Yes, a lot of councils have had money invested quite sensibly in Icelandic banks and appear to have been caught out. No one can particularly blame them for that. However, I was astonished to see that Breckland Council, a small Norfolk District Council whose total expenditure is £19 million (according to their own figures), has had £12 million invested (and possibly lost) in Icelandic banks.
My initial thoughts were that there are other councils who have lost more, but as a percentage of their total spend, is there another council who has lost more than 60% of their annual expenditure ?
The other question is why have Breckland got so much of their money in one bank ? Are they not supposed to spread the money around in order to spread the risk ? I note that the EDP states that Breckland has total cash reserves of £40 million pounds, so £12m represents more than 25% of total reserves.
Showing posts with label Breckland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breckland. Show all posts
10/09/2008
7/26/2008
South Norfolk and Breckland Councils - Has someone not told them about the local governnment review ?
Norfolk local government is set for a shakeup with plans for unitary authorities or a single super council to be set up for the whole county. The problem is, nobody seems to have told South Norfolk Council or Breckland.
Breckland Council are determined to farm out some departments to outside companies (presumably meaning the staff getting farmed out would not be guaranteed an equal chance of getting jobs in the new super councils, after all only existing council staff will be considered for jobs). What utter chaos this will cause if some parts of Norfolk have farmed out their services to private companies when all the services have to be merged together.
Then there is South Norfolk, who are advertising a £100,000 a year vacancy for chief executive when the council may not exist in a few months time. Presumably South Norfolk Tories who run the council feel that allowing to the council to have an acting chief exec is not the way to go. South Norfolk electors who will have to pay the £100,000 salary (and redundancy pay presumably if the merger of the councils goes ahead) would probably disagree.
Breckland Council are determined to farm out some departments to outside companies (presumably meaning the staff getting farmed out would not be guaranteed an equal chance of getting jobs in the new super councils, after all only existing council staff will be considered for jobs). What utter chaos this will cause if some parts of Norfolk have farmed out their services to private companies when all the services have to be merged together.
Then there is South Norfolk, who are advertising a £100,000 a year vacancy for chief executive when the council may not exist in a few months time. Presumably South Norfolk Tories who run the council feel that allowing to the council to have an acting chief exec is not the way to go. South Norfolk electors who will have to pay the £100,000 salary (and redundancy pay presumably if the merger of the councils goes ahead) would probably disagree.
10/23/2007
We have enough problems raising turnout without 146,000 votes being rejected
It was evident to me very early on the night of the Scottish elections that something very odd was happening with the voting.
There were in the first few announced results an astonishingly high number of rejected ballots, and with issues in Ohio and Florida in mind, where counting machines rejected tens of thousands of votes in the US presidential elections, it seemed as if we had another scandal on our hands.
A report today concluded that Scotland's voters were let down by inadequate systems, a lack of proper education of the different methods of voting and a lack of planning and organisation by the authorities. the results was that 146,000 votes were not counted.
It is difficult enough giving people a reason to vote anyway with them thinking that their vote might not count. This hardly engenders trust in the democratic process.
Of course much more locally to me, Breckland Council used electronic counting machines which provided in one ward a completely different results from the hand counted version of the result. The report in to the Scotland fiasco concludes that counting machines were not to blame. However, it does seem odd to exonerate counting machines completely. Sometimes there is nothing better than the old, slower but fully transparent system that is the tradition way of counting votes, and that is by a human and by hand.
I am against changing the way votes are counted and think we seriously need to think about the fraud that can go on. Not perhaps as organised and "party political" as the fraud surrounding postal voting, but the fraud of the electorate that goes on by having systems in place that cannot be checked, verified or scrutinised.
There were in the first few announced results an astonishingly high number of rejected ballots, and with issues in Ohio and Florida in mind, where counting machines rejected tens of thousands of votes in the US presidential elections, it seemed as if we had another scandal on our hands.
A report today concluded that Scotland's voters were let down by inadequate systems, a lack of proper education of the different methods of voting and a lack of planning and organisation by the authorities. the results was that 146,000 votes were not counted.
