chesterontheweb.com - REFUSAL by ALL SIX Members of the Senedd to Represent the Ratepayers

Attention Members of the Press

REFUSAL by ALL SIX newly Elected Members of the Senedd to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire and Write Directly to Neal Cockerton Chief Executive at Flintshire County Council and David Hughes Leader of the Council. These Individuals have sought Election to advance their Own Political Careers Not to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire who have Elected them.

Statement enclosed below sent to these Six Elected Senedd Members

Quote

I was watching an old episode of Yes Minister which is over forty years old in which it was stated that people enter politics either for their own ego and a power trip or to fill their pockets, but never to Represent the Constituents who elect them. Interesting Statement would you Not Agree ?

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So obviously these Six Members are not prepared to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire who have Elected them. The question is why have these Six Members entered into Politics? Is it for their own EGO or for a POWER TRIP or to fill their own Pockets or a combination of ALL THREE ? These Members are definitely NOT there to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire who have Elected them at first instance that is for certain as this Case clearly Demonstrates.

Since this Email was First Circulated only ONE of the SIX Senedd Members has acknowledged Reading this Document such is THEIR Derision Towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire who Elected these Individuals to Represent them and Fund their Excessive Salaries and Expenses through various forms of Taxation.

The Complaint I raised with these Members of the Senedd has remained unanswered by Flintshire County Council for over FIVE YEARS and yet ALL SIX Newly Elected Members of the Senedd have Refused to offer any assistance in this matter and Write to Both Neal Cockerton and David Hughes on behalf of the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

Despite receiving TWO detailed Emails on 28th July and 7th September the Reform Members of the Senedd Cristiana Emsley and Nigel Williams have Refused to even respond such is their contempt and arrogance towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire who recently elected them to the Senedd. Nigel Farage was also copied in on this correspondence in both emails.

The Labour Senedd Member Ken Skates on 96K plus expenses plus the running costs of His Office also Refused to respond the My emails of 28th July and 7th September such is the disdain and conceit of Ken Skates has towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire who recently elected him back to the Senedd. Andy Burnham was also copied in on this correspondence.

Senedd Members for Plaid Cymru Carrie Harper and Marc Jones together with Conservative Member Sam Rowlands attempted unsuccessfully to abdicate their responsibility to My Email of 28th July. However ALL Three newly Elected Members Refused to Respond to My correspondence of the 7th September such is the Egotism and Disrespect of these Newly Elected Members towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

I am aware that the Salaries of these New Members range between £79K to £96k per annum plus expenses of £23k plus substantial running costs of constituency offices of over a £110k which is a considerable burden to the Taxpayer each year of well over One Million Pounds. Then there is the Salary of Mark Tami MP £133k per annum plus Expenses plus the Employment of His Wife plus the running costs of His Office currently standing at £253k. So what are the benefits of this excessive sum of over One and a Half Million Pounds per Year to the Ratepayers of Flintshire ????? None whatsoever. Mark Tami has Refused to offer any assistance in these matters over the last FIVE YEARS which has been detailed in numerous past correspondence.

Council Leader David Hughes on over £71K a year plus the running costs of his Office together with former Council Leader Ian Roberts have also Refused to Offer any assistance. Ian Roberts in a badly worded email containing spelling mistakes stated the Council should investigate themselves how very convenient. What an utterly appalling statement to make by Ian Roberts. Who Holds the Council to Account Ian Roberts ? It was not You or Current Council Leader David Hughes on £71K Allowance Paid for by the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

By adding these Costs of the Leader of the Council and the running Costs of His Office increases the Total Burden on the Ratepayers and Tax Payers of Flintshire to over TWO Million Pounds per Annum. What complete and absolute waste of Public Money each Year.

Brief Description of Outstanding Complaint which is fully detailed in the correspondence below.

1). Derrick Charlton the offending Officer at first instance who was required to contact Myself as a matter of Urgency within 24/48 Hours regarding the Security of My Premises and the Safety of Myself and My Wife, but Failed to make any contact for TWO MONTHS and then only did so following My intention to take Legal Action against Flintshire County Council. FIVE MONTHS later Derrick Charlton had still FAILED to carry out this Urgent Work and then only complied when forced to do so following an instruction from Jack Sargeant in January 2022.

2) The Complaints Department Failed to ensure that Derrick Charlton complied with this Urgent request for assistance for TWO Months, However during this Time Period communicated directly with Derrick Charlton and conspired with this Officer unswervingly to the detriment of the Ratepayer concerned. The Complaints Department should have instructed Derrick Charlton to contact Myself immediately, but instead decided to protect and collude with this Officer. This department is Not Fit For Purpose and should disbanded saving the Ratepayers of Flintshire a Substantial Sum of Money. I am not aware of the exact cost of running this Department. As a Ratepayer and Tax Payer I required David Hughes to provide this information, However David Hughes Refused to do so. Who is David Hughes Working for The Ratepayers of Flintshire who Elected this Person or Flintshire County Council under the Direction of Neal Cockerton?

3) Neil Cockerton has Refused on Copious Occasions to Respond to these Matters dating back to November 2021.

4) Damage caused to Root Structure of Hedges by Staff Employed by Flintshire County Council over Several Years. Furthermore Installing Apparatus on Private Land without any consultation with the Owner of the Land in question resulting in Security Breaches at My Premises affecting the Safety on both My Wife and Myself.

Rebecca Jones who I understand Manages the Complaints Department so named under the spurious title of “Customer Services” ? has banned Myself by contacting any Officer at Flintshire County Council by email, but also has banned Myself from contacting any Councillors Elected by the Ratepayers of Flintshire by email. What right does this none elected none accountable Officer have to implement such a procedure. The Councillors of Flintshire should have an email system that is completely independent of Flintshire County Council and should NOT be controlled by any none elected none accountable Officer under the Direction of Neil Cockerton.

In order to progress My complaint I withheld My Council Tax Payments, but later entered into a Payment Schedule Agreement and Paid the First instalment and yet Flintshire County Council still proceeded to impose a £70 fine through the Magistrates Court. Flintshire County Council were already in possession of a Payment Plan and had received the first payment so why was a £70 Penalty imposed? I raised this matter with Mark Tami MP, but Mark Tami Failed to Respond. The same Mark Tami who over claimed a substantial sum of Council Tax on His Expenses which He was later forced to repay.

I withheld Council Tax Payments as a Protest and was hoping to Represent My Case in the Magistrates Court. I later was informed I would NOT be able to do so and the Case would be Rubber Stamped in favour of Flintshire County Council.

At Present in France and Germany there are riots protesting against the Cost of Living. The Cost of Living is also high on the Agenda in the current USA Elections. Families in the UK are also under considerable pressure from these same factors.

There will therefore be instances where Families in Flintshire will struggle to Pay their Council Tax. This will result in Flintshire County Council taking Legal Action in the Magistrates Court. However before the Case progresses to this Court the Family will have the opportunity to enter into a Payment Scheme with the Authority and Pay the First Instalment of the Monthly Plan. However Flintshire County Council in their Contempt towards the Ratepayers who Pay their Salaries will still proceed to the Court when in possession of an agreed Payment Plan and also in possession of the first Monthly Payment. A £70 Fine will be imposed on this struggling Family WHY? Surely this matter should only proceed to Court and a Penalty imposed if the Payment Plan is breached at some later date.

I contacted Mark Tami on this point and was also very critical of the attitude and aggressive conduct of a certain David Barnes who responded to My Emails. I further stated that this David Barnes was totally unsuitable to deal with members of the public until this person had undergone substantial training to be able do so.

Mark Tami did NOT respond to My email, but instead referred the matter back to this David Barnes the same person who I stated was totally unsuitable to deal with members of the public such was His appalling attitude.

That was absolutely atrocious conduct on the part of Mark Tami MP absolutely atrocious. Mark Tami MP will never be in the position of these struggling Flintshire Families while He is has a Salary of £133k per annum plus Expenses plus the Employment of His Wife. Not satisfied with these colossal benefits Mark Tami then also over claimed a substantial amount of Council Tax on His Expenses.

Extracts of the Email send to the Six Senedd Members dated 7th September 2026 to which None of the Six Responded how Abysmal.

