The Waltham Forest Business Board and North London Ltd hit the buffers?

In several previous posts, I’ve looked in detail at some of the organisations that purport to represent business in the borough, particularly the Waltham Forest Business Board, and North London Ltd.

It is fair to say that few of my observations have been very favourable. For example, I’ve never quite got my head around the fact that in the three years immediately after the directors of North London Ltd. had initially accessed copious sums of public money in 2004, the ‘Directors’ emoluments’ column in their annual accounts reached £161,387, before receding to £66,810, and £86,700 – no doubt quite legal, and normal, too, in some circles, but still rather shocking to us mere mortals.

The latest news, however, introduces a further dimension. For some quick Googling reveals that:

(a) the Waltham Forest Business Board’s website news section has not been updated since January 2014; and

(b) North London Ltd.’s current listing at Companies House reads as follows:

Name & Registered Office:
NORTH LONDON LIMITED
ONE
GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE
LONDON
WIH 7LW
Company No. 05014859

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 14/01/2004

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: PRI/LTD BY GUAR/NSC (Private, limited by guarantee, no share capital)
Nature of Business (SIC):
96090 – Other service activities not elsewhere classified
Accounting Reference Date: 31/03
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/03/2012 (SMALL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/12/2013 OVERDUE
Last Return Made Up To: 14/01/2013
Next Return Due: 11/02/2014 OVERDUE

Given that these are organisations which reasonably might be expected to set an example, and certainly at one time loudly trumpeted their proficiency and reputation, all this is rather embarrassing.

What on earth is going on?

This question is all the more pertinent because of course both the Waltham Forest Business Board and North London Ltd were once the darlings of LBWF, playing key roles in its various strategies, benefiting from substantial sums of taxpayers money, hobnobbing with Labour’s ruling cabal, enjoying generous access to senior officers, and in the former’s case, even receiving a substantial gift of one-time public assets –  the Argall car parks.