One of the accusations regularly chucked the way of Newham mayor Sir Robin Wales is that he buys off the support of his Labour colleagues by giving them all paid jobs.
In Tower Hamlets, there are 23 Labour councillors (out of 45 in total), so they control the town hall.
At Wednesday night’s full council meeting, the Labour group will nominate (and so highly likely vote through) paid/Special Responsibility Allowance posts for, er, all 23 of its councillors.
And of course, as my last piece detailed, all these will in some way receive a pay rise.
The proposals agreed at the recent AGM of the Labour group are:
Cabinet/Mayoral advisors: Helal Uddin, Dave Chesterton, Denise Jones
Chair of Development: Marc Francis
Chair of Licensing: Rajib Ahmed
Speaker of the Council: Khales Uddin Ahmed
Deputy Speaker: Sabina Akhtar
Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Committee: John Pierce
Scrutiny Lead Members for Labour: Amina Ali (Development & renewal); Clare Harrison (Chair of Health Scrutiny); Abdul Mukit Chunu MBE (Resources).
Chief Whip and Chair of the new General Purposes, Appeals and HR Committee: Danny Hassell
Chair of Audit Committee: Candida Ronald
Chair of Pension Committee: Andrew Cregan
And the Cabinet members remain the same, so:
Sirajul Islam: Housing management and performance (and statutory deputy mayor)
Shiria Khatun: Community safety and deputy mayor
Rachael Saunders: Education and children’s services, and deputy mayor
Rachel Blake: Strategic development
Asma Begum: Culture
David Edgar: Resources
Ayas Miah: Environment
Joshua Peck: Work and economic growth
Amy Whitelock Gibbs: Health and adult services
Mayor: John Biggs
That Cllr Chunu Mukit MBE, formerly the chair of Spitalfields Housing Association’s audit committee, is to be given a scrutiny lead for resources, eg examining the way money is spent and how expenses are claimed, is of particular note. Senior Labour figures are full aware of this. Watch this space.
Trial by Jeory 
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
Belated but non the less on corruption. It seems Rachel Blake and Marc Francis are running the two development portfolios. Why are there two and isn’t there a conflict of interest? Is this the new corruption?
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Bonus points for the person who can tell me the author’s real name.
Blair, but you can keep the bonus points
Eric !
Why are none of us suprised on this.
Cant they just go and get jobs in the real world that give them levels of pay that would allow them to pay their bills and provide their spending money without trying to justify the undefendable level of members allowances and frankly money for old rope.
When these allowance are compared to the annual incomes of low paid workers doing full time jobs, usally during unsocial hours or pensioners on fixed incomes; it makes my blood boil knowing many of them in receipt of thes payments are frankly useless and not worth a 10th of what they are receiving.
I only hope the voters of this borough remember this scandalous situation at the next eiection.
We will see what the current majority grop and John Biggs the mayor will blame the councils poor performance on next time as the excuse if its all Lutfur Rahmans fault will not be available as an excuse next election time.
Is this genuinely Royal Borough of Tower Hamlet’s democracy nobly serving the public or just the same ‘ole snouts in the same ‘ole trough funded by the borough’s poor struggling to make ends meet ?
These public parasites have no shame.
cc.
Putting Chunu MBE, I am sure he has the decoration embroidered on his pyjamas, in charge of any kind of scrutiny is like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank. In particular it will be necessary to keep a close eye on his taxi fares which seem to have a habit of escalating out of all proportions!
I understand that his time as overseerer of events financial at Spitalfields Housing Association is also due to be subjected to the public gaze as is pretty much all of their current activity.
This entire Council is now beyond a joke. Everyone is basically taking the piss at our expense. These allowances are simply a means to pay themselves extra money on top of their basic allowances. For example these new Mayoral advisory posts at a cost of £7000.00 SRA each, why the need? Surely all elected Councillors are naturally advisers to the Mayor? Are we to assume that without them taking an additional SRA of £7000.00, they could not or would not provide advice? It’s an absolute disgrace.
