Friday 23 July 2010

Bowles: Anglesey Council was "teetering dangerously" close to Assembly takeover last month

Although the context is not clear, there is an interesting interview of sorts with Anglesey County Council interim MD, David Bowles, in today's Daily Post in which he makes some interesting comments:

  • The recovery is fragile but the Council is now more stable than it was 12 months ago
  • Apparently Anglesey Council was "teetering dangerously" close to an Assembly take over last month, presumably in the days immediately leading up to and after the formation of the new Alliance;
  • Since taking up the post last year, Bowles has been handed 18 allegations against members and officers yet every single one of them was "unsubstantiated". Bowles states: "There has been nothing of substance in any of the cases. These malicious allegations are corrosive and damaging. They give a perception of corruption". Forgive my cynicism but can there really be that much smoke without even a little tiny bit of fire? I personally feel that the healing process the Council needs to go through both internally and with the wider Anglesey public would be better served if at least one allegation of wrongdoing was symbolically followed through in a public manner.
  • If the Alliance fails forcing the Welsh Assembly Government to send in Commissioners then the independence of the Council could be lost forever as the Assembly would probably seek to reduce the total number of local authorities in Wales, meaning Anglesey would be once again absorbed into a greater Gwynedd County Council.
  • Bowles says if this happens " it would be a huge shame for Anglesey if it lost its council. If the council was lost then the island’s voice would be lost in a bigger authority. This would not be good for the people of Anglesey, everyone would suffer". I completely agree.
  • As is known from the FoI request into Bowles' salary, he is on a one year contract with an option to extend for a second year. In his interview with the Daily Post Bowles states he is committed to assisting Anglesey for two years "although the second year may not be as MD". One can only assume from these remarks that the Welsh Assembly - which will continue to appoint the MD until after the next local elections in 2011 - are planning to appoint a more permanent MD sometime over the next months and have Bowles remain as advisor and mentor to him for all or a portion of Bowles second year. Presumably Anglesey tax payers will then be paying the salary of two MDs...

114 comments:

Anonymous said...

Has Bowles forgotten about his impeccable Lynn Ball? She turned ut to be a bit less than impeccable on planning matters; why should we then think Bowles is right to say other officers are perfect?

Make no mistake, as soon as the Assembly pressure starts to ease a little, the bad eggs will start to stink again. Where are the replies to the manifesto? Apart from the rapid reply from McGregor, most of the rest continue in silence, contemptuous of the 'little people' on whom they feed.

Anonymous said...

Bowles is in for one hall of a shock.

Anonymous said...

Yes, you have to watch out from the halls, keep out of them halls Mr Bowles.

Which although unintentional, is in certain parts, probably good advice for him.... "This hall is for village people"....

Anonymous said...

ONLY A SUBSTANTIAL CLEAROUT ELECTION WILL REMEDY THIS PROBLEM !!!

The Great Councillini said...

It's worrying that Bowles again implies that any complaint is in his view 'malicious'. He has hinted at such intolerance of complaints previously, and had to issue a clarification on the council web site as a result of alarm expressed on this blog.

I am sure Bowles does not intend to claim that all the complaints sent to him have been done so maliciously, and that some at the vert least have been sincere concerns. Sadly his language does tend towards an attempt to silence any and all complaints.

Anonymous said...

Bowles is a hard nut troubleshooter, who we desperately need in Anglesey.
But he should distinguish between justifiably attacking the elected troublemakers, who undoubtedly need firm handling....and professionally dealing with substantiated complaints aginst Officers. He needs to use different tools for the different jobs.

Anonymous said...

@ 11.01

It won't work people keep re-electing them so we'll still be in the same postition, otherwise they would have been gone long ago

Anonymous said...

The Druid said "I personally feel that the healing process the Council needs to go through both internally and with the wider Anglesey public would be better served if at least one allegation of wrongdoing was symbolically followed through in a public manner."

and

the Great Councillini says

It's worrying that Bowles again implies that any complaint is in his view 'malicious'

a bit like the famous tape a certain Councillor claims he has but refuses to allow an independent observer to hear.

...not letting go...

Anonymous said...

11,25 I agree...that is the reason why the Druid`s Blog and its socio-political value needs to be promoted and highlighted to the 60K inhabitants of Anglesey...most of whom are possibly unaware of this unique platform for debate and scrutiny....if all of the Island`s inhabitants followed the Druid, I venture to suggest there would be substantial agreement and consensus about what needs to be done with IACC.

Anonymous said...

I think for what's it worth our problem arises from men older than say fifty, of not great height, bum low to ground, big belly some times, narrowed eyed failures, who never smile and think they rule the world.

