Welsh flags on plates legalised
BBC Wales - 27 April 2009
Monday, 27 April 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Lost in translation
We read that some quick work was needed to put up the correct Welsh translation for “winning” on a stage backdrop before a keynote speech at yesterdays Labour conference.
Entirely understandable though. It’s not a word they use a lot these days.
Entirely understandable though. It’s not a word they use a lot these days.
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Sell-off@Swansea
It was claimed over the air this morning that Lib Dem led Swansea Council has sold off £60.7 million in public assets since 2004. Looking around, it’s hard to see where the money went.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
As ye sew, so shall ye reap
Although it must be admitted that a couple of articles and an anonymous letter hardly constitute a campaign, we detect a recurring lament that free newspapers published by local authorities are a terribly bad thing for advertising revenue, (er..sorry) democracy.
Our ability as citizens to make reasonable judgements on how our council is actually performing stands in peril of being clouded by the publicly-funded propaganda that occasionally drops through our letter boxes, runs the repeated theme. Or could this be just a teensy bit hypocritical?
Very few could disagree with the assessment espoused in a recent Beans on Toast editorial that freebies “lack any sort of challenging perspective”. Yet it’s an accusation that can be increasingly levelled at local papers who regularly fill a sizeable proportion of their pages with cut-and-paste content supplied by the good news gurus at County Hall and elsewhere without seeking comment from possible opposing viewpoints.
What is ironic is that it was the same negative perceptions in the past – albeit from inside the tent – over balance and professional insight when it comes to reporting public sector services, that made local councils decide to produce their own papers in the first place.
Whilst the situation in the UK remains that you cannot libel a public body then those managing them will interpret calls for a “powerful” local press as a charter for whistle-blowers, queue-jumpers and just plain shit-stirring to sell a few more extra copies. As a result, these same bodies when challenged on the cost of publishing material with a level of objectivity that makes Pravda look like Private Eye will wave their corporate communication strategies in the air whilst spouting off the relevant Assembly ‘good practice’ guide - via an official spokesperson, of course.
The press, both editorially and commercially, are within their rights to highlight the cost of free council newspapers and question their necessity. But they also should accept their part in how the phenomenon came about – and reflect as to why the public sector these days feels so obliged to employ small battalions of PR staff.
Our ability as citizens to make reasonable judgements on how our council is actually performing stands in peril of being clouded by the publicly-funded propaganda that occasionally drops through our letter boxes, runs the repeated theme. Or could this be just a teensy bit hypocritical?
Very few could disagree with the assessment espoused in a recent Beans on Toast editorial that freebies “lack any sort of challenging perspective”. Yet it’s an accusation that can be increasingly levelled at local papers who regularly fill a sizeable proportion of their pages with cut-and-paste content supplied by the good news gurus at County Hall and elsewhere without seeking comment from possible opposing viewpoints.
What is ironic is that it was the same negative perceptions in the past – albeit from inside the tent – over balance and professional insight when it comes to reporting public sector services, that made local councils decide to produce their own papers in the first place.
Whilst the situation in the UK remains that you cannot libel a public body then those managing them will interpret calls for a “powerful” local press as a charter for whistle-blowers, queue-jumpers and just plain shit-stirring to sell a few more extra copies. As a result, these same bodies when challenged on the cost of publishing material with a level of objectivity that makes Pravda look like Private Eye will wave their corporate communication strategies in the air whilst spouting off the relevant Assembly ‘good practice’ guide - via an official spokesperson, of course.
The press, both editorially and commercially, are within their rights to highlight the cost of free council newspapers and question their necessity. But they also should accept their part in how the phenomenon came about – and reflect as to why the public sector these days feels so obliged to employ small battalions of PR staff.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Ready to go over the top?
Having endured another extended barrage of fire, the depleted Labour column trudges into Swansea today with its generals facing the unenviable mission of raising morale among troops already low on expectations. But the event may yet see a revival of sorts.
Welsh Labour conferences are notoriously contrived affairs with chairman ensuring that dissent is minimised and that parliamentary wannabes get first crack at the podium. This year however, those activists who bother to attend and who have previously endured marshaling by apparatchiks far too up themselves are unlikely to be applauding as instructed. The expectation is for a succession of grass-roots speakers, either in the main hall or at fringe events, desperate to rehearse their suddenly re-discovered political beliefs as a long spell of parliamentary opposition beckons.
For many, the best way to get back at Brown will be to embrace the 50% tax level as an overdue expression of socialist equality and to argue that Wales needs to be entrenched against the combined threat of the beyond-centre-left thinking of New Labour and an onslaught of ‘compassionate’ tories eager to bayonet the living.
It could be an interesting weekend - almost as significant as when Labour first dropped red as the conference colour in exchange for a foreseeable fuchsia - but it is the effect, if any, that events have on the Cathedral Road crowd the following Monday that really matters.
