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DAMESATHOME@GMAIL.COM
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Sunday 25 January 2015

THE SCANDAL OF TMO'S KEEN GARDENERS

The Dame will again be scrutinising the behaviour of one or two TMO Neighbourhood officers. It appears that they are not quite as even handed as they should be....but enough... that's for some other time.

The Dame has received this email. 


It appears that being a perennial winner of the TMO's Gardening Competition is not so much about being a Greenfingers but more about having friends in high places...



Dear Dame, 

Your readers may be interested in the results of the TMO's latest gardening competition. The result has left many of us baffled as to just what exactly is going on.


For yet another year TMO residents have been left utterly bemused by the results of the TMO’s latest gardening competition. 
OLD PERENNIAL
The winner, best friend of the Mayor, Maighread Condon-Simmonds(and former housekeeper of Daniel Moylan) appears to have won a prize for her garden......yet again!

Oddly, she has no garden to call her own....... 
She appears to have been awarded a prize for the upkeep of her estate's communal gardens, those maintained by the TMO and its contractors. 

One can only wonder at what may have possessed the TMO to award her the prize. 
Perhaps she has been awarded a prize for "directing the workmen"? 

Or perhaps there is more than a hint of truth to the persistent rumours of “political influence from above” and of “rewarding one’s closest friends”?

It has been remarked that the prize may have actually been awarded for services to the Mayor’s electoral campaign rather than anything remotely horticultural given how often the Mayor and her party workers drop by for tea!

200 comments:

  1. Doesn't the TMO make you die.

    Will the Dame tell us the name of the Winner of the Garden Competition?

    Sounds like the TMO, award a best gardening prize to someone who hasn't got a garden. The TMO has started the new year off by giving us all a larf.

    The last time the Dame published anything about that ghastly TMO, he had a record number of hits in an hour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This resident also has advantages when it comes to the cleaning outside her home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mustafa Curry published details of a former TMO Board Member having her windows cleaned by a TMO Contractor. The TMO is venal

      Delete
    2. The bloke who called himself Mustafa was expelled from the TMO by the Rawlings Board

      Delete
    3. The Mayor's special friend is the only resident to have a key to her own private garden with unique features. Hand trimmed trees, rose bushes, watering system at the back of her house. All funded by the residents, who don't have access to it.

      Delete
  3. What a silly and trivial set up the TMO is

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The TMO have always been good to their friends and not so good (if not downright harmful) to their critics.

      Delete
    2. How right anonymous at 10.40 is about the TMO looking after its favourites. The TMO is despicable to their critics. Condon Simmonds and every other Councillor knows this. The TMO, and the Councillors of all political parties, are pernicious for allowing this wicked, evil situation to prevail.

      Delete
  4. The concern is that The Mayor is able to influence this and other matters at the TMO and RBKC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TMO were made to apologise and not enforce parking letter with regard to waste disposal sent to favourite eating establishment.

      Delete
    2. I heard there was an attempt to stop concerns with regard to a favourite eating establishment's electrical wiring.

      Delete
  5. The winner of the gardening prize might have a window box.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel for those residents taken in by a gardening "competition" whose outcome has been determined in advance. Sadly those running it clearly don't.

      Delete
    2. The competition does have a category for "window boxes". But that's not the category in question here.

      Delete
  6. No window box. Friends in high places.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Has the Mayor been have surgical facials?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I assume we can all take some comfort from the fact that at least one Ward has clearly descended into the quagmire of the most insidious form of minor, yet extremely cancerous, corruption so beloved of many of our European neighbours. When local politicians resort to rewarding their friends to keep their positions election after election you know the bottom of the barrel isn't far away. It's rotten and it smells.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Concerns have been expressed on the World's End estate about the horticulture contract. I suppose Robert Black does not know about these concerns because if anyone writes to him, he passes the correspondence to the person who is criticised, or complained about, to respond.

      Delete
    2. Did the TMO bloke with responsibility for running the gardening contract at World's End judge the gardening competition?

      Delete
    3. Isn't he also in charge of cleaning at the TMO?

      Delete
    4. Yes and the Housing Regeneration Fund.

      Delete
    5. Stinger Former World's End Resident26 January 2015 at 16:08

      If 12.52 is right that the TMO's Gardening Prize was judged by the same bloke who manages the TMO's Gardening Contract, then there needs to be a full investigation. I know of a number of people who have expressed concern about the expenditure which this man has authorised for gardening. When ever the matter has been queried, the TMO covers up.

      Delete
    6. Yes. A full investigation...

      Delete
  9. Frau Hilda Keane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janette Sewardstone26 January 2015 at 11:20

      Hilda Keane and the Condon Simmonds woman are bosom pals.