We should really let them wrestle nude in the mud of their own making, because they deserve no more.

Anonymous said...

13.50
Interesting description of a fat little dwarf, possibly with a short man syndrome...we know who you mean...come to think of it, we know many such small men, who are intent on causing havoc.
Do all such small men suffer from some sort of inferiority complex, such that they insist on making a complete nuisance of themselves to compensate for their physical and mental deficiencies ?

Anonymous said...

It was lloyd George who said, in response to an insult about his short height,"In Wales, we measure our men from the chin up..."

Anonymous said...

@14.18

Our Councillors must be very short then if measured from the chin up as they have nothing above eye level, ha!

Anonymous said...

14;18
Name them.

Anonymous said...

Having now gone public to accuses people of making unsubstantiated allegations against members and officers since taking post, he should now name those he accuses and make known what those unsubstantiated allegations are.

This is very important for the recovery of the Council. As it stands, the only problem we can see is David Bowles's constant attacks on members. I suggest that David Bowles either puts up or shuts up.

Anonymous said...

Anon 16:48

A bit touchy, so to speak

or have you had a humour bypass

Anonymous said...

Anon 17:03

I thought one person already named by Mr Bowles for making unsubstantiated allegations was Cllr Durkin.

Maybe Mr Bowles is right, it's like the tape Cllr Durkin claims he has, but refuses to disclose.

Cllr Durkin said he was going to sue, but we have heard nothing since then, all hot air maybe ?

Anonymous said...

It is quite obvious by now that David Bowles is not a trouble shooter but a trouble maker.

He say's that "We are winning the battle at strife-hit council" nothing could be further from the truth. The council is in a worse state now than it's ever been with David Bowles and Clive McGregor as the Chief Stokers. Stirred up by the likes of John Chorlton and Eifion Jones.

This latest public attack, just one of many, shows the depth's a socio-path will go to suit his own ends.

I agree with 17:03 put up or shut up.

Anonymous said...

Yes and a question we can also ask of Cllr Durkin about all the allegations he has made especially about the famous tape... put up or shut up...

Anonymous said...

Druid.
Much of the Anon comments are bringing your Blog Site into disrepute, with such abusive trash. I think you can do much better than allow such human degradation to take president of what is undoubtedly the best bog site in Wales

me anon said...

Which abusive trash are you referring to I wonder ?

Alan Llangefni. said...

My view is that all those who make derogatory comments using Anon, to hide their identity are gutless no-bodies, either that, or has bin/wan-a-bee councillors.
What do you say Druid, your the one that allows it?

Anonymous said...

The fact as David Bowles puts it "At Lincolnshire Council, 10 times the size of Anglesey, he would get a handful of allegations a year" where as in Anglesey he has receive 18 since arriving.

Does that not show, compared with Lincolnshire Council, Anglesey County Council is rife with corruption?

Anonymous said...

Unsubstantiated allegations

1. Response (extract) from the Councils TPO 27 January 2009

"As I have said I am avoiding the issue of the Invoices because they are nothing to do with me. You quite clearly imply in your e.mails that I have destroyed your clients business by keeping photocopies of invoices in our office. Can you expand on this and clarify exactly what you mean please as I sense a very serious allegation here which I flatly refute. If you are in any way insinuating that I am involved in the alleged falsifying of invoices then I can tell you that you are totally barking up the wrong tree and I will take the matter further with our solicitor" END

Discovered in November 2009 -E.mail 21 October 2008 from TPO to Builders Secretary (Redacted on the Council list of documents but leaked by accident)translated from Welsh to English. Hence the five late appearing false invoices.

Quote -

"Hia (Secretarys first name)"

"Would you please send me a copy of the invoices that we discussed last week on the phone"

If you remember there was an invoice that was not belonging to this job, I need som sort of explanation from you that a mistake has been made in order to silence Mr Pierce`s accountant. I also need invoices for the £29,375 (12.4.07) £17,625 (5.5.07) £10,299 (2.7.07) £10,299.92 (2.7.07) £8,450.07 (6.12.07) As you know the numbers of the invoices are all ways and therefore it is neccesary to sort this outby putting the correct number in () after the original number.

I also need a copy of the test certificates for the electrician if you please.

Also I need your confirmation that the snagging work has been finished, all of it, that includes everything that was on the list that you have had since the start of the year.

Cheerio for now

TPO END

(Well, no one else e.mailed the builder 18 months late asking for five "false" invoices as the TPO put it. Had the invoices been on file they would have been produced befor January 2009. The builder was on a "snag list" in July 2007.

