Jon Corner doing nicely

by Woofer 20.08.13 22:48

Just seen this tweet by JillyCL

JillyCL ‏@JillyCL 23m
A Director of #McCann Co Ltd (Madeleine Fund) & Godfather of the twins RAKES IN ALMOST £173,000 FROM SALFORD COUNCIL http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1918 …

by sallypelt 20.08.13 22:57

According to Salford Council's official statement of payments over £500, it has paid a company called Mediastill £172,900 between March 2012 and April 2013 (the last date of publicly declared payments) for `consultancy'.

Mediastill Ltd is a Liverpool based company with no phone number or website, only a registered office at an accountants, and is 75% owned by Jon Corner, Chief Executive at The Landing, Salford Council's `high-tech hub' for small and medium digital companies at MediaCityUK.

Jon Corner, the former head of Salford University's Media City operation, took up the post of Chief Executive of The Landing in January 2012, and, since March of that year until April this year, his company has received one payment for £13,300 followed by ten for £15,960, including VAT, over a 14 month period.

This works out at the equivalent of £12,350 per month, or £148,200 a year (inc VAT) - more than any other senior officer at Salford Council, except Chief Exec Barbara Spicer.

The Landing itself is a controversial project, beset by a huge five year £3.8million lease to Peel Holdings which owns the seven floor building.

Originally called the `Media Enterprise Centre', the costs for its creation rose from £8.4million in 2009 to £14.34million in 2012, with Salford Council's contribution towards the publicly funded `hub' more than doubling to £3.66milion over a period when £40million cuts to public spending were being sought. The other costs came from Europe (ERDF) and the now defunct North West Development Agency (NWDA).

Originally, Salford Council announced that there would be a `Make Media' community space in there but when The Landing opened that idea had been `cut' and, instead, there was a £120 a year private members bar called On The 7th (see previous Salford Star article for more details - click here)

Despite being created with public money, The Landing at Media City UK Ltd, (the company which runs the `hub') is a private limited company with directors Jon Corner, Salford Council Development Director Karen Hirst, Deputy Mayor David Lancaster and City Mayor Ian Stewart.

In November 2012 the company's Articles of Association were changed so that just one director could make decisions on behalf of the board (`the quorum for the transaction of the business of the directors shall be one'), which offers up all sorts of questions about accountability.

Indeed the whole project, including payments to Jon Corner's company, offers up lots of questions which the Salford Star attempted to put to both Jon Corner and Salford Council...

We asked Salford Council what the payments to Jon Corner's Mediastill company were for, and whether they were wages for Jon Corner.

We asked Salford Council why, if this was the case, the payments were being paid through his company Mediastill, rather than as a full time wage subject to PAYE?

We asked Salford Council whether it thought it right in these cost cutting times to be paying Jon Corner's company huge amounts of `consultancy' money?

We asked Salford Council why The Landing, despite being created with public money and having public sector directors, was a private limited company?

We also asked Jon Corner himself what the payments to Mediastill were for; what Mediastill actually does; whether he works full time for The Landing, and whether the payments were actually his salary.

Jon Corner didn't respond, and the only comment Salford City Council would make was that "The implication in the question below is that Salford City Council and Jon Corner are engaged in tax avoidance in relation to the development of The Landing. This is completely wrong."

No, Salford Council, the implication is that you are paying a massive wad for `consultancy' to a company/person that appears to be working full time, while you are slashing budgets by £100million and cutting services for some of the most vulnerable people in the city.

• The original advert for The Landing's Chief Executive Officer stated that "The Chief Executive is the Landing's senior executive and is responsible for the management of the Landing, including the development and delivery of its business plan, the effective and efficient running of all its services, ensuring that the budget is properly managed and that the Landing's key risks are understood, communicated to relevant parties and managed. In addition to managing the day business, the Chief Executive will shape and direct the future vision of the Landing, working with the Industry and key stakeholders in a collaborative manner to secure the long term future of the business."

That doesn't sound like a part-time job…or a `consultant's' job.

• Companies House lists Mediastill Ltd as having two directors – Jon Corner, who owns 75% of the shares, and Michelle Thompson, a lecturer, who both live at the same address in Liverpool.

