gdj

A couple of years ago an FoI request was made to Herefordshire Council for a particular piece of documentary information. HC said it didn't exist. The applicant asked again, claiming that it must exist. HC's legal department gave a very tetchy and aggressive response insisting that it did not exist (apparently acting on information from a director). The applicant contacted individuals within the council directly (not the director) who should have had the information if they had been doing their jobs properly. The information appeared! Those individuals had clearly not been asked for the information because the director didn't want the information `out there`. The applicant received a half hearted apology from the legal department saying they had been wrongly advised (but they would not confirm by whom). So one person's `vexatious request' can be another person's persistence in getting to the truth. See also the `What do they know' request from a couple of years ago about Common Purpose training of HC managers for another example. Again, the legal department couldn't /wouldn't say who had provided the wrong information to them. If we could always trust the first response, then yes, further similar and repeat requests are vexatious. But they have to earn that trust and they most certainly haven't done so.

At my house, it would be very easy to put the bin back inside the gate (about 3 feet away) - however that extra few seconds, multiplied over hundreds of houses would, I presume, make the new very difficult (sorry, "efficient"), schedules impossible to achieve so I can understand the operatives working to a policy of doing the minimum at each property. Any more than that and the job can't be done.

This is the problem. Two instructions: 1, Put your wheelie bin out on the pavement the night before collection (meaning it's there in the dark). 2. Do not obstruct the pavement with your wheelie bin. Compounded by the bin being left on the pavement all day after the collection. Not everyone lives on a wide road with wide pavements and verges.

I think they'd have a more loyal readership (and don't forget they pretty much have a monopoly) if their quality of journalism stepped up - to actually asking questions, naming names and following up some of the many scandals that we and others have pushed their way. They (the ex editor) even called us bloggers liars and even disgracefully and hurtfully banned some of us. A blow to my pride that I am still struggling to come to terms with. The old certainties of lots of job adverts, a booming housing market adverts, council notices and adverts, and a decent football team to report on, use to bring in both revenue and readers (and circulation/readership lead to more adverts and more revenue). If they are responding by moving to even less proper journalism they will find they are in a vicious circle. Or - along the same lines as the idea we discussed for the footie, they could start to take account of the Eastern European migrant population - a group that wont' be interested in most of what is in the Hereford Times. Or - perhaps you could be the HT agony aunt - giving your advice and emotional support to the loverlorn and the lonely in response to letters whilst I could be the astrologer: " Capricorn: You will find yourself in a traffic jam this week" "Libra: It will be cold this week, and rain quite a bit" "Scorpio: You will wish you had spent less money at Christmas" Easy. But brings in the punters. GDJ

Our local press has given a lot of publicity to residents who have received awards this new year. My copy of Private Eye dropped on the doormat yesterday and we can all be proud that our county council has also received national recognition. Every year, the `Eye' announces the winners of local government awards on the `Rotten Boroughs' page. Herefordshire Council has been given an award for `Services to Workplace Bullying`. I'm surprised the PR department has already put out a press release announcing this.

I hope that the proposed 'inquiry' gives the Essex devils the chance to say what the council had promised them before they bought the club from Keyte. And also explains how Bretherton had the authority to act on behalf of the council in signing off on the leases. Methinks that there are vested interests far removed from football trying to control information and what 'gets out'. Still, supporters can be reassured that Cllr Johnson is steering the ship now.

OK, Thank you for considering it - I was just concerned that some of the details you described could be used to identify the individual. I wasn't suggesting you tell Dippy the name - just that the kind of details you mention in order to explain what you are doing behind the scenes should probably be limited to PM messaging rather than being on the forum. Keep up the good work

GVP, I think your post contains too much specific and identifying information. Can you remove it and send a pm to Drippy. Thanks

There was an episode of Father Ted in which Father Jack (the old, brain addled alcoholic one) was going to have to speak to some bishops. Ted, with great difficulty taught him two replies to use to questions. The first was "Yes" and the second was: "That would be an ecumenical matter". It worked because it sounded right in most situations. (you can google it on youtube). I always think of this when any councillors try to deflect criticism over the bullying (and the customer services aren't the only department to suffer) by claiming it's not their job or responsibility to know what is happening. They say: "That would be an employment matter".

