At last. Two of the three Commissioners to be appointed by Eric Pickles to run parts of Tower Hamlets council arrive for work this morning.
They are Sir Ken Knight, who will be the lead Commissioner, and Max Caller. The third will be announced in due course.
Both Sir Ken and Mr Caller are heavy-hitters.
Sir Ken is the better known nationally, while Mr Caller has a huge reputation as a local government Mr Fixit man: he was in charge of Hackney council from 2000-04 when that authority was being transformed under special measures.
First, Sir Ken:
He’s currently a director of his own consultancy company, Ken Knight Consulting Ltd, having retired from the fire service.
He has a distinguished career. He oversaw the London Fire Brigade as London Fire Commissioner from 2003-07, including during the July 7 terror attacks.
Since that stint ended in 2007, he has worked on a number of high profile projects for central governments, both in the UK and abroad. In Britain, he worked until last year as the Government’s first Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.
He wrote the Rising to the Challenge report on the 2007 floods and was in charge of the review into the Lakanal House fire disaster in Camberwell in 2009.
And last year, he completed the cost-saving review of England’s 46 fire authorities, which found £200million could be saved.
You can see why ministers like him. Unions have a different opinion. How Lutfur Rahman and he will get along is anyone’s guess. However, Lutfur’s mentor Ken Livingstone did once have a legal run-in with him in 2007.
Here’s an extract from Sir Ken’s Linkedin profile.
There is more on his own website, here, which states he is the independent chairman of the board of Exova, a large company specialising in providing fire safety materials. I can’t find his name on Exova’s website so that might be an old listing.
He is also one of the Queen’s Deputy Lieutenants for London, so he will probably know Commander John Ludgate, the Deputy Lieutenant for Tower Hamlets who does a fabulous job of looking both bemused and amused during council meetings.
And so to Max Caller.
In this interview here, he talks about how his career started off as a sewer inspector in the underbelly of London. So fantastic training for the current situation in Tower Hamlets.
Actually, I think he will be great for the borough: he’s a former chief executive of Hackney, Barnet and Haringey councils and he’s been an election observer in Albania. What more do you need…
The Government’s biography of him states:
Max Caller CBE has amassed 33 years experience in London boroughs with the majority at Chief Officer level.
As Chief Executive of Hackney, he managed the transition of the authority from the worst in the country to one of the fastest improving.
As Chief Executive of Barnet he introduced a cabinet form of governance and an effective scrutiny system, which was one of the models for subsequent legislation.
Max was appointed the first Regional Returning Officer for London for the 1999 European elections, was Deputy Chief Counting Officer for the UK wide Alternative Vote referendum and has been involved in electoral pilot arrangements on an all-postal/electronic counting system for borough and mayoral elections.
He has also served as a short term observer for OSCE overseen elections in Albania and Montenegro and as a Commonwealth observer for elections in Kenya and Ghana.
Since April 2010 he has been chairman of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
He grew up in South Wales and is an engineer by background. He’s also on the advisory board of Norwood, a leading Jewish charity whose president (in the interests of transparency) is my employer (until Friday), Richard Desmond.
The PwC report, published on November 4, severely criticised how grants were handed out to organisations which failed to meet basic criteria for public funding, property was sold without proper process and taxpayers’ money was spent on political advertising for the Mayor.
The authority, under the direction of the Commissioners, will have three months to prepare a strategy and action plan setting out how it will comply with its duty to act openly and transparently, serving all of its communities fairly and securing value for money.
The Commissioners, due to be in place until 31 March, 2017, will drive forward the action plan, updating the Secretary of State every six months on progress.
Secretary of State Eric Pickles said: “Intervention was not a decision taken lightly however I could not ignore the overwhelming evidence of the council’s failure, and allow this to continue unchecked. I do not accept the Mayor’s representations that problems are easilhy put right.
“Residents need to know that decisions are being taken properly in an open and accountable way. The Commissioners I have appointed are experienced and talented professionals who understand that transparency and accountability are vital to the functioning of local democracy.
Lead Commissioner Sir Ken Knight said: “We are determined to restore faith in how Tower Hamlets operates. Local people deserve a council that not only makes decisions in an accountable and transparent way but also with the benefit of all residents in mind
“Today marks the start of a long but necessary journey to ensure public confidence in the council is restored, community cohesion maintained and that Tower Hamlets is no longer a by-word for poor governance.”
Trial by Jeory 
Ah, my old mate Max. I did wonder whether his collar would be felt for this little jaunt ….
Those are two excellent choices and fat Pickles did well to get them. I wonder who will be number 3? The sooner Ken and Max get to grips with the pile of excrement that is LBTH council the better. I can only imagine that your comment “How Lutfur Rahman and will get on is anyone’s guess” is ironic; I’d be pretty sure that Rahman’s lies and deceit and racist theft will be seen through before morning coffee today.
Bravo Pickles – this news has improved my Christmas hugely!
Tim.