      Delete
  10. Less than impressed26 January 2015 at 12:01

    The accusation here is that a Ward Councillor has been exerting undue influence over both officers of the Council and officers of the TMO for their own political benefit. Mr. Holgate would be wise to ask someone to cast a scrutinising eye over the interaction of said Ward Councillors and officers of the Council and TMO. The opportunity for dodgy practices and malign influences is crystal clear. What we need to know is whether any such dodgy dealings have taken place, and if they have that they will be dealt with severely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Secret Squirrels26 January 2015 at 12:18

      Mr Holgate would do well to ask Mr Black for details of all of the concerns/ complaints which have been expressed by World' s End residents about the estate gardening contract.

      Mr Holgate ought to contact the World's End Residents' Association because the TMO is capable of saying that it has no complaints about the gardening contract. The situation stinks just as much as one of the mayors friends winning a gardening prize when she has no garden.

      Delete
    2. Someone should conduct a full investigation...

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    3. They should but they probably won't. The least of the alleged misdemeanors suggested would result in a by-election. I doubt the local party fancy their chances in a full-on election campaign in Chelsea Riverside given recent events. They'll probably try and get the errant Councillor to behave herself. I doubt they'll succeed. The rot has well and truly set in.

      Delete
  11. Wasn't the Mayor the subject of a complaint to the Council's Standards Committee a couple of years ago? Does anyone know what that complaint was about?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Housing Regeneration Project Fund. TMO ex Housing Director,The Mayor and said resident. £ 60,000 of public money.

      Delete
    2. Luckily the resident bragged about it, residents complained and the MP stopped it... just in the nick of time!

      Delete
    3. The proposal was to move the playground away from hearing shot of the Mayor's friend's house and to privately section off behind her house with a gate with a private entrance from the river.Thirteen keys to the private entrance had already been cut by the TMO when the cat was inadvertedly let out of the bag. Residents revolted, petitioned and the proposal was stopped by RBKC and the MP who were unaware what the TMO, The Mayor and her friend were intending. The bids misleadingly stated that the residents association had requested it.

      Delete
    4. And how many heads rolled for that fiasco? None I bet. Certainly not the Mayor's, because she's still there!

      Delete
    5. As a resident I am worried RBKC are now planning to hand over the management of £ 250,000 The Housing Regeneration Fund to the TMO. The Mayor will certainly be able to have some influence.

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    6. They sacked the TMO housing manager at the time. Unfortunately they made her the scapegoat. The ex TMO Housing Director and the Mayor got off scott free.

      Delete
    7. ANONYMOUS AT 15.41 MAKES A VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATION !

      If the Mayor had a hand in the situation described, or was in any way implicated in deceiving anyone at the Council or the TMO in to believing that the request for for funds to look after Hilda Keane's interests were "requested" by the Residents' Association, then her position as a member of the Council and the TMO Board is untenable.

      I think an investigation in to this matter might be within the ambit of the criminal law- obtaining (by deception) by misrepresentation.

      Delete
    8. Is 16.20 referring to the sacking of Miss Dascombe?

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    9. 15.41 makes a very valid point.

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    10. The bids also misleadingly stated that the proposal was recommended by the police.

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    11. 19:00 makes a very valid point.

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    12. The paperwork for this bid should be made public.

      Delete
    13. Some of the paperwork is still on the Council's website - this all took place in 2010/11 and the paperwork from that round of HRP funded works is still there. Notably the description of the proposed works in the report is totally inaccurate: "Remodel under 5's play area and improve footway access by installing a raised speed table." This is clearly NOT what was being proposed.

      Delete
    14. The complaint to the Standards Committee mentioned above was dealt with in the usual fashion: brushed under the carpet.

      The true nature of the complaint was intentionally obfuscated and hidden from the members of the Committee, the complainant was never interviewed or questioned, a white-wash operation was performed and some taxpayer's money was wasted trying to re-train the untrainable.

      Let's be honest, if this Council thought they had any chance of getting away with suggesting that pedophilia could be dealt with by the application of some judicious "retraining" they'd have tried that particular wheeze with Cllr. Phelps and Lamont too. Luckily it appears there are limits to what the Council believes it can get away with.

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    15. Re: 09:38. So the TMO lied about the true nature of the proposed works to the Council? Nice!

      Delete
    16. yes. The bids were misleading.

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    17. Poor Amy signed them.

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    18. Someone must have a copy of the bids.

      Delete
    19. ...someone has.

      Delete
  12. Cremorne Estate mother26 January 2015 at 14:53

    So Hilda Keane won the gardening prize.

    Will Robert Black investigate why Hilda Keane is allowed to control the Kiddies playground on the Cremorne Estate? She has a key to the playground and keeps children out by locking it up when it up at whatever time suits her. Just who the bloody hell does she think she is.

