‘Mistake’ caused leaflet blunder
POLICE and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry has responded after a “mistake” led to leaflets naming her predecessor as still being in the role were sent out to Nottingham residents.
Neil Harbinson, 57, of Bakersfield, contacted the Post to point out that he had received a leaflet, along with other Nottingham City Council literature, saying that the PCC for Nottinghamshire was Paddy Tipping, who was voted out in May.
Mr Harbinson, a residential property landlord with an apartment in the Hicking Building, received the leaflet among information concerning council tax arrangements when a previous tenant moved out.
He said the leaflet – detailing the spending priorities for the PCC for the 2021/22 financial year – was “misleading” to members of the public who might not know that Mr Tipping was no longer the PCC.
Mr Harbinson, who has previously stood as a Conservative candidate in city council elections and says he is a Conservative activist, said: “I don’t think it’s right that the local authority should be sending out a leaflet like that that claims
Mr Tipping is still the PCC. It sets out his agenda for the year and yet he’s not in post to actually deliver them.
“For anybody who doesn’t know it could be quite misleading. It’s a bit surprising that it would have been done when he lost the election.
“Even if they did the print run before the election it’s somewhat arrogant on the part of Mr Tipping and the Labour Party and the council to imagine that he would definitely win and commit that level of expenditure to create these leaflets in the first place. Surely they would wait until after the election.”
It is understood that the literature was supplied to the council by the office of the PCC.
Mrs Henry’s office has looked into the matter. She said: “I have been assured that this was just a mistake so there is no need to make a political fuss about it. However, I have asked my chief exec to follow up to ensure it does not happen again.”
Mr Tipping was approached for comment.