I know why they were raised too. To tie in with the explanations given to the applicant in October 2008 letter )




G. Pierce

Anonymous said...

continued

2. IOACC Contact Report dated 12.10.07 quoting the builder - "I have one days work left and I am owed £27,000"
(Council had £27,200 approx left in residule for a snag list)
(The builder then received £8,450.07 in December 2007 after relaying a floor, leaving £18,750 in residule for a snag list)

Internal Audit Report March 2009 Quote - "Records show that a sum of £76,049 has been paid to date leaving a balance figure of £52,308 outstanding/due upon completion of all the works. With a grant aided figure of £18,750 to be further paid, this would leave a sum of £33,558 owing by the applicant"

3. Discovered on file in November 2009 - Internal Memorandum from Corporate Director of Housing & Social Services to Director of Finance 4.07.07
Quote " Please pay the FIRST instalment of Empty Homes Grant on the above of £10,299.92 together with the applicant`s contribution of £NIL making a total of £10,299.92.END

The document above that IOACC sent me in September 2008, (after numerous requests for confirmation of this Council payment since January 2008) had another document copied over the top and I could not see the £NIL.

After reading the following extract from IOACC in August 2004
Quote " The grant will be based on the quality of the units provided and those which fully meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standards. Landlords who sign up to 10 year nomination agreement will be considered for 100% grant up to a maximum £20,000 per unit" END

and the only evidence of measured work being £35,250 as of 2 July 2007 when on a snag list. I can quite believe that I had no HRG contribution to make.

The Theft Act offers no refuge for those who duplicate invoices, change serial numbers and dates, tippex interim numbers, conceal cost analysis and financial data, and on these basis prepare false draft cost analysis and publish four Internal Audit reports when questioned.

G. Pierce

Anonymous said...

G.Pierce
Yes, thank you Mr Pierce...again...we have just about had enough of you and your particular problem...be off with you....there are other places that you should take your complaint to, justified, or not.
Enough !
You are bringing this blog into disrepute and people are dozing off.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Pierce

We all support you, post what you want, where you want, I have got problems with people who are deaf and blind, we call them cabbages, in Anglesey they call them bradwyr, Cyngor Y Bradwyr, remember thet see nothing, hear nothing and do nothing, keep it up, we need to hear your voice as well as read all your complaints, that's why we WON'T be gagged!!

Anonymous said...

17.17
An odd comment....how is it that Councillors Chorlton and Jones are stirrers,so called, when they have been brought in from the opposition, as an aid to Recovery, to provide a balance against the absolute idiots who held Exec positions previously...sounds like sour grapes by anon for being deprived of his snout in the trough...perhaps ??
If we are wrong, kindly educate us ?

Anonymous said...

19.26
You are all entitled to your opinion...but at this rate such repetitive regurgitated micro-detail will degenerate this blog into oblivion....and many will switch off. Pity, really.

Anonymous said...

19.26...what part of ENOUGH do you not understand ??

Anonymous said...

I want to ask David Bowles a direct question, seeing he's such a hot shot trouble shooting sheriff sent from the Welsh Assembly.

When you decide to support the Llais I fon group, and all of it's hot shot trouble shooting members, approved and rubber stamped by the Welsh Assembly.

Will the new group Llais I Fon, respect the Human Rights Act when it comes to complaints by members of the Public againsy members or employees of your Council?

Does the Human Rights Act apply to the people of Anglesey? If you say, yes it does!! Then why do the people of Anglesey have so many compliants about the way they have been treated by your Council?

If that is too many questions, just answer the first one, the second one, we already know, the answer is simple, the people of Anglesey are NOT treated fairly when they have complaints, the biggest problem is the lack of RESPECT due to the people, by YOU and the Council.

Huw Terry

Anonymous said...

19:39

If the man want's to speak let him speak, we are all entitled. if you don't want to read or help, all Gwyn Pierce wants is a bit of help and support, it might be you, one day.

Anonymous said...

19.43
In answer to Huw, since he should not expect any response from DB...of course, IACC abides by the HRAct...every local government body does so...so we suggest Huw obtains a copy of the Act (Google it ?) and reads it ??
In case of not understanding its provisions, say so here, and many of us will enlighten him, I`m sure ?

Anonymous said...

To anon 19.05

Theft Act 1968 Section 17 . False accounting


(1) Where a person dishonestly, with a view to gain for himself or another or with
intent to cause loss to another,-
(a) destroys, defaces, conceals or falsifies any account or any record or
document made or required for any accounting purpose; or
(b) in furnishing information for any purpose produces or makes use of any account, or any such record or document as aforesaid, which to his knowledge is
or may be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular;
he shall, on conviction on indictment, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
seven years.
(2) For purposes of this section a person who makes or concurs in making in an account or other document an entry which is or may be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular, or who omits or concurs in omitting a material particular from an
account or other document, is to be treated as falsifying the account or document.

