As avid readers will recall, this blog backed Councillor Richard Cornelius in the Leadership battle at Barnet Council in May. Why? Because we believed that the issue was too important not to. The next year could be the most important ever in the history of the council with hugely difficult spending decisions to make, as well as the whole issue of the Toxic One Barnet program.
Why did we back Cornelius? The reason was simple. He has run his own business for years. To run business successfully, I believe shows a degree of intelligence. I don't believe Richard Cornelius makes bad decisions with his own money, so I trusted him to make good decisions with the Taxpayers money.
Many people expressed disappointment that he didn't chuck out all of the old cabinet and start again. Many expressed disappointment that he didn't immediately scrap the Toxic One Barnet project. I believe there are good reasons for this. A sensible man makes a decision when he is fully appraised of the facts and doesn't rush the decision. I believe that four months is probably long enough to get a good feel as to what if any of the Toxic One Barnet scheme is worth saving. It shows due consideration to issues and public money.
It may well be that all the millions of pounds of money spent on Consultants will deliver some value. Richard should be aware that the longer he leaves the decision, the more he will be associated with the fallout when it blows up. I believe that now would be a rather good time to draw a line under it for all concerned. I'd urge Richard to assess how much experience of running real world companies his cabinet have as he listens to their advice. Those like Robert Rams, who have jobs running the party office at the GLA, I personally would not consider experienced enough to make commercial decisions. Those with a business background, a successful business background may have something more sensible to say.
I haven't lost faith in Richard. Yet......
Why did we back Cornelius? The reason was simple. He has run his own business for years. To run business successfully, I believe shows a degree of intelligence. I don't believe Richard Cornelius makes bad decisions with his own money, so I trusted him to make good decisions with the Taxpayers money.
Many people expressed disappointment that he didn't chuck out all of the old cabinet and start again. Many expressed disappointment that he didn't immediately scrap the Toxic One Barnet project. I believe there are good reasons for this. A sensible man makes a decision when he is fully appraised of the facts and doesn't rush the decision. I believe that four months is probably long enough to get a good feel as to what if any of the Toxic One Barnet scheme is worth saving. It shows due consideration to issues and public money.
It may well be that all the millions of pounds of money spent on Consultants will deliver some value. Richard should be aware that the longer he leaves the decision, the more he will be associated with the fallout when it blows up. I believe that now would be a rather good time to draw a line under it for all concerned. I'd urge Richard to assess how much experience of running real world companies his cabinet have as he listens to their advice. Those like Robert Rams, who have jobs running the party office at the GLA, I personally would not consider experienced enough to make commercial decisions. Those with a business background, a successful business background may have something more sensible to say.
I haven't lost faith in Richard. Yet......
3 comments:
Now come on Rog did you honestly think that Richard "Dick" Cornelius is there for the love of LBB. He is like the rest of them just there for his own self importance,nothing more nothing less mark my words .....
And what would the 'break costs' add up to? How much money spent so far? How many staff contracts and commitments that stretch into the future, in order to run the wretched scheme?
Let's hope this isn't like Gordon Brown's aircraft carriers ("cheaper to carry on than cancel"). Obviously it would be better to cancel, but Richard was in it from the start, and no politican wants to do a U-turn.
Has there been an sniff of a face-saving contraction - down to, say, one department?
Baarnett,
Now that would be telling......
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