    Did Maighread Condom Simmonds arrange for her get a key from the TMO. If so, she must resign.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a parent living next door on the World's End Estate I find the children's playgrounds on the Cremorne Estate quite bizarre. The TMO have put up signs stating that the playgrounds will only be "open" during school hours for much of the year and locked at all other times. They appear to expect the children to use the playgrounds when they're supposed to be at school. If the TMO think this is even remotely reasonably they all need their heads examined. But if these bizarre arrangements are actually the handiwork of this particular resident and the Mayor I count myself lucky that the playgrounds on World's End are not under the control of a child-hating control-freak and her friend in high places.

      Delete
    2. Residents have been informed that the hours of closure are in keeping with RBKC public gardens.This is not true. RBKC have confirmed this. The hours have been tailored to the needs of the Mayor's friend. My daughter who is now an adult often comments on how the playgrounds were always closed when she was a child. The needs of this resident override the rights of other residents.

      Delete
    3. Why are the TMO incapable of applying any policy consistently? Either playgrounds should be locked after dusk or not. Not locked on one estate and not on another.

      And as for allowing a resident to hold the key: is this permitted anywhere else? Does anyone else know of another estate where a resident has the key to a communal facility and is able to restrict access to it as they see fit?

      Delete
    4. I understood that RBKC policy dictates that individuals should not have keys to public amenities. The mayor's special friend is exempt from this.

      Delete
    5. This state of affairs was challenged at a public meeting by concerned parents. A police officer was present. I understand that the afore mentioned officer was advised not to be involved in future.

      Delete
    6. 16.33 wants to know why the TMO is incapable of applying policy consistently. The TMO is being run by an inadequate man called Black who is not up to the job.

      Delete
    7. We now know why Miss Dascombe left the TMO suddenly .Talk about under a cloud, a dark one. Who led the Council to believe that the police supported the bid to spend £ 60, 000 on estate works to accommodate Hilda Keane. Dascombe carried the can, did Condon Simmonds give her that info to support the bid for her best friend's benefit. I bet Condon Simmonds wrote nothing and signed nothing. Draw your own conclusion.

      Delete
    8. Let me get this straight. The TMO are allowing one resident to control access to a communal facility. The matter was discussed at a public meeting where irate neighbours challenged the arrangement. The TMO have ignored their request and willfully allowed the dodgy arrangement to persit whilst the Police have been told to mind their own business? Which borough are we all living in again? I'm starting to think we've all been relocated to southern Italy. Although perhaps southern Ireland is more accurate given who's apparently pulling all the strings.

      Delete
    9. The Mayor whispered in the officer's ear. Don't support the residents.

      Delete
    10. RBKC Parks closing times are dusk. 5.30 pm until the 16th of february. The playgrounds in the vicinity of the Mayor's special friend are being closed from 4pm to 4.30 pm. Well before dusk. Children have to play on the streets. Up to two days ago they were being closed at 3 pm.

      Delete
    11. The child hater proposes, the Mayor supports her and the TMO do what their told. Such is the way of things in the Rotten Borough ...

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    12. Absolutely !!!!! 19:37 has understood the process.

      Delete
    13. Of course 19:37 has left the gardening man out...

      Delete
  13. The TMO often close the playgrounds at 3 pm. Before children come home from school.The sound of children playing disturbs the Mayor's special friend. Her influence on our services knows no bounds...

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am outraged at the disclosures on this blog about the Mayor's special friend closing the children's playground on the Cremorne Estate, excluding children from using the amenity.

    If I didn't know better, I would think the TMO was being run by Stalin with what it allows a few special people to get away with.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Someone should investigate the Decent Homes Funding spent on other things to decorate and update the afore mentioned resident's block seven years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Her influential friends had a heavy hand in this.

      Delete
    2. Tell me your company and all that.31 January 2015 at 11:56

      If it is true that Hilda has been restricting access to the kiddies playground then she is a selfish, self serving woman. The mayor should choose her friends more carefully.

      Delete
  16. What is the point of being a councillor if you can't take care of a few friends?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am not surprised that Anonymous at 17.21 has posted this incredibly crass comment without having the courage of their convictions by providing their name. I hope this answers your query.
      Councillors are supposed to uphold the highest standards of probity and not seek any advantage for themselves or their friends.It is a privilege to be trusted by the electorate to serve the community and to seek any sort of advantage, covertly, is underhand and a breach of trust.






