In the modern era, it is good to see that many local councils and authorities working hard to retain or improve the standards at local libraries. Libraries should be considered hubs in their local community and there is a lot to be said for bringing people together and offering folk the chance to feel comfortable in their local area. Libraries are about a lot more than just books in the present day, and there are classes where people can develop a broad range of skills. If you want to feel part of your local area, head along to your local library and find out what is on offer.
However, it seems as though not every plan of support for a local library is going ahead. It is important to note that councils cannot just take any offer of funding or support, they need to think about the overall impact of their decisions. There was hope that Cambridge Central Library would be able to add an enterprise centre at the premises, but these plans have been shelved by the local council after they carried out a U-Turn which has been classed as extraordinary by local media. The enterprise centre was due to be run by Kora, a private company, and less than a month ago, the plans were approved.
Councils cannot afford uproar in their local area
The stance taken by the local council has changed due to the fact that negotiations between the council and Kora were led by Roger Perrin, who holds the title of Global Managing Director. Perrin is currently banned from holding the role of director in the United Kingdom.
It is important to remember that there was no legal requirement preventing Mr Perrin from being involved in the process. This is because he wasn’t going to act as a company director in this instance and that Kora was part of the Regus company, based in Luxembourg. There did seem to be a level of embarrassment from the council when the history of Perrin was highlighted and they have acted swiftly to distance themselves from him.
However, there is a need for local councils to act in a proper manner and many felt that the association with someone who had been disqualified as a director was something that they wished to avoid. There is no getting away from the fact that image is everything in the modern era, and this is the sort of partnership or relationship that can come back to bit a local council authority.
Could Mr Perrin raise a complaint against the decision?
You could possibly argue that Mr Perrin has a case to make against the council for blocking his role and refusing his company the access that had been previously agreed but it is unlikely that he would find much sympathy or support in the long-term. Then again, it could be something that he would wish to discuss with his layers to determine if there was anything he could do to strike back in a battle that has allowed a local council to take the higher ground with respect to morality.
Councillor Steve Criswell spoke out about the decision made by the local council. He spoke to local media, saying; “We need to bring the public with us on this journey over the next five years, and of course we need to be as open as possible and not have our reputation tarnished. I’m angry that due diligence wasn’t done by our staff. Because of the way this is now discredited, I certainly don’t think the Conservative group can support this proposal any longer.” The council stated that they had carried out checks but that their checks were focused on the companies involved as opposed to individuals involved with the companies.
Mr Perrin’s disqualification was uncovered by a local blogger, which once again shows the lengths that many people are taking to in order to make a stance against things that they don’t like or approve of.
Solicitors representing people who have been disqualified from holding the role of director may find that they need to provide added guidance and assistance to their clients. It is one thing being prevented from acting as a solicitor but when other areas of working life, and presumably the income that a person is able to generate, are affected, there may be a need for professional guidance on what can, and cannot be achieved.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.