JANE KENNEDY LIVERPOOL LABOUR MP HIGHLIGHTS DAVID HENSHAWS WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY!

LIVERPOOL LABOUR M.P. FOR WAVERTREE, JANE KENNEDY MAKES PHIL WOOLAS AND OTHER LABOUR MP'S KNOW OF THE WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS THAT THE EVIL CABAL HAVE COMMITTED THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL TO.

ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE OF THE "SERVICE CHARGE", THAT WE HAVE TO PAY AS COUNCIL TAX PAYERS FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT LIVERPOOL DIRECT CHARGE!IS,
JOE ANNDERSON LEADER OF THE LIVERPOOL LABOUR PARTY

THIS DIRECT IN YOUR FACE THEFT OF PUBLIC MONEY, JUST CANNOT CONTINUE!

VOTE THESE IDIOTS OUT IN MAY!

Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree, Labour)

When my hon. Friend decided that Liverpool city council should receive a 2.7 per cent. floor uplift, did he take into account a recent report by KPMG which suggests 43 ways in which the council could save money on the external contracts negotiated by its former chief executive Sir David Henshaw? One of them commits the council to a service charge of £11,000 a year per councillor, to be paid to a company called Liverpool Direct for computers supplied to councillors.

Clearly more savings can be made in Liverpool. Will my hon. Friend examine the report to ensure that he and his officials know the background, and to ensure that Liverpool council tax payers receive the best services that can be provided from the significant resources that the council receives?

Phil Woolas (Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government)

I, like my right hon. Friend, want the best for the council tax payers of Liverpool. I am grateful to her for raising the important point about the KPMG survey. Of course, in terms of the allocation of revenue support grant one cannot take into account such specific reports, but Liverpool is subject to the Gershon requirements, as are other authorities, and I would have thought that a consideration of that important report would be a contribution to that agenda in Liverpool

This from the DAILY POST

£20,000 bill to service each councillor's PC

Nov 30 2006

EXCLUSIVE by Rob Merrick Political Correspondent, Daily Post

It's never been repaired, but it's costing £2,000 a year - Cllr Joe Anderson at his computer - Picture: COLIN LANE

LIVERPOOL City Council will spend £2.5m servicing computers for its councillors in a 10-year deal condemned as a "scandalous waste" of taxpayers' money by an MP yesterday.

Just 120 PCs and laptops at the town hall are covered by the maintenance agreement struck with controversial joint venture company Liverpool Direct Ltd (LDL).

At an annual charge of around £250,000, it means council taxpayers are footing a staggering bill of more than £2,000 for servicing each computer for 12 months - costing £20,000 per PC for the duration of the 10-year deal. Last night, Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy attacked the deal, claiming a brand new computer would cost only £600-£700 - one third of the annual service charge. The Labour MP said: "How could they sign such a bad deal for council taxpayers? This demonstrates a chronic lack of rigour in the council's procedures. "This is a service charge that has to be paid by the local authority for every computer, regardless of whether it breaks down or not." And Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the council's Labour group, added: "It's an absolute disgrace. My computer has never had to be repaired, yet it is costing £2,000 a year." The revelation of the cost of IT support comes hard-on-the-heels of a damning report by external auditors, which found huge failures in the city council's contracts for crucial services. KPMG made 43 recommendations to overhaul two deals worth £520m, including the one with LDL, which operates the city council's call centres. Chief executive Colin Hilton admitted that implementing the changes could save millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash, even though the contracts were signed to cut costs. The Daily Post understands the computer servicing charges were brought to KPMG's attention, although the deal was not mentioned specifically in its report. Signed in July, 2001, it cost £230,359 in that financial year - rising to £251,026 in 2004/05, the last year for which a figure is available. For that fee, the city council receives technical support for just 90 councillors, plus their 30 support staff.

It excludes Blackberrys, carried by some leading councillors, and an unspecified number of new computers, which together cost a further £47,923 for servicing in 2004/05.

However, in a fierce defence of the deal, the city council insisted that it had helped "transform" its computer infrastructure. A spokesman said: "It includes connection to and maintenance of a secure server, unlimited access to broadband for computers used at home and all the technology needed to support the system. "It would not be in the council's interests to purchase computers without proper technical support in place. The service provided is far more comprehensive than that available at a high street electrical store." The spokesman added that LDL had invested £60m in improved technology, helping the city council reduce its annual running costs by £100m. However, he admitted: "A number of recommendations about the contract were made in the KPMG report which we are now in the process of implementing." Liverpool City Council has refused to publish the full report, insisting it must be kept confidential for commercial reasons. It has pledged to implement the recommendations by March next year, including ensuring LDL offers the cheapest deal for any new services it wants to take over.

# FOR more news from the Liverpool Daily Post - click here

LIVERPOOL LABOUR LEADER JOE ANDERSON DEMANDS A POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO LIVERPOOL DIRECT LIMITED CORRUPTION.

BELOW IS THE BRILLIANT BLOG LIVERPOOL SUB CULTURE.

DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION





LABOUR Leader Joe Anderson is asking police to investigate what went on with McElhinney's Liverpool Direct Limited.

