REVEALED: Cost to taxpayer of city council leader's campaign advice
CITY council leader Jon Collins has used a consultant paid £870-a-day by the taxpayer for advice on Labour's campaign in the run-up to the May election.
Explosive documents seen by the Post suggest Harold Tinworth has been giving a political steer to Labour councillors while being paid to advise the local authority on its response to spending cuts.
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Jon Collins
The revelation heaps more controversy on the council, which last week admitted it was investigating to find out if Nottingham City Council used up to £20,000 of public money to help the Labour Party win the last local election in 2007.
The latest documents show Mr Tinworth e-mailed Mr Collins on September 6 last year and offered political advice on communications ahead of the local election.
The e-mail refers to an agenda for an "away day" for top Labour councillors which includes sessions on the Labour Party's manifesto and election campaign.
In relation to pressures from the budget review and cuts, Mr Tinworth wrote: "The solution to the problem is to change the government asap."
He also questioned whether Labour councillors' campaigning would be made less effective by efforts to put together the least damaging package of cuts.
The city council says it will widen the scope of its inquiry to look at the issues in today's Post.
Lib Dem councillor Tony Sutton said it seemed the city Labour party was "electioneering on the rates".
He said: "There is evidence to suggest this happened in 2007 and is happening now. How much worse can it get? Jon Collins appears prepared to use the public's money to get himself re-elected.
"It reveals a culture in which the leadership of the Labour Party in Nottingham put themselves and their own political interests first, and those of local residents last."
FULL STORY: Top consultant's political role exposed in e-mail
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by Paul Metcalfe, Aubourn
Sunday, April 17 2011, 9:01PM
“In the meantime on the 11/04/2011 a traffic warden placed a £70 penalty notice on my car for parking 25 mins on a single yellow line in Newark despite the fact that I have an up to date blue badge. When I questioned the warden she told me I had not displayed my cardboard clock next to the badge.
I checked with a lady in the shop near where I was parked & she told me the warden had been down the same street only an hour or so earlier, so she knew for certain I hadn't parked there for my allowed 3 hours. I suffer from aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis and need the badge as I cant walk far, so why was she so pedantic about a time clock when I was there 25 only mins ? What a sad & broken society we live in today. These people forget that ultimately they are being paid to benefit our society and not hinder it in order for them to hit set targets.”
by neil, hucknall
Monday, March 07 2011, 2:27PM
“power & money = corruption...... corruption = power & money......”
by Ian, Beeston
Saturday, March 05 2011, 12:25PM
“I see elsewhere on the Internet it has been stated that the Post has been refusing to publish responses or a response from Jane Todd. Do people know the truth behind this i.e. is this true? I seem to recall that the Andy chap who is posting many of the posts here had some disagreement with the council awhile back. Is this right and what is known about this? Tony Sutton is most likely concerned about his prospects of getting re elected given the decline in popularity of the liberals. I see that a person called Charles Walker has according to a local Conservative Party web site chaired a Conservative Party hosted event. Is this correct and it is it the same Charles Walker?”
by Teacher, at school
Friday, March 04 2011, 2:26PM
“Marcus,
If you are indeed at school, I think you should take the opportunity of using a dictionary.”
by Chris, Nottm
Friday, March 04 2011, 12:50PM
“Snot - the current square harks back to the original. The line down the centre echoingthe divide between French and English laws used at the time I believe.
As for Collins - he's a dreadful chap and Labour alone would be well rid, let alone the rest of us. Everytime something like this happens he takes a step back, his cronies take the flack and then he'll be back when there's some good news and glory. It'll be interesting to see if he faces the music for once.”
by Snot, Lace Market
Friday, March 04 2011, 9:22AM
“When the Labour party is collared out of the council chamber, that ugly Market Square should be bulldozed, and sold to a city in latin Europe. It should be replaced with a square in the English tradition, with monuments and fancy ironwork, that Nottingham can be proud of.”
by Snot, Lace Market
Friday, March 04 2011, 9:04AM
“A rotten basket of apples in Nottingham.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/6750718/a-rotten-basket-of-apples-in-nottingham.thtml”
by Neil, in the real world
Friday, March 04 2011, 8:58AM
“Tom of St Anns -judge Collins on his record not this inuendo masquerading as journalism,
So Collins got a record? Is it a criminal one or can I buy it on CD?
He has only cost us money!!”
by Snot, Lace Market
Friday, March 04 2011, 8:47AM
“The Labour Party represents the underclass, and . When I think of all the great sculptures in England cities, Victoria in Birmingham, Bodicea on the Embankment, I think back to what Nottingham City Council brings to the table. In the middle of the most architecturally scenic view from their horrendous market square looking toward King/Queen Street .....a football manager.”
by Wayne, Long Eaton
Friday, March 04 2011, 3:25AM
“Did I upset you? Why is that? Only you can tell us.”