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Denis & George Resign The Tory Whip
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Written by johnfranklyn   
Thursday, 18 December 2008

 

PRESS RELEASE
 
Thursday December 18th 2008
 
Telford & Wrekin Councillors Denis Allen and George Ashcroft have today resigned the Conservative whip. This action follows a significant deterioration in the working relationship between them and the leader of the Conservative group at Telford & Wrekin.
 
Their decision has not been taken lightly and should not detract from the hard work that has been undertaken by Conservative Party activists in Telford & Wrekin over the past few years. Councillors Allen and Ashcroft will gladly take the whip once more but not under the current leadership which has proved both inept and juvenile in its handling of a number of important local issues.
 
Last weeks motion on the future of the Princess Royal Hospital which failed even to mention the hospital by name, the non-attendance by the leadership at the crucial Telford housing summit and the Malinslee mobile phone mast debacle are just three areas in which the leadership is out of touch with popular and conservative opinion. In addition, the failure of the leader to reinstate Cllr Allen to the cabinet in the absence of any evidence against him is contrary to the laws of decency and natural justice. Denis is pleased to have received private _expressions of support from members from across the political divide.
 
 

 

Telford & Wrekin political makeup as of today:
 
All others (Inc Labour) - 29
Conservative group - 25
 
Footnotes on Denis Allen & George Ashcroft
 
Denis Allen joined the Conservative Party in October 1978 after leaving the armed forces. In May 1979 (on the day when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister) he was elected Councillor for East Ward, Market Drayton on North Shropshire District Council and was re-elected until 1992 when he had moved to Tibberton and was therefore not eligible for North Shropshire District Council. In 1997 he stood for Parliament in North Shropshire as the Referendum Party Candidate. Subsequently he has been Acting Chairman then Chairman of Wrekin Conservative Association for several years and has been elected Councillor for Park Ward, Wellington for the last three elections. In May 2007 he was made Cabinet Member for Community Services by Councillor Andrew Eade and remained in that post until October 2008 when he was sacked, at his home, by Councillor Steve Bentley in the presence of Cllrs Andrew Eade and Adrian Lawrence for a stated reason which turned out to be false but, despite this, he has not been re-instated.   
 
George Ashcroft first campaigned for the Conservative Party in 2001 and in 2003 contested the Madeley Ward and served as a parish councillor until 2007 when he was elected a member for the Brookside Ward of Telford & Wrekin Council. George Ashcroft has served as a cabinet assistant to adult and consumer care portfolio and is currently the assistant to environment and regeneration. In June 2007 George was elected the deputy chair (political) of the Telford Conservative Association by majority.
 

 

 
 
Lost The Way
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Written by johnfranklyn   
Friday, 12 December 2008

 

Full Council
 
Election of a new speaker
 
Andrew Eade’s chin almost hit the floor when Cllr Helen Williams nominated Cllr Denis Allen as speaker although it was obvious that Ian Fletcher would be chosen, after all, that’s the real reason why the date of the meeting was changed.
 
Councillor Andrew Eade was only the shadow of his former self and had to face  some embarrassment.
 
Questions were asked about his sacking of Denis Allen from the Cabinet and when something like this is actioned, shouldn’t it be done with the Full Cabinet present and not tucked away in restaurant somewhere. The question was not answered as the speaker diverted away from the topic.
 
Further questions were asked about the Conservatives non attendance at the Housing Summit. Councillor Eade confirmed he received his invitation from MP David Wright and gave the following lame excuse saying,
 
“I had another appointment I can’t be in two places at once”
 
Councillor Andrew Eade never mentioned the fact he could’ve sent along any other member of his party, but chose to keep the matter secret and failed to support the Housing Summit, thus turning his back on the needs of residents.
 
Councillor Eade has such little faith in his own decisions that he will not answer communication in written form but would rather choose to ignore residents and their needs.
 
There is a clear divide in the Conservative administration and my 15 year old daughter who attended her first Full Council clearly identified the fact that Councillor Eade was floundering,
 
As a female boxer she used the following term to describe the Leader,
 
“The Leader was against the ropes and only the speaker stopped a few uppercuts from landing”
 
Having seen the Conservatives in action, she has decided that when she stands for election in Donnington, she will stand as an Independent.
 
 
NHS REVIEW
 
The NHS Review was used as the excuse for the movement of the Full Council from the 27th November to 11th December, but the topic appeared towards the bottom of the list, clearly showing the Administrations ability to prioritise is somewhat questionable and questioned it was.
Councillor Charles Smith moved to have the debate brought to the top of agenda which was actioned accordingly. Overall the debate was reasonably short, but questions need to be asked about a motion being tabled, that concerns the PRH, but failed to mention it.
 
Again, the Leader referred to consulting with partners, but what has clearly not happened is reaching the grass roots of the borough, the grass roots being residents, this has not happened.
 
The terminology used, is often weasels words, long meaningless phrases when what the resident wants is, services at the PRH enhanced and improved, not constantly under threat of closure.
 
 
EADE’s USUAL LINES
 
Councillor Eade, spoke, but had a clear lack of conviction and was only the shadow of his former self.
 
Here, the Leader spoke about
 
Meeting with MP David Wright
Meeting with the HCA
Regeneration Schemes
Mortgage Support Schemes
Keeping families in their homes
 
All the topics that were discussed at the Housing Summit, but as he never attended or allowed his willing Councillors to attend, he wouldn’t know that.
 
