Posts

LBWF and the anti-terrorist Prevent programme: is it wise to keep it in the closet?

July 28, 2015 LBWF spin, Martin Esom, Past failures: overview, Prevent

In early June of this year, I asked LBWF under the Freedom of Information Act for a list of its current Prevent contracts, with for each its start and finish dates, the name of the contractor, the value of the contract, and a brief description of what the contract aims to achieve. A few days ago, my request was refused, with LBWF arguing as follows: ‘Waltham Forest Council recognises the public interest in transparency and openness in local government; and in the context of this Freedom of Information request, such openness would increase public understanding and inform public debate about the aims and objectives of Prevent work in the borough. Additionally, disclosure would raise public awa... »

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

July 23, 2015 Argall Car Parks, E11 BID Co., North London Ltd., Waltham Forest Business Board

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 sho... »

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Town Hall asbestos: a telling example of how LBWF neglected its statutory duties

July 9, 2015 Town Hall asbestos

I am currently collating further material on the Town Hall asbestos scandal, and much of it is very revealing. Here is a brief taste. As is by now widely known, LBWF first found out about asbestos in the Town Hall in 1984, though it was a subsequent survey of 2002 that filled in many of the details. In late 2011, LBWF decided to refurbish the Town Hall basement and reception areas, and in advance of this work, used NPS London Ltd. to commission a new asbestos survey, this time by GBNS Ltd. GBNS Ltd.’s operative begun his work on 19 January 2012 and reported back his findings to LBWF on 1 February 2012. GBNS Ltd. claims that prior to beginning its work neither LBWF nor NPS London Ltd. gave it... »

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‘John Cryer MP Once Lived Here’ UPDATED

July 7, 2015 John Cryer MP, MPs, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest

A correspondent writes: ‘People viewing properties in Leyton may have come across a flat in Lawton Road E10. In estate agent jargon, this well appointed property has two bedrooms, modern kitchen and bathroom; is located in a quiet residential street close to the cricket ground; and is well served by local buses. The estate agent may or may not relate that this nice but otherwise unremarkable flat was until very recently the home of John Cryer, the MP for Leyton and Wanstead, who purchased it in 2012 after promising to move to the constituency if selected to be the Labour candidate at the 2010 General Election. It appears that Mr. Cryer has now departed the constituency, preferring to m... »

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Cllr. Patrick Edwards speaks out

June 18, 2015 Cllr.Patrick Edwards, Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest

According to the Waltham Forest Guardian, Labour Cllr. Patrick Edwards, of Cann Hall ward, has now publicly broken ranks with his party’s leadership, and come out strongly in favour of the tenants in Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers being balloted about the Council’s plans for the redevelopment of their homes. He is quoted as saying: ‘”I support redeveloping Fred Wigg and John Walsh but it’s important that the people who are going to live there back it too. We’ve moved a long way from the era where people were told what was good for them to one where they can actively voice their future.That voice should come through a properly conducted independent residen... »

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