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Spending put on hold due to election costs (From Keighley News)
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Spending put on hold due to election costs
2:40pm Thursday 9th July 2009
Members voted in support of a resolution drafted in response to allegations that Bradford is “stifling” the town council by not revealing crucial financial information.
Finance chairman Cllr John Philip said the district council had repeatedly failed to inform him how much money needed to be set aside to fund the town council’s next elections.
“I’ve asked and asked how much this is going to be and I’m sick of asking,” he said.
He has previously warned that from 2011 the council may have to find anything from £75,000 to £100,000 to pay for its elections.
His resolution states the town council’s finance committee can not currently recommend committing money to any major project until Bradford Council discloses final election costs. Cllr Wright opposed the motion, warning it would impose a straitjacket on the town council.
He said Bradford’s failure to announce the cost of elections was no reason for Keighley to inhibit its own spending plans.
However, the proposal was easily passed, with two members voting against and one abstaining.
After the meeting, a Bradford Council spokesman responded, saying: “The financial arrangements that have been in place between parish councils and the district since 2004 have always made it clear that parish and town councils would be required to contribute to the cost of elections held on the same day as district council elections after April 2009, as set out in law.
“In annual precepting guidance issued to parishes, all parishes have been encouraged to include within their local precept a sum of money to cover future election costs.
“The town council has been provided with indicative ward costs for running an election.
“The estimates provided include figures that are based upon a number of variable factors that can alter the amounts, such as the number of electors or postal voters within a given area, which can change each election.”
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Your Say YourKeighley
claims, keighley says...
9:28am Sat 11 Jul 09
wizard52, keighley says...
4:25pm Sat 11 Jul 09
In seven years Keighley Town Council will have spent nearly £2,000,000: On what, and the cost carries on ever upwards. If one complains you are told the Councillors should sing from the same hymn sheet and all pull together!
I’m told that Cllr Samuels is spat at while others who disagree with the bosses are blackballed and treated as if they have ‘Swine Flue’
If Cllr Samuels promises not to give in to the bullies in Council I’ll buy him a cup of coffee at his ‘surgery’ next week!
Wizard52
david Samuels, Keighley says...
5:03pm Sat 11 Jul 09
I believe that some Bradford District Councillors who I meet on a regular basis really are not happy with what is going on in Keighley Council. I have offered to stop my campaign of asking searching questions and resign, if, and when certain Councillors allow free debate without trying to control every minutia of debate.
Instead of helping other Councillors to seek office, thereby introducing, new blood into the controlling mechanism of Keighley Town Council, lure of office and power would seem to inhibit change and advancement and public perception in this parish council.
Most certainly any member, new to the chairmanship of office and that includes the Mayor and Deputy will make mistakes. I suggest that retiring Chairs and vice Chairs of Committees, if genuine in seeking advancement of Keighley, gently give a helping hand to the newcomers, and that includes the office of Mayor etc. Most certainly not try to control as many suspect may have happened in the past.
Wizard 52 I would enjoy a cup of coffee at your expense if you promise not to put it onto your next travel mileage schedule when you go on holiday.
Cllr David Samuels Spring Garden and Utley Ward (Including Beechcliffe)
David McKay, Keighley says...
6:32pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Either the aspirations of those in the middle is so great their silence and quiet cooperation is the price of their apprenticeship towards "higher office" or they are truely spineless and tremble at the threat of being reported to the standards board.
The "gang of four" do more to represent the true voice of Keighley people when it comes to how their precept is spent and may they continue to have the courage to do so.
I, for one, will thoroughly enjoy the next round of Town Council elections, and trust at least one of the "gang of four" will come forward and invite me to the count!
david Samuels, Keighley says...
7:31pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Not one member of Parliament has been prosecuted for fraud, not one chairman of a British financial institution has been indicted for the many billions of pounds lost in the complex financial mess that is rampant today. Nobody in Government has been charged with illegal wars, or for the lack of providing proper equipment etc to our troops, and yet you want an invite to a local election count, and I’m supposed to be mad!
David Samuels.
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David McKay, Keighley says...
10:03pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Yet when it comes time for them to step up to the plate over election costs, which they were advised to prepare for some five years ago, they have been found wanting.
Instead of getting their proverbial thumbs out, they have instead, in typical fashion, moaned that "big, bad Bradford" won't provide their costs.
Bradford council may know what it costs for local elections for six councillors in the Keighley constituency, Keighley Town Council should accept its responsibility for managing its own election costs and calculate for itself, the costs for its own 30 councillors.
PS, if as indicated, the figure may be in excess of £100k, should the public not be consulted on whether or not we need a town council at that price?
Of course, if they can't, the easy option would be to step down and let someone more able take their places.