Houchen and Stilts want to take over the council

[breakthewallsdown]

Ben Houchen and Simon Clarke have written to Government to ask them to take over running Middlesbrough Council.

They cite a delay in publishing their accounts due to UK-wide auditing issues and a report last week about spending on credit cards in 2022-23 among the reasons.

The letter from Houchen and Clarke, which is co-signed by councillors Meika Smiles, David Coupe, Luke Mason and Luke Hurst states: "The wider governance culture at the council is of serious concern".

 

[fmttmadmin]

I discovered today quite by accident that they have already contracted out planning in the Mayor Development Corporation which covers much of the town centre - planning is now carried out by a highly paid private consultancy.

Middlesbrough Development Corporation contracts out planning service

Lichfields' contract with the MDC will be as planning officers, administering planning applications

northeastbylines.co.uk

This Houchen, Clarke, Smiles move would surely be like a totally undemocratic coup. Quite appalling.

 

[JonnyHistory]

To be expected from these two.

Teesport = Houchens mates making bank from government purchased assets
UK economy = Clarkes mates making bank from the Tories wrecking our economy

They just see it as another opportunity to line theirs and their selected few pockets no doubt.

 

[Archiestephens_elbow]

Isn't this how Stalin/hitler started.... undermining democracy

 

[JonnyHistory]

Isn't this how Stalin/hitler started.... undermining democracy

Lenin/Hitler but yeah this is how it starts.

 

[TeaCider]

Got a source for this?

 

[Rayman]

I expect that they'll be after asset stripping the council and will probably receive a tax payer's sponsored grant to do so.

 

[ThatFragranceGuy]

Smiles is an absolute clown

 

[TheLodger]

I've attached the letter the Tory group along with Clarke and Houchen have sent this evening

 

[ThatFragranceGuy]

The funny thing is they're talking about a period where smiles was actually in control for a lot of it along with Preston, a Tory in disguise if ever there was one.

 

[newyddion]

Ben Houchen and Simon Clarke have written to Government to ask them to take over running Middlesbrough Council.

They cite a delay in publishing their accounts due to UK-wide auditing issues and a report last week about spending on credit cards in 2022-23 among the reasons.

The letter from Houchen and Clarke, which is co-signed by councillors Meika Smiles, David Coupe, Luke Mason and Luke Hurst states: "The wider governance culture at the council is of serious concern".

Utterly bizzare.. although not surprising behaviour.

Its like we’re being run by mobsters.

 

[newyddion]

Got a source for this?

 

[Scrug]

God help us all if Houchen gets this.

 

[TheLodger]

The points.
The council is ready for audit, the auditors are not.
Credit card spending referred to year 22/23 ending April 23- We have stopped it! Mieka Smiles, who was executive in charge of children's care has signed this, her department was responsible for 74% of the credit card spends.
47% of our budget has been slashed by the Tories- Simon Clarke is a senior member of that government.
The present Government have insisted that all councils should empty bins at best once a fortnight, they requested that councils should think about once a month.
No assets have been sold, and if any do get sold, consultation would have to take place beforehand.

 

[Yearbyred]

The hypocrisy of Houchen being a co-signatory of a letter which includes the line:-

“This means the Executive Board's decision has been taken without any meaningful democratic scrutiny”

Given what’s going on at Teesworks he’s got some nerve.

 

[Chris_Boro]

Will of the people etc.

 

[newyddion]

So.. will we be seeing where the money went from the scrap metal at Teesworks? Are we going to see that the land is public ally owned and has not infact been cheaply given away to cronies and donors?

Will we see all the property deals that Andy Preston has been involved in during his tenure as mayor? In fact will we be able to see all the lands that our councillors, mayors and MPs have an involvement in.. as well as their friends, family and donors over the imedfuate periods covering their positions of power and control.

 

[newyddion]

The points.
The council is ready for audit, the auditors are not.
Credit card spending referred to year 22/23 ending April 23- We have stopped it! Mieka Smiles, who was executive in charge of children's care has signed this, her department was responsible for 74% of the credit card spends.
47% of our budget has been slashed by the Tories- Simon Clarke is a senior member of that government.
The present Government have insisted that all councils should empty bins at best once a fortnight, they requested that councils should think about once a month.
No assets have been sold, and if any do get sold, consultation would have to take place beforehand.

Shoukd Meika Smiles be suspended if such wrong doing has been taking place on her watch? Is she even still involved now?

 

[TheLodger]

Shoukd Meika Smiles be suspended if such wrong doing has been taking place on her watch? Is she even still involved now?

No she isn't, but she is still an elected councillor for Nunthorpe.

 

[newyddion]

No she isn't, but she is still an elected councillor for Nunthorpe.

and councillors can carry on how they feel without consequence by the looks of it.