A SENIOR Tory Wirral councillor has come under fire for comments made on his blog about the woman brought in to help the authority deal with its problems.
Council expert Anna Klonowski was asked to investigate concerns about how the council dealt with a former social services whistleblower but uncovered evidence of serious failings in how the authority has been run.
But following a confidential briefing to councillors Tory chief whip Cllr Chris Blakeley was scathing in his assessment of her.
During that briefing, Ms Klonowski had asked councillors to look at a Audit Commission report into Doncaster Council from April 2010 which it described as failing and which also said “the desire to pursue longstanding political antagonisms is being given priority over much-needed improvements to services for the public”.
Describing the consultant on his blog Cllr Blakeley said: “patronising and smug does nor begin to express her demeanour”.
He added: “Talk to [council leader Steve] Foulkes Mrs K, cos I am not listening to your rubbish!”
His comments have been condemned by deputy leader of the council and the Labour group, Cllr Phil Davies, who said concerns raised by Anna Klonowski are “key priorities” for the entire authority.
Cllr Davies said: “I am very disappointed that he used terms like ‘patronising’ and ‘smug’, particularly given it was Cllr Blakeley’s party leader who hired Anna Klonowski in the first place, and Cllr Blakeley is a senior Tory and chief whip of their party.
“One of the key messages is that we have to put political differences aside. I just think the comments do not augur well for all parties in dealing with these issues.”
Ms Klonowski was asked by former leader of the council Jeff Green to investigate the council’s dealings with whistleblower Martin Morton and later expanded her inquiry resulting in a report condemning the council’s corporate governance – how it is run and managed.
That led to an apology from chief executive Jim Wilkie and a pledge from council leader Mr Foulkes to address the issues.
Cllr Davies said he hoped Tory leader Cllr Green “will distance himself from these comments and admonish Cllr Blakeley”.
But Cllr Blakeley said he stood by his comments and insisted the problems faced by the council were of the Labour leadership’s making.
He said: “For her to say we are all to blame, I thought, was outrageous. She was brought in by the last leader of the council because he did not like what had gone on.
“This all happened under Labour.
“We did challenge them. But Phil Davies, Steve Foulkes, the cabinet members then and now need to be held accountable.”