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If the New Senedd Members are Refusing to Write to Neal Cockerton Directly on My Behalf then please State that this is Case. The Answer is Very Simple either Yes you will or No You Refuse to assist in this matter. Do Not attempt to use the Ombudsman as Your get out of Jail Card under any circumstances. All this will achieve is to remove the issues from the Public Domain. I will ensure that these matters remain Fully Focused within the Public Domain whether or not Yourselves support Myself on behalf of the Ratepayers of Flintshire or Not as the case maybe.

It is very clear from this instance that Neal Cockerton does not consider Himself accountable to the Ratepayers of Flintshire. Nothing at Flintshire County Council will ever change for the Benefits of the Ratepayers of Flintshire unless these occurrences are challenged by the Elected Representatives who have been appointed to Serve the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

Undoubtedly Neal Cockerton will refuse to answer the details of My Complaint that is for certain. I will therefore then require Yourselves to then write to the Council Leader Dave Hughes on these matters and offer Dave Hughes the opportunity to answer My Complaint on behalf of Flintshire County Council. Whatever the response received from Dave Hughes to Yourselves as Elected Representatives can then be widely circulated bearing in mind that Dave Hughes will require the Ratepayers of Flintshire for Re-election very shortly.

Note Rebecca Jones Employed by Flintshire County Council has also Refused to Answer the Aspects of My Complaint. It is My understanding Rebecca Jones is employed as Customer Contact Service Manager. This email from Rebecca Jones epitomises the Sheer Contempt that Flintshire County Council Officers have towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire who Fund their Salaries and Provide their Employment.

Flintshire County Council Officers from and including Neil Cockerton downwards have continually Refused to answer My Complaint regarding the Atrocious Services provided by Derrick Charlton, Neil Cockerton Himself, The Complaints Department so called Customer Services Headed by Rebecca Jones no less and the Historical Failures by Staff Employed by the Authority.

This Culture that presently exists within Flintshire County Council is rotten to the core and is Failing the Ratepayers of Flintshire on a Daily Basis under the Direction of Neil Cockerton Chief Executive.

Note also a certain David Barnes employed by the Council Tax Department ???? Did Respond and completely and intentionally FAILED to answer any aspect of My Complaint. Details enclosed below. Quote from email A certain David Barnes contacted Myself who I understand is employed in the Council Tax Dept. I received a Response in October 2022 which Totally Failed to deal with any of the issues raised in My Complaint. Why did this David Barnes Respond Anyway?

Hypothetically if the secondary issue had revolved around the Public Toilet Facilities in Buckley or Patrol Crossings for Children would Neal Cockerton have delegated this task to the Lavatory Attendant or the Local Lollipop Lady ?

During your time in Office Representing the Ratepayers of Flintshire there will be copious occasions in the future whereby the Ratepayers of Flintshire will require that Yourselves write directly to Neal Cockerton regarding Failures of Officers employed at Flintshire County Council. The Question is will the New Senedd Members refuse to represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire on these occasions in the future ? I was watching an old episode of Yes Minister which is over forty years old in which it was stated that people enter politics either for their own ego and a power trip or to fill their pockets, but never to Represent the Constituents who elect them. Interesting Statement would you Not Agree ?

Quote from previous email

I pointed out to Mark Tami and Jack Saregant on copious instances that it was very fortunate that the these individuals were not involved in the recent Post Office Scandal where some MP’s fought tirelessly for Justice for the Subpostmasters. What would Mark Tami MP have done? Based on the Facts of this Case He would have simply handed the matter back to the Post Office so they could investigate the subject matter themselves which would have ensured the full cover up of the entire Narrative ensuring that numerous Subpostmasters would Not have had their Convictions quashed or received any form of compensation.

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The same situation quoted above applies to ALL SIX Newly Elected Senedd Members in Representing the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

Quote from Email below

However the Present Elected Members including Mark Tami MP, Jack Sargeant MS, Ian Roberts Council Leader in July 2022 and the Present Council Leader Dave Hughes DO NOT Believe that Flintshire County Council Officers should be Accountable to the Ratepayers of Flintshire and that this present Despicable Ethos that currently exists throughout the Authority should not be challenged by these Individuals.

The Question that needs to addressed is are these Numerous Designated Representatives there to Serve the People of Flintshire who Fund their Salaries through several forms of Direct and Indirect Taxation or are these Various Members in place to simply Advance their Own Political Careers to the detriment of the Ratepayers of Flintshire?

The above Elected Officials Do Not Believe that Officers Employed by Flintshire County Council should ever be challenged under any Circumstances as demonstrated in this Matter over the Past Three Years and Three Months. Consequently the Atrocious Services provided by Flintshire County Council will NEVER Improve while these Elected Members Remain in Office. The Unaccountable Chief Executive will Remain Unopposed on a Daily basis until there is a significant improvement in the Calibre of the Currently Nominated Members.

The People of Flintshire Desperately require Elected Representatives who will Fight for their Interests not Little Lap Dogs controlled by the Current Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council which is the case at present.

Unquote

Any response that is received from Neal Cockerton or none will then be published on My Website and Widely circulated via Social Media. I am fully aware that the Senedd Members cannot force a Response from Neal Cockerton as this official on £150k per annum considers Himself unaccountable and treats Ratepayers and Senedd Members with sheer contempt. This aspect is dealt with in full in My email sent to Martin White on 1st May 2025 enclosed below for your reference. Jack Sargeant wrote to Neal Cockerton in January 2022 but the arrogant supercilious Neal Cockerton did not respond to the correspondence from Jack Sargeant such is His sheer contempt for the Ratepayers who fund his excessive salary and Elected Officials for this area.

Martin White the Caseworker for Jack Sargeant was instructed to enquire from Neal Cockerton as why no response had been received. What did Martin White do in response He closed My File.

Under these circumstances it will only reinforce the position that there is no accountability on the part of Neal Cockerton on future occasions.

You the New Senedd Members have been Elected to Represent the People of this Area is that correct? for which you ALL receive substantial Salaries and Expenses. During Your time in Office do you ALL intend to Represent the Constituents who have elected You? This will most certainly involve writing to the Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council on copious occasions on behalf of Ratepayers are You ALL prepared to undertake this responsibility? Or are You ALL Refusing to Represents Your Constituents in these matters and will just simply abdicate Your responsibilities by referring every matter to the Ombudsman which will collude with the Authority to stifle such Complaints. I would recommend that the New Senedd Members read Reviews of the Ombudsman Service Generally online in its Deliberate Failures to bring Authorities to account.

I directed this matter to the Council Leader Dave Hughes on £71k per annum plus the running Costs of his Office who refused to answer My Complaint on behalf of Flintshire County Council. His predecessor Ian Roberts also failed to offer any assistance and refused to forward an email from Myself to Neal Cockerton directly. In a very badly worded email response containing spelling mistakes Ian Roberts recommended that the Council should investigate this issue themselves as an internal matter. How very convenient for Flintshire County Council to investigate its own Complaints particularly against Neal Cockerton Himself.

If Your Party gained control of Flintshire County Council at the next Election would the then New Leader of the Council answer all aspects of My Complaint on behalf of Flintshire County Council ? YES OR NO. Or would this New hypothetically Council Leader simply refuse to act against the Chief Executive ? YES or NO.

Quote from My Email dated 16th December 2024 to Dave Hughes Council Leader

Your Role is to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire is that accurate or am I missing something here?

This Role demands that Officers Employed by the Authority are held to Account by Yourself where applicable is that also correct Mr Hughes?

Mr Hughes My Outstanding Complaint against Flintshire County Council which now extents to THREE YEARS ONE MONTH and SIXTEEN DAYS could be brought to a satisfactory conclusion in ONE DAY if You Yourself as someone Representing the Ratepayers of Flintshire and regarded as an Independent Third Party Answers the Four Aspects of My Complaint in FULL and Offers a FULL Apology for the Atrocious Way in which My Complaint has been dealt with by Flintshire County Council through this Protracted Period of Time.

The Question is are You as Council Leader Mr Hughes prepared to undertake this Task? The ultimate solution rests with Yourself Mr Hughes but Not by involving the Legal Department. The Ball in Firmly in Your Court Mr Hughes in Your Capacity as Leader of the Flintshire County Council to finally resolve this Outstanding Matter.

