Brockington: the home of anti-social criminals

In January this year the top 13 earners were making a combined £1,255,699 annually.

They are:

• Chief Executive – £145,000

• Director of Corporate Services – £130,000

• Director for People’s Services (Director of Adult Social Services; Director of Children’s Services) – £120,000

• Director for Places and Communities – £120,000

• Director of Public Health £97,478

• Asst. Director to Children and Young People’s Provider Services – £78,231

• Asst. Director to People’s Services Commissioning – £78,231

• Asst. Director to Economic, Environmental and Cultural Services – £76,176

• Asst. Director to Place Based Commissioning – £76,176

• Asst. Director to Homes and Community Services – £76,176

• Asst. Director of Law, Governance and Resilience (Monitoring Officer) – £90,000

• Asst. Director People, Policy and Partnerships – £78,231

• Chief Officer, Finance and Commercial Services – £90,000

Following on from our call that councillors should stop claiming allowances, we think the top earners at the council should take a substantial pay cut. They are not employed in a for-profit enterprise, they are public servants, paid by us to deliver services to us.

The people in these jobs that are continuing to take a wage so offensive as this are nothing short of anti-social.

Their greed hurts the rest of Herefordshire.

The lovely Gravity fanzine did an interview with us. Here’s what was said.

When was Hereford Heckler founded? Who by, what form did it take, and what was your motivation in starting it?

We started the Heckler in 2008 as a bi-monthly, paper-only newsletter. Up until last year it was published by the Hereford Solidarity League as a way of giving a radical left-wing/anarchist viewpoint on local issues. We wanted to help explain revolutionary ideas in a practical way to people who would otherwise not come into contact with them.

What’s an average day in the production of the Hereford Heckler?

We don’t have any fancy offices or 9.00am daily editorial meetings; we all have day jobs and families that have to take priority so it’s a case of finding some spare time to research a little, see what’s making the news and write a story on things we think are relevant and important. These days we publish predominantly online so there is no production as such: once a story is written and images found then we can upload the content and publish to the world instantly.

How would you describe your political viewpoint?

We see ourselves as anarchists. We’d like to see a world organised without leaders, with everyone participating in decision making.

We’d like to see an international, united working class movement overthrow the capitalist economic system and replace it with one that gave everyone everything they needed, and where everyone contributed what they were able to. No more ruling class living off the efforts of everyone else.

Most importantly we’d like to see everyone free, equal and cooperating, not competing, with each other.

Do you believe in the potential of political change through literature? 

Only to a certain extent. Literature and ideas can influence people, but it’s only action that will achieve change. That’s what we hope to inspire.

What about the role of protest and organisation in giving societies a voice?

In our present society protest acts as a pressure valve that lets people believe they have a voice. We have the freedom to express our discontent (or support) but government is not obliged to take any notice. The mass protests around the 2003 Iraq war are a case in point.

Protest should not be confused with having an actual hand in decision making. Sometimes we get lucky, sometimes we don’t. Calling for reforms in the here and now is important but the real fight must be for revolution and establishing a new, free society based on justice and equality.

How do you distribute? Who is your readership?

Up until our February 2013 issue we predominantly distributed a paper newsletter door-to-door and on the street in Hereford, with a circulation of 3,000 to 5,000.

Because of the method of distribution our readership would be the average man/woman in the street, so to speak. Our internet readership has a higher proportion of ‘the converted’ but still has a majority of people who are following us because they’ve already had the paper through their doors and want to keep up with what we’re saying.

I’m assuming you’re rather disenchanted with the current political structure, when do you become aware of this?

I’d say ‘disenchanted’ would suggest that we somehow see a glimmer of hope in the present system; we don’t. It’s not a system we believe in and not one that we want to participate in or try and improve.

What does anarchy mean to you?

Anarchism to us is a far-reaching political, economic and social idea. We’d see it as an extension of genuine socialism, that has at its heart the spirit of cooperation and equality. The anarchist spin on this is that this proposed society should be organised by the people working together and not by governments.

How do you think outsiders view anarchists? Where does this idea come from?

We’re either viewed as terrorists or rebellious youths, the latter having a lot to do with a certain punk act from the 70s that sang about destroying everything. Yes we want destruction. But destruction for us is a creative process; you have to get rid of the bad before you can start building the good.

What we have noticed since we’ve started the Heckler though is that, locally, anarchists are now seen by a lot of people as political activists … although still disagreed with by most.

