SHIREBROOK: UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Today, a short article about the Village Hall electors meeting. It was yet another example of the positive change flowing through Shirebrook Town Council. I felt a real presence of hope, ambition, and commitment, not only from councillors, but also from residents.
The fact is — we are in deep trouble. Councillors knew that. Residents at the meeting knew that too. Anyone looking at the financials of STC knows that. I think the majority agree that change must be deep and structural. Reform must be swift and vast, and it needs to follow the procedures.
LIST OF… ABSENCES
There are just seven STC councillors left. One was missing. Another big absence was the Town Clerk and her other STC-employed family member(s). Maybe there was someone listening on her behalf — hard to say. It is really weird that the new tradition of the STC Town Clerk is not to be at any meetings. That is a completely new level of “remote” work.
The same goes for the “our” contingent at BDC. Not a single BDC councillor turned up. I’d wager a bottle of good gin that every one of them will still collect their big, fat cheque for “working for residents” of Shirebrook. They will cling to their “positions” in BDC until the very end of the term. It truly shows you where their allegiance lies — BDC role is paid. STC role is not. It looks like they’re doing it all for the money, not Shirebrook.
THE TIDE IS TURNING!
I’ve always considered myself part of the “positive Shirebrook coalition.” The problem was that, last time I sat on STC, I felt like the ONLY member of this coalition. The “majority” had their own idea of what counted as “positive.” That’s why we ended up with countless scandals, the highest taxes, and the highest costs — all swept neatly under the carpet. Then I came along with a broom, I lifted the carpet, and the rest is history.
Today I can say this: I feel the ship is finally turning in the right direction. We’re not out of the tricky waters yet, but at least we’ve turned and are steering the right course. Let me underline and repeat: I’m sure we are heading in the right direction. I feel real joy writing those words.
OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD
I want to stay positive, and I believe more and more that I’ll have the opportunity to write about the good things coming out of STC — rather than yet another scandal. The old elite is gone. The new team looks far more focused on Shirebrook than on political games or their own bottom line. Looking into their tired, yet hopeful eyes filled me with even more positive energy.
It will take time to fix all the problems, but, damn, the change is palpable!
THE SINS OF BDC
At the meeting, residents spoke at length about STC but also about BDC’s failures — especially the plan to build 4,000 extra houses in Shirebrook without the slightest plan for infrastructure and against the results of public consultation. When construction began on the Meadow View area, promises were made: shops, a pub, maybe even a school and a park. And what did residents get? A patch of grass and a few pieces of playground equipment. That’s it.
THE SINS OF THE TOWN CLERK
Please understand this: there is a strange “rule” that prevents councillors from openly questioning patterns of nepotism or mismanagement among public servants. So when I presented a list of evidence pointing to a mountain of incompetence by the Town Clerk, which is a key part of STC’s problems, councillors were forced to stay silent. But residents piled on.
At the moment, I’m not bound by those weird rules. I’m “elected” by freedom of speech. And as long as I remain a member of the public and a blogger, I will say openly what I see and how I see it. I will speak about everything that is wrong for as long as I can. Corruption + nepotism = a toxic formula. Full stop.
THE SINS OF STC
Some of the recent ones were reversed, for example, the Village Hall “lease” idea. It’s suspended until a new attempt is likely to be discussed and announced after STC get to full membership. Some of the sins are still under the “exempt” status… one day, it will all come to light, and residents’ jaws will drop to the floor. As will STC cash reserves.
Next, the overloaded “leisure” budget and massive workforce. Cllr Tony Burns mentioned the problem with money, and when I scanned the room to see how those gathered reacted, it looked like people didn’t read between the lines. Cllr Tony Burns, in a very diplomatic way, warned residents that we are way below the recommended amount of reserves and things must be fixed now or else.
From time to time, I post screenshots on Facebook of my tax research, comparing other Town Council financial situations with Shirebrook. Let me drop another example:
Some day I will publish the full set of data I collected, probably before the next “tax meeting” of STC. I will need readers’ help to “convince” councillors to LOOK FOR SAVINGS RATHER THAN TAX RISES.
From my point of view: STC workforce costs should be cut by 20–30% and other expenses by 10–20%, and no one in town (apart from the Town Clerk family and Labour family) would feel that. It would not affect services in any way, shape, or form.
NEW LEADER
As usual, Sarah Brooks conducted the meeting professionally. When I met her for the first time, I thought she was a hard-core Labour nepotism defender. It’s good to be wrong from time to time. It grounds you.
Anyway, the new leader of STC apologised for the situation (not her fault, to be honest, so I don’t understand why she was apologising for it, but still — nice gesture) and all councillors in their speeches assured residents that work is ongoing to fix the mess left by the previous administration. If they follow the procedures, they can fix some of the problems in the short term and, with planning and the help of new councillors, long-term problems too.
Hopefully, new councillors will demonstrate dedication and ambition to support ongoing changes, reduce expenses, and adhere to procedures.
MOVING ON…
Leaving that meeting, for the first time in years, I walked out of STC with a light step. Not only because, on the way out, I had the chance to chat with a man who also speaks his mind and appreciates the way I do things. He encouraged me to run again for a council seat — and his words felt like the cherry on top of the cake. And yes, that cake was the STC meeting itself. I can hardly believe I’m writing these words!
The majority of the still-serving councillors don’t care about party politics, their own bottom line, the next election, or prestige. They just care about Shirebrook. Care as in real care — not the polished, corporate, Facebook-post kind of care. Not the “leaflet before the election” kind of care. Not the “I don’t really care” kind of care.
It’s just a shame that two of the still-serving councillors are around 90 years old and don’t know what is going on around them. It’s sad, really sad, to see Cllr Brian Murray-Carr sitting in the Chair’s position and starting the meeting when, in reality, he is not the Chair. Just like that, he sat and “started” the meeting, confused, lost. I know why no one talks about it — because it speaks to our own mortality. I wanted to say something when I noticed it, but I choked; all I could do was look around to see how others reacted. Most of the people who noticed that laughed nervously. It was cringe. And it wasn’t the first time that this the Councillor lost contact with reality.
Same with Cllr Fred Gobey sitting through a whole meeting without saying one single sentence about issues. Like an empty shell of a once-great man… it shows us that soon enough we will join them. That’s why we allow this to go on… that’s why even people like me, with hard dedication to freedom of speech, we can’t say anything. We choke.
My answer to it is term limits and age restrictions. And honour. Sometimes a man should have the balls to say — it’s time to give the younger generation a chance.
STILL, I LIKE WHAT I SEE, AND I WANT MORE
I like this new STC (excluding the hiccups with councillors Murray-Carr and Gobey). I like these tired, hopeful councillors who are working overtime to set things straight. I saw this new generation of councillors tonight, and you know what? I’m so, so, so happy — we are halfway to my goal.
What is my goal, you may ask? It’s simple — to make Shirebrook the leader of the region. I want to live in the safest, cleanest, most transparent town in the region. With low taxes, high voter participation, unique events, and flair.
Sylwester Zwierzynski info@shirebrook247.com
