issue 11

editor@cradleyenquirer.com
CradleyEnquirer.com
editor@cradleyenquirer.com
Online News & Topics for Cradley,Storridge & Mathon
asking the questions you want asked and seeking the answers you deserve
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6&7
Page 8
Page9
Page10
Page11
Page12
in this issue
Road repairs at last!
Where is the money?
Grumpy George
How a Parish Council should
work
What is going on in our PC?
Wrongs and Wrongs
A fairy tale?
Worth 1000 words
Notices
Quicky Questions
Useful information
Oh ! Goodness me!
Issue
7th April 2018
From The Editor
11
It seems that some do not like the truth
that appears in the Enquirers pages and as
per our freedom of speech comment in
issue 10 feel they have the right to attempt to
deny it to anyone they don’t agree with.
Firstly they “ have a word” with the CMS no
doubt reflecting the comments of the chair of the PC
(later in this issue) then they inform the Village Hall
where they should and should not place notices and
make unfounded accusations against one of the
volunteers at the hall.
Incredible, and reflects the tactics of those who didn’t
think those who opposed the HOV scheme had any
right to any other opinion than those who supported
it.
Issue 1
Issue 5
Issue 6
Issue 7
Issue 8
ENQUIRER VIEWINGS
23rd Feb
18th Feb
27th Feb
3rd Mar
10th Mar
1695
3702
1576
2123
1026
Issue 9 18th Mar 629
Issue 10 28th Mar 286
THE ENQUIRER,
A NEW DAWN FOR OPEN
COMMUNICATION IN
CRADLEY, STORRIDGE AND
MATHON
Well this type of thing just confirms that the Enquirer
is right on target with its comments and exposure of
facts that some do not want you to know
The PC will vote on registering Cradley Butchers and
Stores as an asset of community value at the meeting
on 10th April as proposed by Geoff Fielding
Well done councillor !
So, let us have your news and views on anything in
Cradley, Storridge and Mathon, no matter how
controversial (just remember our conditions). Just
email us or click on the contact button in the menu.
We don’t require your name, address, blood type and
a letter from your Mom to put your opinions forward
and we will not require you have your name
broadcast with your opinion or question
This is YOUR community.

It seems at long last that Hereford have managed to keep one of their promises on road repairs.
This comes as a direct result of work put in by your now “unlawful” Highways Officer Geoff Fielding.
This is how the new Parish Chair and Clerk viewed the work that Geoff has carried out tirelessly for
several years to the benefit of Cradley and Storridge Parish and have done everything to block and
ignore his work.
Last October councillor Fielding met with Racheal Rice(Head of Balfour Beatty Highways) and the locality
steward Cathy Berkley and secured an undertaking for the works to the road from Finchers Corner to
King’s Bridge to be carried out in the new financial year. This is now scheduled for 13th April and 16th
April. So don’t be conned that this was anything done by the present chair ,clerk or local County
Councillor who seem to be readily inclined to take credit for others hard work whilst passing blame for
their own mistakes onto others.
WHERE ARE THE REAL ACCOUNTS AND BUDGETS?
Our Parish Council is responsible to account to the community for their handling
of the finances they manage. They are by law obliged to set budgets for the
coming financial year, ascertain what needs to be done and what costs will be
incurred then set a precept which is sent to Herefordshire who then allocate the
required amount from monies they collect in their council tax.
The PC are also obliged to make public these calculations so that anyone in the
Parish can object or support the action. The calculations presented are a joke and
guess work. The precept calculation takes no account of monies in the bank to
assess the precept required
If you want to see what a good parish council should do please go to the Cradley
Parish Council website and click on accounts and look at the calculations made
public by the last council for year 2017-2018. Compare this to what this council has
produced under the management of this chair and make your own mind up of
where this council falls very short of its obligations and legal requirements.
Apparently our present chair sees such illumination as “sniping” rather than factual