What the hell is happening to Britain and what can we do as individuals?

What’s happening in Britain is the same that’s happening around the world, just at a different, more localised speed. Up until the 70s the working class in this country had developed a considerable amount of collective power and often flexed its economic muscle. Various governments didn’t like this. From the late 70s into the 80s the unions, the working class movement – demanding merely fairness and a helping hand ‘from cradle to grave’ – were kicked, battered and beaten (literally in many cases). For the last couple of decades we’ve been wheezing on the floor. The recent economic crises have provided the ruling class the excuse they need to give us the final kick of death.

If we’re to stop any of this we must realise our interests lie in fighting together, not fighting each other. No working class people in jobs fighting with working class people on benefits. No working class people born in the UK fighting with working class people born outside the UK.

An individual can change nothing. Only one working class movement – united – can have the strength to fight back.

What’s your favourite slogan?

I’m loving it.

What’s your favourite biscuit? Do you dunk?

A fruit shortcake. We are currently engaged in a dunking boycott in solidarity with members of the International Amalgamated Union of Dunking Operatives and Allied Trades, who are involved in a bitter dispute fighting for the rights and respects they truly deserve. Victory to the dunkers!

Is there any escape from the Spectacle?

Until the 60s there wasn’t, no. Thankfully contact lenses were becoming commercially available.

Where do you think the Heckler could go next as a publication? Are you into staying local or do you think there’s space for more national critiques?

There’s always the possibility of branching out to somewhere as far away as … Hay-on-Wye! But as we’re routed in the local areas as individuals we doubt we’d have as much success elsewhere. There are similar projects in other towns and cities around the UK that we support. We also do publish national and international news where we feel the story is relevant or potentially inspirational to Herefordshire.

I’ve read articles about illegal hunting, corporate greed, and government corruption.  What is your most loathed form of sleaze?

Politicians and councillors believing they have the right to decide things on our behalf just because they won a popularity contest. That’s pretty sleazy in our books.

Is war ever justified?

Wars between nations: never. Wars between classes: always.

Who would you put against the wall when the revolution comes?

Right now, Iain Duncan Smith and David Cameron for their collusion in attacking the living standards of the poor.

In all honesty though, come the revolution, we’d hope despicable scum like this get a bit of a slap and then get put to work doing something socially useful, like everyone else has been doing for years.

Is the revolution going to come?

Yes. Just after Coronation Street next Thursday so we’ve heard.

Do you like Che Guevara?

Don’t know, we’ve never met him.

What are your thoughts on Marx’s criticisms of capitalism (in fewer than thirty words)?

We’d disagree with his view that capitalism is a necessary stage of human development. Pointlessly though as we’re already living under it. His belief in government was bollocks too.

What’s your favourite book?

‘The Adventures of Tintin: Breaking Free’

Who is your greatest inspiration?

Gareth Gates.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Hereford, of course.

Who would you have round for dinner in that theoretical afterlife dinner party scenario that people do? And what would you cook?

We’d invite Emma Goldman and Jesus round for a hearty veggie sausage, mash and gravy, served with a lot of real Herefordshire cider. Amen.

Gravity

Commenting on last month’s makeover of the bull statue in the Hereford Journal this week, Cllr Glenda Vaughan-Powell said: “I warned of the possibility of it [the statue] being vandalised … it’s a shame that my words came right.”

Vandalised? Really? It had a few stickers put on the hooves and a bit of jewellery hung off its head.

Back at the end of April the Hereford Times ran a caption competition for the made-over bull and city police tweeted “Betty the Bull looking beautiful” after she had been – as they described it – “decorated”.

Cllr Vaughan-Powell needs to stop being such a grump.

We’re glad you asked, John: it’s time all councillors put their money where their mouths are and stop claiming their allowances.

In the financial year of 2011–2012 Cllr John Jarvis claimed a whopping £41,787.16 in allowances!

Cllr Olwyn Barnett claimed £18,729.58

Cllr Adrian Blackshaw (farmer and involved with three other businesses) claimed £21,694.49

Cllr Patricia Morgan (farmer, landowner and director of Countrywide Farmers) claimed £19,965.26

Cllr Roger Phillips (farmer and landowner) claimed £30,088.95

Cllr Philip Price (farmer, landowner and internet consultant) claimed £20,918.55

Cllr Brian Wilcox (second job with employment tribunal service) claimed £19,743.18

All parties are in on it.