Welsh Labour conferences are notoriously contrived affairs with chairman ensuring that dissent is minimised and that parliamentary wannabes get first crack at the podium. This year however, those activists who bother to attend and who have previously endured marshaling by apparatchiks far too up themselves are unlikely to be applauding as instructed. The expectation is for a succession of grass-roots speakers, either in the main hall or at fringe events, desperate to rehearse their suddenly re-discovered political beliefs as a long spell of parliamentary opposition beckons.
For many, the best way to get back at Brown will be to embrace the 50% tax level as an overdue expression of socialist equality and to argue that Wales needs to be entrenched against the combined threat of the beyond-centre-left thinking of New Labour and an onslaught of ‘compassionate’ tories eager to bayonet the living.
It could be an interesting weekend - almost as significant as when Labour first dropped red as the conference colour in exchange for a foreseeable fuchsia - but it is the effect, if any, that events have on the Cathedral Road crowd the following Monday that really matters.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Falling out
Every party experiences the odd internal spat. They can often be more entertaining to the outside observer than the usual exchanges and endless point-scoring between spokesmen which only the media and anoraks take seriously anyway.
Plaid demonstrate today that they are no exception to the rule with a long-running behind the scenes niggle now erupting into a formal complaint by the party’s chairman against Sian Caiach, an established tilter at windmills and a singular pain in the establishment's protocols.
The accusations against Caiach do not represent her first with brush with controversy in public life and emerging circumstances will no doubt produce differing views on whether she is the victim or victimiser in this and other instances.
The Party of Wales however will need to put a lot of effort into making sure that this does not become an internecine dispute – if only because they can sure that Mr S and Plaid's opponents will be doing their best to make sure that it does.
Plaid demonstrate today that they are no exception to the rule with a long-running behind the scenes niggle now erupting into a formal complaint by the party’s chairman against Sian Caiach, an established tilter at windmills and a singular pain in the establishment's protocols.
The accusations against Caiach do not represent her first with brush with controversy in public life and emerging circumstances will no doubt produce differing views on whether she is the victim or victimiser in this and other instances.
The Party of Wales however will need to put a lot of effort into making sure that this does not become an internecine dispute – if only because they can sure that Mr S and Plaid's opponents will be doing their best to make sure that it does.
Headlines
Harry Potter and Russell Crowe won't shut beach - pledge
South Wales Evening Post - 23 April 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Comrade Jack
The description of “old socialist” is a rare one – and getting rarer with news of the death of Jack Jones. Comrade Jack’s rise to being one of the prominent and pre-eminent campaigners for social justice made perfect sense given his background and upbringing. He was the unacceptable face of socialism to the press and the tory party in the pre-Thatcherite era and beyond but he often enjoyed better public recognition than many politicians of the day.
Jack’s fight against injustice and intolerance was based on an unshakable belief which endured through struggles on the shop-floor as well as 1930’s Spain. His anti-fascism came from combat experience and when he spoke about the "ordinary" worker he knew first hand what that meant.
He was a hero of his class. It may sound trite today, but for many there can be no better accolade.
Sid
Jack’s fight against injustice and intolerance was based on an unshakable belief which endured through struggles on the shop-floor as well as 1930’s Spain. His anti-fascism came from combat experience and when he spoke about the "ordinary" worker he knew first hand what that meant.
He was a hero of his class. It may sound trite today, but for many there can be no better accolade.
Sid
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Uneconomical with the actualité?
The pleas made on behalf of a “powerful, independent and critical” local press in this earlier anonymous readers letter and the challenging views expressed today by David Aaronovitch might initially seem to be talking about entirely separate things but they are arguably just two different sides of the same devalued coin. Politicians and the press telling the truth? Whatever next!
Monday, 20 April 2009
Fflam finally goes phutt
Confirmation comes today that the over-hyped Fflam festival, which claimed to have acts such as the Manics, Keane and Placebo all booked up, is in liquidation. No real surprise given the unimpressive track record of the organisers and the schizophrenic approach taken by Swansea Council towards staging outdoor events.
Sometime ago, the city had a chance to build an indoor arena, on a similar scale to Cardiff’s CIA. We understand that the Lib Dems claimed the plans had gone ‘missing’ when they slipped into power – along with the dozen or more expressions of interest submitted by firms keen to redevelop the leisure centre site.
Sometime ago, the city had a chance to build an indoor arena, on a similar scale to Cardiff’s CIA. We understand that the Lib Dems claimed the plans had gone ‘missing’ when they slipped into power – along with the dozen or more expressions of interest submitted by firms keen to redevelop the leisure centre site.
Weak support for bridge
OK, where were we? Oh yeah.. the Slip Bridge
Funny goings-on with them folks at the cabinet the other day. The assembled masters of the underverse were expected to unanimously back a proposal to extinguish a right of way that the former Slip Bridge occupied only to hear a surprising bit of dissent from deputy leader John Hague. He got outvoted; although a slo-mo replay could be needed as press accounts give a result adding up to one more than the actual membership. (Maybe someone voted twice, ref!)