“Fat” Pickles said recently he walks 8 km daily and has lost a lot of weight. Does his usage of KM denote he is a Pro-European ?
CC.
Well he’s repeatedly been accused of being anti-Islamic and will doubtless very soon be accused of it again, so being pro-something may be a good thing ….
Tim.
I’d be interested to know what space they get to work in at Mulberry Place…. Lutfur will probably have the room bugged. Seriously.
I hadn’t heard of Ken but Max Caller is a really good choice, he has a lot of experience in sorting out the kind of mess that is Tower Hamlets. I wonder how long it will be before the whole thing is an international Jewish/Zionist conspiracy orchestrated by The Elders of Zion to ” smear ” the totally innocent Lutfur Rahman who was merely standing up to Nu Labour and their vicious cuts to working class communities?
( Labour is in opposition Ed and has been all the time Rahman has been Mayor. Ed).
Sorry, too many Eds there. Do they spoil the broth?
Ted – interesting comment in passing about what looks like a change of employer for you.
“whose president (in the interests of transparency) is my employer (until Friday), Richard Desmond.”
Can you share your next destination? Good luck with whatever it is, and thanks for keeping us all up to date
Thank you and good spot! Am starting a new job in early January. My new employer will announce it all then.
No, am not becoming a Commissioner…
Please tell us that the new job won’t preclude running this blog.
No, I don’t think so. But it may go quiter at times.
Well, as long as you carry on hitting the >cough< high points then all will be well. You seem to be one of the very few who can (or who can be bothered to) dig out the truth from the spin in LBTH.
Tim.
Director of communcation in glorious Tower Hamlets?
Or
Chief Anti-Sleaze Investigator into English Local Government ?
The Mayor picked by Pickles
Government press statement and details at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directions-to-the-council-of-the-london-borough-of-tower-hamlets-and-related-documents
Any press statement from LBTH or the Mayor ?
Ted, Are you changing jobs (‘until Friday’) or has the paper been sold ?
Happy Christmas to everyone.
Curious Cat.
How embarrassing. It shud ave been
The Mayor pickled by Pickles
Easy now CC – no one is being ‘pickled’ and it’s not a personal vendetta (much as some would like us to believe). Good governance is good governance regardless of the colour of skin of the people doing it, their ethnic origin, name or religious persuasion.
Therefore we can all carry on ignoring the elephant in the room.
Tim.
Surely in Tower Hamlets good governance doesn’t extend to running the council properly, doshing-out grants fairly and even organising election counts effectively ???
Perhaps it is time for Pickles to sprinkle this “good governance” holy water (or magic water, if one prefers) on more local authorities that the Talk of the Nation, Tower Hamlets ?
What is also required is new statutory powers for residents to regularly question in public the council rulers, elected and appointed (usually behind closed doors) overpaid officials.
Then the New Year brings the Election Petition hearing. The press gallery is bound to be packed-out. Ted is really going to miss that.
Suppose some will sincerely thank the Mayor for putting Tower Hamlets on the world’s map.
Curious Cat.
The mayor’s press statement:
http://lutfurrahman.com/pickles-commissioners-arrive-tower-hamlets-hits-back-bungling-tories/
That’s a barely-coherent rant.
Some of Rahman’s staff can write fairly well. I would have expected more of them than that. Perhaps the ones with the smarts have already pushed off ….
Tim.
Yes Tim, it will be interesting to see who jumps ship and with Taki applying for other jobs the process may already have started. One of the problems anyone who was a courtier and a public supporter will have is what the hell do they put on their CVs?
Imagine you’ve been in the PR department, sorry HR how silly of me, or have had anything to do with East End Life you now have a huge gap to fill in what you have been doing. Having to admit to having been a Lutfur protegee is like being exposed as a Stasi agent or pedophile.
Similarly many apologists must now be ruing the day they ever went public in Rahman’s support. I’ll dig out some of the better and more cringe worth stuff and give links.
Surely all this could have been easily avoided if transparent local government existed and if the Mayor properly engaged with his customers, the residents, by willingly engaging in answering public questions at council meetings ?
Some may inevitably think Son of Labour caused the Picklisation of Tower Hamlets by his own arrogant attitude and his culture of concealment and nepotistic policies.
Former sewer inspector? He must be used to dealing with shites of all sizes. Let’s flush these turds in office down the pan, for good!
Don’t forget the extra strong bleach and the sweet smelling disinfectant.
CC.
I wonder if Rahman will sink or…float
Sink or float? He’s certainly a slippery stinker! Surrounded by a shmorgasboard of bottom feeding sewer slime!
I wish I had a giant wc to flush them away in one very foul swoop! No doubt Lutfur would cling to the pan and brush like the very stubborn skiddy that he’s proven to be.
Don’t forget, what starts as a floater always sinks or dissolves. Usually in a puddle of piss!
OK, GR. That made me laugh.
