January 20: Now snow delays Kent TV decision
Comments |
IT
seems that the snow is being cited as a reason why there has been
no news on the county council’s long-awaited decision about whether
it is to continue with its controversial TV station Kent
TV.
The channel, that has to date cost
about £1.8million, was due to learn its fate this month but the
final decision looks like being taken in early
February.
Why the delay? Well, an intriguing
report to KCC’s next cabinet meeting reveals that
"due to adverse weather conditions" the authority had to
postpone a day on which interested bidders were to present to
councillors their ideas for developing the TV channel.
Read the report here>>
Presentations were due to take
place on December 18 but was moved to January 14 instead.
According to the report: "The
presentations confirmed there were a number of strong contenders to
run the channel."
However, "due to the weather
conditions, the tender process has been delayed" and "the
assessment of their proposals within the procurement process is
still as yet unfinished."
One consequence of this delay is that
it will be down to Cllr Roger Gough (Con), KCC’s
cabinet member for "corporate support services and performance
management" to make the final decision.
But what will that decision be?
In a rather interesting paragraph, the
cabinet report says only that it will be him that takes "the
decision of the final approval of the provider company and the
award of the contract."
It adds that he also be
"authorised to enter into the relevant contracts with such
service provider."
I am not sure whether this means that
continuing with Kent TV is a foregone conclusion as the report
omits to say whether he will also be the person who takes any
decision not to continue with Kent TV.
Assuming that is still an option, of
course.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I blogged
earlier this week about the opposition growing to KCC plans to
force east Kent grammar schools to relinquish
spare places so the authority could expand capacity at
over-subscribed west Kent schools.
When I tried to find out in November
last year under the Freedom of Information Act
whether KCC held any reports about its intentions, I was told there
was a working document but that the authority would not be
releasing it as to do so "could well prejudice public affairs,
due to the high levels of interest from parents, schools and the
local media."
I was told that "it could
influence parents and give false impressions about the allocation
of school places."
In view of the current speculation
about exactly what KCC has in mind – along with complaints from the
schools who might be affected that they have been kept in the dark
– it strikes me that the authority is doing itself more harm by not
releasing the information.
Perhaps they’ll reconsider but given
their track record, I rather doubt it.
Friday, January 22 2010
The KM Group does not moderate comments.
Please click here for our house rules.