9:40am Saturday 6th June 2009
Sir - ‘Openness and transparency’ is a phrase parroted by governments, local politicians and unelected quangos such as primary care trusts, police authorities and economic development boards.
What utter tosh! Most of these bodies are instinctively and institutionally secretive.
Especially so Craven District Council (CDC), where ‘openness and transparency’ are – to quote Hamlet – “more honour’d in the breach than the observance.”
Craven electors have a moral right to know what has been done with their money. Yet the council’s new chief executive and its political leader, Coun Knowles-Fitton, want to “draw a line” under what can, at best, be described as gross financial ineptitude.
Craven’s political leader has refused calls for an independent public inquiry into the council’s affairs. The council has gagged elected members and excluded public and press from meetings convened to discuss the dire financial situation and proposed solutions.
The council rides roughshod over citizens’ right to know what’s going on and what has been done with millions of pounds of public money.
But the crisis is not only political. Many believe that CDC’s former chief executive – and senior officers still in situ – have, for many years, led elected members by the nose, despite the popular notion that the officers’ role is solely to guide and provide expert advice when requested by councillors.
Of the council’s senior salaried officers, past and present, none to my knowledge has ever held a comparable position in the private sector. They appear commercial virgins, unexposed to the discipline of marketplace competition, in the absence of which complacency and a sense of unassailability flourish.
Amid the current financial flailing and cuts in services, we learn with incredulity that CDC is appointing an assistant chief executive (salary £55,000) to support the new chief executive. Two new executive directors are to be recruited, each on salaries of up to £77,000 – more than the salary earned by the former CEO.
To fund this glut of senior management (which no commercial venture of comparable size and turnover could or would sustain) a number of middle-management heads will roll with, of course, a concomitant effect on the efficacy of public services.
This cull will, claims CDC, save between £170,000 and £260,000 annually – a claim that underscores the lack of precision in the council’s financial projections. CDC’s ‘worst-case/best-case’ estimate shows a staggering variance of 53 per cent. In most commercial companies an acceptable budget variance would be unlikely to exceed 10 per cent.
Moreover, based on its record, many will ask if we can believe even that fuzzy fiscal projection by this discredited council.
Demands for an independent public inquiry have been ignored by the arrogant clique that runs the council. But there is a chink of hope that those responsible can be called to account .
If you agree Craven electors have a right to get to the bottom of this financial farrago – and that its instigators be held accountable – please add your name to the petition to the Prime Minister on the Downing Street website. It’s easy and quick. You’ll find it at http://petitions. number10.gov.uk/Craven-Council.
Peter Scott-Smith, The Green, Long Preston
Sir - I notice in the Herald that Craven District Council is proposing a re-structure (the euphemism is ‘streamlining’) and making two new appointments at £75,000 salaries.
The councillors appear to have agreed to this and, no doubt, will also sanction redundancy payments as part of the streamlining process.
This is yet another example of how to waste money unnecessarily. Craven District Council is not a large authority. It is part of a two-tier system so is not even responsible for all public services. Yet it proposes a top-heavy executive in terms of salaries.
You have only to look at public sector salaries currently advertised across the country (try Wednesday’s Guardian) to learn that such proposals are unrealistic and unnecessary.
Perhaps time would be better spent considering how to create a unitary authority that would best suit Craven’s interests and needs instead of wrangling about who is responsible for what.
Jean Anderson, Sunny Bank Cottage, Draughton
Sir - As a visitor to the lovely area around Skipton, I see your roads suffer from that new farming tool, the “fast tractor”.
At my temporary lodgings, my day was often interrupted by these mud-spewing, big-wheeled monsters.
In villages they seem to be intent on reaching maximum speed with the attendant huge noise. On the open road this maximum speed (about 30mph) just causes massive traffic tailbacks.
One Monday evening I was in a queue behind one towing a muck-spreading attachment between Gargrave and Cross Hills – about seven miles.
The driver could have pulled in at lay-bys to let traffic past, but didn’t. The back of the contraption was a mire of mucky rotors, with neither the number plate nor the lights visible.
Farmers are now using these agricultural contractors to do work like spreading, hauling giant hay bales and so on.
I suppose the economics stack up and I realise the important role of sound farming. Are they allowed to do this on untaxed “red” diesel? Why don’t they drive slowly through village streets?
Olive Pixley, St Mary’s View, Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk
Sir - I am rather surprised that Craven Herald reader Fern O’Brien (May 21) says she would like to know what I put in my green bin to fill it to the top as I have no desire whatever to know what she, or anyone else for that matter, considers rubbish to fill their bins with.
