Undeclared Interests and the Ombudsman?

This has come in from an ‘Old Labour’ source that brings some illumination on the issue of undeclared interests, a common problem in Rotherham: “Amy Rushforth, daughter of Kevin Baron is currently being investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman for … Continue reading →

The shame of the Rotherham Labour 57!

Rotherham’s Labour Group Shabana Ahmed Jahangir Akhtar Shaukat Ali Jenny Andrews Lauren Astbury Alan Atkin Ian Barron Christine Beaumont Dominic Beck Alan Buckley Jo Burton Maggi Clark Simon Currie Judith Dalton Barry Dodson John Doyle Sue Ellis Jacqui Falvey John … Continue reading →

2014 elections – first look at the battleground

The 2014 Battleground, first look. These are the incumbent Councillors who’s Term of Office, expires May 2014.

Ward	Incumbent	Party
Anston & Woodsetts Ward	Jo Burton	Lab
Boston Castle Ward	Rose McNeeley	Lab
Brinsworth & Catcliffe Ward	Alan Buckley	Lab
Dinnington Ward	Jackie Falvey	Lab
Hellaby Ward	Lynda Donaldson	Con
Holderness Ward	Gerald Smith	Lab
Hoober Ward	Brian Steele	Lab
Keppel Ward	Ian Barron	Lab
Maltby Ward	Amy Rushforth	Lab
Rawmarsh Ward	Shaun Wright	Lab
Rother Vale Ward	Richard Russell	Lab
Rotherham East	Shaukut Ali	Lab
Rotherham West	Jahangir Akhtar	Lab
Silverwood Ward	Pat Russell	Lab
Sitwell Ward	Tony Mannion	Con
Swinton Ward	Neil License	Lab
Valley Ward	Dave Pickering	Lab
Wales Ward	Jennifer Whysall	Lab
Wath Ward	Alan Atkin	Lab
Wickersley Ward	Sue Ellis	Lab
Wingfield Ward	Keith Goulty	Lab

Borough Council Elections 2010 Results

Cabinet question – Don Buxton follows up?

Dear chiefexecutive@rotherham.gov.uk

You may recall that on Wednesday 4 July 2012 I visited the RMBC Cabinet Meeting and asked the following question in connection with the Proposed Changes to Rotherham’s Library and Information Service:

“What independently accredited Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound criteria have RMBC Elected Members and Officers applied to determine that my very successful community library at Wickersley should be disadvantaged by a factor of more than 10% in the proposal to reduce its opening hours?”

The Chairman, Cllr Jahangir Akhtar, thanked me for the question and delegated Cllr Amy Rushforth to respond, which she did. I made notes of her response, among which was a reference to a “Local Needs Assessment”.

I shall be grateful if you, or one of your subordinate employees will provide me with an electronic copy of the document to which Cllr Amy Rushforth was referring, as I wish to acquaint myself with the methods, protocols, manner and weighting under which such “Local Needs Assessment” has been conducted and which has led to the recommendation by your staff that my very successful community library at Wickersley be disadvantaged by a proposed reduction in its opening hours.

I hope that you are able to assist me with this simple request and thus prevent the need for me to revert to use of the Freedom of Information Act to obtain statutory information.

On a final note I wish to thank the very pleasant and welcoming RMBC front counter staff and colleagues who kindly ushered me to the public chamber and ensured for my hospitality and comfort by providing me with a splendid mug of first-class coffee and a useful explanation to the use of the microphone.

Yours Sincerely,
Donald H. Buxton

Musings on election candidates May 2012

So who might stand for Maltby in May 2012 ?

