WBAFC "rape" of Charity now "consensual sex"!

Before any morons start hurling abuse my way, please note that I have been a Baggies fan for over 40 years (although I have to say that I am beginning to question whether I can continue to associate myself with such a sh*tbag outfit noting the Club's rape of "its" Charity, myriad ownership shenanigans, loans to the owner etc.)

Further, I am aware that the Albion Foundation (AF) does some brilliant work. However, it is a registered Charity and has to play by the rules. The AF has failed to respond to legitimate questions and, indeed, Mr Rob Lake has bad-mouthed this blog to third parties due to the revelations about what has been going on, without bothering to explain the position to me. I have also tried to communicate with the Trustees to no avail. That includes the usually admirable Nicola Richards MP. Nicola was NOT a trustee when most of what is set out below was going on, but has still failed to respond to legitimate concerns - along with the other trustees and Lake. (She also used her newsletter to falsely claim that the AF is "the charitable arm" of WBAFC when, as we shall see, it is anything but.) In the interests of balance Labour Cllr Simon Hackett was a AF trustee until August, 2017 when the worst stuff was still going on (his lies have cost Sandwell folk hundreds of thousands of pounds - Skidders passim ad nauseum and see legal notice below). During a large part of this scandal - from September 2017 until the (incorrect) 2020 accounts were signed off  - another Trustee was the hapless. dimwitted, Labour Councillor, Preet Kaur Gill (now, incredibly, a Labour MP).

AND, the accounts show that Baggies FANS have given virtually nothing to the Charity over the years so don't think enough of the Charity to put their hands in their pockets to support it.

The story so far ...

Like many football clubs, WBAFC set up a supposedly "charitable" arm. I am told that at the very beginning there did seem to be some genuinely altruistic motivation behind this although WBAFC appointed some of its own Directors/employees to the AF Board of Trustees and sought to reap kudos from the work of the Charity.

During the Jeremy Peace era it is my understanding that free accommodation for the Charity was withdrawn and the AF began to rely for funding on the likes of the Premier League and us taxpayers (including via bent Labour Sandwell Council). This blog exclusively revealed at the start of this story that the accounts showed that WBAFC were giving the AF a nice round figure, i.e. £0 (nil)!

Not only was WBAFC giving f*** all to "its" Charity but this blog also exclusively revealed that AF - a Charity - was spending a fortune buying tickets and rip-off priced merch FROM WBAFC - which was initially denied by Mr Rob Lake despite it being published in the Charity's own accounts.

You might think a registered Charity would be anxious to explain the position but AF have failed to communicate with this blog. I duly made a formal complaint to the Charity Commission which, after egregious delay, stated (without giving reasons) that (a) it had been satisfied in some way by AF that they were "managing" the clear conflict of interest position where WBAFC trustees were agreeing huge spending benefitting, er, WBAFC and (b) that there had been an error in the accounts and the amount of that expenditure had been "overstated" due to some sort of "error".

I duly revisited the AF accounts and the most recent ones have been amended - here is one alteration for year end (y/e) 2021.

Note the claim that AF "contacted the Charity Commission". This makes it sound as if Lake and Co. suddenly discovered the "error" and then reported it themselves whereas Lake has tried to keep all this secret and it was MY complaint that caused the Charity Commission to contact AF! WTF is going on here?

And so, since this blog exposed the "related party transactions", the money flowing from the Charity TO the Club has been greatly reduced. However, even accepting the truth of the accounts (which have been very wrong before) only those for recent year ends have been altered, and the earlier accounts still show that Lake and the Trustees were shelling out huge sums TO the Club. On 12th August, 2022 (chased on the 25th) I duly wrote to Haines Watts, the current accountants, with a copy to Lake, but neither has had the decency to respond and explain the position to Skidder readers and Baggies fans. The letter is somewhat detailed but repays careful reading:

"THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION - PRESS ENQUIRY

I  am a journalist and the principal author of The Sandwell Skidder blog. For some years I have been writing about your Client, The Albion Foundation (AF), and its relationship with West Bromwich Albion Football Club (WBAFC).

Haines Watts are now admitting that your former Partner, John Painter, made errors in the final audited accounts which were then signed off by the Trustees and submitted to the Charity Commission. Like many "professional" firms you have done the decent thing and blamed your Client (in fact, more bizarrely, you have blamed your Client's "software").

You will be aware that you sought to "rectify" the accounts following an intervention by the Charity Commission.

I understand that Mr Painter was working with Crowther Beard when he prepared the AF accounts for y/e 2017. At that stage he reported that there were no related party transactions with WBAFC for y/e 2017 which looked suspicious given the history of this affair. This was "before your time" but see further below

It seems you merged with Crowther Beard in 2018 and Painter continued to prepare the AF accounts under your "banner". Thus Haines Watts are responsible for errors in the accounts from y/e 2018 onwards.

