Leisure Comm and Full Council meetings report
Today’s article is unusual because I simultaneously present reports from two STC meetings. We will start with the report of the STC Leisure Committee meeting on 8/31/22. Although it lasted only 30 minutes, something unique happened at this meeting. I will discuss it quickly, and then we will discuss the Full Council meeting on 17th August.
THE LEISURE COMMITTEE IS GOING DARK!
Among the documents discussed at the LComm meeting on 8/31/22, I found the meeting minutes, which were not present in the STC “APPROVED MEETING SCHEDULE”. I have not received an invitation or any information about this meeting. For this reason, it was the first time I did not appear in the Chamber at the STC meeting. Unfortunately, it had to happen sooner or later. However, I thought it would happen someday for health or family reasons and not because I had not received information about the STC meeting. Very disappointing.
Moreover, the meeting was held behind closed doors, so the minutes contained only the date, the attendance list and the information that all items on the agenda were confidential. Here is the “minutes” heading:
What caught my attention were two facts: the first fact I have already mentioned- no notification of the meeting, no invitation. As for the second puzzling fact, you have to look at the calendar. 15th August is Monday, not Wednesday. Moreover, Wednesday was the 17th, and that day there was a Full Council meeting, not a Leisure Committee meeting. All of this is highly unusual, and to tell you the truth, I don’t understand why Town Hall staff can’t send information about “emergency meetings” by e-mail. There is a saying: if you don’t know what’s going on, it’s probably about money. I will not elaborate on this thought since anything I would like to say is probably “exempt”.
I will also not analyse the motives of the Town Clerk and Chair of LComm. It costs NOTHING to send an e-mail, and I have asked several times to be notified of all meetings. I want readers to take note of the fact: something strange has happened. The STC held a sort of “emergency” meeting that I was not informed about, the entire meeting was classified, and the minutes did not contain a single sentence from the course of the meeting.
According to the rule, I adopted a few months ago, if I’m at the “not my” committee meeting and no one asks me a question directly, I do not say a single word. Unfortunately, LComm members approved the minutes in this form by voting. Oops!
L/22/023 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TO APPROVE THE REASONS FOR THOSE ABSENCES.
At this point, it is worth noting another quite significant event. I have been observing, taking notes and publishing a list of councillors’ presence at STC meetings for a long time. From the last elections to 31st August, 2022, there were only two councillors with 100% attendance at the scheduled STC meetings. From today, there is only one councillor at the top of the list, and if health and God allow – I will try to maintain 100% presence until my last day in STC (at scheduled meetings – it is natural that I cannot be present at meetings that I am not informed about).
As many as 4 LComm members did not attend the meeting, so for the first time in STC history, the committee meeting was on the verge of no quorum. I will not be picky here, though – August is the holiday month, so low attendance is justified and is an extremely rare deviation from the habitually high attendance at STC meetings (compared to other councils I have visited).
L/22/024 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
None declared.
L/22/025 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LEISURE COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVING BEEN HELD 29TH JUNE 2022.
Approved.
L/22/026 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LEISURE COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVING BEEN HELD 15TH AUGUST 2022.
Approved.
L/22/027 TO REVIEW AND NOTE THE CONTENTS OF THE LEISURE MANAGER’S REPORT.
a. TO DISCUSS AND SUGGEST ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHRISTMAS MARKET EVENT.
b. TO DECIDE OPTION FOR REPLACEMENT OF INFLATABLE.
c. TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE INCLUSION OPTIONS FOR JUBILEE EVENTS.
d. TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE OPTIONS FOR GYM EQUIPMENT.
This time I received (and read in full) a copy of LC Supervisor’s report. I chose some more interesting facts for the readers: Income of LC for the period 20th June- 23rd August was 18,665. Compared to the same period in previous years: 2019/2020 – 6,788. In the years 2018/2019 – 13,171.
So it seems that the LC crew has shown extraordinary creativity in attracting more residents to the LC. The financial result beats the pre-pandemic result, which in my opinion, is impressive because whoever I talk to in the broadly understood “leisure” sector, everyone says that “footfall” is still lower than before the pandemic, and customers are much less eager to spend money.
LC Supervisor informed about all the activities LC offered to residents during the summer. These included trips (The Deep; West Midlands Safari Park; Gullivers Park; Woodside Wildlife Park); classes for children aged 11-14; Jubilee Gym Tots Teddy Bear Picnic (for toddlers); Jubilee Afternoon Tea, and some others. I encourage you to like the Leisure Center profile on Facebook if you want to know about the events in advance.
