November 17: So, what did Camra think of Kent TV?
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SO, what did those 36 people lucky enough to be
consulted about what they thought of Kent TV actually have to say
for themselves?
I wish I could tell you but
sadly, I have been told that the consultation exercise conducted by
CapGemini – who were paid £8,000 for their work – was confidential
and responses will not be disclosed following a Freedom of
Information request we lodged asking to see the details.
But why was it confidential?
Apparently, according to CapGemini, allowing people to pass comment
on the basis that their views won’t be made public allows for a
"safe haven" – in other words, thy could say what they like
without fear of having whatever views they held out there in the
public domain.
I think any public authority who
conducted a consultation on a similar basis would probably find
itself open to some criticism but obviously different rules apply
to private consultants.
Either way, it is a shame – KCC
has never covered itself in glory when it comes to transparency
over Kent TV and this is another example. Given that the report was
largely positive anyway, perhaps it might have helped to be able to
disclose exactly what consultees did say.
And of course, it means we have
been deprived of knowing just what the Campaign for Real Ale –
which was among the consultees - had to say for itself.
You can see KCC’s full response
to our request here
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Incidentally, I see that CapGemini will be
featuring in a KCC conference tomorrow of the Kent Partnership
Board, being held in Maidstone.
Among the speakers is CapGemini vice
president Graham Colclough, who will be talking about "Partnership
Working in Kent" and the partnership’s big priorities and how to
take the partnership forward.
It’ll be interesting to see if Kent TV
is given a mention.
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Is KCC’s
plan for a huge lorry park on a 70-acre site off
the M20 at Aldington, near Ashford, dead in the water?
Read our story
here>>>
Not quite but it seems that
County Hall might just be edging closer to a situation where the
ruling administration finds a way of abandoning the whole
scheme.
Sources I have spoken to suggest
that the outcome of an environmental survey conducted on the site
have identified many difficulties that would need to be overcome
before it could be built. Some of these were flagged up in a
confidential report earlier this year that was obtained by the
Kentish Express.
Quite apart from this is the as
yet unresolved question of who will pay for it. At the last count,
the estimated costs stood at £40million but I am told that after
further examination, this estimate may well be on the low side and
considerably more might be needed.
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NEVER let it be said that KCC is
unadventurous when it comes to exploring new opportunites with
international partners.
It might not seem as if the
Garden of England has much in common with Inner
Mongolia but this has not stopped Geoff Wild, the
council’s legal chief, moving to provide legal services to the
region in the People’s Republic of China.
These are early days obviously –
apparently "there are no plans to launch an office in Baotou [the
largest city in the region] any time soon."
Note that doesn’t rule out the
option…
Read the story
here:
Tuesday, November 17 2009
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