Author: simon
Ventnor Audit Report Reveals Some of Ventnor Town Council’s Secrets
Sunday, 31st January, 2010 at 12:44 pm, Isle of Wight
Opinion Piece, Politics, Town Council, Ventnor
Having re-read the Ventnor audit report again yesterday, one thing that shone through was that no-one in Ventnor or on the rest of the Island would have been aware of this murky period in Ventnor history if ‘new’ councillors hadn’t come on to Ventnor Town Council (VTC) over the last couple of years and pushed for this to be investigated.
Surely thanks not abuse?
Shouldn’t these ‘new’ councillors be thanked instead of being vilified?
The thanks that they’ve received from some up to now? Having to endure a whipped-up mob shouting at them in VTC meetings and some threats of physical violence against them.
That, of course, all occurred between it becoming known that an independent auditor was to investigate some of the past business of the VTC and the report being delivered.
Facts not rumours
The report lays down in black and white the highly questionable and unlawful events that occurred under the eye of a number of past town councils.
As the auditors were only in for half of the amount of time originally arranged – five days instead of ten – they weren’t able to go back further than 2006.
Other shenanigans still hidden
The upshot of this is that other shenanigans that the VTC have kept secret from the town – who, as we know, they are supposed to be representing – haven’t, yet, been brought to the attention of the public.
Bad past decision by councillors have directly led to the town’s precept (the amount of money each Ventnor household pays to the VTC through council tax collection) being raised. This isn’t widely known.
In the executive summary of the audit report the first item in the summary of significant findings states
“There is also clear evidence of a lack of effective oversight from the political level by members.”
Meeting on Monday
We wonder if the people who were cajoled into coming along to the VTC meeting, shouting at the councillors, accusing them of forcing Graham Perks out of the Winter Gardens, will feel as strongly about removing the Town Councillors who oversaw this sorry period.
They and others interested in this have their opportunity to ask questions from 7pm on Monday at the VTC meeting.
Not only will town councillors be able to be questioned during the extended public question time, but you’ll also be able to ask questions directly to the Auditor if anything from the audit report isn’t clear.
Image: Kapungo under CC BY-SA 2.0
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99% of politicians whether local or national are in it for there own ends. Cynical? Yes and with this revalation obviously well founded. The current VTC councillors are a more honest bunch and will serve there electorate (I hope) with more openess. Again I have no connection with any councillor past or present.
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As long as we have the two party political system,
we will always have mismanagement and corruption.
We need more Independents, who are not at the beck and call of their leaders. I will always vote for a genuine Independent. one who has not change the colour of his/her spots just to be elected.
Look at the candidates CV, just as you would if you were employing them; employing! That is just what you are doing, so select the best.
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A little harsh from both of you..there are some very good MPs from all three major parties. My bet is on a hung parliament this time round, so I’ll include the vital third party.
The problem is, there are no new candidates..I honestly beleive that if you have failed to be elected 3 times you should be barred from trying again and if you have been voted out, you should have a period when you cannot stand again.
We need new candidates, not the same old has beens who have made a career out of town and county councils and who have been rejected or failed time and again
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Quite right ! The Mayor is to be congratulated and supported for bringing in an independent and professional team to investigate these dodgy dealings.
It’s no good having the friends of culpable councillors, and of the concessionaire, banging the table and saying what good people they are.
This report tells the truth and the revelations will have to be addressed. The guilty parties who have been identified should be ashamed.
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Hear hear. Thanks also to VB for providing the facts in a straightforward and easy to follow way.
I thought the report in the South Wight Chronicle was outrageous. There are 70+ recommendations are there not? They say something along the lines of ‘a few suggestions have been made’ and ‘everyone tried their best’. I won’t be buying it anymore.
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Trouble is No5,local ‘democracy’has fallen into such disrepute over the years it’s hard to find replacement candidates.I can recall at least one Town Councillor who was ‘co-opted’ by the other council members because no single person could be found to vote for him.Naturally he took his turn as Town Mayor.
Is this a good place to mention ‘Mandelson’?
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