Toad money has hopped off
A POLITICAL row over 100 fibreglass model toads shows no sign of fizzling out.
As first revealed on the Mail's website, Hull City Council leader Councillor Carl Minns yesterday pulled the plug on £200,000 worth of funding from the authority for the project.
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Councillor Steve Brady.
The decision was made just 48 hours after it was championed by Rick Welton, one of his own cabinet members.
Cllr Minns said he could not justify the use of taxpayers' money for the project, which is part of a city festival later this summer marking the 25th anniversary of the death of poet Philip Larkin.
The original decision approving the funding was made by a council officer.
But opposition Labour leader Councillor Steve Brady has accused Cllr Minns of trying to put the blame for the public backlash over the idea on the officer.
"I think it's absolutely shameful that Cllr MInns is not taking responsibility for this.
"His own cabinet member was totally supportive of the project when he was interviewed about it on Friday and now they are trying to pass the buck onto an officer who cannot defend himself in public.
"I think Cllr Minns should hang his head in shame."
Cllr Minns said he had been unaware of the decision record authorising the funding until he started taking calls about it while attending the Liberal Democrats' spring conference at Birmingham over the weekend.
He also defended Cllr Welton's role in the controversy after it was revealed he is a director of the company set up to run the Larkin25 festival.
"I am confident there has been no conflict of interest on Rick's behalf, he did not take any part in the decision-making process for this funding," he added.
46 Comments
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by louise, Beverley
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 11:50AM
“E, I would be happy for my money to go towards a project like this! It's not like it costs you any extra is it??”
by Toad Fancier, Leeds
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 8:40AM
“the similar penguins project in Liverpool brought in a million visitors. Well done Hull, duh!”
by E, Hull
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:55AM
“Louise,
If you Beverley people would like to PAY for them ............”
by Louise, Beverley
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 10:48PM
“I think it's really short-sighted of Hull to pull this. It would have been a great pull to the city. Why aim to be a city of culture, when any plans for anything cultural are binned??
A boost in visitors to Hull would be a boost to the economy!”
by Alf Hart, Springbank, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 10:44PM
“Good riddnace to the barmy idea of toads, and "celebrating" some ponsy old poet no one but the arty-farty snooty set gives a damn about.”
by Steffan Kuntz, east jorvikshire
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:50PM
“Minns probably stopped the toad project because of the initial reactionary fury it caused to many HDM readers who are incapable of maintaining any sense of perspective. Had it gone ahead it could have caused serious damage to the lib dems at the election.
This is because many people are so bizarrely delusional that they get more angry with politicians for wasting the odd bit of money here and there than they are for the most brutal of atrocities.
Even if Minns spends 2 million on a giant haddock to display at the docks, that still won't tempt me to vote for one of the pro-war parties.
As for the HDM deleting comments relating to ERYC - The HDM is owned by a fully paid up Tory oligarch... do the math”
by Hull Lad, Liverpool
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:46PM
“Liverpool Libs Wouldn't have backtracked.Maybe they have more bottle than your Libs and maybe that's why they became the city of culture and you never made the list.It's called holding your nerve or is it the fear of suffering negative campaigning which the Hull Libs have been doing for years ??You only reap what you sow”
by pete, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 6:49PM
“Of course it's those Labour bosses who can't put a budget together, who if they had taken part in the democracy would have been able to comment on the toads when they came up in the spend. but obviously didn't know where to look.”
by Chris, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 6:41PM
“Phil,
I thought Labour's guildhall bosses was talking about the Labour bosses who stop Labour Councillors attending meeetings and failing to take part in running this city therefore claiming their expenses and allowances under false pretences.”
by voter, kingswood
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 6:05PM
“Anybody with any sense will see right through what Middlesboro Minns is trying to do.You don't need a brain to see that.Mind you.You don't need a brain to be a Lib Dem just a brass neck !!!!”