WirralPC

On second thoughts...

Superb. You should be appointed editor. Now.

A few years ago some councillor in Cheshire West was spending three months of the year in New Zealand but still claiming her expenses. This is the kind of thing that goes on when they've had their heads stuck in the trough for so long they don't know which way is up, who the money actually belongs to and how they can rely on a freemason, fellow tory council leader, waiting in the wings to gloss over it when they get found out... http://bodgedroad.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/cwac-councillor-received-annual.html

When I do my mum's shopping I always pick up Private Eye, once every two weeks. But horror of all horrors, I looked today, and they'd stopped stocking it. After examining what was on the shelves, I'm assuming that the people who live down my mum's way are only interested in TV Quick; PC World, Country Life and Headworking and Toadying for HR Professionals Monthly. So I'll have to nip to the Tesco Express before it gets targeted for closure and see if I get any joy there...............

Thanks Bob. But what I'm saying is nobody has explained the collapse of WTC7. Nothing to do with the twin towers. I'm not putting forward any theories here. Just asking pertinent questions. You don't even NEED to distance yourself from any stench I'm giving off......... As an engineer who's interested in such things, I need to be convinced properly, not given wild cock and bull stories about how "the steel melted" by people who have the onus on them to be more forthcoming with detailed answers. ... at risk of descending into cliche, your posts in 2015 have been awesome ! Happy New Year.

To say "it's now thought that the steel structure melted" and move on from that is preposterous. In the extreme. We're back with physics; the melting point of steel; the added complication that aviation fuel was not a factor; and most compelling, the uniform collapse of the whole thing at once, transformed from a building into rubble in a few seconds.

http://m.worcesternews.co.uk/news/11710221.Exclusive____650_000_of_your_money_for_council_staff_to_sign_secretive__settlement_agreements_/ We can now add some public money to this. £650,000.

Mick mentioned 9/11. I don't want to go right off the current subject, but something needs to be addressed. I don't know about anyone else reading this, but the one single thing that has genuinely puzzled me about 9/11, and for about 10 years, is the collapse of building WTC 7. One second it was standing (although on fire halfway up one side), the next second, the whole of it from top to bottom was in freefall collapse towards the ground. The subsequent 9/11 commission did not explain how a steel reinforced concrete building could collapse in this way. Previously, buildings of similar structure with fires stood there and burned for hours if not days. The 9/11 commission's findings still defy the universal laws of physics as we understand them. In a choice between the laws of physics and the limited findings of a set of highly-placed bureaucrats with vested interests, I will come down with the former. Respected scientists are unlikely to publicly come forward and question these matters because there will be consequences. Their reputations will be slammed, they'll be associated with David Icke, prizes, honours and awards and future careers will be jeopardised. So it's easier to keep shtum. Back in 2001, the internet was more or less in its infancy compared to today. It took many years before the greater extent of 9/11 information gradually seeped out. Even today if you stop people on the street and ask them how many buildings completely collapsed on 9/11, many people will tell you "two". Mainly because we're spoonfed a controlled diet from the box in the corner, or the papers in our hand, through the prism of the mainstream media (with the associated corporate connections). The thrust of what I'm saying is... don't immediately believe what the news channels are telling you. And nobody does themselves any favours by making assumptions. Be clinical about it, wait for the information, question it and be businesslike. Don't go shooting off at the mouth about how all muslims should be sent packing. Despite the deaths, Nigel Farage was close to gloating on Channel Four News last night because the events appeared to vindicate what he regards as his 'progressive' anti-Muslim stance. How does Europe stand as one against this 'Islamic Threat' (the one that has now replaced the Soviet Union), with him undermining cohesion every step of the way? I can say all this because I have no interest, no job to lose. No job to apply for. I'm now unemployable. But I don't want to live in a society ruled by fear and intrusive governments - which all came a step closer following the events in Paris. And who knows what;s next? To answer K. Butt, wearing a mask does not translate directly to 'cowardice'. Our own heroes wear masks. Think about it logically and with a cool head. Not being able to match those attackers to the names being given has other implications. George Bush branded the 9/11 hijackers as cowards. Regardless of whether the official conspiracy theory is correct or not..................... really?