At y/e 2018 Haines Watts/Painter reported that AF spent a very large sum of money with the Club (on tickets/merchandise etc) and made some small sales to WBAFC. The net sum payable to WBAFC was a colossal £547,754. But even more alarmingly, and noting that Painter had specifically stated there were no related party transactions in y/e 2017 he then produced 2017 figures in the 2018 accounts showing even higher sales by WBA FC to the Charity - in fact, a staggering net figure of £865,664. Whilst Mr Painter had failed to mention this  2017 huge sum before, this is now a "Haines Watt figure". The rectifications referred to below do not alter the accounts as filed and shown on the Charity Commission website. Is the public, to assume, therefore that the figures in the 2018 accounts do accurately show the very large purchases by the Charity from the Club? Does Haines Watts stand by these figures?

At y/e 2019 Haines Watts/Painter initially stated the net purchases as £500,639 but in a rectification due to the alleged inadvertent addition of some "historical figures" - a statement probably intended to be unintelligible to a layperson -  this was reduced to a still massive net purchase figure of £197,521!

The accounts for 2020 and 2021 still show AF spending more modest - though still significant sums - as net purchases from WBAFC - £78,755 (2020) and £64,196 (2021).

It is noteworthy that you only state in your rectification notices, amendments back to y/e 2019 and so, as above, I assume that Haines Watts is standing by the earlier figures?

In the latest (2021) accounts a sum is also shown as purchases of staff clothing and tickets in the sum of £42,666. Were some or all of these purchases from WBAFC and, if so, is the figure included in that shown for related party transactions?

Has Haines Watts reported the accounting errors to your professional body at all?

I have a deadline for next Friday and would appreciate your response as soon as possible.I am sure AF will wish this matter to finally be put to bed and so I am also copying this email to them so that they can also  provide the necessary authority for you to respond to me.

Julian Saunders"

And so folks, the current position as it stands with Lake, Nicola Richards and the other Trustees (including WBAFC officials) keeping their mouths firmly shut, is that:

1   WBAFC raped the AF Charity in years 2017 and 2018 to the tune of £1,413,418;

2   In y/e 2019 the sums were significantly and mysteriously reduced (according to the accountants who have now altered the figures) but WBAFC still shagged AF for £197, 521 (taking the figure for the three years referenced to well over one and a half million pounds - £1,610,939;

3   Following this blog's exposures the rape is now consensual sex with AF Trustees willing giving "just" £78,755 (2020) and £64,196 (2021) for services rendered - although it is not clear whether these figures also include the sums for "staff clothing and tickets".

We still need answers about the colossal sums Lake, Hackett, Gill and others authorised in the earlier years. I have also reported Haines Watts to their professional body as they are not prepared to explain their role in this sh*tshow. There is public money going into AF from us taxpayers (via bent Labour Sandwell Council) and so the public are entitled to know how funding has been diverted to the football Club. Let's hope that some Trustees will now grasp the nettle and explain all ...

BTW - please all football fans locally - support keeping our beloved game on the community pitches at Lion Farm Fields which bent Labour Sandwell Council want to destroy for yet another shopping centre!

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!

**** Phone No: 07470 624207 ****

Email: thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

Facebook: Julian Saunders  

Facebook Group: The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth To Power!

Twitter: Publisher: @CrowMultimedia; Julian Saunders: @SandwellSkidder            

Post:  Jules Saunders, 11 Chelworth Road, Birmingham B38 0BG

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN TROLLED BY DICKHEAD DARREN COOPER DECEASED!

LEGAL NOTICE (Version 3 from 14th February, 2021)

I cannot list every previous mention of individuals referred to in the entirety of this blog. Where I refer to a specific story please follow the supplied hyperlink since this forms legal justification for later comments. Similarly references to “posts passim” and to earlier posts mean any individuals concerned about purported defamatory or otherwise unlawful material must read later posts in the context of earlier posts. Full information can also be supplied within a reasonable time upon application via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

In most cases we try to give the subjects of these blog posts the opportunity to comment on our journalism pre-publication to ensure the accuracy of our work.

Every now and again we make a genuine honest error and get something wrong. If an error in the blog affects you please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com and we shall use our best endeavours to publish appropriate corrections forthwith.

We have had to remove the direct comment facility from this blog due to the activity of a West Bromwich woman but we are pleased to receive comments via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com , on Twitter via our publishers @CrowMultimedia or via our dedicated Facebook Group: “The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth to Power!” We are happy to publish any sensible commentary and offer a right of reply where applicable.

If you consider that anything written is defamatory or otherwise unlawful please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com or telephone 07470 624207 forthwith. If your complaint has merit we shall endeavour to make immediate amends.

From Tesco to the Ukraine - it's all in The Skidder!

Tesco Back Bent Sandwell Labour!