It is difficult enough giving people a reason to vote anyway with them thinking that their vote might not count. This hardly engenders trust in the democratic process.
Of course much more locally to me, Breckland Council used electronic counting machines which provided in one ward a completely different results from the hand counted version of the result. The report in to the Scotland fiasco concludes that counting machines were not to blame. However, it does seem odd to exonerate counting machines completely. Sometimes there is nothing better than the old, slower but fully transparent system that is the tradition way of counting votes, and that is by a human and by hand.
I am against changing the way votes are counted and think we seriously need to think about the fraud that can go on. Not perhaps as organised and "party political" as the fraud surrounding postal voting, but the fraud of the electorate that goes on by having systems in place that cannot be checked, verified or scrutinised.
8/02/2007
Time to suspend e-voting says report
A welcome report on to the e-voting initiatives taken last May has concluded that e-voting schemes should be suspended until systems have been checked more thoroughly and security has been increased.
Given the debacle in Breckland this year where it took several days for the count to be concluded, and in one case a seat was counted manually and by e-machine, giving a significantly different result when using the machine's count rather than the verifiable human count, a question mark still hangs over the results in Breckland with many residents I know still believing most of their councillors to lack a mandate.
E- voting was intended to raise turnout. This has failed. It was intended to engage people in elections yet where it has been used the credibility of the results and the elected councillors has been questioned. In short, e-voting should be scrapped and we should stick with the tried and tested pencil and paper. It works, it is verifiable and it is trusted.
Given the debacle in Breckland this year where it took several days for the count to be concluded, and in one case a seat was counted manually and by e-machine, giving a significantly different result when using the machine's count rather than the verifiable human count, a question mark still hangs over the results in Breckland with many residents I know still believing most of their councillors to lack a mandate.
E- voting was intended to raise turnout. This has failed. It was intended to engage people in elections yet where it has been used the credibility of the results and the elected councillors has been questioned. In short, e-voting should be scrapped and we should stick with the tried and tested pencil and paper. It works, it is verifiable and it is trusted.
6/20/2007
Report slams Breckland Council's election count and questions the results
A report released today in to the fiasco that was the e-counting system employed by Breckland Council has raised questions about Breckland Council's competence in running the system, but also calls in to question the results themselves.
In one ward, a ward top be unique in the whole UK, the vote was conducted both manually and electronically. Bizarrely the electronic vote counted 56% MORE votes than the manual count.
Given the Labour lost some seats by just a handful of votes, they need to think hard about whether they have grounds to challenge the Tory Council over the way the count was conducted.
More importantly though, this should serve as a warning to any other councils contemplating such a scheme. Don't do it !
In one ward, a ward top be unique in the whole UK, the vote was conducted both manually and electronically. Bizarrely the electronic vote counted 56% MORE votes than the manual count.
Given the Labour lost some seats by just a handful of votes, they need to think hard about whether they have grounds to challenge the Tory Council over the way the count was conducted.
More importantly though, this should serve as a warning to any other councils contemplating such a scheme. Don't do it !
5/20/2007
One rule when in opposition, another when in power - That's Norfolk Tories
You can never trust a Tory ! A simple statement, but true when you look at the utter hypocrisy of the Conservatives in Norfolk.
Having argued for the right to chair the scrutiny committee in South Norfolk as the "opposition" party, upon taking power the Conservatives re-write the council's constitution in order to prevent the lib Dems, now in opposition, from having similar privileges. Breckland Tories too are removing the right of the opposition to chair scrutiny.
In Broadland, the Tories claim to be much fairer by allowing an independent to chair the scrutiny committee instead of the opposition Liberal Democrats. However, this is far from fair as the independent gets elected because the Tories do not oppose him and he is a member of the Conservative Party, so it is actually a ruse to prevent the Lib Dems getting the scrutiny role.
Can any Conservative actually justify why it is okay for the Tories to demand that they should have scrutiny chairmanships when they are in opposition but then oppose it when in power ?