He has written to Chief Constable Bernard Hogan Howe after the secret report by independent auditors, KPMG made 37 separate recommendations for changes in the way the city council deals with LDL.

Chief executive, Colin 'Cover Up' Hilton has already agreed to implement all 37 recommendations, admitting that LDL has cost city council taxpayers millions of pounds.

But he is still refusing to make the full report public.

Anderson has asked the police to examine why no action was taken by the city council when he first raised questions about the way LDL was being run more than three years ago.

He has specifically asked Hogan Howe to look at the circumstances surrounding the level of charges imposed by Liverpool Direct, under the direction of chief executive Dr David McElhinney (the Liverpool rottweiller).

In particular Anderson is rightly concerned about the £200 PER INDIVIDUAL PHONE CALL charge made by LDL for handling education grant enquiries from the public.

This astronomical fee for every single phone call was imposed after the council's utter cock-up over handling education grants.

Interestingly enough, of course, Hilton was in charge of Education at this time. He agreed the charge.

Anderson is also keen to discover exactly how many millions (to the nearest £100,000 would do, ed) the contract with LDL has actually cost the city council's taxpayers.


His intervention is particularly interesting since, as well as Hilton, it also points the finger very firmly at former chief executive, Sir Diddy Henshaw and the smiling assassin, Halsall as well as former council Leader, Mike Storey.


They were all on the same watch when McElhinney was ripping off millions from the city council.
Why the cabalists should not be held individually accountable for the huge sums of public money lost by their incompetence, greed or corruption, (or all three, ed) is the question which no-one has yet answered, of course.


PS The rottweiller's poodle, the highly strung Councillor Marilyn Fielding (trained observers will notice that she is also a blonde, ed) seems to have escaped everyone's attention in the LDL scandal. This is surprising since she was the Executive Member responsible. She was, of course, busily concentrating instead on making moon faces at her beloved McElhinney, who could do and say no wrong in her eyes, while he ripped off millions behind her back. Council taxpayers should send demands for their money back to Counc Marilyn Fielding, c/o Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool.

£10 million is Barely a brass farthing according to Liberal Democrats

THE STUPID WET LIBERAL DEMOCRATS OF LIVERPOOL DID NOT FEEL THE NEED TO INCLUDE THE COST OF POLICING THE 2008 EVENT IN THE BID FOR CAPITAL OF CULTURE.

THEY AND THEIR LIVERPOOL EVIL CABAL COHORTS HAVE SQUANDERED AND WASTED MILLIONS OF LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL TAX FUNDS AND HAVE ALLOWED THE CORRUPTION IN THE TOWN HALL CHAMBERS TO CONTINUE, YEAR ON YEAR.

BUT OF COURSE THAT IS ALL FORGOTTEN NOW!

THE LABOUR CONTROLLED GOVERNMENT HAVE TOLD LIVERPOOL CULTURE GROUP THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY EXTRA MONEY FOR THE COST OF POLICING THE 2008 EVENT.

THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY GIVEN GRANTS WORTH IN EXCESS OF £10 MILLION!

ACCORDING TO Cllr Colin Eldridge OF THE WET NELLIES CLUB, (LIBERAL DEMOCRATS)
£10 MILLION IS BARELY A BRASS FARTHING???

I SUPPOSE COMPARED TO THE MILLIONS THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ANDS THE EVIL CABALIST RIPPED THIS CITY OFF FOR, THEN IT IS JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN!!!!

SEE BELOW FOR FULL STORY AND SOMETHING ON PHIL REDMOND WHO HAS JOINED THE CULTURE GROUP, http://liverpoolsubculture.blogspot.com/2006/11/quotes.html

THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM THE LIVERPOOL ECHO.

08 police cash snub

Nov 22 2006

EXCLUSIVE By NICK COLIGAN, Liverpool Echo

Capital of Culture

A PLEA for almost £10m of government money to pay for extra officers in Capital of Culture year has been rejected.

The Home Office turned down the request for £9.3m by council leader Warren Bradley and Merseyside's chief constable Bernard Hogan-Howe to help pay for 200 extra police officers for 2008.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected in 2008. The festival will be bigger than ever, and one-off events including the giant nativity will require a big police presence.

But the government says it is not an "unexpected or enforced" event.

Cllr Colin Eldridge, Liberal Democratmember of Merseyside police authority, said: "Considering how much the government will put into the Olympics, they have barely given a brass farthing to Capital of Culture.

"I am sure the government will be quick to jump on the 2008 bandwagon once it is a success. CHEEK OF IT! ED

"But we will now have to take some radical decisions, and I am worried communities will have to lose their officers so Capital of Culture can be policed.

"We can only raise so much from council tax, so when the government says no, we are not left with many options."

In a written response to Cllr Bradley and Mr Hogan-Howe, policing minister Tony McNulty said: "It is reasonable to expect Merseyside police authority to have built this into its budget. It is the type of expense that would not normally be considered for a special grant."

The government has given at least £10m towards Capital of Culture preparations, but has come under pressure for more.