Leaving aside the fact that it's a letter, not a petition, our council `leader' has lost any right to wring his hands and blame central govt cuts for the mess that this county is in. He has had the opportunity to join other council leaders in objecting to those cuts and trying to defend services and has chosen not to. To misquote the good book: "Whoever is not against the cuts is for them".

Maybe loyalty to the two Conservative MPs outweighs concern for public services. Just a thought.

As for the HT - has anyone seen this week's front page. " Muslim group ready to discuss centre pan". Big banner headline suggesting that the group are looking at basic culinary equipment. The group actually wants to discuss their plan.

The article says that HC has `opted in` to this thing. Has there been any vote or business case presented or did Hughes and Bramer just like the sound of it. It would make it much harder for the peasants to find out about and challenge dodgy plans for asset sales and, dare I say it, swaps between bodies represented on its board.- HC and HWFRS for example. Some big, irreversible, decisions seems to be being made within 6 months of the next council elections.

Joined up thinking. The county spends a fortune for youngsters and young adults with disabilities and learning difficulties to go to out of county residential places. Barrs Court special school is in a very confined site on a busy road with very little greenery. The council has a large attractive building in the kind of pleasant environment that these people could benefit from The council insists that it prioritises the vulnerable. The council would like to borrow money to buy 3 Elms trading estate, so it is a case of priorities. As an example, I have seen details of a place (somewhere on the Somerset coast I think) that is a hotel that accommodates paying guests, but most of the staff are adults with learning difficulties who are, at the same time, receiving training in catering, hospitality, administration etc. It costs money for them to be there but it is the kind of facility that gives dignity to all concerned. If one was near me, I would happily go there for meals. The council would also have `in house' accommodation for guests etc.

Surely there are lots of opportunities for neighbourliness and community spirit in this. Our household, most of the time is two of us. We won't need 4 bags a fortnight most of the time. Our neighbours, with three teenagers may need more than 4. I think I will design a signal system on my bin that says how many vacant bag spaces there are in our bin if the neighbours want to take advantage on the collection morning.

Have you never seen/read "The Great Escape" and how they disposed of tunnel soil without arousing the suspicion of the camp authorities? I suggest you invent a cotton bag full of grass cuttings that you put down inside your trousers. Then stroll around in the shire hall or outside Plough Lane slowly releasing the cuttings onto the floor using an ingenious pin mechanism. They will never suspect. Just don't try to make your getaway on a motorbike over the fence (or by train, you'll be delayed).

Hi dippy and can I add my welcome to "vicar"? I think when Herefordshire and Worcestershire split, payroll for some or all schools/colleges still used Worcs. They ( Robert Owen) may have got a better deal for the admin from Worcs rather than from Hoople . Incredible that anyone can do it better than Hoople , I know.

Does anyone know how the school is getting on in Blackfriars? The websites have been shut down and the Facebook page not used since September. A school that was hungry for publicity has gone off the radar seemingly. I would have thought that the HT would have reported them moving in and been printing P.R. stuff, but, again, silence.

Can't seems to do a quote but in this thread Cllr Vaughan Powell said she'd asked questions about Barrs Court and would give her answers. I hope this isn't included in the communication lockdown that seems to have imposed.

Interesting that the holding letter from our Conservative MP is sent by a Conservative member of our council working for him. When the constituent has an issue with something the Council is proposing to do, and asks for the support of the MP, how can it be right for a councillor to respond on behalf of the MP?

Yep, My copy of the Eye was delivered today. First story in the Rotten Boroughs page is titled "Hereford Bull" and describes this whole sorry saga and Paul's role in exposing it. Well done sir.

