I texted John Biggs this morning to ask how his first week as Tower Hamlets Mayor had been. He replied with a very workmanlike text and it suggests a breath of fresh air. Here it is:
Got rid of car. Unfroze rich mix money (subject to call in).
Moving out of the mausoleum into a far smaller space.
Restoring a space for the speaker to host guests.
Went on two visits – primary school, housing opening. Need to do more – aim to get out at least once a day.
Did first surgery. Did a tour of the building to meet staff. (Need to finish last floor next week).
Forgoing £36,000 of mayor’s salary while still at City hall.
However that is early stuff, if important. By end Monday will have a cabinet.
Try to walk to work each day. Meet interesting people.
The selfie-count is reducing as the number of people impressed by my momentary fame declines.
JB
Meanwhile, here are some photos of the grand office Lutfur Rahman had built for himself. They were sent to me by council insider who tells me it was known as the Lutfur Bunker. John Biggs refers to it above as the ‘mausoleum’.
Trial by Jeory 
Not bad.
I would like an office like that.
Can ordinary council staff use the facilities ?
Curious Cat
The answer was most definely no – rahmans people protected this space. High security and off limits – unless you were an officer closely connected to him. Were a few in Rahmans youth service and at education welfare
Thought Mayor salary was 76K who getting the other 40K Deputy Mayors ?
Deputy Mayors are unpaid.
It’s called “a saving” to be contrasted with what the ex-Mayor did which is called “freeloading”
Encouraging start.
I think the Mayor will need a car but why cant this be sensibly shared with chief officers and for the ceremonial functions.
Impressed he is not taking the salary until the GLA position ends, this being sensible and avoids a lot of criticism it would bring.
Again sensible reuse of the palatial office by putting it to general use and distancing himself with the previous incumbents self proclaimed status and ego
.
I hope the new cabinet will be chosen on ability and not just on alliances as the former is what the borough needs not jobs for the good old boys and girls.
Looks like you’ll get fit with all this walking John lets hope you don’t get too puffed out
I’m sure walking to and from work is a far cry from all that campaigning running up and down stairs!
Walking is great for thinking – we should encourage all Councillors to give up their expenses paid taxis and mileage!
We might get some better calibre input!
I think the ex TH First councillors should take up power walking if it improves the thinking capacity
Nice photos. I take it that the chair lying on its side represents the fallen Lutfur. The map looks like something that his strategists would have pushed little characters representing votes and money across in WWII military strategy style!
Like the opening credits to Dad’s Army
“Bunker” and “Mausoleum” bring to mind Hitler and Mao. Maybe Ahad Miah’s love wasn’t that far misplaced.
Tim.
Nice china with plastic cups and cutlery – UGH!
The arm chars are not the comfortable relaxing sort – waste of public money,.
The office layout is unimpressive – a sort of poser’s paradise.
A ‘real’ mayor would have had a big board table for businesslike deliberations. Obviously the biscuit tin was more vital to the running of Tower Hamlets than any of the hallmarks of a dynamic and innovative administrator.
Wonder if he secretly recorded anyone ?
CC.
Yes the layout and furniture speaks volumes,
Isolated desk position as Lutfur controlled all he surveyed.
No board table, why would you need one as no cabinet meetings only directions from the leader, and his so called cabinet members would not be able to contribute much in terms of thinking or input even if he wanted them to.
Only a limited number of cosy chairs and coffee tables required to sit relaxing and stich up corrupt deals with a associates in a private setting.
Spot-on !
Like Blofeld’s office in the Bond films, cold and inhuman.
Totally soulless space- like the ex-Mayor. Not sure how John will be able to humanise this office. Feng-shui expert needed? (Perhaps preceded by an exorcist?)
It is revealing as to the style of leadership, and yet it is a somewhat failed attempt to intimidate and impress- L.R could have learned a thing or two from Mussolini.
Nice touch calling it ‘Lutfurs Bunker’- shows a lot of affection from the staff- the very people who saw the Nightmayor in his natural habitat.
The Bunker says an awful lot about the ex-Mayor – as does the name!
The Mayor’s offices I’ve visited look a lot like the offices of the CEO.