As central government employer protection intensifies, employment rights diminish, and aggressive, uncontrolled public sector scams gather pace into 2015, be prepared for the worst. More and more of us are finding we have to defend ourselves or our 'service users' against malpractice, dishonesty, abuse, callous treatment and lack of senior officer accountability. In fact a perverse and cruel response is becoming 'par for the course' if you're an honest individual who causes problems for your employer by publicising their crooked activity or who makes an internal complaint in good faith. In this "brave" new frontier of 'business needs' versus 'public service', here are a few phrases I put together when Cheshire West and Chester Council came gunning for me back in 2007 - 2009. I won this particular battle, but lost my job, and my ability to continue my career as a lighting designer / engineer became ground down and permanently diminished. Patronage, old friends, back-scratching, favours and petty vindictiveness ensured this specialist livelihood came to an abrupt end. If you come up against this kind of crookedness in 2015, and chances are you may do if you're still clinging on for grim death at Herefordshire County Council, here's a few polished phrases that can be used to make stupid, bullying managers pause, scratch their bonces, and lurch firmly onto the back foot. A word of warning. These MBA badge of honour wielders will utterly despise you - and seek to destroy you even MORE - when the penny drops you're 100 times cleverer than they are. http://wirralinittogether.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/in-trouble-at-work-hit-your-employer-with-some-well-chosen-words-to-keep-them-on-task/

"The 13 Worst Christmas Trees in Britain" http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11678629.Liscard_s_Christmas_tree_among__worst__in_Britain/?action=success#comments Liscard's Christmas tree among 'worst' in BritainLISCARD'S Christmas tree has made it onto a list of the worst Christmas trees in Britain. The town's festive display was given a spruce-up earlier this month after residents set up a Facebook page complaining about the "depressing" tree. The page, called Liscard Christmas Lights, showed the solitary tree - donated by nearby Primark - surrounded by a metal fence, secured in concrete blocks. A post on Facebook said: “We know we are not Liverpool or Birkenhead, but as a community and customers of all the local shops in Liscard all year round we deserve better from Wirral council and the businesses.†While the tree is now adorned with a set of colourful new lights, complemented with decorated lampposts - following £9,500 funding from Wallasey constituency committee - the display has still made it onto BuzzFeed's list of "The 13 Worst Christmas Trees in Britain". Coming in seventh place, BuzzFeed's new reporter Patrick Smith writes: "It now has some fancy lights but the festive health-and-safety fence remains." While Liscard may not have the most glamorous festive display, BuzzFeed shows that is by no means the worst with Haddenham in Cambridgeshire, Streatham, north Oxford, Oakham, Mottram and Mier in Stoke-On-Trent all considered "worse".

How not to boost the morale of your staff. Or perhaps that's the intention? Treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen. Presumably the senior staff doing the 200 sackings will remain on the same generous and flexible contracts that they've grown accustomed to? Merry Christmas !

[Duplicate post]

Back then I'd never heard of PIDA. I didn't know I was whistleblowing, and I think my rep may have missed it. As for the employer, while I was off suspended, they colluded to bring "bullying and harassment" charges. If they were aware of PIDA they weren't saying. So all my efforts were focussed on refuting their dreamt up charges

Here's a tale from Spring 2003 when I was suspended from Wirral Council for 5 months before resigning. This is how bloody awful Wirral Unison were even back then. And I've heard tales from all over the country to evidence the fact that they've plummeted downhill very quickly. I've heard sorry tales from umpteen people who've been dumped when they called upon Unison to do what it says on the tin - defend them. http://wirralinittogether.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/how-wirral-council-disposed-of-me-in-2003/ There are many reasons why I personally cannot trust Unison and the following list is not exhaustive... last time I checked, General Secretary Dave Prentiss was a non-exec director of the Bank of England (!!??) living in a gaff worth £2 million + managers are free to join and will pressurise fellow members (in dispute) from within, for their own selfish ends (Cheshire County Council was famed for it). I won my case here because I was in Unite. I would have been crushed otherwise at Brighton City Council (the heaviest offender in my 2011 compromise agreements / gagging clauses survey) Unison's rep works from a desk inside the Town Hall Wirral Council's CEO is a former Unison full-timer who, seeing an opportunity for advancement, made a seamless transition across to 'the enemy' some years ago and has prospered ever since Being around in the day, I see Unison ploughing members' money into countless expensive daytime TV ads seeking inflows of new membership cash and promising good representation. But the truth is very, very different Wirral Unison sat there and did nothing when Social Services were abusing learning disabled people and accrediting serious organised criminals over a period of nine years. Whistleblower Martin Morton, a Unison member, was dropped like a stone and forced out of his job Wirral Unison sat there and did nothing when Social Services ran a 4 week delay on drawing up emergency care packages in order to save money. People died as a result. Whistleblower Andy Campbell, a Unison member, was dropped like a stone and forced out of his job Countless similar situations exist, where names cannot be given because the cases never went public, but employees were routinely sacrificed, the public money purse raided, and the cracks were papered over by management, in close collaboration with Unison

