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Written for the Blog by a Preston resident.

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Written for the Blog by a Preston resident.

Steve D.

If what I’m saying isn’t true Steve, I also hope someone will challenge it, the problem with that is…it is true. It’s not really a question of being fooled after all most people are out at work or bringing up families and generally leading busy life styles that usually requires their full attention and commitment.  Younger people are out with their friends or communicating with social media sites and are just as busy but in a different way.

The core councillors that I refer to have taken complete advantage of the busy lives of residents and used it to their own advantage. The few people who have attempted to communicate with the council are generally ignored but if they dare to pass that post they are intimidated and bullied, in the expectation that they won’t trouble the council again.

I can give you an example, on 10^th October 2012 I wrote to the council and requested information relating to the accounts of the Preston Playing Fields Charity (these are legally public documents), it is now 4 months later and there has been no sign of any acknowledgement or response. The council clearly wish to have no interference from a resident but when this kind of behaviour becomes the norm it does make you wonder what they are trying to hide! It’s abundantly clear that the council have no time for residents and wish to keep them in the dark as far and as long as possible…why? Again I will ask, what is the council trying to hide.

Under normal circumstances any mail received by the council during the month is read or given to the council or at least a synopsis of content is given for the benefit of any public attending the meeting. No such requests are ever mentioned during council meetings, the only people who are able to prevent that are the council leadership, Chairman and Vice. What do they have to hide?

The hands of new councillors are not by any means clean because they know of the difficulties with the ‘core councillors’ yet still take instruction from them and continue to follow their policy towards residents. It unfortunately suggests they do not have any idea of what to do and following the old crew at least lets them off the hook of having to come up with something. Would those councillors please resign and let us elect people who are able to act and come up with some ideas.

I reproduce the txt of the request below.

Dear Council

Re. Preston Playing Fields Charity

I would be grateful if you would forward to me information enabling me to access the above Charities accounts and, who should I contact with regard to obtaining copies of those accounts.

Regards

*** *****

Councillors are sole trustees on this charity as with the New Community Hall Charity, there is absolutely no flow of information from these councillor controlled bodies to residents, yet we paid to set them up councillors didn’t have to bear the cost. My request was made to the council, every councillor is a trustee on that charity yet they will not respond, not just to me...to anyone!

In the past I have written to the council for Charity information (remember all councillors are Trustees of the Charity) only to be told that they are unable to give any information because I have written to a councillor and must write to a trustee instead, but of course trustees are also councillors, I find the whole situation infantile and totally pointless, clearly frustrating and annoying, contrary to some councillors beliefs,it really isn't MI5!!

It has to be said that this is the charity a council member is currently using to promote a child play park near to her home, her occupation, a child minder! her address, close to the proposed play park? self interest? that just happens to be the history of Preston Parish Council, and it appears new councillors waste no time in learning those ropes so they can jump on the bandwagon! come up with anything for residents....they haven't a clue, total blanks!  If any family members have a business the council can be a source of income yet we are not allowed access to information, who prevents that access, councillors!

I am not at this point suggesting there is any thing untoward about such a cosy relationship that councillors appear to want to keep secret, I will return to this in the near future.

I do hope this goes some way to answering your comment Steve, thanks for reading.

Jennifer W. & Sheila M

You would both be very welcome, you are right in that we do need to join together to get rid of these councillors, to let these people continue to abuse residents as they have for so many years would be criminal but to get rid of them we need to act as a group.

I can assure you that if you chose to stand in any election we are very happy to work with you over a long period of time and cover the ins and outs of being a councillor, how the council works etc. It might be interesting to you to read our postings ‘Role of a council’ and ‘Role of a councillor’ from early January postings if you haven’t already done that. Before you stand you will be running at full speed and ready to play a full and active part in council without having to reply on the advice of current councillors.

If we support any councillor there will be a very obvious campaign to get them all elected throughout Preston and in the Press and against those councillors who to-date have proved themselves to be so ineffective. We will not be planning to lose!!!

Anonymous.

Hi anonymous, I believe I have answered you comment in recent posts in fact the post of yesterday ‘Council Achievements 1997 – 2011’ mentions what we consider to be a waste.

I hope that post answers your comment but if not do please get back to us and we shall endeavour to answer it fully.

Thanks for reading and for your comment.