Wednesday 28 July 2010

Durkin responds to Bowles

Named-and-shamed councillor Barrie Durkin responds to last Friday's Daily Post interview with Anglesey County Council's Interim MD, David Bowles:

Barrie Durkin Press Release 27 July 2010

77 comments:

Legal said...

I believe it is only right and proper for Counc. Durkin, and any other Member for that matter, to raise and root out abuse in the Council.
This should not be perceived as obstructing the recovery process, merely an aside to it.
It should not be perceived as destructive, but constructive.
There should be a protocol in place at this, and every Council, to investigate allegations of abuse, or worse.
Mr Bowles should take Counc. Durkin more seriously, and accord him some respect ?

The Great Councillini said...

Well, as much as I would like Cllr. Durkin to bring forward evidence for many of his claims, one does have to ask whether the 'recovery' is being forced to appear successful by merely sweeping inconvenient truths under the carpet.

It's tempting to dismiss Cllr. Durkin as some madman who won't let go. But I do know he puts in an awful lot of work researching issues of public service and governance and the laws and regulations that bear upon Councils - many of which IoACC often gleefully fails to adhere to.

Sadly for Mr. Bowles, and as much as he may complain about it being continually resurrected, his assurances that all his officers are whiter than a Daz commercial are empty in the face of the ridiculous Lynn Ball affair. So his credibility is somewhat battered, to say the least.

So, we do now need to examine the case for a 'smoke and mirrors' recovery, whereby Mr. Bowles can take his golden goodbye money, no doubt, with the recovery board and WAG walking away into an equally golden sunset, patting each other on the back. Strangely, a faint howling of wolves emerging from the forest will be heard behind them, but they daren't look back...

Anonymous said...

Legal.
Thats a good starting place.
LET'S HAVE SOME RESPECT.

Anonymous said...

Lynn Ball has recived her planning permission.

The IT Crowd said...

"Lynn Ball has recived her planning permission"

Fair enough. If we compared like with like, would someone else have been granted permission? That is the true test of fairness, although it's pretty easy within ten minutes' car travel to find glaring examples of planning policies that simply don't apply to everyone equally.

Anonymous said...

Ahh...planning policies, and their interpretation, implementation, application....and material considerations....much to do with elasticity and who or how much you know, still !
Interesting field of human activity !

Anonymous said...

We should be in no doubt -
Durkin will outlast Bowles in the IACC fray !

Anonymous said...

Bowles`s agenda is short-term...sort out as much of the mess as he can...walk away with some credit.
Durkin`s agenda is longer term (assuming he is re-elected)...root out abuse and corruption, for as long as he is a Councillor.
Bowles will be long-gone.
Durkin will still be here.
Whats the problem ?

Anonymous said...

It's understood today that Cllr Bob Parry, is said to be unrepentant over his signing of the Alliances "Terms of Agreement", breaches of the Human rights Acts and all.

However, not only has it split the Plaid group down the middle, but having received a copy of Cllr Durkin's Press release, Ieuan Wynn Jones AM, is concerned that his complacency and refusal to get involved will now affect his chances of re-election next year.

Anonymous said...

19.10 Good.
Anything that weakens IWJ`s chances of re-election next year must be good for Anglesey.
He has been an ineffectual representative of the People.

Anonymous said...

Can Mr Durkin BE re-elected? I thought he had moved to Abergwygregyn.

Anonymous said...

19.21
Good Question.
Can BD be re-elected, from ABER...can anyone answer ????

Anonymous said...

I assure the doubters, that David Bowles and Clive McGregor will be licking their wounds for attempting to keep an honest man like Barrie Durkin down.

It's quite simple, some people cannot be bought and Barrie is one of them.

See you in Court.

Lug

Anonymous said...

19.26
Who are you to assure anyone, old chap....what are your credentials ??

Anonymous said...

Yawn

Anonymous said...

I am the administrative equivalent of John Rambo and my specialist weapon is the IoACC Grant Policy Document.

Let me put it this way, it has already been proven on this Blog that I know more about IoACC GPD than the Senior Grant's Officer; Head of Internal Audit; Senior Solicitor; Council Leader and Interim Managing Director.

If you don't believe me then ask them yourself and I'm certain Barrie Durkin and R L Jones (Chairman of the Audit Commmittee) will substantiate my credentials.

Wind in your neck 'Old Chap'.

Lug

Anonymous said...