Meet George the Enquirer’s
very own Grumpy Old Man
(subtitled: a view from God’s waiting room)
Another week of impending doom and destruction
of the Universe.
As I sit here watching the birds feeding on the
free handouts that the wife inexplicably shops for
every week I marvel at what man can do for nature.
Feed the birds, who become overweight and at
some point in the near future loose the ability to
forage and hunt for sustenance and just nip down
to the soup kitchen in my back garden.
Join George in posing
those questions and
making observations on
life that only someone
with some miles under
their belts have to
worry about.
Email the Enquirer with
your “grumps” for
publication
Add to that the effect on the local cats who now
know exactly where to find the smorgasbord of
birds and no longer have to travel miles and become
stealth fighters to gain a meal. We have unhealthy
birds indolent cats and companies making millions
out of wives who now need to feed the birds
“otherwise they will die”. Aren’t people great at
unbalancing nature with the best intentions?
Grumpy George
And another thing………
How did people of my generation ever survive to our
ripe old age without wearing the obligatory crash
helmet on a bike?
Was it because our bikes didn’t go as fast as today’s?
No of course not, we could break the speed
limit on anything, bikes, scooters (big heavy ones)
skates (big heavy ones) and even some wood and four
pram wheels.
Aha! safety you cry. From personal knowledge in a
school of over 1200 pupils over 7 years not one
reported death or head injury occurred.
I would be interested to see the comparative of
before and after for head injuries on bikes to substantiate the need. I am sure it is a
lot less that the comparative profits of the companies making and marketing them.
(Yes, we came off and yes we, had cuts and bruises and grazes but a plaster was all that
we needed to get back out there to play and not a visit to A&E)
Grumpy George

A GUIDE TO
A
PARISH COUNCIL
RE-PRINTED
BECAUSE SOME
STILL DON’T
GET IT
OR CHOOSE
TO IGNORE IT
Parish Council
Elected members bound
by their code of
conduct and statutory
obligations to carry out
duties and decisions on
behalf of the community
Elect
Parish Chairman
Is elected by the Council
from within their ranks to
Chair meetings of the
council. The Chair carries
the power of a casting
vote in votes by the
council
Inform & Advise
Working groups
& committees
Formed by council to
work on specific items
under consideration or
to have delegated
powers of decision
making and spending
Finance: Set budgets
and precepts
Employment: Set &
monitor employee
matters
Planning: Investigate
and advise on planning
matters
Communications
Group: Investigate &
advise on
Communications
NDP Group: oversees
the implementation
and effectiveness of
the NDP
etc. etc.
Instruct
Inform
and
Recommend
Decide
& Instruct
Liase
Other Bodies
Parish Clerk
Employed by the council
to be their officer to
implement Parish
Council decisions, advise
on procedure and legal
matters and if the
finance officer, to keep
and monitor the PC
accounts and ensure that
budgets are met. Also to
minute meetings and
prepare agendas and
information for
councillors to be kept
informed
Inform
THE PARISH COUNCIL ARE AT THE CENTRE OF THIS UNIVERSE
NOT THE CLERK NOR THE CHAIR AND DEFINITELY NOT
OUTSIDE BODIES
Request
Provide Information
Information
Hereford
Association
of Local
Councils
HALC
subscription
paid advisory
body

WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR PARISH COUNCIL?
In the April edition of the CMS newsletter
appeared a report from councillor Wynne
Harries on the meeting of 13th March or
statementgate as it is becoming known.
Now this is supposed to be a more informative
report than the official minutes of the
meeting. Unfortunately this report strayed
away form being a factual and sometimes
humorous view of what can be rather dry
proceedings.
release. The CMS has a policy of NOT
printing such personal comments
and has rejected many items of such
personal opinion. It appears that this
was a blatant attempt by this PC
member to get HIS personal opinion
into circulation.
We understand that the CMS has
received several complaints on this
matter and we will keep you posted.
Mr Harries opened with a direct attack on
councillors who he accused of being totally
responsible for the Clerk’s resignation. Those
of you who have read issue 10 will have had
the facts available to see how prejudice and
unsubstantiated this is and how it can only be
construed as a blatant attempt to move the
blame for the resignation away from those
who WERE to blame. As such an insertion
would require the authority of the chair to
appear we will leave you to make your own
minds up.
He then proceeded to produce a final
paragraph that had noting to do with events at
the meeting and used the CMS to make public
his own personal feelings in an official PC
To Mr Harries, this is unbecoming of
someone in your position and totally
contrary to your signed up principles.
The Enquirer will always welcome
your comments and give them more
viewing than the CMS Newsletter if
you feel the urge again. We will be
looking into whether this is a matter
for the Monitoring Officer at
Herefordshire Council to be involved
We would hate to see you have fall on
your sword again Mr Harries.
Especially as you had no authority
to post the piece in the first place
WHAT HAS CRADLEY PARISH
COUNCIL DONE FOR THE
COMMUNITY SINCE
JAN 2018?
STILL NOTHING!