Although the independent group leader has been praised elsewhere for his stance, his too-little-far-too-late act of defiance is seen by others as the actions of a man who needs friends rather than someone who has fallen from (or on) his ass on the way to Damascus. Who, they ask, was responsible for bringing in a ‘revised’ report stating that it was too expensive to re-instate the cast iron structure? And who gave the recommendation to go against the consultation result? Yep, that’s right good ‘ole JH himself.
But sharp turns in an opposite direction are not just restricted to politicians when it comes to this particular piece of local heritage.
The Beans on Toast, who printed a succession of shock-horror-scandal headlines when the bridge’s removal for repair was first announced, now seem rather supportive about the idea – other than where it ended up. Whether or not this sanguine approach to the spectacle of two derelict abutments either side of Oystermouth Road has anything to do with the fact that an administration of a different political colour is responsible for the outcome is probably just coincidental, Lord Rothermere, your honour, sir.
Funny goings-on with them folks at the cabinet the other day. The assembled masters of the underverse were expected to unanimously back a proposal to extinguish a right of way that the former Slip Bridge occupied only to hear a surprising bit of dissent from deputy leader John Hague. He got outvoted; although a slo-mo replay could be needed as press accounts give a result adding up to one more than the actual membership. (Maybe someone voted twice, ref!)
Although the independent group leader has been praised elsewhere for his stance, his too-little-far-too-late act of defiance is seen by others as the actions of a man who needs friends rather than someone who has fallen from (or on) his ass on the way to Damascus. Who, they ask, was responsible for bringing in a ‘revised’ report stating that it was too expensive to re-instate the cast iron structure? And who gave the recommendation to go against the consultation result? Yep, that’s right good ‘ole JH himself.
But sharp turns in an opposite direction are not just restricted to politicians when it comes to this particular piece of local heritage.
The Beans on Toast, who printed a succession of shock-horror-scandal headlines when the bridge’s removal for repair was first announced, now seem rather supportive about the idea – other than where it ended up. Whether or not this sanguine approach to the spectacle of two derelict abutments either side of Oystermouth Road has anything to do with the fact that an administration of a different political colour is responsible for the outcome is probably just coincidental, Lord Rothermere, your honour, sir.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
It's all gone quiet over there
How peculiar that the Welsh sporting media, normally so balanced in their commentary, has had little or nothing to say about a particular score line recorded in Preston yesterday. Of course, this is just a Jack perspective.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Oops
Apologies for the break in transmission.Abnornal service will be resumed once the account has been updated.
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Driven by austerity
There is minor confusion and major recriminations over the actual status of the Wales GB Rally (or Raly, as per Western Mail headline). According to them and the Beeb, this year’s event is “under threat” after the Welsh Assembly Government withdrew funding, or so the organisers claim. International Motor Sports Limited (IMS) would not reveal the amount involved but best guesses are around the £2 million mark.
Meanwhile, the ever reliable Beans on Toast states that "organisers have told Swansea Council they are pulling out of the city and relocating the centre to Cardiff instead". It has to be said however that both accounts could be correct, given the respective people involved.
Ministers are clearly pressing ahead with their budget trimming and there are plenty of other tough calls to be made. A funding decision between sporting events and schools should only have one outcome. Unless you're in opposition of course - where all things are possible.
Meanwhile, the ever reliable Beans on Toast states that "organisers have told Swansea Council they are pulling out of the city and relocating the centre to Cardiff instead". It has to be said however that both accounts could be correct, given the respective people involved.
Ministers are clearly pressing ahead with their budget trimming and there are plenty of other tough calls to be made. A funding decision between sporting events and schools should only have one outcome. Unless you're in opposition of course - where all things are possible.
Something of the night
Practitioners of the dark arts come under the spotlight today with Welsh tories describing the cost of employing over two dozen of PR staff at the Welsh Assembly as the “wages of spin”.Bourne’s sound bite however lacks the focus of Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, who poses the question of how much is “spent on spinning government message and how much of that money is spent on providing vital information that is in the interest of the public”.
It’s a valid question - and one that could be asked of a large number of council and public sector PR operations throughout Wales – but one where the answer is inevitably subjective (as she knew full well at the time).
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Sport and politics
The scribblers are looking for a Welsh equivalent to the McBride scandal and think they have found one with claims that a faceless researcher has upset Liverpool FC supporters with some banter.
According to Withers of the Echo, “The latest comments came to light after media outlets were contacted by an anonymous tip-off who said: “His taunt ‘You’ll Never Walk Again’ is incredibly hurtful and must be in reference to the 20th anniversary on Wednesday of the tragic deaths of 96 Liverpool FC supporters at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield.
“He should not only apologise unreservedly to the people of Liverpool, but he should promptly resign from his taxpayer-funded political role at the National Assembly of Wales.”
What a lot of contrived bollocks.