Remember the other week when the "leader" of Bent Labour Sandwell Council, Kerrie "Dim Kez" Carmichael, hadn't got a clue on the multi-millions of our money she and her comrades sp*nked up the wall on the Commonwealth Games?

With a 35% child poverty rate in Tipton, rampant deprivation issues after 48 years of Labour, and a Borough riddled with crime, Dim Kez thought your money was better spent on a few days of swimming'n'diving. Incredibly the "socialist" scum have now gone to Tesco - yes, Tesco - to cadge some money off them, having shafted the taxpayer for multimillions!

Some readers may not shop in Tesco but they have a scheme to help local charities and non-profits. Often these are very small groups - local play groups, Scout troops etc. The cashier dispenses a blue token and one gets to choose between three local charities requiring funding. Astonishingly, bent Labour Council has tried to elbow the little groups out and grab money from the supermarket for itself -  a body run by a large, corrupt, taxpayer-funded bureaucracy packed with Labour cronies.

Here is a photo from local Community Activist, Darryl Magher, taken in the New Square, West Bromwich superstore:

Addendum 13.09.22 - A correspondent has also sent pictures showing that this arrangement is also in the Tesco store at Stone Cross.

Carmichael has taken the slot of local, small, fund-raising groups and set up the bent Council in competition against Sandwell Litter Watch (ironically, itself a Labour front organisation) and Action for Children.

Tesco seems to have been only too willing to support Labour corruption in Sandwell. The corrupt wifebeater, Darren Cooper, was given suitable plaudits at the opening of Tesco, New Square for the "help" Labour gave to the shopping centre development. The supermarket also proved that Every Little Helps by surrendering the small plot of land for Jim Cadman's pathetic "Three Degrees" statue - another bent Labour deal.

But the press office of the supermarket giant came over all shy when I asked them why they are overlooking small charities and groups via this scheme in favour of one of the most corrupt councils in the Country - one that was placed in "special measures" by the Government just a few months ago? They passed the buck to their "charity partner" in this sh*tshow, Groundwork UK.

Now Groundwork locally have had banners up at various Sandwell events which I have seen with my own eyes and so I asked them if they had themselves received funding from SMBC. They deny this but in a very suspicious and legalistic way, saying that Groundwork is a "federated" charity and that the national charity doesn't receive SMBC funds.

So back I went asking them about their relationship with Go Play which does receive funds from bent Labour Sandwell. They have failed to respond and so, incredibly, I have had to put a Freedom of Information Request about this:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/tesco_blue_token_scheme_sow_and

For the record, Go Play say they are funded by SMBC but describe themselves as "the Go Play team at Groundwork West Midlands". I am sure Groundwork told Tesco the correct position before shaking them down for the deeply corrupt Council. 

Tesco needs to fess up about what has gone on here and ensure that only genuine small organisations and charities get funding via their scheme, not deeply corrupt councils where folk are already paying though the nose for services via tax, rent etc.  If they have given money to Dim Kez and Co., the Skidder will be happy to suggest a deserving cause in Sadders to whom they should pay an equivalent amount. Any suggestions folks if there IS a group in Sadders not controlled by "the Party"?

SCIPS

Staying on the grasping charity theme, I am doing some research into SCIPS given their overt political stance in Sadders and any information about what they actually do, and how this is actually "charitable", will be welcome.

SCIPS claim to be "the leading voice for Sandwell's tenant movement" but I have been told - to my total amazement - that they don't actually do casework for the many tenants having problems in the sh*thole Borough. Instead, they are yet another w*nk outfit which does no direct work for tenants at all.

It is said by many that SCIPS is just another Sandwell Labour front organisation and it is noteworthy that it has refused to condemn the appalling bullying of Council, er, tenants by Labour - threatening complainants with eviction. A rather odd stance from a charitable "voice of the tenants". I wrote to them about this but despite their ample funding and jobs for the boys and girls they have failed to respond.

Cllr Rizwan Jalil "Anti-Drugs Campaigner" - Who Knew?

In a Skidder exclusive, Labour Cllr Rizwan Jalil has revealed that he and Surjit Tour, bent Labour Sandwell Council's highly controversial Monitoring Officer, have purported to use legal powers to conceal his address and business interests - and those of his wife Cllr Aqeela Choudhry - because he claims he is a major anti-drugs campaigner in Sandwell. His hitherto well-concealed "war on drugs" has, he says, brought him to the attention of "drug-dealers in Tividale" who wish him serious harm. Apparently Sandwell Police are fully au fait with "the situation". 

I have spoken to a couple of senior figures in the Muslim Community who are also completely unaware of Cllr Jalil's unstinting community work on drugs, especially one who expressed surprise and opined that, "he's like a child". Curiously, another informant told me that Jalil has been upsetting two (named) persons in Tividale/Tipton who are said to be drug dealers and who have also been very closely involved in, er, Sandwell Labour politics! How's that? And yes, the local Police are aware of the allegations against this pair, although they are seemingly immune from prosecution.

