Below is the Official Register of Gifts, Hospitality and other favours offered by Capital of Culture, 2004-6. The list shows the:
name of the recipient
date
nature of hospitality offered
the reason why it was offered.
Most of the offers were made by CoC staff - we have removed their names - on the orders of The Harbarrowboy et al. We have kept the names of people whose requests for hospitality etc, were unusual.
Unfortunately, the Register does not include the total cost to council taxpayers of the gifts, hospitality and other favours which were doled out.
(Perhaps someone with time on his/her hands will draw up a league table of the Freebie Champions?eds) On an initial examination however, solicitors Hill Dickinson and Radio City appear to be neck and neck.
Of course, this Register does not include figures for 2007. Perhaps someone should ask for that? NB: ALCB is the Alliance and Leicester.
Radio City x 6
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson x 20
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
sponsorship benefit
United Utilities x6
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
sponsorship benefit
Martin Joyce - enterprise
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
hospitality
Tim Crutchley - Finch
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
hospitality
Bill Sutton - Alliance & Leicester
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
hospitality
Chris Waring - Littlewoods x4
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 25/3/05
hospitality
Radio City x 6
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
sponsorship benefit
United Utilities x6
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson x 6
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
sponsorship benefit
Lucy Marsh, Jaguar
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
hospitality
Damien Farrell, Marriott Hotels
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
hospitality
Tom Cassidey, LFC
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
hospitality
Maxine Martin x4
15 March 2005
invited by John Turner
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/05
hospitality
Hugh Woollacote x3
15 March 2005
invited by John Turner
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/06
hospitality
Littlewoods - Philip Han & guest
15 March 2005
VIP tickets to 4 nations boxing event - 8/4/07
hospitality
United Utilities x2
02 May 2005
Opening event for World Museum Liverpool - 11/5/05
sponsorship benefit
Radio City x2
02 May 2005
Opening event for World Museum Liverpool - 11/5/05
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson x2
02 May 2005
Opening event for World Museum Liverpool - 11/5/05
sponsorship benefit
United Utilities
16 May 2005
tickets to Tranmere Rovers play off semi-final
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
16 May 2005
tickets to Tranmere Rovers play off semi-final - 10/5/05
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
16 May 2005
tickets to Tranmere Rovers play off semi-final - 10/5/05
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
16 May 2005
tickets to Tranmere Rovers play off semi-final - 10/5/05
sponsorship benefit
Radio City x4
12 May 2005
High Society tickets - Liverpool Empire - 11/5/05
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
08 June 2005
International Tennis tournament - table of 12
sponsorship benefit
carolyn roberson (Hill Dickinson)
8-12th June
International Tennis tournament - VIP passes for each day
additional benefit requested
United Utilities
09 June 2005
International Tennis tournament - table of 12
sponsorship benefit
Michael Quinlan, Sayers
10 June 2005
invited by chris green
invitation to International Tennis tournament
hospitality
NWDA
10 June 2005
invited by chris green
invitation to International Tennis tournament
sponsorship benefit
Tony Wilson, Hill Dickinson
10 June 2005
invited by chris green
invitation to International Tennis tournament
hospitality/sponsorship benefit
2x Hill Dickinson
12 July 2005
2x additional tickets for final day
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
11 June 2005
6 tickets to international tennis tournament
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
11 June 2005
6 tickets to internationsl tennis tournament
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
10-12/6/05
3 dbls to Mersey River Festival launch & 10 single invites to swing concert
sponsorship benefit
United Utilities
10-12/6/05
3 dbls to Mersey River Festival launch & 10 single invites to swing concert
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
10-12/6/05
3 dbls to Mersey River Festival launch & 10 single invites to swing concert
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
10-12/6/05
3 dbls to Mersey River Festival launch & 10 single invites to swing concert
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
10-12/6/05
3 dbls to Mersey River Festival launch & 10 single invites to swing concert
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
10-12/6/05
3 dbls to Mersey River Festival launch & 10 single invites to swing concert
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
16 & 17th July
20 hospitality lounge passes for HUB
sponsorship benefit
United Utilities
16 & 17th July
20 hospitality lounge passes for HUB
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
16 & 17th July
20 hospitality lounge passes for HUB
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
16 & 17th July
20 hospitality lounge passes for HUB
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
16 & 17th July
20 hospitality lounge passes for HUB
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
16 & 17th July
20 hospitality lounge passes for HUB
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
29 June 2005
2 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
12 July 2005
invited by chris green
2 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
29 June 2005
invited by chris green
2 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
United Utilities
30 June 2005
2 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
04 July 2005
4 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
30 June 2005
4 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
12 July 2005
4 x VIP tickets to Summer Pops
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
20 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - England V Canada
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
20 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - England V Canada
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
20 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - England V Canada