Liverpool and their supporters showed tonight at Stamford Bridge how they are dealing with the past as they and Chelsea between them produced one of the best games seen in decades. A fitting tribute - and one that was accomplished without the assistance of political shroud-waving nurks.
According to Withers of the Echo, “The latest comments came to light after media outlets were contacted by an anonymous tip-off who said: “His taunt ‘You’ll Never Walk Again’ is incredibly hurtful and must be in reference to the 20th anniversary on Wednesday of the tragic deaths of 96 Liverpool FC supporters at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield.
“He should not only apologise unreservedly to the people of Liverpool, but he should promptly resign from his taxpayer-funded political role at the National Assembly of Wales.”
What a lot of contrived bollocks.
Liverpool and their supporters showed tonight at Stamford Bridge how they are dealing with the past as they and Chelsea between them produced one of the best games seen in decades. A fitting tribute - and one that was accomplished without the assistance of political shroud-waving nurks.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Mirror, mirror
Peter Black demonstrates in his latest high-minded contribution that he is fully adept in the acquired skill shared by politicians and acrobats to be able to perform while standing on your head.The Lib Dem AM bemoans that “politics has become populated by a breed of activist who does not believe in boundaries, who thinks that anything is fair game if it gains them an advantage and who puts the personal above the best interests of the people they are supposed to represent”.
Based on Focus leaflets published by Black in the past, plus his previous form regarding fellow politicians and video nasties, it is possible that the South Wales West AM is better equipped than most to be able to make such an observation.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Diversions
With all the pressing serious problems facing Swansea Council, it is remarkable that two senior administration members feel a throw-away remark by tory group leader Rene Kinzett about the majority of councillors being “past it” actually merits the effort of sending in an official complaint to the public service ombudsman. Then again, the complainants, independent Wendy Fitzgerald and Lib Dem Mary Jones, are hardly beacons of professionalism themselves.
Ex-cabinet member Fitzgerald was recently sacked as social services cabinet member following a series of critical reports which resulted in Assembly intervention over child protection functions. Jones is responsible, among other things for the super-duper payments system, which last year ‘lost’ at least £600K in double pay-outs and is reported just today as sending out a £121,936 cheque to a local man by mistake. Both have been the target of sustained opposition criticism for having little or no grasp of their portfolios – a failing which many, including external auditors, believe has had a discernable impact on performance.
The administration’s reflex action of shopping irksome critics to the ombudsman is now well ingrained and Lib Dems like to boast that they have a good record of success, having twice ‘persuaded’ investigators to review earlier conclusions on prima facie breaches of the code. Most notable is the circumstances in which senior political and official intervention forced a re-think by the watchdog on an earlier decision not to investigate the actions of 31 Labour and Conservative councillors for demanding to have a report heard in public – a report which just happened to be about another cock-up in the e-government budget controlled by Councillor Jones.
But the pair of coalition complainants should not be too confident about the outcome as there was also the time that independent councillor Richard Lewis got a stern finger-wagging from the Ombudsman for submitting vexatious grievances and was warned that he would face action himself if he persisted.
It is not entirely inconceivable that Fitzgerald and Jones might receive a similar response – which will no doubt see Rockin’ Rene and Derrick the Cat demanding the requiste apologies and resignations.
Same old, same old.
Ex-cabinet member Fitzgerald was recently sacked as social services cabinet member following a series of critical reports which resulted in Assembly intervention over child protection functions. Jones is responsible, among other things for the super-duper payments system, which last year ‘lost’ at least £600K in double pay-outs and is reported just today as sending out a £121,936 cheque to a local man by mistake. Both have been the target of sustained opposition criticism for having little or no grasp of their portfolios – a failing which many, including external auditors, believe has had a discernable impact on performance.The administration’s reflex action of shopping irksome critics to the ombudsman is now well ingrained and Lib Dems like to boast that they have a good record of success, having twice ‘persuaded’ investigators to review earlier conclusions on prima facie breaches of the code. Most notable is the circumstances in which senior political and official intervention forced a re-think by the watchdog on an earlier decision not to investigate the actions of 31 Labour and Conservative councillors for demanding to have a report heard in public – a report which just happened to be about another cock-up in the e-government budget controlled by Councillor Jones.
But the pair of coalition complainants should not be too confident about the outcome as there was also the time that independent councillor Richard Lewis got a stern finger-wagging from the Ombudsman for submitting vexatious grievances and was warned that he would face action himself if he persisted.
It is not entirely inconceivable that Fitzgerald and Jones might receive a similar response – which will no doubt see Rockin’ Rene and Derrick the Cat demanding the requiste apologies and resignations.
Same old, same old.
Not the entire answer
It would be all too easy to perceive the creation of a child and protection and family protection services scrutiny board at Swansea Council as some sort of achievement were it not for the circumstances that made it necessary.
The board will operate alongside an intervention group imposed by the Assembly and whilst there are great expectations of them, it does not take a organisational genius to deduce that the process needs more than a better political understanding of the structural and managerial shortcomings of the service in order to put things right.
