Why all the secrecy?

 Why? Because it's the name of the game for a council beset by allegations of wrongdoing

The so-called 'most transparent council' project announced by Cllr Peter Jackson on 25 May 2017 is officially dead. 

It's been replaced by a council beset by allegations of wrongdoing coming from political opponents and non-political bodies, companies and individuals. Labour have long highlighted the decisions taken and the questions they raise to a deafening silence from the administration.

Local MP's have asked for independent investigations into decisions that are currently costing the council taxpayer millions of pounds. Individual staff members have been forced to go to employment tribunals to highlight the very serious management bullying and intimidation that are seemingly routine within Northumberland County Council. How many more allegations of bullying is this council going to turn a blind eye to before they have a fully independent investigation by an independent professional organisation like NEREO? 

The planning process is in disarray and the council is facing allegations of bullying, intimidation and corruption with a number of other private companies looking at the Lugano legal action which will be heard in the High Court as a marker for further legal actions.  
A cursory look at the decisions taken by this council since 5 May 2017 shows that Clickermin development may fall into a similar category as DGV with Banks Developments as does the Mitford Hall estates development which also has a link to potential dodgy decisions in Arch as well as the removal of the core strategy. 

You might remember that Cllr Richard Wearmouth who also campaigned actively against the Mitford Hall development prior to becoming Chairman in Arch, announced to great fanfare in June 2017 'that Arch will not be investing outside Northumberland' while stopping the Mitford investment. Some people said 'good decision' and others said 'politics over good business sense'. That's a bit of an indictment for a man with over 40 directorships with a good few 'winding ups'. And Mr Wearmouth also announced that Arch would not be involved 'in risky investments or retail offers' somehow implying that Manor Walks investment, securing over 2,000 jobs was a bad investment. 
What have been his Arch announcements to date? Pipers Place in Bedlington (retail) and the forthcoming investment announcement in Hexham at the Old Market which interestingly Arch looked at 4 years ago and deemed it too risky. 

His greatest contributions have come in the arena of, what some people call, the Arch witchunt. He's regularly colluded with others to damage the reputation of the company he is Chair of. He's traduced the company along with his fellow director Jackson on the slimmest of tittle tattle, all the while, damaging the assets of Northumberland residents. 

You can make your own mind up if these men are hypocrites. 

Maybe Mr Wearmouth, the chair, may be able to shed some light on the decision to sell off some of the most profitable assets of the company in South Tyneside, Durham and Sunderland? After all, it's not like these areas are in China is it?    

Maybe that's the problem with this administration - they just don't treat taxpayers money the same as their own. 

With over 50 company directorships between them, it's a little disturbing that the only time they attack a company they're directors of is when its owned by the Northumberland taxpayer. Maybe it's their addiction to playing politics with taxpayers cash?  

As Chair of Arch maybe Mr Wearmouth would like to shed some light on the 'International Development' projects the company CEO Alison Joynson and the company director Peter Jackson and the company shareholder Mrs Daljit Lally are involved in? 

After all, remember 'no Arch investments outside Northumberland in the North East' but it seems Arch is investing in North East Chinese Hospitals? Who knew the announcement meant just the NE but everywhere else in the world is in the game. 

So what is CEO Alison Joynson who is also council Director for International Projects and Systems Development really doing with Arch apart from running it as the political wing of the council for the Conservative party? 

This is the very same Alison Joynson who was the very public figurehead who ran the conservative campaign against the change to Post 16 travel four years ago. 

We know she picks up £171,000 from the council but since Mr Wearmouth continues to hide the accounts of Arch for his first full year which have been available for over 3 months, what are we able to do but speculate about why this publicity hungry and righteous Chair of the company, Arch is being so quiet about the financial facts of his first year. 

Like so much of the council and Arch, secrecy is the order of the day. Whether it be covering up bullying allegations on an industrial scale, or hiding what Arch is doing with Northumberland's assets and future, or playing politics with taxpayer monies, this Tory led administration and its place persons on committee's like Audit Committee refuse to be transparent unless it involves a receipt for a bottle of wine at a conference for jobs.  

They're hiding information which would allow residents to see what is happening with their own money. 

There's a whiff of scandal and corruption which is getting stronger by the day. The only way to apply fresh air to this is for the Tories to agree to a transparent and independent investigation into the numerous allegations which are now swirling around the council creating the stink of scandal and corruption. 

In short, make Northumberland County Council legal again.