Why are we waiting?
 

'According to the Communities and Local Government department, there are eight councils in England which have not yet complied with the ministerial demand that they publish details of all items of spending over £500.'

'...they are Nottingham, Bradford, Peterborough, Epsom and Ewell, Hyndburn, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Eastbourne and Lincolnshire.'

BBC - Open Secrets: Nottingham could be only council not to release spending data

Well done Hyndburn Borough Council.

We've made national headlines.

When are we going to be able to read your butty bill?

I hope you're not eating the evidence.

:rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

There's only one good thing.

The Duke of Kent doesn't know where Hyndburn is.

Apparently.

Small mercy.

Feel the shame.

:rofl38:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Isn't there a Freedom of Information Act which would allow citizens access to the info.? Or allow the media access?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

It's something we're keen to see although for some reason it hasn't happened yet.

It's almost as if there's something to hide.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Get out!! :eek: Hyndburn Council having something they want to keep from us??!! :rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Peterborough, What a shame the name has already been taken, I know of a medal wearing Councillor that would love to Re-name Hyndburn with that one.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...7&d=1297158593

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Eric the information has got to be there for you to gain access, it appears that HBC have failed to attend to that small request, as yet:rolleyes:

Just a thought maybe the books are still cooking:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Perhaps PB's been taking accounting lessons from Don and the Cardboard King.:)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

PB taking lessons:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

It appears he's taking something ..... ! ;) :D

(ALLEGEDLY)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Nice idea, but it might be too parochial.

In the past, I think in the renaming the borough thread, I suggested the much more grandiose St. Petersburg.

Much showier, and impressive.

Mary-ann, both inside and out.

Why settle for just a temple, when you have the funds to leave an imperial city as your monument?

:rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Please no !!. I moved back from there a few years ago and ended up here. I don't need to revisit thanks.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Sorry, just been informed, it isn't a temple.

It's an award winning market hall.

Have just called the Messiah, and cancelled his forthcoming visit to drive out those few still left inside, involved in buying and selling.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I'm not keen, to be honest. Let's just say we want to avoid any Imperial entanglements....

YouTube - Star Wars- The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)

Does it work as a personal theme?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Let the farce be with you :D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Or Doddy.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Didn't realise things had got saw bad Ken, wearing armour in the council chamber:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Do you know what he said?

:confused:

I can see Mossy Bear's lips moving, but nothing's coming out.

I just presumed he'd been silenced already, following the recent threats.

I hope this isn't the case.

If it is, so I don't miss out on his refreshingly open brusqueness, I'll just have to learn to lip read.

:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

O.K. so you think St. Petersburg, surely that name conjures up an image that is just a little to the left of communism?
We would have to grant him a new medal ribbon IN RED!

;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

No, way before commie red.

Like ours', their city was founded by another Peter the Great.

The medal would have to have a new imperial purple ribbon.


:rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Your colour choice may be more accurate, but mine would make sure he never wore it in public ever again.

Just a thought, He foolishly got this medal and ribbon, was it on a personal whim or did he have advisors telling him to get it?

If the former, it proves bad judgement on his part.
If the latter it shows bad judgement on his part, for picking such rubbish advisors.
Either way, it doesn't recommend him for the position of power he is languishing, (Ooh, I like that word), in.

:)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Actually if we're going to have a nice new purple ribbon, we might as well cast a brand new shining medal.

Sod the cost.

Forget the old plain looking one, saying 'Simply the Best'.

I'm seeing on the new medal a magnificant eagle.

An eagle from Roman antiquity.

An eagle in flight.

An eagle carrying a serf's newborn child.

A infant carrying eagle in flight, with a lovely purple ribbon!

I'll get my crayons out, and submit it.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Perhaps it was the court grape peeler, who suggested it.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Na don't think it was his decision, if it had have been surely the ribbon would have been blue:rolleyes:;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

How about an eagle out of some perverted nightmare, ripping out the entrails of the honourable councillor for Rishton.;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

An imperial eagle in flight.

Flying off with a Rishton Medusa's scalp...and hair!

Brilliant.

Minted.

:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Hair:eek::eek::eek::D:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

How sharper the serpent's tooth than a wounded council leader?

