Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840801)

I am aware of a prominent councillor in Hyndburn claiming childcare expenses for a mid teenage child, who is often left alone due to her age.

Is this right that he/she can do this ? Shouldn't you have to provide details of their childminder as per Tax Credits?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840801)

I am aware of a prominent councillor in Hyndburn claiming childcare expenses for a mid teenage child, who is often left alone due to her age.

Is this right that he/she can do this ? Shouldn't you have to provide details of their childminder as per Tax Credits?

Originally Posted by Less (Post 840809)

Surely as a responsible adult, rather than tell us you should tell the relevant authorities?

If a Councillor is fiddling, the Council.

If a child is being left alone, Social services.

Otherwise why are you posting?

Can you not lift a 'phone to get in touch with someone of authority? Or is this some sort of vindictive thing?

I hope it turns out that you are completely wrong whoever the Councillor may be, but reporting it on here is showing your irresponsibility as much as his/hers.
:confused:

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840810)

If you read above, you will see that I have said it is within the rules of being a Councillor, and the child alone is old enough according to Social Services. I mearly asked if people were happy with this rule, as most people have to supply definative info before getting this allowance.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840813)

How can I go to the authorities when no law I broken ?

Is this site not for open discussion anymore?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840813)

How can I go to the authorities when no law I broken ?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840814)

P.s. How do you know I hadn't already informed the authorities anyway..

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840815)

MODS>....please delete this thread before it gets full of insults...I just asked for opinion and wanted to open a debate.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840810)

If you read above, you will see that I have said it is within the rules of being a Councillor, and the child alone is old enough according to Social Services. I mearly asked if people were happy with this rule, as most people have to supply definative info before getting this allowance.

I wish people would read the posts properly and fully before insulting others.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840801)

I am aware of a prominent councillor in Hyndburn claiming childcare expenses for a mid teenage child, who is often left alone due to her age.

Is this right that he/she can do this ? Shouldn't you have to provide details of their childminder as per Tax Credits?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 405320)

In my humble but honest opinion, there are may Councillors who are fit for purpose, and many who aren't. The only way to sort it out is at the ballot box on election day. No amount of threats, or rumour mongering will force them to resign

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840814)

P.s. How do you know I hadn't already informed the authorities anyway..

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840815)

MODS>....please delete this thread before it gets full of insults...I just asked for opinion and wanted to open a debate.

Originally Posted by MargaretR (Post 840855)

I don't blame him for saying that - looks like its open season on newbies yet again:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by MargaretR (Post 840855)

I don't blame hime for saying that - looks like its open season on newbies yet again:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 840815)

MODS>....please delete this thread before it gets full of insults...I just asked for opinion and wanted to open a debate.

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J (Post 841061)

Depends on what age you would consider a mid teenager.

Any tax credits payed would be based on the information given and any wrong info pertaining to them that is wrong could be seen as fraud. Which to anyone in a prominent local role would be a tad silly esp as they are in the public eye.
I would ask if anyone has never taken advantage of rules that they can gain from even in a small way.

If the social services will/are/were involved then it is between them and the parent involved not based on their job.

I also reckon that many teenagers are more "grown up" than many of us were at the same age.

A neighbour could also be on hand to be sure nothing untoward happens in any case.

We deride single parents for not working yet do the same if they are therefore they cannot win.

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 841059)

The thread does not need to be deleted but if any posts become insultive please report the posts using the red triangle http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/s...ons/report.gif at the bottom left of the post under the posters name and the moderation team will deal with it appropriately.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 841176)

I did suggest similar in post #10

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 841351)

I know you did and thank you for it.

Mine just looks more pretty with the little picture for those that don't know :)

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 841150)

...that's the type of snide underhand person he seams to be judging from previous posts

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 841363)

Rachman.

:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Less (Post 841365)

Are they the people that sell ties at the airports?

