Reform putting out misleading information should surprise no one. Think council tax promises pre-election and the DOGE farce. The new force in politics is the same as the old and in many respects worse.
However, the words of the Conservatives' Dan Lister ring hollow when you consider that it was he who as a Tory Cabinet member in the previous WNC administration was responsible for the Market Square regeneration, a project which was budgeted at £8.4 million and eventually cost £13.5 million of public money That this ice rink exercise in creative "break even" finances is a case of the Tory pot calling the Reform kettle black would be a classic understatement. But this is Northampton where history keeps repeating itself. The Sixfields missing millions and other matters of disappearing tax payers' money come to mind.
What I would like to know is who at WNC ever thought of the ice rink project and who in the council has the expertise to know if the expenditure would be value for money. Was there an open tender process to at least obtain quotes or was this another matter privately promoted and negotiated behind closed doors? Questions need to be asked .
I am not surprised at all that the Ice rink project terminated in a terrible loss. Only 36% of net revenue and the rest is the tax payer who has to pay again. Let's be honest..how many Councillors have any fiscal knowledge? In my experience, having work with them all over the UK not many. Did any one suggest to carry out a feasibility study? If that had been carried out, it would have highlighted the flaws in the idea. Cllr Arnull trumpeted the success of the Market square project. The figure provided after the christmas period suggested that the whole project had run at a loss. However, Cllr Arnull said it "broke-even". Does he know the meaning of break-even? There are a very small number of Councillors who wants to do their very best for the people of WNC. However, they are overwhelmed by the majority who think that there is a bottomless pit of tax payer money.
I am sure the ice rink sounded a good idea but clearly didn't do as well as it might. However why not fess up that it was not a financial success and needed subsidy from many sources.
Doing mathematical gymnastics to justify it just exposed the shortcomings of Reform in power.
Reform putting out misleading information should surprise no one. Think council tax promises pre-election and the DOGE farce. The new force in politics is the same as the old and in many respects worse.
However, the words of the Conservatives' Dan Lister ring hollow when you consider that it was he who as a Tory Cabinet member in the previous WNC administration was responsible for the Market Square regeneration, a project which was budgeted at £8.4 million and eventually cost £13.5 million of public money That this ice rink exercise in creative "break even" finances is a case of the Tory pot calling the Reform kettle black would be a classic understatement. But this is Northampton where history keeps repeating itself. The Sixfields missing millions and other matters of disappearing tax payers' money come to mind.
What I would like to know is who at WNC ever thought of the ice rink project and who in the council has the expertise to know if the expenditure would be value for money. Was there an open tender process to at least obtain quotes or was this another matter privately promoted and negotiated behind closed doors? Questions need to be asked .
Wonder how many people are even surprised that Reform can't tell the truth...
Looks like Reform are have trouble sticking to their promises.
I am not surprised at all that the Ice rink project terminated in a terrible loss. Only 36% of net revenue and the rest is the tax payer who has to pay again. Let's be honest..how many Councillors have any fiscal knowledge? In my experience, having work with them all over the UK not many. Did any one suggest to carry out a feasibility study? If that had been carried out, it would have highlighted the flaws in the idea. Cllr Arnull trumpeted the success of the Market square project. The figure provided after the christmas period suggested that the whole project had run at a loss. However, Cllr Arnull said it "broke-even". Does he know the meaning of break-even? There are a very small number of Councillors who wants to do their very best for the people of WNC. However, they are overwhelmed by the majority who think that there is a bottomless pit of tax payer money.
I am sure the ice rink sounded a good idea but clearly didn't do as well as it might. However why not fess up that it was not a financial success and needed subsidy from many sources.
Doing mathematical gymnastics to justify it just exposed the shortcomings of Reform in power.