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
20 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - England V Canada
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
20 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - England V Canada
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
20 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - England V Canada
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
29 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - multi-nations
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
29 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - multi-nations
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
29 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - multi-nations
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
29 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - multi-nations
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
29 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - multi-nations
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
29 July 2005
6 x tickets boxing - multi-nations
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
20 & 21 Aug 2005
10 tickets - Honda Racing
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
20 & 21 Aug 2005
10 tickets - Honda Racing
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
20 & 21 Aug 2005
10 tickets - Honda Racing
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
20 & 21 Aug 2005
10 tickets - Honda Racing
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
20 & 21 Aug 2005
10 tickets - Honda Racing
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
20 & 21 Aug 2005
10 tickets - Honda Racing
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
23 August 2005
x4 Empire tickets, Beauty & the beast
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
23 August 2005
x 4 Empire tickets, Beauty & the beast
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
27 - 29th August 2005
10 tickets - mathew street festival
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
27 - 29th August 2005
10 tickets - mathew street festival
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
27 - 29th August 2005
10 tickets - mathew street festival
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
27 - 29th August 2005
10 tickets - mathew street festival
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
27 - 29th August 2005
10 tickets - mathew street festival
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
27 - 29th August 2005
10 tickets - mathew street festival
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
16 September 2005
10 tickets - city of light
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
16 September 2005
10 tickets - city of light
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
16 September 2005
10 tickets - city of light
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
16 September 2005
10 tickets - city of light
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
16 September 2005
10 tickets - city of light
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
16 September 2005
10 tickets - city of light
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
18 September 2005
16 tickets to start of Clipper
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
18 September 2005
16 tickets to start of Clipper
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
18 September 2005
16 tickets to start of Clipper
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
18 September 2005
16 tickets to start of Clipper
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
18 September 2005
16 tickets to start of Clipper
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
18 September 2005
16 tickets to start of Clipper
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
27 September 2005
4 x empire tickets for Jungle Book
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
27 September 2005
4 x empire tickets for Jungle Book
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
29 September 2005
6 tickets to Nelson Dinner
additional sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
04/10/2006
2 x empire tickets for Grease
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
04/10/2005
2 x empire tickets for Grease
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
04/10/2005
2 x empire tickets for Grease
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
04/10/2005
2 x empire tickets for Grease
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
18 October 2005
4 x boxing tickets - world junior finals (plus additional 2)
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
18 October 2005
4 x boxing tickets - world junior finals (plus additional 2)
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
18 October 2005
4 x boxing tickets - world junior finals (plus additional 2)
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
18 October 2005
4 x boxing tickets - world junior finals (plus additional 2)
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
18 October 2005
4 x boxing tickets - wrold junior finals
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
18 October 2005
4 x boxing tickets - world junior finals (plus additional 2)
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
05 November 2005
20 x tickets for fireworks
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
05 November 2005
20 x tickets for fireworks
sponsorship benefit
Radio City
05 November 2005
20 x tickets for fireworks
sponsorship benefit
Enterprise
05 November 2005
20 x tickets for fireworks
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
05 November 2005
20 x tickets for fireworks
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
05 November 2005
20 x tickets for fireworks* requested additional 20 (TBC)
sponsorship benefit
Hill Dickinson
29th November 2005
6 tickets - Empire (Sleeping Beauty)
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
21st December 2006
4 tickets - Empire (Cinderella)
sponsorship benefit
HD, UU, RC, Ent, NWDA, ALCB, sayers
27 January 2006
Sports strategy launch
sponsorship benefit
HD, UU, RC, Ent, ALCB
30 January 2006
Liverpool performs launch
sponsorship benefit
NWDA
30 January 2006
Liverpool performs launch
sponsorship benefit
sayers
30 January 2006
Liverpool performs launch
sponsorship benefit
sayers
30th January 2006
6 tickets Liverpool empire (Nutcracker)
sponsorship benefit
United Utilties
16th February 2006
6 tickets Liverpool Empire (Scrooge)
sponsorship benefit
ALCB
21st February 2006
6 tickets Liverpool Empire (My Fair Lady)
sponsorship benefit
Stay posted for more interesting figures....