Children need protecting and we must all work to safeguard this young man and woman and help with his great work of clearing the streets of the scourge of drugs, especially as elements within Sandwell Police seem so keen to actually facilitate the evil trade (at least for certain "friends"). Perhaps the good Cllr would also be on safer ground exposing the Class A drug habits of certain influential members of the Council's own bent paid service instead.

ITMA! Jalil slams Commissioners!

Labour were running Sandwell so badly the Government had to put the bent Council into special measures and appoint Commissioners to run the sh*tshow at huge cost to local morons.

When the Government asked for representations whether Sandwell should be placed on the naughty step or not, bent Labour simply had no response. They knew they had finally been caught with their pants down. They made no attempt to contest the Intervention and simply sent the Government a pathetic - wait for it, wait for it - SEVEN PARAGRAPH LETTER claiming that despite f***** everything up they had an "Improvement Plan" in place. In a bravura example of arse-licking, corrupt Sandwell Labour told the Government how much they were looking forward to the Tories helping them on their "improvement journey"!!!! Indeed, in just 7 paragraphs they used the words "improvement journey" a toe-curling FIVE times.

And in public Council meetings Labour expressed no shame for their appalling conduct but "accepted" the Intervention and promised to "move forward". Aside from one comment from the Wednesbury weeper, Cllr Luke "Wet Pants" Giles,  bent Labour quickly had the white flag flying above OCH.

Alas there is one dissenting voice in the Labour camp - yes, that of the Anti-Drug Czar himself, who has put in writing that the whole thing is a put-up job by the Tories to distract from what he perceives as their failings, and nothing at all to do with Labour's well-documented disasters! He does not accept the shocking findings of the bent Council's external auditors and, unlike his comrades, doesn't see the need for an "Improvement Plan" either.

Is it right that Jalil is bucking the Labour Party line with this meretricious nonsense - and in writing too? So much for Party discipline ...

Mystic Bob

Judging by his social media output Cllr Bob "Seig Heil" Piper's visceral hatred of the State of Israel is matched only by his great affection for the former - communist - Soviet Union. He was unconcerned when his Russian pals invaded the Donbas (Eastern Ukraine) in 2014. Indeed he made the truly astonishing statement (even by his "standards") that Putin sending people across the border to kill Ukranians was, er, "nothing to do with Ukraine" but a "currency war". Apparently it was all the fault of the Yanks since they wanted to "destroy the rouble", which was "posing a threat" to the Dollar.

Russia has occupied parts of the Donbas ever since and, of course, also seized Crimea under force of arms. Piper informed us that this was simply because Putin and Co, "wanted" a warm-water port. Oh, so that's alright then!

Happily Mystic Bob was able to forecast on behalf of his Russian pals, "I doubt there's any possibility at all of war beyond the skirmishes in East Ukraine."

Severn Trent & The Commonwealth Games

Our old friend Ian Carroll (aka The Gooseman) pointed out to those who could be arsed to listen during the ruinously expensive "Games" that the z-list competition had "partnered" with polluters Severn Trent to help greenwash the circus. This was outrageous given Severn Trent's appalling environmental record, especially in Sadders.

The Gooseman and friends distributed a number of leaflets around Sadders during the (no)jam-boree, but if you didn't get one - here you go: 

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!

**** Phone No: 07470 624207 ****

Email: thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

Facebook: Julian Saunders  

Facebook Group: The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth To Power!

Twitter: Publisher: @CrowMultimedia; Julian Saunders: @SandwellSkidder            

Post:  Jules Saunders, 11 Chelworth Road, Birmingham B38 0BG

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN TROLLED BY DICKHEAD DARREN COOPER DECEASED!

LEGAL NOTICE (Version 3 from 14th February, 2021)

I cannot list every previous mention of individuals referred to in the entirety of this blog. Where I refer to a specific story please follow the supplied hyperlink since this forms legal justification for later comments. Similarly references to “posts passim” and to earlier posts mean any individuals concerned about purported defamatory or otherwise unlawful material must read later posts in the context of earlier posts. Full information can also be supplied within a reasonable time upon application via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

In most cases we try to give the subjects of these blog posts the opportunity to comment on our journalism pre-publication to ensure the accuracy of our work.

Every now and again we make a genuine honest error and get something wrong. If an error in the blog affects you please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com and we shall use our best endeavours to publish appropriate corrections forthwith.

We have had to remove the direct comment facility from this blog due to the activity of a West Bromwich woman but we are pleased to receive comments via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com , on Twitter via our publishers @CrowMultimedia or via our dedicated Facebook Group: “The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth to Power!” We are happy to publish any sensible commentary and offer a right of reply where applicable.

If you consider that anything written is defamatory or otherwise unlawful please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com or telephone 07470 624207 forthwith. If your complaint has merit we shall endeavour to make immediate amends.

