Sunderland Labour blogs ... stop laughing!

Sunderland Labour Councillors' blogs
... good value or another complete waste of taxpayers money?

Nice to see our Sunderland Labour councillors have their own blogs too ... Councillor, and Deputy Mayor Leslie Scott wrote "Members of the Labour Group took a decision considered over three months to devote a percentage of their allowances to promote Labour's achievements in Sunderland and to establish individual websites and blogs for its councillors."

After all, in this new computer age where the public are ditching the newspaper to get information online it is important that anyone wishing to see if their councillor is active and value for money can do so at the click of a button.

It does trouble me however, that it took them three months to consider this.

It also concerns me that, as they wish to promote Labour's achievements in Sunderland we can rule out the following ... the loss-making Port, the Vaux site, the parking shambles, the abandoned and derelict estates, the state of the City centre, the illegal speed humps... need I go on

Let's see how our money is being spent...after all, they must have something to celebrate ... they spend enough on the free hospitality every year at the AirShow, unless that's where they drown their sorrows that they have singlehandedly and collectively failed the people of Sunderland.

Here are the statistics...

Cabinet members blogs:

Leader of the Council, Councillor Bob Symond's blog ... 1 posting on 4th September 2006
Councillor Bryan Charlton's blog... 1 post on 11th October 2006 saying he was off to the gym. Is he still there? Is he in Rocky 6?
Councillor Dave Allen's blog ... 1 posting on 27th September 2006
Councillor Joseph Lawson's blog ... 0 posts (perhaps too busy investigating the failures of his portfolio)
Councillor Mel Speding's blog ... 2 posts He writes: "Hopefully, I can master the bloggers guide and produce a blog that is informative and useful. I intend to update regularly and hope to give an insight into both my role as a ward councillor and as a cabinet member."
Councillor Paul Watson's blog ... 2 posts, last one 4th October.
Councillor Kath Rolph's blog ... 17 posts. The only one in the Cabinet who seems to be doing something.
Councillor H Trueman's blog ... 1 post 11th December
Councillor Pat Smith's blog ... 0 posts
Councillor Eric Timmin's blog ... 1 post 11th December

Here is the full list of Labour Councillors...now don't laugh at the number of posts.

However, fear of technology cannot be used an excuse 'cos some are dab hands at using the laptop. Read how here

Councillor Tommy Foster ... 0 posts
Councillor Leslie Mann ... 0 posts
Councillor Bob Heron ... 0 posts
Councillor Joan Carthy ... 0 posts
Councillor Juliana Heron ... 0 posts
Councillor Elizabeth Gibson ... 0 posts
Councillor Mary Smith ... 0 posts
Councillor Tommy Martin ... 1 post
Councillor David Tate ... 0 posts
Councillor Florence Anderson ... 0 posts

Councillor James Blackburn ... ... 1 post
Councillor Dennis Richardson ... 0 posts
Councillor Joe Lawson ... 0 posts
Councillor Kath Rolph ... 17 posts
Councillor Colin Anderson ... 0 posts
Councillor Celia Gofton ... 0 posts
Councillor Paul Watson ... 2 posts
Councillor Amy Wilson ... 0 posts
Councillor Paul Stewart ... 0 posts
Councillor Richard Bell ... 0 posts

Councillor Bryan Charlton ... 1 post
Councillor Ross Wares ... 0 posts
Councillor Ronald Bainbridge ... 0 posts
Councillor Eileen Handy ... 0 posts
Councillor David Allen ... 1 post
Councillor David Forbes ... 0 posts
Councillor James Scott ... 0 posts
Councillor Mel Speding ... 2 posts
Councillor Anne Hall ... 0 posts
Councillor John Scott ... 1 post

Councillor Phil Tye ... 1 post
Councillor Peter Gibson ... 0 posts
Councillor Pat Smith ... 0 posts
Councillor Norma Wright ... 0 posts
Councillor Maureen Ambrose ... 0 posts
Councillor Margaret Higgins ...admits she would rather talk to people in person
Councillor Tom Wright ... 0 posts
Councillor Patricia Bates ... 0 posts
Councillor Susan Watson ... 1 post
Councillor Leslie Scott ... 9 posts

Councillor Stuart Porthouse ... 13 posts
Councillor Denis Whalen ... 0 posts
Councillor Eric Timmins ... 1 post
Councillor Derek Sleightholme ... 0 posts
Councillor Neil MacKnight ... 1 post
Councillor Bryan Williams ... 0 posts
Councillor Peter Young ... 0 posts
Councillor Jill Fletcher ... 0 posts
Councillor James Walker ... 0 posts
Councillor Peter Walker ... 0 posts

Councillor Graeme Miller ... 0 posts
Councillor Linda Williams ... 0 posts
Councillor Joan Gray ... 4 posts
Councillor Jean Stephenson ... 0 posts
Councillor Bill Stephenson ... 0 posts
Councillor Harry Trueman ... 1 post

So there you have it. Councillor Sidaway quit the Labour Party in protest at the enforced 3% levy on councillors allowances to be paid into Labour Party funds here
Councillor Symonds however appearing on Newsnight said the cash was a "political contribution to the group" which was needed to pay for it's work and that 56 others were happy to pay up.

Well, Mr. Symonds, a total of 54 posts in the 4 months by 56 Councillors since the site was set up in September 2006. The Sunderland ratepaying public must be really grateful.

Let some sleuth ask how much of their allowances went on the sites and then we can work out what perhaps the Guiness Book of Records will confirm will be the most expensive blog posts ever.