First Labour (via Josh Peck) and now the Tories. Tower Hamlets Opposition leader Peter Golds has raised his concerns about Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s plan to divert £3m of a £3.7m emergency Whitehall grant to the council’s reserves.
He has written to Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, calling on him to withhold the grant if Lutfur presses ahed with his policy. No doubt, Peter would have consulted Eric’s office before penning his letter, so the reply will be interesting.
(To put in the boot, Peter also highlights in his letter the council’s previous decisions to spend £42,000 hiring celebrities for staff award ceremonies – as broken here on Saturday.)
Dear Secretary of State
Re: Government Settlement for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Obviously the reduced grant to local authorities will cause difficulties for administrations. My group has worked hard to identify savings that can be made in this borough and that will not impact on front line services to residents.
My group is impressed that your department, having assessed the very special needs of an authority like Tower Hamlets, has awarded a “Special Transition Grant” of £3.7 million. We would be surprised if the Mayor or his administration were to publicise this fact, or reign in vanity expenditure such as the council’s weekly newspaper.
In fact the Mayor amazingly on a brief provided by officers stated that certain local authorities were receiving increased grants, he named West Oxfordshire and Tunbridge Wells, for partisan purposes. I have checked the public information and intend to correct him on this subject.
However, buried within his budget proposals to be agreed by council is the interesting plan to divert £3 million to reserves. Our current reserves are within the “prudent range” and therefore existing reserves are more than sufficient and certainly do not need to be increased.
It is generally thought that the transitional grant will be mainly saved, and probably used, if the current year is an example, to make grants to certain favoured “third sector organisations”
We believe that this grant is to maintain front line services such as children’s centres and care for the elderly, which are threatened with reduction of funds.
Thanks to Freedom of Information we have uncovered extraordinary expenditure by a “cash strapped” and “poor” authority. Namely the hiring at considerable expense for personalities at internal council events as can be seen from the chart below.
DATE CELEBRITY EVENT FEE Jul-05 Athlete – Kris Akabusi Support Staff Conference £3,000 Nov-06 Swimmer – Sharron Davis Annual Staff Awards £6,000 Nov-07 Athlete – Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson Annual Staff Awards £7,500 Nov-08 Actor – Barbara Windsor Annual Staff Awards £13,000 Jun-09 Businesswoman – Camila Batmanghelidjh Workforce Development Conference £1,000 Nov-09 Comedian – Shappi Khorsandi Annual Staff Awards £8,050 Jun-10 Esther Rantzen Children’s Workforce Development Conference £4,000 If the Mayor persists in this misguided policy of using the Transitional Grant to bolster reserves then we would request the Grant be withheld until the Mayor confirms that it will be used for the purpose intended
Yours sincerely
Councillor Peter Golds
Blackwall and Cubitt Town Ward
No public funds have been used in the postage of this communication
Trial by Jeory 
Bloody hell. I know people have said that LBTH has a problem with inarticulate members, but this bloke can hardly speak English!
The letter is a hastily cobbled-together back-of-a-fag-packet job, lurching from issue to issue and then back again throughout, making very little sense whatever.
If anyone doubts this is schoolboy politics, be reassured by the closing strapline of which I am sure Golds is very proud.
Peter Golds has been paid to write informative and concise reports since you were wearing pampers Mr Mirrors. Troll Fail.
Clearly they have been cheated if this is the type of garbage he is producing!
Actually, it is a well thought out and well presented exposition of what the writer seems to be thinking. I would, however, like to point out that impact is a noun not a verb.
Eric Pickles eats Peter Golds
@Steve Mirrors: That’s a bit strong, Steve. Work for Lutfur do you or are you just another troll?
Anyone could see this one coming – Lutfur is making himself a hostage to fortune if he continues with this idea. Have to say the letter is unworthy of Peter who I would expect to be able to put out a much more coherent missive – it does leap from point to point.
And Peter’s close ties to the Tory party will mean that his letter will get to the top of Eric’s pile.
“My group has worked hard to identify savings that can be made in this borough
and that will not impact on front line services to resident.”
Oh my goodness Saint Peter the Goulds its his lot that are inflicting the biggest cuts for Tower Hamlets way above the cuts that are occurring in Tory led Boroughs Tell me Why is he not writing to Pickles to argue why we are having to face one of the biggest cuts in front line services in Tower Hamlets?
