Alex McKinstry
@alexmckinstry.bsky.social
Bournemouth and Christchurch historian; sometime Private Eye contributor. Helped overthrow a corrupt Tory administration (local government) in 2023.
Even a government department being obliged to promote firms like this is dodgy as hell in my view.
October 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Even a government department being obliged to promote firms like this is dodgy as hell in my view.
Interesting to hear how Mellor's refusal to raise council tax in 2022-3 caused ongoing problems including MHCLG saying "Don't ask us for extra help, you could have raised council tax and you didn't ..." Also, atmosphere so much better without Beesley (on hols) and Butt (kicked off the committee).
October 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Interesting to hear how Mellor's refusal to raise council tax in 2022-3 caused ongoing problems including MHCLG saying "Don't ask us for extra help, you could have raised council tax and you didn't ..." Also, atmosphere so much better without Beesley (on hols) and Butt (kicked off the committee).
I remember delivering leaflets promoting town and parish councils with the other guy who you mention.
September 24, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I remember delivering leaflets promoting town and parish councils with the other guy who you mention.
I was mouthing "KPMG" at more seasoned members of the Committee! Vikki got it in one - reports were kept in draft so they couldn't be called upon by scrutiny committees. From a little-known 2012 regulation whereby a "draft" doesn't qualify as a "document" in local authority contexts.
September 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I was mouthing "KPMG" at more seasoned members of the Committee! Vikki got it in one - reports were kept in draft so they couldn't be called upon by scrutiny committees. From a little-known 2012 regulation whereby a "draft" doesn't qualify as a "document" in local authority contexts.
Tris Pascoe's done a sterling job digging out the key issues. The Head of HR (as of 2021) put Drew Mellor on the interview panel as a decision-maker - even though she knew about his private offer of the MD role to the candidate. Graham Farrant also knew & took no action. x.com/TristanPasco...
Tristan Pascoe on X: "The former Conservative leader of BCP Council "fixed" the appointments process for key leadership roles in a council company he helped to establish. The revelation is from the council's own investigation into Futre Places Ltd, an urban regeneration company set up in 2021 https://t.co/h37Kl2YJIi" / X
The former Conservative leader of BCP Council "fixed" the appointments process for key leadership roles in a council company he helped to establish. The revelation is from the council's own investigation into Futre Places Ltd, an urban regeneration company set up in 2021 https://t.co/h37Kl2YJIi
x.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Tris Pascoe's done a sterling job digging out the key issues. The Head of HR (as of 2021) put Drew Mellor on the interview panel as a decision-maker - even though she knew about his private offer of the MD role to the candidate. Graham Farrant also knew & took no action. x.com/TristanPasco...
Reposted by Alex McKinstry
Not a word has come from this government, for a month, about
Racist attacks in Britain: graffiti & intimidation
The sewer of racism online
These racist attacks on government ministers
The world's richest man promoting fascists who want to eradicate minorities from the UK
Racist attacks in Britain: graffiti & intimidation
The sewer of racism online
These racist attacks on government ministers
The world's richest man promoting fascists who want to eradicate minorities from the UK
September 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Not a word has come from this government, for a month, about
Racist attacks in Britain: graffiti & intimidation
The sewer of racism online
These racist attacks on government ministers
The world's richest man promoting fascists who want to eradicate minorities from the UK
Racist attacks in Britain: graffiti & intimidation
The sewer of racism online
These racist attacks on government ministers
The world's richest man promoting fascists who want to eradicate minorities from the UK
And, because it's Bluesky, I've thrown in some lovable bunnies
March 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
And, because it's Bluesky, I've thrown in some lovable bunnies
Tons of unanswered questions here. Why was the MD appointed without a competitive process? Why hire offices for £54K a year, three days after your Council applies to Government for a £76m bailout? Drew Mellor's current business partner was the landlord! (Via a ltd company.) Where did the £11m go?
March 17, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Tons of unanswered questions here. Why was the MD appointed without a competitive process? Why hire offices for £54K a year, three days after your Council applies to Government for a £76m bailout? Drew Mellor's current business partner was the landlord! (Via a ltd company.) Where did the £11m go?
Was just looking at the MD's job description; one requirement was "developing a culture of accountability"! Yet the business plan for 2022 stated that the staff didn't like being scrutinised & as you say Steve, the Mellor-Broadhead admin were closing down scrutiny anyway. Investigation long overdue.
December 1, 2024 at 7:25 PM
Was just looking at the MD's job description; one requirement was "developing a culture of accountability"! Yet the business plan for 2022 stated that the staff didn't like being scrutinised & as you say Steve, the Mellor-Broadhead admin were closing down scrutiny anyway. Investigation long overdue.
REMONSTRANCES have been made to the Committee, and to the Committee chair in particular, Cllr Marcus Andrews, with a plea to him to use his discretion. Will BCP's A & G Committee overrule wrongheaded officers, and put the interests of the public first and foremost ...?
November 28, 2024 at 3:06 PM
REMONSTRANCES have been made to the Committee, and to the Committee chair in particular, Cllr Marcus Andrews, with a plea to him to use his discretion. Will BCP's A & G Committee overrule wrongheaded officers, and put the interests of the public first and foremost ...?
Already seeing one question from me BARRED for being non-agenda-specific - which it isn't - and a statement from an acquaintance BARRED for being "framed as a question" - when it contains just one rhetorical question, very early in said statement! Both would have put officers on the spot ....
November 28, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Already seeing one question from me BARRED for being non-agenda-specific - which it isn't - and a statement from an acquaintance BARRED for being "framed as a question" - when it contains just one rhetorical question, very early in said statement! Both would have put officers on the spot ....
"About that gate ...."
November 26, 2024 at 10:59 PM
"About that gate ...."
Thanks Patrick. Just watched Dan's recording - good to see committee & residents in strong voice! Appalled by Grant Thornton's limitations & the absence of the MO. Hope you push for the investigation.
November 26, 2024 at 1:58 AM
Thanks Patrick. Just watched Dan's recording - good to see committee & residents in strong voice! Appalled by Grant Thornton's limitations & the absence of the MO. Hope you push for the investigation.
Hi, I've sent an FOI on this - want to know what reasons (if any) were given for the non-livestreaming. Bristol AFAIK is the only upper-tier authority in England that doesn't webcast its Audit Committees. www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/requ...
November 25, 2024 at 6:54 PM
Hi, I've sent an FOI on this - want to know what reasons (if any) were given for the non-livestreaming. Bristol AFAIK is the only upper-tier authority in England that doesn't webcast its Audit Committees. www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/requ...
Outer wrappings of newspaper remained OK, as long as the fish or chips didn't touch the newsprint, and I well remember the Cranleigh Road fish and chip shop (Southbourne / Tuckton) serving chips that way as late as 1985 ... 'Bournemouth Daily Echo' being put to good use.
November 24, 2024 at 11:19 PM
Outer wrappings of newspaper remained OK, as long as the fish or chips didn't touch the newsprint, and I well remember the Cranleigh Road fish and chip shop (Southbourne / Tuckton) serving chips that way as late as 1985 ... 'Bournemouth Daily Echo' being put to good use.