Public Questions

[steveL]

Click to Enlarge

[Hartlepudlion]

BUT WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS.?

[steveL]

BUT WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS.?

A comment which rather misses the point.

. . . that point being that the Chief Executive is currently obliged to maintain a log of all public questions submitted together with any reasons they were not accepted. Said log must be open to public inspection and its contents can be obtained via a Freedom of Information request.

This being the case, why then did the Labour/Tory coalition vote to oppose putting the same information on-line which would be easier for both council officers and the public alike?

The answer is in the last phrase of the paragraph, "which would be easier for both council officers and the public alike" for although the Lab/Tory coalition can't prevent the public accessing this information, they can make it as unnecessarily difficult  to obtain.

If the information was more easily obtainable them more members of the public would be aware, not only of the ridiculously high rejection rate but also of some of the tortuously thin excuses used to avoid answering questions.

[Foggy]

I hope the questions regarding the seating arrangements will not be forgotten as the reason for deferring them is weak to say the least.

Do we have any idea when the 'pilot' comes to an end? Who is responsible for reviewing the arrangements and deciding if they are permanent?  Whose opinions will they take into account?

I think we know what will happen.  It will be a permanent thing and they won't give a toss what people think.

However, I agree with the person who asked the question, the whole set-up is disrespectful.  On the plus side it means we don't have to look at some of their ugly and smug mugs. 

[jeffh]

Steve - issuing the Public Question list is brilliant - many thanks.

Is there any way a directory can be created to contain this file (and hopefully future ones) so at the public have EASY access to these questions?

Once again well done and many thanks

[fred c]

I think we all know the only reason that council seating be returned to the 'Respectful Position' is if a couple of the usual suspects require Big Screen TV's.

To be fair the tv's are about as much use as t**s on a bull and were another unnecessary expense to the public purse, for the majority of the public they are extremely difficult to make out from the back of the chamber.

Some of the reasons for rejection are down to semantics........ie.  the question re. A Screen was obviously referring to the Barrier that was going to be introduced.....another, frivolous or offensive........not sure if asking if an elected councillor was aware of another elected councillor being at it with CT payers money.... albeit from a neighbouring authority, was either frivolous or offensive...... it certainly went against several of the Nolan Principles.

Only in Hartlepool

[Shepherd]

The numbers don't lie, 8 out of 25 questions accepted, more than 2/3rds get no answer.

Even the accepted questions do not seem to have answers.

Open and transparent, no!

As for councillors sitting with their backs to the public, it says it all.

The breathtaking arrogance of the double digit IQ's running the town (into the ground), SCABs, Cranny, MD, RMW, is a symptom of everything wrong with this council, finks, placemen & bribe takers, lining their pockets with public money, drug money, tax avoided money. As Fredc stated, they are like truffle pigs when it come to sniffing out money and that is all they are interested in, regardless of where it comes from.

Serving the people or the interests of the town, they are just not interested!

[jeffh]

Looking at the question regarding SAB's activities around Newcastle City Council and his jolly to Portsmouth.  The word vexatious was used as part of the excuse for not responding.

Vexatious - difficult to deal with and causing a lot of anger, worry or argument.

In which context was the council using the adjective - was it
A.  The person asking the question
B.  The person the question was being asked about
C.  The council itself

Our Ceremonial Mayor was wondering what the question had to do with Vauxhall cars available in the 70's

[steveL]

The numbers don't lie, 8 out of 25 questions accepted, more than 2/3rds get no answer.

Even the accepted questions do not seem to have answers.

Open and transparent, no!

As for councillors sitting with their backs to the public, it says it all.

The breathtaking arrogance of the double digit IQ's running the town (into the ground), SCABs, Cranny, MD, RMW, is a symptom of everything wrong with this council, finks, placemen & bribe takers, lining their pockets with public money, drug money, tax avoided money. As Fredc stated, they are like truffle pigs when it come to sniffing out money and that is all they are interested in, regardless of where it comes from.

Serving the people or the interests of the town, they are just not interested!

The log that the Chief Executive keeps isn't meant to keep copies of the answer, just the question. For the answers, you have to have been at the particular council meeting it was asked or see the video if there is one.

[steveL]

To be fair the tv's are about as much use as t**s on a bull

Why would a Bull need toes, Fred?

[steveL]

Steve - issuing the Public Question list is brilliant - many thanks.

Is there any way a directory can be created to contain this file (and hopefully future ones) so at the public have EASY access to these questions?

Once again well done and many thanks

Working on it, just not sure what the best way of going about it is.

[Inspector Knacker]

Rejected, there's a theme emerging.

[fred c]

To be fair the tv's are about as much use as t**s on a bull

Why would a Bull need toes, Fred?

So it doesn't teeter over...