Highly-Paid Commissioners - more complaints!

After years of appalling Labour corruption in Sandwell the Government finally took action and sent in Commissioners - at eye-watering expense - to sort the bent Borough out. But what the hell is going on now?

Readers will know that I have lodged a formal complaint with the Secretary of State given revelations concerning the conduct of the Lead Commissioner, Kim Bromley Derry (KBD) when he was the Interim Chief Exec of bent Sandwell (and whom Labour were paying £1,300 a day plus expenses).

Now I have lodged a further complaint dated today in respect of the Assistant Commissioner, Jim Taylor, who mislead me - in writing - concerning the original appointment of KBD by bent Labour. Here is the Complaint with a small amount of redacted information:

To the Secretary of State for Levelling-Up:   

THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION

I regret having to write to The Secretary of State again - via yourself - concerning the Sandwell Commissioners.

I am copying in MP’s Morris, Richards and Bailey to this.

I sent you a formal complaint to the Secretary of State on 25th August, 2022 requesting the immediate suspension of Kim Bromley Derry (KBD) as “Managing Director Commissioner” pending investigations surrounding his deliberate or grossly negligent failure, as Interim Chief Executive (ICE), to maintain ANY records in respect of the appointment of Keir Starmer crony, Imogen Walker, to a newly-created position at the corrupt Labour Council. I have not received even an acknowledgement as yet, and whilst I appreciate that there is a “changing of the Guard” in central Government at the moment, this is a most urgent matter. 

In the complaint referred to above I mentioned that there were serious concerns how KBD came to be appointed as the very-well rewarded ICE in the first place. I can tell you that the concerns reached me via a whistleblower working at Sandwell Council. In short, the whistleblower alleged that KBD’s appointment had been deliberately “rigged”. (I hold some further information which I will release at my discretion.)

I wrote to KBD asking about the circumstances of his appointment as ICE and was surprised to get a response from Jim Taylor, the Assistant Commissioner appointed by the Secretary of State. On 28th April, 2022 Mr Taylor purported to inform me that everything was “above board” with the appointment despite a “waiver” of the normal “Procedure Rules” and that three recruitment agencies had been approached for prospective candidates.

This did not accord with the story from the whistleblower which included the allegation that the search for other candidates was a fraudulent charade as KBD had already been “given the nod”. I duly made a FOIA request only to discover that KBD was not put forward by the recruitment agencies (as was originally stated by the whistleblower) but by the Local Government Association (LGA). In the circumstances I believe that Mr Taylor either deliberately lied to me on 28th April or else he was grossly negligent in giving me an untrue and totally misleading version of events. As with KBD, I am also calling for the suspension of Mr Taylor forthwith pending a full investigation into his conduct. 

I did write to Mr Taylor giving him the chance to answer for himself but he has not done so, although I am sure he has referred my letter to you given the serious issues raised. Here is my email of 25th August, 2022:

“Dear Mr Taylor,

THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION

I refer to your letter of 28th April, 2022 concerning the appointment of Kim Bromley Derry (KBD) as Interim CEO at SMBC.

Whistleblowers at SMBC stated that KBD's appointment was a stitch-up with the LGA and that a makeweight candidate with no chance of success was put up against him.

In a FOIA reply Sandwell has now confirmed that KBD was a LGA candidate all along. You mislead me in your letter - deliberately or otherwise - since you stated "Three recruitment agencies had been approached for prospective candidates." You must have been aware of the LGA's role and yet you deliberately, or due to gross negligence, concealed it from me. Why?

May I assume that the LGA were also involved in your own lucrative appointment as Sandwell Assistant Commissioner?”

Additional Concerns

In the FOIA response referred to above the corrupt paid service responded, inter alia, that KBD held a meeting with the then Leader of the Council, Labour Cllr Rajbir Singh (and I imagine you know his story). In an insulting response SMBC say they cannot provide details of the meeting(s) as Singh has left the Council and his diary is unavailable. This is preposterous particularly as he had a full-time taxpayer-funded secretary who keeps an electronic diary. Also Singh is readily contactable, not least through his wife who is a serving Labour Councillor!

Of even greater concern is that KBD says he “cannot remember” when the appointment took place! We have seen in the formal complaint that this guy egregiously failed to keep ANY records in the Imogen Walker affair and now he alleges that he cannot produce records or remember details of a trip which landed him a job at £1,300 a day plus 12p a mile (to travel from London) plus “reasonable expenses”. This is taking the mickey out of the people of Sandwell and the FOIA legal framework - and also needs to be investigated with the original complaint. 

You are aware that there is an outstanding FOIA request with your own Department concerning the appointment of KBD as the Lead Commissioner. Were you aware of his inability to maintain records and his self-declared memory difficulties when you appointed him - again at huge costs to the taxpayer? (It should be remembered that the Secretary of State has also allowed this man to keep his other job as a Director of a major property company whilst raking in public funds.)

