I’d left by the time of this little outburst at last week’s full Tower Hamlets council meeting. It would have been nice to have posted a video of it, but the council has of course banned such transparency.
Anyway, well done to Mike Brooke and the East London Advertiser for staying the course and reporting this (which I’ve only just seen):
Families living next to east London’s Victoria Park have been shocked by a member of Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s administration urging them to move house if festivals in the park upset them.
Shahed Ali suggested they could go on a housing exchange register and swap with tenants living in his own Whitechapel neighbourhood.
The outburst came in a debate in which the council voted to call on the Mayor to “respect the democratic mandate of the authority” which has twice agreed to limit event days to six a year, end them by 10pm and put a cap on noise levels and crowd capacity.
But instead, the mayor has put out a tender inviting companies to bid for a three-year contract for up to 30 commercial event days.
Cllr Ali said: “I’d be interested to know if local ward councillors have considered asking these families if they would go on the exchange register.
“Many residents in Whitechapel would happily exchange with them and move into their houses. They can come and speak to me—I’ll help them make that move.”
The suggestion brought outrage from Labour’s Amy Whitelock, accusing him of “starting a class war” and pointing out the noise and disturbance reached a housing estate in Bethnal Green, not just families living by the park.
“Ali’s arrogance is unbelievable—it’s an outrageous remark,” she said. “It’s not a class issue, so why are you making it one?”
The row followed an earlier spat involving Cllr Ali during Public Question Time when resident Janet Wade asked why the Mayor failed to bring in the six-day limit agreed by the council.
Cllr Ali, speaking for the mayor, referred to “these difficult times” when priority was housing, education and protecting the most vulnerable from welfare reforms.
Mrs Wade slammed back: “We appreciate these are difficult times—but that doesn’t mean public parks should be used just to raise revenue rather than benefit people.
“We’re beginning to think the council isn’t a fit and proper body to manage the park.”
The big events were “not family friendly,” she maintained. They were too big, too noisy and go on too late.
Quite what Mayor Lutfur and his councillors have against the people who live near Victoria Park is really something of a mystery. But they do seem to be fond of making little digs against the “middle classes” they believe to live there.
I think they need to get out more. Talk to the people in Bow and Mile End, even. I’ve always liked Shahed, but well done to Amy Whitelock for having a pop at him in the council chamber. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know if she raised Shahed’s own personal business interests.
His declared register of interests on the council’s website says he owns an events company called Global Arts Village Ltd. There’s more about this outfit on the council’s website here, where it says:
Established since 1998 to raise the media and public profile of Bangladesh and the Bengali arts industry, we have organised the biggest and largest Bangladeshi concert events at venues such as the former London and Wembley Arena’s, Royal Festival Hall, Millenium Dome and taken shows to the USA and Bangladesh, including outdoor events.
Founder of the BIMA AWARDS (Bangladesh International Media Awards) in the year 2004 as an annual event to recognise achievement in Bangladeshi talent worldwide.
This event is broadcast live to a 30 million+ audience worldwide. We have worked with all A-list celebrities of Bangladesh.
We have also produced TV drama’s for ethnic televison channels, filmed in locations throughout the UK and Bangladesh with a mixture of local talent and A-list celebrities.
Shahed Ali, the founder and Artistic Director, was born and brought up in Tower Hamlets, educated and still currently works in Tower Hamlets.
But the funny thing about this company is that it doesn’t actually exist. Well, not any more anyway.
According to records at Companies House, it changed its name to Arts Worldwide in June 2009 and was dissolved in September 2010.
So why is it still on Shahed’s declaration of interests? Well, that’s because he hasn’t updated it since October 10, 2007.
His form also says he has a substantial interest in Sangeeta Ltd, a books and CD distribution company. However, that, too, no longer exists. It was also dissolved in October 2010.
And the same goes for his declared political party: he says he’s a member of Respect….but oh, hang on a sec, having defected from them to Labour to Lutfur, that part is actually about right.
A declaration of interests that is six years out of date. And neither he nor the council have bothered to ensure it has been corrected in that time.
What we do know is that he runs a successful restaurant in Frinton-on-Sea in Essex (now there is a middle-class stronghold if ever there was one – how ironic).
But where else is he getting his income from? How are we able to check if he has any conflicts of interest in relation to big events in Victoria Park? A few years ago, he lobbied to take over the Boishakhi Mela from Shiraj Haque…
Shahed is a regular reader of this blog and he does, unlike other councillors, have the guts to comment under his own name, so perhaps he can explain why he hasn’t updated his register and maybe even take the opportunity to lodge a new one..right here on this blog.
