WirralPC

Good luck with that Dippy! John, you deserve a medal.

Here they are Dippy... Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStQFmNpY08 Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t7tVw8Vc7s Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhi3btdcj9I Part 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ryibuKeHX8 Part 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wywGLwjzp1Q Part 6 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OauvKgJ4Mo4

Flam.... Not trying to outdo you here, but I know another place where "the public interest" has descended and warped into carnal opportunism; concealed sexual gratification; extra-marital give and take; the rampant thrusting together of particular sets of loins; pregnant pauses for structural reshuffles; followed by the premature birth of the illegitimate advancement of career prospects of willing participants. An unsightly rash of senior departures has now broken out, which may be not unconnected.

Keep checking back as I've been uncovering more and more murky goings on !

Thanks Dippy and Cambo. Really appreciate that. I've been busy on Wirral too, where a female senior officer was paid £48,000 of public money, apparently for 'hurt feelings' just over a year ago. There was never any member scrutiny, assessment of detriment suffered, or any public oversight. And just to rub it in, the CEO and leader combined to close ranks and gag all councillors. This issue was what gave rise to the original FoI request at Wirral: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/payouts_to_officers_of_wirral_co And this matches almost word for word the later Herefordshire FoI about the bullying of disabled staff. The issues raised are coming to a head today when Frank Field (Birkenhead MP) says he will "hammer out" a matching pay off (£48,000) for a group of Highways contract whistleblowers. But as usual with abusive councils and local MPs ..........all is not quite as it seems. http://wirralinittogether.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/48000-to-you-know-who-franks-demand-dragging-their-feet-in-brighton-street/

A few pages back, Megilleland kindly posted this article from the Worcester News about £4.3 million of exit packages for council staff: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/regional/worcestershire/11488851.__4_3m_on__exit_packages__for_staff_at_Worcestershire_County_Council/?ref=arc Here's the answer to a subsequent FOI request... It's a familiar story. They've been finding the cash for loads more compromise agreements. Figures start in January 2011... https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/updated_totals_for_compromise_se?nocache=incoming-575185#incoming-575185 I contacted journalist Tom Edwards of the Worcester News yesterday, but no response so far.

Answers came in this afternoon for both FOI requests: 1. Total number of compromise agreements. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/total_number_of_compromise_agree_2?nocache=incoming-574480#incoming-574480 2. Monetary totals attached to COT3 and compromise agreements. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/monetary_totals_attached_to_cot3_2?nocache=incoming-574487#incoming-574487

Answers came in this afternoon for both FOI requests: 1. Total number of compromise agreements. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/total_number_of_compromise_agree_2?nocache=incoming-574480#incoming-574480 2. Monetary totals attached to COT3 and compromise agreements. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/monetary_totals_attached_to_cot3_2?nocache=incoming-574487#incoming-574487

Weird. My PC says 21st and mobile phone says 17th! Better give them 'til Tuesday.

Herefordshire Council have until next Tuesday (2 working days) to respond to the following two recent FoI requests, both to do with compromise and COT3 agreements: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/monetary_totals_attached_to_cot3_2 https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/total_number_of_compromise_agree_2

Bobby, how about asking your wife to take a photo of your testicles? No need for standing on mirrors and risking 7 years' bad luck. You could then frame it and put it on the mantelpiece - as a constant reminder.

Elephant in room... o no gags? o no compromise agreements? o no clean bills of health? o no costs for all the above?

Bobby47, the landscape of the Wirral peninsula differs markedly. It's striking, rugged and treacherous. And there is another quite unpredictable 'landscape' here; that of the menace-filled political network, with its attendant PR lies, spin, deceit and backstabbing. You mentioned your pals' favourite subject of 'girls we'd like to kiss'......... As you find your feet, don't ever let your guard down and be tempted in by a certain Wirral femme fatale, a long-term occupant of this tangled web. This is your warning, and heed it well. You may catch sight or wind of this beguiling local phenomenon as you settle into place and become known. As your own vibrations fan out, the threat you embody will be quickly registered. You will then be placed under observation, before being targeted and stealthily approached. I managed to resist temptation, even when deep inside the lair of the beast. But better men than me; much better, have not been so fortunate. They've hesitated for a split-second, fallen headlong and been dragged down kicking and howling, to be devoured piece by piece, before being spat out contemptuously, as broken, empty husks. This is your warning Bobby47. Wirral awaits you with expectation and not without a hint of trepidation. The beast is attracted to charisma, power and influence. Tune your antennae, heed the signals, don't be deterred by the corpses littering the landscape, be brave in your mission, stay strong, but above all.............. ...............keep your wits about you.

A vacancy is soon to arise at Wirral Council: http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11526799.Wirral_Council_chief_executive_announces_retirement/

With his previous workplace stress issues now consigned to the distant past, Richard Penn has been busy defending senior officers in trouble once again... http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Probe-suspended-Derby-City-Council-finance-chief/story-23060121-detail/story.html I still cannot fathom how bringing the senior officers' union ALACE in to investigate senior officer dodginess is going to result in anything but a whitewash !

Growl Tiger, here's a link to help people reach the John Brace post that you mention: http://johnbrace.com/2014/10/08/what-does-an-election-year-cllr-phil-davies-the-schools-pfi-contract-lyndale-school-and-the-wirral-schools-forum-have-in-common/

It's a complete lack of self-awareness. They do it to impress, not realising that in the eyes of ordinary, sentient, well-adjusted human beings like us, they're marking themselves out as complete and utter w a n k e r s.

Two Freedom of Information / Data Protection professional Twitterati have been chipping in today with their pearls of wisdom: https://twitter.com/bainesy1969/status/519018528238997505

Thanks Megilleland. If I remember correctly, he was very quickly recovered, back in situ, savouring the cut and thrust, and commanding top dollar. "The hair of the dog that bit you" comes to mind. An approach that seems to have paid dividends for our Richard.

That could well be the case Cambo. Wirral had four senior council officers in trouble. Prior to the Wirral whitewash, Penn had a widely-publicised history of defending senior council officers in trouble, as we can see here: http://wirralinittogether.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/richard-penn-links/ Sooooo.... Who yer gonna call? http://johnbrace.com/2012/09/21/investigation-and-disciplinary-committee-21st-september-2012-wirral-council/ You're not far from Wales are you? The reason for posting these snippets is, as your council spirals down the plughole, there's the off chance he may pop up on the horizon, hove into view, and get commissioned for some work by a Director of Law residing not a million miles away from Herefordshire Town Hall... a chap who may want to return a favour.

Lazenchenulmen, I give you.... Richard Penn. public-servants-with-attitudes-not-nice-ones-yikes

Relax folks. They may never, EVER require outside assistance on looking ridiculous.

Thanks to everyone for your very kind comments. I don't think we're anywhere near the finishing line just yet. There should be a few more twists and turns to come. I think Bill N must have packed some Wirral style "machinations" in with his luggage. There'll be a surfeit of sore heads. All energy that is created cannot be destroyed and we'll see where the havoc is wreaked as they play themselves out.

See latest Private Eye. Wirral cast off Bill Norman's "unconventional" behaviour is registering yet again.

They're now getting sucked into a black hole of their own creation. Which is exactly what senior public sector power abusers deserve.