MYSTERY today surrounds the contents of eight huge boxes seized by city council chiefs from the Harbarrowboy. 
nworthy, former city solicitor. 
nworthy, former city solicitor. 
This is explosive stuff, what an absolute scandal! Good grief, they are robbing us blind. Wonderful investigative journalism Tony, this is incendiary, shocking, systemic corruption, worse than Donnygate.
Is that Lonnie Donnygate?
Hey, Madonna is a blonde. You don't think....no couldn't be, but then isn't that religion she follows with the string round your wrist called cabal? perhaps we could call her as a material girl witness and have her do a turn for free at the summer pops.
No that definitly wasn't Madonna who used to hang out in Dr Duncans with the good Doctor..that was another blondie, the one known affectionatly by senior council staff as TAPS ( thick as pig s***)
This is dynamite stuff, well done TP.
Dont let the doc go off radar though! Dustman, difficult to identify which blonde you mean as they are all TAPS!
everyone must now bombard Hilton and co with pressure to suspend/dismiss Dr Dave, Creepy Phil and now the honorary member of the cabal, dodgy harrowboy
Meeting right facing the town hall?! Have these people no shame or fear of being found out? Probably not.
But they didnt count on the many eyes and ears of the TP army!
TP quick question, pressure brought to bear may result in PH & JB being suspended etc.
What can be done about Dr Deadly?
No longer a council employee, what sanctions can colin and co bring to bear? Pressure on BT to remove him as CEO of LDL? Surely there must be some severe (hopefully!) retribution.
Tone,
At the risk of repeating myself, maybe the more proactive amongst your readers could submit requests to the Council under the Freedom of Information Act, which gives them the right to see any papers relating to this matter which Mr Hilton, "Dirty Gerry" Callaghan or anyone else might have in their possession and again, correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the City Council have a statutory obligation to provide that information within certain prescribed timescales?
Yes absolutely right. Hilton has so far ignored FOI questions I sent him about four months ago. They are supposed to respond in 20 days. I asked for all the documents. However, no harm in others asking for the same documents. Especially councillors. More difficult to ignore. As for the evil McElhinney...it's difficult now that he is no longer an employee of the city council (This also needs exposing, ed) but letters to the boss of BT would put ptressure there. And finally, HM constabulary could ask to see the documents Mr Hilton has too. Would take a brave Chief Constable to push open the door here. But I think he might actually have it in him...
I may be wrong but I think Dr D IS EMPLOYED by Liverpool City Council.
LDL is a joint venture between Liverpool City Council and BT. However all the employees are seconded from either the council or BT. BT secondees are paid by BT, City Council secondess are paid by the City Council. LDL doesn't have any paid employees.
I'm fairly certain that Dr D is still employed by the city council...............
And further to the above Dr D DEFFO isn't on BT's books
I think I may have unwittingly stumbled across one of the great and astonishing scandals about this whole sorry affair. I don't believe MCElhinney IS a city council employee. I think he arranged his parachute out of the city council years ago when he negotiated the LDL deal with BT and became chief exec. I think he was not seconded, but his employment was transferred or taken over by LDL, a completely separate entity. I know LDL employees have been seconded from the city, but I don't think he has. I think he is employed by LDL - not the city directly. Clever eh? It means he is out of range of the council's disciplinary procedures. THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT.