I’ve been in office of a fair few Chief Executives of local authorities and the most important bit of furniture in the room is always the large table for meetings – and a few comfy chairs for smaller meetings with colleagues and guests.
The desk may be large – for all the trays of papers but is often in the corner for getting on with “stuff” – and it’s often positioned so that the PA doesn’t have to walk miles every time he or she pops in with messages and/or papers. Putting your desk on the far side of the room says an awful lot about somebody who needs people to gauge the size of his office and displays a lack of consideration for others!
The walls often have some nice pics – often of people in the borough who have achieved things. They rarely if ever feature the incumbent – because of course when you’ve made it you don’t need to flaunt it…..
I note that the ITV film shows a large table in an alcove which we can’t see in the photos.
Which means that’s a massive if not megalomaniac sized space just for a personal office!
I do hope the employment performance of all those who were “friends” and/or accolytes of the ex-Mayor is being reviewed.
People who get employed to behave in ways which breach the code of conduct on employment and/or do ‘favours’ as opposed to a real job have absolutely no place as a member of Council staff.
People who get employed to behave in ways which breach the code of conduct on employment and/or do ‘favours’ as opposed to a real job have absolutely no place as a member of Council staff.
I agree. However within English local government they will continue to exist because of political patronage and protection. Labour councils are the worse.
Curious Cat.
Careful! Your prejudice is showing in a very blatant way today!
Couldn’t,
I am telling the TRUTH based on my personal experience. If the Tories or UKIP or Greens or Local Residents, were the worse, I would not hesitate in stating the truth as known to me.
English Local Government is a public scandal; a gravy train for top officials, for the councillors who take take bribes (usually from property developers) and for the vast industry of consultants and advisers offering expert advice on every aspect of local government. A normal person might have through that to hold a medium to senior post within failing English local government one would require some knowledge, some expertise, some real interest in serving the public. Luckily for the many crap medium to top staff, the external expensive experts can fill the void. Consequently the vulnerable Council Tax payers pay more, get less community facilities and end-up living in a Rotten Borough.
Does anyone really think that with the departure of Mr Rahman all the existing sleaze and corruption will instantly vanish ? Rahman’s exit was merely Act 1, scene 1.
Now, what about Poplar Town Hall – can’t let that one simply fad away. Where oh where are Hogan-Howe’s cowboys and gals when they are needed ?
Curious Cat.
Can’t see any windows to outside world in the pictures..? If there weren’t any that would be why people called it a “bunker”.
Right & proper to restore the space for the Speaker. Well done John! Way Rahman treated the Speakers especially Lesley Pavitt was outrageous.
The wall of curtains cover a window that looks into the reception. Initially, it was covered with a reflective film. However you could see though, especially from the upper floors, looking into the reception area.
Rahman clearly did not want people, even council officers to see them cosy little meetings. Also, some “officers” had remarkable access to the great leader – while the rest never saw him (mainly fire alarms)
We paid £115k for that rubbish.
The pictures looks quite depressing – I suppose this is why one of Lutfur’s last actions was to buy and old hospital.
Did he kick that chair on the way out?
Or did an honest council employee fight and won the battle to keep the chair?
Past the jokes, I am encouraged by the message from Biggs – let’s hope next week brings more positive actions.
When is Murzeline Parchment going to get the sack? I will believe change when he starts to get rid of some of the wasteful scum like her.
I hope they get rid of the THEOs as well… they’re totally useless.
Yes, what exactly do THEOs do apart from harass market traders and people who have sign boards on the pavement advertising their businesses?
They cost residents a lot of money for being ineffective.
Yes, what exactly do THEOs do apart from harass market traders and people who have sign boards on the pavement advertising their businesses?
Boards obstructing public passage on the Public Highway (specifically footway) are a nuisance and unlawful. Businesses can continue to place boards on what was originally the premises’ front garden.
CC.
I agree – boards on the pavement are one of the major harassments of street life in Tower Hamlets.
Why on earth they are allowed here when they are banned in a lot of places (because of the hazard potential) is beyond me.
