It is with great sadness that I must report the impending departure from Tower Hamlets council of Isabella Freeman, the town hall’s esteemed head of legal services and monitoring officer.
In an official announcement at 3.41pm today, a senior press officer at the Homes and Communities Agency confirmed she had been successful in her pursuit of the soon-to-be vacant ‘head of legal services’ section there (the current incumbent is retiring). She will also be its ‘company secretary’.
What a fine addition to their team she will make (one of them, Richard Ennis, the head of corporate services, is, like Isabella, an alumni of Slough council).
Among the few who have been in the know about this, there’s been a mixture of delight and astonishment. The HCA is the regulatory body for housing associations and it’s an important government quango.
As such, the most senior appointments at least used to need approval from the Department for Communities and Local Government. And given what the current and recent crop of ministers there think of Ms Freeman, it’s difficult to see how they would have given their blessing.
But – and some might add ‘alas’ – the HCA tells me DCLG approval is not needed. They say they’ve had approval to recruit to “business critical” posts…and head of legal services for a regulatory body is deemed pretty critical.
What her new salary will is yet to be revealed: she’s currently on £115k.
So off Isabella goes. She’s resigned, so no payoff and no more of her threats and badly spelt emails of legal intimidation. I’ll miss them. And so will a few senior councillors.
And it’s also probably case that she’s deprived us all of what would have been the most fascinating employment tribunal the council has ever defended. You’ll recall she was suing her own employer – for what, we don’t know. And we may never know because it’s probable, though not definite, she’ll let that one quietly drop.
If I were the boss of the HCA, I think I’d have had a quiet word with her about it. It’s interesting that a law firm called Pinsent Mason, which has previously acted as a solicitor for the HCA, has been conducting research about her on the web. Whether that was connected to the appointment, I don’t know.
But who next for Tower Hamlets council? An interim appointment beckons while the search for a long term successor begins.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman would love to have his own person in the job, but given the debacle and failure in getting Aman Dalvi into the chief executive’s post (a fiasco in which Isabella played a significant part), he will have a battle on his hands.
The monitoring officer role must be agreed by the full council. And getting them to agree on anything has been pretty much impossible since 2010.
Anyway, to those reading at the HCA…..good luck!
Trial by Jeory 
How much time, money and energy has been wasted on the bureaucracy of employing her at LBTH. I wonder what she actually achieved in her time there to justify that salary.
I don’t know what to say really. It’s so enfuriating being forces to pay for all this. I’d be prepared to bet that Lutfur will now try to recruit a Muslim connected to the IFE to replace her… who will be totally impartial of course.
I, and everyone with a shred of decency in them, can but hope that Peter Golds bungs all the bullying threats and intimidation and made-up legal rigmarole he had off her straight on the desk of the HCA, and on the desks of the press, and they sack her before she gets her feet under the table. She isn’t fit to be employed in any organisation that doesn’t want its staff bullied with mumbo-jumbo for failing to bend to her will.
Ted, I think you are not being entirely truthful here. You aren’t reporting this ‘with great sadness’ (your opening line); rather you, like every other right-minded TH resident, is glad to see this waste of space shuffling off to create her mischief elsewhere.
Tim
Isabella Freeman joined Slough Borough Council on 5 January 1998. She departed for Tower Hamlets on 31 December 2005 having reached the status of Assistant Director Legal.
During her time at Slough, Isabella met a young accountant called Richard Ennis. He claims to have had the job title from 1998 to 2000 of Assistant Director Finance. In published interviews Mr Ennis, or shall we call him Dick?, claims he personally “Saw through the transition period of this newly created unitary authority.”.
Slough was a district council. When the national government abolished Berkshire County Council, sleazy Slough in 1998 became one of six Berkshire unitary councils. A unitary council performs all the functions of both a district and county council. In fact, it does more than a London Borough Council because it doesn’t have Boris or the GLA taking away any responsibilities.
Due to the nature of their jobs, Isabella and Dick spent many hours working closely together. Its inevitable they became friends especially as both worked in the same relatively small 1936 Town Hall.
Today we learn that the same Dick, is now Big Dick, the finance director at the Homes and Communities Agency which have offered Isabella salvation. A way to escape from the cesspit that is Tower Hamlets.
Small World.
Yes it is a small world because Jill Bell, Isabella’s successor as Assistant Director Legal at Slough followed Isabella to Tower Hamlets. I wonder if Jill will get Isabella’s job.
Brave man Mr Jeory!