Cllr Bradley said: "This is not a short-term plan - we know exactly how those extra officers will be absorbed into the force in future years. We will not give up on this."

A police spokesman said: "We will pursue this further and are seeking meetings with ministers."

'We need government support'

IN a joint statement, Merseyside police, the police authority and Liverpool council said: "Capital of Culture year represents a fantastic opportunity to put to rest the unfounded myths that make people think that Merseyside is an unsafe area.

"We want every visitor to the Capital of Culture to have a positive experience.

"Without extra funding, the police will not be as visible and Merseyside will miss the chance to use specially-trained police officers to change people's minds about this area."

THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHY WAS IT NOT INCLUDED IN THE BID IN THE FIRST PLACE?


IF IT IS NOT A SHORT TERM PLAN, THEN MAKE SOME LONG TERM FINANCIAL DECISIONS INSTEAD OF CRYING TO THE GOVERNMENT.


IF POLICE ARE BUSY POLICING THE CITY CENTRE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE REST OF THE CITY?


I DREAD TO THINK!

THE STUPID KIDS WHO THINK THEY ARE GANGSTERS WILL BE IN THEIR ELEMENT.

THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL RESIDENTS DO NOT PAY THEIR COUNCIL TAX SO SOME TOURIST IS SAFE! THEY PAY IT SO THEY ARE SAFE AND WARREN BRADLEY HAS TO THINK HARD BEFORE HE TAKES AWAY POLICE FROM OTHER AREAS OF LIVERPOOL TO MAKE NONE LIVERPOOL COUNCIL TAX PAYERS SAFE!!!!

GET RID OF THEM ALL ED

Redmond to bring real culture to real people

Redmond to bring real culture to real people Who are they then? ed

MERSEY media mogul Phil Redmond has been signed up to deliver a more popular and creative Liverpool 08.

The creator of Brookside, Grange Hill and Hollyoaks has joined the new-look board of the Liverpool Culture Company.

News of his appointment comes only days after the ECHO asked why top city writers Alan Bleasdale and Willy Russell were not, as yet, part of the Capital of Culture year, and Roger McGough was not more involved.


The ECHO understands Redmond, as part of his new role, has already made approaches to these cultural icons.


BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips will also join the new board - which has been slimmed down from 24 to 14 - while Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, will act as transport adviser.


Redmond, a CBE for services to drama, said: "I'm delighted to have been asked to play a part in helping deliver 2008. I see it as a fantastic opportunity to find ways to showcase and project Merseyside's creative energies and talents and for people to participate in this nebulous thing called 'culture'.


''I will be working to find innovative ways to enable anyone who wishes to take part in 2008 to have that opportunity to have a go at something, try something different. Who knows what we will turn up and what we will leave behind for the future? 2008 should simply be a starting point."


The board will be supported by an operational and an advisory team, as well as specialised sub-groups on issues such as international links.

Who's on new board

Professor Drummond Bone - chairman.

Cllr Warren Bradley - leader of Liverpool city council.

Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the opposition.

Cllr Mike Storey - nominated elected member, city council.

Tom Bloxham, chairman Arts Council England, Northwest.

Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool, Riverside.

Bryan Gray, chairman, Northwest Development Agency.

Roy Morris, chairman, The Mersey Partnership.

Loyd Grossman, chairman, Culture Northwest.

Susan Woodward, regional director, ITV.

Ruth Gould, creative director of North West Disability Arts Forum.

Roger Phillips, presenter, BBC Radio Merseyside.

Phil Redmond, chairman, Merseyfilm and International Centre for Digital Content.

Tony Wilson, company secretary, Hill Dickinson.

Advisors: Jason Harborow, chief executive, Liverpool Culture Company.

Colin Hilton, chief executive, Liverpool city council.

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general, Merseytravel.

Cultural Advisor: Mick Elliott, chief exec, Lpl Philharmonic.

WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR EXCUSES ANYMORE

IT REALLY IS INTERESTING TO WATCH THE SO CALLED ELITE LIVERPOOL PUBLIC SERVANTS TRYING TO EXPLAIN AWAY ANY PART THAT THEY HAD IN THE DAYLIGHT ROBBERY OF LIVERPOOL CITY RESIDENTS.

DON'T FORGET TO USE YOUR VOTE IN MAY 2007, OR YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE CORRUPTION FOR MANY A YEAR TO COME.

WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THE MISTAKES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRAT SUPPORTERS?

I DO NOT AGREE THAT THIS SHOULD BE BRUSHED UNDER THE CARPET, OR PUT INTO THE PAST.
WHO ASKED THE COUNCIL TAX PAYERS WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO?

BELOW IS A LETTER TO THE DAILY POST ,

I AM MERELY SPREADING THE WORD.

Reader Letters


Letters to the Editor - 17 November 2006

Nov 17 2006

Liverpool Daily Post

We were just following rules

LARRY NEILD poses the question about scrutiny and accountability in his weekly In the Council Chamber column. I have a lot of respect for his opinions, but this time, it’s a shame that his wounded pride replaced his usual sensible comments.