Unquote

See email attached addressed to Donald Sturgeon Chair for Reform in this area and Nigel Farage Reform Leader. Note how the Ombudsman Failed Myself in 2001 by refusing to state that an erroneous fallacious threatening Letter issued by Officers at Flintshire County Council be retracted and a Full apology issued. However the then MP for the area Barry Jones wrote directly to the then Chief Executive at Flintshire County Council which resulted in Myself receiving a Full Apology for the unlawful actions undertaken by the Officers concerned and further ensured that this offensive and fallacious Letter was retracted by the Authority. The Ombudsman Service needs to be replaced by an independent body that will Fight for the Ratepayers of Flintshire not an organisation that conspires with Local Authorities to the detriment of Ratepayers throughout the UK.

The Internet has recorded copious Complaints where the Ombudsman Service has Failed the Residents of the UK not just in this area.

Extracts of Email On 1 Mar 2026

Attention Nigel Farage

In my numerous correspondence on these matters both to the Press and Politicians I have required that these current Occupants act in the interests of the Ratepayers who have Elected them at first instance and hold these none accountable none elected Officials to account.

All Four current and past Labour Representatives have ALL refused to offer any assistance in this matter. Mark Tami MP Jack Sargeant MS Ian Roberts previous Leader of the Council and Dave Hughes the Current Leader.

I could elaborate on the Failings of the Ombudsman over a variety of categories eg NHS, Ofcom, Insurance, Councils the list is endless.

The Ombudsman Service should be abolished as it is a complete waste of Taxpayers’ money and serves NO Function whatsoever. I am pleased to see that the Police and Crime Commissioner is being eradicated and will save over £100 Million Pounds as it again serves No benefit to the Taxpayer, but in so many cases provides Retired Police Officers with a Ludicrous Salary on Top of their Pensions All provided by the Taxpayer.

In 1999 I had a Complaint where Flintshire Council Officers had acted illegally and which the Ombudsman Refused to resolve the position what a surprise.

The then MP Barry Jones referred the matter to the then Chief Executive on My behalf which resulted in Myself receiving the required Apology on behalf of Flintshire County Council for the inappropriate actions of the Officers concerned.

Barry Jones stated to Myself that this was the first time that Flintshire County Council had ever apologised for the actions of their Officers in His then Thirty Years of Representing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside. The Full Facts of this Case have been widely Circulated in My current Correspondence to both the Press and Politicians.

Nigel Farage please confirm the position of Reform UK in these matters so I can add this content to My Current Circulation.

Regards

I therefore Require the New Senedd Members to raise the aspects of My Complaint with both Neal Cockerton and Dave Hughes and to furnish Myself with the Reponses received from both these individuals which then can be widely circulated.

These are the Aspects of My Complaint I wish Yourselves to raise with Neal Cockerton on My Behalf

The Details of My Complaint cover Fours Attributes.

1). Derrick Charlton the Officer involved at first instance was required to Contact Myself within a 24/48 Hour period following My request for Urgent assistance. Derrick Charlton Failed to contact Myself for Two Months and then only did so following an Email addressed to Neal Cockerton on 1st November 2021 in which I stated that Legal Action would commence against Flintshire County Council. After FIVE Months Derrick Charlton had still Not attended to this Urgent Matter and stated it would be a further Three Months at the earliest before this position would be resolved and could possibly be longer still.

While this Matter Remained unattended and the Actions undertaken by Flintshire County Council Officers which included removing a Section of Hedge Privately Owned by Myself. Removing the Roots to this Hedge and installing a Kissing Gate on Private Land Owned by Myself without any consultation. This allowed the General Public Direct Access onto My Property and Resulted in the Aggressive Conduct by One Member of the Public on 19th September 2021 which was Reported to Flintshire County Council the following Day. Until this Kissing Gate Illegally installed on Private Land was Removed I was unable to Fence this Area of My Property and prevent any further repercussions.

This position needed to be carried by Staff under the Direction of Derrick Charlton without delay. Flintshire County Council had Illegally installed this Apparatus on Private Land without any consultation with Myself. The Issue was directly affecting the Security of My Premises and the Safety of the Occupants at that time Yet the Officer concerned although instructed by the Authority in Taped Recorded Conversations to Urgently contact Myself on this matter Failed so do so for TWO Months until I threatened Legal Action against Flintshire County Council.

NOTE

During this time Period the Ownership of the neighbouring Land has changed and the New Owners were instructed by Officers under the control of Derrick Charlton to ensure access to the Public Footpath was not restricted and had Fourteen Days to Comply before further enforcement was commenced.

Fourteen Days Yet Derrick Charlton only ensured the necessary Urgent work on Private Land Owned by Myself was carried out after FIVE Months and only then when Compelled to do so following the intervention of Jack Sargeant at My Request. Jack Sargeant did NOT recommend involving the Ombudsman His Office dealt with the matter directly which resulted in the Work being untaken in slightly over one week in February 2022. This Urgent Work should have been completed in September 2021.

As a Ratepayer and Taxpayer I was very concerned in the inefficient way this work was carried out. Firstly THREE Flintshire County Council employees attended the Site using THREE Vehicles which congested Drury Lane. They arrived at 9.47am and completed the work at 2.51pm. I therefore assume this was the only work undertaken by these Three individuals that day. At 9.53am Susan Bellis those Family then owned the adjoining Fields arrived by Car and stayed until 12.37pm during this period of over Two and Half Hours all Three Flintshire County Council Employees made numerous Excursions to this Vehicle and were heavily engaged in conversations with the said Susan Bellis.

Around this Period of Time I had employed a Fencing Contractor who had removed old Railing on My Property and replaced it with New Post and Rail Fencing.

This Contractor starts work at 7.00am in the Morning not 10.00am. To carry out the task of removing the Kissing Gate would have taken One Hour. To install Two New Gate Posts in quick setting concrete One Hour. To Fence a Four Foot Area where the Hedge had been removed by Flintshire County Council Employees previously One Hour.

The Fencing Contractor would have completed this Work in Three Hours by Himself. It would not have taken Three Employees Nearly Five Hours which was the Case with Flintshire County Council. He would not have wasted considerable Time participating in idle gossip which was the case with the Employees concerned. It is therefore not surprising that Derrick Charlton is unable to manage His Department efficiently is He the best Person to carry out this Role?

2). The Total Failure of the Complaints Department at Flintshire County Council to hold this Officer to Account. The Department should have instructed Derrek Charlton to contact Myself without delay, but instead both colluded with and protected this Officer from Scrutiny. The Complaints Department were Not interested in dealing with the issue of the Ratepayer, but merely protecting the Officer concerned.

I stated that this Department was a complete waste of Ratepayers Resources and should be disbanded with immediate effect as it was Not serving any useful function. Rebecca Jones is the Head of this Department.

3). The Third aspect relates to Neal Cockerton Himself and His refusal to answer the details of My Complaint raised with Neal Cockerton in My Email of 22nd August 2022.

Extracts of Email Dated 22/08/2022

Attention Neal Cockerton

I sent an email addressed to yourself dated 1st November 2021.

I sent a further email via the office of Jack Sargeant MS on 2nd

February 2022 forwarded to yourself.

Jack Sergeant wrote directly to yourself on 31st January 2022.

I discussed this position in detail with the Council Tax Department on

21st June 2022.

Ian Roberts forwarded an email from Myself dated 25th July 2022 directly

to yourself.

So far there has been NO response from yourself which is absolutely

appalling conduct.

Find enclosed below a further email for your urgent attention sent to

Ian Roberts on 6th August.

In September it will be TEN Months since I sent My first Correspondence

addressed to yourself and still NO reply.

When will these matters be finally addressed by yourself?

4). The Historical Failures by Flintshire County Council leading up to the issue of the Complaint dating back to 2009.

Quote from Emails enclosed below.

However the area of MY Land that borders the public footpath needs to be fenced off with Notices clearly stating that this is Private Land. Members of the Public are unclear on this point due DIRECTLY to the erroneousness activities carried out by FCC Staff in allowing Hedges owned by Myself to be permanently damaged. Roots to the Hedges have been Illegally removed by FCC Staff and a Kissing Gate Illegally located on My Land without any consultation with Myself.

Second Complaint to be raised with Neal Cockerton.

Due to the Refusal of Neal Cockerton to answer My Complaint I withheld My Council Tax Payments in 2022 in the hope I would be able to represent Myself in the Magistrates Court. Why should Ratepayers Pay for a Service that is NOT Fit for Purpose?????

