ANOTHER WIGAN COUNCILLOR'S SCANDAL
A top Wigan councillor has been removed from office and three others disciplined following a high level investigation into alleged corruption at the town hall.
The Metro's External Auditors were called in after an undisclosed third party raised potentially explosive concerns about the sell-off of Wigan Rugby's former Central Park ground and the Metro's role in their relocation to the magnificent new JJB Stadium. The external auditors have now concluded in their interim report that the council itself was not guilty of any corruption in it's dealings with the club or developers representing Tesco.
But 'one small part' of their exhaustive enquiry also found evidence that four leading councillors accepted meals and match tickets from Central Park without declaring them in the Metro's Register of Gifts as specified by the Local Government Act of 1989.
The four men involved, three commitee chairmen and a former leader, Councillors Ron Capstick, Wilf Brogan, Brian Baldwin and Bernard Coyle received undeclared hospitality.
The external auditors concluded that this hadn't affected major decision making over the JJB Stadium/Robin Park development-but an internal inquiry by the all-party (ad hoc) sub-committee which monitors councillors's behaviour ruled:
Public protection committee chairman Coun Ron Capstick be removed from office for a year (until May 2001) and banned from sitting on any other regulatory body during this period after being found to have committed a 'serious breach of the rules' for failing to declare hospitality.Recreation and amenities committee chairman Coun Wilf Brogan was found to have failed to declare a 'moderate' amount of hospitality. He was allowed to continue in office but banned from sitting on any committee set up to pass judgement on other councillors or officers until the end of the municipal year. (until May 2000)
Establishment committee chairman Coun Brian Baldwin was found to have failed to declare a 'moderate' amount of hospitality. He was allowed to continue in office but banned from sitting on any judgemental committee until the end of the current municipal year (May 2000).
Former leader of council Bernard Coyle was found to have been 'careless and committed a minor transgression' in not recording certain aspects of hospitality. He was rebuked and given guidance to his future conduct.
All four had not declared this hospitality in the council's Register of Gifts.The sub-committee said that it had no doubts about the integrity and honesty of Couns Brogan, Baldwin and Coyle but said that Coun Capstick failure to declare hospitality represented a serious breach of the rules of the council which could be misconstrued by the public in relation to his position of trust as chairman of the public protection and licensing committee.
In a statement on behalf of the four councillors, Labour group leader Lord Smith of Leigh said, "The councillors involved are very sorry for their failure to register and have confirmed that they would not have considered allowing anything to influence their decisions except what was in the best interests of the borough. As part of their inquiry the external auditors have commented upon the four councillors who failed to carry out the council's rule of filling in a register of hos[pitality but have also clearly stated that these members did not seek to influence any decisions."
Metro chief executive Steve Jones said it was a 'shame' that the specific matter of undeclared hospitality had detracted from such a successful development. But he said comfort could be taken from the fact that the council had acted swiftly and properly and no corrupt practices had been found.
LATICS FAN DIES AGED 102
Wigan centenarian Jim Bradley has died at the age of 102.
The popular pensioner , who lived in three centuries,
passed away at The Oaks residential home in Hindley Green, which has been his home for the last eleven years.
A former miner and insurance collector, father-of-two Jim was born in the late 1890s and
grew up around Wigan. He has a son Derek, daughter Molly, two grandsons and four great grandchildren.
A keen Latics fan, Jim, and Derek notched up an amazing total of 158 years as supporters on the
terraces of Springfield Park, where he also celebrated his centenary birthday in style, in January 1998. He was also a keen follower of Wigan Warriors.
Jim was popular with local children,
particularly from the Hollins County Primary School, and even at the age of 101 dressed up a Father Christmas to entertain them.
Derek said, "Dad took everything in his stride as if everybody was
expected to live in three centuries. He was a very religious man and had a brilliant sense of humour."
Denise Bostock, officer-in-charge at The Oaks said, "Mr Bradley has been at the home since it opened
and he was our oldest and longest resident. He was very active up until a few weeks ago and had not been ill for long. He enjoyed getting out and about and going for walks. He will be missed by everyone."
Chief Executive of Latics, Brenda Spence said, "Mr Bradley and his son have been supporters of Latics for years and years. I met him when he came to Springfield Park for his 100th birthday and I thought he
was marvellous for his age. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. We are all extremely sorry to hear of his death."
PHONE BOX IS LISTED
A Wigan phone box has been made a listed building in a move to protect the historic kiosk.
The familiar landmark outside The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary now enjoys the same status as the hospital building itself, which means it cannot be touched without special permission.
The K6, as the boxes are known, was originally designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The cast iron boxes with domed roofs were disappearing fast until English Heritage and Cultural secretary Chris Smith stepped in.
A spokesman for Wigan Council said, " They feel that given the right setting, the K6 is of special architectural and historic interest.
"In this case, the phone box is right beside the hospital which itself was listed in 1995. It means that it cannot be moved or altered in any way without getting special consent, and any changes would have to be justified."
The phone box joins it's 'twin' kiosks, one of which is situated outside the General Post Office in Wallgate and one near the Springfield Hotel.
Wigan now boasts a total of 599 buildings with special protection.
TOWN HALL REVOLUTION STARTS
Wigan council is set to undergo a massive shake-up.
Following months of consultation, councillors are about to
introduce a plan to scrap the present Metro committee system which has served Wigan and even it's municipal predecessors for decades.
In it's place will be a set-up more akin to national government with
the leader, Coun Peter Smith, chairing a cabinet of senior councillors, each representing a different responsibility of the authority.
They will be best value; community safety (including police, risk
management and land and property); lifelong learning (previously education); health and social services; economic regeneration; housing;culture (recreation and amenities); environment (including transport
and highways);and regulation (including finance, IT, legal services and council personnel).
Each cabinet member will be monitored by a scrutiny panel comprising a maximum 10 council members which will
debate and vote on issues in a similar way to the present Metro sub-committees. An exception, by law, is there will continue to be a planning committee which will deal with licensing applications.
There
will be no alteration to the number of councillors elected (there are 72 in the Wigan Borough) and full council meetings will remain the final and most powerful debating chamber.
The changes are being
brought about by Labour's new Local Government White Paper.
One of the aims is to allow 'bank bench' councillors to get out into their communities more, rather than spend long hours in committee meetings.
But there have been criticisms that the system gives back benchers 'less clout' to air their constituents grievances.
A Metro spokesman said, "Wigan is not one of the first councils to decide on these
important matters, partly because we wanted to see how other authorities fared when they followed the various options. There are a huge number of adjustments to be made in the coming weeks and months."
The changes would officially kick in after the May local elections.
Check here for reports you may have missed