Word is that Will Blair is standing down and a Mr Rounds is ready to take his place.
Waiting for news from Labour Party on who is hoping to stand for them (or who is being told to stand for them …)
At present we have 14 Labour Councillors out of 18 on Maltby Town Council,- 4 from the same family.
One of the 14, is currently RMBC cllr … for Hellaby Our new RMBC cllr is conspicuous in her absence from MTC meetings this year, so maybe she is pulled out with work for the borough. Cllr Amy Rushforth will I am sure, be backed wholeheartedly by the Labour Party whilst she draws breath. (That might be ‘whilst her Father draws breath’ Rothpol)

So, who will be running for the other seat?

Chairman of MTC, Cllr J Carratt has been turned down as a candidate by the Labour Party for the second year running.
Now, what if Ms Godfrey, Labour Group leader for Maltby and Hellaby Ward (who lives in Hellaby) were to be elected or Cllr L Astbury (newly elected and very inexperienced but of the Stringer family using her grandfather’s email address!)

Did I hear something about Labour wanting/needing more women as councillors … or am I being cynical or sexist or both?

Rotherham’s New Cabinet

Councillor Roger Stone, Leader
Councillor Jahangir Akhtar (Deputy Leader)
Councillor John Doyle, Adult Independence, Health and Wellbeing.
Councillor Mahroof Hussain, Community Development, Equality and Young Peoples Issues.
Councillor Paul Lakin, Safeguarding and Developing Learning Opportunities.
Councillor Rose McNeely, Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods.
Councillor Amy Rushforth, Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism.
Councillor Richard S. Russell, Town Centres.
Councillor Gerald Smith, Regeneration and Environment.
Councillor Glyn Whelbourn
Councillor Ken Wyatt, Resources and Commissioning.

Published previously: Rotherham’s Cabinet – What No Women!

Rotherham's Cabinet – What No Women!

Councillor Roger Stone Chairman Leader of Council

Councillor Jahangir Akhtar Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods

Councillor John Doyle Member for Health and Social Care

Councillor Mahroof Hussain Member for Community Development and Engagement

Councillor Paul Lakin Member for Children and Young People’s Services

Councillor Richard S. Russell Member for Streetpride

Councillor Iain St. John Member for Cultural Services and Sport

Councillor Terry Sharman Vice-Chairman and responsible for Human Resources, Equalities, Training & Development

Councillor Gerald Smith Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation

Councillor Glyn Whelbourn Member for

Councillor Ken Wyatt Member for Resources

At first glance this Cabinet is pretty poor, lacking in talent, vision and ability. Nothing new about that then!

Second glance identifies the glaring omission. No Women at all! How can this be?

Thanks to Labour’s quest for gender equality, there are women Labour councillors but Roger Stone did not feel that any of them were up to it! Is he Right?

Jane Austen, Josephine Burton, Sue Ellis, Jaquie Falvey, Jane Hamilton, Jane Havenhand, Hilda Jack, Lindsay Johnston, Rose McNeely, Amy Rushforth (Kevin Barron’s daughter), Gwendoline Ann Russell, Pat Russell (Wife of R S Russell), Sheila Walker and Jennifer Whysall, have all been rejected by the Council Leader as not talented enough to serve in his Cabinet.

This means that not one of the fifteen female councillors is judged as able enough, by comparison with their male colleagues, to serve as Cabinet Members. Even a cursory glance at some in the Cabinet makes this appear patently ridiculous! There are at least four or five males that serve in the current Cabinet whose abilities are clearly inferior to one or more of the female back bench councillors and indeed, most if not all of their backbench Male colleagues!

Roger Stone is really taking the electorate for fools with this Cabinet. They are pretty well devoid of talent, arrogant, self opinionated and unwilling to listen to anyone but themselves and fully imbued with Rotherham’s culture of secrecy and Stalinist approach to control of decision making. Rotherham is also being run by a gerontocracy it seems!

We don’t have real democracy in Rotherham and this proves it!

This is just the latest example of Rotherham Labour treating those they are supposed to serve with complete and utter contempt. No wonder the people of Rotherham are disillusioned and more sceptical and cynical than I have ever known in the last thirty years.

Time for a change! I think.

Rik