Classic. It's got all the makings of Watergate this one.

Anonymous said...

LUG.
The Welsh Assembly have a greater problem now. Apart from their group on Anglesey disintegrating by the hour and IWJ crapping himself.
they need to find two sites for a new prison. One for the general lags and one for the crooks at Anglesey County Council.
Still it will bring plenty of work for the forgotten people of Anglesey.
God really DOES work in mysterious ways.

Anonymous said...

21:01.
You don't know the half of it. But you will, that you can all be assured of.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree, the cushy open nick for white collar criminals will have panaromic views with their families relocated nearby so they can keep an eye on them at night.

Lug

Anonymous said...

With a bit of luck Huw Daniels will wave his magic wand and make the whole gang disappear for at least 5 year in Walton Prison.

OTB

Anonymous said...

£ 70.000+ of Public money already spent on outside solicitors to try and stop Cllr Durkin from exposing dishonesty.

The cats out the bag, Carl Sargeant should sack Bowles now. With Councillors like Barrie Durkin and HIS Colleagues, who needs Bowles and McGregor?

Anonymous said...

Cllr Durkin seems to be leading the recovery that we the public have been craving for years.
Good on you Cllr Durkin, keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

21:01 I know far less than half of it. I suppose I'll just have to wait for the big screen version which many of you have been promising for a good decade now.

One of the Insiders. said...

21:34
You won't have that long to wait this time around. Cllr Durkin isn't just working on his own, there's others of influence with him. ( A Star Chamber so to speak) Just keep your faith in Human nature and watch.

Anonymous said...

I would have loved to have been a fly on Carl Sargeant, IWJ and Albert Owen,s office wall today, having got around to reading their emails.
Talk about incontinence. Blimey

Anonymous said...

Bowles and Co. really have bitten off more than they can chew. They think that throwing money at Lawyers is going to resolve the matter.

Ask yourself this question - Would Bowles dare challenge Barrie Durkin if he was paying for his own legal fees and liable to damages?

Lug

Anonymous said...

" [IWJ] He has been an ineffectual representative of the People."

Amen to that. I never found him pleasant, let alone effective.

Goodbyeee, godbyeee...

Anonymous said...

Talk about the perception of dishonesty and corruption.

Why is the Portfolio Holder for Planning also a member of the Planning Committee. Now there's a conflict of interest if ever there was one.

If this is how Clive McGregor leads by example then Bowles has no chance of moving the Council forward

Anonymous said...

12.28 The reference to the Planning Portfolio holder.
Rubbish, you are so wrong.
Get some education.

Anonymous said...

13:20
Are you saying that the portfolio for planning is not a member of the planning committee?

Anonymous said...

14.05 That is correct. The Protocol does not allow it.

Anonymous said...

12.58 Give us more details ???

Anonymous said...

I know the Protocol does not allow it. That's why I raise the point.

So to reiterate. The Current Portfolio Holder for Planning, Cllr John Chorlton, is also a member of the County Council's Planning and Orders Committee.

Anonymous said...

17.01 You are still incorrect !
He is NOT.

Anonymous said...

Ok. Who is the Portfolio holder for Planning?

Anonymous said...

17:03 & 17:19.
County Councillor John Chorlton is a member of current Planning Committee.
He is also the current Portfolio Holder for Planning and Environmental.

Anonymous said...

FOR GOD`S SAKE, LETS HAVE AN IMMEDIATE CLEAROUT...CALL THE RECOVERY BOARD IN...CALL AN ELECTION.
HOW MUCH MORE ARE WE TO SUFFER.
THIS IS EXCRUCIATING !!

Anonymous said...

18.47 Whats next ?
See the Anglesey True Story, for an update...that`s whats next !!

The Great Councillini said...

"MAKE NO REFERENCE, VERBALLY OR IN WRITING, IN PUBLIC OR IN PRIVATE, TO ANY ISSUE RELATING TO PAST CONDUCT, ALLEGATIONS OR GRIEVANCES IN RELATION TO OTHER ALLIANCE MEMBERS".

On the one level, you could see it as an innocent attempt to move forward and not keep harping on about old battles. On the other, it reads like an attempt at cover-up.

The question is: what was the intent at the time of writing? Moving on, or covering up?

Personally, I would have thought settling grievance, rather than forgetting about them, would be a better way forward than the above wording. But hey, I'm not the Council. Thank God!

Anonymous said...