Submissions to the Secretary of State

Prior to Sandwell being placed in “special measures” your Department invited submissions on the appropriateness of taking that step. Myself and Darryl Magher submitted a very lengthy document detailing grave concerns about the conduct of the corrupt Council. Two issues (at least) still require urgent attention:

1   xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Surjit Tour xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;

2   In our Submission we pointed out that under the stewardship of the now-disgraced Chief Executive, Jan Britton, corrupt Sandwell were automatically deleting the email and other computerised records of both councillors and employees (including, incredibly, SMBC solicitors) [i.e. when they left]. We say that this was done with deliberate fraudulent intent but, whatever the position, this cannot possibly be an appropriate thing to do. We are seeing that KBD is trying to cheat the system by not keeping records at all, but surely when he was appointed he should have been “tasked” with stopping this deeply corrupt practice? Clearly he has not taken action since the FOIA reply referred to above claims that Rajbir Singh’s records are supposedly unavailable. This requires urgent attention even if (when) the current Commissioners are suspended.

Returning Officer

KBD has also been given the extra payday of being the Sandwell Returning Officer (with Tour as his sidekick).

At the May elections there was an egregious attempt to rig the result of the Tividale Ward where a Labour “victory” of two votes was eventually overturned to a Conservative win of 48 votes. KBD states that this was due to “human error” but that is disputed and he has not, as yet, confirmed what steps he is taking to ensure that this situation does not arise again.

I am calling for KBD’s suspension as a Commissioner but there is also the question if he is a fit and proper person to be the Returning Officer noting (a) his failure to maintain public records; (b) his self-declared memory problems and (c) the debacle at the Tividale Count?

This is important as there is a pending by election in Wednesbury South. Clearly it would be an unsatisfactory situation if KBD is suspended/removed and still the RO!"

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!

**** Phone No: 07470 624207 ****

Email: thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

Facebook: Julian Saunders  

Facebook Group: The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth To Power!

Twitter: Publisher: @CrowMultimedia; Julian Saunders: @SandwellSkidder            

Post:  Jules Saunders, 11 Chelworth Road, Birmingham B38 0BG

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN TROLLED BY DICKHEAD DARREN COOPER DECEASED!

LEGAL NOTICE (Version 3 from 14th February, 2021)

I cannot list every previous mention of individuals referred to in the entirety of this blog. Where I refer to a specific story please follow the supplied hyperlink since this forms legal justification for later comments. Similarly references to “posts passim” and to earlier posts mean any individuals concerned about purported defamatory or otherwise unlawful material must read later posts in the context of earlier posts. Full information can also be supplied within a reasonable time upon application via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

In most cases we try to give the subjects of these blog posts the opportunity to comment on our journalism pre-publication to ensure the accuracy of our work.

Every now and again we make a genuine honest error and get something wrong. If an error in the blog affects you please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com and we shall 

use our best endeavours to publish appropriate corrections forthwith.

We have had to remove the direct comment facility from this blog due to the activity of a West Bromwich woman but we are pleased to receive comments via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com , on Twitter via our publishers @CrowMultimedia or via our dedicated Facebook Group: “The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth to Power!” We are happy to publish any sensible commentary and offer a right of reply where applicable.

If you consider that anything written is defamatory or otherwise unlawful please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com or telephone 07470 624207 forthwith. If your complaint has merit we shall endeavour to make immediate amends.

Skidder Shorts #48 - Tour and Melia Standards Complaint

Most readers will know that in December, 2021 I was assaulted by Labour Cllr Steve Melia outside Oldbury Council House. Please watch this short video of the incident:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G2jjpZzdwrc

This scumbag begged West Midlands Police not to carry on with a prosecution but, unlike with Cllr Piper, the Bent Blues held firm this time. Melia PLEADED GUILTY to the charge of assault at Dudley Mags.

I duly made a Standards Complaint. It is almost impossible to imagine a more open and shut case, but then the Monitoring Officer at the bent Labour Council is Surjit Tour who sees his role not as a "policeman" enforcing codes of conduct but as "Defence Counsel" to errant Labour Councillors. This blog has campaigned for his instant dismissal without compensation but he has now been subverting the rule of law (most notably in the McNally conspiracy) for over FIVE YEARS NOW (at over £100k per annum plus gold-plated pension). A dossier on his conduct is being prepared which you can see at:

https://crowmultimedia.blogspot.com/2021/12/monitoring-monitoring-officer-case-study.html

In the dossier (and elsewhere in this blog) is the history of Tour subverting the standards investigations to exonerate former Labour Leader [sic] Cllr Steve "Squealing" Eling. Part of Tour's alchemy in that case was to appoint "an independent [sic] investigator" at taxpayers' expense.