Firstly, elected councillors aren’t "handsomely-paid." It’s a myth and he knows it. We are elected to serve the city, not line our pockets. He moans the fact he couldn’t stay in the Committee room to report on the Summer Pops, having already had the report leaked to him. He can’t have it both ways and knows full well that we have to abide by the constitution, and exempt reports mean exactly that.

The advice from the city solicitor was unambiguous. This report contained issues of a sensitive commercial nature and it wasn‘t simply a case of blanking-out a few lines, as suggested by the Labour members.

As the Chair of the Select Committee, albeit new to the job, I know my role and responsibility. This includes a legal obligation to protect the integrity and uphold the standards of the Committee members.

We follow the rules, as I’m sure he does, too, in protecting his sources.

He’s right to say select committees form a valuable scrutiny role in holding executive members and directors to account. We don’t simply rubber-stamp executive decisions.

Normally, decisions are achieved through consensus, but the Summer Pops was a contentious issue. In terms of the final recommendations on its future, this includes setting up a joint-party Procurement Group and that any unanswered questions are forwarded to the Executive Director (Finance and Legal) for a written response.

The Select Committee has decided to put this issue in the past, learn the lessons from the mistakes made, and look ahead to the future. The Summer Pops will survive and prosper when it moves into the new Kings Dock Arena and will ensure that Liverpool retains the title as the UK’s Capital of Pop.

Cllr Laurence Sidorczuk, Chair, Leisure and Culture Select Committee.

Sir David Henshaw's Biography Part FOUR

Part 3 in this gripping serialisation of how Sir David Henshaw and his EVIL CABAL have ripped off the honest law abiding council tax paying citizens of Liverpool City.
Sir David Henshaw was brought into the City Council to cut jobs and front line services within the Liverpool City Council, thousands of former council workers have been forced out of their jobs, thousands of other council workers are being bullied and demoralised on a daily basis.
Council tax payers are without vital services.

But this it seems is of no concern to the EVIL CABAL.
As long as Henshaw gets his blood money then we should just accept this?

I DON'T THINK SO.

See below for part 3 in the Untold Storey from Henshaw and the Evil Cabal blogspot.

MESSAGE TO STOREY, WHY DON'T YOU SEND ALL THIS TO SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY OUTSIDE OF LIVERPOOL WHO CAN AND WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT???????????

Henshaw and the evil cabal

The campaigning blog about Sir David Henshaw, Chairman of the North West Strategic Health Authority, and all his evil adventures at Liverpool City Council, the Culture Company, the Child Support Agency, Wicked FM (I kid you not - but now another failure), the North West Enquirer (now closed), etc, etc. (with thanks to Tony Parrish and his pioneering liverpool-evil-cabal blog)
Sunday, November 19, 2006


THE UNTOLD STOREY (PART 3): THE ATTEMPTED COUP D'ETAT


The Storey so far: Liverpool city council have turned down a £340,000 pension deal for Henshaw, who has announced his early retirement. Henshaw has now used emails from the Leader of the Council, Mike Storey, to blackmail the council into agreeing an even more expensive retirement deal and Storey agreeing a dishonest and humiliating press release.

Storey tells how, a month later, on 17 May, 2005, four Executive members - Councillors Clucas, Clein, Antrobus and Fielding - were asked to meet in Henshaw's office at 8 am.

"They were given no reason as to why they were to meet in his office and assumed it was for a number of different reasons," says Storey.

"Paul Clein, for example, had been trying to fix a meeting to do with the appraisal of the Executive Director for Education.

"I was not informed that this meeting was taking place.

The other 5 Executive Members, some of whom were more senior, were not invited.

"At the meeting with Mr Henshaw, Mr Halsall and Mr McElhinney they were shown copies of a draft S151 report (the emails) which they read.

"At the end of the meeting they were concerned and shocked and came out of the meeting.

Marilyn Felding contacted Paul Clark, (right) knowing of his legal background and told him what had happened. Paul Clarke suggested that we met."

Storey tells how he and Councillor Clark then went to Henshaw's office to read the S151 Report.

"Henshaw introduced Dr McElhinney and himself.

We read through the drafts which he wanted to keep in his office.

At the end, Councillor Clark said, where do we go from here - what do you want?

"David Henshaw said 'I am not prepared to speak to Councillor Storey. I will speak to you over the phone.'

"We left that meeting and met with our four colleagues and discussion carried on there.

Executive members informed me that David is trying to set up meetings with them.

"Paul Clark contacted me to say that he had had a phone call with David Henshaw.
Paul says his behaviour is unbelievable - David saying that I work for a Labour controlled council - how would my Governors feel - I could lose my job.

Paul made it clear that David Henshaw was threatening my professional career.

"I was at my lowest ebb, both my political career and professional cereer were being threatened.

That evening, I told my wife - that if my job is on the line, as a result of what the chief executive said, then I would resign."