I was later informed by the Council Tax Department that I would Not be permitted to raise My arguments in the Magistrates Court and the matter would simply be rubber stamped in favour of the Authority.

Under these circumstances I therefore paid a First instalment of the Council Tax and agreed to a Scheduled Monthly Payment which ensured the Council Tax was paid within the current Financial Year.

However Flintshire County Council although in possession of the First Payment and also in possession of an agreed Payment Schedule in their arrogance still proceeded to the Magistrates Court and I received an additional £70 Penalty.

I raised this matter with Mark Tami MP stating that this procedure could affect many low income families and that Flintshire County Council should not have proceeded to the Magistrates Court when they were in possession of a First Payment and an agreed Payment Schedule which would ensure the Authority received full Payment within the current Financial Year. I stated that the Authority should only proceed if No Payment had been received or if the agreed Schedule was breached at some time in the future.

Mark Tami MP did Not respond to My correspondence on this matter.

I require Yourselves to raise this matter with Neal Cockerton on behalf of the Ratepayers of Flintshire who have elected yourselves to represent them.

The Third Aspect of My Complaint I wish Yourselves to raise with Neal Cockerton on My behalf relates to being Banned from contacting Local Councillors by email by the none accountable unelected Rebecca Jones under the direction of Neal Cockerton. Does Flintshire County Council have the Right to stop Ratepayers contacting their Elected Representatives? YES or NO

The Email system employed to support Local Councillors should be completely independent of Flintshire County Council Do Yourselves Agree with this Statement? YES or NO. Only the Councillors themselves should be allowed to make this decision not Officers Employed by Flintshire County Council.

See Email attached below

Sent: 05 May 2026 13:38
To: 'Rebecca Jones (Gov)'; 'Arnold Woolley'; 'Dennis Hutchinson'; 'Mike J Peers'; 'Gillian Brockley'; 'Cllr Helen Brown'; 'David I Mackie'; 'Linda Thomas'; 'Sam Swash'; 'Ant Turton'; 'Roy Wakelam'; 'Martin White'; 'Derrick Charlton'; jack.sargeant@senedd.wales; zack.polanski@london.gov.uk; Heather.Abdule@london.gov.uk; jeremy.corbyn.mp@parliament.uk; 'Donald Sturgeon'; tamim@parliament.uk; 'ReformUK Alyn Deeside Wrexham Rory O'Brien Chair'; office@greenparty.org.uk; kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk; keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk; 'Clwyd@greenparty.wales'; edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk; carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk; nigel.farage.mp@parliament.uk; contact@fpv.wales; susan.perry@newsquest.co.uk; News@deeside.com; 'email'; owen.hughes@reachplc.com; dtletters@telegraph.co.uk; Guardian.readers@theguardian.com; owen.jones@gmail.com; news@liverpool.com; newsdesk@men-news.co.uk; guardian.newsdesk@lep.co.uk; postnews@swwmedia.co.uk; feedback.wales@bbc.co.uk; website.enquiries@walesonline.co.uk; wales@itv.com; adrian.masters@itv.com; welshnews@dailypost.co.uk
Subject: The Labour Party is Failing the Residents of Alyn and Deeside
Importance: High

Attention Members of the Press

BLOCKED By Flintshire County Council Officials under the Direction of Neal Cockerton from Contacting Local Councillors By Email is this Action Illegal?

The Labour Party is Failing the Residents of Alyn and Deeside. Attached below are Two Documents sent to Reform UK Interim Chairman Alyn, Deeside & Wrexham Rory O'Brien.

Mark Tami Labour MP and Jack Sargeant Labour MS believe it is acceptable that Unaccountable None Elected Officers Employed by Flintshire County Council have the Right to Stop Ratepayers from contacting Local Councillors by Email. This Action is directly impeding the Democratic Process and such a Implementation by Flintshire County Council could be Illegal. Does Flintshire County Council have the Legal Authority to impose such a Draconian Measure? This Issue is of No Concern to either Mark Tami Labour MP or Jack Sargeant Labour MS

Dear Rory

I have been copied into the response from Rebecca Jones Flintshire County Council to Yourself on this matter.

Thank you for contacting Flintshire County Council on My behalf which is an excellent initiative on your part considering that Reform are not currently represented in Alyn and Deeside, but I have no doubt that this will change in the near future. Your approach on these issues are both significant and impressive particularly when You consider that attitude adopted by Martin White in this matter in his capacity of representing Jack Sargeant MS who REFUSED to contact Flintshire County Council on behalf of a Constituent in relation to My email of 1st May. Rory this is quite appalling behavior on the part of Jack Sargeant MS who is paid a considerable salary to represent the Residents of Alyn and Deeside and blatantly Refused to do so in relation to this Email of 1st May.

Rebecca Jones has Failed to state in the Response to Yourself whether as a None Elected Unaccountable Official working for the Authority that this Officer actually has the Legal Right to Block Ratepayers from contacting Elected Local Councillors by Email.

Rory this is a fundamental omission on the part of Rebecca Jones. Does this Officer have this Legal Authority to impede the Democratic Process Yes or No? Why has Rebecca Jones Failed to state this position ? Could the actions of this Officer be Illegal ? Why has Rebecca Jones Failed to clarify whether or not Flintshire County Council has the LEGAL Right to Block Ratepayers from contacting Local Councillors by Email ?

Quote Extract from Email dated 1st May to Martin White

Sent: 01 May 2025 12:01
To: 'White, Martin (Staff Cymorth yr Aelod | Member Support Staff)'
Subject: Flintshire County Council JS4195

No Officer employed by Flintshire County Council should ever interfere in this Democratic process. No Officer employed by Flintshire County Council should ever be in position to decide what Local Councillors will and will not receive by Email. These individuals are just none accountable none elected Officials.

Information on this Subject Matter brought to My Attention.

Quote

No, a Local Council cannot prevent a ratepayer from contacting councillors by email. While a council may have a code of conduct for councillors, it doesn't grant them the power to block communication from the public, including ratepayers. The council's code of conduct primarily focuses on the conduct of councillors themselves, not on controlling communication with the public.

Elaboration:

· Right to Contact:

Ratepayers have the right to contact their elected representatives, including councillors, to express concerns or raise issues.

· No Blocking Authority:

The code of conduct does not give councillors the authority to block or restrict communication from the public, including ratepayers.

· Transparency and Accountability:

Councillors are expected to be transparent and accountable to the public, and this includes being accessible for communication.

At present I am being BLOCKED from contacting any Local Councillor to raise My concerns. That is Fact and Rebecca Jones stating otherwise is deliberately making a False Statement.

Regarding My Original Complaint

In July 2022 I contacted Ian Roberts the then Leader of the Council who refused to act on My behalf.

Towards the end of 2024 I contacted Dave Hughes the current Leader who again refused to act on My behalf.

This information has been widely circulated and I am sure that both Yourself and Jack Sargeant are aware of this position.

The above Councillors are the only Two I have engaged in correspondence with.

However following the implementation by the none elected none accountable Rebecca Jones I am now prevented from contacting any Elected Local Councillor who incidentally have not been contacted previously. WHY IS THIS ?????????????????????????

What right does this none elected none accountable Officer have to prevent a Ratepayer from contacting their Local Councillors ?????????

What right does this none elected none accountable Officer have to interfere in the Democratic process and to ultimately decide whether or not Councillors should or should not receive Emails from theirs Ratepayers who Elected them ??????????????

Rebecca Jones does not have any authority to directly impede this process whatsoever. Indeed in the information contained above Councillors themselves cannot BLOCK Ratepayers from contacting them.

Unquote

Rebecca Jones is stating in the reply to Yourself that the Block is in force, But Fails to state whether this Unaccountable None Elected Official has the Legal Right to do so.

Martin White Representing Jack Sargeant MS Failed to Question Rebecca Jones on this Crucial Issue which undermines the whole Local Democratic Process. This epitomizes how the Labour Party is currently Failing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside. The Service provided by Martin White is simply not good enough, it is not fit for purpose.

Rebecca Jones refers to the number of instances that the Ratepayer has contacted Flintshire County Council, But yet again Fails to Explain Why this is the Case.

Rebecca Jones Fails to state that the Ratepayer has been waiting Three and a Half Years for the raised Complaint to be answered by Flintshire County Council.