The Great....
An innocent attempt to move forward and stop harping on about old battles, and settling old grievance is one thing. I would totally agree. However, we are not talking about old battles or grievances here, were talking Fraud and Corruption, Dishonesty and Malfeasance.

A public perception is far worse than the act. The act can be dealt with, a perception festers on and on creating mistrust and becomes so corrosive that we end up with what we have today.

The Great Councillini said...

"were [sic] talking Fraud and Corruption, Dishonesty and Malfeasance."

Fair enough. I guess we have to be resigned to waiting for the outcome of any investigation, which presumably will involve criminal charges, if not convictions, if there really has been fraud.

Paul Williams said...

I have just deleted many, many comments. While I am away far too many allegations are being made against named individuals (many coming from just one IP address). You all know the rules - they will be deleted!

Fillan said...

Cllr Durkin saves the day with tapes about tapes about tapes.

He drives the improvement forward, without him we would be worse off, all hail Cllr Durkin, we bow in front of his majesty. Lets us crown him prince of fools and be done with it.

All hail the man, he has it all recorded on Beta max, now where is that machine that plays it.

Is this man for real, I fear he is, but let him issue press releases after press release, as we all know the truth, there is no tape, there was never any tape, it was a big fat lie.

Oh...and not letting go.....

Meanwhile in the real world - which services will be cut when the 25% reduction in budgets over the next 4 years is imposed ?

Real questions, require real answers, not silly press releases about egos of fools!!

Anonymous said...

Fillan - Your like a stuck record. Be away with you. You fool.

Fillan said...

Thank you Anon, but I'll keep on, I'll keep on, I'll keep on, I'll keep on.....until the truth is known

Paul Williams said...

"Druid, some comments are worth keeping if it involves an opinion that is based on fact, I see you get wound up, when I write about the great defender of the Council of Betrayal, [redacted] the Holyhead bootboy, are you related?"

Opinion based on unverified fact will be deleted. I am not related to anyone. I will simply not allow this blog to become a forum for trial by innuendo. Therefore with regret I have to delete your comment, Huw. Please understand my reasons.

Anonymous said...

see Mr Ridge Newman's blog says he's gone to Gower. did he see writing on wall about likely new boundaries impact?

Anonymous said...

It appears that the IoACC loving Blogers appear to have all the answers.

Well if that is the case, they should explain to Bowles and McCregor the meaning of "Estimated Expenses" as set out in IoACC Grant Policy Document.

If Clive and Bowles understood the meaning of "Estimated Expenses" then they would realise that fraud has been committed.

Simple as that.

Lug

Anonymous said...

Lug - very important meeting coming up. Lets wait the outcome.

By the way, I copied this from a WAG anti fraud document :-

Fraud Fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. Good internal controls and governance arrangements are essential to minimise the risk of fraud.
When council suffer fraud or theft it is often the case that the perpetrator has prepared false documents to disguise or to cover up the theft or fraud. In many cases the false documents include invoices and minutes.

Say no more

Anonymous said...

Hello Lug

Who are you taking to court this week, or when.

Super Lug, Super Lug he is so Super Lug, see him fly across the sky for he is Super Lug.

He and his friend will talk sh**e all day, for he is super lug!!

The Great Councillini said...

"By the way, I copied this from a WAG anti fraud document"

Don't worry, the concept and definition of fraud is well set-out and tested at law...

Anonymous said...

Someone feels intimidated and I know why.

Because I possess the evidence and ability to explain in lamens terms the workings of a simple scam which happens to involve £Millions of vital Objective One Funding.

Ps. Only your wife calls me Super Lug.

Anonymous said...

Do us all a favour and go and hand yourselves in. It will save the Taxpayer a fortune in attempting to defend the indefensible in Court.

It's a case of first come first serve with respect to plea bargains so don't be shy.

Ps. How's your Bulgarian Property Portfolio performing.

Lug

Anonymous said...

I thought i'd let you know that I possess documents in respect of four delivered HRG Grants all of which contain "Costing Sheets" prepared by Grant Officer's together with Grant Policy Documents.

I hasten to add that these Grant Schemes had been delivered before and after Mr Pierce's.

The evidence will be presented by the finest Public Administration Barrister money can buy and IoACC will be given a lesson in the meaning of "Estimated Expenses" once and for all.

Lug

Paul Williams said...

Comment made at 21:23 deleted. Do not repeat those allegations again on this site.

Anonymous said...