Put simply, you can't trust the Tories.
5/13/2007
Can Breckland add up ?
You have to ask if Breckland Council can add up.
They face strike action from staff because the staff have been offered a 3% pay rise over 18 months, which Breckland refer to as "a cost of living increase" . Doh ! Inflation is 3%, and over 18 months this is 4.5%, and that takes no account of the retail price index, the real cost of inflation, which is higher than 3%.
Then we read THIS story here from the Eastern Daily Press which really does make you question whether Breckland Council can ass up at all.
They face strike action from staff because the staff have been offered a 3% pay rise over 18 months, which Breckland refer to as "a cost of living increase" . Doh ! Inflation is 3%, and over 18 months this is 4.5%, and that takes no account of the retail price index, the real cost of inflation, which is higher than 3%.
Then we read THIS story here from the Eastern Daily Press which really does make you question whether Breckland Council can ass up at all.
5/11/2007
What about a review of the vote count fiasco in Breckland ?
The Electoral Commission has said that it will appoint a panel of independent experts to review what went wrong in the Scottish Parliamentary elections for so many people's votes not to count.
What I want to know is why isn't this independent panel's remit widened to look at the count in Breckland and to make recommendations on whether some of the results should stand and ascertain what went wrong . Is it a case of Scotland being more important that English Districts ?
What I want to know is why isn't this independent panel's remit widened to look at the count in Breckland and to make recommendations on whether some of the results should stand and ascertain what went wrong . Is it a case of Scotland being more important that English Districts ?
5/08/2007
Iain Dale's Rules - Number 94 : Never criticise a Banana Republic when it is your own Banana Republic
Interesting to see today that Iain Dale is hailing the results in Breckland for the Tories on the same day as the Conservatives are asking for an enquiry in to the counting debacle in Scotland. What utter hypocrisy ?
In Breckland they have, according to the Eastern Daily Press, sonly just finished the count (18:05 hrs) . The Returning Officer has refused to use the e-counting machines, but was also refusing to recount votes declared last week which were done using the e-counting machines which Breckland no longer wished to use for the remainder of the count. There were in the first batch of counts last Friday some suspiciously low turnouts and some odd results for Labour. There is also a strong suspicion that the results last Friday do not accurately reflect the votes cast and it has caused all sorts of problems at the count, as the EDP reports HERE.
So in this case, in a Tory run council, we have a debacle using counting machines. Why aren't the Tories asking for an enquiry in to this ?
What surprised me about Iain Dale is that I e-mailed him details of the Breckland fiasco last week because it is such an awful mess and with his Norfolk links, I assumed (wrongly) that he would be interested. As it is, I was wrong.
So the rules is that you can hail the results from a Banana Republic if they are the results you want and you never criticise a Banana Republic so long as it is your Banana Republic. It's a shame Iain. I like your blog and whilst I don't expect political balance, I would expect some reporting of the problems in Breckland given that you are so keen to publicise the results of the count.
Update - Iain, polite as ever, has emailed me this response.
In Breckland they have, according to the Eastern Daily Press, sonly just finished the count (18:05 hrs) . The Returning Officer has refused to use the e-counting machines, but was also refusing to recount votes declared last week which were done using the e-counting machines which Breckland no longer wished to use for the remainder of the count. There were in the first batch of counts last Friday some suspiciously low turnouts and some odd results for Labour. There is also a strong suspicion that the results last Friday do not accurately reflect the votes cast and it has caused all sorts of problems at the count, as the EDP reports HERE.
So in this case, in a Tory run council, we have a debacle using counting machines. Why aren't the Tories asking for an enquiry in to this ?
What surprised me about Iain Dale is that I e-mailed him details of the Breckland fiasco last week because it is such an awful mess and with his Norfolk links, I assumed (wrongly) that he would be interested. As it is, I was wrong.