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 840843)

Because snide people never do, they just like to stare it from from a place of anonymity

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 841150)

Although he never mentioned any names you can bet your bottom dollar he was referring to a Tory, otherwise he wouldn't have started the thread in the first place, that's the type of snide underhand person he seams to be judging from previous posts

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 841439)

I'm not snide in anyway, so please don't accuse me of that. I am asking whether the local people approve of councillors, especially one in high office, claiming childcare allowance for a 15 year old, when she doesn't go to a childminder, she stays alone or with friends. It is similar to the MP expenses scandal in my opinion.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 841444)

Snide I suppose, because you don't name them.

If rules aren't being broken, I see no problem.

If childcare allowances weren't available, it would limit who was able to become a councillor.

If I presume correctly, the councillor you allude to is a single parent.

Which must be a strain, when balancing home life, and public office.

Originally Posted by acts simon (Post 841441)

Thanks, for the insult, it was uncalled for. I am trying to raise a serious point about taxpayers money, but you really don't seem to give a toss.

The teenager in question is 15, so I am told, so do they really need childcare?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 841445)

The debate is, in my opinion, should the expenses be claimed when the 15 yr old is staying with friends, not official childcare, or stays at home alone, as 15 yr olds often do.
Does it matter who the councillor is? He holds high office and already claims enough allowances.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 405320)

...there are may Councillors who are fit for purpose, and many who aren't. The only way to sort it out is at the ballot box on election day. No amount of threats, or rumour mongering will force them to resign

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J (Post 841462)

I would rather see someone trying to have an occupation as well as being a single parent. Balancing both must be a nightmare at best hell at worst. The tax credits are there for those willing to do both as it is not always possible to do both on a limited income. There are also limits as to what they can earn before a reduction is applied to the benefit but it is always the following financial year. If income goes up this year its the next award that is affected and it is possible for the household income to be less when the new one comes in. It is a balancing act on a razor blade. It must be hard not to be around when your teenager is at home and the parent is working.

No rules broken then no issue.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 841471)

But why is he claiming allowances that he doesn't need or use?
How many of you will complain when your council tax rises to help cover these expenses??

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 841471)

But why is he claiming allowances that he doesn't need or use?

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 841731)

Having thought about this since yesterday, it appears its another dog and pony show, probably the same dog but a different pony;)

Originally Posted by Tickler (Post 842262)

secondly do you know just how many councillors DONT claim any expenses ???

Originally Posted by Tickler (Post 842262)

you either didnt say or you were not asked HOW do you know they are claiming expenses and where have you got the information from

secondly do you know just how many councillors DONT claim any expenses ???

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 842273)

It's not my place to discuss it in depth but it's all perfectly above-board and not something that anyone would decry as irregular.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 841446)

Seeing your so informed, I ask, by law, what is the age of a child designated as, and as I said if the person in question hand not been a Tory you would never have opened the thread, you are snide , end of

Originally Posted by Less (Post 842299)

Oh well, I didn't read the thread properly, I didn't know it was a Tory, keep going Pal,

(Just read it again Jay, I can't tell the accused is a Tory), perhaps you know something the rest of us need to know?:D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 842580)

Read some of his previous posts Less, that's how I know, I can also remember another chap coming on here and staring a similar thread asking questions about expenses and was answered by a Labour councillor, only to be sussed as a Labour councilor himself trying to stir it:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Tickler (Post 842262)

you either didnt say or you were not asked HOW do you know they are claiming expenses and where have you got the information from

secondly do you know just how many councillors DONT claim any expenses ???

Originally Posted by claytonender (Post 843625)

It is quite easy to find out which councillors are claiming extra allowances, such as childcare by doing a FIO request.

For anyone who accuses me of claiming anything I am not entitled too - in the 2009 to 2010 year I claimed £5489.88 - which was my basic allowance + an allowance for being Labour Group secretary and a IT allowance (because unlike some councillors I pay for my own broadband and use my own PC and printer - rather than HBC providing me with the facility).

As I am chair of Church and Central Area Management Board I was entitled to claim £742 as chair but did not claim this and the money went to the Area Management Board.