Had Neal Cockerton Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council answered the Ratepayers Complaint back in November 2021 then that would have been the end of the matter.

What action did Neal Cockerton take? Neal Cockerton on a Salary of £160k a year paid for out of public funds Failed to Respond to the Complaint raised by the Ratepayer and continued so do to on copious future occasions.

Rory let me Clarify this position the Ratepayer wrote directly to Neal Cockerton in August 2022.

Quote

Extracts of Email Dated 22/08/2022 published on My Website

Attention Neal Cockerton

I sent an email addressed to yourself dated 1st November 2021.

I sent a further email via the office of Jack Sargeant MS on 2nd

February 2022 forwarded to yourself.

Jack Sergeant wrote directly to yourself on 31st January 2022.

I discussed this position in detail with the Council Tax Department on

21st June 2022.

Ian Roberts forwarded an email from Myself dated 25th July 2022 directly

to yourself.

So far there has been NO response from yourself which is absolutely

appalling conduct.

Find enclosed below a further email for your urgent attention sent to

Ian Roberts on 6th August.

In September it will be TEN Months since I sent My first Correspondence

addressed to yourself and still NO reply.

When will these matters be finally addressed by yourself?

Regards

This was back in August 2022 and Neal Cockerton in his arrogance and contemptible attitude towards a Ratepayer who funds his Salary just simply Ignored the Ratepayers correspondence from November 2021 to August 2022. Equally Martin White acting on Behalf of Jack Sargeant MS wrote directly to Neal Cockerton in January 2022 which Neal Cockerton once again completely disregarded.

Rory Lets now Examine how Four Senior Elected LABOUR Representatives Jack Sargeant Labour MS for Alyn and Deeside, Dave Hughes current Labour Council Leader, Ian Roberts Labour Council Leader in July 2022 and Mark Tami Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside all Failed to Represent the Ratepayer in this matter regarding the Original Complaint.

Firstly the Failures of Jack Sargeant Labour MS for Alyn and Deeside

Email Received from Martin White January 2022

Good afternoon. Please find attached a letter that Jack has sent to the Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council. As soon as he receives a reply, the office will be back in touch.

Extract of Email Received from Martin White March 2022

I cannot answer as to why the Chief Executive of Flintshire has not replied your case file has been closed

Martin White Simply Closed the File without receiving any response from Neal Cockerton.

This is how the Labour Party is Failing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside.

In April 2022 Jack Sargeant MS was instructed by the Ratepayer to urgently contact Neal Cockerton on this matter. But Jack Sargeant MS Failed to raise these matters with Neal Cockerton.

This is how the Labour Party is Failing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside.

Had Jack Sargeant MS pursued this matter and ensured that an adequate Response was received from Neal Cockerton and a Full Apology Issued then this matter would have been fully resolved in April 2022, but Jack Sargeant MS Failed to take any action.

This is how the Labour Party is Failing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside.

Rory regarding the current Issues raised in My Email sent to Martin White dated 1st May 2025.

Quote from Previous Email

Response Received from Martin White Member Support Staff for Jack Sargeant MS on Dated 28th May 2025. Martin White states that the information contained in this email dated 1st May 2025 was NOT and WILL NOT be submitted to Flintshire County Council on behalf of the Ratepayer concerned.

That epitomises how Jack Sargeant MS is FAILING the Ratepayers of Flintshire on a daily basis. Rebecca Jones is preventing the Ratepayer from contacting Local Councillors by Email and deliberately inhibiting the Democratic Process, but this is of No concern to either Jack Sargeant MS or Martin White.

This is how the Labour Party is Failing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside.

Secondly the Failures of Dave Hughes Council Leader

Let’s now examine the Responses Received from Dave Hughes Labour Council Leader

Extracts of Quotes from correspondence on My Website

Quote

On the 13th 21st and 28th of November 2024 I sent THREE Emails to Dave Hughes the New Flintshire County Council Leader details enclosed below. Dave Hughes has (The leader of Flintshire County Council's salary could increase from £59,400 to £62,900) an income of £63K paid to Him to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire, but so far Dave Hughes has FAILED to respond to these Three Emails that is atrocious conduct from the Newly appointed Leader of Flintshire County Council.

Further Quote

Mr Hughes it is now THREE YEARS ONE MONTH and SIXTEEN DAYS since I first contacted Neil Cockerton regarding this OUTSTANDING matter.

Whilst I welcome Your intervention in this dispute I Fail to comprehend why this subject is being referred to the Legal Department?

Is this Yet one more attempt by Flintshire County Council to avoid answering My Outstanding Complaint? and desperately attempting to kick the Problem into the Long Grass with Legal Waffle?

Further Quote

I have now received a response from Dave Hughes Council Leader Dated 6th January 2025 stating He is Refusing to Answer any Aspect of My Complaint set out in My previous Emails addressed to Dave Hughes. It now appears the Legal Department are not taking any action in this matter which is not surprising as the issue relates Solely to the Unsatisfactory Services provided by Flintshire County Council involving Derrick Charlton, Neil Cockerton, Complaints Department, Historical Failures by Staff Employed by Flintshire County Council.

Quote from Previous Correspondence

It appears to Myself that Flintshire County Council is suffering from some form of Bureaucratic Paralysis in that it is unable to answer a Complaint from a Ratepayer without involving the Legal Department how astonishing.

Unquote

Why did Dave Hughes Council Leader involve the Legal Department at first instance ????? it makes no sense whatsoever was this an attempt to intimate Myself ???? who knows.

Dave Hughes in his Position as Leader of the Council is there to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire who Fund His £63K Allowances.

Dave Hughes in Failing to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire in this instance cannot be regarded as a Suitable Person to hold the Position of Council Leader on £63K Allowances each Year and should resign immediately and handover the Position to someone who will fight for the Ratepayers of Flintshire and hold Officers Employed by Flintshire County Council to Account where applicable.

Quote from My previous Email dated 16th December to Dave Hughes Council Leader

Your Role is to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire is that accurate or am I missing something here?

This Role demands that Officers Employed by the Authority are held to Account by Yourself where applicable is that also correct Mr Hughes?

Unquote

This is the Appalling response received from Dave Hughes Council Leader dated 6th January 2025

From: Dave Hughes [mailto:Dave.Hughes@flintshire.gov.uk]
Sent: 06 January 2025 17:13
To: susan.perry@newsquest.co.uk; News@Deeside.com; 'email'; owen.hughes@reachplc.com; dtletters@telegraph.co.uk; Guardian.readers@theguardian.com; owen.jones@gmail.com
Cc: Neal Cockerton (Chief Executive, Flintshire County Council); tamim@parliament.uk; David Barnes; Rebecca Jones (Gov); jack.sargeant@senedd.wales; Ian B Roberts; Karen Powell; Derrick Charlton
Subject: Failure by Neil Cockerton To Answer My Complaint dating back to 2021

Dear

Happy New Year I responded to you on the 10th December 2024 I have been told this has been debated with you and you have been given the answer it may not what you want to hear but that is the answer.

If you have any other problem I am happy to look into it but as far as all previous emails regarding your complaint about Neal Cockerton I will not be replying to you

Regards Dave Hughes

Dave Hughes Labour Council Leader states very clearly He will NOT Address the Four Aspects of My Complaint against Flintshire County Council.

This is how the Labour Party is Failing the Ratepayers of Flintshire on a daily basis. This is quite atrocious conduct on the part of the Labour Council Leader Dave Hughes.

Thirdly the Failures of Ian Roberts the Previous Labour Council Leader

Now let’s look at the Response received from Ian Roberts Labour Council Leader in July 2022.

Extracts of Email Dated 16th August 2022 Received from Ian Roberts Council Leader

Ian B Roberts wrote:

You emailed me on Saturday, which is not generally regarded as a working day. The council’s policies sate you should have a response within 10 working days so I am well within that. I have informed you that I am not a forwarding service I have also told you that with regard to these issues you need to contact the council directly not via the Leader of the Council.

Ian Roberts

Response from Complainant

Attention Ian Roberts

I contacted yourself as the Leader of the Council because the Chief

Executive cannot be contacted directly. It was your responsibility to

forward this document to the Chief Executive on my behalf. As the Leader

of the Council you are representing the ratepayers of Flintshire a

position in which you have failed to achieve in this instance. I find

the service you have provided as the Council Leader totally unacceptable

on this occasion. It is the responsibility of the Council Leader to hold

the Chief Executive to account which you have completely failed to do.