So the rules is that you can hail the results from a Banana Republic if they are the results you want and you never criticise a Banana Republic so long as it is your Banana Republic. It's a shame Iain. I like your blog and whilst I don't expect political balance, I would expect some reporting of the problems in Breckland given that you are so keen to publicise the results of the count.
Update - Iain, polite as ever, has emailed me this response.
"I have no idea who is to blame either in Scotland
5/05/2007
Breckland election count fiasco rumbles on
The Eastern Daily Press has further information about the story I raised yesterday about the fiasco happening at Breckland Council where hi tech voting systems have collapsed leaving some results announced that could be incorrect and other candidates waiting until Tuesday to find out if they have won or lost.
The returning officer, who I understand was not previously returning officer fro the council, seems to have a lot of explaining to do. My understanding is that returning officers get paid a substantial amount each year on top of their normal wages. I also note that Breckland staff are currently considering when to hold a strike due to their overwhelming opposition to an ill thought our performance related pay scheme.
I wonder if the council's performance related pay scheme should also apply to their returning officer ?
The returning officer, who I understand was not previously returning officer fro the council, seems to have a lot of explaining to do. My understanding is that returning officers get paid a substantial amount each year on top of their normal wages. I also note that Breckland staff are currently considering when to hold a strike due to their overwhelming opposition to an ill thought our performance related pay scheme.
I wonder if the council's performance related pay scheme should also apply to their returning officer ?
5/04/2007
Breckland Election Votes Fiasco
I have been sent this information about the fiaso which is the counting of votes using electronic means in Breckland. To describe it as catastrophically bad is an understatement. This needs as wide a coverage as possible.
"You may be aware of the fiasco in Breckland regarding the counting of votes, the whole process has now been abandoned until Tuesday when it is hoped all votes will be counted manually, not electronically.
Some seats have been declared, e.g. Dereham Central and Dereham Humbletoft, I think the results speak for themselves -
Dereham - Humbletoft - DISTRICT - Turnout was 13.9% yet for the Town it was 31% ! The result was declared that Labour lost the Dereham Humbletoft seat, however after raising this turnout issue for the varying turnout for the same seat with the town and district, it was discovered that a large number of votes for the District seat HAD NOT been counted!!!!
It was then admitted that an error had been made but the result still stood after the other votes had been counted.
Also look at Dereham Central - DISTRICT - Turnout 32%Dereham Central - TOWN - Turnout 15%These are DECLARED results but there is clearly something wrong with them.
The whole process today has been a complete shambles, candidates arrived at 9am to await the results and they waited all day, and then at 8.30pm the returning offer - after consulting with agents, agreed that a manual recount was the best option but staff were too tired and it wasnt fair to keep them for many more hours and also accuracy of the counting would become an issue.
At this time, around 20 of the 54 seats had been declared, but even some of the delcared ones are contentious.This has not been a good day for democracy in Thetford!
The count will continue on Tuesday, hopefully with a recount of the results declared so far - this decision is up to the returning office."
I think that says it all.
"You may be aware of the fiasco in Breckland regarding the counting of votes, the whole process has now been abandoned until Tuesday when it is hoped all votes will be counted manually, not electronically.
Some seats have been declared, e.g. Dereham Central and Dereham Humbletoft, I think the results speak for themselves -
Dereham - Humbletoft - DISTRICT - Turnout was 13.9% yet for the Town it was 31% ! The result was declared that Labour lost the Dereham Humbletoft seat, however after raising this turnout issue for the varying turnout for the same seat with the town and district, it was discovered that a large number of votes for the District seat HAD NOT been counted!!!!
It was then admitted that an error had been made but the result still stood after the other votes had been counted.
Also look at Dereham Central - DISTRICT - Turnout 32%Dereham Central - TOWN - Turnout 15%These are DECLARED results but there is clearly something wrong with them.
The whole process today has been a complete shambles, candidates arrived at 9am to await the results and they waited all day, and then at 8.30pm the returning offer - after consulting with agents, agreed that a manual recount was the best option but staff were too tired and it wasnt fair to keep them for many more hours and also accuracy of the counting would become an issue.