Also, the role of the Speaker has always been abused. We had a previous Labour party speaker run up a taxi bill into the hundreds for a jolly up to the city of Birmingham, whatever for? The current Speaker, Abdul Mukith Chunu MBE is now going to scrutinise the use of council resources? Well I have a question for you Ted to put forward to him and Biggs? What the hell was he doing using council resources to attend the ‘Bangla Mela’ in Birmingham which took place on Sunday 8 May 2016? What purpose does Tower Hamlets have at a mela in Birmingham? How much did it cost the council in fuel, expenses, and the cost of the council chauffeur to drive him there and back? How many others joined him in the car and why the need to provide them with a lift? Can you please FOI this request and publish the response?
What special skills and experience do these people bring to the roles that they deserve to be paid a ‘special responsibility’ allowance? For example, Sirajul Islam has no job but is responsible for housing when he is a council tenant under the management of the dreadful Tower Hamlets Homes.This is more a conflict of interest.
Jay kay most do not have any skills or experience for guiding the offices that they have been given responsibility for. In a lot of cases they could not hold down any job let alone one that holds the powers and responsibilities of the posts they have been elected to or in this case given.
In the vast majority the only skills/ attributes required are the abilities to, lie, back stab, go back on your word, vote religiously in a particular grouping/click, Kiss Political Ass willingly and at all times.
This is why the more savvy council officers run rings around the lead members due to their complete ignorance and lack of understanding of the services their new found positions control. By the time they have a grip of the position, assuming they can comprehend these, its time to be moved on as they have either fallen out of favour with their voting groups or some other notable has been promised a position of power and additional payment.
I don’t know why we just don’t advertise for councillors paying a full attractive salary package with a full job description and appointing them based on their skills package and ability to get things done and deliver results. This backed by a detailed contract stating the criteria clearly on serving the community at all times, attendance, performance and delivery levels, with default on these enabling the incumbent to be removed within 6 weeks and another candidate of more competence and commitment advertised for and appointed.
Anon – in some other world I think
Shaddow Over The Horizon wrote:
Excellent idea. I’ll vote for that.
Curious Cat
Why are we surprised? Tony Blair introduced the cabinet system and elected Mayors to stop independent thought and action by local councillors and to extend patronage.
It is interesting to consider whether the original referendum for an elected mayor in Tower Hamlets was also subjected to industrial scale electoral fraud. We will probably never know.
It is helpful that the Pickles Commissioners are still on the premises, despite Biggs’ demands that they leave. Now why would he do that? I would have thoughtvthat he needed all the help he can get. It will be interesting to see whether the Biggs Gang get on with the radical new Labour national leadership. There may be problems.
I also hear that the Commissioners are investigating large-scale
financial fraud going back several administrations. Another government inquiry into Tower Hamlets is discretely looking at serious crime with international links. Apparently, several key staff are going as the net closes on those who colluded. “The pack of cards is about to collapse, so keep on digging” my informant tells me. During the Election Petition case it was clear that a much bigger scandal lay under the surface. I remain convinced that hundreds of millions of pounds have been defrauded over the years from LBTH. Had the Labour administration taken any serious measures to expose it?
Two steps forward and one backwards.
Andy Erlam
“I also hear that the Commissioners are investigating large-scale
financial fraud going back several administrations. Another government inquiry into Tower Hamlets is discretely looking at serious crime with international links. Apparently, several key staff are going as the net closes on those who colluded. “The pack of cards is about to collapse, so keep on digging” my informant tells me. During the Election Petition case it was clear that a much bigger scandal lay under the surface. I remain convinced that hundreds of millions of pounds have been defrauded over the years from LBTH. Had the Labour administration taken any serious measures to expose it?”
If that’s the case then I very much look forward to hearing more. In the fullness of time, of course.
Good to hear this Tim. Any more info?
Imran,
My post was a (partial) quote of Andy Irlam’s post, above.
I’m as keen to hear more as you are!
Regarding Andy’s comments eluding to fraud in the 100’s of millions whilst we all await some real substance to be displayed if you understand local goverment budgets it is very very very unlikely it would approach a fraud of this magnitude.
