As the Duclie Tudor rows rage on, below is an interesting e-discussion between several councillors and campaigners and all addressed to Cornwall Council CEO, Kate Kennally, who seems very conspicuous by her complete silence on all issues raised:
Also, please take a minute to give Cornwall Council Planning some "feedback" via their online survey here:
www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/planning-survey-2019
On 19 Oct 2019, at 10:31, campaigner wrote:
Dear Mrs Tremore
Again, you raise some very good points, thank you.
Very recently, a prominent Liberal Democrat councillor, who as a ‘’Growth Agenda’’ stooge, sarcastically suggested that our "group" sticks with facts, rather than as they succinctly inferred, ‘’provocative hysteria’’, I freely admit to never pulling punches but refuse to accept that forthrightness necessarily equates to hysteria; in the current climate such charges of hysteria are commonly deployed to silence debate by those of the more sensitive persuasion.
I would respectfully suggest to said councillor that the Room 151 thread referring to the PWLB rate hike you refer to, as an undeniable fact that will almost certainly impact on Cornwall Council’s ambitions to become a corporate developer playing with borrowed money, for which we, the public, will ultimately be the unwilling guarantors, via our future council tax payments; not if, but rather when, it almost inevitably all goes horribly wrong.
THE CAMPS ARE POLARISING
THOSE WHO ARE AWARE:
We are aware, via some recent correspondence, that there is a core of more “switched on” councillors who are fully aware of the unacceptable risks that massive borrowings pose to our council’s future financial stability (which could be said to be less stable than it ought to be, even at present), given the determination to embark on an increasingly notorious development project that mainstream developers have already walked away from for being ‘’too difficult’’, effectively unprofitable for them to contemplate, without massive public subsidies in the form of upfront infrastructure provision, which is what this malarkey is really about.
These councillors appear to be increasingly receptive to our arguments!
THE ‘’ENEMY CAMP:
There is also a clique of mostly Liberal Democrat councillors who are very pro-borrowing to finance ‘’growth’’, and who are driving the current agenda on behalf of senior council officers (who themselves have an agenda of their own); this almost certainly does not have the best interests of the people of Cornwall at its core, unfortunately. At present this camp wields the power and will succeed in their plotting to “place-shape” Cornwall into their ghastly vision of some bland, Middle England, Shire County-type, urban sprawl, unless a determined counterattack is mounted to stop them.
THE DEAD CENTRE:
To counter this, the ‘’dead centre’’ of our council, in the form of those councillors who while ostensibly serving their electorates in a low key manner (nothing wrong with that) exhibit few signs of pride or passion, when it comes to defending all that is beautiful, unique and distinctive about our glorious little Duchy, that has never before been under such threat as it presently is, due to the actions of others that they could and should mount a robust challenge against, by joining the growing numbers of councillors who see the danger we are all in, and who are already engaged with the ‘’enemy’’ on the fourth floor at Lys Kernow.
This is my personal perspective on a situation that is still not yet beyond resolution in our favour, if ‘’the dead centre’’ supports the ‘’right’’ camp. To accomplish this, the evidence must be clear and irrefutable and our arguments persuasive. I am aware that certain feathers both inside our own council and in the developer-sector have been very seriously ruffled, which suggests to me, having borne a serious attempt to silence me by a particularly notorious developer, that we are making waves.
Principles have a cost, the developer episode cost me a trifle because the best solicitors do not come cheap. Fortunately, mine was better than theirs, and I live to fight another day, because right was on my side.
From: Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 6:15:15 PM
Subject: Re: CCN005/19/20:Cllr Dulcie Tudor
Dear Sir,
I also sincerely hope that councillors have done their homework, when they borrow all that money (I'm not sure how much, as I'm now lost in so many figures being bandied around; is it £600m?!).
I've also just been been sent this:
www.room151.co.uk/treasury/pwlb-rate-hike-sends-shockwaves-through-council-finance-sector/
It makes for additional worrying reading!
Yours sincerely,
(Mrs) L. Tremore
Falmouth
From: Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk>
Sent: 18 October 2019 16:34
Subject: Re: CCN005/19/20:Cllr Dulcie Tudor
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for this latest email, which really doesn't fill me with confidence about our elected representatives.
