| Topic: | www.richmond-online.co.uk | |
| Posted by: | David Giles | |
| Date/Time: | 01/02/05 19:30:00 |
| Paul, If you read Mark Evans' post again you will see that he alleged that Richmond Council is trying to stop "people in the public sector from contributing to" to community websites. That may or may not be true but that is not what the "Private Eye" article on page 11 of the issue dated 21st January 2005 says.The "Private Eye" article does not accuse Tony Arbour or Richmond Council of trying to stop public sector employees from contributing to community websites. I can assure you that I have no objection to people in the public sector contributing to community websites. In fact, I welcome their participation. I do however believe that they should declare their interests when they are writing about something which relates to their work (as Chris Calvi-Freeman does) and that they should declare their political affiliation if they are councillors or employed in a political capacity by any political party. I have read the "Private Eye" article in question. It describes what is said to be an antagonistic and confrontational situation between one Richmond Council official, Alex Aiken, and www.richmond-online.co.uk.. The "Private Eye" article alleges that Mr Aiken has contacted some employers regarding the participation of their employees in the website. I have no way of knowing whether or not these allegations are true. Mr Aiken may have legitimate grounds for complaint if, for example, some employees of Richmond Council have, in posting on the website, breached their contracts of employment,disclosed confidential information, broken the law concerning the involvement of local government officals in party politics within the borough in which they are employed,made postings which are in conflict with their positions as employees of Richmond Council or used Richmond Council's resources to perform "voluntary work" for the community website during within working hours when they are being paid to work for Richmond Council. So far we have heard only one side of the story. I would be interested in hearing what Richmond Council has to say. |