Please note this blog was factually incorrect in its original form. I took at face value the story in the Times, without reading it carefully. I mistakenly took the the article to say that these councillors had donated the money from their private cash, whereas it was from their community fund allocation (ie public funds) which is a different thing. Many apologies for this. I think the idea of these local funds is a good one, although this is a completely different matter. An eagle eyed Barnet Eye readers spotted the detail in the link to Carolines community fund details. This is a graphic display of why such information should be in the public domain.
Many apologies to Caroline for giving a misleading impression of her work as a Councillor. As I said below, I think the attitude of Herts CC to issues of openness puts Barnet to shame. The blog has been edited accordingly
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There is a great story on the Times website about a bunch of Tory Councillors making a cash allocation from their communities fund to the Police cadet volunteers . One name that stuck out was Caroline Clapper. She was until recently a Barnet Tory, representing Totteridge (home of infamous Mr Toad, Brian Coleman). She clearly didn't fit in with the Barnet Tories and now represents neighbouring Hertfordshire.
http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/8309293.Councillors_donate_money_towards_training_equipment_for_police_cadets/
It seems that if Barnet Tory Councillors have a decent bone in their body, they are either humiliated like Kate Salinger or feel they have to leave like Caroline Clapper? Let's face it, she just didn't fit in. Hats off to you Caroline. One thing of interest I noticed was that Caroline Clappers statement of financial interest is available to view on the council website.
http://www.hertscouncillors.org/carolineclapper/details/
Of course we don't do things like this in Barnet, do we? See the difference between Caroline's profile on the Hertsmere website and old trougher Coleman, who won't even put his address and telephone number down - does he really think anyone cares ? Heaven forbid that a mere Council Tax payer might actually want to speak to him :-
http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/council/councillor.asp?intsectionid=9&councillorid=6030
We get told nothing in Barnet, despite paying the likes of Coleman a kings ransom. No wonder she's much happier in Herts.
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