Is that an ostrich I see nestled in the corner of the picture of the great enforcer? The last time I saw an Ostrich on this blog were you not sent a threatening letter by the very same person.
Tower Hamlets has been brought into disrepute by this administration and the officers supporting attempts to silence the free press, democracy and proper debate. I remain absolutely disgusted that the Mayor, with all his power believes it’s a breach of his “human rights” to answer questions in chamber.
Ted, would you consider a blog in relation to the public meeting, following the tragic death of that your man on Tower HAMLETS Streets. I found the Video posted here;
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/court-crime/video_community_safety_meeting_following_murder_of_ajmol_alom_in_poplar_1_2352203)
Seeing the mayor, forced on camera as a resident seems to have decided to film the great leader. I found it fascinating in relation to the anger shown towards the Mayor and the clear tension within the community. I am not sure if I am correct, however I think he left to attend a meal with the Council of Mosques after being late and in the face of the angry residents. One cannot help be angry with Rahman as he funnels funding into his “own office” and “religious organisations” while the needs of the community seem overlooked.
I am not a natural conservative, however one cannot help respect Peter Golds determination to hold this council to account within the context of the reported legal onslaught unleashed on this elected councillor by Tower Hamlets. If LR is unseated, then I believe a full, detailed and public enquiry into the conduct of this “local government” organisation should be undertaken so that faith in Tower Hamlets can be restored.
LR spends our money in his name. LR will not be accountable and seems impervious to genuine concerns in relation to how he spends his money to meet narrow self interests.
Thanks for that link. V interesting dynamics. The vapid nature of Lutfur’s responses under public grilling underscore the amazement that he’s risen so far.
And fascinating to see heartfelt anger and sincerely he’d beliefs that people have been failed by police and policy makers.
It’s also reminded me of that decision to re-centralise youth services, a puzzling move made so early on by Lutfur. From the way Andy Bamber (whose impressive articulacy contrasted sharply with the ineptitude of Lutfur and Ohid) so keenly grabbed the mic to explain that decision, I’m guessing he was behind it.
Must revisit this issue.
Finally, the bully is gone; surely she wanted some money for herself (hence she sued Tower Hamlets); thank it did not work out for her and she did not get any of our taxed money! Wondering who will now ill advice Luthfur? Good Luck to all that work at the HCA!
[u]Assistant Chief Executive moves on[/u]
The council has announced that Isabella Freeman, its Assistant Chief Executive since 2006, is moving from her post within the council.
Isabella said: “Tower Hamlets is a diverse and exciting part of London. In addition to my role as Chief Legal Officer, I have spent six years working on key projects to transform the borough, in particular delivering the regeneration of the Ocean Estate in Whitechapel and the Blackwall Reach Estate in Poplar, which will have a huge impact in terms of both addressing housing needs and employment in two of the poorest wards in the borough. The council has an unrivalled record of achievement and I, and my teams in the Chief Executive’s Department, have been committed to the delivery of excellent public services and have both supported and delivered the changes, which have made a difference to the lives of residents in this borough. I wish the borough and its staff the very best for the future.”
Mayor Rahman said: “Isabella has worked with great dedication, commitment and integrity during her time at Tower Hamlets. She has engaged with our partners with resilience and determination to deliver regeneration and transformation of the urban landscape and to deliver housing and a better place to live for the borough’s residents in many different ways. We are sad to lose such a passionate and dedicated staff member and we wish her the best.”
Strange. Sounds more like a eulogy on a head of housing than on a purveyor of made-up law and vitriolic vendettas pursued into the courts.
I understand that was be statement published on the council’s intranet.
Funny, I always thought the Ocean estate was in Stepney, not Whitechapel…but I’m sure the assiduous Monitoring Officer and her famous attention to detail knows better…
EX-Monitoring Officer…
Yes.
Apologies for the libel.
WHS, this is a load of of bollocks.
>Isabella said “Tower Hamlets is a diverse and exciting part of London”
but forgot to add where the chief legal officer is suing her own council for money on what appears to be a flimsy whim.
Now that the Princess of Darkness is leaving, the council’s computer systems are being filled with sickening waffle.
> Isabella said “committed to the delivery of excellent public services” but failed, in my opinion, to actually achieve it. Has anyone got any glowing-with-praise accolades they wish to inflict upon us?
OPEN THE DOORS and the windows at LBTH. Spray the place with air freshener. Get rid of the obnoxious pong once and for all.
Ugh. How revolting. Don’t forget to wash your hands properly !