      Delete
  17. The number of responses to this thread may be a record for the Hornet. It highlights the immense public concern at the abysmal standards of behaviour of those running every aspect of the Rotten Borough's rotten services. Not even an event as minor as a "best garden" prize or the opening times of children's playgrounds are free from taint. This story brings RBKC corruption to a new level.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The status of special friends extends to favourite eating establishments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is alarming. 10;00 and 13:26 refer to this.

      Delete
    2. A few years ago residents were horrified when they discovered plans for their pavements to be removed by RBKC and the TMO. The favourite eating establishments had whispered in the Mayor's ear. Repaving under Housing Regeneration Funding was being turned into an open space project in order to facilitate all day deliveries to these eating establishments. The residents revolted. A public meeting was held. The MP intervened. The pavements remained.

      Delete
    3. Wasn't this proposal led by the TMO man who judges the gardening competition?

      Delete
    4. It is quite clear that both the Mayor and the TMO staff concerned have lost all sight of who they are there to serve and what they are there for.

      If all of this is common knowledge at the Council and TMO then it appears that neither care very much for appropriate behaviour as long as no-one finds out about it.

      Delete
    5. The Council have form: Cllrs. Lamont and Phelps. It is apparently perfectly fine for Tory Councillors to get up to no good as long as no-one finds out about it or makes a fuss. We'll now we all now know about all of this and we're less than impressed. Will the Council do anything about it?

      Delete
    6. Drawings had already been submitted. Luckily residents got wind of it.

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    7. The fear is now that the Housing Regeneration Fund (£ 250,000) is no longer going to be run by RBKC, the TMO will be able to carry out proposals such as the ones described. Residents will be powerless.

      Delete
    8. Yes. The Mayor, the gardening man and the special friends.

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    9. This failed proposal of residents loosing their pavements to benefit favourite eating establishments was also under Housing Regeneration Fund. This fund is only meant to be used for social housing supported by residents. Residents knew nothing about it!

      Delete
  19. 23.10 refers to comments made by 10.00 and 13.26 about favours given to an eating establishment whose leasehold property is managed by the TMO and on whose Board Condon Simmonds serves.

    Did Condom Simmonds prevail on the TMO to cancel the parking ticket given to the restaurant by the TMO"s Parking Enforcement Contractor?

    Is there any evidence that Condom Simmonds received any sort of advantage or inducement for doing so, if so give the evidence to the police who will investigate the possibility of corruption.

    and

    If the wiring in the eatery is dodgy, the people living in the Council flats on top of it could go up in flames. (am I right?)

    Is the implication of the Mayor doing favours for the eatery at the expense of men, women, and children living on top of a profit making business that is too mean to upgrade the electrics in the interests of fire safety,

    What are the Labour opposition doing to protect the Council tenants whom they profess to love so much from fire. Will DENT COAD and BLAKEMAN now take action and call for an investigation to establish the truth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A warning letter was sent advising that the establishment cease it's behaviour otherwise the parking permit would be withdrawn. The Mayor whispered to a TMO Director. The officers were instructed to go to the establishment to apologise to the owner and retract the letter.

      Delete
    2. This is outrageous.

      Delete
    3. It is whispered that only good tips are given.

      Delete
    4. It has been remarked that there is another favourite eating establishment in the vicinity.

      Delete
    5. Residents complained about the behaviour of this second establishment. The Mayor let it be known who they were.

      Delete
    6. It wouldn't be on the paperwork.

      Delete
  20. Charlot: Je suis Charlie.27 January 2015 at 09:19

    Freedom of speech in action.

    This blog about Condon Simmonds shows why Freedom of Speech is so important,

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sometime ago residents proposed waste being picked up from the main road. On the small road they had avoided paying for waste collection. On the main road they could be regulated, fined and would have to adhere to collection times. Favourite establishments opposed this. The Mayor came to their rescue. Twelve RBKC officers were summoned on site. Told that residents had a vendetta against favourite establishments. Residents concerns were to be ignored. Pressure was exerted. Despite the Mayor's best efforts to protect the favourite establishments the proposal was implemented with the assistance of the MP.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I always knew that there would be tears before bedtime for Maighread. When she first got elected, I saw her going in and out of peoples flats. I thought, she is an interfering nosey parker rather than a sophisticated Tory with political acumen. Her style would be more akin to New Labour. We all remember Tony Blair having a cuppa in someone's kitchenette when he was Prime Minister. I think Maighread wanted to bring the common touch to the Tory elite of Kensington & Chelsea. Perhaps Maighread will defect to Emma Dent Coad's Labour Party she might fit in better with them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Mayor can't be trusted with residents private information...

      Delete
    2. Some time ago someone phoned me to warn me that he had a conversation with the mayor in which a third person's information was disclosed by her.

