The Final Chapter? - on this particular topic !  
After studying the BJPC 2008/09 Income and expenditure returns, it appears that the Sports Ground expenditure was £22,695, however this figure does NOT appear to include - the Groundsmen's costs, General maintenance, Administration costs including a very hefty Insurance bill and Capital expenditure - these do not seem to be monitored as a direct cost. If these costs are included , then the cost of running the Poplars is near £42,500< £45,000 However which ever figure is used ( £22,696 or £ 42.500), the result is still a high cost to bear for the listed income of only £8880, particularly as the BJPC has recently only budgeted for an improvement in the income of the Poplars in the year 2009/10 of just £50 BAH PATHETIC ! The report by the designated Internal Accountant, on the findings of the internal audit states “Sports ground .Following last years report the council has formulated a fixed pricing list for use of the facilities and also implemented a diary and booking system. We have carried out a simple test on the system and the results indicate that the system is robust and no errors were identified “ BAH - HUMBUG! - . On the 7th July, I personally looked at the Poplars booking system/records in the Diary at the BJ Parish Councils offices and was most surprised to find it lacked so much information, as to be scant and next to useless, and quite honestly in my opinion, most unbecoming of any administration responsible for handling such a high and significant value of our local Tax Payers contributions. FOR the following reasons- If, and when at the time of making a manual booking entry in the BJPC’s everyday diary, 1) The entry is completed without stating the name of the individual booking person, 2) Without showing a relevant Booking Reference number ( for later X -referencing to an Invoice). 3) Without stating the actual activity booked. 4) Without booking an anticipated time/duration period. 5) Without a quoted cost. 6) Without issuing a numbered invoice/receipt for deposit received. 7) Without the later confirmation that the activity actually booked, really did occurred at the place and within the time frame actually booked, before a final X- referenced invoice is issued. These “SEVEN without s” must result in the overall booking system being just about as watertight as a sieve - with the possibility of - inadvertent, unintentional/intentional omissions which are difficult if not impossible to be checked and balanced by X -referencing or later inspections How can the system be robust and no errors identified if information entered in the diary does not have all the necessary “checks and balances” to verify every entry ?. What about an entry which may have been inadvertently omitted or overlooked - How can this be possibly picked up ? If the system is “robust” as stated, then I must have overlooked or missed details of vital and significant importance, during my 2 hour inspection of the present BJPC accounting system - If this is so and the checks and balances are actually in place and I have missed them - I will certainly unreservedly and sincerely apologise and recant. In the meantime is the BJPC’s propaganda - re the "ROBUST" comment really justified ? ------------------------------------------
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B J Online is the project which was created and developed to assist in improving communication within our community. From the outset we have had the support and directional input of an unofficial, totally independent Steering Committee - comprising several local residents. Initially the major concern of this committee was "the obvious divide which existed between the BJPC and the Community". Over the last 6 months we have attempted, somewhat unsuccessfully to tease, tempt, cajole, debate and challenge the administration into total engagement with all our residents. BJ Online has always provided Forums for individuals to express their opinions, concerns and suggestions (these Forums are not censored in any form, other than to remove obscene, colour class or creed bigotry if and when it occurs - Thankfully this has not occurred to date). To illustrate our own and the concern of the community’s “Why do our Councillors keep leaving” together with “The low usage and high cost of the Poplars” are the two Forum topics which independent “Google” Statistics consistently confirm as the most popular To illustrate our position further, recently we succeeded with the aid of the Freedom of Information Act in obtaining the copies of the resignations letters of the ex Councillors we now refer to as the “BJ THREE” - which we subsequently posted online. The copies of the BJ THREE resignation letters illustrate precisely why we considered our online posting justified our statement asking for greater engagement and relevant information from the village administration, we can now“rest our case“. WHY you may say? . Our answer is quite simple .. .. there is no possibility of BJ Online continuing with postings which cannot possibly emphasis or illustrate the problems within our community, with so much authority as that given by those with the inside knowledge and experience, stated with such clarity as is in the "BJ Three" resignation letters. - BJ THREE Resignation letters Never the less, this week, after posting copies of the B J THREE Resignation letters, we have received an email and a Forum contribution, quite separately and individually from ex Councillors - both complaining of the unbalance in the our postings. We completely refute these accusations, on the basis that the information and views posted are based on that which is within the public domain. We suggest that all other information which is not published or lack substantiating facts is and can only be speculative and not as the result of detailed scrutiny, which we prefer. However there is a most interesting development of late, for BJ Online has recently certainly experienced “incidents” which raise the distinct suspicion that “skulduggery” of one sort or another is being introduced against us - “nuff said” Readers/visitors take a look at the latest posting/analysis by Julie ON within our Forum .. .. .. .. "I hope that the following facts from the Council’s records will nail, once and for all, the continuing arguments about how much the Poplars is used, and by whom.
