They had their reasons for choosing the memorial they did and their wishes should have been respected. It looks like yet another occasion when Faversham and the interests of the local inhabitants - have been short changed. sectors, We can now reveal the full results from today's exciting local election. His early career was spent as a teacher and, later, as a teacher trainer. In this conversation. The building was owned and run by the Council. Children Act Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! Health and This money is currently sitting in the separate War Memorial account maintained by Bensteds. Institute of Personnel and Development, Fellow of the 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. costs, He is also a Visiting Lecturer with the Praxis Centre, Cranfield School of Management, where he works to help managers develop their core capabilities. In another email Cosgrove had told Westlake: Think this links with the Independents. The hallmark of Cosgroves is serving perfectly cooked sausages, bacon and lasagna. Its squatters rights application would not be decided for months. He had given evidence at the Inspector's public enquiry about Footpath ZF5 in 2014. . Family Page after page, the objections piled up: Only seven favourable comments were left, one of which was penned by former town councillor and mayor, Bensteds Charity chairman and prominent local freemason, Bro Andrew Osborne. Mike Cosgrove. It was mainly used as council offices, with rooms carved up into cubicles by plasterboard and ceilings lowered to house lighting and cables. The cross, repositioned in the centre of the garden, would be flanked by bulky concrete plinths bearing the names of dead servicemen, with empty space left for future conflicts. The cost of building was 166,000, leaving a surplus of 40,000. On first glance, it looks more like an investment trust. Asked by Jackie Westlake if she has seen the Daily Mail story, Emma says: I didn't think it would be covered in the Daily Mail but maybe locally!. Now hopefully the balance will be redressed., It was an interesting birthday, albeit alarming, said John. Another cash injection was announced: from Bensteds Charities. 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. Coincidentally, a Bro Andrew Spiers is a member of Bro Tom Gates masonic lodge, the Manor of Faversham. The attics, where their servants would have slept, have barely been touched in over 100 years. 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. The War Memorial project was driven by five prominent local Conservatives, all of whom were Trustees of Bensteds. The Bensteds Chairman, Andrew Osborne, dismisses any criticism of the War Memorial. In response to one email requesting specific details about environmental impact reports, stonework and tenders, he swerved: Thank you for your email and interest in this project that may have come following the Remembrance display of crosses. The duty solicitor summed it up, telling John Wellard, this is a load of f***ing bollocks!. The secretive Faversham War Memorial Project Group, led by then-Swale councillor Mike Cosgrove, was comprised chiefly of Swale councillors and officers. wrote Best As of 2018, 41,102 was set aside for future funding projects. New trustees were appointed and there was a reaffirmation of the original purpose of the charity the relief of the aged and those in distress and sickness, the provision of social welfare and educational facilities for local inhabitants. He was a Tutor and Tutor Counsellor for the Open University Business School from 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. SBC contributed five years of successionally smaller grants to give TACT time to get it restored and established. And, as one of the largest halls in Kent, it keeps Faversham in the running for big community events, such as the Swale Heritage Fair. Users, Updating complete Where did the rest of the 150,000 budget come from, let alone the 25,000 reserved for a future attempt to move the memorial? The sum was more than the entire years fundraising efforts; money donated by local people to help by medical equipment and supplies. The books current whereabouts are unknown but the Faversham Eye has photographs of every page. KCC is looking to develop the site for housing at a massive profit. but there is still room to expand The Alexander Centre. Yet more bizarre behaviour by the police, as defamation is a civil, not criminal, matter. Child Protection: It can be spent as the Trustees wish. an In 2017 and 2018, when the charity started making substantial donations to the War Memorial it spent 10,214 more than it earned in income. Architect Nigel Lee Evans oversaw the structural refurbishments, planning permissions and acoustics work for the Gatefield Hall. He has published Until a group of local councillors decided they knew better. emphasis (Social Services Strategic Planning). practice of Not so much democracy in actionmore yelling in Selling. How much more? We asked David Simmons