As usual, Councillor Eade talked about working together. Here I stopped making notes, as what he says with regards consultation etc has lost all credibility.
 
 
THE LOST PHRASE
 
I noted the loss of the phrase,
 
“Working Hand in Glove”
 
That is a usual saying of the leader. I feel that this will change to
 
“Hands in your pockets”
 
Especially when he announces his Council Tax rise.
 
 
Councillor Eade was asked if he would give the likes of the CAB more money, especially as they are in greater demand. He said he’d consider it, but let’s not forget. He had no problems with removing £5,000 from groups such as this at the last budget proposal, but managed to increase Councillor’s Allowances as the country headed into recession.
 
In a very short time, Councillor Eade has taken the Conservative Administration from riding the crest of a wave to a broken wreck at the bottom of the ocean.
 
Expect nothing from the Conservatives then you will not be disappointed.
 
 
TELFORD CHAMPIONS
 
Well done to
 
Pearl of Mark’s Pit Stop Wellington
 
Councillor Ute Sambrook
 
Both of whom have been rewarded as Telford Champions.
 
T&W Council Fail on Child Protection and Town Park Policies
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Written by johnfranklyn   
Wednesday, 03 December 2008

TELFORD & WREKIN COUNCIL FAIL ON CHILD PROTECTION AND TOWN PARK POLICIES 

There is NO Town Park Policy
 
Telford & Wrekin Council hit national headlines after their policy of stopping lone adults caused them national embarrassment.
 
Throughout this embarrassing episode, Senior Officials made constant reference to the policy.
 
Telegraph 09 Sept 08
 
“Senior Officials at Telford & Wrekin Council said the Policy was to protect children and the vulnerable”
 
Ron Odunaiya said
 
“Lets put this whole issue into common sense context – we are not talking about a blanket policy”
 
David Ottley 21st August 08
 
“The Council has developed and adopted a comprehensive Child Protection Policy”
 
Shropshire Star
 
“the Council Defended the Policy”
 
“As landowner, we have child protection responsibilities”
 
As Telford & Wrekin Council Senior Members made constant reference to “POLICY”, it was considered prudent to ask questions of Telford & Wrekin Council.
 
Some of the questions included the following
 
Can you please forward a copy of Telford & Wrekin’s Town Park policy.
 
Could you also include the policy sections that refer to:-
 
1.The stopping of lone adults in Telford Town Park
 
2.The requirement for residents to have CRB Checks and Risk Assessments?
 
3.Could you also advise why Telford & Wrekin Council do not hold information on the 25 organisations with regards CRB Checks / List 99 Checks yet are allowed to rent and work in areas where they come into close contact and influence young people?
 
4.Could you also include who was ultimately responsible for the writing, use, authorisation of the policy and the dates to which the policy was first enforced, ratified by T&W Council etc.
 
Telford & Wrekin Council has replied with the following:-
 
Exemption:- Procedural
 
The reason for this is:
 
The Council does not hold this information and therefore is unable to release it.
 
Therefore this confirms that Telford & Wrekin Council does NOT nor as it ever had a policy on Telford Town Park.
 
CHILD PROTECTION
 
Another Common theme throughout the debacle was the constant reference to Telford & Wrekin’s responsibilities to “Child Protection”. Clearly there is no actual policy covering the Town Park and it does raise further questions with regards Telford & Wrekin Councils “Child Protection” measures.
 
Telford & Wrekin Council has confirmed in writing that they do NOT hold CRB Checks / List 99 Checks for 25 organisations that use Telford Town Park, one of which includes a school and another organisation Telford & Wrekin Council send vulnerable young people to, the organisations are listed by Telford and Wrekin council as:-
 
NACRO
Green Gym
Mount Gilbert School
Dimensions
Mitchells Fairground
Wonderland
Telford and Wrekin Services
Wrekin North Riding Club and Bridleway Association
Rugby Club (Telford Hornets)
Telford Angling Association
Dawley Angling Association
Canon Hygiene
Shrewsbury and Telford Cash Register Co.Ltd
Cool Services
Coca Cola
Spring Bank / Autobar
ADT
Security Plus
Severn Trent
Noisy Drinks
Business Watch
Space Care Window Cleaners
W N Security Shredding
Pink Skips
Argus Fire
 
Whilst some of these organisations will not require to carry out CRB Checks or List 99 checks, I find it deplorable that Telford & Wrekin Council DO NOT hold CRB Checks / List 99 Check Information for
 
NACRO and Mount Gilbert School
 
Telford and Wrekin Council have young vulnerable young people attending both these organisations and should have the information at hand to ensure they are not only compliant, but to ensure that Telford and Wrekin Council are sending young and vulnerable people to organisations that are staffed by people who are Checked to the required levels to ensure that they are allowed to work with vulnerable and young people.
 
This failure brings into question the whole Child Protection Procedure adopted, written by and enforced by Telford and Wrekin Council.
 
THE SACKING OF DENIS ALLEN
 
Council Leader Andrew Eade sacked Councillor Denis Allen from his position on the Cabinet for allegedly leaking information:-
 
QUESTION
 
How can a person be sacked for leaking information that does NOT exist?
 
QUESTION
 
How does Council Leader Andrew Eade intend to address and fix these procedural failings, especially those that are centred around Child Protection.
 
These are matters that not only require urgent attention, but also require fixing and answers provided to us all.
 
All information referred to has been received in writing by Telford Council Watch from Telford & Wrekin Council.
 
  
 
 
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