The hard reality is that several key decisions about resources needed to be taken at the very top of the organisation some time ago – and these are still outstanding.
The board will operate alongside an intervention group imposed by the Assembly and whilst there are great expectations of them, it does not take a organisational genius to deduce that the process needs more than a better political understanding of the structural and managerial shortcomings of the service in order to put things right.
The hard reality is that several key decisions about resources needed to be taken at the very top of the organisation some time ago – and these are still outstanding.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Different world
It is possible that some of his supporters will have a little trouble in assimilating the news that former Labour cabinet member Peter Hain received a £10,000 donation towards legal expenses resulting from the investigation into the funding of his deputy leadership campaign. For others, the extent to which the Labour movement and its main movers & shakers seems so reliant on patronage is already an accepted, albeit not entirely acceptable, fact of life.
In the past, it was the Tories who excelled at inventing funding organisations such as PULSE and Aims for Industry and who were able to channel millions in semi-anonymous donations into party coffers by various, non-declarable means which then went out again either in cash or kind to deserving causes who sometimes went by the name of Yeo, Hamilton and Aitken.
Inevitably, Labour managed to later supply it's own worthy list of names, including one or two national party officials. Even their Lordships are not immune - although it appears that they are when it comes to any official sanction.
Times have changed - along with the rules - but despite the recent promises for quick action on allowances and the cross-party consensus that something needs to be done, the constitutional needs of us mortals require something a bit more than adopting opinions formed in the press.
This is the challenge facing our MPs and they frankly don't look entirely up to the job description - whichever way you look at it.
In the past, it was the Tories who excelled at inventing funding organisations such as PULSE and Aims for Industry and who were able to channel millions in semi-anonymous donations into party coffers by various, non-declarable means which then went out again either in cash or kind to deserving causes who sometimes went by the name of Yeo, Hamilton and Aitken.
Inevitably, Labour managed to later supply it's own worthy list of names, including one or two national party officials. Even their Lordships are not immune - although it appears that they are when it comes to any official sanction.
Times have changed - along with the rules - but despite the recent promises for quick action on allowances and the cross-party consensus that something needs to be done, the constitutional needs of us mortals require something a bit more than adopting opinions formed in the press.
This is the challenge facing our MPs and they frankly don't look entirely up to the job description - whichever way you look at it.
Counting the cock-ups
Whenever Swansea council leader Chris Holley finds himself under pressure – a fairly common event these days - his tendency is to come out with some inane statistic on the spot to somehow justify his status as being once again sans-paddle up shit-creek. The latest example is “Ninety percent of the mistakes this city faces were created under the Labour administration”, a claim blurted out to counter criticisms of his regime’s inept handling of a recent court action.
How he manages to get away with such bullshit on a regular basis is probably something that only the local media can answer, but it would be interesting nonetheless to know what are the cock-ups for which he and his hapless colleagues are willing to accept responsibility.
Perhaps we can provide a few hints:
- Failing children’s social services - special measures.
- Expensive e-government fiasco resulting in less Service@Swansea.
- Failed payroll system costing millions.
- Incompetence allowing ‘illegal’ phone masts.
- Bendy-bus street chaos and more to come.
- Quadrant bus station - what station?
- Increased parking charges this year.
- Millions spent on consultants' advice that is ignored.
- £25K on a new fence for the Mansion House.
- Freebie feasibility studies - under investigation.
- Handsome pay-offs for senior council officers (even those who mis-managed the former leisure centre) but redundancies planned for up to 500 other staff .
- City centre regeneration plans on indefinite hold.
- Castle Quays scrapped while Cardiff builds yet another new shopping mall.
- Free college transport scrapped.
- Fflam event fiasco.
- Fantasy tram scheme for Swansea Bay.
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Second to naan
A phenomenon for the anoraks at the IWA to ponder is why curry has become so closely associated with Welsh political events in recent times.The deposing of IWJ - the first time around - is alleged to have been plotted in a Cardiff curry house and free korma & whatnot is on offer as an enticement at the Assembly powers road show. Certain tories prefer poppadoms to pizza, or so it is alleged, and Labour conferences are incomplete without the imaginative ethnic buffet. Even Swansea’s Lib Dems are advertising a ‘curry and a mingle’ this month - although the mind boggles at the prospect.
Still, anything that has the potential to give politicians the shits once in a while is probably all for the best.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Another slip-up over bridge
Swansea Council and its political masters are starting to look decidedly silly as the Slip Bridge saga enters a new chapter. Campaigners have managed to persuade a majority of planning committee councillors to back the claim that a right-of-way exists at the site of the former structure. They argue that this outcome strengthens their proposals for a new bridge to erected to span Oystermouth Road.Their victory is likely to be short-lived as the ruling cabinet will get the final say and most people can guess the outcome.
However, the Council has already badly underestimated both the determination and resourcefulness of the campaigners and we would not be at all surprised to hear that an application for judicial review is being prepared.