How many football teams does the Junior Football Club have? Records show that in 2008/9 the Junior Football Club had one senior team, 6 junior teams, 3 mini-teams, 1 group of 5/6 year olds
How much is the Poplars used?
Records show the following occasions of usage. It is not always possible to establish from the bookings records whether the booking is for the pavilion or the sports field or both, how long the booking is for, how many pitches are involved in an individual booking, or whether a booking was cancelled. Consequently this listing may not be completely accurate but I am advised that no other records are available, so it is the best data available.
Archery 6.
Bowls 29. The Clerk has advised that the bookings records for the bowls may not be accurate.
Cricket 20.
Junior Cricket 8.
Senior Football 18.
Junior Football 23.
Gala 7.
Village Plan 3.
Parish Council 12.
Private bookings 18.
There was activity of some kind at the Poplars on 120 days during the year. Activities ranged from short committee meetings in the pavilion to full days using the pavilion and substantial parts of the sports field. .. .. " BJ Online say it is a pity that the BJPC office system does not record the actual time/activity, period and facility of each individual booking. It is therefore quite relevant to once again emphasise the "The Good Councillor’s Guide "-Value for money which is "It is essential that the council is seen to provide value for money. If you are a member of a smaller council, then the principles of Best Value, known as the four Cs still apply. 1)Challenge existing services and expenditure (Should we be doing It'? Can we do it better?) 2)Compete with other providers (Could they do It better?); 3)Compare with other councils (How do they do it?); 4)Consult the users of parish council services and the wider community (How do they want us to do it?)" -------------------------------
An Open Letter to ALL our community Having spent several months, suggesting the BJPC engage more tangibly with the community, We now post a suggestion which can inevitably introduce genuine engagement throughout the community We at BJOnline have already previously suggested that the BJPC organise Quarterly “Open Focus Group” meetings - scheduled for Saturday mornings in the VILLAGE HALL- inviting ( and not just by an announcement on the village Notice Board or somewhere listed in a website) but with individual invitations to attend, contribute and join in, to all groups and the community of the village eg The WI, Mothers Union, Youth Leaders, Residents Association, the BJ Preservation Society, BJJFC, Senior Citizens Groups, BJ Players , The Scouts and Guides, The BJU3A, Local History Society etc etc., we could go on and on ( we apologise for the brevity of this list but we could go on for ages without getting to the crux of the subject ). There is so much wealth and experience, lateral thinking and fresh ideas within our society, yet ongoing administrations appear to overlook and be hesitant, and more often than not neglect, engagement with this potential - so please come on BJPC - organise 4 Focus groups a year on a Saturday morning in the Village Hall with a community/independent Chairman, which will enable the public to attend, debate and highlight points of their concern of the community at large. We would also add that in a Previous posting comment on BJ Online’s recent meeting with the BTCV Operations Area Manager, produced an explanation of the ethos of the BJ Old School site, grounds etc. ( contained in the earlier posting) The Area Manager - Darren York also kindly agreed to provide for the BJ community access to the outside area of the grounds, to sit, relax and pass the time of day in the open air , in the village centre to using the seat already sited there. The work entailed in removing debris and ensuring the existing pathway was cleared of weed, growth and obstruction, enabled this access has now been completed by the BTCV. providing the access kindly agreed for our community to pass the time of day, chat with others in a quiet area, rest and sit, within a pleasant natural environment. We should thank Darren York for this engagement with our community and hope we can find volunteers in the village who may be able to devote a couple of hours a month to maintain the work already undertaken - maybe the BJPC could even donate one of their gardeners for a couple of hours per month ? we have already sent them an e mail on the subject and the kind offer made by the BTCV, - after all its the community who will benefit So How About It? ---------
