Social Services ££Contracts££, Cllr. Tomlinson, and Age UK - Question: All Legit? Waiting for Answers. Will there ever be any Answers? What is Going on Here?
10 September 2024
Dear Cllr Tomlinson, Re: Perceived Conflict of Interests I first contacted you as a recently elected councilor on 10 July 2024 and mentioned that I was having some problems with SMBC Social Services. I did not elaborate then and have not since. I have not asked you to intervene with or even discuss those issues and will not do so because there is no purpose in you being directly involved, and they are not relevant to the following. The inquiries I have made to you are crucial as they relate to borough wide administrative matters regarding general policies, strategy, and management within L.A.'s Social Services. Your role in addressing the reluctance—arguably the refusal—of SMBC officers to respond to you and the perfectly relevant questions I asked you to put to its officers has been ineffective. This is evidenced by the emails published so far, which also include a request that you make inquiries with the Social Services Portfolio Holder. You are now a public representative and can also be expected to attract public criticism and compliments some which may well be published in the media. It's important to remember that the public has the right to express their opinions, and as an elected officer of a Political Party, the Conservatives, in a democratic state, you should respect and consider these opinions. So far as I am concerned, in the short time you have been elected, executing your public duties regarding the public accountability of Solihull Social Services has been woeful. It is my perception that there is a conflict of interests in your position as a Director of Age Concern Solihull Ltd, whose registered office is The Core Central Library Building, Homer Road, Solihull, West Midlands, England, B91 3RG. Of course, this is an SMBC property. The nature of your business is. ‘Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled.’ The company appears to operate under the banner of Age U.K. Solihull. These social work activities relate to contracts between SMBC Social Services and a company in which you are a director. Indeed, there is a perception that these contacts are awarded to you by the very individuals about whom I have expressed concerns. In that light is little wonder that you need to ‘stay on the right side’ of Social Service officers, who are as a matter of fact your paymasters. This company, of which you are a director and chair, has been awarded by SMBC various contracts valued at £ multiple hundreds of thousands per year. Indeed, it may be perceived that you hold a monopoly on that particular sector of the service to SMBC. Be that as it may, your company's existence wholly relies on the contracts awarded to you by SMBC. You and your partner have been directors of many companies over the last few years, ranging from those struck off to dissolved to being in (current) receivership and liquidated. The perception of a conflict of interest is that you have not registered your position as a Director of Age Concern Solihull Ltd on the Register of Interests dated 14 May 2024 and in section 3 of the registration form, you have stated 'None.' to the following. |
Contracts ££££££££ Millions
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3. Contracts: Any contract which is made between me or my partner
(or a firm or body corporate in which I or my partner is a partner or a director, or in the securities of which I or my partner has a beneficial interest) and the Council a) under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed, and b) which has not been fully discharged: Description of Contract "None" |
Upon Millions ££££££££££££
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It is important to note that there is a difference between perception and accusation of a conflict of interests, and it is crucial that you address the issue of public (or otherwise) perception as a matter of some urgency. Indeed, the urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, as transparency is a key aspect of maintaining public trust and confidence in not just your role but also the integrity of your fellow elected members. Your actions significantly impact public trust in you and your peers in this Local Government.
In the circumstances I look forward to receiving an irrefutable rebuttal of the perception of a conflict of interests in your capacity as Solihull Councilor for Dorridge and Hockley Heath vs a Director of Age Concern Solihull Limited - by this time next week. |