I did not claim any mileage allowances and the only train fare I claimed was £38.65 for a return trip to London (when I attended a one day conference -paid for out of Graham Jones training budget). I went to Manchester twice and Preston once on training courses but did not claim the rail fare for any of these journeys, neither did I claim for any meals when I went to London.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844687)

I am still waiting expenses details from Hyndburn BC.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 843697)

To be quite honest Joan, I think the people representing the people of Hyndburn should not be one penny out of pocket, there was a time when councilors received nothing but thank you for their efforts, things have moved on since those days and I for one think its not always for the better

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844687)

The Councillor in Question,

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 844717)

When you get them post them on here so we can have a real debate without you just trying to score points, AccyWeb is not here for your petty Political games and I am getting fed up with you trying to use it for such.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 844725)

Which Councillor in question? Only you so far have been claiming anything and most of us are questioning your motives not this unknown victim.

All you have done so far is come on here claiming some form of wrong doing without the decency of having any proof.

You hint at who this 'despicable' person may be, indeed you are getting bolder now you inform us it's a he, that he is also a County Councillor and that he has a 15 year old daughter, unfortunately like so many of your ilk you aren't man enough to name names, I wonder what this poor chap did to upset such a vindictive little man as you?
I suggest once more that if you actually have any proof go to the authorities don't come on here spreading your disgusting innuendos.

If your communications with HBC are anything like your posts I doubt that they can properly understand any request you have put forward, so you will I hope be in for a long wait.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844731)

who is concerned where my council tax is being used.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844731)

I am only a vindictive little man

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 844745)

St.Malicious.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844731)

They make far more sense than you...but then, ignore this comment as I am only a vindictive little man who is concerned where my council tax is being used.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 844745)

No. You are more than that.

The way you have gone about things, on a forum that is usually a fairly hostile environment, for the councillor you presumably refer to, if has succeeded in uniting everyone in their defence.

Jolly well done.

A miracle.

You should be given an audience with the Pope, St.Malicious.

Originally Posted by cashman (Post 844766)

i think thats a very apt name, my reason- this forum in the main, apart from a few munchkins, is well anti tory, so you would assume that people may side with simplesimon,oops sorry accysimon, if i was he, would be askin meself why they haven't,so St Malicious fits the bill to me anyway.:rolleyes:

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 844770)

Be carefully cashy I had a post deleted for calling him that;)

Originally Posted by cashman (Post 844771)

yeh but offline at the moment, so most will have read it first.:D

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris (Post 844741)

No what you are is a Labour party politico trying somewhat clumsily to score points. If a Labour councillor was the subject of all this, I'm sure we wouldn't have heard a peep from you. However, you don't quite have the bottle to go the whole hog by naming the person, do you? Never mind...carry on skulking in the shadows! :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844855)

Actually, I don't agree with it whoever claims it, whether they be Labour, Tory, Lib Dem etc..I am just aware of one councillor doing it at the moment, but would willingly expose others if I found out.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844729)

I have asked for the thread to be deleted twice, but the moderators have refused, so you are just as much to blame for continuing the 'political games'.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 844862)

But YOU aren't exposing anyone because if you were YOU would mention a name instead of dropping unproven hints hoping some naïve soul will say, "Oh does he mean such & such?", hardly exposing, more hoping someone else will take responsibility for your rumour.
If you have proof then,



if you have no proof then shut up until you are brave enough to put it on yourself.

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 844863)

You did not ask me :D

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844865)

No, I asked StanleyMad to cancel the thread and my account..neither have been done. Too late now.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 844749)

Just pulling you up on a technicality here rindy, to be St.Malicious, doesn't he have to be dead? ;)

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844855)

Actually, I don't agree with it whoever claims it, whether they be Labour, Tory, Lib Dem etc..I am just aware of one councillor doing it at the moment, but would willingly expose others if I found out.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844879)

I have just been re-reading the initial posts on this thread, and, if read properly, all I asked was whether the residents of Hyndburn were happy with the way the 'child care' expenses were being claimed. It's a yes or no answer, so why the hu-ha about naming the individual?

If you are all happy, then fine, end of discussion. I have said no laws were broken as such, it was just an ethical question that has got out of hand.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 844885)

You've implicated an individual.

An actual, totally innocent girl.