SENSATIONAL NEWS
> In addition to my role as Chief Legal Officer, I have spent six years working on key projects to transform the borough, in particular delivering the regeneration of the Ocean Estate in Whitechapel and the Blackwall Reach Estate in Poplar, which will have a huge impact in terms of both addressing housing needs and employment in two of the poorest wards in the borough.
Someone paid by LBTH to be the Chief Legal Officer has insufficient legal work to do, so for 6 whole years she did non-legal work like major projects. For example actually “delivering” regeneration. Everyone knows regeneration is time consuming with lots of often senseless meetings with people trying to impress others with their bloated self-importance.
So, the evidence is clear. Either there were too many legal staff employed in the legal department which created the spare time for the Chief Legal Officer to get deeply involved in time-consuming non-legal work or the type of legal work presented to the Chief Legal Officer was beyond her capability, hence she had time for “easier” things to do.
Only Isabella can explain to us how she had so little demands on her legal expertise for 6 whole years, that she was able to do lots of non-legal work.
How can one be a Chief Legal Officer when one does for 6 whole years lots of non-legal work? Is this a misleading trade description?
The LBTH is a baffling experience. Isabella please do enlighten us – we really want to know.
How about this?
The council previously had two Assistant Chief Execs (the other being Lutfur Ali).
When Ali left, the posts were essentially amalgamated.
Hence the non-legal side to the portfolio.
And yes, Ted, the Ocean was in Stepney last time I looked.
Kind of explains all those dodgy election returns in Whitechapel and Stepney, doesn’t it…
…cos it’s well known that white Christian legal officers forget the names of their wards…
Oldford1,
Your ‘local government’ explanation is simply not good enough to fool anyone, except for perhaps Isabella.
THE FACTS
Isabella said ‘Chief Legal Officer’ not ‘Assistant Chief Exec’.
There is a distinction between the two roles even in the murky and often corrupt world of local government. One is the council’s primary LEGAL resource. The other is a typically Labour invention to provide often meaningless jobs for Labour supporters when the work could be equally as well be done by a more junior person on a lower salary.
It was in the role of Chief Legal Office that Isabella claims she did 6 years of non-legal work.
Did this Lutfur Ali person leave more than 6 years ago? I suspect not, so that eliminates down your helpful explanation.
Please try to remember that Chief Legal Officers are normally employed to do LEGAL work, nothing more and nothing less, although the LBTH may be a strange and bewildering exception to common sense and good ‘governance’.
Ted,
Not related to IF, but I notice that the application for a (non-)Mosque at Island Gardens has been withdrawn. What’s the story behind this? I notice that your blog entry about this topic (https://trialbyjeory.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/the-art-of-planning-applications-canaletto-and-a-proposed-mosque-for-island-gardens/) has been closed for new comments.
Tim.
yes, I need to update everyone on this – the applicant has conceded defeat. But a bigger issue is bubbling away.
Bigger Issue bubbling away?
Awaits with interest ….
Reblogged this on Sundial Centre Shipton Street and commented:
An interesting story if you read between the lines!
For a flavour of what Ms Freeman got up to at Slough see here:
http://www.slough.info/s/s02/s02bullysbc.php
See her diary at:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/tower_hamlets_diaries_freeman_un
Ms Freeman was responsible for advising the Mayor that he didn’t have to answer questions as it might infringe his human rights. She also advised the General Purposes Committee in May/June 2011 that it could make board appointments to Tower Hamlets Homes. Within the space of a few months, in December 2011 she advised the mayor that he could make board appointments to Tower Hamlets Homes.
JayKay,
> Ms Freeman was responsible for advising the Mayor that he didn’t have to answer questions as it might infringe his human rights
On the legal grounds of avoiding self-incrimination ?
Have you got the questions his Excellency didn’t answer ?
On this blog and elsewhere in your daily lives many of you have discovered that the local government system is failing, often indifferent, usually unresponsive to the people who fund it and who are its customers and completely divorced from practical democracy. Its overpaid unelected and unaccountable staff are running their personal fiefdoms. They know best. When clueless they call-in the expensive consultants. Add his Excellency and his gang or clan and the nightmare expands.
Get the national political parties out of local government, and create a new modern system fit for the citizens. The Isabella saga illustrates local government’s imperfections. There is no publicly funded regulator or even a check-list of how local government should perform. Lots of laws from central government but never any citizens’ charter or citizens’ rights.
Whoever kicks out his Excellency, and I hope he goes, should introduce A Declaration of Citizen’s Rights else its just the same failing and disappointing story again.
Completely agree the wicked witch has departed
All we need now is Shrek 2 Cormack to follow her!