“Explaining the Un-explained” The posting of the resignation letters of the BJ THREE , brought to a conclusion our own investigation into the “behind the doors working of the BJPC”. Our investigation was initially stimulated by the unexplained official decline by the BJPC ( dated 3rd February) to our offer, to provide unlimited, online space, with their own content administrated (verbatim) within BJ Online - at no cost or obligation together with a dedicated and publicised section within the existing BJ Online website. This offer was given, hopefully to initiate improved the Councils communication with our community - a subject we had been advocating the BJPC adopt during the previous period of 6 months via the BJ BLOG During the period following our offer, at a Council meeting on dated March 9 - The following minute appears "Parish Council Website“ - Following a brief update from Cll Cluff It was resolved to support the proposal for the development of the Website" In a later minute at that same meeting the additional minute appears "Burton Joyce On-line: Council considered the letter** and supporting documentattion in detail and were generally impressed by the way the site had developed since they had first looked at it. the potential benefits to the community were discussed and the Council agreed in principle to discussing reciprocal website links between the forthcoming Council Website and that of Burton Joyce Online. It was resolved that Mr Alvey be invited to give a presentation to full Council at its meeting on the 7th April"**The "letter" referred to in this minute was the correspondence sent by ourselves complaining of the “decline” without reason by the BJPC (to our earlier offer to present in person our case for mutual cooperation). Following that particular March 9th BJPC meeting, the "premature birth" of the “official” BJPC website appeared online - prior to officailly informing the situation to the full BJPC meeting dated the 7thApril . The meeting at which we were invited to "present" to the full Council. It was these “incidents” together with the “huge cost of running the Poplars”, which raised questions in our minds and resulted in our investigations and questioning into many events and procedures within the BJPC - culminating in our posting of the "B J THREE" resignation letters - the copies we obtained under the "Freedom of Information Act" . We consider that these ex BJPC letters of resignation have vindicated the research and investigations we have undertaken over the last few months and has contributed to, and influenced the BJPC improving their communications with our community. -------------- We are now developing the subjects for which BJ Online was initially created. (However, we should add that we will not hesitate in revisiting our investigative studies if the situation warrants it ) Our ongoing agenda now is to concentrate on the current subjects of “Village Characters”, News Desk, Guest Contributions, “Local Business Profiles“, Local Attractions, Community Affairs, “Minority Groups“, Local and National Gossip, “ Discussion Forums,” Local Events etc., --------------------
A Fresh and New Approach by the BJPC For approx 12 months now, via our earlier Blogs and later via this website we have continuously pressed the BJPC to begin communicating with the Community, improving internal procedures and cost controls, the development of better individual relationships within the Council and incorporating more substance and detailed minutes of Committee meetings plus an equitable share of the Councils finances for the Mature and Senior Silent Majority. We are pleased to see that the communication ( via the BJPC website ) is at last permanently established, with ever improved content and permanently maintained. Yet we will continue to ask for less inclusion of personal propaganda and more speedier postings of Council minutes . It is also stated in recent posting in the BJPC website, that at last, attention/action is being attributed to reducing the “cost” of running the Poplars. We are also very pleased to learn of the imminent introduction of three new Councillors, bringing back a full Council contingent. Hopefully this will introduce further advantages and views of a more balance and alternative ( lateral ) thinking.. We have no doubt, that this apparent change in attitude and direction by the BJPC has been influenced greatly by our own constant "Challenge and Scrutinize "publicity, and yet even more so by the earlier and excellent work whilst in their positions as members of the BJPC by the “B J THREE” - before their individual and personal choice to resign
Hopefully this situation at the BJPC will be maintained and developed further , for it will enable us here at BJ Online to post the more social and less confrontational content we initially envisaged when developing this project for the "all particpation, all inclusive - open community", to interest and create enjoyment for all ages and groups BeeJay
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