Now he goes on to say that “My” group is impressed that your department, having assessed the very special needs of an authority like Tower Hamlets, has awarded a “Special Transition Grant” of £3.7 million. What take away £78 million and spoon feed us back a measly £3,7m i don’t know what public school Saint Pete’ attended but I don’t suppose economics was his core subject
Now to the ‘interesting plan’ to divert £3 million to reserves. Our current reserves are within the “prudent range” and therefore existing reserves are more than sufficient – more than sufficient! is he aware there are 250.000 people living in Tower hamlets
How does he know where the reserves will be used there may be a need and to keep some by for a rainy day its is good housekeeping and our borough as he knows is very diverse the make up of it there are around 45% white British 1.8% white Irish
7%. other white 0.8% White & Black Caribbean 0.4% White & Black African 0.8% White & Asian 0.6% Other Mixed 2.1% Indian 1.0% Pakistani 30.5% Bangladeshi 1.0% Other Asian 2.2% Black Caribbean 2.8% Black African 0.5% Other Black 2.3% Chinese 1.% other “certain favoured “third sector organisations ”
I am confused as to where he is going with this statement perhaps he needs to come to grip of the make up of Tower Hamlets and some his little insinuations that he spurts out!
He never had anything to say with the past administration he was one of the ones in the Forefront that bleated on and on that they did not have the money to bring homes up to a decent homes standard and spent millions on convincing the tenants that this was the only alternative and painted the picture or doom and gloom thus handing Billions of public assets and land to some very unscrupulous housing associations in the guise of a RSL only to come out and say after the dirty deals had been done “oh look after we gave the public silver away because we could not afford to bring it up to decent standards we have just found £6.5 million” short memory?
I am sorry to say but these grants awarded are very important I myself has just participated in one of the grants projects that are open to everyone in TH and also won an award for promoting a more healthy borough along with over 600 more of our local residents
Goulds says that
“He believes that this grant will maintain front line services such as children’s centres and care for the elderly, which are threatened with reduction of funds.” to be quiet honest the proposed £78million cuts that have to be inflicted from the general fund budget over the next three years sadly the proposal to slash spending from the schools and families directorate of £15 million over the next three years with children’s centres expected to slash £2.7m I myself have a Petition in to the full council tonight stating the fact But i have been informed that Me a Lifelong resident Is not allowed to attend council meetings as i am banned and have been for three years MY crime is that i splashed some water upon a mouthy councillor who breached all of his code of conduct but I was banned because they do not like to be challenged with the truth
But we need to look deeper into these cuts and into Saint Pete’ and his cronies the ones who are making the rules to cut this expenditure
Oh Yes its Goulds buddies in No 10 Yes the Con’dem’ned gang of henchmen his target should be there and he should be fighting the cuts not the council that are being forced to make them—-
What a hypocrite he finishes his letter informing us all that
NO PUBLIC FUNDS WERE USED TO SEND HIS RIDICULOUS LETTER
Then he goes on to say how cleaver the Tories are because the have used the Freedom of Information and we have uncovered extraordinary expenditure by a “cash strapped” and “poor” authority.hiring at considerable expense for personalities at internal council events ( that occurred over the past six years and you know what my opinion is on that!)
MUM MM can someone please enlighten me how much all these FOI that are conducted for just trying to score points
( like the Luther-gate mobile phone sensation NOT! ) that cost US residents in TH unnecessary expenditure Unbelievable
—
Carole
His name is Golds not Goulds.
And you criticize his writing Carole?
Sorry Mr Knackered! civil Servant I did NOT criticize his writing at all!
And perhaps the upside down posting was done for a reason!
And who do you think you are my Headmaster
I don’t hide behind a fetish unlike some
I would be surprised if Eric Pickles takes loony Peter seriously. I met Eric few months ago and know what he thinks of Peter Golds. In the last 6 months Peter has exposed himself to be a nutcase, people of Tower Hamlets are getting fed up of this dirty antics. I have not heard of Peter to do any positive work in the borough beside whinge and work as a mouth piece for Josh & Abbas.
I actually feel sorry for Peter, he has tarnished his reputation in Tower Hamlets and as a consequence suffer at the next election. There are already several groups that have declared they will campaign against him at the next election. What a fool!
Couldn’t agree more
It’s time for Peter to resign and leave the Party. His too old and doesn’t make sense anymore. There are far more competent people in his party that have more respect from the public. Peter please resign and go!
I’ve never had the pleasure (???!) of meeting Pickles (probably just as well since one of us would no longer be on this earth if we did meet).
I did know Peter pretty well quite some years ago – he was certainly on the ball on local government issues when I knew him although time (and TH politics) can do funny things to a person but I’d be sorry if his expertise is going downhill.
I was wondering whether he is respected by the current generation of Tories. He’s been closely involved with the party for decades – you can thank him for introducing John and Norma Major to one another and he’s worked for various Thatcher-generation ministers. But time moves on and people come and go. I also know what other Tory friends of mine (not in TH) think of him.
I would add that Eric Pickles seems resolutely determined to ignore or not take seriously the advice or comments of ANYONE, especially anyone in local government. Even Baroness Margaret Eaton, leader of the Local Government Association and newly-appointed Conservative peer, is not finding that her organisation’s views are being taken on board and she’s beginning to take a more robust personal line against the Government.
