A note for readers…
This is a personal blog, which aims to scrutinise the powers that be in Waltham Forest, from the Council (hereafter London Borough of Waltham Forest or LBWF), both elected members and staff; to our MP... »
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Waltham Forest Labour in turmoil
Word reaches me from a number of sources that Waltham Forest Labour’s woes show no sign of abating. The longstanding subterranean infighting between factions continues, as does the jockeying for... »
LBWF’s relationship with the local business sector: new revelations about the E11 BID Co.
I have written before about LBWF’s relationships with the local business sector, and pointed out that our council appears to treat certain businesses and business organisations rather more favourably ... »
Reforming local government (2) an agenda from Tower Hamlets
On the subject of local government reform, it is notable that another of our neighbours, Tower Hamlets, also has begun examining the status quo, in this case through the medium of a Transparency Commi... »
Reforming local government: (1) an agenda from Newham
In a recent post on his blog about the downsides of one-party administrations in local government, John Gray, councillor for West Ham ward in Newham, writes as follows: ‘Finally, I think just as impor... »
The LBWF Gang Prevention Programme: yet another missed opportunity
I have been meaning to write about Waltham Forest’s Gang Prevention Programme (GPP) for some time, and now seems as good a time as any. The GPP is coming towards the end of its fourth year, has cost s... »
LBWF in Private Eye, again, this time over Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers
To no-one’s real surprise, the current edition of Private Eye once again features LBWF, with a fairly long piece tracing the Fred Wigg and John Walsh Towers’ fiasco (see below, from No.140... »
A week in the reign of our Leader….or is it?
A reader gets in touch to say that he has found a document in one of the Town Hall skips, and thinks it is a page of a diary feature that the Leader was preparing for WFN. Personally, I have my doubts... »
Cllr. Johar Khan and the E11 BID Co.
During his relatively short time in the public eye, Cllr. Johar Khan has attracted a fair amount of publicity, little of it flattering. The commentariat has had fun with his personalised number plates... »
LBWF Chief Executive Martin Esom’s evidence at the Town Hall asbestos trial: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
The following speaks for itself. 18 September 2015 Dear Mr. Esom, We write to you about the letter dated 30 January 2014 that you submitted to the HSE and the courts prior to LBWF’s recent prosecution... »