Posted by Tony Parrish47 at Sunday, November 19, 2006

Sir David Henshaw's Blog

PART TWO IN THE SHOCKING "STOREY" OF SIR DAVID HENSHAW AND THE PENSION DEAL THAT MEANT KENSINGTON DO NOT GET A ONE STOP SHOP!!!!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

THE UNTOLD STOREY (PART 2): Henshaw confronts Storey

The Storey so far: Liverpool city council have turned down a £340,000 pension deal for chief executive Sir David Henshaw, who has announced publicly that he will now be taking early retirement in March 2006. Within days of headlines about the pension dispute and his impending retirement, Henshaw suspends his media chief Matt Finnegan on a pretext that dates back four years. This leaves the way clear for Henshaw to try to re-build his public position.


Council leader Mike Storey was confronted by Henshaw a month later on April 21, following a Capital of Culture meeting.
Storey says:
"He informed me that as part of the investigation into Matt Finnegan, (right) they had taken his PC for examination and going through several hundred emails, had come across some emails from myself which he felt were extremely damaging and serious and we needed to think carefully how to handle this as it could be potentially dangerous, both for the city and myself.
"I felt his mood was grave and threatening. I felt he was being aggressive and intimidating. I made no comment to him about this and he suggested that I speak to one of my council colleagues, Paul Clark, who is also a barrister."

Clark then met Henshaw on Saturday April 23rd. Paul Clark's notes of the meeting recount how Henshaw "has had enough and wants to go."

Clarks (below) says: "DH (Henshaw) wants the following deal:

1) A press release has to be issued - "co-conspirators have to be stopped" They didn't bank on Tony Parrish then? ed

2) Wants to establish that peace has broken out.

3) MJS (Storey) to specifically call the press and to telephone Larry Nield (Daily Post journalist) and Rex Makin (Liverpool solicitor)

4) MJS to telephone Local Government Chronicle and Municipal Journal - verbalise the press release.

5) Meeting of the Appointments Panel (the council subcommittee that turned down a pension deal for Henshaw) probably after 5th May, 2005

a) DH to retire on 30th March 2006
b) Sub committee awards him from the day extra pension years
Sub committee begs CX (Henshaw) to reconsider and to continue working. In the event of them being successful in persuading him to stay, the extra pension years will be rescinded.

6) Consultants to review the pay of senior management (McElhinney and Halsall) Yes give them a pay cut, ed

7) DH be allowed to do other duties during the notice period and receive remuneration from those other duties.

8) Council go to market place for replacement chief executive in September.

Storey says: "I agreed to the points raised but had concern over a press release which asked the press to apologise to David. I felt that I could not say this. Henshaw...insisted on this line, or there would be no deal. I felt compelled to agree.

"The press release was issued by my office on Monday 25 April as agreed although Mr McElhinney had organised for the newscentre to issue the agreed statement as well."

So Henshaw used the discovery of Storey's emails to Finnegan to force a better pension deal for himself. This is demanding money with menaces - or blackmail.

The council Leader has now also agreed that Henshaw can retire with the pension deal which the council had already turned down. He has also left the way open for Henshaw to change his mind about retiring after apparently agreeing the sub-committee will "beg him to stay."

Storey has also agreed to a grovelling press statement which attempts to patch up their differences and pretend nothing is wrong. And Storey has agreed that Henshaw can earn extra money during his notice period and that his chief lieutenants, McElhinney and Halsall will have their pay reviewed.

All this in return for Henshaw agreeing to retire in March 2006.

NEXT: Henshaw changes his mind and mounts a coup d'etat; "his behaviour is unbelievable"; Henshaw faces disciplinary action. But it didn't get that far did it, he is still at large, ed

Posted by Tony Parrish47 at Sunday, November 12, 2006

Sir David Henshaw's Biography Part ONE

SEE BELOW FOR THE FIRST IN MANY INSTALLMENTS OF MIKE STOREY'S VERSION OF EVENTS ON HOW SIR DAVID HENSHAW THREATENED AND BULLIED HIS WAY INTO A HUGE PENSION DEAL, THAT WAS PAID FOR BY LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL TAX PAYERS.

THIS SHOULD MAKE INTERESTING READING OVER THE NEXT FEW BLOG POSTINGS FROM HENSHAW AND THE EVIL CABAL BLOGSPOT.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

SIR DIDDY AND LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL : THE UNTOLD STOREY

DAVID HENSHAW was "aggressive, threatening and intimidating" to the elected Leader of Liverpool city council, previously unreleased documents have disclosed.

They describe how chief executive Henshaw's relationship with Councillor Mike Storey deteriorated over the ill-fated Mersey tram.

And they reveal how the relationship worsened even further after the council turned down a huge pension deal for Henshaw.

The documents also give a shocking insight into Henshaw's personal behaviour and reveal how he used abusive and threatening language in his dealings with the council Leader.

The confidential documents are split into several different sections and give a fascinating glimpse into the battle for power behind the scenes at Liverpool Town Hall.

We shall be serialising extracts from the documents over the next few weeks so that the people of the North West will be able to judge for themselves exactly what kind of man Henshaw is.

They reveal in detail how Henshaw and senior council officals tried to mount a coup to remove the democratically elected Leader of the council. One of the council officials involved is still working for Liverpool while another, astonishingly, has been promoted!

The first part of the secret documents is headed "Circumstances leading to the publication of the so-called Draft Section 151 Report" and has been written by the former Leader Councillor Mike Storey.

