Children and The councillors then met informally and decided that the satirical posters were a criminal matter, that John Wellard was responsible and should be prosecuted. No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, least of all Kent Police it seems. Arriving to lay a wreath alongside other veterans organisations, the Royal Air Forces Association discovered they werent invited, a snub reportedly compounded by some regrettable conduct ill-befitting a ceremony of remembrance. Gates, was also a Kent county councillor, longstanding local freemason and president of the Faversham Royal British Legion branch. He asked Hilary Riva and a number of others to get involved. Deplorable or not, such reactions were far from unusual. The anticipated Heritage Lottery Fund grant was declined but Favershams Bensteds Charity gifted more cash. In fact he wouldnt answer any questions about his project. Mike Cosgrove Digital Partner Support Manager at the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Kingston upon Hull, England Metropolitan Area City Health Care Partnership CIC, +2. Despite the towns near-total hostility to the application, Swales planning case officer Andrew Spiers recommended approval. By Andy Capon As the government's roadmap for an end to lock down gathers pace The Spire has been speaking with Faversham residents about how it affected them, and how they are looking forward to 'normality' as rules are eased. I asked for any communications regarding my arrest but I wasn't expecting such abundance of emails, said John Wellard. More worried about Duchy of Cornwall's plan to build 2500 houses on grade 1 and 2 agrucultural land at Faversham." Trending. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), was announced earlier on in the day as the new MP. And the Barley Mow gift shop has had to leave Court Street temporarily while repairs are carried out. Wheelchair users frequently visited and enjoyed the old garden without any problems. We asked Mike Cosgrove but he declined to answer. Head of commissioning and customer contact Dave Thomas wrote: We require you to cease any further voluntary work at the site.. After WW1 Faversham people honoured the dead by spending money collected for a memorial on improving their local hospital. The cash mountain increased by 144,073 between 2013 and 2018, from 783,267 to 925,340. As of 2018, 41,102 was set aside for future funding projects. View the profiles of people named Mike Cosgrove. Workshops and By 2012, SBC no longer needed such a large presence in Faversham. Kent Police spent the next four months trying to forensically match John Wellards handwriting with a satirical Christmas card, which had been sent to a friend, Sue Akhurst. - 1993. In February, after failing to persuade the War Memorials Trust to about turn, Cosgrove and committee changed tack. The balance, around 427,000 is the accumulated profits. Yes, you did read that correctly. Without further consultation, work started in March. He is a particular task Has a drive to Shripshire been Mr Cosgroves Road to Damascus? . But over time the garden, once used to grow veg for hospital patients, became neglected and overgrown. The sum was more than the entire years fundraising efforts; money donated by local people to help by medical equipment and supplies. The plan was first submitted to the Local Plan forum of the . He was resident in the property and joined the Faversham Society. In what looks like spite, Swale rejected them both. Opportunity: Developing Practice through Training of Man Children and The case law on harassment is clear. local government . According to their 2018 accounts, which are publicly available on the Charity Commission website, they had investments worth just short of 1 million, yet over the last seven years they have averaged less than 14,000 a year in charitable grants. . the client. He is an accomplished risk and operations leader experienced in leading strategic initiatives that reduce cost, enhance operations >and . What are the odds? The original endowment has doubled in value over thirty years, all the dividends have been taken out and the fund currently produces a rate of 3.86 percent a year. Against the wishes of many Faversham people, councillors were aggressively pushing a deeply unpopular Neighbourhood Plan allowing development of sensitive creekside sites. The Alexander Centre rents out offices and is considering renovating the attics to provide more office space. Westlake forwarded the email to other 'involved parties' councillors Michael Cosgrove, Nigel Kay and Trevor Payne. Excluding the War Memorial, Bensteds has given an average of 21 percent of its annual income to other local applicants between 2013 and 2018. Following But Cosgrove and his band of public servants seemed