It would be very unusual to be over £500,000 due to the accounting checks imposed and this being on multiple fraud transactions totalling this amount.
I would agree waste and over priced or poorly cinsidered contracts likely account for a few million but in these none of these items can been seen by the public or gifted observers as they are outside of the general committee proceedures that are open to the public and thus scruitiny
The other major I feel fraudulant activity is the sale or transfer of council land and buildings at dubious prices and to questionable organisations i.e. the numerous llbraries given away, some purley for cudos of certain councillors to the receiving organisations. The issues around transfer of the managenent control e.g. mile end park to effectively the environment trust and bow wharf & poplar library to urban space management; the list can go on and on
So I await what these frudulant activities are when and if they are ever allowed to be released into the public domain.
English local government, always has been, and still is, riddled with corruption.
Regrettable the police, because of their partnership working with councils, is always very unwilling to tackle local government crime and usually tell whistle-blowers to contact the council – where cover-ups ensures there is no trace left after a brisk and vigorous spring-clean.
Never mind corruption in third world countries around the globe, the UK has always turned a blind eye to corruption. The City of London money washing for instance and the British dependencies.
No wonder some want to leave the EU with stronger EU anti-corruption rules coming to every one of the 28 member states (with no exemptions).
London’s house prices have soared to indecently astronomical levels, to the detriment of ordinary people, because of the UK’s tolerance of corruption and massive tax-avoidance (primarily done by people living outside the UK).
Why should councils still keep accounting secrets from the public they were created to serve ? After all, council money is really the public’s money.
Perhaps one should start a petition to Biggs to open-up ALL the council’s financial records.
Curious Cat
🙂
Mile End Park is one of the King George’s Field Charities and has been since the ’60s. Yes the Environment Trust had a hand in it’s management, but only for a relatively short while (when the Millenium Fund bid was put together etc). Bow Wharf is largely Canal & River Trust land (nee British Waterways).
Quite a lot of wild allegations seem to be flying around here! Interested to see if any of them will ever be substantiated.
Well John Gee
You are correct on one element it was trinity buoy wharf not bow wharf as I incorrectly stated.
But as for wild accusations here are some details for you to try to dismiss and others to ponder upon
The Environment Trust (TET)
Had more than a hand in mile end park, assisted by Cllrs Michael Keith (then leader of the council) and Denise Jones assisted by their political voting click for this small organisation to oversee the management and control of the multi million pound millennium funding for this project, with no tender to determine their appointment to do this. Basically excluding all local involvement, ignoring existing park users in the proposals. Some might also look at how this organisation was given the Turks Head PH in Wapping, another council asset lost to the council !!!
Urban space management (USM)
Again Cllrs Keith and Jones pushed for this site to be transferred on a long lease at minimal terms to the council and people of tower hamlets to them at the demise of the LDDC. ran as private rented work space and container homes and as an events venue with the millennium centre (now the O2 as its backdrop being directly across the river to it)
The transfer of poplar library to them again on minimal terms developed as office space and private rented container homes/ work space
Assisted with European funding in the Millions of pounds for the arches at the former Liverpool street station at brick lane allegedly set up as a community project but ran as a private sports and events venue
All this have a common thread and result being:
Assisted by the stated Cllrs and public assets and money used to fund and support projects that earned a lot of money for TET and USM but basically ran as private ventures and events venues that in the main excluded the community local based projects and involvement.
Maybe you might want to comment on these wild accusations my friend or the commissioners look at these projects backgrounds for starters in any fraud investigations. Maybe even John Biggs might test his courage by investigating these shady arrangements from the past that are still ongoing in the case of the USM project gifts from the council.
Also why not also look at the involvement Keith and Jones pet projects of the Rich Mix Centre and the use of ££££££££ of council money used in this scheme or the disposal of Aldgate library to another great and the good organisation at minimal value with again with this the loss of a council asset at 0 £ and the local community excluded from it use and control in the main.
Prima facie case to answer.
Whom can start an investigation ? Biggs, providing he has a functioning backbone ? If not Biggs, then whom ?
