Posted on Friday, 1st July 2016 | 10 Comments One of the outcomes from Monday’s secret meeting (in-camera) was how they propose to deal with the possible publication of the document. Once out of ‘camera’, the chairman proclaimed, “We will create a working party made up of councillors and they will decide if the document should be published! If we do publish, the document will be redacted. At that point we will also answer the questions put by a resident. Will this working party be impartial? When asked by a councillor if the working party would contain non-councillors, there was an unequivocal NO from the Chairman and another councillor. So no, it will NOT be impartial it will be made up of councillors only. Just so we are clear, a working party can be made up of non-councillors. Will this be a fair and honest way to resolve this crises? During Mondays meeting one councillor questioned councillor’s impartiality, since the majority of those sitting around the table had apparently sent letters to the complaints committee giving their full unreserved support to the councillor named in the document. So we are clear of what that represents. These are the same people who voted NOT to publish the document in the first place. They are unlikely to be impartial a second time around. Have councillors actually read this document and do they fully appreciate the ramifications, should they continue to try to avoid publication. Abusive behaviour is unacceptable and each councillor should ask themselves “would they accept the same treatment?” As stated previously, this would have been nothing more than an embarrassment for councillors. But they have gone far beyond that now. Whilst continually trying to avoid publication they show their contempt towards those they serve – the residents of Melbourn. They have followed the direction of the chairman of the council to what can only be seen as the eventual destruction of this parish council. So what are they trying to hide?
All decisions (resolutions ) of Town/Parish Councils must be published. If the working party decided something, it can only be a recommendation that a full council meeting should resolve to abide by. Furthermore, the parish Cllrs cannot create their own terms of reference for dealing with FOI’s – the council must comply with the FOI act 2000. Settting up working parties is an old chestnut designed to blur accountability and avoid any form of recording what took place being released. Reply
Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership The Nolan principles of public life Melbourn parish council are all very familiar with the above. May we, as residents, and therefore the people in whose best interest you are supposed to act implore you to find a conscience and put the above into practice. Reply
Unbelievable, disgraceful, shambolic oh how the adjectives could go on. Melbourn Parish Council simply cannot be allowed to continue withholding information, citing phrases such as “commercially sensitive” and “not in the public interest” as a smokescreen. The public are increasingly aware and will not rest until answers are given!! Reply
And it felt to me like there was further embarrassment around the table this evening. Delivering transparency would address this. Reply
Sadly, in Melbourn, ‘apathy rules’. Yes! People do get involved with village life, there are plenty of volunteers and helpful groups that prove that. But when it comes to council issues people just moan. Most of the time it’s outside of council, they rarely attend meetings or write to complain. Usual reasons ‘nothing will be done’. Truth is, when you look at what is going on with this disgraceful behaviour, it’s difficult to argue. However, Mondays meeting proved that there is an appetite to deal with series issues that are nothing less than scandalous. I would suggest residents who believe this document is ‘public property’, write to the Parish Council demanding to see a copy under the Freedom of Information Act, which is their right. It has already been declared a public document by the council’s advisory body CAPALC and a legal representative. As the previous correspondence said, the public will not go away, so if those councillors feel they are safe from any further embarrassment, they are very much mistaken. Reply
How insulting that the Parish Council said on 27th June they will decide what they tell us and when about this report. Are the public aware that the report was first presented to the Parish Council by the investigation panel at a Parish Council meeting held on 16th May? See agenda for the meeting on their website. Here we are 7 weeks later and still no further forward. This report is definitely in the public interest as it concerns a public body, who are accountable to us and is about allegations of wrongdoing so end of discussion, it should be disclosed! Do the right thing Melbourn Parish Council. Reply
I dont think the public realised how bad things are until they started coming in force to council meetings after the shock resignations by several councillors protesting at the parish council’s behaviour. Someone has shown courage in complaining and obviously serious wrongdoing has been found – as made clear by the report being hidden. This council seems influenced by self importance not what is best for the community. As a result of this complaint there has appalling behaviour with false allegations to try and discredit others to protect the guilty – and worse. The public will not go away until we see this report. Reply
This sounds more like a school playground scenario ‘my gangs bigger than yours’. Do those who voted not to publish really believe that what they are doing is right and what has been done in their name is acceptable? I cannot believe that 8 people are so intimidated by one person and incapable of standing up for themselves. That makes them cowards and shame on them if that is so. ? Reply
I am aware that not all members of Melbourn Parish Council voted to not publish the report, however 8 Councillors against 3 Councillors will always win ? And this out-voting will continue until either those who think that intimidating behaviour is acceptable realise they are also being intimidated or people who know what is going on is wrong feel strong enough to put themselves forward to be either voted or co-opted onto Melbourn Parish Council – at least then the voting could get to 8 vs 7. And just maybe then any Councillors balancing precariously ‘on the fence’ could choose to join the ‘transparency’ side. Despite feeling despair, I live in hope ? Reply
Is this for real or do we have yet another blog for someone to attempt to show of their writing skills. If this is true then there is something wrong with your council and why does the public stand for it. Surely they have a say. Reply