which of these objectives allowed the charity to subsidise the building of a war memorial. The project boasted the support of Faversham Town Councilunsurprisingly, since Cosgrove, Simmons and Walker were and are also Faversham town councillors, as were members Trevor Payne and Tom Gates. Colin Sharpe worked at the East Kent Packers specialising in fruit. And the people were not impressed. So, without any evidence linking him to the posters and envelopes, they decided to have pensioner John Wellard arrested. Unpopular from the outset, the scheme was widely viewed as a vanity project. Mike has over 20 years experience as a management consultant, including 10 years working with not-for- profit The history of the project (as detailed in previous issues of the, The irony is that they did not need to spend this money. At the time, talk of 'brown envelopes' was rife. The current value of the Bensteds investments is now 1,523,993. Eight years ago, however, a group of local people began tidying the site, planting trees and fruit bushes, seeds and bulbs. From 1978 - 1988 he was a Senior Lecturer (later a Principal Lecturer) in Management at the Business School of the University of Glamorgan. 2001 (MNW), Wrote Think Best Value: a Sir Sidney, a pioneering vascular surgeon, played billiards with the most prominent men in Faversham (he added a billiards room to the side of the house). Healthcare Management, Member of the In Protection Development Again, the response could not have been clearer. Isleworth Crown Court jailed for him for 20 years. The application went to appeal, the charity won and planning permission was granted in May 1991. 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. In an email to Jackie Westlake, Mike Cosgrove makes further comments about John Wellard and other members of the public, Faversham Creek Trust and Independent candidates in the imminent elections including Sue Akhurst and the late Brenda Chester, wrongly accusing them all of 'disrupting public meetings'. She is a Visiting Lecturer at Nottingham University. However, the fact remains that had this been an independent transaction, this future change of use should have been reflected in the price. The police then started to search the house, even though it does not belong to John Wellard. At the time of going to press, he is pursuing his application. Andrew Osborne, whose father had been a chaplain at the old peoples home challenged this, pointing out to the Charity Commission that the site was governed by the original trust deed from 1835. But in one sense they were neighbours: They all lived next door to each other. . Exactly what that refinement entailed remains unclear. recruitment and selection, performance management, together with serious incident enquiries. Ouch. Not all members were councillors or council employees however. agreed solutions. in organisations. recently 'privatised'. . Then everything changed. Swales Graeme Tuff replied he hadnt seen the plans, despite being a key member of Cosgroves committee. John Wellard was then told he would have to go to the police station. The councillors then met informally and decided that the satirical posters were a criminal matter, that John Wellard was responsible and should be prosecuted. Its official purposes are: To mobilise, encourage, foster and maintain the interest of the public in the patients and the support of the work of Faversham Cottage Hospital and community health centres by means of voluntary services.. By early 2016, the projected cost was revised yet again, to 150,000. And Sir Sidney and Lady Alexanders upstairs rooms are now offices for small businesses, start-ups and charities. 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. Or the fact that their efforts left Swale nothing to do besides emptying bins. . The people had another say in September 2016, when Cosgroves committee tried to get planning permission for what it called its substantially modified plans. Of professional 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. Swale Borough Council Faversham's representatives. the development completion of the main manual, wrote a "brief case Music has returned to The Alexander Centre. The only letters in support came from Swales own officers and three neighbours. According to Simmons, the war memorial committee of which he was vice-chairman asked for more than 5,000. His clients include the National Assembly for Wales, Health Authorities, NHS Trusts, General Practices, the Independent Health Sector, Local Government and private individuals. 