Trial by Jeory

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

5 Responses

1. on November 7, 2011 at 12:16 pm You couldn't make it up!

   Classic!

   Are you starting a sweepstake for how long it will take before the irrepressible Mr Sulaiman costs the borough millions of pounds? Can I have a ticket if you do?

   Congrats too Ted on having raised the profile for the “competence” and “quality” of the Takki as communications chief and the Tower Hamlets Media and Public Relations team in general!

   I wonder if other developers looking to do business with Tower Hamlets will now be thinking seriously about following the lead of ‘Live Nation’ re the indemnity clause?

   
   
2. on November 7, 2011 at 2:30 pm Carole Swords

   Who cares I am certain the majority of us residents will try to get as far away from Tower Hamlets when the Olympics hit us
   I guess it’s better to have some form of funding to use the park because the last administration was thinking of turning it into a coach/car park with no benefits for the community except Cars/coaches so I suppose we have got something in the coffers and some free tickets for a change so not really a big story there perhaps you should check out Live nation Profit margins
   ($ in millions) September 30, 2011 Cash and cash equivalents $782.6
   Client cash (333.9) event related (212.6) Accrued artist fees (11.2) Collections on behalf of others (35.6) Prepaid related to artist settlements/events 167.3
   Free cash $ 356.Thats £222.19 Profits
   Yep profits for a company based in LA perhaps we should have pushed for a better deal

   
   
3. on November 7, 2011 at 3:53 pm trialbyjeory

   Janet Wade, the secretary of the Friends of Victoria Park, has made this comment today on that group’s Facebook page. So angry is she about the lack of consultation by the council with the group on various issues in the park that she has announced she is resigning.

   I have to say that there does seem to be a mentality in this administration that Victoria Park doesn’t really matter to those who care about it. They see it as an asset to be milked.

   Here are Janet’s comments:

   Janet Wade 2:47pm Nov 7
   Not being a face book user generally, I’ve been v quiet on these postings. However, I thought it appropriate to make this my first ‘outing’. I’ve recently resigned as the Secretary of the Friends Group and will formally do so at the meeting tomorrow evening (6.30pm, St Paul’s Church, St Stephens Road, E3). This is basically because I am concerned about the lack of engagement with the Friends Group about the serious delays associated with the improvement works and the use of the park for commercial events and the Olympic Live Site in 2012. The worst aspect of these delays is that is seems the works will only be finished in May – just in time for the same large-scale commercial music events as last year to take over the park in June, followed by the Olympic Live Site from July to September (with 2 weeks of more large commercial events before the Olympics even start!)

   It is the number, scale (up to 50,000 people) and very late finishing times of these events (after midnight during the Olympics) that concerns me. I am in favour of the park actively being used for community events, and the occasional commercial event, but I am very concerned that such a well loved park can be exploited in this way. Also at the lack of regard the Council has for the views of park users and residents.

   The only other Live Site to get used in this way is Hyde Park – which obviously is larger with a less sensitive locality.

   There has been no consultation despite repeated requests. I feel that without the proper transfer of information and an ability to influence matters, then the Friends Group becomes relatively tokenistic.

   I know Richard, the Chair, feels more positive about things than I do. And I’m sure, with his help, the Group will manage to initiate and help with successful community projects and events in the park for years to come.

   Perhaps too optimistically, I had just hoped for more significant engagement with the Friends and residents by the Council.

   
   
   • on November 8, 2011 at 5:17 pm eastendersscriptwriterscouldn'tmakeitup

     Have you seen the latest Fbook message from Richard Desmond, organiser of the Friends group, about the subsequent consultation?

     
     
     • on November 8, 2011 at 6:50 pm trialbyjeory

       Here it is:

       Richard Joseph Desmond 3:25pm Nov 8
       I had an email from Cllr Josh Peck about The Olympic Live Site he has asked me to share the information with the group:

       Richard

       Myself and Cllrs Turner, Gibbs, Harper-Penman and Khan have ‘called in’ the Mayor’s decision to enter into a contract with Live Nation for the Victoria Park ‘Live Site’ – see attached. We don’t believe that a decision of this magnitude has been properly taken.

       For a start, there appears to have been zero consultation or discussion with residents, local councillors or the Friends Group. I recently received an email from an officer which said ‘Now that we’ve signed the contract, we’d like to speak to you’! That isn’t acceptable, not least as the decision was taken behind closed doors.

       Second, up to 1.2million people descending on the park over three(ish) weeks is a huge number and no consideration whatsoever seems to have been given to the impact on the local area, the park, transport networks (can the Central Line really cope with all these extra people when it will already be full to bursting with people going to Olympics itself, for example?), the emergency services etc etc.

       As you can see, we’ve asked for a number of issues to be reconsidered and for the decision to be taken in public with an opportunity for residents to have their say.

       As such, please can you flag this to people tonight and ask them to come along to two key meetings:

       1) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee at 7pm on Tuesday 6 December, that will consider the call-in and whether to refer the decision back to the Mayor.

       2) AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, the Cabinet at 5.30pm on Wednesday 7 December where the decision (if sent back by O&S) will be reconsidered. Residents will have the opportunity to question the Mayor on the issue then.

       As you know, he doesn’t generally listen to people but I do think it’s important that he understands the strength of feeling on this and also that people see how he behaves.

       We’ll also let people in the vicinity know.

       Sorry not to be able to make tonight. Hope it goes well.

       Josh

       Cllr Joshua Peck
       Bow West

       
       

Comments are closed.