It’s Our Country councillors were elected as the party that would clean up local politics. Most of them have jobs aside from their council duties but all are still claiming an allowance.

Take Cllr Liz Chave for example. In June last year she registered two other separate jobs. Her husband is employed as a vicar and they both live in a church-owned house free of charge. Yet despite clearly not needing to claim a penny in 2011–2012 she claimed an allowance of £6,978.53.

Her fellow party councillor Jim Kenyon owns and runs both the Victory pub and Hereford Brewery. He also owns land in Breinton. In 2011–2012 he claimed £7,112.55.

Without exception all 58 councillors serving in the years 2011–2012 claimed allowances, whether they needed to or not.

If Cllr John Jarvis (owner of a bed and breakfast business) wants ideas for savings we suggest he gives up his various allowances.

And not just him. We throw down the gauntlet to all councillors to publicly declare they will no longer be claiming an allowance from Herefordshire Council.

If times are so bad that we’re about to engage in wholesale book-burning then we think councillors should forgo money they clearly do not need.

Council staff are fighting cuts to the library service

Responding to the threat of council redundancies, Herefordshire Unison has said it believes 400 FTEs will be lost over the next 18 months, with a further 100 jobs going after that.

The union, which represents many council workers, says that if plans are approved at Thursday’s cabinet meeting it will mean the “wholesale closure of departments or vastly reduced services”.

In a bulletin released to members yesterday they said there was huge support to resist cuts and job losses.

“Members have taken part in a consultative ballot, which has shown 80% of members willing to engage in some form of industrial action campaign.

“On Friday 10th May we therefore registered a collective dispute with Herefordshire Council. In Unison’s view, even if Cabinet approves the paper, they should not proceed to implement the proposed changes to your T&Cs, or to consult on any redundancies, until this collective dispute is heard.”

Unison are launching an industrial, political and legal campaign against the proposals. and are calling on the support of all members, their families, user groups and friends.

Meanwhile a petition to save Herefordshire’s libraries has this week clocked up more than 2,500 signatures.

Campaigners are opposing a 75% cut funding and the closure of all but one of the county’s libraries.

Two Facebook pages have been set up to fight cuts to Herefordshire’s libraries and museums.

Show your support

16th May from 12.30pm – picket of Herefordshire Council cabinet meeting  Brockington, Hafod Road, Hereford

18th May, 10am–12pm – rally and petitioning  High Town, Hereford

24th May, 9am onwards – mass picket of full Herefordshire Council meeting  Shire Hall, Hereford

But in Brighton they are fighting back.

Since Wednesday refuse workers have taken unofficial strike action and occupied the canteen at their depot in response to council pay plans that could see some lose as much as £4,000 a year.

As the dispute closes on its third day bins remain uncollected with rubbish piling high in the streets.

The refuse workers have the support of their union, with the GMB this morning beginning the process of balloting hundreds of binmen and women for official strike action.

Though the workers have seemed mostly content with their union’s response there was also a predominant feeling that waiting is futile.

Refuse collector Runa explained that the wildcat action is to “show the management that we’re not scared, and that we are willing to do whatever it takes”.

Heidi, a street cleaner in the city, was clear that her and her colleagues “want to strike now, and we’re not going to back down”.

She went on, “I can see it being a long strike, we’re not going to give in, us workers, not this time”.

The ruling Green Party – in partnership with their Tory counterparts – are pushing a ‘pay modernisation’ agenda, which could result in the council sacking all staff facing the proposed changes and re-employing them on a worse contract if they refuse to accept the new terms.

There is anger at the Green Party, who have voted for cuts despite running on a platform opposed to all cuts. One street cleaner labeled the Greens “fucking Tories on bikes”, to mass cheers from colleagues.

Brighton shows that, when in power, the Greens are really no different to the other parties.

In 2009, the last time these staff members faced an assault on their conditions, sustained strike action was effective and the council leadership backed down. The precedent has been set that staff will fight and win and it is clear that prolonged action is on the table until proposals to cut staff pay are thrown away once and for all.

More than 300 low-paid workers will be hardest hit by the changes.

The council is expected to bring in scab labour on Monday to help clear the city’s rubbish.

He wasn’t chosen by the people but by a powerful inner circle at a private meeting.

We call this a dictatorship.