The more I read about Cllr Tudor, the more I wonder about her aptitude for the job at hand, as well as her attitude towards her working colleagues (and her electorate).
Adding to my increasingly troubled mind, is this link which I received in my mail box earlier today (see link below).
Are councillors aware of its contents, and if so, could they please reassure me that this is being thoroughly investigated, even if the horse has already pretty much bolted?
I'm astonished by the incinerator debacle, if what I read is in fact correct; it reads more like something from a fictionalised and sensationalised mini television series than something real in the middle of our community, here in Cornwall!!
Please could someone explain what is really going on here, with Suez, with emissions, with contracts, as I don't believe councillors would allow such cowboy-esque behaviour in this day and age?
Yours sincerely,
LT
From: campaigner
Sent: 17 October 2019 13:12
To: Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk>; Kennally Kate CCN005/19/20:Cllr Dulcie Tudor
Dear Mrs Tremore
Councillor Tudor appears to be off ‘’on another one’’, in the form of a very public spat with Liberal Democrat colleague, Councillor Batters, who has quite rightly reminded her of a few home truths.
In particular, Councillor Batters’ perspective relating to Councillor Tudor’s gripe about childcare during the half term break, got to the heart of what is a serious matter of principle. However, Councillor Tudor’s squawks of outrage conveniently omitted to mention that as a councilor, childcare to cover council meetings would be an allowable expense; a perk denied other hard-pressed parents living and working in the real world, and who find themselves in a similar situation.
There is also the matter of her position as Chair of Strategic Planning, I appear to have unwittingly started her ‘’sinister underbelly’’ outburst when I questioned her suitability for that post at the July demonstration at Lys Kernow with a placard that stated:
STRATEGIC PLANNING???
COUNCILLOR TUDOR???
IT’S LIKE PUTTING A FOX TO WATCH OUR CHICKENS!!!
Her media outburst, insulting those who turned up to express their legitimate concerns, was even more outrageous when she should have sorted the matter out with me as the person her remark was obviously aimed at, face to face, if she was so upset by what the placard said.
I did actually apologise for that poster, but despite that it was actually a relevant highly legitimate question that now in the light of Councillor Tudor’s further outrageous behaviour, actually begs another much more serious one, which her political masters and senior officers at Lys Kernow would do well to note and address in a satisfactory manner, before the whole thing really does get out of hand.
The question is that, given that councillors on a committee should not pre-judge an agenda item to be discussed until all points have been debated, the chair should remain neutral except when required to make a casting vote; so how can Councillor Tudor, working in cahoots with Councillor Egerton, possibly be attending Langarth consultation meetings to actively promote a project that will eventually come before the Strategic Planning Committee… which Councillor Tudor chairs?!!
If that is not blatant predetermination of an issue, I honestly do not know what is.
It could be legitimately argued that predetermination of a major planning application by a planning committee member is tantamount to the abuse of public office, the more so when the applicant, in the form of Cornwall Council, is actually awarding said planning permission to itself.
Curiouser & curiouser is it not?
From: Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk>
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2019 3:40:41 PM
To: Kennally Kate <kate.kennally@cornwall.gov.uk>
Subject: Re: CCN005/19/20:Cllr Dulcie Tudor
Dear Ms Kennally,
If Councillor Harris is unable to respond re. the “missing” £2m, perhaps you as CEO could help him, and us, understand what happened here, as per my questions to Cllr Harris below?
Many thanks in anticipation.
Yours sincerely,
(Mrs) L. Tremore
Falmouth
On 10 Oct 2019, at 17:13, Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
Dear Councillors Taylor & Harris,
Yes, very many thanks for your replies which go some way towards restoring my faith in the willingness of the council to listen to its community, in my mind at least.
I’d like to make a couple more points, if you don’t mind?
Firstly, I’ve just come across this document (attached) from Truro City Councillor Carlyon, re. the new town at Langarth.