You are all wasting your time. The new Alliances terms of engagement makes it clear that Bowles and McGregor don't care who breaks the law having ordered the members to:
"MAKE NO REFERENCE, VERBALLY OR IN WRITING, IN PUBLIC OR IN PRIVATE, TO ANY ISSUE RELATING TO PAST CONDUCT".
In other words.they will be breaking the law, by not conforming to it.

Anonymous said...

Quote:- "MAKE NO REFERENCE, VERBALLY OR IN WRITING, IN PUBLIC OR IN PRIVATE, TO ANY ISSUE RELATING TO PAST CONDUCT".

To conceal fraud is a criminal offence even if the person concealing the fraud had no part in the fraud.

In lames terms, if you are aware that fraud is or has been committed you are legally obliged to report the offence.

Statutory provisions are contained in Fraud Act 2006, Section 3.

If Bernard Madeoff would have been charged in the UK then his auditors would have been charged under Section 3. His only defence at trial was "The auditors must have known".

ESHA NESS

Anonymous said...

To Lug

I suggest you contact the Senior Principle Grant's Officer in order to clarify the meaning and application of "Estimated Expenses" as per IOACC Grant Policy Document.

ESHA NESS

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the advice, but they refuse to correspond.

The meaning of "Estimated Expense" is that the Grant Officer(s) determine the amount of Estimated Expense and reduce items of expenditure accordingly.

It's a long-long story, but in essence if this is proven, then the risk of fraud has risen from "Significant" to "Fundamental" and the Police should be called in immediately.

What really does my head-in is the fact that the Auditor; Senior Grant Officer and Senior Solicitor
all know the meaning of "EE" but ignore the fact that if this is the case then it would be statistically a quadrillion to one shot that theft by false accounting has not been committed.

It's text book stuff and we are paying these clowns a lot of money to jeopardise the public purse.

Audit checks performed by the Director of Finance are comparable to finding a needle in a haystack.

Lug

Anonymous said...

Past Conduct by the Council of Betrayal include..

The Breaches of the Human Rights Act, which are hidden away and filed with a label DO NOT DISCLOSE.

For us to get at the truth, we must support a way to get at the truth, we need a campaign to get more attention and publicity to look into the Conduct and unresolved issues of the past conduct that Bowles is so DESPERATE NOT TO DISCLOSE.

I know a man whose father died, labelled a liar and a fraud, we must fight to clear his name, he was sentenced to a lifetime of misery and torture due to this Council and BOWLES is trying his best NOT TO DISCLOSE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS CASE!

It's not the money, it's the principle that this Council could hound a man to his grave through lies, malfeasance and abuse, the greatest abuse they committed was NOT DISCLOSING THE TRUTH FROM THE SEAT OF JUSTICE. If you need a cause Druid, if you want to help, help here!

Anonymous said...

Barrie Durkin, please investigate the posting 18:56, this sounds a very serious matter, if the guilty are still there and the innocent are hounded to their graves there is something wrong, something seriously wrong and worth looking into. This may be what your looking for, a way to get at the truth, if this has happened, please investigate.

Cllr Barrie Durkin said...

Will Anon's at 18:56 and 20:O6 Please contact County Councillor Barrie Durkin, at Email: barrie.durkin@btinternet.com.

Anonymous said...

Let's face reality, in the past months the following has happened in Wales:

Senior CPS prosecutor found guilty of accepted a £25,000 to drop a case against the Police.

Former Police Superintendent and Detective Inspector found guilty of money laundering for a known drug dealer.

Conwy County Council Executive charged with Rape.

Gwynedd Councillor goes to prison for knife attack.

Gwynedd Development Quango is unable to account for £2 Million and the WAO label it an overspend.

Auditor General for Wales charged with downloading child pornography (Not to sure what the outcome of the case was?)

CORRUPTION DOES EXIST!!!!

Anonymous said...

Barrie Durkin the blogger with the postings 18:56 AND 20:06 will contact you tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

What a load of twaddle M. Durkin.
I am reading your election pledges
from your leaflet dated 1st May 2008, you make no mention of what you are claiming on this 'Druid' page. Twaddle sir, plain twaddle.

Anonymous said...

28th July 2010 would you please refrain from using OT which is a designation belonging to someone else

Anonymous said...

28th July 2010 would you please refrain from using OTB which is a designation belonging to someone else

The Great Councillini said...

"CORRUPTION DOES EXIST!!!!"