One might think that I've in some way injured this great human monolith.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Now what have you done to upset him? :D

It will be your fault when he claims expenses to have an ulcer treated on Bupa

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

He's a bit like Charles Atlas is our Peter carrying Hyndbirn and Ken on his shoulders:D:D:D:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

With his feet firmly placed on shaky ground?
http://www.bo.infn.it/atlas_rpc/images/atlas2.jpg
I wonder if this is the image he has franked onto his medal?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

With a body like that don't be silly:D:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I hope Boris does not mind you using his picture :D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

You might be interested to read this HBC page

Expenditure over £500 - Expenditure over £500 reports - Overview

And these accounts

Expenditure over £500


Looking at the meta data on those pages it was created on the 7/2/2011 which was the day before this thread was started :D:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Quite a few individuals doing rather well out of the council there on a monthly basis.

Interesting to note that despite the collossal percentage of tax revenue that LCC get we also give them extra bungs throughout the year plus an awful lot of consultancy and auditing fees.

Are they all absolutely necessary? Perhaps it isn't quite as cut-and-dried as it first appears on glancing at those figures but I simply cannot believe that every single one of those cheques was either a necessity or benefitted the borough enough to warrant the cost.

It's certainly something to look into.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

This is gripping stuff. Apart from swathes of smudgy costs, Aldo Zilli's cost just keeps going up and up:

£5,500 for the man himself
£2,580 for the kitchen hire
£513 for the advertising
£675.63 for The Corporate Group

I also had an FOI response stating categorically that it wasn't costing anything to switch on the Accrington Christmas lights and yet there in black and white is a figure of £6,800.

Time to put my scrutineer's hat back on.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Yes, the seventh. The same day it was reported on the BBC news site.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

For a tribute band, for an American programme on E4?

:eek:

I bet they were indeed gleeful, as they pocketed the cash, and raced away from Accy.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

On Sunday, I was looking on the Local Government Association website, for some other information and followed their link to the DCLG website to find out if HBC had published their spending. On finding that it appeared they had not I emailed HBC to ask where the spending over £500 had been published (if indeed it had been published). I have now downloaded all the spreadsheets and it will make very interesting bedtime reading.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Does "interesting bedtime reading" mean that it is a cure for insomnia:confused:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I hope you don't keep Ray awake Joan:D

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

As Nick Ross used to say at the end of Crimewatch...

Don't have nightmares.

;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I'll try not too.:):):)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I've tried to resist peeking up until now, not wanting to end up hyperventilating, but decided to risk having a shufty at HBC's over £500.00 newly published expenses.

I was quite shocked.

Unless I knew Hyndburn was a collection of small mill towns, reading through the figures, I'd have presumed it was a collection of city states in Renaissance Italy. With a thriving arts industry, under the patronage of an obscenely rich church, and fabulously wealthy ruling noble families.

Art consultants in the borough, and the artists they fund, really must think the streets of Hyndburn are paved with gold, rather than potholed tarmac, covering up old cobbles.

Enough here to read, and digest, for months.

Unless banging your head against a wall renders you illiterate.

I'll take another risk.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I nearly choked when i clicked that link, "Hyndburn the place to be!":hehetable.............. not if yeh want a pee it aint.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Well no doubt they'll just tell you to p off if you don't like it cashy:rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Nearly 4k for guest appaearances by Reindeer. I really am in the wrong job :eek:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Don't be bitter.

Along with dwarves, it is very seasonal work.

In the summer that reindeer has to try ang get work on Blackpool's beaches, and is forced to wear an enormous Kiss Me Quick hat, in order to pass himself of a donkey.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Ruddy foreigners, with their funny looks & strange ways coming over here & stealing our Jobs ! ;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Interestingly, the figures purport to contradict this statement from the FOI office at Hyndburn:

There is no cost incurred in switching on the Accrington Town Centre Christmas lights, as this is performed by the Mayor and Mayoress of Hyndburn.

Area Councils advise that they have not paid anyone to switch on the Christmas Lights and have no plans to do so. They are always volunteers who give their time free. This has included in the past members of Accrington Stanley Football Club and Vickie Entwistle from Coronation Street. The volunteers understand that the light switch-ons are community events for all the family to enjoy and appreciate this enough to give their time.