There again why on earth there are quite so many hot food takeaways is also beyond me. At one time we used to have a decent mix of shops – and some of them even sold real food you could make meals out of!
Blocking what the public call the pavement, but can also be a brick, tile, tarmac or concrete surface is Obstructing a Public Highway opened to pedestrian traffic.
No one has a Right to stop anywhere on a public highway, not even on a public footpath. A similar restriction also applies to roads where NO ONE (not even me) has a Right to park – even on no yellow lines.
Prescriptive Easements (you’ve done the same thing for more than 20 years without objection and have therefore acquire a Right that should be added to your property’s deeds) never apply to Public Highways.
If the pavement is actually a Public Highway in Law (ask the local council) then no one has a Right to obstruct the public’s passenge along that highway. It does not matter whether the land is owned by the council or privately. So long as a Public Right of Way exists, you can be arrested (DNA-ed and finger-printed) then charged with an offence. If guilty fined.
Some council staff do not, and some councillors pressurise council staff not to, take action to keep open for pedestrian traffic the blocked pavements. Usually the motive is bribes and favours – especially in the advent of a local election.
My advice is to take photographs of the obstruction (you can take photos of ANYONE and of ANYTHING from a public place – police can’t stop you or delete your images although they can ask you whether your photography is in aid of terrorism). Do this on several different days, then ask your failing local council if the pavement is part of the Public Highway and why they have not removed the obstructions. Usually you will get a load of waffle and some invented crap. Perhaps Ted will let you expose the Public Highway blocking on his blog.
Curious Cat
Not a lawyer, just a Human Being 🙂
Here is a great video clip of John Biggs showing an ITN film crew around the office and opening the curtains “to let some light in”. Biggs describes the office as “a tomb” which is quite amusing…. a place of political death!
http://www.itnsource.com/en/shotlist/ITN/2015/06/16/T16061540/?s=john%20biggs
What it may have looked like inside the Lutfur bunker during the trial:
Impressive. Clever. Well presented.
Who did it ?
CC.
Has he really got something in Dubai ?
IF he hasn’t we could all chip in to give him a barren sand island to live on.
I have it on good authority that Lutfur was “livid” when the first one came out…
That’s an excellent parody! I wonder who made it – it’s obviously somebody who knows a lot and writes well…..
I bet Ahad Miah had to crack open the tissues when his came across this video (no pun intended). I want to say mansize, but I’m guessing that would be a little optimistic.
He’s that thick, he probably thinks it’s a historical account.
Thank you Grave Maurice, I’d not seen that clip.
Hope he locked down the shredders!
Look forward to weekly reports Ted. These reports may encourage staff and others to be less frightened to come forward and speak out.
Looks as if that particular ‘Downfall’ clip has already had an outing in 2012 with a parody about the Electoral Commission Decisions. Maybe the ‘Bunker’ comes from that – or maybe it prompted somebody to think about using that film for the parody?
Note the comment about Ted and this blog at 2 minutes 4 seconds
The sign off is also particularly apposite
It made me laugh.
Does the dubber know much about the workings of local government? The LGA comment was strange.
I think probably made by somebody who doesn’t appreciate that the Local Government Association has no role in appointing Commissioners who are appointed to discharge specific statutory roles (e.g. running elections).
Perhaps he or she got mixed up with the LGA input to various “improve local government” initiatives that they have been involved with. These have typically involved recently retired senior managers and or people who are well regarded who volunteer to work for teams invited in by a Council to help sort out their problems for a short space of time.
I’ve grown quite fond of this one
It really does show the megalomaniacal (if that’s a word) nature of the once mighty Rahman.
I only hope he can find a good local dry cleaner, or one that delivers now that he can’t get his taxpayer funded limo to carry out his chores.
He could always do it on his way to the Job centre? I can just see him riffling through the available jobs complaining that there are no suitable vacancies for currupt former mayors, or evil dictators.
On another subject, his puppet Rabina has gone a bit quiet…no doubt tossing coins on which angle to attribute her recent electoral defeat to?
I reckon the top choices are the same as usual, with cries of sexism and pathetic blubbing thrown in for good measure…..
Squish squish squish!