LC Supervisor also briefly informed us about upcoming events. Among them are two evenings of boxing (one of them will be an exhibition fight in aid of Man’s Mental Health funds and awareness after one of Shirebrook’s young men took his own life recently).
Classic Car show on 25th September
Festival of Brass 1-2 October
Fireworks- 4th November
Remembrance Day Sunday 13th November
Christmas Market 26th November
L/22/028 TO CONSIDER RESPONSES AS NECESSARY TO LISTED CORRESPONDENCE.
a. NONE RECEIVED TO DATE.
L/22/029 TO APPROVE THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LEISURE COMMITTEE.
(SET AT 2ND NOVEMBER 2022 AS PER THE APPROVED MEETING SCHEDULE)
That’s it from the LComm meeting. Of course, the issue of the LC heating was not touched upon. Who cares about thousands of pounds lost due to “overheating”, right? So it’s time to go over the events at the previous Full Council meeting. I have already written two articles about the events during the discussion (or lack thereof) of the report on the Heating of STC buildings at the Full Council meeting. If you haven’t read them, I highly recommend reading them. Links:
https://shirebrook247.com/2022/08/22/scandal-and-scandal-and-one-more-scandal/
https://shirebrook247.com/2022/08/29/stc-heating-scandal-still-not-explained/
Now is the time to discuss the rest of the evening’s events. I have to start with what I’m talking about from my first moments at STC: STC is too rare. As a result, the agenda is almost always overloaded, and it has become a habit for the Chair to “suspend” Standing Orders in order to extend the meeting. It is very tedious – two hours without any break, non-stop, focused on various topics is burdensome for the mind and body. The solution is simple – dissolve LComm, include its workload to OpComm duties, and devote the free time to additional Full meetings so as to cut their length from 150 minutes to 100 minutes.
2022/053 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE.
Four councillors were missing.
2022/054 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS.
Declared, and the councillors left the Chamber at the appropriate times.
2022/055 TO DISCUSS ANY POLICE MATTERS AND DECIDE ANY ISSUES FOR REPORT – (PAGE/S 1-5).CRIME FIGURES ARE ATTACHED FOR INFORMATION – (PAGES 1-4).
Some time ago, I mentioned the puzzling change in the quality of the published “minutes”. I would like to explain it further today. Let’s start with an example. Once, the minutes looked like this:
To summarise: a brief description of the events without any details. Many people have long complained about the presentation of events that took place at STC meetings. There is little data in the minutes, no numbers, no quotes, no explanations. I was one of those complainers, especially when I wasn’t a counsellor yet and was trying to find out what was going on at the STC. Not much can be deduced from the “old” minutes.
Now, same agenda item looks like that:
Why this change in reporting? Well- I showed up. My blog reports were a much more comprehensive source of meeting data than the documents presented by STC. Additionally – my reports are usually published a few days after the meeting when you have to wait months for the minutes of the STC. For example, on the STC website, there are no minutes from AGM, which was in May 2022. All minutes from all meetings since then- missing.
Due to the fact that my reports were quite detailed, more and more people began to realise that “things are bad in the Danish state”. However, my reports are always enriched by my one-sided comments, and the Labor councillors have repeatedly accused me of only presenting my side of the story (duuuh).
So I started to include clippings of the audio recordings to show the real picture of what was happening. I was hoping that the townspeople would understand then that I was not distorting anything. The clippings I have presented over the last year show a shocking lack of leadership, scrutiny and many examples of mismanagement, bias and double standards. The Labor Party had to react to it somehow – at some point, it was decided to record the deliberations.
There was also an additional mistake in the STC strategy: if I made a mistake or said a blatant lie (which will never happen), how would Labor inform the community about ‘my mistake” without telling people about me? There are hundreds of residents still unaware of my work. How could Labour attack me without increasing awareness about my achievements and their scandals? They can’t, so they wont inform about anything.
They could use their propaganda paper– The Post, but this publication deals with disinformation rather than factual reporting about what is happening in our town. On town internet pages? These cannot be used for political combat. On Facebook? It is way too easy to discuss there – and Labor wants to avoid it at all costs. Therefore none of the Labor Party councillors come there. Maybe leaflets informing about this “bad” councillor who dares to ask questions? Who will distribute these leaflets, and even if someone is found – why advertise someone whom Labor would like to get rid of?