determined to force it through. In January 2017, Swale Borough Council ordered the volunteers to down tools so council contractors Blenwood Ltd could take over maintenance. Safeguard Children 1999, In 2018, this figure was 62,770 having grown from 28,443 in 2013. child protection. to you In 2014, the Faversham War Memorial Project Group met in the Mayors Parlour. Aside from the risk that such a donation might deter people from giving in future, spending charity funds on the wrong purposes is a serious matter. of the scheme. From 1978 - 1988 he was a Senior Lecturer (later a Principal Lecturer) in Management at the Business School of the University of Glamorgan. within a Children's Services Plan; family conferences in By 2015 the schemes initial estimated 80,000 cost had crept up to 120,000. Kingdom as well as in France, Morocco, Italy, Denmark, The Member of the On any one day, you might find up to around 40 people working here. Internal documents (available here) recently obtained from Faversham Town Council, under Data Protection legislation, reveal the council's inner workings and the extraordinary behaviour of the Kent Police. Lady Alexander was probably the closest thing Faversham had to a great Edwardian hostess. portfolio. contracted to us; sometimes we have contracted to them. It's nice to see the outcome of a lot of hard work we have done in this ward.". costs, When challenged, the officer said he did not need a search warrant as he had made an arrest. Instead youre obliged to face a grandiose monument to arrogance, a self-important symbol of contempt for the community. Hilary ran The Alexander Centre on SBC's behalf for a couple of years, to learn what the issues were and to put together a business plan. The anticipated Heritage Lottery Fund grant was declined but Faversham's Bensted's Charity gifted more cash. So, without any evidence linking him to the posters and envelopes, they decided to have pensioner John Wellard arrested. The people had another say in September 2016, when Cosgroves committee tried to get planning permission for what it called its substantially modified plans. Later the same morning, PC Emma Willson emails Jackie Westlake to say the police had insufficient evidence to take this matter to court.. Swale Borough Council contractors (and sometimes with the help of volunteers) are employed to maintain the garden in good condition, he wrote in the statement made on 21 October 2016. agendas and The attics, where their servants would have slept, have barely been touched in over 100 years. And Sir Sidney and Lady Alexanders upstairs rooms are now offices for small businesses, start-ups and charities. What rankles with the Bensteds Trustees is this: KCC sold a chunk of the land to themselves in a rising market at a rate of 45,112 a hectare. This fuzzy, informal, unofficial status meant Cosgroves war memorial committee could remain largely exempt from scrutiny while still enjoying council funding, support staff and the use of council premises. current), Wrote Meeting the Value As Chairman of Bensteds, Andrew Osborne says, quite rightly, that although the charity could spend the money, morally it must be spent on War Memorial projects. These included 2,500 to the Bowls Club, 4,000 to Age UK, 1,500 to Faversham Town Football Club, 500 to the guides, 300 to the Sea Cadets and 1,000 to Magna Carta Educational Workshops, 500 to the Friends of Westbrook and Stonebridge Pond and 200 to an individual. The Trust added baffles to the high ceiling, so the sound is now sorted. They had something grander and more military in mind, even if it meant tearing up the garden and moving the Grade II-listed cross. They included a number asking questions and seeking clarification, some who opposed the plans in total, some whose opposition was based on misconceptions and a majority of supportive and positive comments. Updated Child Then everything changed. within a Between 2013 and 2018, it spent 46,744 on management fees to Lloyds to look after its cash and investments. has been extended for a further year to include a There is no provision in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), which allows police officers to search a house for a charge which does not exist. Ouch. As the unrefined public consultation and failed planning application had amply demonstrated, most local residents wished to see no such thing. There is no charge of collective harassment in English law. His arrest, in March 2015, followed the appearance in the town of a number of satirical posters lampooning local councillors and brown envelopes containing photocopies of Venezuelan currency. He is co-author of: Analysis of The hallmark of Cosgroves is serving perfectly cooked sausages, bacon and lasagna. environments. amongst policy makers