It tells how Henshaw approached Storey in 2004 and infomed him that he would have to leave the council in March 2006, because pension changes meant "it wasn't financially worth his while staying."

The council's Director of Resources, Phil Halsall, (known elsewhere as 'the smiling assassin') was instructed by Henshaw to write a report detailing how to get round the pension changes involved.

But Halsall (right) failed to write the report, leaving Henshaw " quite agitated". Then in another blunder, Halsall gave Councillor Storey a copy of an entirely different report!

When finally the correct report on Henshaw's pension was presented in private to the council committee responsible in February 2005, they had three major concerns:

* The report proposed that future pension arrangements for other senior officers should be decided just by Henshaw, Storey and Councillor Marilyn Fielding.

* The report contained no legal implications.

* The report contained no figures!

Storey says Henshaw met him outside the Town Hall after receiving a briefing about the private meeting from Halsall. Henshaw was "very vexed at what had happened."

Storey says: "I have to say that I felt in a very uncomfortable position. The fact that Phil Halsall had repeated verbatim, the discussion in the private meeting."

Executive Board members then agreed to Henshaw's pension being topped up (no figures were given, but it was estimated that this would be to the tune of £340,000), with only two against (current leader Warren Bradley and Education Member Paul Clein).

However the Cabinet set two conditions:
"they wanted to see actual figures" (!)
and they wanted Henshaw to relinquish his position as chief exec of Capital of Culture.

Storey says that the councils Executive Board again met privately to discuss Henshaw's pension and there was concern that there were still no figures available and that the entire Lib Dem group needed to discuss their response.

Storey then says: "At the Group meeting, I proposed that the augmented pension be approved. There was strong vocal opposition to this with every member of the Group bar one, saying that they could not support this. That it would set a very dangerous precedent. However, members were appreciative of his role as chief exec and the job he had done. No formal vote was taken. It was agreed that I would.....see if there were other ways of retaining David, but not with an augmented pension."

Storey then tells how at the subsequent council committee, he moved that the extra pension for Henshaw was not approved.

"At the end of the meeting, I spoke to the Executive Director for Central Services, Mr McElhinney (left, known elsewhere as 'the rottweiller'), who was clearly surprised and shocked at the decision."

Storey tells how he was then collared by reporters about the decision.

"The reporters infomed me that they had spoken to David Henshaw and he had said that in view of this decision, he would be leaving at the end of the year."


COMING NEXT: Henshaw confronts Storey about his emails and threatens his career. Storey considers resigning and disciplining Henshaw.


Posted by Tony Parrish47 at Sunday, November 05, 2006


What others say about Henshaw
"A man in whom I have no confidence and for whom I have no respect" Jane Kennedy, MP, former Health Minister.
"He's a puffed up little bully," Councillor Mike Storey, former leader of Liverpool city council.

"Henshaw has an ego the size of the city," former chief executive of the Mersey Partnership.

"An odious little wretch," Alison Halford.
"Who?, Tony Blair.
"He tried to get me sacked once - it was unbelievable," Executive Director, Phil Halsall.

"A horrible man," George Howarth, MP.
"Frighteningly insecure, driven by a huge ego and the overwhelming desire to be loved. He's like a little boy lost on the one hand - and on the other, the most vicious, nasty brutish individual you could ever have the misfortune to meet, let alone work for. Motivated by greed and believes in nothing but himself..." Matt Finnegan, former Director of Communications.

"Do you want to be in my gang?", Osama Bin Laden.
"A puffed up little squirt, poncing about the city as if he owned it," Warren Bradley, council leader
"A horrible man, horrible," Rex Makin.

"My hero," David McElhinney. (to be continued...)

Henshaw's personal expense account
Henshaw\
How Henshaw was paid off after he blackmailed the city

More good blogs

* Liverpool subCulture - NEW!!!!!!!
* Tori Blare
* Liverpool Times
* I'm Tony Parrish
* Blondie's Blog

SHORTSIGHTED LIBERAL DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR CLOSURE OF LIVERPOOL STROKE CARE UNIT

• 

THE CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR THIS ISSUE ENDED 31ST MARCH 2007.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR VENMORE MEWS AND
VENMORE HOUSE?

AS CARE HOMES ACROSS THE CITY ARE CLOSING AND THE LIVERPOOL CARERS FROM THE PRIVATE INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ACCEPT A CUT IN TERMS AND CONNDITIONS AND WAGES, THE COUNCIL RUN SERVICE IS CLOSING DOWN AND THE CARERS BEING MADE REDUNDANT, CAST ASIDE.

CAN ANY OF US SIT BACK AND LET THIS DESTRUCTION OF LOCAL SERVICES CONTINUES?

WHAT WILL BE LEFT IN THE END?

WHO WILL HELP US WHEN WE GET OLD?

WRITE TO YOUR COUNCILLORS, JOIN THE CAMPAIGNS!

WE CANNOT LET OUR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE BE TREATED WITH SUCH INDIFFERENCE TO THEIR NEEDS.