      Delete
  23. The rule of law doesn't extend to RBKC.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Someone should investigate...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Which someone? The Council? Councillors? Try as it might, the Labour group is up against a closed Tory shop. The evidence mounts daily that everything related to this rotten council is a stinking pile of sh*t. Nothing will change in K & C till residents vote en masse for AN Other, in both local and parliamentary elections. Now is the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nicholas Holgate should investigate.

      Delete
    2. Holgate is duty bound to investigate the allegations made against Condon Simmonds.I have it on excellent authority that he is a decent man so I hope he will do the right thing.

      I have taken various matters to Labour Councillors, Emma Dent Coad and Judith Blakeman - both of whom did nothing. Dent Coad ignores e-mails and Blakeman sides with officials when there is evidence of wrong doing. If anyone thinks that a Labour Council would be better, or different, think again. I haven't forgotten the litany of fraud and corruption in Labour run Lambeth even if 14.21 has forgotten.

      Let us not forget that only Labour Members of the Commons were prosecuted in the expenses' scandal. Only one Tory peer was prosecuted. Labour is very shabby, particularly the K&C Labour opposition.

      Face up to reality 14.21

      Delete
    3. We would hope that someone has the decency to invetsigate.

      Delete
    4. Her special friend is the only resident to have a key to a private garden maintained by TMO contractors.

      Delete
  26. It would certainly be comforting to believe that when faced with such an overwhelming level of discontent with the alleged inappropriate behaviour of a Councillor the Chief Exec of the Council and Town Clerk would act to determine whether what has been alleged has any merit and what punitive action that behaviour merits.

    However the more cynical among us would suggest that this is as likely as the RAF fielding a squadron composed of flying uncooked bacon. The simple reality is that no-one wants to rock the boat. The officers simply don't want the hassle and the Tory party would rather not have yet another political scandal on their hands. Why the other political parties don't go for it is a mystery. They should. If the situation were reversed and such allegations were made about an opposition Councillor the Tories would smell blood and go for the kill.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Enough of metaphors. This council is rotten to the core and the services it provides have, almost without exception, been corrupted beyond recognition.

    Opposition parties achieve little because they are are hugely outnumbered by the ruling clique. Unless and until middle class residents stop whinging and vote against the status quo, nothing will change. Rifkind has disrespected his constituents for years. If every natural Tory votes against him, the Town Hall will be shaken to its foundations. It's widely said that the Labour candidate is an able fellow, so give him a vote. K & C residents have nothing to lose. In the local elections, if Tories again grit their teeth and vote en masse against incumbents, democracy will eventually be restored. It's the only way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why not vote Green?
      Labour are a bad joke and RBKC Labour are a laughing stock and completely impotent after Cllr Blakeman spent years silently colluding with her Tory pals in Hornton St.

      Delete
    2. Most residents are not concerned with party politics. They are outraged that an elected public servant has used the public office to serve her own interests and those of her friends. We call for an investigation.

      Delete
    3. Here, here 00.10. The issue is Maighread has abused her position to serve her own interests and those of her friends who support her.

      Delete
    4. Absolutely.

      Delete
  28. Dear Dame Hornet,

    You have done us proud. The article about Condon Simmonds has been up on this website for less than 48 hours and there are already 104 contributions; an unprecedented response rate.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Interesting. So, Greg Hands MP intervened to stop the Council spending £ 60,000 of bid money on a proposal to carry out works for the benefit of Condon Simmonds' best mate on the Cremorne Estate. By doing so, he did for Ms Dascombe who was the fall guy. The one who drove forward the £ 60, 000 proposal for the benefit of Hilda Keane was, in reality, Condon Simmonds.

    Will Mr Holgate arrange to interview Ms Dascombe to get to the truth of the truth of what happened.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Surely Robert Black knew that Amy Dascombe was innocent.

      Delete
    2. 23:20 and 23:22 answer some of these queries

      Delete
  30. Yes. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In answer to 22:55.

      The Mayor and the ex-Director of Housing drove this forward.

      Delete
    2. Miss. Danscombe left a written statement...

      Delete
    3. Any chance of someone at the TMO leaking Ms Dascombe's statement to The Dame.

      Apparently, Ms Dascombe and Alastair Manson had a class one row before Ms Dascombe stormed out. Is the "ex-Director of Housing" Alastair Manson?

      Delete
    4. Some senior TMO staff like dining out in fancy King's Road restaurants with their gardening contractors.

      Delete
    5. Yes. The gardening man.

      Delete
  31. Anon 00. Whatever is said or proved against the council, as long as residents continue to be "not concerned with politics" and so fail to vote, the Town Hall will continue to manipulate and humiliate them. Residents' only real weapon is the vote. It comes down to the old saying: Use it or lose it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Former TMO Board Member28 January 2015 at 04:03

      00.24 Nothing wrong with encouraging people to vote. Don't run away with the idea that by voting anything other than Tory in K & C will bring about noticeable change. It won't. Look at the evidence on this blog showing up two leading Labour Councillors who have not done very well. See 17.27 and 23 .27 for starters.