Anonymous said...

19.47......thank you ...its just that its so long-winded and repetitive, people don`t bother to read the micro-detail...me for one...we have heard it all before....there are more effective ways to press your complaint ?
Help is not to be found here, only sympathy. I have sympathy, but can`t help him.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Llais I Fon, understand that the code of conduct and code of behaviour is at odds with the social values of the way we want things to change here.

Maybe they think that what they want is what the people want?

I don't think so, the people will remember the way Bowles has steam rolled over this Island, squashing the people's rights, and helping the culprits get away with their past behaviour, money, grants, planning permissions, lack of jobs, no future, poor housing, inept leadership, poor policy, poor council, poor you, poor me, poor old democracy!

Anonymous said...

19:53 was written by Huw Terry, forgot to add my name, don't want to be called a bad blogger, shit happens.
Huw Terry

Anonymous said...

I think the leaked E.Mail from the TPO is damning evidence and the reason it was marked as "redacted"

Anonymous said...

Keep the thread alive.
David Bowles.

We are watching your decisions, and waiting to hear your reponse to the Human Rights Act and the People of Anglesey, it's not that hard, treating people with respect, all you've got to do is be nice, for a change.

Question for the Human Rights man, if a Local Government state that a land owner had an enforcment notice, then later retract that statement, because it was a crock of shit concocted to make the business worthless, is that a breach of human rights?

Is it interferring with property?

There are a load of these ficticious Enforcement Notices about, and a lot of people are waiting to see the reply, so take your time and be careful.

Bowles is screaming at the computer screen, Nooooooooooo!!

Anonymous said...

20:02, Huw Terry, wife nagging while I was typing! wumen!

Anonymous said...

This blog has become the home of the bored and the boneheads ?
With one or two exceptions, comments are not taken seriously any more. Pity.

Legal said...

20.02
Whatever the facts of each case, there are appeals provisions...consult the professionals....ask around !!
Professionals challenge and appeal enforcement actions every day, with success..here in Anglesey...open your eyes, and let there be light !
You need help...you will not succeed on your own.

Legal said...

On the issue of Planning Enforcement...IACC`s team of 4 officers take their task very seriously...often too seriously...sometimes too aggressively....but thats how they see their duty....other Council`s enforcement teams act the same way.
Each enforcement case is different, and needs to be defended differently....often the offender is in the wrong...often he is not, and can be effectively defended....there is hope.

Legal said...

On the issue of Planning Enforcement...IACC`s team of 4 officers take their task very seriously...often too seriously...sometimes too aggressively....but thats how they see their duty....other Council`s enforcement teams act the same way.
Each enforcement case is different, and needs to be defended differently....often the offender is in the wrong...often he is not, and can be effectively defended....there is hope.

Anonymous said...

I think what you are saying is that the council said that you had an Enforcement Notice, obviously this would be on official paper and now you find that there isn't one, and it was one massive lie, the obviously, they have breached your Human Rights, your right to enjoy your property, the English wouldn't let this happen, so let me guess, your Welsh, I think you may have a case for racial discrimination there as well, can you post a copy of the letter here, is it genuine, from legal, managing director or planning or all of them?

Anonymous said...

I think I've heard of this before, wasn't it sent to the MP for Anglesey at the time, and the MP wouldn't help because he had a letter from IOACC stating that there was an Enforcement Notice, yet NONE existed! Please get the druid to paste the letter here, is it from balls up??

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter how many enforcement officers they have, they are all worthless if this is found to be a lie!!

Why are they still there??
Does the bearded sheriff know? or doesn't he give a shit!

Legal said...

They would not say there was an enforcement notice unless there was one....formally served....and you would recognise it if you saw one, I assure you !!
Too much vagueness here to guide you properly.

Anonymous said...

Well someone here has had an Enforcement Notice and it doesn't exist this smells funny. Does Bowles know or is he covering it up?
If it doesn't exist then whatever the issue was is null and void, they must have used it to destroy the business. BREACH OF HUMAN RIGHTS OLD BOY!

Anonymous said...

From the mainland you all sound ridiculous - its the taxpayers of Gwynedd who have most to fear from a shot-gun re-organisation that would see us shackled to the dead weight of Mon!

Maybe Mr Bowles could open negotiations with one of the Irish councils or the Isle of Man to see if they'd like to take you over instead?

Anonymous said...

The Irish link up could really be a runner for you - with the serious aerial threat to these isles which the Druid fears (see previous post), maybe Mon could also strike a deal with Dublin so that the RAF could practice over the Wicklow rather than Snowdonia in return for "protection".

