Calls for council leader to resign (From Daily Echo)
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Calls for Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber to resign
12:15pm Friday 2nd July 2010 in Romsey
Councillor Ken Thornber
THE LEADER of Hampshire County Council is today facing calls for his resignation after being accused of a cover-up over handing out secret bonus payments to top executives.
There have also been demands for an inquiry into Councillor Ken Thornber’s conduct after it further emerged that he authorised handing out up to £87,000 to seven top council chiefs apparently without the knowledge of the rest of the elected members of the authority.
As revealed in yesterday’s Daily Echo, Cllr Thornber, who himself drew a £41,089 council allowance in the past financial year, had said in 2009 that no staff had received bonuses.
However, following new rules that were brought in forcing local councils to publish details of salaries and payments to top staff earning over £155,000, Cllr Thornber this week issued a statement that said he had authorised the payments following a favourable external assessment – describing them as “special recognition payments”.
Councillor Keith House, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat party in Hampshire, called for an investigation: “We need an inquiry into these pay awards and Cllr Thornber’s decisions to ensure transparency and accountability."
The full story is in today's Daily Echo
Comments(31)
Walter Kurtz
says...
12:20pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Unlimited* Service
says...
12:22pm Fri 2 Jul 10
.
Who by? - the report omits this. Much as I dislike this individual the Echo should give him a fair trial - or at least ensure he gets one by not feeding hearsay to readers.
St.DaveH
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12:24pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Ben Durutti
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12:30pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Ted Rogers
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12:32pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Any bonus should be performance related against specific targets, whether in the public or private sector.
Perhaps he could outline the specifics of the individual payments?
My guess is that they are in special recognition of their continuing support for Ken Thornber.
Unlimited* Service
says...
12:43pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Ben Durutti wrote:How do you know he doesn't pay tax in the UK? I live in Spain and pay tax in both Countries - is France really that different?
Why do the Echo insist on dragging out quotes from that minute right wing pressure group the Tax Payers Alliance? Particularly as one of its directors lives in France & doesn't even pay UK tax!
dave1958
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12:47pm Fri 2 Jul 10
I remember in the days when there were representation from all three major parties on the county council, the Tories told the Labour Party that they could spend up to £5m on a project of their choice, if they would go into power sharing with them. Labour said no, and formed a working alliance with the Lib Dems and it proved quite successful for 4 years. The Tories had to become the official opposition which they did not like. Until the next county council elections when both Southampton and Portsmouth came out of the county and became unity authorities.
If it can be proved that Councillor Thornber has acted illegially perhaps they should be looking to have him surcharged and disqualified from office, and made to pay the money back, from his own funds, he could no doubt afford to do it on his salary and any other directorships that he has.
DannyD
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12:53pm Fri 2 Jul 10
And again the top people who could all cut their pay by half and make an example to others who earn that sort of money
Same old story - Looking after your mates ‘handing out secret bonus payments to top executives’ etc etc
mo.
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1:07pm Fri 2 Jul 10
This story doesn't seem to have much substance.
HCC employees don't get 'bonuses' as such, EVERYONE is entitled to an extra payment if they do extra well and its linked as a % of salary.
Coathanger
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1:13pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Gread & lies , still alive and kicking in politics..
chapelsaint
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1:32pm Fri 2 Jul 10
legod7
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1:50pm Fri 2 Jul 10
samantha pia
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1:51pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Wouldn't be to bad but the flats where built without gas to any of the blocks.
can they not find better ways to spend our money?
Unlimited* Service
says...
1:58pm Fri 2 Jul 10
samantha pia wrote:Were they asking about portable gas appliances as well?
yesterday the council paid a worker to knock on over 100 flats to ask if they have gas in the flat. Wouldn't be to bad but the flats where built without gas to any of the blocks. can they not find better ways to spend our money?
samantha pia
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2:06pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Unlimited* Service wrote:No they wanted to know if we had a gas meter. he also carried a toolbox with him, so i guess he was checking something, or maybe a bogus council worker?
samantha pia wrote:Were they asking about portable gas appliances as well?
yesterday the council paid a worker to knock on over 100 flats to ask if they have gas in the flat. Wouldn't be to bad but the flats where built without gas to any of the blocks. can they not find better ways to spend our money?
