suffer discrimination, and so this service is vital in providing support of this specific of this type.
If you note that they had a huge Jubilee fair this weekend, we are shown that they do not exclude tradition in this country and we are all respected in the Salaam Centre. They also work with other organisations who would deal with other types of support.
Sorry to disagree with you Christine but what utter and complete bollocks.
Quote from: mk1 on June 06, 2012, 03: AM
Quote from: Straight Talking on June 06, 2012, 01: AM
I responded to a question from KD, he accepted my answer. End of Business as far as I am concerned.
The mantra of the War Criminal Blair.
When he was caught lying and cheating he would trott out 'Let us put this behind us and move on'
Much like you tried with the Hospital sell-out.
Mandy left his mark on Hartlepool. His disciples are ' relaxed about people getting filthy rich'
More relaxed since they are the ones getting filthy rich!
They plunder the taxpayers money to create personal fifedoms based on graft and corruption. Patronage and nepotism rule and you are well and truly outed as a Labour stooge.
Deny it all you want but if you walk like a duck...........
So now I am compared to Tony Blair, whether you like it or not, Peter Mandelson did leave his mark on Hartlepool, it is seen even to this day. The new college looks great.
Jobs at Tata Steel defended - you have very little evidence for the rest of the accusations made. All parties and even non aligned members of the council have been involved at many levels right across the spectrum - your blind acceptance of corruption is rife, therefore they are all the same, just shows your own bias and ignorance. I don't need to deny anything as I am not involved.
You continue to make assumptions, my perceived label changes from week to week. I think it is time that you got a life - and yes moved on - left to you we would all still be living in caves and no doubt you would still be complaining that someone elses cave was bigger or brighter than yours, so they must be corrupt. Winge on you make no difference in the real world.
Quote from: Straight Talking on June 06, 2012, 01: PM
I think it is time that you got a life - and yes moved on -
Is that the considered opinion of the great man who though Tesco checkout workers were on 12 quid an hour?
Champagne Socialist with no idea of the real world.
More guacamole with your chips?
A last minute failure of nerve made me include the 'f'!
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5376/akersshifty.jpg) (http://img337.imageshack.us/i/akersshifty.jpg/)
I do wonder sometimes that within these charitable organisations there is an awful lot of duplication. How many are essentially aimed at achieving the same things and tagetted at the same people? So why do we need so many groups?
Quote from: marky on June 07, 2012, 02: PM
I do wonder sometimes that within these charitable organisations there is an awful lot of duplication. How many are essentially aimed at achieving the same things and tagetted at the same people? So why do we need so many groups?
Lots of groups mean lots of people at the top with fairly well paid jobs. As Councillors choose who gets a grant then it is in the interests of any organiser to keep them sweet. Put a relative or mate on the payroll and your funding is safe.
Citizens Advice found out you do not last long when an insider sets his eye on your funding!