Let me explain to Barnet Council CEO Nick Walkley, the well suntanned Leader of Barnet Council Lynne Hillan and her equally well suntanned and relaxed Deputy Leader Andrew Harper, why an Independent public inquiry is necessary into the Metpro Scandal.
Mr Walkley feels and "internal audit" will do the trick. Mr Walkley as CEO allowed this mess to occur. He's also the boss of the people investigating the issues. Now if you are investigating and you find out something which portrays your boss in a poor light, what do you do? I've no idea what the investigator will do, but I do know that he will have a dilemma. I presume that the vast majority of Barnet Council staff need a job and don't want to upset the boss. Will they turn the place upside down searching for evidence to incriminate their friends, colleagues and bosses? I think we all know the answer.
And just suppose, for one second that the holy trinity of Walkley, Hillan and Harper don't think it's serious, even the Metropolitan Police seem to have "huge reservations" about what happened. Neil Seabridge, one of Barnets top policemen said the following to the Press newspapers :-
"I can state categorically that Police did not authorise any intrusive surveillance at the Council Meeting. Nor did we tell anyone else they could use covert or intrusive surveillance, which is a highly regulated area which requires specific written authority by a police superintendent or above when police initiate it for very specific reasons linked to investigation or prevention of crime. Such a meeting at the town all would not fall under any of these categories"
My question is this, for the Walkley, Hillan and Harper. When will the penny drop? If you have done nothing wrong and MetPro were a maverick company acting without instruction, be open and clear your name. If you were up to your neck in the scandal, do the decent thing and resign. It really is that simple. It is quite unprecedented to have residents, council staff, police, press and even your own councillors being so upset about an issue. Get a grip, show some leadership and most importantly - SORT THIS MESS OUT NOW IN A MANNER THAT RESTORES TRUST
Mr Walkley feels and "internal audit" will do the trick. Mr Walkley as CEO allowed this mess to occur. He's also the boss of the people investigating the issues. Now if you are investigating and you find out something which portrays your boss in a poor light, what do you do? I've no idea what the investigator will do, but I do know that he will have a dilemma. I presume that the vast majority of Barnet Council staff need a job and don't want to upset the boss. Will they turn the place upside down searching for evidence to incriminate their friends, colleagues and bosses? I think we all know the answer.
And just suppose, for one second that the holy trinity of Walkley, Hillan and Harper don't think it's serious, even the Metropolitan Police seem to have "huge reservations" about what happened. Neil Seabridge, one of Barnets top policemen said the following to the Press newspapers :-
"I can state categorically that Police did not authorise any intrusive surveillance at the Council Meeting. Nor did we tell anyone else they could use covert or intrusive surveillance, which is a highly regulated area which requires specific written authority by a police superintendent or above when police initiate it for very specific reasons linked to investigation or prevention of crime. Such a meeting at the town all would not fall under any of these categories"
My question is this, for the Walkley, Hillan and Harper. When will the penny drop? If you have done nothing wrong and MetPro were a maverick company acting without instruction, be open and clear your name. If you were up to your neck in the scandal, do the decent thing and resign. It really is that simple. It is quite unprecedented to have residents, council staff, police, press and even your own councillors being so upset about an issue. Get a grip, show some leadership and most importantly - SORT THIS MESS OUT NOW IN A MANNER THAT RESTORES TRUST
British Governance and Democracy at work! We investigate ourselves and let the public know we don't trust them, until the next elections .... then we do the same all over again
ReplyDeleteCan anyone be kind enough to give the changeover date from the first to the second security company, please?
ReplyDelete(We are now on our third.)
Which company provided the staff on the Night of the Long Knives, and videoed it?
I don't see Maryellen Salter the "Assistant Director - Audit" on the senior salaries list published by Barnet yet the "Assistant Director - Financial Services" is, for £84,543
ReplyDeleteAD Audit not valued or simply audited out of the list ? Not on the TPA list either. Is she a Big Society volunteer or a Contractor ?