So if what you say is true then Peter is not alone. Not being taken seriously by Eric Pickles is fast becoming this year’s badge of respect!
Oh, and for the record, no I am not a Tory – I would die rather than become one.
You could make it up – really?
So you’ve been making things up again and this is really a leg pull?
That would make sense.
I know imitation is supposed to the sincerest form of flattery – however since you’ve adopted a near mimic of my username I think I’ll have to have a word with Ted as to my new moniker.
#10. Still trying to work this out. It would seem that the commentator is extremely close to the Conservative leadership, close enough in fact for Eric Pickles to to tell him what he, Pickles, thinks of Peter Golds. Whatever that was we are not told and are left to try and work it out.
Quite how a leading Conservative is working for two prominent Labour councillors I don,t know and the last paragraph makes no sense whatsoever.
@ essexlad
You obviously have not been following Tower Hamlets politics. In the recent Mayoral elections, Peter has been the most vocal supporter of Abbas and even sent out letters of complaints to various agencies defending Abbas and the Labour party. He is also a very close friend of Ken Clarke and they spend a lot of time together plotting and planning. Peter has done more work for the Labour party in Tower Hamlets than his own party, even his fellow party members will confirm that. Under his leadership the Tower Hamlets Tory party is losing it’s credential, that’s why someone well liked and competent like Tim Archer did poorly at the parliamentry elections.
Any fool can tell you that Peter has zero charisma and hardly ever does any real community work. He is too busy sucking upto the party hierarchy and thinks he is far more important than to do petty community level work.
In the midst of all his recent whinging and fighting for the Labour Party, Peter has seriously exposed himself as a loony nutter who is dyslexic and confused about which party he belongs to. The people of Tower Hamlets are very political astute and they will not tolerate Peter’s double standard and disloyalty to the Tory party and as a result of his foolishness he may suffer at the next ballot.
I really don’t quite see how namecalling (nicknames or otherwise) by ANYBODY – of ANY religious persuasion or political party – helps constructive debate.
Pot calling kettle are words that spring to mind in relation to some of the above contributions.
There’s a very sensible notion in the blogging world that you can’t say anything on a blog which you wouldn’t say to the person’s face when sat in their house.
It follows that exceptionally rude people are shown the door (suspended) or refused entry (blocked).
The main benefit of such an approach is it allows people to comment who are otherwise intimidated by those who are very rude and/or make threats.
Please stop whinging, you remind us of loony Peter Golds, I hope you are not him or his troll.
Let’s get back to the topic, so what is your view on Peter’s letter to Eric Pickles and doing you think it was right of him to suggest the funding to be withheld?
1. I’ve made my views on the grant/reserves issues clear elsewhere on this blog – see https://trialbyjeory.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/kevan-collins-josh-peck-takes-aim/
2. I don’t respond to trolls
3. for the definition of troll see – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)
@ You could make it up!
I’d like you to choose another username, please. Yours too closely resembles ‘You couldn’t make it up!’ and is therefore against my comments policy. Please choose something clearer. No more of your comments will be allowed under that name.
Many thanks
Ted
Pot, Kettle and Black is the phrase
not Pot calling Kettle
I know exactly what the phrase is – but sometimes you don’t need to use all the words……..
Iv heard of a coup d’état taking place and a younger generation of conservative leaders coming thorough!
No more looney idiots shouting an screaming! Go away Peter Goulds and strangle someone else outside the chamber
Ted, this is not unusual of you. You could ask ‘you couldn’t make it up (Peter Gold)’ to change his user name. I agree with ‘you could make it up’ that Peter Gold will have to face people in next election. When Mayor, deputy mayor and 4 cabinet members fighting tooth and nail to find £72m savings Mr Gold and his puddle imposter few Labour councillors busy creating barrier for the elected Mayor – this letter is a shiny example. I wouldn’t be surprise if I hear later on that JP/HA/RA was involved drafting this letter. There isn’t much difference between imposter Labour and Tory policies in Tower Hamlets. We expect Peter Gold to change is ugly attitude and help the residents of this Borough. Mr Gold – you could be a bridge between the Mayor and your government.
Tentatively suggest bridge for Cllr. Golds could be Bancroft Library? (Not proposed Chinese Bridge to new Chinese Pagoda in Victoria Park Heritage Lottery makeover.)
Councillor Golds fought for the Library when it was up for sale – even said he would chain himself to the gates if they sold it. Bancroft is a community project. Perhaps Cllr. Golds and Mayor Rahman could work together on this?
N.B. Peter Golds should remind Barbara Windsor and Esther Rantzen that they have East End roots. Seem to recall Babs actually going to Bancroft for her “Who Do You Think You Are” tv programme while Esther had to contend with Whitechapel Idea Store. Wonder who negotiated the filming fees for Bancroft and the Whitechapel IS back in 2007/8? Hope the Council got at least £17,000…..