Tory leader's networking misfires

Published 17 Feb 2012 10:16 7 Comments

THE borough's legal chief had to leap to the rescue of the new leader of Reading's Tory councillors when he put his foot in his mouth by 'advertising' his company during a council meeting.

Cllr Tim Harris' gaffe came after Labour's Cllr Jan Gavin told this week's cabinet meeting that anyone who came up with a way of integrating the large number of computer systems used by Reading Borough Council would be a "very rich man".

The Tory councillor replied that the company he works for, Talend in Maidenhead, had just the solution, a system known as an enterprise service bus, which is being used by a number of local authorities.

He added: "It's really great, a very cheap solution. But what's amazing about it is it allows you to bring on new technology."

But his one-man marketing campaign came to an abrupt halt when the council's head of legal services, Chris Brooks, rose from his seat, walked over and whispered some advice about conflicts of interest.

When The Chronicle asked Cllr Harris what sort of deal he could get for the council, he replied: "I would not get involved."

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 17 Feb 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  DraftMan
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 10:27
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  Good job Tim nice but...
  
  Now if the council does look towards your company and its as good and cost effective as you say its going to look like jobs for the boys.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 6     No 6

• 

  mischievous
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 10:28
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  Conflict of interest me thinks!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 5

• 

  Spiddly
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 11:26
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  Dear goat. I think we'd have a better council if it comprised of Carry On team members...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 4

• 

  Jethro
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 15:00
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  On a plus at least he hasn't got the dubious x-factor of Page, Bayes etc. Or the amateur dramatics of that twitter tw*t who got the push...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 10     No 0

• 

  man_in_it
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 16:16
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  I work in an IT. I use an Enterprise Service Bus. It would not solve the council's problems, but would line the pockets of Cllr Tim.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 3

• 

  G O D
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 17:18
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  Everyone makes mistakes do they not? And let us face it his aren't a fatal faux pas to the UK as each and every Labour voter's clearly was the last time round...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 8     No 1

• 

  TomAinsworth
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 17:45
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  nice one Chron ;-)
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 0

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