Once again the cabal members attendance at meetings continues to dwindle, maybe they need reminding they were elected (or not in some cases) to represent our community for four years and not just to be able to hide away when the going gets tough, or when they don’t automatically get their own way.
Ferret would hope these Councillors do not put themselves forward for re-election in May 2023.
It was agreed by all Councillors to extend the current policy of waiving fees for local not for profit organisation to now also include allotment plots.
Councillor Hird confirmed she would like to see a market reinstated in the precinct of Hemsworth, adding this should benefit local businesses. Ferret is sure local businesses will welcome this and the increase in footfall which it may bring.
The income for the Sandygate football facility was provided as £18,244 which covered the period of April to December 2022.
Jean Eccles has been very vocal about this facility and its’ income not being made available in previous meetings. Ferret believes this to be a healthy figure, especially given the fact that the facility is made available to local teams at reduced rates.
Renaming of the Waterpark was an item which had “raised eyebrows” in large sections of our community. Thankfully the two ridiculous reasons to change the name to remove the word “Water” were rejected.
Readers of Ferret will no doubt recall that the Independent “cabal” led by Jim Kenyon removed parking charges for non-residents at the Waterpark back in 2019.
Over the last four years that would have generated around £120,000 if it had remained in place.
Thankfully common sense has finally prevailed and the previous arrangements which were in place, prior to the Independents taking office will now be reinstated.
The income for the Waterpark was disclosed as £30,136 for the period of 1 December 2022 to 20 February 2023.
Around £10,000 per month income, for a facility with loses of nearly half a million pounds in the last four years of the disastrous Independents tenure.
Would the cabal like to disclose the amount of money the spent on food and alcohol stock during this period?
Surely even Jim Kenyon and his “Mathematics certificate” can see this facility is unsustainable?
Public question time, was once again extremely revealing and damaging to Independent Hemsworth Town Council, more to follow…
Profit and expenditure should be shown on the monthly accounts for the Lakeside cafe ,January’s accounts were published yesterday and again a vast amount of the communities money can be seen spent on food and alcohol.The footfall is definitely not there during the winter period and it was closed over Christmas so the huge amounts spent on food need to be compared against profit made.
Thankfully common sense prevailed and the name Hemsworth WATER Park remains let’s hope the communities votes count and the Independent councillors do not remain.
The best approach is to listen what is a asked then comment, I believe when a question was asked about the bodycam this was evaded why, the person asked for the model number and make this is a straight forward legimate question firstly told it was a security issue (previously) now its a GDPR issue , by the way that makes the previous camera useless. . GDRR was up uplifted in 2018 with Severn core principles (so when was the first camera bought without checking legislation? Remind. Me what year was the first camera bought?Due diligence springs to mind. Where has the clerk got his information from?
The chair mumbled his way through the xmas float saga IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN , what WON’T happen again what findings did HTC find? Was someone negligent if so what was any action taken we the public want to know!!.. And lto hear the chair basically say we are the elected one’s we do as we please was beyond belief yes you have been elected to represent the parishioners not yourself start and listen and take note
Lastly the fence around the waterpark is for safety yes I get that ( no I don’t) then why isn’t it around the entire lake?.
I really didn’t understand the fence/gate discussion.
I think the proposal was to remove the gates and not the fence – but which gates? The one’s attached to the fence or the one’s which have already been removed?
I’ve no idea what the objections were either, other than Shaun saying something about once security, is in place he’s not in favour of removing it (or words to that effect – maybe?!).
I think it will be sorted from May onward though, so not long to wait to be de-caged.
I found most of the answers from Councillors and the Town Clerk to be less than considered (or credible) answers and would hope that any chair people in the future will be less arrogant towards the public and speak English in a way we all understand. Again, hopeful that things will improve from May.
I remain extremely concerned that they are discussing items and approving proposals which are clearly outside their Terms of Reference, so have no legal standing. Alan took to the microphone and belted out an answer that really didn’t address the issue – which I found odd. Maybe he realised that what I saying is actually right, but can’t own up to putting items on the agenda that don’t belong there? Who knows?!
Did we get any answer regarding the asbestos in the Park? I honestly can’t remember as all the answers were so vague (and weird) as to be forgotten immediately!
Bottom line – it all smacks of dishonestly and cover ups, as usual. But that’s just my opinion.
So, don’t automatically trust your candidates come the May elections – make sure you know their real motives and intentions.
Totally and utterly agree 100% with Anonymous and Linda,last nites meeting was a shambles and disgrace and the sheer lack of truth to the listening parishioners is astounding.
The answer or mumbled response from the chair councillor Middleton to a public question was no way adequate and he quickly wanted to shut it down even pointing out that questions had been for 20 minutes and showed he wanted us out.His attitude towards the public asking questions was abrasive and unacceptable when addressing members of the public who require their questions answered ,again Truth and Transparency not in some HTC councillors remit.These councillors need to remember its the community who will have the final say and not in exclusion but in a voting booth roll on May.
Absolutely right Linda, the chair was particularly poor again and I can’t believe they still listen to Kenyon or Jean Eccles. I am not happy about most of the supposedly decent councillors either. Worse still they seem to be holding back those councillors who do want to make a difference. As for Draper he should be sacked with all the things that he’s done wrong. He was definitely struggling for answers