and Faversham MP Helen Whately said, "I am especially looking forward to life returning to . According to Swale, its councillors were all involved in personal capacity. to the Curb Pilots playing at the Hop Festival. Country Child! Meeting in September, councillors Tom Gates and Mike Cosgrove agreed to write to Bensted's trustees - which included Tom Gates and Mike Cosgrove - thanking themselves for their own generosity. The memorial, a modest cross to commemorate local men who fell in the First World War, was placed at the corner of the Cottage Hospitals garden on Stone Street. manual on negotiation skills for careers staff Towards the end of 2017, the Friends of Faversham Cottage Hospital gave 5000 to the project. areas, 2000 NCVCCO/The Countryside Agency (JDW), Researched and Filled with colour, it attracted visitors and wildlife. . By the end of 2015, Bensteds had also paid out 1,820 in consultancy fees from its war memorial fund. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users people with learning disabilities. PC Willson's emails also refer to a report from councillor Mike Cosgrove of 'an incident regarding Mr Wellard approaching him in Court Street and waiving (sic) in his face'. Viridor put in 20,000, almost 33,000 was given by Bensteds Charity, 5,000 came from funds raised for the Cottage Hospital, Shepherd Neame pumped in another 5,000 and the local curious handshake contingent paid 1,250 for one of the benches. In the three years before the project, the charity gave 22,820 in small grants. We must not let this continue.. . Protection Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. rural Colin Sharpe bought Ardens Cottage in Abbey Street. Cosgroves intentions were equally murky. In February 2018, Faversham brewery Shepherd Neame donated 5,000 the project. Summary. Mike has over 20 years experience as a management consultant, including 10 years working with not-for- profit organisations employing people with severe disabilities. Not all members were councillors or council employees however. A The money should be invested and the charity can then spend the investment income. The War Memorial project was driven by five prominent local Conservatives, all of whom were Trustees of Bensteds. With the story rapidly going global, Faversham Town Clerk Jackie Westlake circulates an email containing a link to the Daily Mail story to Faversham's conservative councillors and Labour councillor Trevor Payne, advising them not to comment. Bensteds charity was set up to help local residents. Cosgrove and Swales legal department had been talking to the NHS with the aim of transferring ownership. Austere, unwelcoming and almost always empty, neighbours call it the Graveyard of Stone Street. Please do get in touch, Mike. When KCC briefly had control of Bensteds charity they sold a chunk of the Kiln Court land to themselves at what now looks suspiciously like a knock down price. for children in rural areas to increase awareness But little was known about the secret machinations behind it. Institute of Management Consultants, Member of the Bensteds argue that KCC has a moral obligation to share some of that with the charity, to be spent in accordance with the wishes of the original trust deed in 1835. British cuisine is served at this cafe. Praised by Cosgrove for his first-rate excellent press liaison support, Gardners PR efforts resulted in favourable local newspaper coverage. Mike Cosgrove is known for Alien Ant Farm: Movies (2001), Alien Ant Farm: Smooth Criminal (2001) and Dystopia Tonight with John Poveromo (2021). This was delivered to the wrong address and somehow ended up with Jackie Westlake. It bought the building from Swale for 1, taking on responsibility for all repairs and liabilities. By the early 1980s, KCC assumed they owned the site. Peter Binnie, a wedding photographer, was appointed project manager at chairman Cosgroves suggestion. We have been overwhelmed by the heartwarming response from many residents across Faversham.. The night that the police decided to take no further action against John Wellard, Councillor (now Mayor) Trevor Abram emailed Nigel Kay saying: there is also a constant daily diatribe of acrimonious accusations against the actions of the Council in social media, which allowed to continue unchallenged could easily cost any of us our seats on May 7. in organisations. Despite the Python-esque aspects to the behaviour of the council and police, the subtext is sinister and leaves a lot of serious questions unanswered., The night that the police decided to take no further action against John Wellard, Councillor (now Mayor) Trevor Abram emailed Nigel Kay saying: . The three years before the project, the officer said he did need... 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