Labour doesn’t have a good solution here – they’ve got to know me well enough that they know that any attempt to openly discuss with me would end tragically for them. I know too much, I’m not afraid to talk about it, and they don’t have a good defence beyond keeping a silent stance and praying that more residents won’t join me in the next elections.
This is where “new minutes” come into play. It was decided that they needed to be made more detailed and decorated with a few “half-truths” and not very obvious manipulations. Only on this small fragment, I presented above, there are two manipulations. The first in the first sentence. By entering this meeting, I had an Agenda in my hand without the points I had proposed. Moreover, I e-mailed Town Clerk, and Chair about my agenda items, and neither of them replied to my e-mail. So when entering the meeting, no one could say that my proposals were accepted – they were not on the agenda.
However, if you read these minutes, you will see that everything has been discussed. Why do I not remember STC responding to my proposal to inspect heating devices and seals on meters if this was the case? THERE WAS NO SUCH A DISCUSSION, but the STC and the Labor Party stated in an official document that there was such a discussion. Moreover, Labour councillors voted unanimously to confirm that the minutes reflected the course of events. Labor confirmed the untruth by using democracy as a tool to create their own truth. The problem is- that their truth is a lie.
Exactly the same thing happened in a few other places. Only in the featured excerpt it happens twice – in the last sentence of this screenshot, the minutes say I said PCC “would reply” to e-mails. Except that I said something completely different. I informed the complaining councillors that they might TRY to contact her office by e-mail if they have questions. Only this and so much. In minutes it looks like I’m representing PCC and promising something on her behalf, which is clearly not true.
I do not know when these minutes will be published on the town’s website, but even apart from the obvious half-truths and manipulations: the minutes represent a much better level of detail than before. They present more facts than ever at every point (except financial). I hope this trend will continue, although I also express my opposition to using minutes as a political weapon.
2022/056 TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM MARK SESTON OF BOLSOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL IN RELATION TO THE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AND POTENTIAL DISTRICT WIDE CCTV PROJECT.
More than 40 minutes of time was devoted to this point, but not even the word about the “potential district-wide CCTV project” was discussed. As the Chair closed the discussion on this point, I asked a BD representative to e-mail the Town Clerk about it so we could hear more about it. So far, I have not received any additional information. I have this issue on my “to do” list. Until today, I have not done it. Reason? As usual- lack of free time.
Sooner or later, however, I will find a moment to move on with my backlog of work. As soon as I know something more about it, I will inform you about it. I will also add more details about the “Community Safety Partnership” run by BDC, as it seems that they also helped to reverse the crime rate trend.
2022/057 TO PERMIT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD.
A PERIOD OF UP TO BUT NO LONGER THAN TEN MINUTES TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS AND OPINIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ANY MATTER WHICH AFFECTS THE TOWN.
No resident had visited the Chamber for the first time in a very long time. Holidays!
2022/058 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVING BEEN HELD 15TH JUNE 2022 – (PAGE/S 6-13).
a. -18)
Approved despite my protest.
2022/059 TO REVIEW THE MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND NOTE THE DECISIONS THERETO;
a. LEISURE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 29TH JUNE 2022 – (PAGES 14-16)
b. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD 13TH JULY 2022 – (PAGES 17-19)
Approved.
2022/060 TO REVIEW AND APPROVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
a. TO REVIEW CASH BOOK ENTRIES SINCE PREVIOUS MEETING AND ADDRESS ANY QUERIES PRIOR TO AUTHORISING – (PAGE/S 20-27).
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! The town’s debt was paid off with the money obtained from the sale of land near Lidl. Who made this decision? I do not know. When? I do not know. Transparency Labor style! Is this not a symptom of madness? I’m a councillor, and I have no idea what happened here!
I will not discuss this topic further. In my opinion, the style in which the town paid off this debt is disgusting. But the mere fact that Shirebrook is entering a period of economic turmoil without debt is a personal success for me. It paid to push the subject. We will save tons of money because of it.
b. TO REVIEW AND AUTHORISE BANK RECONCILIATION/S FOR CASH BOOK PERIOD – (PAGE/S 28-29).
c. TO CONSIDER AND DECIDE APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
i. NONE RECEIVED TO DATE.
