Thanks to all who have complained about this site.
Hyndburn Life | Hyndburn Life Homepage
As a councillor I have managed to spend some time researching the background to what has been described as a White Elephant.
The background to this is such; the Council is always being given lots of money (from government because it is a poor area) to spend on 'extra' projects. £591,000 of this was used on hyndburn life. Including Pendle life (a joint initiative between the 2 Councils) £937,000 in total.
Hyndburns funds were £266,000 SRB and £250,000 ERDF. Both these could/should have been spent elsewhere. I have to stress, we had this money to spend, it was not external monies we didn't have. Plus £75,000 ODPM (John Prescott's office).
This site was unofficially discontinued by the Council about 12 months after launch. No-one now uses the site.
It is being kept up because both SRB and ERDF can claim clawback of 50% if the conditions of the bid agreement are not maintained. In this case the Council had committed to keeping the site going after the 2 year funding ended.
A member of staff came as part of the bid but this person packed up after 12 months. They were replaced by various temporary agency staff.
The site still has the deceased Labour Councillor Edith Dunston as being the Councillor for Spring Hill, though I have asked for it to be removed immediately.
FACT; This is a wholly Council project. Labour Councillors have met with officers and they have pointed out they advised that the scheme should be rejected. Instead it was passed by PB and his cabinet. Huge chunks of the money disapeared on consultancy (Around £300k).
It is an all to familiar example of how our Tory Council wastes millions. They are already trying to blame everyone else.
£591,000 and the site is shut down after 12 months. There is none of the money left. Members on this site are right, its a scandal.