Comments on: Damming Report on Cambridge Folk Festival Fiasco http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/damming-report-on-cambridge-folk-festival-fiasco.html Cambridge, United Kingdom. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:25:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/damming-report-on-cambridge-folk-festival-fiasco.html#comment-8355 Richard Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:15:04 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=938#comment-8355 <a href="http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/looking-into-the-folk-festival-mistakes.html" rel="nofollow">My article on the Civic Affairs Committee meeting which considered the report is available via this link.</a> My article on the Civic Affairs Committee meeting which considered the report is available via this link.

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/damming-report-on-cambridge-folk-festival-fiasco.html#comment-7241 Richard Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:35:46 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=938#comment-7241 It has been pointed out to me that: "issue a statement before the Civic Affairs committee considers the report on Monday" doesn't necessarily mean she will attend that meeting and make her statement to it in person. She might issue a statement via the council's website or she could have a written statement distributed at Monday's meeting. I think it would be quite shocking if she didn't attend Monday's meeting in person. It has been pointed out to me that: “issue a statement before the Civic Affairs committee considers the report on Monday” doesn’t necessarily mean she will attend that meeting and make her statement to it in person.

She might issue a statement via the council’s website or she could have a written statement distributed at Monday’s meeting.

I think it would be quite shocking if she didn’t attend Monday’s meeting in person.

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/damming-report-on-cambridge-folk-festival-fiasco.html#comment-7219 Richard Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:59:28 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=938#comment-7219 Cllr Julie Smith has <a href="http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_cambridge/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=402826" rel="nofollow">promised to make a statement to the committee receiving this report on Monday 30th March</a> in the Guildhall. Like all council meetings it will be in public. Cllr Julie Smith has promised to make a statement to the committee receiving this report on Monday 30th March in the Guildhall. Like all council meetings it will be in public.

]]> By: Oliver Stanton http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/damming-report-on-cambridge-folk-festival-fiasco.html#comment-7137 Oliver Stanton Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:34:23 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=938#comment-7137 It is truly appalling. The tendering process may have been a contributing factor - you pay peanuts... But to have waited so long, not carried out a thorough independent investigation is arrogance on a huge scale. We are no better informed for this years' Folk Festival. For which I guess the whole process has just started again... Goodness alone knows where the shortfall will be made up from. If it was a business, people would have been disciplined, if the company hadn't folded. It is truly appalling.

The tendering process may have been a contributing factor - you pay peanuts… But to have waited so long, not carried out a thorough independent investigation is arrogance on a huge scale. We are no better informed for this years’ Folk Festival. For which I guess the whole process has just started again… Goodness alone knows where the shortfall will be made up from.

If it was a business, people would have been disciplined, if the company hadn’t folded.

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/damming-report-on-cambridge-folk-festival-fiasco.html#comment-7126 Richard Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:16:21 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=938#comment-7126 Conservative <a href="http://cherryhintonroad.blogspot.com/2009/03/folk-festival-report-is-truly-shocking.html" rel="nofollow">Cllr Chris Howell has just published his response to the report</a>; he describes it as "truly shocking". He draws attention to the fact that prior to the investigation the council had not properly calculated how much it was owed by the ticket selling company. The council's losses have been determined to be £644,951, not the £618,000 originally quoted. He says Cllr Julie Smith, the Executive Councillor responsible, could be described as asleep on the job. Attention is also drawn to the recent <a href="http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/strategy-and-partnerships/policy-officer/comprehensive-performance-assessment.en" rel="nofollow">Audit Commission's statement on Cambridge City Council</a>: "Financial management is strong and there is good medium-term planning to make sure the council stays focused on its priorities. " Conservative Cllr Chris Howell has just published his response to the report; he describes it as “truly shocking”.

He draws attention to the fact that prior to the investigation the council had not properly calculated how much it was owed by the ticket selling company. The council’s losses have been determined to be £644,951, not the £618,000 originally quoted.

He says Cllr Julie Smith, the Executive Councillor responsible, could be described as asleep on the job.

Attention is also drawn to the recent Audit Commission’s statement on Cambridge City Council:
“Financial management is strong and there is good medium-term planning to make sure the council stays focused on its priorities. “

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