As she has presumably read my letter she will have noted that I mentioned we only have one of those half-sized slim pensioners’ bins.
This means I don’t have as much room as many other households to fill in the first place. I have since asked several other people if they manage to fill their bins and the result is that full bins appear to be the norm.
We don’t have nearby facilities for bottles and tins, and though I did trail bags of these up to the Gargrave Road car park at one time it just became too much of a chore. If I had a bin for these I would use it, as perhaps your reader does.
Patricia Mason, Sackville Street, Skipton
Sir - Regarding the statements received from my neighbours in Settle, while I agree with their grievances on the proposal of new housing for Ingfield Lane, there are two sides to an argument.
I have been a resident in Settle for nearly 20 years on and off, having moved from London in 1991 to help run a business with my partner. Also in that time I have unfortunately had to move away to find employment due to a lack of jobs in the Yorkshire Dales.
This proposed move for new housing is good and bad for Settle, but what needs to be addressed before building more new housing is employment for the region.
We have businesses closing down all the time, the town needs a revamp in terms of industry, a couple of new restaurants, a leisure centre and maybe a fast food outlet (Pizza Hut or McDonalds). A prime site would be Settle roundabout.
The town needs to generate people’s attention to come to Settle and spend money.
I have always said we could do with a Windermere here. Are there possibilities to flood Long Preston Bottoms and regenerate that area into sailing, water skiing and jet skiing?
The opportunities are endless for this part of the UK to boost industry, tourism, jobs and generally create a great quality of life. All it takes is for someone with a business brain, finances and investment to make this happen.
We are fortunate to live in a wonderful part of the UK and redeveloping areas of the Dales will bring in jobs, money and tourists. Then we can consider new housing areas – on the understanding that there are other prime sites and brownfield areas in Settle for new housing, such as the council depot and Stackhouse Lane to name but two. These surely need to be considered before Ingfield Lane as, also next door, they are already building 32 new houses.
S Higgins, High Hill Grove Street, Settle
Sir - So, our increasingly out-of-touch councillors are considering providing reduced-cost parking spaces for the council office staff in the Skipton car parks.
As I understand it, these same councillors have already raised the cost of parking for this financial year because the council desperately needed increased income.
Therefore, to then take away the revenue from a good number of parking spaces for at least five, if not seven, days a week must be totally counter-productive.
Do the employment contracts of the council office staff state that they will receive free or reduced-cost parking spaces?
The fact is that the vast majority of shop assistants and office staff working in Skipton already receive lower remuneration than most of the council office staff, even before taking into account the enhanced pension prospects council staff will enjoy in the future.
We all have choices as to where we live in relation to where we work and, if we choose to live in an area from which we need to drive to our workplace, then we have to factor-in the cost of parking into the running costs of our vehicles.
Christine Snowden, Regent Road, Skipton
Sir - I read with interest and some disquiet a letter (Craven Herald, May 28) concerning the recent change that has made Cross Street one-way between Keighley Road and Carleton Street.
The decision to do this was taken in July 2007 with full public consultation and input from local residents affected by the proposed changes.
I understand that the decision was made on the basis of the inevitable increase in traffic upon completion of the Tesco expansion and associated improvements to the Craven Street and Keighley Road intersection, including the provision of traffic lights.
In this sense, North Yorkshire Highways has made good on its commitment to providing a safe entrance from Craven Street into Keighley Road and its policy that Craven Street should serve as the primary route for drivers.
As your readers will appreciate, before these improvements the situation in Carleton and Cross Streets had become very unsafe.
In order to avoid the Craven Street and Keighley Road intersection, many drivers used Carleton and Cross Streets as a short-cut, often at great speed. This had the effect of increasing traffic volumes on a narrow residential street and endangering both motorists and pedestrians.
I personally witnessed many near-misses between both on-coming cars and pedestrians, in addition to the regular loss of wing-mirrors and other associated vehicle damage which one now accepts as part of the “rich tapestry of life” in Skipton.
Though I applaud Highways for creating the one-way scheme in its current direction, I suggest that it has been implemented poorly.
There is little warning upon entering Carleton Street of the change in road conditions. Thus drivers who unwittingly enter Carleton Street in habitual fashion are forced to either perform a “u-turn” or “run” the now one-way Cross Street against the flow of oncoming traffic.
From what I have witnessed, many drivers opt for the latter.