Different substances so unlikely that one will magically transform into the other. Don’t forget urine was important in the manufacture of many everyday items (a long time ago).
Sour milk was brilliant, when mixed with other materials, as a waterproof floor covering/sealer.
CC.
Campaign to replace Junk Vision (brain rot) with Adult Education.
[…] Read this post by Ted Jeory for a more detailed description of Sir Ken and Mr. Caller’s careers to date. […]
Government press releases / public statements
Eric Pickles’ written ministerial statement on local government improvement and steps being taken to improve local government services.
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/local-government-improvement
Commissioners will take control of grant making within the council and will approve any sale or disposal of property.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/secretary-of-state-sends-in-commissioners-to-tower-hamlets
Directions issued (17 December 2014) to the council of the London borough of Tower Hamlets putting in place a statutory intervention by the Secretary of State in that council.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directions-to-the-council-of-the-london-borough-of-tower-hamlets-and-related-documents
———–
Would be nice if HMG published a single web page featuring the Daily Tower Hamlets saga.
CC.
Thanks for the wonderful couple of Christmas presents, Mr Pickles. Look forward to receiving the third.
Hopefully the disappearance of the council rag will be next.
According to the Six O’clock news today, Rahman was not at work today to meet the Commissioners as he has been ill for a number of days. It was also reported that he is considering his legal options with a view to wasting more public money on a judicial review.
Its the stress. He ain’t Super Human. Things will get worse as the Election Petition hearing proceeds.
CC.
17 December, 2014 at 05:39pm
Policy paper: Directions to the council of the London borough of Tower Hamlets and related documents
Updated: Added additional related documents.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directions-to-the-council-of-the-london-borough-of-tower-hamlets-and-related-documents
The “demonstration by local trades unionists” was quite interesting. It seemed to consist of a number of elderly Trots. Who is John McLoughlin, he seemed to be the main cheerleader?
Who cares who is he is?
What is ” No To Rascism And Islamophobia”? Its banner was at the demo at the Town Hall. It looks suspiciously like Unite Against Fascism, same colour and lay out. They have announced that Lutfur is a speaker at their national conference in February along with Livingstone, Emily Thornberry and Diane Abbott. Should be a fun day out.
Of course the banner said “Say no to Islamophobia and racism (whatever “Islamophobia” is) as the Trotskyites firmly believe that it is “fear” of Islam and racism that motivated Pickles to send in PWC and of course it was PWC’s “Islamophobia” and racism that made them pen the damning (though, believe me, restrained) report (Sorry, a report, so LR claims, that says things at LBTH are a model of good practice and good governance that other LAs should follow).
So in view of the belief held by the Trots that PWC praised the wonderful mayoral administration what else could be behind Pickles motives other than racism and “Islamophobia”?
Thanks for this. I understand now!
I don’t know if anyone’s seen this. http://www.islamophobiawatch.co.uk/answering-the-attacks-on-lutfur-administration/ See you all tomorrow.
It seems former Kenster employee Bob Pitt isn’t too good on the technical side so put Lutfur Rahman into search where you are asked and a veritable treasure trove of info comes up.
Here are a selection a selection of some of the worst of the eulogies for Lutfur from leading leftists. Many have, as I have said elsewhere, folded their tents and slunk away in the night. Some, Like Livingstone I presume, stand by their original statements.
http://www.leftfutures.org/2012/the-politics-of-hate-in-tower-hamlets/
http://www.leftfutures.org/2010/tower-hamlets/#more-2124
http://www.socialistunity.com/tower-hamlets-ken-livingstones-judgement-vindicated
http://www.hurryupharry.org/2011/04/05/this-shames-labour/
I’ll look for more, the day job calls.
Thanks for this, I thought there might have been a problem with some of the content.
I’m not sure I’m prepared to take lectures about my technical competence from someone who can’t even copy and paste a url.
http://www.islamophobiawatch.co.uk/answering-the-attacks-on-lutfur-rahmans-administration/
Actually, the broken url was more informative and honest than that article.
Typical of Pitt to make personal attacks rather than address the issues.
Be reasonable JK,
Addressing the issues is jolly hard work for the dis-believers 🙂
CC.
You take yourself too seriously Bob Pitt. A good job nobody else does.
I really hope Knight doesn’t approve of council workers issuing press releases on the rates like that Wandsworth one you linked to above, Ted. Not really sure that’s the idea Pickles had in mind…
In English please.
I really hope Knight doesn’t approve of council workers issuing press releases on the rates like that Wandsworth one you linked to above, Ted. Not really sure that’s the idea Pickles had in mind…
And finally http://www.leftfutures.org and put Lutfur Rahman into the search. All absolutely classic.
Ted, why are you still moderating the list of links I gave above to lots of sites supporting Lutfur Rahman? They are all in the public domain and the writers intended them to be, so so nothing legal there.
As a member of TH Unison I object to the union being seen to support Rahman and can’t see on whose authority John McLoughlin had the banner and was demonstrating outside the town hall