If successful, the local authority would face a High Court judgement to set aside its previous decisions and possibly even re-run public consultation on the original options of reinstatement, replacement or permanent removal.
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Mayhem?
A local paper reports that Lib Dem parliamentary wannabe for Swansea West, Peter May, is to be opposed at the next general election by a Swansea Independent Hackney Taxi Association candidate named Peter May.
It will be interesting to see if the Lib Dem, who is also a councillor – and cabinet member for housing – is just as helpful towards his independent namesake when it comes to printing election literature as he has been to others in the past.
It will be interesting to see if the Lib Dem, who is also a councillor – and cabinet member for housing – is just as helpful towards his independent namesake when it comes to printing election literature as he has been to others in the past.
Intercourse
The inter-active chat facility on the Beans on Toast website, which is supposed to make up for its otherwise non-existent content, has roped in the political leaders from Swansea Council for a lunchtime discourse with the proles.
Not a bad idea in itself , and just the thing for Rockin' Rene Kinzett who was first at the keyboard, and who was no doubt grateful that the medium involved didn't require him to be in the city. But it has to be said that the technology and shaky talents of the moderator tends to make participants a hostage to fortune. At one stage the proceedings started to resemble the Two Ronnies’ ‘Mastermind’ sketch in which the questions and answers get out of synch, e.g.
1:03pm
[Comment From Glayne Simpkins] Hello there, i'd like to raise the issue of Clyne Gardens being used as a meeting place by homosexuals for their sexual liasons? On my last visit, my dog and I were quite horrified to witness two rather portly men touching each other inappropriately...
1:03pm
[Comment From Rene] - a collection of Lib Dems, former Labour/Plaid and alleged independents.
Not a bad idea in itself , and just the thing for Rockin' Rene Kinzett who was first at the keyboard, and who was no doubt grateful that the medium involved didn't require him to be in the city. But it has to be said that the technology and shaky talents of the moderator tends to make participants a hostage to fortune. At one stage the proceedings started to resemble the Two Ronnies’ ‘Mastermind’ sketch in which the questions and answers get out of synch, e.g.
1:03pm
[Comment From Glayne Simpkins] Hello there, i'd like to raise the issue of Clyne Gardens being used as a meeting place by homosexuals for their sexual liasons? On my last visit, my dog and I were quite horrified to witness two rather portly men touching each other inappropriately...
1:03pm
[Comment From Rene] - a collection of Lib Dems, former Labour/Plaid and alleged independents.
The exchanges certainly held our interest - until it became clear that Rene was talking about nothing more offensive than bendy-buses.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Consultation after the horse has bolted
Swansea Council suddenly needs to consult the public on its Gypsy Traveller Policy - for whatever reason.The 30 page document, which is dated 30th September 2008 but has only just appeared on the local authority website, contains a section on "Procedures for Managing Unauthorised Encampments" that has recently become particularly relevant.
The closing date for consultation is 15th May.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Same again?
Just about this time last year, you didn’t seem able to pick up a local paper without reading of some hapless local government candidate getting arrested for ‘electoral irregularities’. There was even an incident of one individual allegedly caught forging signatures on nomination papers.
The lack of follow-up action since then has prompted rumours that the council legal section responsible for 'assisting with enquiries' in investigating the complaints might be the same one that was recently outwitted by two traveller families in Swansea Vale.
Caro putridas es! - as the lawyers like to say.
The lack of follow-up action since then has prompted rumours that the council legal section responsible for 'assisting with enquiries' in investigating the complaints might be the same one that was recently outwitted by two traveller families in Swansea Vale.
Caro putridas es! - as the lawyers like to say.
Reality check
Subtle change of spin detected on the part of Swansea’s Lib Dems re bendy buses. Having previously been shown to be talking out of their tailpipes in claiming that the articulated monstrosities about to hit city streets is all a Labour idea, Peter Black now claims that the project came about because it was “originally conceived by a Labour Assembly Minister”.
Is he serious?
Is he serious?
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Marked absent?
Speaking of schools, and matters related, it’s good to see that Lib Dem AM Peter Black is demanding more money from ministers for repairs in the city. We applaud his actions.
It would be interesting to know if Swansea education cabinet member Mike Day and council leader Chris Holley were also invited for this key confrontation – or if the latter had another overseas conference he needed to attend.
It would be interesting to know if Swansea education cabinet member Mike Day and council leader Chris Holley were also invited for this key confrontation – or if the latter had another overseas conference he needed to attend.
You see, it was like this ....
You can’t help but see similarities in the sincerity levels displayed by Rhodri (what soddin’ video?) Morgan and Swansea Council’s deputy leader John Hague when it comes to denying their involvement in events that produced embarrassing outcomes.
In the case of Hague, his stance that he did not make any informal agreement, which was accepted this week as a basis of a legal judgement - and created a permanent traveller camp on a flagship development site - could be under more intense scrutiny than he would prefer.