The following article from the Lancashire Telegraph would also seem to be at odds with that statement:

Accrington Christmas switch-on cost £9,000 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Area Councils may well not have paid to switch on the lights but somebody else did.

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

'The hire of a Santa’s Grotto in the market hall for December cost £3,150, while Santa himself, plus his elf assistant cost £2,000 for three weeks.'

Accrington Christmas switch-on cost £9,000 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

I hope they abided by elf and safety rules, and didn't hurt ther backs, making off with their sacks full of dosh.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

So why couldnt we cut costs and get acts to perform for free if other councils could? :rolleyes:

Think I am gonna be getting prepared to be this years Santa in the Market Hall as £2000 would come in handy just before Christmas :D

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

I was accused by Cllr Roberts of being a killjoy and Cllr Britcliffe nearly ruptured himself laughing at my suggestion that the Christmas bill could be cut.

I think you'll find the joke is now on you.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

True.

Licky-likey tribute acts such as Glee, Robbie Williams etc., which we've seen in recent years, are professional acts, and won't work for mince pies and a glass of sherry.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Did you really expect the truth ? :rolleyes:

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

Why? Because it was less than Blackburns?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Honestly? Yes I did.

It's Freedom Of Information from one of the officers and something which they are duty bound to answer truthfully. Admittedly, the wording has to be spot on but please feel free to point out any flaws in this question which generated the above response:

To whom it may concern,

Are Hyndburn Council paying anyone to switch on the Christmas lights in any of the wards and, if so, how much are they being paid?

Regards,

Cllr Ken Moss

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

Whoops!! :o

wonder if he is belly laffing now?!

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Which is "Out there" ask MargR, she'll probably give you the website address too. :)

cyber waggy finger ? ;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I have just merged the 2 threads that had the same topic, I hope everyone is still saying what they wanted to, I had to edit a couple of threads so they made sense.

If anyone wants anything changing please PM me

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

So who switched on the lights in Accrington and how much were they paid?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Your a good boy aint you :gooddog:

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

The turnout in Rishton was superb despite absolutely bitter weather and all we had was an urn of tea and some hot mince pies donated by the local Co-op. The Mayor and Cllr Grayson did a good job of presenting the occasion and we rounded off the event with a sing song which everyone joined in for.

Proper community spirit and I'd rather have that than a tribute act anyday.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

They should dress up a councillor as a big Baby Jesus, to flick the switch.

Keep Christmas a bit religiousy...and cheap.

Some of the others could dress up as sheep and asses.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Accrington Christmas switch-on cost £9,000

Blimey!

Knitty Nora could have crocheted a Glee tribute band for that, and we could have strung 'em up in the Market Hall afterwards.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

That's the question really, isn't it?

You would have thought that as a councillor I should be able to find out fairly easily but in truth you're more likely to have the ear of a certain someone in the know.

£6,800 was paid to Leisure in Hyndburn on 7th October for the Christmas light switch on, that's as much as I know.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Why is it so hard to get info out of our council?

Everyone now thinks that they have something to hide, which isnt good. If they want to be taken seriously just let the info be put to the public?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Thats the problem, they don't give a toss what anybody thinks :mad:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Sorry about the cross pollinisation of threads, but whilst we are on costings...

It's minuted in council papers that a question was asked, regarding how much the budget is for Hyndburn's royal wedding celebrations, but did anyone hear the reply, because the answer wasn't given?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

You know what its like with those FOI things.

I thought the Mayor switched them on so no cost. The cost may have been for everything else so they answered what you asked but that was not what you wanted to know.
If you know what I mean.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Until the second half of April.

Then it'll be buckets 'n' spades for all, before boarding the 'free' bus to the seaside.

Lovely day at the coast.

Fish 'n' chips at Karen Buckley's, and back home to bed...and all before the May elections.

:rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

The answer frequently isn't given. No straight answers, smoke and mirrors, nuts to the borough's best interests.

The common practice from the Leader of the Council that we currently have is to give a one word response and sit down smugly or else bang on about 13 years of Labour rule and Graham Jones before his acolytes erupt into spontaneous laughter. It isn't what I expected from the council before I stood for election but I have come to accept it as the norm from Cllr Britcliffe.

