Three Degrees - An Open Letter to Cadman

Regular readers will know that there is currently a new Freedom of Information Act request with Labour Sandwell Council concerning their secret funding of the allegedly "private" "Three Degrees" statue project. In the meantime, the statue "entrepreneur" Jim Cadman has failed to answer of the legitimate questions I have raised noting that he has managed to extract significant public money for this effort from the crafty comrades at SMBC.

Here is an open letter which I have forwarded to Jim Cadman and I am sure you will agree the questions are wholly legitimate in all the circumstances of the case.

(Once again Google Blogger seems to be churning up my script and apologies for any inconvenience).

Letter to Jim Cadman - 31st March, 2015

Dear Mr Cadman,                                                                                                 31st March, 2015

I am disappointed to note that you have chosen to date not to put information concerning your (if it be your) appeal fund for the so-called “Celebration” statue in the public domain, particularly when significant public funds have been diverted to your allegedly private project.

Please note that this is an open letter which has been placed on my blog. You should already be aware that I have written to HM Revenue and Customs to see if they shed any light on your various fundraising projects and I am also forwarding this letter to them.

You are invited to answer the following questions so that the public can be satisfied as to the current position.

A  Other Projects

1. Despite correspondence with a number of parties in respect of your previous “statue” and football-related fundraising activities no-one has been able to furnish me with any accounts whatsoever in respect of same. Are you able to supply copies to me?

B  Legal status of the Celebration Statue Fund

1. What is the legal status of the Celebration statue fund?
2. Who controls the fund?
3. Who are the signatories to the fund’s bank account?

C  Your Current Business Interests

1. What is your business relationship with the sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, who you recently described to a Morecambe newspaper as your “business partner”?
2. What is your business relationship with the sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, in respect of the “Celebration” statue?
3. What relationship is Mark James Cadman to you?
4. Is Mark James Cadman involved in any way with the Celebration statue fund? If yes, please supply full details.
5. On your recent flyer for the dinner at The Hawthorns you used your Corstone e-mail address for contact purposes. Can you please confirm whether your company Cornerstone Marketing Limited is involved in any way with the “Celebration” statue appeal? If yes, please give details.

D  Tesco/New Square

1. When did you first communicate with Tesco/Spenhill concerning the siting of the proposed statue?
2. Are you prepared to disclose your correspondence with Tesco/Spenhill in respect of this project?

E  Cost of Statue and Accounts for Appeal Fund

1. Please supply full accounts for the appeal “fund” to date.
2. Insofar as the figures are not included in E1 above, in respect of the recent dinner at The Hawthorns please state:

1. the amount paid to WBA FC for the event;
2. all other miscellaneous costs including any fees paid to celebrities;
3. the amount of free tickets supplied for the event;
4. the total ticket revenues for the event;
5. all other monies raised via raffles etc at the event.

    3.   Please state whether at any time during the course of this appeal any fee or other

           emolument has been paid to Brendon Batson, Cyrille Regis, the Cunningham family or

           any ex-WBA player?

    4.   Local newspapers are reporting that the cost of the statue is £220,000. Please state:

1. The amount of this sum that is to be paid to the sculptor, Graham Ibbeson:
2. The amount to be paid to yourself/Mark James Cadman and/or any of the numerous companies which you are both connected with and whether that figure is included in the figure of £220,000?

     5.   Have you received donations from the FA, The Premier League and/or the Kick it Out

           campaign? If yes, please supply details.

     6.   On 20th November, 2014 The Birmingham Mail reported you as saying at that time that

           you had “raised” in cash or pledges £155,000 (although the Express and Star reported

           two days ago that you now only “need” £30,000 to £40,000). Please state:

     a.   Does that sum include the sum of £30,000 Labour Sandwell Council have diverted from

           vital infrastructure monies and already paid to you via unspecified channels?

     b.   Is the sum of £155,000 or such greater sum you are now claiming, the total of gross

           donations you have received or the net amount following fundraising                            

           expenses and any fees or payments to yourself/Mark James Cadman and/or any of the

           numerous companies with which you are both involved?

     7.   Do you know why Labour Sandwell Council’s annual budget book should show that the

           Council have budgeted a further payment of £160,000 to this allegedly private project and

           in the CURRENT financial year ending TODAY?

     8    What was the fee payable to Mr Frank Skinner in respect of the event at Birmingham

           Town Hall?

     9.   What, precisely happened to the £30,000 paid to the “fund” by Labour Sandwell Council

           in two instalments of £15,000 each? Has the money been spent and, if so, on what?

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Addendum 19/04/15 - as at today's date there has been no response from Cadman whatsover and my further Freedom of Information Act request to Sandwell Council remains unanswered. Are the above questions unreasonable when public money is involved and lies have been told?
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