SEE MY OLD POSTING BELOW FOR A REMINDER OF THIS ISSUE AND LINK UP TO CITY OF THE DEAD FOR CARERS CAMPAIGN

Origional posting

VENMORE HOUSE IN ANFIELD LIVERPOOL, HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS AGAIN TODAY AFTER LIVERPOOL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS VOTED IN FAVOUR OF CLOSING AN AWARD WINNING SERVICE!

ALL OF THE LABOUR MP'S IN LIVERPOOL HAVE VOICED THEIR OBJECTIONS TO THIS CLOSURE, YET THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT COUNCIL HAVE ALL VOTED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE PEOPLES VOTE IS ENTIRELY IGNORED!!

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT IS BEHIND ALL OF THIS???

WHO REALLY WANTS THAT PIECE OF PRIME REGENERATION AREA, PIECE OF LAND??????

TODAY IN THE DAILY POST THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN





We'll carry on fight to save home

Oct 25 2006

By Kate Mansey Daily Post Staff

ELDERLY people and their families yesterday vowed to fight the closure of one of Liverpool's old people's homes after a consultation into its future was given the go-ahead.

Infirm and ill people, some aged 80, arrived in Liverpool yesterday to campaign against plans to close Venmore community care centre, in Hartnup Street, Everton, in order to make way for a modern 'elderly village'.

So far more than 1,500 people have signed a petition to save the home, but the centre's future is far from certain.

At a meeting yesterday, residents and their families addressed councillors to explain what the home means to them.

Willsbert Buckeridge, 72, wept as he told them: "I've lived there for two years and it is my home - people are very generous there and I don't know what would happen if it closed."

Maureen Finn, whose 76-year-old mother Elizabeth Finn has lived in the home for 13 years, said: "It will kill my mother if she leaves."

The 25-bed centre, which also provides daycare for elderly people in the community, encompasses a stroke recovery unit.

In 1998, the centre benefited from a £2.8m refurbishment.

Cllr Roz Gladden said: "It seems utterly ridiculous to spend that much money, to then close the home less than 10 years later.

"This is not a true consultation exercise but a cynical procedure to 'consult' residents, which really is not acceptable.

" A senior staff member said: "Staff have been promised new jobs so it isn't for our sake that we're fighting this - it's for the residents.

"We've lost an awful lot of services over the years in Liverpool and there are very few homes left - we can't afford to lose Venmore too."

Yesterday, members of Liverpool City Council's health and adult social care select committee voted to go ahead with a consultation into what will happen to the home, but members changed the consultation to be one about the

'future', rather than the 'closure', of the centre.

Councillors also voted to ensure that vacancies at the home would continue to be filled in order to prevent a situation where empty beds helped fuel a closure.

A further report is now expected following the consultation to ascertain the centre's future.

kate.mansey@liverpool.com

IN THE MEANTIME ONE OF OUR ELECTED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IS HIGHLIGHTING THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LIVERPOOL DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE.

Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree, Labour)

I invite my hon. Friend to consider how better partnership working might improve our severe health inequalities in Liverpool.

Does she know that last month, in the very same week that the NHS announced its welcome stroke care pathway, Lib Dem-led Liverpool city council announced the proposed closure of one of the two venues from which the pathway was to be run, dispersing the staff who had just been trained to run it?

I invite her to give the NHS the strongest possible encouragement to continue with its excellent work, which seems to be one of the few ways in which we can make a serious effort against health inequalities in Liverpool.

Caroline Flint (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health)

I thank my right hon. Friend for that information.

There is no doubt that stroke and conditions such as diabetes and coronary disease are among the biggest diseases facing the NHS.

The issue is not just about helping people so that we can prevent them from acquiring those diseases, but about giving them support to allow them to live longer once the disease has become part of their life.

Although it is difficult for me to comment in depth, I suggest that the Lib Dem council has taken a rather short-sighted approach in respect of the unit.

THE LAND IS WORTH A FORTUNE

WHO REALLY WANTS IT AND WHAT IS THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS HIDDEN AGENDA??

DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT THE AREA OF ANFIELD OR THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL, WOULD GAIN FROM THE CLOSURE OF AN AWARD WINNING HIGHLY RESPECTED AND MUCH NEEDED SERVICE?

MAKING OUR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE HOMELESS AND TEARING THEIR FAMILY UNITS TO PIECES!?


I DO NOT BELIEVE THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WERE ELECTED IN UNDER THAT PROMISE DO YOU??

WHO WANTS THIS LAND????

UPDATE ON LIVERPOOL EVIC CABAL PART ONE!!!!

Liverpool-City-A-Collection-of-information

Details of Liverpool City Council leaders corruption, and other stories.


Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The Time Is Fast Approaching, Liverpool Evil Cabal Update 1

Showing the Liverpool Evil Cabal and the crustations that have benefitted from these LEECHES, that the Working Classes and DECENT human beings of Liverpool, the people who PAY their council tax and keep their noses clean of the law, ARE WATCHING YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When that, "glourious day" comes?

I suggest a local festival of the streets, to be celebrated every year?

Comments as to acts that could perform at this hounourable celebration of

"Defeating the Evil Cabal",

to be emailed to me in first instance.