I may be wrong about this, which is why I have said I only THINK this is the case. If so, apologies all round. But I THINK I am right.
We can soon get it cleared up by councillors asking some pertinent questions, can't we? Who wants to go first?
Paul Clark should ask first - he's a barrister.
further to the above and the above LDL don;t have a payroll....................
All this talk of LDL makes me wonder - whatever happened to the Audit report that I believe Henshaw received (and quickly buried!) before he left office? It may have said that whilst there is some benefit to the City from Liverpool Direct Ltd's existence (nothing like as much benefit that the Thug or his girly army get!), its bloody expensive!
It might also have said that its peculiar that LCC being one of two partners in this 'enterprise' don't seem to make anything from it but instead pay extortionate rates for basis services.
It may have said other things too - it might have noticed how or from where DMcE gets his loot!
Perhaps someone could request a copy (under FOI?), or dare I suggest, ask for publication of this report?
Excuse me but I'm obviously missing something - since when did concert promotion lose money? I've never been aware of promoters being a benevolent lot that do it for the love of it - from what I've seen, apart from the odd mistake, they make a packet (and Cole doesn't look any different from the rest of them). If he is that bad at it then why in god's name is he our chosen partner??
Its surely worth the fraud squad taking a look at the books on this. It wouldn't surprise me if the 'loss' has been fabricated in some or many ways - and if it is, you can bet your shirt that some of it is ending up with the cabal. Like you've said TP, follow the money!
We are continually being told that Hilton is one of the good guys - now is his chance to prove it. If this story had appeared in this morning's Daily Post, he would have summoned Harborow to his office and suspended him immediately, pending an investigation. Suspension is a neutral act to allow a proper investigation. The fact that it is on the blog is neither here nor there. There is too much detail for this to be wrong. Since the blog seems to have been right about 99 per cent of the things it has reported, (Cream's free offer being the latest) it should give even more impetus to Hilton to take action. This cannot go on for ever. Come on Warren - give a lead and demand action!
It would be utterly astonishing if McElhinney is not employed by the city council.
Surely all of this leads back to the former chief executive's door, doesn't it?
I bloody hope so
Public Interest Disclosure Act Anyone?
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980023.htm
Council Accounts Rights Anyone?
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/NATIONAL-REPORT/53EEC57C-D29F-44a9-BA46-210AD5959A0C/Councils-accounts%202006_FINAL.pdf
holden caulfield said.......
can anybody tell us who has their fingers in "smooth moves ltd" seems to be a lot of council staff playing musical chairs every other month !!!!!!
2 Million for Madge- no way
Have the cabals 10.000 relations/friends to fill the stadium for one night?
That is if they are still in power.
surely somone from HR&P can asnswer the Dr Dave works for.....question?!!!
LDL has taken on a lot of extra Council services since the contract was first signed, often charging significantly more for these services than the Council paid pre LDL- but according to LDL THEY ARE NOT MAKING ANY PROFIT FROM THESE NEW ADDITIONS?
ps..Watch out for flying pigs
Hey Tone
I wonder what Richie Lewis is doing these days? I do hope he doesn't decide to put his two-penneth in (anonymously of course).
If a union asked whether it could approach staff members of LDL for a recognition ballot then I believe that the Council would have to let them know whether there are any such workers to recognise the union. That would show whether anyone IS employed by LDL. I suggest Unison (cos of Local Govt) and CWU (cos they are the main BT employee union).
To find out whether he is employed by the council, an FOI request asking how much remuneration the position of Chief Exec of LDL is paid (not the person who holds the role - important distinction) should reveal whether it is the Council who pays it (if they do then they cannot refuse as it does not fall foul of the DPA). But, to ensure you get an answer, you can ask if the Council pays for this position.