Unquote

Ian Roberts Labour Council Leader back in August 2022 could have Resolved this matter by entering into direct discussions with Neal Cockerton and ensuring that the Complaint was thoroughly dealt with and a Full Apology was Issued by Flintshire County Council regarding this Issues raised. Ian Roberts FAILED to offer any assistance on these issues and even refused to forward an Email to Neal Cockerton on behalf of the Ratepayer. Also Note the aggressive language used in the Response received from Ian Roberts Labour Council Leader at that time together with the additional spelling mistakes.

This is how the Labour Party is Failing the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

Fourthly the Failures of Mark Tami Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside

Now let’s examine how Mark Tami Labour MP Alyn and Deeside Failed to assist the Ratepayer in these Issues.

Quotes from Correspondence sent to Mark Tami MP

You Yourself Mark Tami MP refused to contact Myself via Your X Account but instead Blocked Myself from making further Postings.

I must admit Neal Cockerton must be feeling impregnable invincible indeed with the exclusive backing of the Publicly Funded Authority together with All Three Senior Elected Officials. All very cosy would You Not agree Mr Tami?

As a Taxpayer and a Ratepayer I look at this question and ask how much Public Money is being squandered here?

Neal Cockerton Salary approx. £160K not including those employed in Chief Executive Office.

Yourself on £93K plus Expenses plus the Employment of Your Wife I will assume £200K.

I will assume the same amount for Jack Sargeant MS say £200K.

The then Leader of The Council Ian Roberts say £60K.

There is an annual Cost to Central Taxpayers and Ratepayers of Flintshire of approximately £600k a Year this would be considerably greater if including the running costs of Chief Executives Office and Researchers employed by Yourself and Jack Sargeant.

Yet with All these extremely well remunerated Elected Officials supposedly Representing the Residents of Flintshire I cannot obtain a Response to a Complaint originally raised with Neal Cockerton in November 2021. Quite astonishing quite extraordinary would You disagree with this statement Mr Tami?

A certain David Barnes contacted Myself who I understand is employed in the Council Tax Dept. I received a Response in October 2022 which Totally Failed to deal with any of the issues raised in My Complaint. Why did this David Barnes Respond Anyway?

This is appalling conduct from Flintshire County Council but not unexpected.

See My Response Dated 17th October 2022 to this David Barnes

Sent: 17 October 2022 11:00
To: David Barnes <david.barnes@flintshire.gov.uk>
Cc: Neal CockertonOLD <neal.cockertonOLD@flintshire.gov.uk>
Subject: EXTERNAL Refusal by Neal Cockerton to answer My Complaint

Attention David Barnes

With Reference Your abysmal Email dated 23rd August 2022 which FAILED Totally to address any aspect of My Complaint raised with Neal Cockerton on copious previous instances.

See below the number of outstanding correspondence which Neal Cockerton has continuously FAILED to address since 1st November 2021.

This position is absolutely appalling

Further Correspondence Addressed to Mark Tami MP

Now that You have contacted Neal Cockerton regarding the Council Tax issue I require that You write to Neal Cockerton on My Behalf regarding the Original issue which dates back to September 2021 in the THREE comprehensive Emails listed below. Please inform Me when this has occurred and forward a copy of the Letter sent to Neal Cockerton from Yourself on My behalf.

In the Emails enclosed there is considerable information all of which has been provided to Neal Cockerton since November 2021. The major issue I have is that considering My advancing Years will I actually live long enough to receive such a response? Very debatable such is the contempt that Neal Cockerton displays towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire who fund His Salary.

What I need is an MP with some fight and backbone in representing the Constituents of Alyn and Deeside, but unfortunately all I have available is Yourself Mr Tami so it does not look promising from My perspective I must admit.

Flintshire County Council already have all the detailed information enclosed. However I have included the Chief Executive Office in this email.

The Issues I want You to raise with Neil Cockerton are

1). The Failures associated with Officer Derrek Charlton Rights of Way Department. This person was required to respond within 24/48 Hours to the Urgent request for assistance but Failed to do so in September 2021. He contacted Myself in November 2021 following My Email to Neil Cockerton in which I stated I would commence with Legal Action against the Authority. Those are the lengths I had to proceed with in order to compel Derrek Charlton to reply.

On 31st January 2022 still this Urgent Work threatening the Security of My Premises and the Safety of Wife and Myself was not carried out. Derek Charlton stated His Department were dealing with the aftermath of a major Storm from November 2021 and that the work not be completed until April at earliest but could take several months longer.

Jack Sargeant MS became involved and I pointed out to Derek Charlton the Urgency of the Work involved and that He must have been aware in September 2021 that the Country was entering the Storm Season. I further provided this Person with Historical Evidence from the Met Office regarding Storm patterns.

I made My position very clear that Derrek Charlton was aware of the need to carry out this Urgent Work some TWO MONTHS before this Storm Hit the UK a position endorsed by Jack Sargeant MS.

I stated that this Department was a complete waste of Ratepayers Resources and should be disbanded with immediate effect as it was Not serving any useful function.

I referenced an earlier case dating back to 2001 when I received an offensive and totally fallacious Letter from Flintshire County Council which I then was raised Mr Barry Jones MP.

The Officers concerned embarked on a covert operation that involved the then Head of Corporate Complaints in order to desperately attempt to justify this document.

The Head of Corporate Complaints wrote to me stating that an Officer from the Highways Department would be visiting the Field adjourning My Property to carry out an investigation.

I contacted the Head of Corporate Complaints and stated where was this Officer working today? The reply was I have no idea which I agreed with. I asked where will this Officer be working over the next Month? The reply was I have no idea which I agreed with. I asked where was this Officer employed over the preceding Month and the Reply was the same. I then asked how did You know He would be attending this Field on a certain Date to carry out an investigation? an investigation of what? I stated You have contacted this Officer as indeed You have contacted both Officers regarding the Complaint so there is clear collusion here between all Three Departments. At this point the Corporate Complaints Officer terminated the phone call stating He would only communicate via written correspondence in future.

Nothing has changed at Flintshire County Council Complaints Department in 23 years if at all during its existence.

If the Complaints Department sole objective is to protect Authority Employees to the determinant of Ratepayers which is most certainly the case then it should be disbanded as it is serving no benefit to the Ratepayers of Flintshire who fund this service.

3). The third aspect involves Neal Cockerton Himself and His refusal to answer the details of My Complaint raised with Neal Cockerton in My Email of 22nd August 2022 enclosed above.

4). The Historical Failures by Flintshire County Council leading up to the issue of the Complaint dating back to 2009.

Quote from Emails enclosed below.

Can I point out Mr Tami that had Derek Charlton the Officer concerned contacted Myself on 21st September 2021 as He was required to do so and carried out the necessary work rectifying past erroneous activities undertaken by Flintshire County Council Employees that would have concluded the matters.

I would NOT have needed to contact the Complaints Department, Neal Cockerton, Derrek Charlton regarding His Failures, Martin White, Ian Roberts, Jack Sargeant, Council Tax Department, David Barnes, Mark Tami, the Magistrates Court for advice, Thousands of Posts on Twitter (X) over the Past Two Years.

None of these actions would have been necessary had Derrek Chartlon complied with His obligations at first instance rather than being compelled to do so over a Period of Five Months.

I require Yourself Mark Tami MP to ensure that My Complaint is dealt with in FULL By Neil Cockerton and I mean a Full and Comprehensive Response I most certainly do not want a similar totally unsatisfactory Reply as that provided by David Barnes is that clear Mr Tami.

I await Your Urgent Response on this matter.

Regards

Rory No Response was ever Received from Mark Tami MP Yet One More Example of How the Labour Party is Failing the Residents of Alyn and Deeside. Why did Mark Tami MP Refuse to raise these issues with Neal Cockerton Directly?

Further Quote from My Website

I am now in possession of a Document from David Barnes who I now understand is employed in Revenues and Procurement.

Why This Person therefore responded to My Complaint against Neil Cockerton is a complete and utter mystery.

In My earlier correspondence I stated the then response received from David Barnes was Worthless and Failed to address any aspect of My Complaint against Neil Cockerton.

My views regarding the intervention of David Barnes remain unchanged.

