Read this and weep
Duncan MacKay and Sons Ltd v CnES.
Read the report in Hebrides News and despair.
This is such a spectacular level of incompetence at so many levels, that you have to ask the question if the Council actually fit for purpose.
And, yes, I do fully understand the implications of what I say.
Where are the Councillors asking questions demanding answers and holding officers to account. This is the fourth serious, serious, failure at the highest level in recent years, and I include the attempt to screw us as one of those failures.
As far as I am aware, not one officer has been disciplined - beyond a slap on the wrist for the sins of others - for the huge losses incurred. Yet the buck stops in three offices - Chief Executive, Convener and Leader.
I have seen and heard evidence of other incompetencies, fraud, theft and inherent corruption that is being brushed out of sight by senior officers, rather than being dealt with and all that is doing is making the position worse; due entirely to the inability of those at the top.
But Councillors are being mushroomed ("kept in the dark and fed on bs") and accepting the self-serving view from the top that they cannot question issues because they are sub judice, confidential or subject to disciplinary issues, when the real reason is to protect those giving that advice - the culprits.
Read the report in Hebrides News and despair.
This is such a spectacular level of incompetence at so many levels, that you have to ask the question if the Council actually fit for purpose.
And, yes, I do fully understand the implications of what I say.
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| Source: CnES management Team training course |
As far as I am aware, not one officer has been disciplined - beyond a slap on the wrist for the sins of others - for the huge losses incurred. Yet the buck stops in three offices - Chief Executive, Convener and Leader.
I have seen and heard evidence of other incompetencies, fraud, theft and inherent corruption that is being brushed out of sight by senior officers, rather than being dealt with and all that is doing is making the position worse; due entirely to the inability of those at the top.
But Councillors are being mushroomed ("kept in the dark and fed on bs") and accepting the self-serving view from the top that they cannot question issues because they are sub judice, confidential or subject to disciplinary issues, when the real reason is to protect those giving that advice - the culprits.
13 comments:
Angus there was an opportunity in Council for the Councillors to sign up demanding a review of the Gritting Policy and Procedures.
Four bothered - Philip McLean, Catherine MacDonald, Morag Munro and Charlie Nicholson.
Our represetatives at their best eh?
The Scottish Government is now going to give the Council power over the Police and Fire Services..........
If you think we are in trouble now!!
This is the best one yet. Makes FIFA, News International, Pakistan Cricketers and Bankers look not too bad at all. And there was Burr on 19/12/2011 giving us all a slap on the wrist for having the audacity to ask for a review of the council's gritting policy (put together by Mick E. Mouse). Perhaps the Accounts Commission/Audit Scotland (more money wasters)should have a go at re-writing the load of old b*ll*cks that they wrote last year: http://www.hebrides-news.com/council-audit-scotland-report-281111.html . They obviously missed the bits about dodgy contracts, bungs and blinding,mind blowing incompetence not seen before in the history of the world. How much more of this do we have to put up with before reaching for the home made turnip wine?
It might be instructive for many people to read the Accounts Commission report on Shetland Islands Council - in particular, the findings of the public hearing on 28 and 29 June 2010. Some interesting parallels.
Think I feel an FOI request coming on:
What does ot cost to run the Comhairle's Legal Dept and is it Value for Money?
We have Heads of This and Deputes of that yet ~"It was only in the dying moments of today’s hearing that the council's central belt-based solicitor, Tim Langley, applied to change the name on the motion before the court.
Are the Comhairle's own Legal Eagles not able to present the Comhairle's case? They can't all have been involved in the cock up....surely? Further FOI - What is Tim Langley's Fee?
TWO THINGS ARE INFINITE: the Universe and the stupidity of the Comhairle's Legal Department and I am not so sure about the Universe.
Accounts commission report on Shetland council can be found at www.audit-Scotland.gov.uk just type Shetland in their search box.
Seriously, what do we expect from a Council which thinks it's perfectly acceptable to have the department controlling Planning issues also responsible for "Economic Development and Business Support"? How dare anyone question the ability and decisions of the Council? They cannot possibly be wrong. This example is the thin end of the wedge I fear.
However tempting turning to the turnip wine is, more concrete action is required in the form of a complete cultural and management shift. Local Councillors must be "encouraged" to do the job they are paid for. Heaven help us, more powers are to be given to the local Council in the misguided belief that they are accountable. Our only chance is to make them so.
Angus, i hear that Patton of FMP were awarded the Lews castle phase 1 refurb this week. you would have thought that with the total mess these irish contractors are making of our new schools and the state of the local construction industry that our beloved council would have managed to make this project stay on the island, they are rotten from the core and need a major shake up from the very top to the bottom. tendering Procurement laws were the excuse the last time yet our beloved leader manages to stop the Tesco fuel pumps from getting here,it's amazing how they can alter the rules to help themselves but can't do it to help the locals. these mutes or councilors as they are officially known need to grow some balls and start speaking out for the people of the island the threat of being isolated if they speak out is to much for them. GET THEM OUT!! something needs to be done with the last 2 large construction projects going to irish companies and a welsh company landing a large civil's contract last week. it looks to me like they are going out of their way to finish of the local firms. it's disgusting!!!
Why don't we do away with the Councillors, and have Elections for the Officers. At least we'd only have one set of puddings to deal with, rather than the half hearted always listening, never leading breed of representatives we currently employ.
I'm totally fed up with short sighted, narrow minded, self serving civil servants and Councillors destroying ideas and genuine progress....Do you get a labaotomy when you pass through the doors in Sandwick road?...
7.04pm - "last two large construction projects going to Irish firms"??? What about the £4m+ construction project UBC Group is doing in Tarbert? How about the two multi-million pound civil engineering jobs being done by MacInnes Bros in the Uists? Or possibly nothing south of the Clisham matters to some people...That being the case, UBC Group also had a big contract at the Town Hall; John Murray's did the Media Centre; all of that information available freely in public, but why bother to let the facts get in the way of a good story (again!)
Not a labotomy, but a Labour-otomy.
From Comhairle website "Practical Completion 5 October 2010" of Media Centre. I'm told they haven't finished snagging yet
What does a media centre do? Is it like a paint job on the Forth Road Bridge?
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