IT IS said that the sign of a confident organisation is the ability of it’s senior management to be able to say, when things go wrong: “Hey, we messed up”
At last night’s Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Acting Monitoring Officer David Lawson presented a number of reports that reflected on the count procedure of May 6th that didn’t end until friday afternoon.
Those expecting Returning Officer,Interim Chief Bob Coomber or Deputy, Monitoring Officer Tasnim Shawcatt to, at some stage apologise or indeed lay the blame at their own door, were in for a disappointment, as the reports went at great length to point out the faults, limitations and inadequacies of a number of individuals and groups but not themselves.
Included in the blame game were:
“Staff working on the count did not follow instructions.”
“Despite extensive training, some staff still appeared not to fully understand what was expected of them.”
“Lack of firm management of count assistants by count supervisors.”
A specially commissioned report also pointed out to the lack of security, overcrowding and the public roaming around the count.
Any criticism of the counting agents interfering was quickly shot down by Cllr Phil Anderson. He said: “The agents have a democratic right to point out inconsistencies.
“There were counters who had been up for a day and were struggling to count to ten.”
Committee Chair Danny Nicklen asked why no volunteers were used nor council staff with decades of experience in elections.
Cllr Nicklen also observed that Ms Shawcatt seemed to spend her time running to Mr Coomber asking what she should do next.
Others pointed to the welfare of the counters. Despite food costing hundred of pounds being brought in, none of it was distributed to the hungry and thirsty staff.
Mr Lawson outlined that they may need to use a bigger building next time but failed to explain why the Tilbury Cruise Terminal, used in 2009, was rejected.
The committee agreed with the recommendations of the report.