Mark Tami MP received an Email from Myself enclosed below dated 20th October 2024 in which I was very Critical of David Barnes and I considered this Person totally unsuitable to deal with My Complaint.

Mark Tami MP did not respond to this email, but instead handed the matter over directly to David Barnes the very Person I was so Critical of.

That is absolutely atrocious conduct from Mark Tami MP, absolutely atrocious.

Unquote

Rory when I contacted Martin White regarding the Outstanding Issue of being Blocked from contacting Local Councillors by Email currently being enforced by Flintshire County Council, I also contacted Mark Tami MP on this very same issue on Three Separate occasions.

Extract of Last Email sent to Mark Tami MP on 16th May

Attention Mark Tami

I am glad to see Your Email System is Working.

I have received responses to the above correspondence from Yourself (this was with reference raised by a National Body), but have NOT received any response regarding Myself being prevented from contacting Local Councillors by Email Implemented by the unelected none accountable Rebecca Jones at Flintshire County Council.

Mark Tami see emails enclosed I first wrote to Yourself on this matter on 8th April but still have NOT received a Reply. Why is this ?

Mark Tami are You interested in Local Democracy or NOT please respond? If Not then step down as an MP and let the People of Alyn and Deeside Elect a Member of Parliament who will fight for their Constituents in these matters.

Regards

No Response Received from Mark Tami MP Yet One More Example of How the Labour Party is Failing the Residents of Alyn and Deeside.

Finally Aspects of the Complaint in relation to the Conduct adopted by Rebecca Jones

Quote from My Website

I have now received a Communication from Rebecca Jones Customer Contact Service Manager on 20th November 2024 stating I must stop copying officers into my emails to the Press and Mark Tami MP.

The Question that Rebecca Jones needs to Urgently Remedy is WHY has my Complaint against Derrick Charlton, Neil Cockerton Chief Executive, The Complaints Department and the Historical Failures by Staff Employed by the Authority have NOT been addressed by any Member Representing Flintshire County Council dating back to November 2021.

Why has Rebecca Jones Failed to address these FOUR outstanding Issues listed below and offered a FULL Apology for the Atrocious Way in which My Complaint has been continuously Ignored and Treated with Sheer Contempt by Flintshire County Council.

These are the Issues that Rebecca Jones needs to Answer in FULL.

Unquote

Rory, Rebecca Jones could have resolved the whole issue once and for all back in November 2024 by answering the Four Aspects of the Outstanding Complaint but deliberately Failed to do so.

Why did Rebecca Jones Fail to state this position in the Reply You received from this Officer?

Rory I also offered Dave Hughes this very same opportunity to answer these Four Outstanding Issues but Dave Hughes Labour Council Leader refused to do so.

Yet One more example of how the Labour Party is Failing the Residents of Alyn and Deeside a change in Political Representation is long long overdue.

Further Quote from My Website regarding the intervention of Rebecca Jones

Quote

The extraordinary Lengths that Flintshire County Council will embark upon in order to Refuse to Answer a Complaint from a Ratepayer.

Email Received from Rebecca Jones dated 21st January 2025

Quote

Further to my email dated 20 November 2024 and your persistent emails to officers, elected members and media outlets, I am writing to remind you that your emails are being filed and will not be acted upon. To avoid further unnecessary emails to officers and elected members, controls will now be put in place to redirect emails to Customer Services for filing.

Unquote

This email from Rebecca Jones epitomises the Sheer Contempt that Flintshire County Council Officers have towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire who Fund their Salaries and Provide their Employment.

Flintshire County Council Officers from and including Neil Cockerton downwards have continually Refused to answer My Complaint regarding the Atrocious Services provided by Derrick Charlton, Neil Cockerton Himself, The Complaints Department so called Customer Services and the Historical Failures by Staff Employed by the Authority.

Unquote

Rory The Ratepayers of Flintshire will only be Represented on issues regarding Failures by Flintshire County Council Officials with a change in the Political Arena. The Labour Party has Failed the Residents of Flintshire in these aspects for far too long.

Regards

Sent: 30 May 2025 11:13
To: 'chair.adw@reformuk.com'
Cc: jack.sargeant@senedd.wales; White, Martin (Staff Cymorth yr Aelod | Member Support Staff) (Martin.White@senedd.wales); tamim@parliament.uk
Subject: BLOCKED By Flintshire County Council Official under the Direction of Neal Cockerton from Contacting Local Councillors By Email is this Action Illegal?
Importance: High

Dear Rory

Thank you for looking into this matter which has been going on since September 2021. All I am seeking is a Full Apology from Flintshire County Council regarding the Officer concerned Derrick Charlton, The Complaints Department for colluding with this Officer and from Neal Cockerton who has deliberately ignored My correspondence since November 2021.

That is it plain and simple.

Martin White acting as a caseworker for Jack Sargeant MS FAILED to ensure that Neal Cockerton responded to his letter written on behalf of Jack Sargeant MS and FAILED to ensure that I received a Full Apology from Neal Cockerton in this matter back in January 2022.

Since then the current and previous Leaders of Flintshire County Council have refused to act together with Mark Tami MP in ensuring I receive a Full Apology from Neal Cockerton. Since that point I have now been Blocked from contacting any Councillors at Flintshire County Council.

Martin White has Refused to raise the issues contained in My email of 1st May of which You have been included in the wide circulation.

Rory all the above Elected Officials Represent the Labour Party.

This is a clear example of how Labour is Failing the Ratepayers of Flintshire. All I have ever requested is a Full Apology from Neal Cockerton on the above matters but all Elected Labour Officials have Refused to assist in this aspect.

Elected Labour Officials are drowning in their complacency and arrogance towards the Ratepayers of Flintshire believing that Alyn and Deeside will always remain a Labour stronghold and therefore do not need to offer assistance to Ratepayers against Unaccountable None Elected Officials employed by Flintshire County Council.

I know You do not have any candidates at present standing in this Constituency but hopefully this will all change in the near future. The residents of Flintshire desperately need a change in the Political Landscape and ensure that the complacent arrogant Labour Officials are removed from power in this area. It is time for a change, remember Rory all I have ever requested in this case is a Full apology from the unaccountable none elected Neal Cockerton Chief Executive on a salary of approximately £160K a year paid for out of Public Funds.

However the Labour Officials in Flintshire have all Refused to Offer any assistance in this pursuit for social justice.

I also believe the current actions of Blocking Myself from contacting Local Councillors may in fact be Illegal but this is of no concern to Martin White whatsoever.

If I can be of any assistance going forward please do not hesitate to contact Myself in ensuring that Labour is removed from Power in Alyn and Deeside for the benefit of its long suffering residents. The number of times I have been contacted by people saying Labour Officials won’t do anything to help you and they have been proved right.

I have enclosed below extracts of My latest circulation to the various media outlets.

Regards

From: chair.adw@reformuk.com [mailto:chair.adw@reformuk.com]
Sent: 29 May 2025 14:54
To:
Cc: arnold.woolley@flintshire.gov.uk; dennis.hutchinson@flintshire.gov.uk; mike.peers@flintshire.gov.uk; gillian.brockley@flintshire.gov.uk; helen.brown@flintshire.gov.uk; david.mackie@flintshire.gov.uk; linda.thomas@flintshire.gov.uk; sam.swash@flintshire.gov.uk; ant.turton@flintshire.gov.uk; roy.wakelam@flintshire.gov.uk; Martin White; Derrick Charlton; jack.sargeant@senedd.wales; Rebecca Jones; ReformUK Alyn Deeside Wrexham Rory O'Brien Chair; office@greenparty.org.uk; kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk; keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk; edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk; carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk; nigel.farage.mp@parliament.uk; contact@fpv.wales; susan.perry@newsquest.co.uk; News@deeside.com; email; owen.hughes@reachplc.com; dtletters@telegraph.co.uk; Guardian.readers@theguardian.com; owen.jones@gmail.com; news@liverpool.com; newsdesk@men-news.co.uk; guardian.newsdesk@lep.co.uk; postnews@swwmedia.co.uk; feedback.wales@bbc.co.uk; website.enquiries@walesonline.co.uk; wales@itv.com; adrian.masters@itv.com; welshnews@dailypost.co.uk
Subject: Re: BLOCKED By Flintshire County Council Official under the Direction of Neal Cockerton from Contacting Local Councillors By Email is this Action Illegal?

