tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post4312711566282943013..comments2024-01-30T07:41:20.885+00:00Comments on Broken Barnet: The purpose of scrutiny, or: a risk worth taking - the creation of CapitavilleMrs Angryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-80258130554486431822013-06-13T20:15:00.856+01:002013-06-13T20:15:00.856+01:00Ha - Alan: and by the way readers, Alan has asked ...Ha - Alan: and by the way readers, Alan has asked me to point out he is actually in Haringay, not Barnet (clearly wishful thinking) ... funnily enough, I often think of the audience participation in our council meetings as Brechtian in spirit, rather like an intrusion of experimental political theatre into a Terence Rattigan play, perhaps. Or maybe J B Priestly? Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-11769953295404640112013-06-13T19:41:11.785+01:002013-06-13T19:41:11.785+01:00I loved your quote from Councillor Rayner ".....I loved your quote from Councillor Rayner "... it is the members, who must 'educate' the residents and members of the public."<br /><br />Plainly, Barnet residents have let down their councillors very very badly. All those distinguished men and women sitting round the table in your video - how crestfallen they look and disappointed they must feel. <br /><br />You Barnet bloggers and other residents have frivolously<br />thrown away the confidence of your elected councillors. Can they 'educate' you better so you regain their trust? Are you prepared to redouble your work to understand and appreciate the efforts they make on your behalf?<br /><br />Frankly I doubt it. You're clearly a terminally ungrateful bunch. (Even the charming, modest, shy, well-mannered Brian Coleman was moved to mild protest.)<br /><br />So isn't it rapidly reaching the point when - as Bertolt Brecht suggested - it would be simpler if the Council just dissolved the people and elected another?Alan Stantonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01824103638183637518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-74990404991054050102013-06-13T09:30:00.856+01:002013-06-13T09:30:00.856+01:00Yes, Mr R, you are right. I imagine that there has...Yes, Mr R, you are right. I imagine that there has never been an outsourcing project so lovingly documented or scrutinised - albeit not by the decision makers - as the One Barnet programme. <br /><br />If these contracts are signed, all the problems which have not been properly considered and addressed will inevitably cause fundamental problems, and yes, we will be able to say 'I told you so', but the damage done to the best interests of the residents and taxpayers of this borough will be irreparable.<br /><br />That will not stop us, as you suggest, from illuminating the trail of responsibility back to decisions and failures in scrutiny and consultation by our elected members and senior officers. Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-52219651039235882013-06-12T22:29:32.038+01:002013-06-12T22:29:32.038+01:00Paper Tiger, questions do have a role which has be...Paper Tiger, questions do have a role which has become evident during the judicial review process. Questions and the answers provided by the council provide an indelible audit trail. When this contract goes wrong, which I genuinely believe will happen, there will be a clear trail of evidence illuminating the blinkered, ignorant and arrogant attitude of councillors. Councillors will not be able to claim they were unaware of the risks - they were made abundantly clear last night. So yes questions do have a value although it is not always immediately apparent.Mr Reasonablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13496421592535949071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-66104049062739636622013-06-12T20:54:23.226+01:002013-06-12T20:54:23.226+01:00jooly annoying blogger, I forgot to add the emphas...jooly annoying blogger, I forgot to add the emphasis and one can't edit comments afterwardsMr Mustardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12522242686839965655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-40846739779646987062013-06-12T20:44:20.925+01:002013-06-12T20:44:20.925+01:00Indeed, Paper Tiger: in Barnet they are token gest...Indeed, Paper Tiger: in Barnet they are token gestures, a sop to the masses.<br /><br />And yes, Mr Mustard, but the Tory chairs in Broken Barnet like to make their own rules up about procedure, as we know. But as you say, more evidence, and very nicely presented.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-25806026030600931752013-06-12T20:37:15.272+01:002013-06-12T20:37:15.272+01:00Public questions at meetings are not meant to be a...Public questions at meetings are not meant to be answered, only suffered, such is democracy...paper tigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10434230707281362763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-41278474147494868842013-06-12T20:28:35.411+01:002013-06-12T20:28:35.411+01:00Very good of Finn to provide extra ammunition at t...Very good of Finn to provide extra ammunition at this stage for the Judicial Review appeal by the display of lack of scrutiny of one of the largest contracts ever seen in Hendon Town Hall.<br /><br />I looked at the agenda<br /><br />It says he was there to do the following (my emphasis)<br /><br />That the Budget and Performance Overview & Scrutiny Committee make comments and recommendations to the Cabinet on the council’s recommended selection of the<br />Preferred Bidder and Reserve Bidder as the council’s Strategic Partner to form a Joint Venture to deliver the Development and Regulatory Services (DRS) as set out in Annex 1 to this report.<br /><br />and then I went and looked up the Constitution ( copy and paste the link into your browser )<br /><br />http://www.scribd.com/doc/147403637/Article-6-Overview-and-Scrutiny-Committees<br /><br />Guess what? the constitution does not contain the word "positive".<br /><br />Sorry I missed the meeting as was my snooker opponent George as I beat him 7-0. I didn't miss any overview or scrutiny so that's OK.Mr Mustardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12522242686839965655noreply@blogger.com