Ireland could also possibly benefit from the "safe and secure" electricity supply which your nuclear power station could offer them - God knows how they've managed so far without one of these fantastic inventions!

Anonymous said...

With the recent news about Holyhead being an insecure port, doesn't that make Wylfa or Valley a juicy target?

Or are security arrangements at the port none of our business.

Insider again said...

Well done Mr Pierce.

You have nothing to fear. If and when David Bowles, is stupid enough to make his well publicised complaints to the Ombudsman against Cllr Durkin, does he not realise that he'll be giving Cllr Durkin the opportunity he's being waiting for, to expose the whole bent lot in public.

Does he not realise that this is Precisely what Cllr Durkin has been waiting for?

What ever happens this council and some of it's senior officers are in for a very rough time.

Anonymous said...

You have nothing to fear, Mr Pierce.
Planning Scams.
Grant Frauds.
Illegal payments to Councillors.
Lies and Deception.
Planning Officers signing off their own planning approval.
Lies given to get Senior Cllr planning permission.
Malfeasance in public office
The Lynn Ball affair.
Meetings in car parks.
The Craigwen land scam.
Thefts of fuel.
Misuse of public funds.
Conspiracy to cover up criminal activies
etc. etc. etc.
All coved-up by Bowles. Well that's what he thinks.
To say that some senior officers are in for a very rough time, must be the understatement of the year, and all down to the McGregor, Bowles cover-up circus.

Anonymous said...

Is it true that the police from an outside force is in the IOACC, investigating serious criminal allegations against a very senior Councillor and several Officers?
Does any one know if this is true?

Anonymous said...

"Interim MD David Bowles said he supported the naming of two councillors- who have been accused of damaging the recovery process"

To my recollection it is he who has being doing the naming at every public opportunity along with McGregor.

There is no doubt that intervention was necessary, particularly in the way the council had been run since 1996. But to send such a nasty piece of work as Bowles, has done nothing for the WAG creditability or those responsible .

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all the kind words and thank you Druid for allowing me to expose the inner workings of IOACC Grants Department and Internal Audit.

Those who speak ill of what I am doing, you have your own opinions and I must respect that also.

G. Pierce

Anonymous said...

It is now a fact that David Bowles has authorised, in an act of Malfeasance, up to £70.000 of Public money to pay for outside legal advice and to put a bogus Ombudsman complaint together against Cllr Durkin.

However Bowles's constant public ridicule and vindictive attitude plus breaches of Human Rights in the "Terms of Engagement" against Cllr Durkin, has made any complaint so impaired by prejudice that it won't even see the light of day.

One only needs to look at all the letters David Bowles has made public and the antagonism he has created to see this man is not a full shilling and should be removed from office immediately.

The Great Councillini said...

What Article, exactly, of the Human Rights Act are you claiming the Council is in breach?

Anonymous said...

" The recovery is fragile but the Council is now more stable than it was 12 months ago...

2. Anglesey Council was "teetering dangerously" close to an Assembly take over last month..."

How unstable were things 12 months ago if they were worse than 'dangerously close' to a takeover? Very dangerously close? Very very dangerously close?

Legal said...

It is known that the new coalition Exec does its best, and is actually doing rather well, in difficult circumstances...despite the constant underminings of, not just the 2 named obstructives....the 2 are merely the tip of an iceberg of others..who remain covertly determined to frustrate recovery.
The cancer has not gone away !!

Anonymous said...

David Borles is the Boss, the boss is the one wo always gets knowcked but still he gets on with his job.

David Bowles deals with the issues and does not didge the issues, talking of dodging the issues, do you remeber these words

" remember the Penrhyn Point issue? in the same way the "tape" issue has been dodged."

Legal said...

9.22 Please explain, what is the penrhyn Point issue....please be specific ?

Anonymous said...

It's nothing more than the misinformed comments of a twisted mind.

Anonymous said...

Yesterdays article in the Post revealed that David Bowles, had been handed 18 "unsubstantiated" allegations.

How many of those allegations are attributed to Clive McGregor who has made some the worst "unsubstantiated" allegations of all, and is there a complaint going to the ombudsman about him? Or doesn't his matter?

Legal said...

9.44 "Unsubstantiated" ??
An easy word to use....but!!
How does he "know" if they are unsubstantiated...by what test of proof...have they been so tested...by whom....according to what criteria.....so its not such an easy word to justify !
Use it sparingly.

Anonymous said...

9.22....are you going to respond, with specificity ??

Anonymous said...

Lets not forget.
When we attack the honesty and integrity of someone like Cllr Durkin, particularly those he has already justifiably exposed in the Shepherds hill, Planning and Land scams and their failure to declare their interests in other applications. You are treading on very dangerous ground.