Wrongs and Wrongs
Going back to last month’s report on the Chairman’s totally unethical, unnecessary and unprofessional
conduct at the 13th March meeting where, he made accusations against Parish Councillors in public,
without allowing them a right of reply or presentation of defence.(and still has not)
We are informed that a formal complaint to Herefordshire Council’s Monitoring Officer over his
conduct, which contravened so many points in the code of conduct is imminent. His attitude on this
matter is contrary to his demands from others in the council and must stop if the council is to stand a
chance of getting back on track.
As with the Clerks statement : as it is now in the public domain we will analyse the inappropriate and
frankly biased and unproven accusations made by the Chair.
WE ALSO NOTE WITH CONCERN THAT NONE OF THE ACCUSED COUNCILLORS HAVE BEEN GIVEN
THE RIGHT OF PUBLIC REPLY TO THESE ACCUSATIONS. IN ESSENCE THEY HAVE BEEN ACCUSED
AND GAGGED.
Chair Stated: That the Clerk was harassed and then gave HIS assessment of what the accused
councillors motives were.
Enquirer says: Accusations made were not backed up with any proof other than the chairs OPINION
and conjecture of third party conversations. Don’t forget he stated there would be NO discussions
and NO questions allowed on his statement!
Chair Stated: he inferred here ,and elsewhere, that those councillors re-elected were responsible for
the cost of the election being charged to the PC.
Enquirer States: Elections are a cost that ALL PC’s have to budget for and are reimbursed via the
precept. This parish has not had an election for some considerable time now and has money put aside
for such things. Elections are a democratic right and not based on financial viability.
Chair States: In criticising another councillor and asking “where is the code of conduct that insists that
we treat people with courtesy and respect? Doesn’t this inappropriate behaviour leave us wide open to
legal action against the council?”
Enquirer states: And the these statements made by the chair fully comply with the code of conduct?
Especially when he denies those he accuses the right of reply.
Chair Stated:” Helen was also bombarded with vexatious, venomous emails posted on our website”
Enquirer States: We can see nothing “venomous” just people using the provided and advertised
media for asking questions of the council. As to vexatious the questions may well have caused the
clerk and the chair annoyance because they were pertinent and perhaps a bit of an embarrassment by
having to be asked.
Chair Stated:” She (Clerk) also had Simon Alexandre (get it right Alexander) fictitious editor of the
Cradley Enquirer to deal with.
Enquirer States: The only topic of communication from the Enquirer was a question to the clerk as to
when the chair’s statement: that names and addresses had to be supplied when communicating with
the PC. The Enquirer asked the Chair when this had been made PC policy rather than just his
requirement. We received no reply so the question was asked of the well trained Clerk but
unfortunately she never replied either. So much for open communication We don’t see what the big
deal in the clerk dealing with that question was. Do you?

Chair Stated:”This cowardly man who who gave us the truth about the Heart of the Village site is at it
again” What his motivation with fake news is he is trying to discredit my integrity and standing in the
village”
Enquirer States: Yet another statement passed off as fact and completely irrelevant to a statement on
PC business. Simon had nothing to do with the stated site but it appears that we are starting to lift
some of those stones some like to hide under. We will look into the link provided by the chair and
report back. Fake news and integrity was dealt with in issue 10. We would suggest some paranoia here.
Chair Stated: “We need to move on. I’ve said it before, but it has gone unheeded. We have to be able
to agree to disagree without it being confrontational. If the vote goes against you after a fair debate,
that is democracy.”
Enquirer States: This “we need to move on” is as we all know indicative of someone who’s conduct is
under scrutiny conveniently expunging that behaviour form the record.We refer the honourable
gentleman to his time as chair of the policies and procedures group (renamed risk management) when
the vote on the inclusion of a clause in the PC Standing Orders as a direct result of his failed attempt at
co- option to the council which laid out the procedures to meet the RISK of it happening again. He
will recall that when the vote went against him he promptly
resigned from the committee! (“ that’s democracy”)
You couldn’t make it up!
It must be that fake news again !
The Chair appears to have developed a very arrogant attitude to
anyone who dares to question him on anything by announcing
any such questions as being “vexatious and venomous”
Psst! want a clue where I am?
Chaos: complete disorder and confusion

