The grassroots community group, the Meadows Community Partnership based in the area of Meadowbank in West Rotherham, has experienced a takeover by labour activists.
This group came into being under the sponsorship of the Council in 2004. Formed under the Councils Plan for Community Involvement and had the encouragement and support of the local Community Development Officer from the Council and the, then, Independent Councillor Caven Vines. John Prescott the Deputy Prime Minister, who was the Government Minister responsible at the time, was involved and also praised the success of this Partnership.
This group came together under the Chairmanship of Mrs Carol Dobson and has been very successful in involving the local community with two well attended community events and at directing funds for local priorities. Objective One monies to the tune of £200,000 were drawn down and given to Kimberworth Junior & Infants School for a new centre. They were a model non political community group engaging with both the local community and the Council.
They were members of the councils Pathfinder Housing Project and were encouraged to participate and made very welcome.
The involvement of the labour party or its members during this period of success was minimal to non-existent.
As part of the Pathfinder Housing Project they had a representative as a Panel Member. They were asked for their opinion as to the future of housing in their area and after community consultation on the issue of what should be done with a piece of land, Shrewsbury Terrace. The group let the council know that the results of consultation indicated that the people wanted bungalows to be built and Meadows Community Partnership supported this.
Needless to say this was at variance with the desires of the Council and the local Labour Councillors.
Involvement by the Labour Party began in earnest as soon as the money became available to spend, apparently led by Councillor Jahangjir Akhtar and the newly elected, Councillor John Foden, they infiltrated then eventually took over the partnership lock stock and barrel.
Invitations to meetings including that of The Pathfinder Housing Project (that they had previously been invited to) from the council ceased, their attendance was no longer required. No satisfactory explanation has yet been provided. The councillors, it was realised, had changed the rules to exclude them.
When the Annual General meeting of the Meadows Community Partnership convened in October 2007 there were eyebrows raised at the attendance. The local Labour Party had come to install their members on the Steering Group. The Chairman, Mrs Dobson feeling that she could not continue in these circumstances, resigned.
Her replacement? Labour Party Stooge, Kath Sims, Denis MacShanes Parliamentary Secretary and Labour Candidate in Rotherham West in this years May 1st local elections.
Under this woman's leaden hand the Partnership has virtually ceased to function and to top this, she wants to be elected as this years Labour puppet on the Council!
Mrs Dobson has since said “they have demolished a fabulous and strong community partnership” and Caven Vines described the situation thus “The Partnership was used by Labour as cover to draw down valuable sums of money for the community then effectively shut down”. Another local resident who does not wish to be identified said “the Partnership had given us a strong feeling of community spirit, Kath Sims and her Labour chums have strangled the life out of it”. There is a strong feeling of frustration, despondency and anger in the community at this turn of events that has yet to have its voice.
Why was it necessary for the local Labour Party to abuse their position and take over this group?
This was after all just the active and effective community group that according to the Councils policies4 should be encouraged and supported, not infiltrated and rendered ineffective by those who claim community leadership.
Clearly the contempt that the Labour Party in Rotherham have for those they claim to represent knows no bounds. This example of the misuse of power is a lesson to any group that succeeds in getting getting genuine community involvement outside the control of the Council or Labour Party. If you dare to represent community views, different from the wishes of those in power, you will be neutralised by any means at their disposal.
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