CC.
AS for Biggs having a backbone , anything is possible with stem cell research at its current level of progress, with the increased allowances he would not have to wait on the NHS waiting list time frames but go as a private patient.
🙂
You might want to sum up this asset stripping in a quote to be levelled at both former and current labour and now defunct liberal councillors from the past.
“Never has so much been given away, by the few, to the undeserving, for the dis-benefit of the many”
Meanwhile Lutfur has been spending alot of time in an apartment in Dubai, counting his money and grateful to the Metropolitan Police that they never let him down. Even though there was more than reasonable grounds to arrest him on many many different areas, the Police have been consistently shite at their jobs
Why should the Met, and all the other English territorial police forces, be any different from, or any better than, the disgusting and discredited South Yorkshire force which constantly features in the Hillsborough scandal ???
To my knowledge, only the Met has made any attempt, although it was quite some years ago, to systematically weed-out bent coppers. The police are populated from the general community, so its inevitable some will be bent.
Don’t forget John Yates, then a Met assistant commissioner, repeatedly telling MPs in a House of Commons committee there was no truth about the telephone bugging because he had checked the evidence. Didn’t he then resign and vanish abroad – far from the long arm of the weak, and often biasedly applied, law ???
The public need a proper, fit-for-purpose and not staffed by ex-police officers, Police Regulator. IPCC is weak and useless.
Curious Cat
Didn’t know he’d gone to Dubai. Thanks
The ineptitude and corruption of the Police is one of the many, many disappointments in the LBTH saga. They were one of the several organisations who let down residents, and badly. Why Hogan-Howe wasn’t called to account for what (didn’t) happen with Rahman remains a mystery.
FOI to Met Police for all documents passing between Hogan-Howe and others on the topic of Lutfur Rahman ?
Probably they will claim it is exempt information used for the non-detection and non-investigation of crime ?
CC
Northern Cyprus surely where there are a lot of crooks and no extradition.
That’s ended. There is now peace between the Turkish north and the rest of the Greek Cypriot island and it is no longer a safe haven for crooks.
Surely our TH man is not fleeing the law ?
CC.
Andrew Gilligan has just been removed from the Telegraph. Ted I think you be fighting a legal battle very soon. Worth getting legal advice.
Well, until a Letter before Action (describing the alleged grievance and suggesting how that grievance can be rectified) is severed on Ted, it is unlikely Ted will know with precision what Mr Gilligan’s grievance is – assuming Mr Gilligan actually has a grievance against our Ted.
Since you seem to be claiming you know a lot, then why don’t you summarise the matter for our legal consideration ?
Curious Cat
P.S. Being in the EU means one’s driving licence and insurance is valid in all other 27 EU countries. It means the EU will abolish roaming charges in other EU countries next year. It means one doesn’t need a visa to visit 27 other EU countries plus Switzerland and Norway (bøkmäl: ‘Jeg Liker Norge’).
It also means when you buy anything in another EU country, including cars, it will work properly in this country and confirm to UK standards.
If England votes out, I’ll apply to become Scottish because Ecosse will go independent from England and immediately re-join the EU. Then see if you anti-Europeans like being called “Little Englanders” after the size of the UK has shrunk 50%. No more Great Britain (meaning big Britain when compared to Brittany in northern France) but small England – smaller in size than France, Spain for example.
Europe is our, and our children’s, future.
If you want to kick-out the foreigners, then Nigel Farrage (of German descent) and Boris Johnson (Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, a USA citizen of Turkish decent) will have to go. So too the Queen (German) and Prince Phillip (Greek).
Yep kick-out the foreigners including those saving lives as doctors and nurses in the NHS.
Yep put the country into recession.
Some say Boris Johnson the Yank wants the UK to become another American state.
Some with brains recognise that all of us originated from Africans regardless of our current skin colours.
When will the Welsh revolt and demand they get their original homeland, England, back ?
Meanwhile lets enjoy the sun, even if it comes from the direction of those EU countries.
🙂
Could you explain yourself?