Australian Women need not apply.

This is covered under the You Have Stolen Enough From Liverpool Council Tax Payers Bill 2006

This is an excerpt from the brilliant Liverpool Times Web page.

See below for copy of text from Liverpool Times or follow link

www.liverpooltimes.net/2006/09/12/liverpool-evil-cabal/


Posted by admin under Local News


Readers in Liverpool will recall the recent commotion over a website or blog titled Evil Liverpool Cabal.
The lessons learnt by the banning of The Kirkby Times website would doubtless have come in handy as Liverpool City councillors and their mates cried ‘foul play’ and put the pressure on the Evil Liverpool Cabal.
Banning what people have to say is pretty much par for the course with British politicians today. This tactic of putting the boot into the ordinary man and woman for speaking out is the mark of a Fascist dictatorship.


The allegations on the Liverpool Evil Cabal website, just to refresh the collective memory of Scouseland are as follows….

The chief executive of Liverpool Direct Limited, Dr David McElhinney and members of his family’s all-expenses-paid trip to Bahrain

The alleged use of council resources by Paul King in his role as CEO of the Amateur Boxing Association

Allegations that the city council footed the bill for sending an England ABA team to Puerto Rico

Sir David Henshaw using confidential emails to blackmail the city council into a £250,000 retirement deal Henshaw using confidential emails to mount an attempted coup d’etat to try and get rid of the then elected Leader of the Council

Henshaw using confidential emails to threaten Mike Storey’s job as a headteacher

Henshaw being allowed to earn extra income during his six months notice period

The pay-off for Robyn Archer
A number of issues surrounding The 08 Place – the procurement of its only tenant, CMP Entertainment;
the project’s £500,000 cost overrun;
Dr McElhinney’s misleading account to the Select Committee that contractors were off site;
which officers gave authority for work continuing without proper council authorisation;
repeated breaches of Standing Orders,
council rules and financial regulations by
McElhinney;
Louise Gray continuing to pay invoices without authority and acting against the advice of the council’s legal team.
The free 10-year car parking pass, worth £16,500 given to Chas Cole, boss of CMP by McElhinney, the Project Director
The eight-month rent free period, worth £28,933 given to Mr Cole by McElhinney.
The relationship and social contact between a private contractor, Mr Cole and McElhinney,
revealed in documents already presented to the chief executive of the council, Mr Colin Hilton.

The relationship and social contact between Mr Cole and Mr Halsall, revealed in documents already presented to Mr Hilton.

Sir David Henshaw’s response to Councillor Bradley’s questions last year regarding The 08 Place.
Why, and how, was a draft reply from 20/20 changed by Sir David to delete any reference to free car parking or the free rental period for Mr Cole/CMP?
This looks suspiciously like an attempt to mislead councillors and withhold relevant information as part of a cover up.

The failure of the council to put the Summer Pops out to competitive tender for six years, contrary to all council rules and procedures (please see “We won’t get fooled again”…Mr Halsall blog for specific questions)

The failure of the council to issue an OJEC notice for the Summer Pops

The relationship between Mr Halsall and members of his family and Mr Cole

The council’s failure to properly consider Cream’s alternative bid to stage the Summer Pops

The new chief executive, Mr Hilton misleading councillors on the Leisure and Tourism Select Committee about the date and timing of the Cream proposal and its receipt by the council

The cost of computer equipment purchased by Liverpool city council from Liverpool Direct, and the council’s evidence that this arrangement represented best value for council taxpayers

The shareholdings in BT of senior council officers who were involved in the transfer of council services to the city council/BT joint venture, Liverpool Direct Limited
The role and propriety of the interim chief executive of Capital of Culture, Jason Harborrow acting as a lobbyist for a private contractor tendering to stage the Summer Pops in 2007/8 contrary to council Standing Orders.

The hosting of the ABA website by the city council (see specific questions in “What’s my name?…” blog)

The use of council property and resources for other external work by an outside contractor, enterprise-liverpool

The appointment by Henshaw and McElhinney of Senn Delaney to a £1million-plus training programme ‘The Liverpool Way’, without the work being subject to tender or OJEC notice.

The appointment of Sarah Parr. This was very suspicious activity.

The position of Mr Halsall whose son Liam’s band, ‘Abe’ was booked by Mr Cole to appear at the Summer Pops. This is even more suspicious activity.

Whilst some of the powers that be might fake a bit of good old fashioned swooning at the list, the reality is that such allegations are appearing the length and breadth of this nation and talk of bent councillors cutting crooked deals is going on in many of the labour heartlands. We all know new labour is just as bad, if not actually worse than the old Tories. They have certainly started more wars than Thatcher, and gone up a few gears in the class war against the workers and communities.

The political loyalty of whistle blowers is not really an issue and the rewards of whistle-blowing, as a few people in the UK have discovered, can lead from anything to suspected assassination (Dr David Kelly) to the day and day out harassment of people whose loyalty to the ideas of fair play lands them in trouble.

We wish all at The Evil Liverpool Cabal well – feel free to comment here on matters concerning Liverpool

posted by Tori Blare @ 10:47 AM 0 comments links to this post