      Mrs Blakeman is now on the TMO after a poor performance as Leader of the K& C Labour Party. Ms Dent Coad spent years on the TMO and achieved nothing. I remember when the TMO Chair upset her along time ago she put all her time and energy in to pursuing a complaint. I don't think she even got an apology.

      Delete
  32. That's because K & C Tories have an iron grip on the system. They can and do ignore minor details like legality or even proper procedure.

    The reason this government routinely abuses and ignores the young and those on lower incomes, is that as groups, they don't vote. Meanwhile the "cuts" have left the wealthy and elderly largely unscathed - because both groups regularly exercise their right to vote! All political parties are scared of voters.

    Across the world people fight for the right to vote. Yet in the UK many of those who have it, choose not to vote. Politicians need not fear non-voters, so can and do safely ignore their protests and complaints.

    Breaking the current K & C political system won't be quick or easy. It will happen only when everyone uses their vote, to get rid of incumbents and give others a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Maighread has been a very naughty girl.

    ReplyDelete
  34. As soon as Ms Dascombe's statement was mentioned on this blog, the TMO would have made sure that it was shredded. I wonder if the TMO had to pay Ms Dascombe off to keep her quiet. I bet her employment ended with a Compromise Agreement.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I have been reading the threads on this blog about what happened to Miss Dascombe. I had no idea that she was made scapegoat for signing documentation saying that the £ 60, 000 for improvements at Cremorne were " requested" by the Residents' Association. The poor woman lost a very well paid job because others were apparently artful in making sure their names were not mentioned on the paperwork.

    Gleeful above raises an interesting point. I would not be surprised if Miss Dascombe's written statement has gone missing at the TMO. In 2008, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the TMO's membership was called because fifty members of the company had signed a petition calling for the removal of Miss Rawlings MBE and Mr Michael Beverley as Directors of the Company.

    A Former Board Member told the meeting that Mr Beverley had been accused of sexual assault. The then Chief Executive told the meeting that this incident happened before her time and that she had checked Mr Beverley's file and there was no paperwork to be found about sexual assault.

    So it may not be too wide of the mark for Gleeful to suggest that Ms Dascombe's statement may have been shredded.

    The TMO is a sordid affair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms. Dascombe's statement not in TMO hands.

      Delete
    2. In response to 04:41.

      Yes

      Delete
    3. In private hands.

      Delete
    4. Ms. Dascombe wrote to someone...

      Delete
    5. Someone has also got copies of the bids...

      Delete
    6. Philomena Corrigan28 January 2015 at 15:17

      The someone who has Ms Dascombe's statement had better copy it to
      Mr Holgate.

      Delete
    7. Together with bids showing the misleading information

      Delete
    8. It might be more effective to hand it over to other mediums.

      Delete
    9. Yes, with the misleading information stating that the police had recommended it.

      Delete
  36. As noted above, Maighread does indeed appear to have been a very naughty girl indeed. The question is whether anyone is going to do anything about it.

    It's worth noting that the "HRP fiasco" would have kicked off just a few months after a very close run by-election in Cremorne ward. Labour nearly had their candidate elected in September 2010. Had there been another by-election a few months later the odds are they would have second time around. It was clearly in the local Tory party's interest to ensure that no such by-election took place. Sacrificing a TMO staff member to help ensure that a ward councillor's involvement in an attempted fraud was kept quiet was probably considered the most expedient way forward.

    ReplyDelete
  37. The other serious concern is that the HRP is now in the process of being transferred into TMO hands. RBKC will no longer be managing it. The overall person responsible for it will be the present TMO Housing Director. The scope for further irregularities is endless as The Mayor is on the TMO board and the gardening man manages the HRP. I believe the changes to the HRP are going in front of the scrutiny committee tomorrow. Residents have not been informed or consulted.

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    Replies
    1. More cloak and dagger stuff.

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    2. £ 250,000 is a indeed a lot of money.

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    3. Given what happened here the Council would be wise to reconsider.

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    4. The paperwork has not been made available to residents before the changes are implemented. People can't object as they do not know.

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    5. The MP hasn't been informed that the HRP is going to be managed by the TMO.

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    6. It is all such a scandal.

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    7. Another scandal in the corridors of power.

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    8. Nicholas Holgate should get involved.

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    9. Does anyone know who is on the TMO operations committee?

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    10. The Council should stop this.