At this time, around 20 of the 54 seats had been declared, but even some of the delcared ones are contentious.This has not been a good day for democracy in Thetford!
The count will continue on Tuesday, hopefully with a recount of the results declared so far - this decision is up to the returning office."
I think that says it all.
4/25/2007
Labour upset over Council advertising just ten days before the elections
Labour are, according to the Eastern Daily Press, up in arms over Breckland District Council running an advertising campaign just ten days before the local elections. The campaign highlights the virtues and policies of the Tory run council.
Just to add balance, does anyone else know of any other councils that do this with tax payers money ?
Just to add balance, does anyone else know of any other councils that do this with tax payers money ?
4/24/2007
Breckland cocks it up again !
A friend phoned me this evening to ask if I knew why his colleague had received a polling card in Breckland.
"The local elections", I replied
"but his councillor was returned un-opposed !", came his reply.
Simple question then for Breckland Council. Are they delivering (and presumably paying) for polling cards to go out to wards where there is no election on May 3rd ?
"The local elections", I replied
"but his councillor was returned un-opposed !", came his reply.
Simple question then for Breckland Council. Are they delivering (and presumably paying) for polling cards to go out to wards where there is no election on May 3rd ?
1/25/2007
More criticism of Breckland Council
The Eastern Daily Press continues to do its work to dig up what is going on in Breckland Council.
Today the EDP reports that the Public Accounts Committee have looked at the issue and Richard bacon, Conservative MP for South Norfolk condemned the actions of Breckland as an "outrage".
Read more about it HERE.
Today the EDP reports that the Public Accounts Committee have looked at the issue and Richard bacon, Conservative MP for South Norfolk condemned the actions of Breckland as an "outrage".
Read more about it HERE.
1/12/2007
UPDATE - What is going on in Breckland ?
The ongoing saga of behind closed doors meetings and a perceived unwillingness to tell the whole story in Breckland is still continuing. Read the latest HERE.
I've written about this before HERE, but this all makes fascinating reading.
Now local people are saying they will not pay there council tax until Breckland Council owns up to what is going on.
There are always rumours about council cover up in which ever council area you live and under what ever party runs a council, but this one seems to be going on and on. The best way to answer it would be for the council to be as open as possible, but with confidentiality agreements signed, it is difficult.
We had a similar problem with a confidentiality agreement in North Norfolk where the council had done nothing wrong, but had signed an agreement which meant when informaiton was requested, it could not be given. We moved heaven and earth to get round this, which we did, to show full transparency and show people we had done nothing wrong.
My advice to Breckland would be to avoid wherever possible, confidentiality agreements, like the plague. The public don't liek them, and I don't blame them.
I've written about this before HERE, but this all makes fascinating reading.
Now local people are saying they will not pay there council tax until Breckland Council owns up to what is going on.
There are always rumours about council cover up in which ever council area you live and under what ever party runs a council, but this one seems to be going on and on. The best way to answer it would be for the council to be as open as possible, but with confidentiality agreements signed, it is difficult.
We had a similar problem with a confidentiality agreement in North Norfolk where the council had done nothing wrong, but had signed an agreement which meant when informaiton was requested, it could not be given. We moved heaven and earth to get round this, which we did, to show full transparency and show people we had done nothing wrong.
My advice to Breckland would be to avoid wherever possible, confidentiality agreements, like the plague. The public don't liek them, and I don't blame them.
1/03/2007
What has Breckland Council got to hide ?
Interesting goings on still at Breckland District Council. The Chief executive leaves after being investigated. The results of the investigation have not been published, meanwhile, costs continue to mount up for council tax payers .
The Eastern Daily Press has done a series of reports on the problems there, but are now using the Freedom of Information Act to try and get the real information.
It could all be very innocent of course.
Read all about it HERE.
The Eastern Daily Press has done a series of reports on the problems there, but are now using the Freedom of Information Act to try and get the real information.
It could all be very innocent of course.
Read all about it HERE.
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