You've got to be so careful on this issue of identifying people. The ICO themselves believe employees are at risk of being identified should Herefordshire County Council declare e.g. the following: £345,678 That's it. Were you waiting for some more? Well, you're out of luck. I raised this issue one day last week in a chat on the phone with Andrew White, whose name appears at the bottom of their Decision Notices. I gave him a hypothetical scenario... 1. Council declares £345,678 2. (Mysterious process) 3. Persons are identified I asked him to explain the mysterious process. He couldn't. He waffled. I gave him another chance to explain it. He waffled some more. I thanked him and put the phone down. I then quickly came to the conclusion that he's paid very well in public money for being involved in, conducting and defending a very large scam on the UK public.

Perishing ! Would freeze the spherical objects off a primate composed of metal and zinc.

Hey wow, yeah. I'm voting for you - but only if you tell me why you put the word bullied in quotes.

I would have liked to comment on this article, but got banned after I dissented 18 months ago - even though dissent is not an offence in the Guardian's open forum guidelines. http://wirralinittogether.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/how-to-be-moderated-out-censored-prevented-from-contributing-to-the-guardian-open-forum/

Thanks Dippy ! But I have a horrible feeling that Herefordshire's elected members are to varying degrees... o sidelined and removed neatly from the picture o too embarrassed to admit they've been left looking foolish o too ashamed to admit they've failed these vulnerable employees o wanting all the bad news to go away o busily concentrating on filling out expenses and claim forms o complicit in unseen dodgy deals with senior officers and scared of their "contribution" being exposed So I'd be very surprised if any of them have the courage to be free and frank with their public.

Bobby47's exploits are far more impressive.

Makes me ashamed to be British.

The senior officers are now falling like ninepins at Derby City Council. Richard Penn (mentioned above) may be about to ride in on a white charger and rescue them. Is he pushing for this gig? Could he become the appointed Designated Independent Person required to investigate? http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/MYSTERY-DEEPENS-Derby-City-Council-employees/story-24213067-detail/story.html On Wirral, his services didn't come cheap. Neither did the whitewash, which broke down as follows: Mr Richard Penn's services: £47,020 Mr Bill Norman (no case to answer): £151,000 Mr David Green (no case to answer): £103,234 Mr Ian Coleman (no case to answer): £82,000 Mr David Taylor-Smith (no case to answer): £68,660 Total = £451,914

It's not Herefordshire, but a very close neighbour. The subject matter of compromise agreements and gagging clauses has been covered in depth lately on Hereford Voice. This is an article from today's Worcester News: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/11580086.Nearly_100_council_staff_sign__gagging__orders_to_keep_quiet/

A new FoI request goes in for everything to do with the "Pay my whistleblowers £48,000, hammering it out" meeting between Frank Field MP and CEO Graham Burgess: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/please_provide_details_of_meetin/new

Yes John, and here's a visual representation (with suitable background music) on how very careful they can be. The subject matter is the whitewash (blackwash?!) into the illegal, destructive, but money-saving four week delay in care that was the brainchild of long-departed Rick O'Brien - who found an escape hatch and was delighted to fall into the grateful arms of the NHS. People died forseeably & avoidably, and all they could do was serve up a black hole, 84 pages of it, amid repeated bogus claims to "openness & transparency":