Once upon a time…….there was a small hamlet to the west of the
Kingdom nestling in beautiful countryside where the people
went about their daily toil with an innocent smile upon their
faces despite being taxed unfairly. We say unfairly because
the big man took the taxes but only gave the hard working
people promises of what he would do in return.
There arose in the hamlet some wise men who told the
king that he could forget his promises that he had broken
year after year and that the people of the hamlet would
fend for themselves, Well, the king wasn’t very happy about
this as you might expect but agreed to go along with their request knowing full well that they
would make a hash of it and come running back to his protection.
Now as said these were indeed wise men who set about using the King’s taxes to make their
hamlet better for all who lived there, And for years the people of the hamlet were pleased
with being self sufficient and having their needs look after by themselves. Their roads were
repaired so they could get to market and made more money. Their carts and livestock were
not damaged or killed on the new roads as trees and paths were free from overgrowth where
robbers and brigands once lurked.
The King died (ahhh!) and his silly son took over who knew nothing about anything but
insisted by decree that the people of the hamlet were doing many unlawful things and must
stop and follow his ill thought out plans to the letter. Because……HE knew what was best for
them even though he had only been in the job a day and had a grudge against anyone who
didn’t agree with his viewpoint.
The wise men petitioned the new king and
laid before him the good that the hamlet
was enjoying but as the king didn’t
understand or learn from the proof of what
worked he “cocked a deaf one”!
The people were incensed and turned to
the wise ones who had served them so well
so far.
Now we did say these were wise men and
were also very well connected and they
came up with a nifty solution to the
problem
AND THE MORAL OF THE TALE IS:
Always seek the council of the wise men
of the village rather than someone who has
little or no knowledge

THE WAY FORWARD
Can you be Paranoid if you actually
did the things they are out to get you for?
I WAS STANDING
FOR ELECTION
I’M HERE TO GUIDE YOU
do you ever listen
to a word I say?
Yes, but only when
I agree with it
I PROPOSE THAT ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
WITH A VOWEL IN THEM BE MOVED TO
THE CONFIDENTIAL SECTION
Another Meeting of the “nothing to hide” Council
I WOULD AMEND
THAT TO INCLUDE
CONSONANTS
And of course no minutes to be taken

THIS EVENT HAD TO BE POSTPONED DUE TO
THAT NASTY WHITE STUFF
NOW RE-SCHEDULED AT CRADLEY VILLAGE
HALL
Check out
cradleydiary.com
for events around the villages
Help us to help you
Please fill in our Questionnaire
THIS LOOKS LIKE AN
EXCELLENT
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
GET INVOLVED
Available from:
Cradley Butchers and Stores
Cradley Village Hall
CMS Newsletter
online:
cradleyvillagehall.org.uk/question.htm
It’s your Village Hall, get
involved let them know
what you want there

WHEN WILL THE COUNCIL
KEEP TO ITS OBLIGATION ON
OPENNESS, HONESTY AND
TRANSPARENCY AND
PRINCIPLES CLEARLY LAID
DOWN IN THE LOCALISM
ACT? WHY DOES ANYONE FROM THE
COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO BE
INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF A PC
WHY IS THE CHAIRMAN
WORKING PARTY HAVE TO APPLY, BE
REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
VETTED AND HAVE KNOWLEDGE, OR
SENT TO HIM BY MEMBERS
QALIFICATIONS AND BE PLACED ON A
OF THE COMMUNITY?
REGISTER?
WHEN WILL THE COUNCIL
PUBLISH THEIR ACCURATE
BUDGET AND PRECEPT
CALCULATIONS FOR
VIEWING BY THE PUBLIC?
NICE WAY TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE
PC.
OR IS IT TO DISCOURAGE COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION?
WHY IS THE LENGTHSMAN
STILL NOT BACK AT WORK?
HAVE THE FINANCE GROUP
ALLOWED IN THE PRECEPT
CALCULATIONS FOR THE
ELECTION COSTS DUE IN 2019?
NO OF COURSE THEY HAVEN’T
NOT GOOD PLANNING
WHEN WILL THIS
COMMUNITY BE SERVED
BY IT’S COUNCIL?

SOME USEFUL CONTACTS, NUMBERS, EMAILS & WEB SITES
editor@cradleyenquirer.com
cradleyparishcouncil.gov.uk
clerk@cradleyparishcouncil.gov.uk
cradleydiary.com
storridgevillagehall.org.uk
cradleyvillagehall.org.uk
PC website not
working correctly
until further notice
due to no backup web
manager
So apparently the chair of the PC can ignore a member of the community
when he points out mistakes the chair made. Chair responds
by accusing him of having ulterior motives without one shred of proof offered.
When that person complains about such accusations he is told that the
chair did no wrong. No wonder that some would spot a god complex
developing.
More in the next issue