If you truly believe what you are doing is right then there should be no need for all this deception, straight answers and a head held high should be enough to silence the critics. More questions will follow at the Full Council meeting on 9th March (moved from 8th March by The Leader because of personal reasons).

The behaviour of the controlling group should have voters worried about what else they have to hide.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Perfectly. The Glee tribute act may have been paid to perform but didn't actually flick the switch, all very cleverly avoided in the answer.

I know what I'm looking for in these expenditure lists and they're still a nightmare to decipher so all the expenses still remain buried to anyone having a casual glance or trying to find out by asking slightly the wrong question.

If anyone is still in any doubt as to the council's ability to tell it straight, pop along to the Town Hall public gallery on 9th March, 7.00pm. There's always the Budget council meeting on 1st March too.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Not forgetting knocking down rows of derelicts that are still there and presenting cheques to every community group going for a smiley pic in The Accrington Observer.

I believe the Conservative newspaper has just been delivered in Huncoat, albeit with certain untrue claims edited out completely.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

"A total of £1,100 was paid to performers on the night"

From the article in the LET??!!

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I think you'll find that Stanley are at home to Stockport County on the 8th.

What's that? Are you suggesting that the acceptance of the club's generous hospitality is more palatable than attending a meeting to finalise the "most difficult budget in 20 years"?

You might say that. I couldn't possibly comment.

;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Perhaps we need to involve the local community arts groups?

They could work with the councillors to produce something truly spectacular.

Something left-field.

Er...

Councillors could reenact scenes from classic movies.

Er...

Psycho!

Norman Bates redecorating the bathroom with Janet Leigh.

Towards the end of the art piece, the wet hand of the councillor taking Miss Leigh's part, comes out from behind the splattered curtain, and ceremoniously flicks the electricity switch.

Bang!

Light, cameras, action!

Whoo-hoo!

Cue fireworks.

It's Christmas...on a minimal budget.

That'd get the crowds out.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I've not known him cancel a meeting because Stanley are playing. I've known him cancel for lots of other reasons mind you.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

He has been caught out with his new reason already!!! :eek:

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

So there is no truth in the rumour that you did a morris dancing display then Ken;)

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

You need an inflated pig's bladder to do that properly, and the stall in the Market Hall that used to sell them as has it's terrain liberated, and you can't buy them for love nor money now, anywhere in Hyndburn.

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

Regrettably, the jingling of bells and the clonk of wood on wood have passed me by thus far. Considering that May 1st has suddenly taken on extra significance thanks to your information, I have even less desire to dance around any sort of pole that the controlling group may proffer.

Rishton seemed quite happy with mince pies and tea, although I must admit to sneaking my hip flask of sherry along for the ride this year.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Such rampant cynicism from a man of your standing.

Trotters in the trough? Not the Leader of this council, surely?

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

:s_fart:

There goes my tea.

Thanks.

Re: Our Christmas light switch cost us.........
 

I can claim for my tea, you regrettably cannot. I'll split the £40 with you?

Just don't let the public know or I'm finished.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Dammit. Mods, can you delete that please?

Come on, I have to live.....

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Too late.

I've just phoned Hearn's, to see how many butties I can get with my twenty quid share.

I must now decide if I want my butties from their 'value range', or the 'connoisseur councillor selection'.

:rolleyes:

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Value range? I don't really go for these symbolic gestures.

I'll have the connoisseur selection, but only if it's delivered on the moral high ground.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Is that what Hearn's write on the bags, when delivering to TheLeadersOfficeHBC at Scaitcliffe House?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

No, miscommunication I fear.

A bag of M&Ms became 'Your Eminence'.

Easily done.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

'Your Eminence'?

Isn't that how you address a Cardinal?

Just be careful if you're obliged to kneel, and kiss a proffered ring.

Please take note.
==========

The only time you should pucker up and plant your lips on St. Peter's ring, is when it's on a Pontiff's finger.

;)

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

HBC were sponsors of tonights game.

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

Did he bang one in?

Re: Why are we waiting?
 

I hope the bogs were broke and he had to run down to the Market Hall :)