Despite the lengthy denials, the background leading up to this ludicrous turn of events remains murky enough to leave some questions outstanding that the press are not apparently asking and which the council is just as keen to avoid.
Firstly, was he advised to declare an interest, as previously reported, and make himself absent from the very cabinet meeting which authorised repossession whilst being unaware of other factors he had introduced? If so, then why and who gave the advice? But the key question must be why he wasn’t presented as a witness by the council’s legal team to refute the claims by the families’ lawyer of an informal agreement?
To the untrained, non-legal mind, reaching a “pragmatic” accommodation and then leaving it in place for nearly two years before making noises in court does not exactly indicate either of a sense of urgency or diligence. It’s no wonder that the judge thought that the Council’s legal team was full of it.
Unsurprisingly, Hague is said to be in hot water with both councillors and constituents. This is nothing new for him, having been reviled some time ago by senior Lib Dems for his whistle-blowing role over the saga of the en-suite stables at Thorogood Towers – an action for which some of his colleagues have still not forgiven him.
Yet he remains a weighty figure in the balance of power and the maths of political majorities seems to ensure that he can be confident of being deputy leader no matter which grouping achieves ascendency during the current term.
How long that situation lasts probably depends on the answers to the questions posed earlier (should they ever become available) – along with how a certain proposed primary school closure is handled.
In the case of Hague, his stance that he did not make any informal agreement, which was accepted this week as a basis of a legal judgement - and created a permanent traveller camp on a flagship development site - could be under more intense scrutiny than he would prefer.
Despite the lengthy denials, the background leading up to this ludicrous turn of events remains murky enough to leave some questions outstanding that the press are not apparently asking and which the council is just as keen to avoid.
Firstly, was he advised to declare an interest, as previously reported, and make himself absent from the very cabinet meeting which authorised repossession whilst being unaware of other factors he had introduced? If so, then why and who gave the advice? But the key question must be why he wasn’t presented as a witness by the council’s legal team to refute the claims by the families’ lawyer of an informal agreement?
To the untrained, non-legal mind, reaching a “pragmatic” accommodation and then leaving it in place for nearly two years before making noises in court does not exactly indicate either of a sense of urgency or diligence. It’s no wonder that the judge thought that the Council’s legal team was full of it.
Unsurprisingly, Hague is said to be in hot water with both councillors and constituents. This is nothing new for him, having been reviled some time ago by senior Lib Dems for his whistle-blowing role over the saga of the en-suite stables at Thorogood Towers – an action for which some of his colleagues have still not forgiven him.
Yet he remains a weighty figure in the balance of power and the maths of political majorities seems to ensure that he can be confident of being deputy leader no matter which grouping achieves ascendency during the current term.
How long that situation lasts probably depends on the answers to the questions posed earlier (should they ever become available) – along with how a certain proposed primary school closure is handled.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Is our ship ever coming in?
Hopes seem to rise and fall with the tide as to whether the Swansea-Cork ferry service will ever be re-instated. The air at the moment is one of optimism, but the past has shown that it does not take much for plans to get beached.
Campaigners state that it makes eminent business sense to re-establish the link given the strength of the euro versus the pound – although the argument was probably just as valid when exchange rates favoured UK based tourists. Yet, despite local and regional authority support in Ireland, Swansea Council’s only contribution to date has been a few smiles of encouragement.
If an opinion poll was conducted today among Swansea’s citizens on whether Assembly transport grant should be used to finance the infrastructure for a ferry service instead of a bendy bus then we can all guess the outcome - and so could the the council leadership.
Campaigners state that it makes eminent business sense to re-establish the link given the strength of the euro versus the pound – although the argument was probably just as valid when exchange rates favoured UK based tourists. Yet, despite local and regional authority support in Ireland, Swansea Council’s only contribution to date has been a few smiles of encouragement.
If an opinion poll was conducted today among Swansea’s citizens on whether Assembly transport grant should be used to finance the infrastructure for a ferry service instead of a bendy bus then we can all guess the outcome - and so could the the council leadership.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Costly delusions of adequacy
The hits keep on coming at Swansea Council as news breaks of another fiasco of fairly impressive magnitude, as nicely summarised here in a Beans on Toast editorial.
The latest example of ineptitude involves a cabinet member who forgot to mention an informal agreement he made which ended up sabotaging a costly action to rid council land of an illegal caravan site already marked by controversy– and screwed up multi-million pound development plans into the bargain
Although described as the Enterprise Park in press accounts, the site is in fact in Swansea Vale, a major business location developed by the council and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The caravans are parked slap in the middle of riverside land which is pencilled in for a major hotel and commercial development. Needless to say, WAG officials are chewing the carpet at the court outcome and the circumstances involved.
Red-faced council legal representatives had to admit in court that they – and the cabinet – knew nothing of an agreement made between two traveller families and environment portfolio holder John Hague in which he allegedly gave informal consent for them to stay on the land so long as they restricted themselves to part of the site. The cabinet decision to seek repossession of the land was taken behind closed doors and the papers restricted - something that seems to happen all too often when crucial and potentially costly decisions are made.