Does anyone else find it interesting that when he was appointed Chief Executive for the waterfront arena, Bob Prattey also predicted that Madonna would want to perform there. (press release 27.4.05). I believe that Bob came highly recommended for the job! So ask yourself, who did he know?
HR&P here..........
You can bet your bottom dollar he has a Liver Bird on his payslip!
Re the above - Of course he doesn;t get a paper payslip, he stopped those to save money being washed down the drain - unlike the water from his private shower!
Aah - naughty HR &P persons. You will be sacked tomorrow by the big boss - or even the little boss who thinks she is the big boss!
I'm really scared now - HR&P rebel
Nice one, HR&P rebel!
We need so many more like you!
By the way, what's the name of this 'little boss'?
Whilst your,re at it why not look at Housing Associations and their gifted Council Houses Believe some council employees were also given jobs by them.
Like Pigs in the trough.
God Help the CSA. and the council tax payer.
Sentinal
Excellent site Tony
How come it has took so long for this to come online?
Until a few months ago I used to work for a partner company of LCC and saw first hand the complete disorganisation of LCC.
I worked on the 08 Place and your relevations come as no surprise to me.
May I suggest you start asking questions about the councils proposed 50 metre pool project at Picton, and who gave the go ahead for Gleesons to start work without realising that the council never owned the land. This has so far cost the tax payer of Liverpool in excess of 200K in preliminaries and there isn't even a hole in the ground.
As for me, I had enough of handing over my hard earned to the baffoons in the council to squander so I have recently took a job in a country that was thought as corrupt, but no where near as corrupt as what I left behind.
Keep up the excellent work mate
Dear Blog Site
Thanks for opening up a debate the majority of my council collleagues were too fearful to open up - bless the little dears
The huge question must be why was Henshaw paid off rather than sacked?
In any private company if the MD was deliberately working against the policy of the board or seeking to release persoanl e mails of hcair of borad with staff then no doubt dismissal would entail
May we remind bloggers that only The Liberal Party opposition group had the guts to table for a formal investigation on this count : Copy of Daily Post press report as follows
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A MOVE that could determine whether two of Liverpool City Council's most senior officers will face disciplinary action is earmarked for approval at tonight's meeting of the council.
Crucial support from members of the ruling Liberal Democrat group will be given when the minority Liberal Party seek approval for the setting up of a formal disciplinary committee to investigate the conduct of chief executive Sir David Henshaw and the council's resources director Phil Halsall.
The investigation, if backed by a majority of the 90 councillors, will centre on the publication of e-mails written between council leader Mike Storey and the currently suspended media chief Matt Finnegan. It will determine whether the actions of the two officers constitute a serious breach of trust between senior politicians and officers.
The e-mails were published in a dossier by Mr Halsall as part of a report claiming there was a move to see Sir David moved from office
Cllr Hazel Williams of the Liberal group, will be introducing the topic for debate, backed by fellow-Liberal, Cllr Chris Lenton. Their leader, Cllr Steve Radford, also supports the proposal, but he is on holiday and will not be at the meeting.
The Liberals will be urging the council to establish a formal disciplinary committee to investigate primarily the conduct of both Sir David and Mr Halsall.
They express alarm that the council's Internal Audit Section may have acted contrary to the Data Protection Act as well as copyright regulations and council e-mail protocols.
The Liberal councillors say the e-mails were read and copied, even though permission had not been given for their dissemination and publication.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I still contest that the opening of the emails between press officer and Leader of Council at the time during an investigation for a totally different issues constituted trawling and therefore illegal. The fact the e mails read more like lovers letters than a professional relationship between the Leader of the Council and its Press Manager is another matter of concern, but these should not have been circulated to all councillors
Cllr Steve Radford
Liberal Party Group - will will be contributing more
How noble and public spirited of Steve Radford to enter the debate like a knight in shining armour. Maybe he would like to comment on his own unnatural relationship (in the political sense, obviously) with PJ Doherty and his chums at the Liverpool Motor Auction site or as seems more likely, is he going to continue spouting like the hypocritical tw*t that everyone knows him to be?