M Kearnes, Carleton Street, Skipton
Sir – Regarding Mrs Hutchinson’s letter, I suggest that she tries standing on Cross Street for one hour instead of using it for a rat-run like many thousands have done in the past.
We have lived with the ridiculous amounts of traffic here now for 23 years, with people driving up and down at 30 and 40mph through a narrow street.
The amount of traffic has shaken our foundations for too long now and has frequently shaken pictures off the walls.
The street has been made one-way in the correct direction, which has stopped people who go to Tesco once a week from taking the rat-run, but people are still going through the no-entry signs anyway – with their eyes shut, hoping not to meet anybody coming the other way.
I suggest that people who don’t have to live in the town centre shouldn’t have a say on where and which way the traffic should be directed just because it puts them at an inconvenience.
Pinder Bridge has had no right turn into Cross Street coming out of Skipton for many years, for obvious safety reasons, and as for it being solely two-way for the residents, this is not true as it is only two-way for Thanet’s Court to exit.
There is now no congestion at the top of Craven Street as the lights now keep the traffic flowing even in the rush hour. You have to be prepared to adjust your driving habits to fit the surrounding conditions.
We had been petitioning for these alterations long before Polly English became a councillor; we even contacted Westminster about it.
I bet Mrs Hutchinson can open her windows in the summer as the residents in Cross Street can not owing to the traffic noise and pollution!
Mr G Wormald, Cross Street, Skipton
Sir - Re car parking in Skipton. We have just returned from holiday in Northern Ireland and paid for parking there only twice – in Ballmoney where it cost us 30p for up to three hours, 60p for six hours and 90p for over six hours.
Skipton costs £1 for one hour.
I think Skipton Town Council should contact Northern Ireland councils to find out how they manage their parking charges (or not).
I think I know who has got it right (not Skipton) to encourage visitors to come and stay.
K Burnett, Overdale Park, Skipton
Sir - May we say a big thank you to John Smith’s Airedale Male Voice Choir in giving Skipton their best ever annual concert.
Along with brother Frank’s Keighley Vocal Union and solos from David, it really was a Smith family affair. This provided a splendid mix of items professionally carried out yet totally relaxed and informal.
All these people gave their time freely and their performance showed enthusiasm for such a worthy cause as Manorlands.
While some MPs are abusing their positions for self gain, it is heartening to realise there are still a lot of good people around.
Thanks to the choirs and sponsors from myself and friends and everyone I spoke to afterwards.
A Wilkinson, Addingham, Ilkley
Sir - Regarding the very successful afternoon “tea party” held at Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold, recently, it was not my idea to hold this event – as reported in last week’s Craven Herald.
The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire had invited the local members of the Women’s Land Army on behalf of the Government. It was part of the celebrations following their official recognition and appreciation – some 60 years after the war ended.
It was hosted by Councillor Marcia Turner, retiring chairman of Craven District Council, who told the “girls” that if they sent their certificates, awarded by Mr Gordon Brown last July, to her at Craven District Council offices, she would arrange for them to be individually named.
On a personal note, I must correct your report that I originally came from Suffolk. I enjoyed messing about on the land and driving an old tractor there, but I am a Yorkshire lass – born in Keighley.
Dorothy Clough, Aire View, Carleton
Sir - At last! I thought. Women have finally challenged men’s total dominance of the Herald’s back page (Sport, May 28).
It was a long overdue and refreshing change to see women’s sport being represented in place of the usual diet of male rugby, football, golf, cricket (etc etc).
However, in a real “Life on Mars” moment, we were suddenly whisked back 30-odd years by the caption: “It can be a glamorous game despite the mud as this Settle College student complete with full make up…”
Can I remind your reporter that this is 2009 when real newspapers have long since stopped defining women by their physical appearance and would never adopt such a patronising tone about people who are clearly talented and successful sportswomen.
Mrs JA Shaw, Brackenley Lane, Embsay
Sir - Regarding your story (May 21) about the chap allegedly mouthing an obscenity in the petrol station at Cross Hills, early on in his career Richard Branson faced an identical allegation and was charged with obscenity following the display of a poster bearing the word in the window of his record shop at Nottingham.
He was acquitted on all charges relating thereto on the evidence of the, then, professor of linguistics at Nottingham University.
The story is recounted with great glee in his autobiography, Losing my Virginity.
The spelling of “ballacks” with the “o” is actually old English, at least according to Sir Richard.
Police officers, lawyers and magistrates nota bene!
John Green, Park Wood Close, Skipton
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