Atpost
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2:53pm Fri 2 Jul 10
samantha pia
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3:03pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Atpost wrote:no he asked about a gas meter not trying to sell me a car, i cant drive anyway, i never took a test.
Isn't he the second-hand car dealer with a place in Eastleigh?
goard
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3:04pm Fri 2 Jul 10
goard
veracity
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3:17pm Fri 2 Jul 10
goard wrote:you old fool read the article properly
Sooner or later quangos have to relinquish their positions. Ken Thornber maybe a self appointed head BUT we, the electorate, have no respect for him. I have felt Ken Thornber does not care a hoot for the people of Southampton, but there is some mind block that cannot acknowledge WE, OF SOUTHAMPTON, do not trust him and its time our Government pull him to heel OR sack him - he is not a true Southamptonian. I say QUANGO RAT. goard
ken thornber is not self appointed.
He is elected by other members of the HAMPSHIRE county council.
southampton (and portsmouth)are a unitary authorities which have their own elected head and chief executive and effectively govern themselves on local issues
Ken thornber has no influence or representation in southampton
willcarson
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3:25pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Unlimited* Service wrote:Spot the banner at the bottom of the article that says "more in today's Daily Echo" - it will give you a clue as to the answer to your question.
"is today facing calls for his resignation"
.
Who by? - the report omits this. Much as I dislike this individual the Echo should give him a fair trial - or at least ensure he gets one by not feeding hearsay to readers.
Stephen J
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4:24pm Fri 2 Jul 10
262red@blue
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4:29pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Unlimited* Service
says...
4:39pm Fri 2 Jul 10
willcarson wrote:The printed edition isn't available in La Manga. Therefore I can only comment on the story as presented here. I hope you can spot the problem.
Unlimited* Service wrote: "is today facing calls for his resignation" . Who by? - the report omits this. Much as I dislike this individual the Echo should give him a fair trial - or at least ensure he gets one by not feeding hearsay to readers.Spot the banner at the bottom of the article that says "more in today's Daily Echo" - it will give you a clue as to the answer to your question.
Atpost
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4:43pm Fri 2 Jul 10
legod7 wrote:Is this "ect" taxed as personal benefits?
If he does resign he will still get his full pension & bonus ect.
Atpost
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4:46pm Fri 2 Jul 10
262red@blue wrote:I see that southy had a classmate in cut-price English lessons
he worth every penny good luck to you grab what you can and sod them all
262red@blue
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6:38pm Fri 2 Jul 10
forest hump
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8:25pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Maestro
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2:38am Sat 3 Jul 10
Coathanger wrote:Cllr Roy Perry is the Deputy Leader at HCC and Caroline Noakes' father.
Iwill send acopy of this to my local Conservative MP Caroline Noakes . It will be interesting on her take of it! Gread & lies , still alive and kicking in politics..
Its unlikely you will find someone interested !?!
St.DaveH
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8:51am Sat 3 Jul 10
Maestro wrote:Noakes is in no position to rebuke anyone - is she?
Coathanger wrote: Iwill send acopy of this to my local Conservative MP Caroline Noakes . It will be interesting on her take of it! Gread & lies , still alive and kicking in politics..Cllr Roy Perry is the Deputy Leader at HCC and Caroline Noakes' father. Its unlikely you will find someone interested !?!
forest hump
says...
9:10am Sat 3 Jul 10
St.DaveH wrote:Get down Shep!
Maestro wrote:Noakes is in no position to rebuke anyone - is she?Coathanger wrote: Iwill send acopy of this to my local Conservative MP Caroline Noakes . It will be interesting on her take of it! Gread & lies , still alive and kicking in politics..Cllr Roy Perry is the Deputy Leader at HCC and Caroline Noakes' father. Its unlikely you will find someone interested !?!
fraggled says...
12:19pm Fri 2 Jul 10
Either way: PAY IT BACK, NOW