Alex McKinstry

Councillors could get £1,450 a more in their basic allowance Lincolnshire County Councillors could receive a 13 per cent bump in their allowances from April.

Oh look, Reform UK-led Lincolnshire council looking to increase Councillor allowance by 14%…

Lincolnshire County Councillors could receive bump in their allowances - by £1,450 for basic rate

Yep - including leaking confidential information (the details of the complainant). I liked this on a previous Echo piece though. The paving of a way to remove code of conduct cheats from office, such as Dove, Adams and Farr.

Disgusting that the Echo's allowed him 6 paragraphs full of outright lies, whereas he had every opportunity to give this story to the Standards Committee and chose not to (and to breach his declaration of office instead). Equally disgusting that he remains on the Council's corporate parenting board.

Up for that definitely. Also, going to include "100% AI-free" in all my local history books, Facebook rants, statements to public meetings, etc etc.

I also heard from a well-placed source that whenever a local councillor (since sacked) opened one of her fake Twitter accounts, and immediately started tweeting about Vikki Slade and toilets, she'd complain to her Tory colleagues: "How do they always know it's me?"

Exclusive: former Southwark housing chief Leo Pollak broke council’s code of conduct – but no action to be taken Former Southwark housing chief Leo Pollak broke the council's code of conduct by running an anonymous pro-development Twitter account -

.... Here's the precedent that was alluded to. Cllr Pollak did at least resign from Cabinet when exposed. (Though an FOI later established that he trousered a £4,881 "loss of office payment"!) southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwa...

I remember it well, 8/10/24 and the issue of councillors running fake social media accounts was raised. If proved, such accounts fall within the Code of Conduct if posting about Council business; the fakery could be seen as an aggravating factor. "Chrissy Lawrence" deleted her account soon after ...

Amazed that Adams hasn't been criminally prosecuted, frankly.

Indeed, this was my argument when Cllr Cameron Adams claimed his bullying tweets & fraudulent paedophilia allegations against colleagues arose from his "personal account" - if it's to do with councillors or Council business, it's covered by the Code of Conduct. Mullaney case, 2009.

Meanwhile - good to see this warning included for the first time in the budget papers. Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act makes it a criminal offence to vote in a budget meeting if harbouring 2 months' worth of council tax debts or more. Wonder what prompted this reminder?

Pure madness - Poole and Bournemouth "shadow town councils" (consisting of all current BCP councillors, co-opted against their will), scheduled to meet MINUTES before the vital budget meeting of the 24th. Cllrs Gillett, Rampton & Logan are on both town councils so have to be in 2 meetings at once.

Desperate stuff from 23 years ago ... The MP who she quotes was Annette Brooke, who was definitely not Leader of Poole Borough Council in 2003 (that was Brian Clements). The 2003 Tory victory ushered in the Twin Sails Bridge ... Looking forward to Cllr Butt & Bagwell's alternative budget on the 24th

I note that the former #Conservative Councillor who was at the time a major player in the special measures, scandals & barely legal #Tory Mellor & Broadhead Administration has a very selective memory when it comes giving budgetary history lessons.

Julie Bagwell just sat there when nominated and said she wouldn't do it.

She's also been lashing out at the Lib Dems and Greens for trying to get Cllrs Butt and Bagwell to actually sit on committees & earn their allowances on Tuesday night. Butt made an indignant speech about how she WILL sit on Planning, then withdrew as soon as another candidate came forward.

Tory officer Joanne Keeling has now appropriated said petition and has linked to it on one of her Facebook pages, where suddenly it's all about her ... Meanwhile, the "BCP Conservative" FB page is trying to recruit town councillors, despite her crusade (& petition) against town councils.

Beesley was at the back of the room pulling histrionic faces but didn't contradict Mike Cox's version of events. He's got a petition up now against council tax rises: BIG fail, as petitions can't be presented to Budget Council meetings - rule 4D 13.1 ... He should know this as ex-Chair of A & G!

Yeah, looks like Tory leader John Beesley lied to the Echo, just like he lied on his declaration of office. The administration accepted a provisional offer of Govt financial support on 5/12/25; all cllrs, including Beesley, were informed 3 working days later, 1 month before formal offer submitted.

Cabinet 11 February 2026 2.30pm | BCP Council YouTube video by BCP Council

Just caught up with the #BCP #Council Cabinet meeting held this afternoon & there was a very interesting question from resident @alexmckinstry.bsky.social & equally interesting response(s) from Cllr @mikefcox.bsky.social.
Press Leaks & deliberate misinterpretations ??
www.youtube.com/live/83VGlBk...

Peter Mandelson issues secret notice demanding press leave him alone – read in full LATE on Friday evening, this notice was circulated from representatives of Peter Mandelson, via press regulator IPSO and the Press Association news…

So glad The National have published this - A1 journalism.

Mandelson blatantly misusing the Editors' Code here. IPSO caving in to protect a prima facie criminal and a traitor.

This passes the public interest test in Clause 3 faster than the speed of light.

www.thenational.scot/news/2583451...

I was looking back at some of her town council posts on FB ... Including the one where she agreed "100%" with a resident that it was OK to leak confidential documents (and of course the town council info DID get leaked). Terrifying to think that she was on Audit and Governance at the time.

Farr and Adams join an excrementitious clique of BCP members, small in number and largely ostracised, who treat the Code of Conduct with contempt and have even breached their declarations of office (whereby they committed to follow the Code). Beesley, Dove, Butt and Bagwell are of the same stripe.

BCP Reform leader, Cllr Duane Farr, showed disrespect to councillors and Council staff; tried to compromise the impartiality of officers; tried to intimidate officers conducting an investigation; and brought the Council into disrepute. Pages 159-167 refer. democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/documents/g6...

Both BCP Reform councillors breached the Code of Conduct, then failed to comply with sanctions prescribed for them by the Standards Committee. EIGHT complaints upheld against Cllr Cameron Adams, including five complaints of bullying. Council to "note" their misconduct on 10 February.

That would also be a stunning legacy.

Lord Mandelson, this morning: "I wish I was being investigated by BCP Council's Audit and Governance Committee."

Just noticed that #Reform have a new recruitment ad. Apologies to #Methodists

Poole People Party now down to four members, meaning Cllr Fizz Rice will lose her group leader's allowance.

Looks like Cllr Mark Howell's quit the Poole People Party and is going it alone, rather than joining Bartlett and Rampton's "Independents" group. Counting him as a class of his own, there are now ELEVEN political groupings on BCP Council. democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/mgMemberInde...

Can’t be long before Christopher “object” Chope follows his mate Robert Jenrick and defects to Reform