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  38. Unfortunately, taking serious issues to Nicholas Holgate does not necessarily end in the protection of RBKC residents. A good deal of "pass the parcel" can result, with no perceivable result beyond high professional costs borne by residents and an equally generous pay off for an implicated officer - also funded by residents.

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  39. What about the TMO and the 10 million pounds they have been given by RBKC to fund the Grenfell Tower Improvement Works?
    A recent FoI request drew a total blank after the TMO refused to disclose any information as to how this money is being spent.
    The RBKC Housing Commissioning Team is supposedly meant to be scrutinising this project on behalf of the Borough's residents but no sign that they are involved at all.
    Sunlight is the best disinfectant but we all know that the TMO like nothing more than to hide their behaviour in the dark.
    Personally, I would not trust the TMO to look after my wristwatch for five mins.

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  40. It is an incredible coincidence that Maighread's best friend, Hilda Keane, won the gardening competition by dubious means and that the £ 60, 000 of expenditure earmarked for improvements on the Cremnorne were worked up for Hilda Keane's personal benefit.

    I have just received an invitation to the annual mayor's bash in the Mayor's Parlour. I would not be able to contain myself if Hilda Keane is there, if she is present, I would give Maighread a piece of my mind.

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    Replies
    1. 15:28 might do well to ask the Mayor about the private garden that only her special friend has a key to. It is situated at the back of her house. It is paid for by residents and yet no one else has access to it. Special features such as hand trimmed trees, watering facilities, unique plants to this garden such as an abundance of rose bushes only exist in this garden. The main supply of new planting in the spring goes into this garden. TMO contractors kneel on their hands and knees in order to weed on the outside of the pycantherus high hedge which has been planted to create a private garden at the back of her house. No other area in the vicinity has such expenditure or care. This special friend reffers to it as "my garden". The gardening man makes sure it is kept in pristine condition.

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    2. 15:28 could also ask her about the painting of the walls exclusively either side of her home eighteen months ago. The Housing officer did not know anything about it, the repairs team knew nothing about it and it wasn't under capital works. It is absolute mystery how the painting exclusively outside her home came about!

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    3. Could it have been a parting gift from the ex Housing Director?

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    4. 15:28 could also ask her why the corridor exclusively outside her flat is cleaned on a weekly basis when no one else's in the building is. This cleaning is outside the cleaning contract and denied that it takes place by gardening man.

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    5. Investigation of the TMO Gardening Man is long overdue.

      Every aspect of Hilda Keane's tenancy requires investigation.

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    6. When she lived in Hortensia I hear that residents there were so glad when she moved due to the preferential treatment she received due to her housekeeping skills.

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    7. Ah,the gardening man in charge of so much and yet with such little knowledge...at the beck and call of the Mayor.

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    8. I hear just a landscape gardener

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    9. Isn't he head of cleaning, paving, resurfacing and Housing Regeneration Fund ?

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    10. Yes. A jack of all trades...and a master of none.

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    11. OLD CROW WITH A FACE LIKE A BAD POTATO31 January 2015 at 07:44

      Why does the TMO allow the Keane woman to have a private garden for her personal use paid for by everyone on the estate. Robert Black knows that the TMO looks after its friends including it would seem personal friends of the Mayor.

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    12. HAS THE TMO GARDENING MAN BEEN SUSPENDED FROM DUTY?

      HAS ROBERT BLACK GIVEN ORDERS FOR HILDA KEANE'S PRIVATE GARDEN TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL ON THE CREMORNE.

      HAS THE LOCK TO THE PLAYGROUND BEEN CHANGED SO THAT HILDA KEANE NO LONGER STOPS KIDS PLAYING IN IT.

      Delete
  41. Jeremy Kyle Show Researcher28 January 2015 at 15:50

    Will Maighread come on the Jeremy Kyle Show and do a lie detector test. We could devote a whole show to the allegations made with the accusers in the audience and on the stage and finish off with the polygraph results at the end of programme.

    Maighread- please ring 0161 952 0464

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wonderful !

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    2. Would have to employ extra security.

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    3. She would certainly fit the profile.

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    4. Dishonest, shady looking, etc

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    5. A whole series could be dedicated to her misdemeanors.

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  42. The Council's Standards Committee can be conned. The Jeremy Kyle lie detector will tell the truth.

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  43. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  44. I was under the impression that the Mayor's special friend had received a "Mayor's Award" for services given to the community. There must have been some mistake......it should have been "for services received from the community".

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  45. I was unaware that it was so lucrative to help the Mayor in her electoral campaigns.

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  46. You cannot trust this Tory Council or the TMO to do the right thing over all of this- a public lie detector is the only answer.

