Having read the full article, I am now somehow less informed on this issue. Jesus Christ, BBC.
this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2023
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Bristol council is currently run by Labour. The West Of England Council Authority (super council covering Bristol and surrounding areas) is also run by Labour.
They advertised a new bus scheme in Bristol run by WECA and the rest of the Bristol council questioned this as it seemed an improper use of funds. The current Bristol mayor, Labour's Marvin Rees, refused to attend the meeting to answer questions about this.
He has prior form on issues like this. But this is one of the first times it makes it out of local Bristol newspapers. He generally dismisses any criticism of him or his governance even going so far to ban journalists from reporting public council meetings.
So they had a meeting and decided "eh, whatever" and then went home?
It cost taxpayers a mindblowing total of £453,000 for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) to part company with its former boss, it can be revealed.
Last month the organisation announced it had agreed a £219,000 severance payoff to chief executive Patricia Greer.
But it has now emerged that the golden handshake was less than half the amount of money it had to fork out over the prolonged saga, which began when Dr Greer began a leave of absence at the end of last November and did not return to work before the settlement on August 31.
On top of this, Weca also paid a staggering £97,000 on legal costs, plus £14,000 towards those of the ex-top officer, as well as nine months' full salary amounting to £123,500 that it was paying her during that period at the same time as it was paying interim chief executive Richard Ennis, who was on even higher wages as an agency worker.
Looks like the paid execs at WECA are at war with the elected representatives. Or at very least a competition to see which group can spend the most of tax payer's money.
The amount of tax payer's money flagrantly wasted in the South West, especially by the Bristol mayor, is staggering. And they have the cheek to cry about not having enough to find basic services. Of course they don't because it's all going into the pockets of these fucks.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) said the advert amounted to "unlawful" political campaigning.
A meeting to discuss possible sanctions with council leaders is due to take place on Thursday.
However, in a letter seen by the BBC, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has described the proceedings as "improper" and will not be taking part.
"I am unconvinced this meeting is lawful and am of the view it is improper," Mr Rees said in the letter.
WECA interim chief executive Richard Ennis raised concerns about the advert in April and removed the bus from public view.
Mr Norris defended himself at the time, saying mayors are "meant to be visible".
The original article contains 166 words, the summary contains 110 words. Saved 34%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!