Anonymous said...

Clive McGregor has been the most prolific complainant against Council Officers than anyone.
Once a devious Copper always a devious Copper.

Anonymous said...

Lets hope, when the so-called complains are made to the Ombudsman, they will be made public, so that we the long suffering people can follow the case and watch with our own eyes Cllr Durkin Rip the Bas...ds to pieces one by one.

The Great Councillini said...

"Lets hope, when the so-called complains are made to the Ombudsman, they will be made public"

If any of them are the subject of an investigation by the Ombudsman (not all complaints will meet the criteria for investigation), then the document will be made public under almost all circumstances, although most low-level matters are not publicised, but are available upon request by any member of the public (the Ombudsman web site lists all complaints).

Anonymous said...

10:35.
Clive McGregor has been the most prolific complainant against Council Officers than any one!

Give us an example.

Anonymous said...

I don't believe it! I've just looked out of my window over here on the mainland and witnessed the whole of Anglesey just suddenly disappear up its own gigantic backside (Holyhead)!

Are you all still out there somehere throwing allegations at each other in a distant parallel universe I wonder?

O well, I suppose the rest of Wales will just have to find something else to be mildly amused / perplexed by I suppose.

Anonymous said...

Love the humour. Lets have more, mainland.

Anonymous said...

Right, no need to bore the Ombudsman - as an outsider new to this blog, I've trawled through all the evidence with a fine forensic toothcomb and I've conclusively deduced that it was the butler wot did it, in the library with the candilabra.

Oh, and that the devil made him do it.

Anonymous said...

15:52
Thanks. But we all new that months ago. What we want to know is. Who stole the candelabra?

Anonymous said...

15:52 My dear Watson, the candelabra is the key to all of this, and it's located in one of two places - under the runway at Valley or in the reactor at Wylfa.

Islanders therefore have two options - shut down Wylfa and Valley and solve this dastardly mystery that's eating you all up, or learn to leave the past in its grave and move on together.

Anonymous said...

Whilst we're at it, Peter Rogers are my hamster

Insider. said...

10:35
Give us an example.
Part one.

Dear Mr Jones.
Dealing with the issues contained in the PWC draft Annual Letter, our conversation was not as simplistic as the question regarding the PWC findings outlined regarding Graigwen. Graigwen is only one of several issues highlighted by PWC where this Authority has serious Corporate Governance Issues. I do believe that it is time for this administration to move on, Anglesey has a number of problems which this Executive is anxious to do something about.

As a new Councillor and Executive Member, I have been dismayed by the obvious distrust shown to us by Senior Officers. There have been no attempts to brief us on the commitments made by the previous administration.

An example of this was the Social Services overspend and the ramifications that followed in getting Consultants to determine what had gone wrong. In fact the position has not been resolved, there is an overspend yet again on the current budget and there is talk of some improvement plan to rectify the situation.

A further example was the Ombudsman's report on Housing Benefit maladministration. To tell the ruling group on the day of publication is careless and most contemptuous. These issues were raised with you.

I did say to you that the 2006/2007 Annual letter made reference to member/officer conflict. This was incorrect as you pointed out to me, I now confirm that the 2006/2007 letter referred only to member conflict. The Annual letter for 2007/2008 does specifically refer to member/officer conflict.

Insider said...

Part two.

As this letter covers part of our Administration, it pains me greatly but doesn't surprise me given that the issues surrounding Graigwen has eroded whatever trust and confidence there might be between the ruling Administration and certain members of the Corporate Management Team. It may be that we require a Police Investigation into the issue as offences of Malfeasance in Public Office would appear to be made out. It is then and only then that confidence in the Isle of Anglesey County Council would be apparent.

The current Executive were not given an opportunity by you to formally respond to the draft Annual letter. It is my understanding that members of the Executive prior to 1st May 2008 were given a briefing by you as to it's content. If this is correct, it is a matter of grave concern that the impartiality of the Senior Officers have been compromised.

Your sincerely

Councillor Clive McGregor.

After that very strong letter what happened. NOTHING, save for the fact that Clive McGregor capitulated his honesty and integrity and joined the ever growing gang of David Bowles's backside Licker's to save himself being complained of to the Ombudsman. even if what he had to say is true.

Anonymous said...

LEGAL 09.30

Pls look at
A closer look at Llais i Fôn and Cllr Everett's responses

19th July 21.47 is a photograph
19th July 23.23 are some details

Anonymous said...

Anon 09.33 Guess it is you, the one who ignored ones reponsibility and duty, lever mind we are used to all the lies you come out with

Anonymous said...