That is wrong.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 844882)

As Less posted, you haven't exposed anyone.

Just made accusations, and given a few scant details as to who the person is.

Grow a pair of these.

http://www.pinkypawz.com/images/2%20...tballs%202.jpg

Then either name and shame, and face litigation if no rules have been broken, or shut up, and leave this person, and their child alone.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844886)

How is the girl implicated? She's not done anything wrong.

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844889)

How can I shut up when you lot keep stirring it up again?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 844889)

How can I shut up when you lot keep stirring it up again?

Originally Posted by Less (Post 844906)

Us stirring it? It all kicked off again when you posted more of your inuendoes yesterday, without you having a dig at anon again the thread had turned almost pleasant.
Do yourself a favour, throw your keyboard in the bin, then you won't be tempted to use it!

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 844918)

You're a harsh lot. We all know who he's on about but the Grand Overlord of Hyndburn is not someone that everyone would take on head first.

I have no such qualms, particularly as his daughter was left in the freezing cold on election day taking numbers without any tea. The Broadleys (evil Labour opposition members) had to buy her something hot or she would have gone hungry whilst the caring father was elsewhere, totally obsessed with votes.

The young girl in question seems perfectly well-balanced and polite in contrast to her megalomaniac daddy, that's the true miracle.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 844932)

Perhaps, Less. I'm just saying that, whereas I couldn't give a toss about exposing the Leader of the Council's less laudable acts, some members of the public with an interest in politics may worry about the ramifications of taking on such a man.

Cut him a bit of slack, he's only tying to question what he considers to be a potentially dodgy expense claim.

After election day's performance I'm inclined to agree if it's true.

Originally Posted by Ken Moss (Post 844932)

Cut him a bit of slack, he's only tying to question what he considers to be a potentially dodgy expense claim.

Originally Posted by claytonender (Post 844940)

Yesterday Councillor Clare Pritchard told me that she had submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act, requesting a list of all HBC councillors' expense claims for the 2009 to 2010 year. She was told that she could not have this information as it was not available. Considering Hyndburn Council have by law to produce of a annual list of payments to all councillors (which includes allowances and all expenses reimbursed) she should have been given this information. Last year I requested (and was supplied with the information about expenses) for 2008 to 2009.

Why is this information now being with held - is someone afraid that it will be more widely disseminated, than just to the councillor who requested it?

The full list of payments made in 2009 to 2010 can be downloaded from this site -

Members' Allowances 2009-10

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 848160)

Councillors Expenses from LCC...
Attachment 16877

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 848356)

There was nothing to get caught for, as it was all above board apparently. I never said it was breaking a law, just was it ethical.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 848360)

Again I will ask, is it ethical to accuse without being brave enough to name the person you accuse, here on the 'mainstream media'?

Originally Posted by Less (Post 848371)

Come on jaysay, you speak to him more than I, give us a clue.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 848394)

To whom are you referring Less:confused:

Originally Posted by Less (Post 848415)

Well rather than appear too frightened to name names, here I go:-

Would you Jaysay, be able to throw some light onto the identity of the person that has made a potentially Libellous posting with regards to accysimon?

(Please try not to answer with a one syllable sentence such as yes or no :D).

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 848419)

Yes, twas me, but the mods removed the post, It was regarding the countless times I received anonymous personal abuse through the Royal Mail Less

Originally Posted by Less (Post 848430)

Thank you, though it does come as a shock that it was you, just think though, you have bravely saved those of us unfortunate enough not to see that dreadful post from the agony of waiting another 7 pages for accysimon to reveal all.

You are one of life's heroes in my eyes.
:D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 848419)

Yes, twas me, but the mods removed the post, It was regarding the countless times I received anonymous personal abuse through the Royal Mail Less

Originally Posted by Less (Post 848360)

Again I will ask, is it ethical to accuse without being brave enough to name the person you accuse, here on the 'mainstream media'?

Originally Posted by accysimon (Post 848480)

My legal advisors advised me to warn first before taking action, which I did privately.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 848484)

I bet you have a direct line & keep some trainee in full employment at their office, thank you for taking our towns unemployment down by 1.