Silent Stanley Wilson, the man of few words, that is unless it comes to discussing items that are on the agenda of a Hemsworth Town Council meeting, listed under “Exclusion of Press and Public” as follows:
Annual Council Meeting
12 May 2022
Agenda – continued
31 Exclusion of press and public
Members of the public and the press to be excluded for the consideration of business of a confidential nature, as per the Public Bodies Admissions to Meetings Act 1960.
32 Hemsworth Water Park – ice cream tender
To receive the tenders submitted for the ice cream concession at Hemsworth Water Park.
33 Newstead allotments – possible legal action
The town clerk to report on possible legal action that may be necessary in respect of the Newstead allotments site.
34 Tenancy
To review a tenancy matter.
Stanley Wilson has been a councillor, in total for 7 years to date and should be well aware of the reason why some items are subject to be discussed in the exclusion of press and public as is required by government legislation and some are not.
However, this Cabal led Council, elected on a platform of “openness, honesty and transparency” has taken this to a new level and discuss anything they don’t want making public in exclusion or have even held secret meetings, which they have refused to release anything about even under freedom of information requests.
Yet here we have “Silent Stanley” when he emerges from Annual Council Meeting on the 12th May 2022, the part held in exclusion, fully briefing the “former special advisor” David Pringle, a member of the public, about the details of what has been discussed.
Even worse, especially as it has turned out for him, he did it in full public view and earshot.
Wilson a “man” who has been next to “mute” for 7 years as a councillor in the council chamber found his long lost voice.
Ferret wonders how much more is said over a pint in the “sixties pub” and other public houses?
Perhaps it was the shock of no longer being sat at the side of his former mentor and director of his arm raising, Jim Kenyon that tipped him over the edge.
His resignation should be the least outcome to be expected of this serious breach of confidentiality…
I’m wondering if we the public are going to find out the finer details that were discussed like Pringle did. Why should he be privy to this information and not us? We are all precept payers.
Are the said people whose information was discussed going to put a GDPR complaint into the clerk and monitoring officer?
This is just another example of shamateurism that has characterised this council over the last 3 years.
A council that is devoid of empathy gor the community. A council which is run like a private members club, which does not engage with or represent the community. A circus where the ring master has cracked the whip and their followers have fallen in to line irrespective of any public criticism.
But, I have to say that this does more than anything else show how Chair and Clerk have completely failed in their stewardship. All councillors should be marshalled, and there should be ongoing training or at the least advice given to them about such things as confidentiality… And bullying and intimidation.
But, this is not really serious politics is it? It’s people playing at being politicians.
Please oh please, at the next elections will intelligent and community astute representatives put themselves forwards. Or this circus will continue to perform.
It is not the first time councillor Stan Wilson as divulged exclusion of public information,why we have to wonder and question when the public are asked to leave the meeting does Mr David Pringle sit and wait by the doors for his one to one catch up whilst the rest of the public leave.This should be investigated and stopped and instead of speaking outside the meeting some of the very silent YES councillors need to be speaking and taking a more active role to represent the community who votes for them in the meetings several seem just to turn up and remain silent apart from arm raising on cue.
If Stan tells Pringle at will, imagine what his Missus tells him.
Don’t for one second think that she doesn’t.