Questions at Bolton Council over ‘unsigned’ vitality letters

4 min read

Bolton City Corridor heard how the letters had been delivered to individuals everywhere in the borough, with no details about contact particulars apart from a “funding helpline”.

Cllr John Walsh, of Astley Bridge, mentioned he first heard of this when a buddy of his referred to as to say he had acquired one of many letters, prompting considerations in regards to the council’s dealing with of public cash and information safety.

He mentioned: “He was involved to obtain a letter that he was involved was a rip-off.

The Bolton News: The letter in fullThe letter in full (Picture: Public)

“He mentioned it got here on Bolton Council headed paper, it had no contact particulars once I requested him, no division.

“And the one factor he might deduce from it was yours faithfully Cllr Richard Silvester.”

He added: “I’ve by no means identified a letter to be despatched from the council with out a phone quantity, with out contact particulars, unsigned however within the title of an government member.”

The letters inform those that they will get monetary savings on their vitality payments and assist the atmosphere by making use of for presidency funded upgrades.

The Bolton News: Cllr John Walsh raised questions at a full meeting of Bolton CouncilCllr John Walsh raised questions at a full assembly of Bolton Council (Picture: Bolton Council)

They are saying that Bolton Council is working with the Better Manchester Mixed Authority, NHS Better Manchester and Subsequent Vitality on the scheme.

Recipients are then informed that functions without spending a dime upgrades are open and that folks in Bolton can examine their eligibility by calling a “funding helpline”.

Cllr Walsh informed a full assembly of Bolton Council that he himself and several other of his colleagues had since acquired the identical letters as properly, once more unsigned and with out contact particulars.

He mentioned in almost 50 years as councillor he had by no means identified of a scenario when letters had been despatched out on this means.

He demanded to know if this had been funded with public cash and whether or not the council had breached information safety guidelines in sending them out.

Cllr Walsh mentioned: “Sure, it talks a few personal sector companion and naturally that is a part of the failed Burnham vainness marketing campaign through which solely 526 households in Better Manchester thus far benefited.”

He added: “So if any individual tries to inform me it’s the vitality firm which have achieved it, they got backing by GMCA and by the federal government so it’s public cash in each sense.

“It poses some very severe questions.”

Cllr Walsh demanded to know who had authorised the manufacturing of the letters with Bolton Council headed paper, the way it was funded and if this concerned public cash.

He additionally requested how the addresses had been chosen, how this was allowed underneath information safety guidelines and the way it might have had a cupboard member, Cllr Silvester’s title, connected.

Cllr Walsh mentioned he was ready to contact the electoral fee and the council’s auditors if he didn’t get a passable reply. 

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In response to Cllr Walsh’s questions, Bolton Council chief government Sue Johnson mentioned that the “Eco 4 Programme” had been funded by vitality firms.

She informed the council that addresses had been chosen from Subsequent Vitality’s personal information and that no addresses had been supplied by the authority.

Ms Johnson mentioned: “Eco 4 is a programme of grants to permit dwelling house owners to raised insulate their houses.

“Subsequent Vitality is the provider tasked with delivering this in Bolton.”

She added: “Subsequent Vitality produced the letters which included the logos of the assorted endorsing authorities, the intention being to provide the letter credibility as a result of we’re conscious that rogue merchants usually function in these areas.”

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