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. The key issue was now the garden and, in particular, the concrete plinths. of social in conjunction with Mid Glamorgan Careers of the scheme. Chair, Community Yet oddly, Cosgroves committee were told only 60 comments were received in total. for, and The Alexander Centre supports other community ventures for example, providing admin and booking support for the Assembly Rooms for free, to help it get established as a venue. A sudden and miraculous conversion appears to have turned former Conservative Faversham councillor Mike Cosgrove into a born-again environmentalist. The case law on harassment is clear. That helps keeps its hire and rental fees affordable. This restriction was put in place so that it could meet part of our charitable objects to support the interests of patients in Faversham Cottage Hospital., Horrified at the new memorials disproportionate dimensions and brutalist appearance, some wrote to the. Families were separated, the food was dreadful and in Andover it was reported that inhabitants starved to death. But little was known about the secret machinations behind it. There is no charge of collective harassment in English law. It has returned to its entertaining roots, hosting weddings, parties, jazz evenings and gigs, as well as fairs and workshops. Sue Timney pronounced it a good example of mid-century modern Danish-influenced design and recommended stylish neutral tones of paint. People rarely sit in the garden now. negotiation. Faversham Politics Bess. Horrified at the new memorials disproportionate dimensions and brutalist appearance, some wrote to the Faversham News calling it an eyesore and a Stalinistic abortion. For now, plans to dismantle and relocate the memorial had been abandoned. The following year, they gave 8,420 in grants, but put aside an extra 20,000 for future projects. The most recent leader of the council Andrew Bowles retained his seat on Boughton and Courtenay ward. They were in need of repair but were mainly intact. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? He is co-author of: Analysis of On the morning of his 71st birthday. contracted to us; sometimes we have contracted to them. Inspector, Social Services Inspectorate Wales. of Man Children and The four officers who had already left had taken the key for the police van and everyone had to wait for it to be returned. By the end of 2015, Bensteds had also paid out 1,820 in consultancy fees from its war memorial fund. He has areas, 2000 NCVCCO/The Countryside Agency (JDW), Researched and Gates, was also a Kent county councillor, longstanding local freemason and president of the Faversham Royal British Legion branch. 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. We can only imagine what the Faversham community of 1922 who voted to give money raised for their war memorial to the hospital would have made of trustees doing the exact reverse a century later. identification of unit Which begs the question: if there was insufficient evidence to charge John Wellard five days after his arrest, what reasonable grounds were there to arrest him in the first place and on his birthday? manual on negotiation skills for careers staff 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. John Wellards quote, borrowed from the Pythons, No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! appears in print everywhere alongside the mocked-up satirical posters, one featuring notoriously publicity-friendly councillor Mike Cosgrove riding a toy donkey to his next photo opportunity. Feasibility/development studies: Children and Mike Cosgrove - former Faversham Town Councillor (Tory) Councillor Mark Dance - Councillor on Kent County Council, based in Whitstable (Tory) Cindy Davis - former Faversham Town Councillor (Tory) Tom Gates - former Faversham Town Councillor (Tory) Councillor Ben J Martin - current Faversham Town Councillor (Liberal Democrat) If you take a seven year view then once you strip out the money for the War Memorial, the charity has given just over 9,000 a year to other local charities. Organisations, 2000 (MNW, with Keith Fletcher), Researched and . British cuisine is served at this cafe. 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. Fortunately, an eagle-eyed council official rescued it from a skip. To be fair, the gardens future upkeep is unlikely to overstretch public finances. When it was owned by the Council there were fewer than ten full or part-time jobs in the building. Cosgrove and Swales legal department had been talking to the NHS with the aim of transferring ownership. In our defence, we would like to point out that, in the interests of accuracy, we have tried to contact Mr Cosgrove on many occasions requesting all manner of information. 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: . command structure; Of best value; Of the theory and Switzerland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ireland. The War Memorials Trust, far from showering the project with grant cash, opposed it completely, explaining The primary function of the garden through its association with the hospital should be respected, and warning that moving the memorial cross was likely to damage it. (current, with Keith Other members included local journalist Mark Gardner of the, Plans were drawn up with the help of Faversham-based FDA architects, showing a garden laid out in an eye shape. 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