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    Replies
    1. I hear that The HRP changes are going for approval in front of the TMO operations committee tomorrow. Residents have not been told about this. The changes will mean that the Mayor could influence what projects are undertaken and instruct the gardening man. Does anyone know who is on the operations committee?

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    2. It is of great concern that RBKC is relinquishing control of £ 250,000 of public funding to the TMO. The Mayor sits on the TMO board.

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  47. That's peanuts for this council. They routinely hand out £250,000 golden handshakes and early retirement to senior officers who've blotted their copybook.

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  48. Dear Dame,

    This blog about the mayor is probably the most successful longest blog ever. I was thinking of papering the walls in my spare room with it.

    You duffed up the TMO before Xmas and hope to see you give them a kickin this year.

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  49. Is the Mayor gonna do a public lie detector test?

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  50. If she's got nothing to hide, she would say bring it on, I'm going on Jeremy Kyle to do the lie detector and tell the world that I am telling the truth and am not arranging advantages for Hilda Keane.

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  51. Someone above claims that Mr Black has cleaned up the TMO. TMO staff, including senior ones, tell lies to customers all the time. Maighread Condon Simmonds has lied and Amy Dascombe paid with her job. So Mr Blacks TMO is full of "dirty little liars."

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  52. Nice one 7.08. Jeremy Kyle calls people who fail the lie detector "dirty little liars"

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  53. General Election looming1 February 2015 at 11:57

    What is GREG HANDS MP doing to make sure that Children are able to play in the Playground on the Cremorne? Will he make sure that Hilda Keane's private garden paid for by everyone who pays rent is available for all to enjoy?

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  54. Blessed are the children of the Cremorne for they shall be comforted with a playground1 February 2015 at 17:01

    What a good idea from General Election Looming asking Greg Hands to see that the children of the Cremorne are able to use the playground without obstruction from Mrs Keane. Hope everyone is allowed in to her private garden too

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  55. The Gardening Man is Dominic Davies.

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  56. Black must personally go down the Cremorne and sort the playground and private garden out. Theresa Brown is a right one but she ain't done nothing about it so Black had better do somethink.

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  57. Having a laff at the TMO's expense.2 February 2015 at 10:31

    I love it "Blessed are the children of the Cremorne for they shall be comforted with a playground" very good, very drole.

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  58. Maighread, we'd love you to come on the show with your chain of office to do a lie detector.

    Ring Connor on 0161 952 0464

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  59. Was it Maighread who went to Robert Hertners funeral ?

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  60. Friend of the late Robert Hertner4 February 2015 at 11:32

    No it wasn't Maighread who went to Robert Hertners funeral. It was some woman who works at the TMO. We all thought she was a hypocrite. I don't want anyone from the TMO at my funeral.

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  61. Typical of the TMO they couldn't give tuppence for Robert Hertner when he was alive but to show what a lovely caring bunch they really are, they send some woman along to his funeral. The bloke whom they did nothing for when he was alive, except treat him badly.

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  62. This blog shows that the TMO is not squeaky clean under Black. We now know about the £ 60, 000 bid, the rigged gardening competitions, the private garden which Black's staff have made available to the Mayor's best friend and, I nearly forgot the Gardening Man's activities.

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  63. 07.50 The question is not we have found out about the Black regime but what we haven't found out.The things you mention are tip of the iceberg stuff. It comes to those of us who wait- bide your time

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  64. I'm an old friend of Robert Hertner. Did you know him well? I came across this blog while searching for answers about his final days. Will you please contact me here?

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  65. 2009 Gardens 2nd – Hilda Keane
    http://www.kctmo.org.uk/files/133549_linkforwebdecember2009.pdf

    Hilda won the The Besant Cup in 2010
    http://www.kctmo.org.uk/files/145813_link_final_winter_2010.pdf

    Category - Gardens Joint 3rd – Hilda Keane 2011
    http://www.kctmo.org.uk/news/115/gardens-competition-full-results

    You can see a picture of Hilda Keane's lovely "private" garden on page 95:

    http://chelseasociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/shr.pdf

    The bloody women gets everywhere page 11:

    http://www.kctmo.org.uk/files/085302_link_autumn_2013_electronic.pdf

    Page 4
    http://www.kctmo.org.uk/files/105010_link_spring_2012_final_lores.pdf



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  66. Chief Executive Officer Robert Black and Resident Hilda Keane

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/kctmo/6917312665/

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  67. Picture of Hilda Keane in her lovely "private" garden

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/kctmo/6520447697/in/photostream/

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  68. “I love my home and the surrounding area holds
    many good memories for me. I look forward to the
    gardening competition each year – I love the roses.”
    Hilda Keane

    page 10
    http://91.103.220.161/~kctmorg/files/102902_link_summer2011_lores.pdf

    ReplyDelete

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