Years of the useless, ridiculous and infuriating East End Life through our front door every WEEK & snowdrifts of the rotten borough smug sheet in every public office space. E Pickles saying it must cut to 4 times a year & £300,000 cost [to those in TH ] for 5? plus years…& still it sticks it’s insolent tongue through the letterbox weekly, at a cost of £1.3MILL [ to those in TH] –
Might John Biggs on his walkabout stage a version of The Boston Tea Party at the EEL offices & save a £1mill for those in TH …. What is going on that the rag is still not trimmed to quarterly publication? Enough already – Cut It Out.
The old Barts London building to be new town hall?! Why? So all local gov. can see the day & night filth, racket & littering of the dirtiest market in London across the road while THEO’s as rightly said, harass stallholders & utterly fail to stop bicycling thugs doing wheelies along the crowded stinking stained pavement?
It should be turned into apartments for nurses etc. low paid and forced to pay for hours of costly & knackering travel as they can’t afford to live within ten miles of the borough they work exhausting shifts in.
Great idea re nurses and key workers. Or just homes
Golly, Ted’s ideas are fat to revolutionary and sensible for Tower Hamlets.
Not bad I admit but without infrastructure can be a local disaster which the poor, the weak and the needy always suffer from.
I see he has helped his old friend out – Michael Kieth in the Rich Mix Centre. So much for a fresh start!!
Does anyone know which buildings the two pictures that were on the floor were? They looked a lot like architects mock up of buildings. Are they buildings that were ever approved for planning? If not it does suggest that the planning committee may have been a rubber stamp.
As the conversation has flagged a bit may I take time to discuss some of the larger issues which those of you who are familiar with my contributions will know I both interested in and concerned about?
Andy prefaces his post below with the the proposition that Lutfur was a child of Labour and there is some truth to this. He and others have posited that in order to maintain a majority in inner cities in parts of the country Labour have used the graam and biridari system and allowed traditional village leaders and power brokers free reign to create mini replicas of the areas of the Indian sub continent they originated from.
There is more thana little truth in this. In Southall in West London and Tower Hamlets in the East to Luton, Birmingham and the former potteries and mill towns of the West Midlands and the North West of England deals were done whereby, as long as blocks of votes where delivered, a blind eye was turned to practices which both Labour, the Labour movement and the left in general not only deplored, but had fought, campaigned and legislated against for several generations.
In the room next to where I write this is a contemporary print of the Peterloo Massacre which took place in Manchester in August 1819. Around the border are the demands of the meeting and movement amongst which are secret ballots and universal suffrage, one person one vote which would have meant an end to rotten boroughs.
It took a century before the latter was partially achieved and now, nearly two centuries after the events in Manchester, we have a situation where nepotism and jobbery in public life, the buying and selling of votes, are having to be confronted once again. This time by what has traditionally been consider to be ” the right ” whilst those individuals and institutions normally associated with progress in our society have played into the hands of and allied themselves with some of the most reactionary sections of the emerging ethnic minority communities in our inner cities. How did this happen? Two reasons and both with political in front of them, expediency and correctness.
Time for breakfast and the day job and then more.
Rather a good short article in The Wharf which summarises 5 priorities for Mayor John Biggs
http://www.wharf.co.uk/news/local-news/5-priorities-should-mayor-john-9471440
I attended the Council Meeting tonight. Mayor Biggs announced his Cabinet; it can be seen in full here:
http://www.towerhamletslabour.org.uk/mayor_john_biggs_announces_cabinet_makes_early_decisions
It was a much less intimidating affair and the rabble of supporters of the ex-mayor that used to congregate in the public gallery was conspicuous by its absence.
There was one particular moment of madness. The man-with no-shame Oliur Rahman put himself up for Chair of the O&S and went into a long rant about the need for transparency and accountability. This was met with much derision from Councillors and the public. Even John Biggs could barely stop himself laughing. Watch the full version when it’s released on video on the Council’s website. John Pierce was elected.
…I forgot to add that Rabina sent her apologies. Much laughter ensued when this was read out.
Laughter from here too.
Great (happy) note to begin a meeting of the full council.
Curious Cat