21:57.
Your comments say's it all. I rest my case.

Anonymous said...

22.56 Did someone give you a case to look into I wonder

Anonymous said...

God you lot go on and on and on and on......

Anonymous said...

10.38
Yes, it makes a lot of people feel better....therapy of some unknown sort, we suppose !

Anonymous said...

10:38 Is it really "a lot of people" though or just a few people a lot of the time?

Anonymous said...

12:45.
You hit the nail right on the head. Just a very few people leading a very sad life.

Anonymous said...

Reading David Bowles article from the Post, I am find it very difficult to come to any other conclusion than the man is completely off his rocker.
What sort of a sane person would find it necessary to attack and abuse a leading member of our society without a shred of evidence, other than saying he's going to complain to the Ombudsman about him?
If we all when around doing that, there would be anarchy and having read David Bowles's other Public out busts it appears that's exactly what he is, an Anarchist. If he thinks he's going to achieve what's required at Anglesey County Council with his sort of mentality the man not just mad he's Barking.

Anonymous said...

Anyone in a position of power not unlike David Bowles and his side kick Clive McGregor, who supports any abuse of the Human Rights Acts should be taken to task and sent packing.

Cllr Barrie Durkin. said...

In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a communist. The they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I did not speak up, because I was not a Catholic. Then they came for me....and by that time, there was no one to speak up for anyone.
-- Martin Niemoeller, Pastor,
German Evangelical (Lutheran) Church

Anonymous said...

That is very true, in Anglesey we were sent an Irish man Gibbons, who sent us an englishman Bowles, His puppy Mcgegor another englishman, all we are doing is defending ourselves, fighting to protect the legal and human rights of the Welsh People in our own country, that's all.

Anonymous said...

Human Rights for the Welsh People please! And not just for the councillor and employess of this council.

Cllr Barrie Durkin. said...

20:34.
Your so right. That's why a stand must be made now.

As an elected Member, I have a public duty not just to my Constituents, but to all the people of Anglesey and in the true spirit of the Council's Constitution, where I see injustice I shall raise it. Where I see breaches of the Human Rights Acts, I shall raise them. Where I see dishonesty in public office I shall raise it.

That was one of my election pledges and I'm standing by it.

There are a few who just don't like it, degrading themselves by making nasty remarks. Then there's Clive McGregor the Leader of the Council, having made unsubstantiated complaints against officers and David Bowles using all sorts of spurious tactic's against others who have had the audacity to raise well proven issues, just to cover them up.

Well I say bring it on. But first and foremost give us our Human Rights.

Anonymous said...

Cllr Durkin, can we take it that the gloves are off and in your time honoured way, you'll be talking NO prisoners? Here's hopping so.

We need to rid of these things for good.

The Great Councillini said...

Human Rights; yes, we get it. But nobody seems to have answered the question I asked much earlier: what article of the HRA aer you claiming is being breached by the Council?

To me, it seems you have latched onto a popular term (Human Rights) and have no idea why it is, exactly, you are using it. On that basis, your claim of having your human rights infringed are on the same par as the infamous tape - groundless.

Anonymous said...

Anon 25 July 2010 20:32

You are a paranoid racist with very little intelligence....what a showcase for Wales....well done.

Anonymous said...

The great...

You assume to much for someone who is in the main a negative person.

The Great Councillini said...

10:40. Woooh! Cryptic comments. We'll move on...

I'm as bad as anyone else for drifting off-topic on occasion. But this Cllr. Durkin business is really out of hand now and is doing this blog no favour at all. It's abundantly clear that, no matter how good your case, Cllr. Durkin, that all we are seeing is hundreds of to-and-fro postings that is very tiring by now.

Perhaps I might humbly suggest that, in keeping with good governance practice, that everyone bandying the Durkin story about might stop and adopt the 'Anglesey and its people first' approach.

Whilst we have an interest in any wrongdoing at the Council, this is, to the people of Anglesey, just as the Auditor general said about the Graigwen issue, of little direct importance.

LEGAL said...

The GC 7.46
Couldn`t agree more.
Counc.Durkin and his band of supporters have hijacked this blog beyond what is healthy. Lets respectfully leave it/him at that, and move on to healthier and more constructive and positive matters.
There is substantial work to be done, by the Exec, the Rec.Board, the Officers....and US the people of Anglesey....who should lead the process....afterr all we are the ELECTORATE.

Anonymous said...

The above was said in 1998 too. Look where it got the Council.
It got its name as the worst, most corrupt Council in Wales. Proven.

Mud sticks, sorry. Get rid, start afresh.

Anonymous said...

Yes Get rid, but until those in power appear to be in a position to influence what goes on this Blog, you will continue to get just one side of the story.