As things stand, Swansea’s council taxpayers can clearly no longer be asked to continue to pay for the screw-ups of unrestrained cabinet members suffering from delusions of adequacy. A reasonable expectation is that recklessness at this level should be challenged and curtailed by directors.
We hear that some people in Cardiff Bay and Cathays Park have come to the same conclusion.
The latest example of ineptitude involves a cabinet member who forgot to mention an informal agreement he made which ended up sabotaging a costly action to rid council land of an illegal caravan site already marked by controversy– and screwed up multi-million pound development plans into the bargain
Although described as the Enterprise Park in press accounts, the site is in fact in Swansea Vale, a major business location developed by the council and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The caravans are parked slap in the middle of riverside land which is pencilled in for a major hotel and commercial development. Needless to say, WAG officials are chewing the carpet at the court outcome and the circumstances involved.
Red-faced council legal representatives had to admit in court that they – and the cabinet – knew nothing of an agreement made between two traveller families and environment portfolio holder John Hague in which he allegedly gave informal consent for them to stay on the land so long as they restricted themselves to part of the site. The cabinet decision to seek repossession of the land was taken behind closed doors and the papers restricted - something that seems to happen all too often when crucial and potentially costly decisions are made.
As things stand, Swansea’s council taxpayers can clearly no longer be asked to continue to pay for the screw-ups of unrestrained cabinet members suffering from delusions of adequacy. A reasonable expectation is that recklessness at this level should be challenged and curtailed by directors.
We hear that some people in Cardiff Bay and Cathays Park have come to the same conclusion.
Oh yes he did!
The late-season Labour panto takes a new twist with a Beeb 'revelation' that Rodders really did know about that video in advance. Based on experiences elsewhere, we should now expect a denunciation of over-zealous staff, followed by confirmations of complicity followed by a leadership challenge.
Er..wait a minute.
Er..wait a minute.
It's the way you tell 'em
According to the Western Mail, a poll of 972 people across Wales between March 6 and March 15 in face- to-face interviews, indicated that the Lib Dem vote has dropped by 3-5% compared with previous Assembly and general election results. Labour and Plaid both saw increases in their vote share.The reaction of Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams was: “We’re encouraged by these results which show that the Labour-Plaid government has failed to establish the trust of the Welsh public."
Attagirl!
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Ejected
The cheers which accompanied Ioan Richard’s unseemly exit from the council chamber this week might prove to be misplaced. The member for Mawr has only himself to blame for the shenanigans which unfolded like a poorly scripted Perry Mason episode. But as plot and counter plot was revealed, it appeared that the respective players on both sides were more interested in tripping each other up than achieving a solution.In the end, the losers could well be the residents if the controversial application in question is later granted by the Welsh Assembly on appeal - and with a lot less controls in place than the council planners had secured by negotiation.
Meanwhile, we hear from outside sources that with so many recent planning decisions going against the advice of officers, and with a growing number of costly appeals in the pipeline, it may not be too long before Swansea Council gets an intervention notice on another aspect of its service.
Social services in Swansea
The long awaited report into children’s social services at Swansea Council is now available online on the CSSIW website.
A statement accompanying the report, which led to the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas to use powers under the Children Act 1989, quotes her as saying: “It is disappointing that the authority has not taken all of the action needed to make further progress in improving its children’s social services.
“Whilst it is clear that there has been some improvement, much work remains to be done and I was concerned that the council had not demonstrated that it was able to deliver the long-term sustained improvements required to its services to protect and support vulnerable children in the area. My decision to make this Order and to establish an Intervention Board to offer robust external challenge as the authority works to improve children’s services is no reflection on the dedication of frontline staff.
“I have not taken this decision lightly – it is an extremely serious step, but one I believe must be taken to ensure we protect some of the most vulnerable people in society, our children.
Rob Pickford, Chief Inspector of CSSIW, added: “It is clear that the council needs to make further significant improvement to its children’s social services. We will undertake a further inspection in January 2010.”
A statement accompanying the report, which led to the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas to use powers under the Children Act 1989, quotes her as saying: “It is disappointing that the authority has not taken all of the action needed to make further progress in improving its children’s social services.
“Whilst it is clear that there has been some improvement, much work remains to be done and I was concerned that the council had not demonstrated that it was able to deliver the long-term sustained improvements required to its services to protect and support vulnerable children in the area. My decision to make this Order and to establish an Intervention Board to offer robust external challenge as the authority works to improve children’s services is no reflection on the dedication of frontline staff.
“I have not taken this decision lightly – it is an extremely serious step, but one I believe must be taken to ensure we protect some of the most vulnerable people in society, our children.
Rob Pickford, Chief Inspector of CSSIW, added: “It is clear that the council needs to make further significant improvement to its children’s social services. We will undertake a further inspection in January 2010.”
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