Yesterday Cllr Tony Johnson became the new leader of Herefordshire.

Johnson wasn’t chosen by the people of this county but by a powerful group of Conservative councillors at a private meeting.

His appointment is expected to be approved at the full council meeting on 24th May where, again, only councillors will have a say – the balance of power lying firmly with the ruling Conservative group.

We call this democracy.

What’s the difference?

“Hi everyone, I’m JP, as advertised on the board. This is a sad song.”

And so it was. Poignant, finger picked melodic indie-inflected folk music that sets a scene and tells a story. The heartfelt chorus pronounces “It’s too late, I’ve missed the boat, should have made an effort, but I sat here alone”.

JP is a sensitive performer with a confidence that evidences years of practice. He has a strong and characteristic voice in both the musical and literary senses of the word: it sounds great and the narratives are enchanting. His style is comparable to, but not indebted to, Graham Coxon in his quieter moments.

Half way through “Bus stop crisis” he has a temperamental moment: “Fuck it, I can’t be bothered with that one. I’ve just had a seven hour shift and I’m tired.”

For the last song he enquires if anyone likes New Order. After only a couple of affirmative responses he says sardonically, “well you’ll enjoy this one”. He then goes on to transform the glacial Bizarre Love Triangle into a perfectly forlorn folk anthem. It is a touching finale.

A grudging encore is pulled off with aplomb. The wittily observed chorus goes: “Some people say travelling turns normal people into arseholes, trust me it does.”

This comes from someone with experience of such people, who has a knack for turning an everyday human observation into a cracking tune.

At the end I went to thank him for the gig and he felt it wasn’t a good set. He was too cold and “nervous for some reason”. As a musician, JP is held back by an admirable but limiting perfectionism and modesty. If I owned the radio he would be on heavy rotation instead of the vacuous dross that Radio 1 continues to pedal. Maybe he will make his mark on the superior Radio 6 Music yet; he is an artist who deserves to be heard by a wider audience.

Dave Mahoney

Unison members and supporters attended a mass meeting at Hereford’s Town Hall to discuss redundancy plans and industrial action.

A unanimous vote passed to move to collective industrial dispute status over the proposed job losses and cuts.

Unison rep Steve Grist told the audience that members are now under extreme pressure to give up years of hard won rights.

“This is not about self-interest. Everyone in this room is here to provide a service to the public. Very few councillors, very few MPs have an interest in those services,” he said.

The meeting was told of plans for demonstrations on both Saturday 18th May in Hereford city centre and Friday 24th May at the full council meeting.

Another vote proposing resistance to the cuts plan was also unanimously passed.

A collective dispute will be made with the council next week before a consultative ballot on industrial action is taken later in the month.

These cuts will not just hit council staff, they will affect the lives of everyone in the county and it is vitally important that this dispute is widened out far beyond Unison members.

All council employees, local trade unionists and workplace activists of all colours, not to mention the ordinary people of Herefordshire, must unite and make this fight their own.

The Hereford Heckler will stand shoulder to shoulder with council staff and in total support to a plan of resistance.

The site comprises a total of 40 units, with contracts signed for nine and advanced negotiations taking place over a further three.

This comes despite Hereford Futures’ best efforts to lure city centre shops away from their existing premises.

It looks increasing like both the new site and the old High Town area will both be under-occupied.

This week’s revelation of further cuts and a 30% cut to the council’s workforce shows that the ESG project has been a catastrophic waste of public money.

Millions of pounds have been ploughed into the scheme, even after the 2008 financial crash, double-dip recession and increasing popularity of internet shopping. All of which should’ve sounded serious alarm bells for the council—as it was for economists and financial analysts across the world.

Anyone with half a brain cell high up within Herefordshire Council should’ve predicted the cuts they were going to have to impose due to recession.

The choice would’ve been clear: save money for the coming troubles to help support vital public services or blow it all on a consumerist, political point-scoring, vanity project!

Yet again the council have fucked up—and it’s us that’s suffering the consequences.

The Old Market website—with no hint of irony—proudly boasts the development is “the only new shopping centre opening in 2014 in the UK”. There’s a reason for that.

So now as the council decides it can’t afford anything apart from Alistair Neill’s fat salary and the paper to print its council tax bills on, it will soon be dangling its shiny new plaything in front of our eyes, in what must be the biggest ever ‘fuck you’ seen in the history of modern Hereford.