Although this does not directly impact on us in Falmouth, it does make for very grim reading, and I’m sure the secondary impact to all Cornish residents will be hard felt, once this huge new town is built right on the busy Treliske corridor, which so many of us in Falmouth already struggle to reach.
On that note, I don’t much believe in the government’s promise of a new Cornish hospital, so until proof of this is forthcoming, including a plan and importantly a timetable, we’re left with Treliske hospital for many years to come, so perhaps we could focus on this, when examining these new town plans.
Secondly, and looking specifically to Cllr Harris’ comments, it remains worrying that the internal audit office needs to start “kicking ass” just as vast sums of money begin to sink questionably across various departments. What does this expression mean exactly, in practical terms and could you be more specific about the departments this rather large sum was potentially miss-spent on?
Reading various reports, I also note that little mention is made of the “missing” £2m other than lessons have been learned and procedures changed; but what actually happened to the £2m? Who authorised it outside of the proper protocols? And what actions did the council take to recover the monies/reprimand the wayward big spender?!!
Many thanks for your further comments on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
(Mrs) L. Tremore
Falmouth
On 9 Oct 2019, at 14:38, Taylor Linda CC <linda.taylor@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk> wrote:
The Conservative Group has been highlighting the financial mishap that this administration and some officers would rather did not come into the public domain. David as the new Audit Chair is better placed to challenge and with his financial background can see through the waffle and straight to the issues.
On 2019 Hed 9, at 14:03, Joy Thomas <joytparish@yahoo.com> wrote:
Well done, Councillor Harris. That is more direct that most in your position would be, so thank you. It still leaves a huge amount of OUR MONEY left in question.
Joy Thomas
On Tuesday, 8 October 2019, 16:23:48, campaigner wrote:
Dear Councillor Harris
Thank you for your very helpful clarification as it is very easy to get things not quite right when acting on often opaque information which one is trying to make sense of, for sure, not being right helps no one.
That said there still does not appear to be an acceptable explanation detailing exactly what the mysterious £2 million was spent on or by whom. It would also be helpful to know what sanctions (if any) were applied against the culprit(s).
It is certainly reassuring to learn that a bit of ass was actually kicked by the audit committee, which by usual Kremlin Kernow yardsticks is robust indeed.
One can but speculate how many more backsides need to be kicked to enforce satisfactory standards across the board going forward at Kremlin Kernow, in order to stop the rot that is increasingly apparent in some quarters of our council.
Your frankness is refreshing.
Sincere best wishes
From: Harris David CC <david.harris@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 1:15:39 PM
To: Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk>
Subject: RE: CCN005/19/20:Cllr.Dulcie Tudor
Mrs Tremore,
I was only commenting on the £53 million; I do not want to be dragged into wider discussions; that said, I think you have got the wrong end of the stick with the £53 million, the whole point of my note and what my enquiries had demonstrated was that this was NOT spent on any individual project but was spread widely across several departments, ie it was a fairly wide-ranging failure in procedures and could not be laid at the door of any one department or individual.
With regard to the £2 million, you are right in saying that when it was spent it had not been properly authorised although it was subsequently approved. As a result of this systems and procedures were changed with a view to preventing repeat episodes and, if I may repeat myself, “Audit Cttee kicked ass”.
The Council has a strong Internal Audit Department which is well supported by the entire Audit Committee and I hope that I have been able to give you and others some strong reassurance on the specific issues.
Regards
From: Lowena Tremore <lowenatremore@hotmail.co.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 12:45:04 PM
To: Harris David CC <david.harris@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk>
Subject: Re: CCN005/19/20:Cllr.Dulcie Tudor
Dear Mr Harris,
Thank you very much for your reassurances.
Can I take it from what you write, that you and the internal audit team are now satisfied that every penny of that £53m can be properly accounted for, as it does seem like an extraordinary quantity of money for a project that hasn’t yet begun?
In addition to this money, and just before the audit announcement on the £53m, there was a smaller - yet still substantial - sum of cash that was generally reported as being spent without any proper council authorisation; this was for £2m, and apparently signed off by a Mr John Betty. Could you please also reassure me on this payment too?
Many thanks for your kind attention.
Yours sincerely,
(Mrs) L. Tremore