Tricky Dicky Cornelius - The dodgy answers of Dr Evil, Leader of Barnet Council

The Leader of Barnet Council has a bit of a reputation for rather odd answers (as the video above demonstrates).He's been at it again at the last full council meeting. I was just reviewing his answers in the latest minutes. Tell me what you think - http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s20425/Minutes%20of%20the%20meeting%20held%20on%2016%20December%202014.pdf 

Here are a selecion, displaying the talents of "Dr Evil"

38. Councillor Barry Rawlings

Can the Leader explain his groups decision to support Cllr. Thompstone's amendment that mean's in the options for Libraries, rather than 540 square feet being a minimum it is now a minimum 'on average' i.e. could be smaller?

 Answer by the Leader
The words ‘on average’ were not an addition made by the amendment, but were already part of the report. However, 540 square feet is small and it is difficult to imagine one smaller.

Well if you think that is an odd answer, try this one:-

141. Councillor Arjun Mittra In answer to a previous written question of mine, it was indicated action was taken on only 10% or so of planning enforcement requests made. Does the leader feel residents should be confident that complaints will be dealt with when they report breaches in planning rules?

Answer by the Leader
Yes.

Or how about this one?

36. Councillor Devra Kay

We have all experienced Capita's appalling standard of services that they are contracted to provide to Barnet, including call centre, IT, payroll and highways . If we received service like this in our personal lives we would blow the company out of the water. In the light of Capita's failures, what is the Council doing and intending to do about Capita?

Answer by the Leader
Overall, Capita is delivering a good service.

Supplementary Question
When I was in a recent meeting with Capita it was dropped into the conversation that the Call Centre is soon to be automated and that only 30% of staff would be retained and that this was in the original contract. So knowing this, the council encouraged council employees to move to Coventry in order to keep their jobs and some did so. Does the Leader believe that he has behaved ethically? And does he have more consideration for Capita which is indicated by his written answer than for the people of Barnet, the employees of the council and their future s and the futures of their families?

Supplementary Answer
Yes and no. 

It seems like Richard Cornelius is relishing the "Dr Evil" role. I wonder what those employees of Barnet Council, who moved to Coventry, only to find they are facing redundancy are feeling right now.

Exclusive - Dr Evil exposes himself - The Movie

On Monday night, ITV Tonight exposed the identity of Dr Evil, who has been stalking the streets of Barnet, shutting libraries, employing tax dodgers, charging the disabled £1.20 for a cup of coffee, destroying High Street businesses and letting his cronies tour the rampage through the Borough, insulting people and getting themselves nicked. Here is "The Barnet Eye" remix of the interview.

Richard Cornelius AKA Dr Evil EXPOSED !!!!!

Dr Evil sans Pussy

To celebrate the launch this week of the blockbuster Barnet film, Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble, we have a special Saturday List. This is Saturday List #20 - The five dastardly deeds of Dr Evil.

On Monday night's ITV London Tonight ( http://vimeo.com/51935140) , the Leader of Barnet Council, Richard Cornelius stated that "none of us like to be portrayed as Dr Evil", when talking about Charles Hondericks film "Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble". If Mr Cornelius has bothered to watch the film, he would have seen that Charles Honderick did not call him Dr Evil or even lay the blame for all the ills in Barnet at Mr Cornelius door.

As Richard Cornelius has decided that "Dr Evil" is a suitable moniker for himself, maybe we should examine exactly what has happened under his "Evil empire" ably assisted by his mega villain cronies. Here are a few highlights:

1. The closure of Friern Barnet Library. Dr Evils henchman, Bill Murphy admitted callous wanton act of cultural vandalism was done solely to grab a £400,000 profit on the sale of the building. Doubtless this will ultimately bu snapped up by a friendly local property developer and someone will make a fortune at the public expense.