In the dossier, I have also added my bit of "history" with Linda Clarke who worked under Tour claiming to be Sandwell's Deputy Monitoring Officer and a Solicitor but tried to put the boot in on me as part of the McNally conspiracy - you can also read the details of this under the subscription and legal notice below. Suffice to say for those short of time, Clarke thought McNally's malicious and unlawfully funded claim would destroy me  and so couldn't resist having a dig at me when supposedly dealing with a serious complaint.

A couple of days after Melia's criminal assault I put this post on Twitter contemplating how Tour was going to try and protect "his man" (which it is NOT his job to do):

Guess what - despite the facts being blatantly obvious - Tour has found it necessary to throw taxpayers' money at an "independent investigator" to look into the matter! WTF? Well over 100,000 people saw the original video on Twitter alone and in excess of 98% could see exactly what went on, and were horrified by this POS's actions.

Tour shafted me in the Eling/Melia matter and I missed the chance to take legal action but I am prepared this time. Incredibly, Tour nominated as the "independent expert" one Linda Clarke - late of bent Sandwell - and someone who has abused me in writing. This guy is truly amazing.

Tour backed down and has decided to chuck money at another "independent person". That's how your Council Tax gets spent under bent Labour folks!

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - COMMUNITY NEWS - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!

**** Phone No: 07470 624207 ****

Email: thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

Facebook: Julian Saunders  

Facebook Group: The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth To Power!

Twitter: Publisher: @CrowMultimedia; Julian Saunders: @SandwellSkidder            

Post:  Jules Saunders, 11 Chelworth Road, Birmingham B38 0BG

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN TROLLED BY DICKHEAD DARREN COOPER DECEASED!

LEGAL NOTICE (Version 3 from 14th February, 2021)

I cannot list every previous mention of individuals referred to in the entirety of this blog. Where I refer to a specific story please follow the supplied hyperlink since this forms legal justification for later comments. Similarly references to “posts passim” and to earlier posts mean any individuals concerned about purported defamatory or otherwise unlawful material must read later posts in the context of earlier posts. Full information can also be supplied within a reasonable time upon application via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com

In most cases we try to give the subjects of these blog posts the opportunity to comment on our journalism pre-publication to ensure the accuracy of our work.

Every now and again we make a genuine honest error and get something wrong. If an error in the blog affects you please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com and we shall use our best endeavours to publish appropriate corrections forthwith.

We have had to remove the direct comment facility from this blog due to the activity of a West Bromwich woman but we are pleased to receive comments via email to thesandwellskidder@gmail.com , on Twitter via our publishers @CrowMultimedia or via our dedicated Facebook Group: “The Sandwell Skidder - Speaking Truth to Power!” We are happy to publish any sensible commentary and offer a right of reply where applicable.

If you consider that anything written is defamatory or otherwise unlawful please email thesandwellskidder@gmail.com or telephone 07470 624207 forthwith. If your complaint has merit we shall endeavour to make immediate amends.

Complaint Handling - McNally - Linda Clarke

The unlawful funding and representation of Lisa McNally, Sandwell Council’s Director of Public Health, in a failed legal action which cost the taxpayer in excess of £100,000 is dealt with elsewhere. But there is some overlap here between the two subjects and the dates of communications are relevant here.

On 3rd January, 2021 a formal complaint was submitted to SMBC by Julian Saunders that Lisa McNally was involving herself in political debate and discussion when she was, by law, in a politically restricted post.

Having unlawfully decided to fund and represent McNally in a legal action against Saunders SMBC sent a Protocol Letter of Claim to him on 11th February, 2021.

At the end of February/beginning of March SMBC started a disastrous legal action against Saunders whose Solicitors applied to the High Court to strike out McNally’s malicious action as having no prospects of success. The application was listed for a hearing in London on 21st June, 2021.

At least four Solicitors at SMBC (Tour, Price, Lynch and Maher-Smith) were acting in concert to “support” McNally’s case (as detailed elsewhere and were confident that they would win the case and/or financially ruin Saunders in the process.

On 22nd February, 2021 Linda Clarke, who purports to be a Solicitor, sent the following response to the formal complaint of 3rd January, 2021.

“Dear Mr Saunders,

 

David Stevens has asked me to respond to your formal complaint against Lisa McNally, Sandwell’s Director of Public Health.

 

You begin by making allegations that Ms McNally has breached Regs 6 and 7(i) of the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990.  Your assertion is based upon her Tweet about teachers, school and childcare staff being prioritised in relation to the Covid-19 vaccination programme. As you are aware, in order to fall within those two regulations, the “speaking” or “written work” needs to, “intend to affect public support for a particular party”.  Having reviewed the Tweet in question, I cannot see anything that indicates any intention, either expressly or implied, that meets this criteria.  The Regs have therefore not been breached by Ms McNally.

 

You go on and make further allegations about Ms McNally regularly communicating with “virulent anti-Tory journalists” etc., but you provide no evidence in support of this.  I do not think that it is incumbent on me to respond to such allegations where no evidence has been provided and where it appears to be a malicious and unjustified attempt by you to discredit her.