It does, but then, you are going to find a few bad eggs amongst organisations with a thousand+ employees; it doesn't make councils themselves bad. It's culture that is the distiguishing factor, and it's a desperately poor culture, which influences and affects most people at IoACC, that is the source of our problems. For too long, things have been shrugged-off as 'just the way things are' and 'you know what they'd say if I complained'. This is the disease we are trying to find the vaccine to.

Anonymous said...

The Great Councillini - I totally agree, but the problem is the seniority of the corrupt officials and has been the case for the past 25 years.

We have a situation whereby those who hold the purse strings are as bent as a five bob note and the auditor's are worse than useless.

Honestly, I have seen it first hand and nothing will convince me they are nothing other than fiscal rapists and proven liars.

Sickening is the word that comes to mind.

Lug

Anonymous said...

I thionk that the Oath of Office should be changed and an amendment inserted whereby those elected, if they are aware of any wrong-doing by any councillor or council employee, must bring the matter to the immediate attention of the relevant authorities including the Police. Councillors who fail to do this and it subsequently comes to light that they knew, should automatically be judged to have aided and abetted. Also that in all instances where any law of the land has been breached then a full criminal prosecution is mandatory.

No reason why every councillor shouldn't fully support this.

Bet they don't though.

Anonymous said...

The most important thing they should consider adding to their Oath of Office is that they will adhere to the Human Rights Act and stop taking the mick out of hard working, hard living people who are struggling to survive.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with 17.02

G. Pierce

Anonymous said...

Copied from WAG pages. Just wondering if IOACC contributed.

National Fraud Initiative detects and prevents £4.5 million of fraud and over-payments in the public sector

20/05/2010

It has also resulted in the successful prosecution of 28 fraudsters

A national scheme designed to combat fraud against the public sector has resulted in the detection and prevention of overpayments worth £4.5 million, according to a report released today by the Auditor General for Wales.
The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercise is run every two years, matching data across organisations and systems to help public bodies identify potentially fraudulent or erroneous claims and transactions. The latest exercise has been the most effective to date. As well as detecting and preventing fraudulent over-payments, it resulted in the successful prosecution of 28 fraudsters.

With public services in Wales facing the prospect of significant reductions in real-term budgets in the coming years, the NFI is making a considerable contribution to eliminating waste and inefficiency.

Sixty-eight Welsh public sector bodies took part in the exercise, including local authorities, police authorities, fire authorities, probation boards and NHS bodies. In addition the Welsh Assembly Government, the National Museum of Wales and the Wales Audit Office participated on a voluntary basis. Since NFI began in 1996, it has led to the elimination of many long-standing, high value frauds. The latest exercise demonstrates that NFI continues to be a highly effective counter-fraud tool.

The Auditor General, Gillian Body said today:

“Public services in Wales are currently facing their biggest challenge for a generation. The results of this NFI exercise show what can be achieved when public sector bodies work together to combat fraud. Fraud is a serious issue; it reduces the money available for public services and confidence in the bodies that provide them. The NFI has been highly effective in identifying and combating fraud, its long term value for the public sector has become immeasurable.

“The success of the NFI is due to the efforts of many public servants across Wales, who have put in considerable work to review the data matches, identify and stop fraud, recover overpayments and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

Notes to Editors:

The National Fraud Authority recently estimated that fraud costs the UK economy over £30 billion per annum, the equivalent of £621 for every adult in the UK . The estimated losses due to fraud against public sector expenditure alone were estimated at £7 billion.
The NFI was set up to enable public sector bodies to match claimant data across different service areas and geographical boundaries systems to identify potentially fraudulent and erroneous payments and has become the UK’s premier public sector fraud detection exercise.
The NFI exercise began in 1996 and is now run biennially. To date it has been used to identify fraud and erroneous payments totalling over £664 million for the UK; £16 million in Wales.


Wales Audit Office
24 Cathedral Road
Cardiff
CF11 9LJ
Tel: 029 2032 0500
Fax: 029 2032 0600
Email: info@wao.gov.uk

© Auditor General for Wales

Anonymous said...

If corruption does exist, and if frud does exist how come the
'Twaddle Councillor of Anglesey' has not submitted the Fraud Office papers he received by Recorded Delivery Post? Twaddle, Twaddle, Twaddle....big mouth no action

Anonymous said...

Still no reply from councillor "Twaddle"

Anonymous said...

As ignorant as ever.