2. The abolition of Pay and Display parking. Dr Evils regime employed a former employee of NCP (which became NSL), Mr John McArdle to "oversee the outsourcing of parking control". In a masterpiece of evilness, Pay and Display parking was abolished without debate handing control to NSL who run the "pay by phone" network. The brutal sudden  change was performed to ensure maximum profits for NSL, who run the system, with scant regard for businesses. In North Finchley and High Barnet, over 30 shops have closed as a result. In April McArdle completed his assignment and parking wardens were brought under the control of NSL and back office functions were moved to NSL's offices in Croyden. This cost 26 jobs in Barnet. Having successfully completed the destruction of Barnet's well run in house operation, John McArdle left Barnet Council. No prizes for guessing who he now works for. Yup, NSL. I am sure he'll get a good bonus. P.S. The Barnet Taxpayer is a million pounds worse off than expected, as revenues for parking have collapse, despite a record number of tickets being issued.

3. The outsourcing of Adult day care to Your Choice Barnet. This is a "Joint Venture" organisation, set up by Barnet Homes and Barnet Council. A director of this organisation was the woman who helped create it whilst at Barnet Council. Her name is Amanda Jackson. This new company came into existence in April and is responsible for looking after people with care needs. In the film Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble, John Sullivan, who has a 49 year old daughter who uses these services explains that his daughter is now charged £1.20 for a cup of coffee in a church hall, thanks to Your Choice Barnet. This organisation already has a deficit of £700,000 after a mere six months of operation.

4. Tax Dodging at the Town Hall. A Parliamentary committee was told by a reprsentative of the LGA that only 13 people in the UK, working for Local Authorities, are employed on "tax efficient" consultancy contracts. This news came as rather a surprise to me. As a Barnet blogger, I am aware of at least 14 in the London Borough of Barnet. If you wondered what Dr Evil thinks of such tax dodging activities, the answer was given when CEO Nick Walkley resigned. He appointed his deputy, Mr Andrew Travers, who is a consultant with a "tax efficient" contract, to replace Mr Walkley.

5. Bad Behaviour at the Town Hall. At the moment, the attitude of the Conservative Party, to those they rule has been in the public spotlight. Andrew Mitchell famously described the Police as Plebs. He eventually had to walk the plank for his outburst. What happens in Barnet under Dr Evil. Councillor Brian Coleman has been on a twelve year mission to drag the name of the local Conservative Party through the mud. He has been found gulity twice of sending abusive emails to members of the public. The first time in 2009, he was ordered to undertake training in how to respond politely to emails. He didn't take do it. Earlier this year he did it again. On one day he sent two different people abusive emails, both of which breached the standards code. He was ordered to apologise. He refused. To date, the victims of his outburst have not received apologies. What action did Dr Evil take? None to date. Brian Coleman was also arrested in September following a fracas involving a woman. On Monday, he was charged with assualt. It may surprise you to hear that on Thursday, he was still chairing the important Budget Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Unbelievably, Dr Evil seems to see nothing wrong in Coleman carrying on. It is believed that Dr Evil received a telephone call from Conservative Head Office. He has now tabled a motion for the local party to suspend the membership of the Conservative Party. This will be debated at the group meeting on Tuesday. What nobody has asked is whether he will be suspended as chair of the Budget OSC committee, if he is suspended. As he is still a councillor, there is no automatic reason why he should be. As an example of how brazen Brian Coleman is in his attitude, yesterday at approx 9.15 am, he pulled up in his car opposite the cafe owned by the woman he is charged with assaulting. He flounced out of his car and strode into MacDonalds for breakfast. It may amuse you to know that as he emerged, he was confronted by a local trader who said to him "Brian, I hear you've been a very very naughty boy. Does your mummy know how naughty you've been?" the response of Mr Coleman has not been accurately reported, but it appears he scurried off rather quickly. Rather interestingly, the local trader in question informed the Barnet Eye that he had always voted Conservative until Mr Coleman brought in the parking charges.

The Barnet Eye is in the process of recording a Dr Evil remix dance track. We are also planning to get some limited edition Dr Evil Tee Shirts manufactured.

Here is a list of forthcoming screenings of the film. Please come along

Sat. 27th Oct     2.30 - 4.00 pm New Barnet Community Centre, Victoria Road,  New Barnet,  EN4               Thurs. 1st Nov.   6.30 pm Cafe Buzz,  High road,  North Finchley,  N12                                             Tues 6th Nov  - 8.00 pm  North Road Community Centre, Edgware