• According to DeuDil, the last set of accounts (July 2012) for Mediastill Ltd show the company having a book value of £4,900, with £14,100 cash in the bank and liabilities of £30,700. Mediastill's latest accounts are `overdue' according to Companies House.

by sallypelt 20.08.13 22:59

Companies House lists Mediastill Ltd as having two directors – Jon Corner, who owns 75% of the shares, and Michelle Thompson, a lecturer, who both live at the same address in Liverpool.

• According to DeuDil, the last set of accounts (July 2012) for Mediastill Ltd show the company having a book value of £4,900, with £14,100 cash in the bank and liabilities of £30,700. Mediastill's latest accounts are `overdue' according to Companies House.

by Who?What?Where? 20.08.13 23:18

Are Peel holdings related to Peel Port's, who are "developing" the river front in Liverpool? Jon Corner and Kate Heally both come from Liverpool and are long term friends? Just another one to add to the tally, in an, increasingly, long line of coincidence's, if so.

by Woofer 20.08.13 23:29

Who?What?Where? wrote:Are Peel holdings related to Peel Port's, who are "developing" the river front in Liverpool? Jon Corner and Kate Heally both come from Liverpool and are long term friends? Just another one to add to the tally, in an, increasingly, long line of coincidence's, if so.

Yes looks like they are :-
http://www.peel.co.uk/

they are the owners of the building Corner`s company occupies under a 5 year lease.

by **tigger** 21.08.13 7:11

Great post SP : clapping

There's also his partner at Keekoscene which ceased trading in 2007 . Second notification in June 07.

Mr David Warwick Parsons was born in 1944 and the first directorship we have on file was in 1999 at Montparnasse Developments Limited. Him most recent directorship is with Grafton Walks Mews Management Company Limited where he holds the position of "Company director". This company has been around since 02 Oct 1996 and lists it's registered address as being in Merseyside. David has held 40 directorships, 5 of which are currently active, and 35 are previous.

Mr Jon Anthony Corner
27-07-2004
Corner had 10 current, 2 previous.

Ms Sarah Jane Chinnaraja had four current directorships and three previous. She is also at present with Parsons at Keeko Kids ltd.

I'm only posting this because JC having some 12 directorships and a previous partner who now has 45 and most of those directorships were to do with property, could be of interest.

by aiyoyo 21.08.13 7:58

Birds of the same kind flock together.

If someone walks in the dark too often, something will get him one day. Don't forget he's trustee of the other Pte Ltd Co.

by plebgate 21.08.13 8:28

Not having read The Book I seem to remember a post which said along the lines of Mrs. did not believe in coincidences but as has been pointed out in Who What Where's post above, there do seem to be rather a lot of coincidences along the way.

Edited to add a clapping

for SP.

by Guest 21.08.13 9:53

A reminder of the video produced by this illustrious gentleman for the 3rd anniversary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghIWyEdEB00

As a matter of interest, does anyone have information about the nature of one of his former companies Keekoscene Ltd (number 05182391) which was dissolved coincidentally in May 2007?

I've heard that it might have involved adult entertainment; no problem of course with that as long as it was strictly for adults.

More information about him here.

http://companycheckweblive.elasticbeanstalk.com/director/906034713

by sallypelt 21.08.13 12:40

This seems the appropriate place to put this information:

The UK public sector recorded a small but unexpected deficit in July.

The ONS said that public sector net debt - the total outstanding amount owed by the state - reached £1.193 trillion in the month, excluding borrowing to finance financial interventions, such as bank rescues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23777500

wellllll, it's taxpayers' money, isn't it? Soooo easy to spend OTHER PEOPLE'S money, by giving it to the likes of JC......allegedly!

by Who?What?Where? 22.08.13 0:37

Small =1.193 trillion? I would laugh at that figure, even ridicule it, if it did not carry so many serious implication's for the majority.

I suppose it must seem small, if you can print your own money and pay yourself with it. There would be no limit's to what small or large was, in that scenario.

It just sound's like a scam, to me. Why not take the scam a step further, and then charge the majority, a rate of interest, for borrowing the money that you have just printed. That would be very lucrative, for all involved.

Oh, hang on, it seem's that they have already thought of that.

by Rufus T 21.10.13 23:28

Well, well not liking where my mind is going with this, just wondering has anyone ever discovered any more about Keekoscene?

by By Numbers 22.10.13 11:53

As a former council employee, where corruption has been rife and one of the most heavily-involved members of staff having been a huge Common Purpose fanboy, when I see huge amounts of money being spent on nothing it now makes me think, 'Oh, I bet I know where they get their inexplicably expensive and useless leadership training'.