Anonymous said...

16.07
I agree....I have said repeatedly, but no-one seems to listen...the only permanent solution is an ABSOLUTE CLEAROUT.... an ELECTION...in which all present Members will not be welcomed to stand....and if they do... we`ll be excused for regarding them with CONTEMPT for the people...too interested in keeping their fat selfish snouts in the trough...all of them.
ENOUGH !

Anonymous said...

"Anglesey and its people first approach"

Is`nt that what Cllr Durkin is fighting for ? the people first, before officers and Councillors.

Anonymous said...

Page after page the Barrie Durkin promotion team do their work. This blog site is not about the furtherance of Anglesey, it is about promoting the name of Barrie, the greatest Welshman ever to live on this wonderful island.

Barrie, sick of being non-Welsh took it upon himself to 'convert' and so he is Welsh, lives on Anglesey, carries a banner for the oppressed and is a bit of Robin Hood.

Superstar Barrie, super hero Barrie, Super Welsman Barrie, the rest are rubbish.

Anonymous said...

oo.18 The rest, or at least the majority, brought shame on this Island. Corruption is the word associated with this Island thanks to those now in charge.
Anglesey corrupt. How nice.
At least one man tries to rid us of this stigma.

Anonymous said...

Barrie Durkin is a breath of fresh air in a place where the whiff of corruption has turned into the foul stench of decay.

He earns respect and that is the difference between Barrie and the invertebrates floating around Llangefni.

One of the Insiders said...

Today 29th July.
Albert Owen blows his top as one of his Labour County Councillors is exposed in allowances fraud.
Watch this space.

Anonymous said...

David Bowles and Clive McGregor's cover up terms of engagement are in tatters today as one of the Alliance members accuses a top Labour councillor with fraud.
The terms of engagement were doomed from the start as many of those who signed up now regret their actions.
This surely must be the end for McGregor and Bowles.
More to come.

Anonymous said...

Top Labour Councillor accused of allowance fraud.

Why should we not be surprised? Albert Owen did it, what's the big deal?

Anonymous said...

Do you remember when Bowles used to brag I will be leaving here with my reputation intact!
He's so funny and thinks he's untouchable, the truth will always come out.

I expect his management style is, I'm the boss, your all shit! I think he forgot, were the Boss!

The manifesto that was created here, was probably binned in his office, this is the contempt he has for you all.

Gordon Brown was warned before the last election, that there will be a rise in political parties who have had enough of being ignored, who have had enough of not being heard. This warning went unheeded.

Anglesey has created a party of angry people who for years have been ignored. Bowles and his little band of brothers has tried his best to stop the Welsh from having their own voice and opinion, he doesn't like being callenged or having his authority undermined.

The change in the direction of poltics in Anglesey has been created to fill a void, a void created by politicians who DIDN'T CARE about the people, in exactly the same way that Bowles, DOESN'T CARE about the people whose cries for HELP go unheard!

We are glad Bowles is there, he is FIGHTING to DEFEND CORRUPTION while we the people are FIGHTING to PROTECT the LEGAL RIGHTS and the HUMAN RIGHTS of the WELSH PEOPLE!

Let's see whose reputation remains intact, Bowles sees reputation as a piece of paper, we see it as the BLOOD that flows through our veins.

Anonymous said...

We should as one demand that the Welsh Assembly removes Bowles immediately and if Ieuan Wyn Jones wants have half a chance at getting re-elected to the Assembly next year he had better stand up and lead the call.

Anonymous said...

Any complaint against any member of the Council is thoroughly filed and hidden away,

Bowles, the potatoes in Asda were labelled potatoes and not tatws, If I was to complain to the Council, the whole Island would grind to a halt!!

This is what we are having to put up, the priorities of this Island are all upside down, we have people struggling to survive and we have our politicians who don't care.
Does the Welsh Assembly care? No, they would be down here like a ton of bricks trying to find out why the potatoes are not labelled Tatws, what a joke.

Anonymous said...

The best thing that could happen here is for this Council to have been taken over.

Bowles as the heading says "the Council was teetering close to being taken over", let's just say it was on the edge, of the abyss.

It's a shame it didn't go over, it would had been the best thing, for us, and for them, at the end of the day, they are only existing on a day to day basis, all decisions are made in Cardiff now, every department is worthless, and unfit for purpose, and I mean ALL of them, every portfolio holder should just throw their portfolio out of the window on their way home, let's call it a day, let's call it quits, you've failed..your not needed, your just existing.

Why don't you all do the honourable thing and ask for help, so that WE the people, can move on, without spending all our time laughing at the state were in, and laughing at the laughing stock of Wales!