Dear

Kind Regards

Rory O'Brien
Interim Chairman
Alyn, Deeside & Wrexham

Sent: 26 July 2026 14:53
To: Swyddfa Cristiana Emsley AS - Office of Cristiana Emsley MS <Cristiana.Emsley-MS@senedd.wales>; Harper, Carrie (Aelod o’r Senedd - Member of the Senedd) <Carrie.Harper-AS@senedd.cymru>; Swyddfa Marc Jones AS - Office of Marc Jones MS <Marc.Jones-AS@senedd.cymru>; Swyddfa Sam Rowlands - Office of Sam Rowlands <Sam.Rowlands-MS@senedd.wales>; Swyddfa Ken Skates - Office of Ken Skates <Ken.Skates-MS@senedd.wales>; Swyddfa Nigel Williams AS - Office of Nigel Williams MS <Nigel.Williams-AS@senedd.cymru>
Cc: andy.burnham.mp@parliament.uk; arnold.woolley@flintshire.gov.uk; dennis.hutchinson@flintshire.gov.uk; mike.peers@flintshire.gov.uk; gillian.brockley@flintshire.gov.uk; helen.brown@flintshire.gov.uk; david.mackie@flintshire.gov.uk; linda.thomas@flintshire.gov.uk; sam.swash@flintshire.gov.uk; ant.turton@flintshire.gov.uk; roy.wakelam@flintshire.gov.uk; 'White, Martin (Staff Cymorth yr Aelod | Member Support Staff)' <Martin.White@senedd.wales>; 'Derrick Charlton' <DerrickCharlton@flintshire.gov.uk>; Sargeant, Jack <jack.sargeant@senedd.wales>; 'Rebecca Jones (Gov)' <rebecca.jones@flintshire.gov.uk>; office@greenparty.org.uk; kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk; keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk; edward.davey.mp@parliament.uk; zack.polanski@london.gov.uk; Heather.Abdule@london.gov.uk; tamim@parliament.uk; carla.denyer.mp@parliament.uk; nigel.farage.mp@parliament.uk; jeremy.corbyn.mp@parliament.uk; hello@backzack.com; 'Donald Sturgeon' <chair.wrexhflint@reformuk.com>; 'Donald Sturgeon' <chair.wrexhflint@reformuk.com>; Clwyd@greenparty.wales; contact@fpv.wales; susan.perry@newsquest.co.uk; News@Deeside.com; 'email' <news@novaramedia.com>; owen.hughes@reachplc.com; dtletters@telegraph.co.uk; Guardian.readers@theguardian.com; owen.jones@gmail.com; news@liverpool.com; newsdesk@men-news.co.uk; guardian.newsdesk@lep.co.uk; news@liverpool.com; postnews@swwmedia.co.uk; feedback.wales@bbc.co.uk; website.enquiries@walesonline.co.uk; wales@itv.com; Adrian Masters <adrian.masters@itv.com>; welshnews@dailypost.co.uk
Subject: BLOCKED By Flintshire County Council Officials under the Direction of Neal Cockerton from Contacting Local Councillors By Email is this Action Illegal?

Attention Newly Elected Members of the Senedd

I wish to bring to your attention an original Complaint I made against Flintshire County Council FIVE Years ago this coming September. This complaint has never been dealt with by Flintshire County Council during that period of time. Flintshire County Council have a definitive Policy that has been in place for Decades whereby Ratepayers Complaints remain unanswered and Uncountable Officers Employed at Flintshire County Council simply treat such Complaints with Sheer Contempt.

Jack Sargeant MS raised this Complaint with Neal Cockerton in January 2022. Neal Cockerton Refused to Respond so what did Martin White employed as a Case Worker for Jack Sargeant do in response ? He closed My file on the Case how appalling. I instructed Jack Sargeant to write to Neal Cockerton requesting to know why My Complaint had not been answered in April 2022. Jack Sargeant Failed to respond to My correspondence how Utterly Appalling. However Fortunately Jack Sargeant is longer a Member of the Senedd which is excellent news for the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

I contacted Ian Roberts the then Leader of the Council in May 2022 who refused to offer any assistance and even refused to forward an Email from Myself to the Chief Executive Neal Cockerton. I received an email from Ian Roberts which was very badly worded and littered with spelling mistakes stating this is a Council matter and recommending that the Council investigate themselves yet again how utterly appalling. So who is holding Neal Cockerton to Account ? Answer No one.

In October 2022 I contacted Mark Tami MP who did NOT respond to My Request for assistance but colluded in a covert operation with an Officer at Flintshire County Council named David Barnes who was refusing to answer any aspect of My Complaint. In My first correspondence to Mark Tami MP in 2022 I was highly critical of this Officer and questioned why someone from the Council Tax Department had been delegated with this task a task that this officer was clearly unqualified to answer? Mark Tami MP did not respond to Myself but instead handed the matter back to this same Officer, that was quite deplorable conduct on the part of Mark Tami MP absolutely abyssal conduct on the part of Mark Tami.

Finally in November 2025 I received the one and only response from Mark Tami MP stating He had nothing to add. I responded to Mark Tami stating the comment I have nothing to add implied some form of action had been employed in the past. I pointed out to Mark Tami MP that He had NOT offered any assistance in the past at any time and that this was His first Response on the Matter after over Three Years once more what utterly appalling conduct from Elected Labour Representatives for this area.

I then contacted Dave Hughes the Current Leader of the Council in November 2024 who stated very clearly He would Not answer any element of My Complaint but intended to involve the Legal Department to resolve the position WHY? Was this intended as some form of threat to make Me back off? once more what utterly appalling conduct from all Four Elected Labour Representatives.

I offered Dave Hughes the opportunity to answer the Complaint Himself on behalf of Flintshire County Council but He refused to do so but is very content claim over 71K per year in allowances from the Ratepayers of Flintshire. Again I ask the same question who holds the Chief Executive Neal Cockerton to Account on behalf of the Ratepayers of Flintshire. The Answer is No one does at present. This none Elected none Accountable Official can simply act with total impunity at present to the detriment of the Ratepayers of Flintshire.

Under the direction of Neal Cockerton Rebecca Jones Blocked Myself from contacting any Local Councillors by Email. Should Local Councillors Email Addresses be controlled by none elected none accountable Officials at Flintshire County Council? Surely this decision must be made by Councillors themselves and should form no part of any process involving Flintshire County Council Officers. Is this action Illegal ? I have raised this question with Mark Tami on numerous occasions, but Mark Tami has never at any point responded. The only action that Mark Tami took was to inform Myself that My correspondence had not been read in an automatic response.

I almost forgot there was another action undertaken by Mark Tami MP and that was to Block Myself from His X (Twitter) Account.

This Person should NOT be representing the Ratepayers of Flintshire. The residents of Flintshire deserve far better not someone who is simply a little lap dog under the control of Neal Cockerton someone who is very happy to be draw His Salary of over £130K per Annum plus substantial Expenses plus the employment of His Wife. What a total waste of Taxpayers and Ratepayers Resources. The Residents of Flintshire would be better served by Count Binface and it would be considerably cheaper.

I pointed out to Mark Tami and Jack Saregant on copious instances that it was very fortunate that the these individuals were not involved in the recent Post office Scandal where some MP’s fought tirelessly for Justice for the Subpostmasters. What would Mark Tami MP have done? Based on the Facts of this Case He would have simply handed the matter back to the Post Office so they could investigate the subject matter themselves which would have ensured the full cover up of the entire Narrative ensuring that numerous Subpostmasters would Not have had their Convictions quashed or received any form of compensation.

If Mark Tami Refuses to Represent the Ratepayers of Flintshire He should resign and NOT continue to draw His excessive Salary of over £130k per Year Plus Substantial Expenses (Office Costs £253K per Year) Plus the Employment of His Wife. He should give Count Binface the opportunity to represent the constituents of Alyn and Deeside this would certainly be an improvement on Mark Tami of that there is no doubt. I am sure Count Binface would not over claim on His Council Tax and Water Rates Expenses as Mark Tami has done so in the past.

Quote from email enclosed below

Unquote

Quote from email attached below Refers to the Failures of the Officer concerned regarding the Complaint Derrek Charlton Employed in a Senior Capacity in the Rights of way Department at Flintshire County Council.