It looks like someone else might have the same thoughts about Salford Council:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/common_purpose_salford_council?unfold=1

It'd be interesting to find out what prompted 'Request 3'.

by Woofer 28.03.14 23:51

Putting this here from July last year - he`s certainly turning into a Fat Cat.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/media/cable-visits-landing-mediacityuk-5068174

Jon Corner doing nicely LandingNews9-5068170

Jon Corner doing nicely LandingNews9-5068170

by missbeetle 20.07.14 3:37

(snipped from Liverpool Philharmonic website)

Always good to keep an eye on what Jon Corner, family friend, is up to...

by **tigger** 20.07.14 6:55

Gosh!

Just look at that photograph of JC and whatshisname liberal something.

Iread:

Digital
Workflows
Gamability
Social something (that simply has to be there...) etc.

All the jargon and non-words of the average town councillor. Gamability is imo a mortal sin committed on the English language and should be punished for the same reason as the words 'interpersonal communication interface' (telephone).
No, I haven' t made it up. splat

by Guest 05.08.14 10:52

Woofer wrote:Putting this here from July last year - he`s certainly turning into a Fat Cat.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/media/cable-visits-landing-mediacityuk-5068174

He looks like a thug. If I didn't know different, I would assume he was Cable's "protection".

by Guest 05.08.14 12:33

There's certainly a job as a bouncer or a bailiff waiting for him if ever he decides on a career change.

by petunia 05.08.14 22:12

If Madeleine hadn't gone missing would Jon Conner be walking at the side of Vince Cable? and just what reason and why is he walking with Vince Cable? Business secretary to the Lib Dems.

by missbeetle 12.08.14 2:09

Jon Corner doing nicely Mit1_zps196b4916

Pop a leather jacket on Jon, and you could have yourself another Mitchell brother.

(off-topic - but does anyone remember years ago Ross possibly getting whacked over by Rebekah?)

Another Corner oddity - his wife is yet another lady keeping her maiden name.

The only picture of her I've seen is this one -

Jon Corner doing nicely <a href=

by plebgate 12.08.14 5:56

Ross Kemp and his former wife Rebekah - yep the matter has been discussed on the forum previously.

Phil Mitchell - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101381/EastEnders-actor-Steve-McFadden-left-bleeding-attacked-ex-car.html

by Snifferdog 12.08.14 10:17

missbeetle wrote:

Pop a leather jacket on Jon, and you could have yourself another Mitchell brother.

(off-topic - but does anyone remember years ago Ross possibly getting whacked over by Rebekah?)

Another Corner oddity - his wife is yet another lady keeping her maiden name.

The only picture of her I've seen is this one -

I have not seen this photo before missbeetle.
All those favouring the M's, seem to have such incestuous relationships.

by comperedna 12.08.14 12:50

Snifferdog... In the UK there is nothing unusual in a woman keeping her maiden name if she chooses to get married. My daughter did this and it was not considered peculiar. It was nothing to do with a 'professional' name either. She and her partner had been living together for a long while, and when they decided to start a family they married, though of course they need not have done so. She saw no reason to changer her name. It is a matter of personal choice... no big deal. You don't even need to be an ardent feminist to keep your own name.

by Snifferdog 12.08.14 13:02

comperedna wrote:Snifferdog... In the UK there is nothing unusual in a woman keeping her maiden name if she chooses to get married. My daughter did this and it was not considered peculiar. It was nothing to do with a 'professional' name either. She and her partner had been living together for a long while, and when they decided to start a family they married, though of course they need not have done so. She saw no reason to changer her name. It is a matter of personal choice... no big deal. You don't even need to be an ardent feminist to keep your own name.

Hi comperedna. Many women keep their surnames after marriage here too. Many decide to use both surnames, especially the "black diamonds" as they are known here. I was referring to the McCanns set of acquaintances, who are so conveniently and comfortably placed, in other words, they are conveniently placed to supply,"just what the doctor ordered", re. The McCanns, who are responsible for the disappearance of Madeleine.

by Guest 12.08.14 13:06

A bit off topic so apologies in advance.

As a child (many moons ago) I had a book on etiquette which was even older than me. The "correct" way to address a married woman was as Mrs John Smith - women's liberation was a very long way off.

I remember even as a child feeling very indignant and thinking this wasn't right.