Watch out Steve, you might get run over by a bandwagon one of these days as you desparately try to clamber on board to make personal capital out of someonre else's originality and hard work.
Cheery pip
Now,I am no fan of Mr Radford or any other of the elected members, but at least he had the bottle to put his name on the post unlike other councillors who are posting anon, I understand.
And it is very much in Dr Dave's interest for the attention to be diverted away by attacking others, in fact it is his main strategy!
so lets not have a go at Mr R and co on other matters, now that this blog exisits I would suggest this is the first of many, so watch out councillors we now have a way to name and shame, beware.
But for now, lets concentrate on the evil within (and wherever The Dark Lord is!)
Well done rebel HR&P, dont stop now, you are vital source of info to this campaign.
Come on everyone keep on the pressure!
We are just going to offer a warning shot today: If anyone attempts to use this blog to make political capital out of it, they will not succeed. And hopefully they will be treated with the contempt they deserve by the voters. This is too important for party politics. It is about democracy and the future of our city. Our aim has been all along to expose those paid employees of the city (public servants for God's sake, ed!) who have served their own interests rather than Liverpool's. We know who they are - and so do you. We are not having this campaign hijacked by anyone. If politicians want to promote themselves or their own parties - GO AND START YOUR OWN BLOG! (And we'll see how many hits they get, ed) In the meantime we would ask politicians of all parties to continue to press for action, in any way they can, against the evil cabal. Their contributions, help and support are very welcome. Here endeth the lesson.
jail'em - you never heard of the little HR&P boss Colette Hannay? Loves to think of herself as Natasha Kaplinski look alike (maybe 30 years ago - perhaps it's the effect of working with the lovely Dr D).
Keep up the good work HR&P rebel. You've got loads of stories to tell - be brave!
Cabal spotting: Harbarrowboy going into Millennium House today. Obviously not suspended!
'Red til I die' is right - whatever your views on Cllr Radford, he has offered to take up these questions and should be warmly encouraged to do so. Cllrs have better access to info than we do. The Liberals are just a small group but have arguably made more impact in the last year than the Labour opposition, with ten times fewer resources. Who cares if they are motivated by party politics - that's the incentive built into our gladitorial system - sadly, most of the gladiators have been gelded by the tin-pot ceasars of the cabal. Hail Radford!
Is it possible that what is going on in our little city will be repeated in the cities lined up to have their own versions of 'Liverpool Vision' in the coming future, as readers may or may not know one of the functions of 'Vision' is to determine where European funding is to be allocated, often to projects that have benefitted their associates, which in many cases purchased property at knock down prices, knowing that funding and huge rises in value of the property would be guaranteed once the culture bid was won, this was almost inevitable, the experiment that is 'Vision' is one that has pulled the wool over the eyes of scousers (or so they think) I believe that if this is allowed to go on without government investigation we will see the same faces benefiting in the next round of planned redevelopment funding for the other proposed cities around Britain, I can't remeber the 'city list' that was printed in the press a few years ago, perhaps someone can dig the list out, I'm almost sure Bradford was one on the list, it would make sense as Robbie Fowler owns over 100 houses there!!!! Perhaps Robbie has insider knowledge?
What?
This is what the city council had to say (almost a week later):
"Briefings were held for journalists from the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo to explain the details of a report on the 2005 Summer Pops being considered by the Culture and Leisure Select Committee.
"At the briefings, the current promoter answered questions from journalists about his future plans for the Summer Pops, should he be successful in winning the tender to promote the event. The chief executive of the Culture Company (Jason Harborow) took no part in those discussions.
"The contract for promoting the Summer Pops for 2007 and 2008 will be awarded by elected members and not officers. A sub-committee of members is to be set up to oversee the tendering process.
"A brief proposal was submitted by Cream, but it was received too late to allow a full appraisal and evaluation of this new proposal to be carried out. "
Interesting. Hilton first said that the Cream proposal came AFTER councillors had taken the decision to stick with CMP. Now that line appears to have changed to 'it came too late.' Which is it Colin?