The Higher Education Funding Council has just published some research on provision of Higher Education across England - a really useful graphic showing first the actual provision and then the provision based on population. It looks to me like this area is in the lowest 10th on both counts. Sorry, can't insert the actual map image but this is the link http://www.hefce.ac.uk/whatwedo/crosscutting/coldspots/heprovision/ Another fascinating, but very worrying bit of research was on the proportion of young people going on to Higher Education (universities) and this is on an interactive map and you can drill down to see different parts of Hereford and Herefordshire. The urban area south of the river is in the lowest category. North of the river - West is about half way, and East near the top. A stark picture of the relative levels of deprivation/prosperity even in a small city like this. Don't know what the solution is because I don't know what the cause is, but it is clear that the potential of many young people, especially in South Wye, is not being realised. This is the link in which you can zoom in to Hereford http://www.hefce.ac.uk/whatwedo/wp/ourresearch/polar/mapofyoungparticipationareas/

Thanks for posting this, Flam. I hadn't come across it before and it makes some interesting reading. I assume that "Compensation for Loss of Office" is the equivalent of lesser mortals having "redundancy" . And it would seem the calculation of the sum due is also different - rather than statutory payment, or a weeks wages for every year of service, the Assistant Director (Inclusion and Improvement) seems to have received about 9 months salary. (having been employed in Herefordshire for about 3 years). Clearly to lose one's "office" is far more serious than to lose one's job. Another interesting point is that the Director of Childrens (People) service has her salary reported from January 2012 (a nice round 10 grand a month). Before that she was an "interim" at about £1000 a day (as reported at the time in the HT). Surely this should be also reported in the accounts. If not down as a salary it should be findable in the contracts and purchases spreadsheet under payment to "Jo Davidson Leadership and Management Ltd" - but I haven't found it in those spreadsheets either. You won't be able to check in that company's accounts either because they were never produced. Can anyone here say how these "interims" and "consultants" payments are presented in the council accounts? ps - the £1000 a day was another fine example of the hard bargains driven by the council when recruiting people at that level. Do you continue working in Derby (and to travel there) or do you take a large pay increase to work down the road in Hereford with some of your mates from your previous job. If you have a strong stomach, read this down to the part about the first replacement that Derby recruited to replace a Ms Ros Vahey. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2012871/Derby-council-forks-124k-sacked-childrens-services-boss-Ros-Vahey.html And then for a laugh, read the last paragraph quote from a councillor in Derby.

Until 2011, when Paul Cardin shamed them into changing their ways (at least a bit), Herefordshire Council couldn't even say how many compromise agreements had been arranged/signed in the previous years. Essentially, they weren't keeping count. They did promise Paul that henceforth they would keep better records. It wouldn't take much for a councillor or two to ask occassionally "I say, old chaps, been any compromise agreements recently that yours truly ought to know about eh?" "I wasn't told" can be flipped by the officers to "Well, you never asked".

Cllr Matthews is being very careful with his words. He does not deny knowing about all this, he is using a form of words that just give that impression. What used to be called `plausible deniability'. "I have no recollection of ......." means "I could have been told but am going to say that if I was, I have forgotten". "as a group leader" can mean that he wasn't told in his capacity as Group leader, but he is making no comment about conversations outside that role. from the HT report: again - I wasn't told officially - no comment on unofficial briefings. Beware the senior managers' and politicians phrases to almost, but not quite, deny something or some knowledge. "There is no evidence that...." "I have no recollection of...." "I deny wrongdoing" (meaning it wasn't actually illegal - and even if I did do it, wrongness is subjective so I am saying it wasn't wrong. or from the Rotherham scandal " I did not realise the scale or scope of the problem" - Wouldn't it be refreshing for a statement to be put out that said: "I did not know about this. I should have known about it. Those who did not tell me are being disciplined"