We await…
Trial by Jeory 
He was also exposed by Andrew Gilligan for tax dodging and employing illegal immigrants at his restaurant in Frinton on Sea. The link doesn’t work but if people Google ” Shahed Ali and illegal workers at Frinton on Sea” or something similar they will come up with the article.
If I were John Biggs I would be playing this one for all it’s worth especially when the residents are tormented at the next festival. Teams of Labour supporters should be out the following day mass leafleting the whole area with the background to this whole fiasco.
Rahman got himself elected on a section of the Bangladeshi vote and most non Bangladeshis have now more or less disenfranchised themselves as they believe voting is a waste of time. They can be mobilised and this is one of the issues that can do that. It is clear that Rahman’s administration has complete and utter contempt for white people.
In the comments section on the Gilligan article you will see an number of contributions from myself which might help people understand the legal implications.
Reblogged this on Sundial Centre Shipton Street.
Ted,
You are obsolutely right, I do follow and contribute to your blog as I find it both informative as well as equally hilarious at times and there is no harm in a little bit of political banter at times. I do not like to think of myself as a boring unapproachable councillor, and you have known me long enough to this extent. I am dissapointed you choose not to simply call me and clarify a few of your invalid concerns prior to postig them publicly.
I certainly recall submiting my most recent declaration of interest after the May 2010 election however, I cannot respond to this post in detail now, but will do so in time if you consider revising some of the incorrect perceptions and statements contained within your post as follows;
1. As an investigative journalist who has obviously looked into my related records at Companies House, would you be kind enough as to correct and clarify that neither Global Arts Village or Arts Worldwide are my business concerns. They were both companies without shareholders hence, I could not personally profit-share from them.
2. I have never lobbied, nor submitted in any shape or form, any tender to run the Baishaki Mela, ever. Can you either clarify your source of incorrect information or remind me otherwise? As a person who had to decide I had to resign from my 10 years of full-time employment with the council in order to stand as a council candidate with no guarantee of winning the election in 2006, I think you will do me the honour to agree I am aware of the conflicts of interest that may arise in such circumstances as I was/am obviously interested and involved with arts events. You may also be interested to learn that I was once employed as the ‘Ethnic Arts Advisor’ at the council!
Right now I am looking very much forward to getting myself ready for tonights installment of Bon Jovi and Kaiser Chiefs at Hyde Park – Yes the public park owned by another council! And before you speculate, No, it is not a gift or some kinda perk for my council role. However, you have just reminded me that I forgot to declare my interest as a longstanding fan-club member of the ‘Backstage with Bon Jovi’ official fanclub. I can confirm that the council nor any other entity other than myself pays for its annual membership fee, and for any fanclub privileged concert tickets, such as the one for tonights performance.
“Keep the Faith”
Thanks, Shahed.
Do let us know when you find out why your latest declaration isn’t being displayed…and whether you’ve asked council offers to ensure all other councillors’ declarations are updated.
As for your numbered points…
1. Slightly disingenuous: you were both an employee and boss of Global Arts Village – they paid you.
2. It was you who told me you would be quite happy to help organise the Mela. In 2007/8, if my memory serves me well.
And as for your point about Hyde Park…perhaps re-check your facts. It’s run and owned by the Royal Parks, which is an agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. I think you’re getting confused with Westminster Council, which you, as a rock fan, will remember pulled the plug on Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney last year, ie a council doing its job and protecting the residents who live nearby…
Maybe ponder that while banging your head in the air tonight…
Keep the Faith!
I think on the surface Shahed’s views show the arrogance and contempt for diversity – in the true sense – that is prevelant in the leadership of this borough. Beneath the surface it’s also illustrative of the utter lack of understanding or consideration of “the other” that is rooted in racism and displayed using the language of class war. The people around Victoria Park are one of the remaining native Londoner communities in the borough. He knows they won’t ever want to move to the ghetto that is Whitechapel (over which Shahed lords) and he knows they won’t ever vote for that strange hybrid of far left and far right which Shahed represents; so in effect he’s saying ‘tough, we’re in charge, so suck it up’ etc
Are we to assume the Hajj Foundation is Shahed Ali? If it is he could he deal with some of the issues that Gilligan raised and perhaps you could put the link up, I have been told it does work.