 

I would further advise you that if you are dissatisfied with this response, please let me know and I will progress it to stage 2 of our complaints procedure.

 

Kind regards

 

Linda”

 

It is highly improbable that Clarke was unaware at this stage of the pending litigation against Saunders. The merits of the actual complaint are immaterial here (and in the High Court McNally stated that whilst she is in a politically restricted post the law does not apply to her personally as she has a “duty” to speak out against what she perceives to be defects in [Tory] Government policy. And so Clarke took the opportunity not only to dismiss the complaint but to be gratuitously offensive in doing so, accusing Saunders of being “malicious” and seeking to “discredit” McNally - two themes of the pending litigation.

 

As with other SMBC lawyers - they do like to insult people and then sign-off “Kind Regards”!

 

I replied to Clarke on 22nd February, 2021, copying in Chief Executive David Stevens (subsequently sacked by SMBC):

 

“I strongly object to the tone of your email. 

 

You have not asked for further evidence. The two journalists are Jane Haynes and George Makin.

 

I strongly object to the words that my complaint is a "malicious and unjustified attempt by you to discredit her.

 

Are those your words or those of the Chief Executive? 

 

Would you care to repeat those words in public?”

 

Bearing in mind that Clarke sent her insults when she must have known legal action was imminent. She was quick to respond on 23rd February, 2021:

 

“Thank you for your email.  I note that you are dissatisfied with the response that I sent you.  As I said, you can request to escalate the Stage Two.  I would advise you that you must specify the reasons for wanting to proceed to Stage Two.  Simply stating that you are unhappy with the response received or just exercising the right to escalate to the next stage are not justified reasons to initiate a Stage Two investigation.

 

Here is the link to the Council’s Complaints Policy to assist you:

https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/downloads/file/3742/comments_complaints_and_compliments_procedure

 

Kind regards

 

Linda”

 

Saunders responded making Clarke’s original offensive tone the subject of a complaint in itself:

 

“I wasn't commenting about the response (yet) I was complaining about your insulting and abusive language.

 

Can we now log that as a formal complaint in its own right please (unless you were simply quoting the Chief Executive in which case please log the complaint about him).”

 

(It was obvious, by this stage, that David Stevens himself was heavily involved in the McNally conspiracy.)

 

The McNally hearing took place on 21st June. SMBC’s unlawfully funded QC was very poor on the day but the conspirators obviously fancied that they would still defeat the strike-out application. Thus Maria Price, one of at least four Solicitor conspirators in the McNally affair but who clearly did not perceive any professional issues in dealing with this matter herself, wrote this on 28th June, 2021 before the Court judgment was given:

 

“This matter was passed to me to review by David Stevens.  I note that you have been allocated a single point of contact but, I will deal with you directly in relation to this matter.

 

You have requested that a formal complaint be made against Linda Walker for her dealing with another complaint that you made regarding a Council Officer, Lisa McNally.

 

You alleged that Linda’s dealing with your complaint used insulting and abusive language when she stated  your complaint was not substantiated with evidence and “appears to be a malicious and unjustified attempt by you to discredit her” (referring to the council office concerned).

 

In considering the complaints procedure, Linda’s findings were clearly in relation to your complaint regarding the Council Officer.  You were provided with an opportunity to appeal the stage one findings but chose not to do so. 

 

The complaints procedure is explicit that “a complaint that has been previously investigated, responded to and concluded” will not be considered under the complaints procedure.

 

That said I have reviewed the correspondence between Linda and Yourself and the language used.

 

I am sorry that you feel that Linda’s correspondence was abusive and insulting. 

 

In relation to whether the language used was abusive I find no evidence to support this assertion.

 

I then considered whether the language used was insulting to you.  Having reviewed the conclusions I can appreciate why they may not be the conclusions that you were seeking but this does not mean that the conclusions were unfounded or insulting in nature.

 

Whilst making no finding in relation to the original allegations you raised I have considered the language that was used by Linda and I find that she was entitled as investigator to find that that the allegations appear to be malicious and unjustified in the absence of any evidence been presented to substantiate them.  As such I will be closing this matter.

 

This now completes my review of this matter and I will not be progressing it any further.

 

Maria Price”

 

Price actually condones the words used by Clarke! There is no way she was in anyway “independent” in dealing with this supposed investigation and she features regularly in the dossier being prepared on her and Surjit Tour at:

 

https://crowmultimedia.blogspot.com/2021/12/monitoring-monitoring-officer-case-study.html

 

On 16th July, 2021 the High Court struck out McNally’s malicious and unlawfully funded. The McNally conspiracy, in which Price herself was directly involved, collapsed. 

 

Once again a supposedly proper investigatory process was improperly handled by Tour’s team due to an ongoing vendetta against Saunders, and infected with bias.