2022/061 TO CONSIDER RESPONSES AS NECESSARY TO LISTED CORRESPONDENCE.
a. DERBYSHIRE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER – MEETING ATTENDANCE – (PAGE/S 30-31).
Labour Party councillors have not had the slightest problem that under the ‘reign’ of a PCC from their party, crime in Shirebrook has steadily increased. The Conservative Party PCC has been in our town twice now and has reversed the trend of rising crime despite taking office just one year and five months ago. Some councillors are still demanding that the PCC turn up at an STC meeting. What for? I don’t know. Probably just to discuss how she managed to break the years-long trend of rising crime in Shirebrook and to receive congratulations. As I mentioned- if Labour councillors want to thank her for her work and changing the “rural policing strategy” they can do so via e-mail. It’s the 21st century, for goodness sake!
b. DERBYSHIRE CONSTABULARY – REMEMBRANCE EVENTS – (PAGE/S 32-33).
c. DERBYSHIRE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER – FUNDING APPLICATION – (PAGE/S 34).
The grant application was again rejected. As I said- applying for funding for a project that is already implemented and funded is doomed in advance. The requirements were explicitly stated in the rules: you can’t apply for a project that is already funded and ongoing. Only new projects have a chance to win grant money. In my view, this is simply a political ploy to manoeuvre the PCC into a situation where she cannot give a grant because of rules that the application breaks. It seems to me that Labour councillors want to suggest to their constituents in this way that the PCC is not helping in a Labour-dominated region.
If my proposal had been listened to, the chances of receiving a grant would have been much better. The PCC set out seven requirements that, if met, increased the chance of a successful application. My idea met six of them. Labour’s idea? Four. My idea was new, fresh, and not started. Labour is applying for money for something that is already being installed. What’s more- STC will try again. What a waste of time…
d. DERBYSHIRE BUILDING CONTROL – STREET NAME CONSULTATION – (PAGE/S 35-38).
A new street in Shirebrook will be called Swan Lane. I have no idea who chose this name-we were only given information about the decision made. The street will lead to a new neighbourhood which will be built next to Lidl.
e. PUBLIC HEALTH DERBYSHIRE – COVID-19 COMMUNITY FUND – (PAGE/S 39).
Information about the possibility of applying for a grant of up to £2,000 to ‘encourage’ people to be injected with the so-called vaccine for China Flu. Oh! Wait! Communists from China banned this name from the corporate internet and media. They told their puppets from WHO to call it Covid because apparently, China Flu was… racist!
2022/062 TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND REVIEW PLANNING DECISIONS – (PAGE/S 40-42).
Here is where something happened that I should describe in detail, but I decided to leave it out. Why? Because STC has nothing to say in matters of ‘planning decisions. STC recommendations do not influence decisions made at Bolsover District Council.
2022/063 TO RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE TOWN CLERK.
a. TO RECEIVE INFORMATION RELATING AMP HEAT – (SEPARATE BOOKLET).
Again- it’s on the agenda, but it was not discussed. Zero analysis of the report, zero discussion.
2022/064 TO RECEIVE CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS.
a. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING.
i. MEETING – DCC – MARKET TRAFFIC ISSUES.
ii. MEETING – BDC – MARKET DEVELOPMENT REPORT.
2022/065 CONFIDENTIAL ITEM/S – Exclusion of the Press & Public.
To resolve that, in view of the confidential nature of the items to be discussed, a formal resolution be passed to exclude the press and public from the meeting, pursuant to the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 & the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, Part 1, paragraphs 11.
2022/066 TO HEAR REPRESENTATION FROM GRANT GALLOWAY OF BOLSOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED CREMATORIUM DEVELOPMENT.
2022/067 TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION FROM LEISURE COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO POTENTIAL LEISURE CENTRE DEVELOPMENT.
2022/068 TO APPROVE THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SET AT 12TH OCTOBER 2022 AS PER THE APPROVED MEETING SCHEDULE. SCHEDULED MEETINGS;
LEISURE COMMITTEE – 31ST AUGUST 2022.
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE – 14TH SEPTEMBER 2022.
END
If you have reached this point in the article, then I have one piece of news for you – you have the stamina necessary for the work of a councillor. You have the resilience to endure long, boring texts, and you are clearly interested in the affairs of our town. If you would like to know more about becoming a councillor and what this entails, please feel free to contact me by e-mail or telephone. This town needs less old.same.Labour in Chamber and more people who want to do something.
