PRAISE FOR PARSIMONIUS HERR POOTER

You must all be thinking the sun and high living at her super luxurious Thai beach side villa has quite gone to the Dame's head. Well, you would be wrong. Apart from one or two 'social events' at Danny Boy Moylan's neighboring £200 million 'Pleasure Dome' she is passing a most unexciting vacation.

The Dame regularly  scrutinises Herr Pooter's expenses-and those with whom he has broken bread.

In former days he would be lavish in his entertaining. Stays at luxurious hotels, vastly expensive lunches and dinners, and frequent abuse of the 100 litre V40 Bentley limousine-complete with baccarat crystal equipped cocktail cabinet- would be the norm. However, looking at the recent expenses of our Leader we can sense a sea change. Now his expenses seem positively modest. He even proudly boasts car sharing and rail 'awayaday' tickets.
 Instead of dinners at the Ritz with the Barclay brothers and discreet gatherings with powerful property magnates(Candy Bros) he tells us that he has been given Easter Eggs by Doctor Leiserson(who he? Ed), a night at the theatre(The Sound of Music!) courtesy of BT and a 'do' at Chelsea FC.http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/howthecouncilworks/ourcouncillors/expensesandallowances/cllrcockellremuneration.aspx

The Dame is proud to boast that her laser like scrutiny and the growing interest of the media has finally bought our dictatorial leader to heel and an acceptance that splurging money on the 'high life' will not be tolerated.However, Herr Pooter don't relax..... the Dame and her followers will continue to demand that you quit your £120,000 double jobbing. Also, in future, ensure you recharge your LGA expenses to that organisation-NOT us residents.

Where's the job specs?

The Royally Rotten Borough spends bucket loads of your cash every day, and some of that goes on councillor allowances. Seasoned readers of these pages will know your local councillors are paid handsome allowances for doing pretty much bugger-all and so long as they toe the party line and dont cause too much fuss, even if they make a complete hash of whatever it is they have to do, will continue to receive the cash month in month out.

Even the so called opposition, the likes of Labour and Glib-Dems get some cash (although to be fair the Glib Dems do want more).

In the real world, that is outside of the council, anyone in employment will know that you cant just expect the pay check to appear once a month every month, whether you turn up or not or if you actually fulfill the expectations of your employers and satisfactorily complete your tasks.

In other councils across the country they publish portfolios of councillors with extra responsibilities because if they are being paid up to £50,000 from the public purse its only right the public have access to a set of targets, or points on which to measure if the incumbent is up to the job.

For example, in one such eastern council the cabinet member for a civil society has a published portfolio that says they will attend external meetings and actually states what these meetings are, who they are with and how often they take place. It gives targets, to reduce anti social behaviour, improve teams removing graffiti and provides for action against litter.

The Rotten Boroughs own RockFM, the Leader in Waiting, is our Cabinet Member for Civil Society and all the website says for him is this:

The Council is always looking to improve the services it offers. It is Cllr Feilding-Mellen's job to keep everyone on their toes in the search for continuous improvement across all the Council’s services, including those delivered on the Council’s behalf by private companies and voluntary organisations. Cllr Feilding-Mellen also manages the regeneration and community safety portfolios.




In other words, nothing, This is just plain nonsense as it doesnt give you any idea what he has to do as Civil Society Cabinet Member, doesnt give you any metrics on which to judge his performance nor justify his £45,000 per year. It does give his political paymaster however all the cards to hand out patronage.

So the Dame calls on the council to produce proper portfolios for each cabinet member that clearly explains

• What the definition of their role is
• Exactly what is expected of them
• How they are expected to deliver it
• Quantify why it should attract the salary level it does

...after all, its not THEIR money its YOURS.

Phelps plans independent return?

There is fear and trembling in the Town Hall corridors of power.

A sweaty and nervous Pooter Cockell has been told his erstwhile friend and confidant, ex Worshipful Mayor Barry Phelps-that disgraced distributor of crude and sexually innuendo laden images of very young boys-says he will contest Earls Court at the next election-as an Independent!

The Dame can confirm Pooter's worst fears. Phelps is party to many secrets and doubtless will ready to wreak vengeance on his nemesis, Town Clerk Derek Myers.

Fortunately for Pooter, the Dame is as anxious as he to prevent the return of the lascivious Phelps. If Pooter cares to contact the Dame she will appraise him of  more of this man's dark interests....... You have been warned Phelpsie....don't even think about it. The Dame can be a formidable enemy.

Cockell and Censorship

So councillors can read what the outside world is saying about them the £3 million a year Press Office prepares a digest of newspaper comment to be circulated to our representatives.

Some councillors-more on the ball than others- have noticed that any press comment critical of Dear Leader Cockell is censored. The latest example is the Daily Mail piece by leading journalist Andrew Pierce. Pierce rightly referred to the hypocrisy of Cockell's address to the LGA and his blatant abuse of expenses. Evidently, Cockell has given instructions that any article, in the slightest bit critical of him, is to be omitted.

This sort of childish censorship is reminiscent of some proto Stalinist regime. Cockell laughably proclaims the virtues of 'transparency' but clearly hates the torchlight of truth being shone upon him and his activities.

Fortunately the Dame is there to ensure that the truth will always out.....

Coming up soon the Dame will be able to report on the mysterious dinners that Cockell has enjoyed-on his own- with various big time property developers in the Rotten Borough and events that transpire following those meetings.

No one suggests impropriety but it is sheer madness to allow a councillor to sup with those whose fortunes rest upon good relations with the Rotten Borough: it is particularly dangerous when that councillor has a business record which-put politely, is hardly scintillating.

At any further meetings Cockell should always be accompanied by a senior officer or the Town Clerk.

Choo Choo Choo.. c'mon and pay TheTrainLine

£725,612

Total Spend

£181,403

Avg Monthly Spend

The above figures show the amount paid by your council to TheTrainLine(dot)com.

Thats alot of alledged first class returns?

Voice Coaching and Presentation Skills On the Taxpayer

Over the last twelve months or so, the Royally Rotten Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have made stringent cuts to front line services, like the EPICS centre for the boroughs old folks, despite having over £170 million stashed in bank accounts held in "reserve for use when needed".

Readers will be pleased to know, however, that the council still managed to spend almost £5000 of your money on voice coaching and presentation skills in the same period.

In November last year a course was held covering "Personal Impact"; January saw two courses for "Presentation Skills" and again on two dates in March.

The fact that the costs of these bourne by the tax payer are quite modest when you consider there are over 3000 employees, the Hornet cant help but think the beneficiaries of these courses were the politicians running the joint.

If that is true, what they hell are we doing paying from our council tax to send politicians on presentation and coaching sessions that should be dipping into their own pocket for.


The council is not an employer of councillors and shouldnt be used as such.

Palmergate: MP in the boardroom... Blakeman in firing line...

There he is, stood at the back, no everyone else isnt sitting down he really is that tall. Well, what else would you expect from the co-founder member of the tall society. Oops, thats not mentioned in his declaration of interests either!


So Palmer was hauled back before the so-called independent standards review committee following an appeal on a decision they made earlier.

For the benefit of those who dont know, FTHN revealed to the world Palmer was moonlighting as a director of a company called councilskills that was supposedly guaranteed to deliver results on saving money for something or another. Probably on salary costs as the Dame reckons the people named are all figments of Clouseaus overactive imagination.

However, for some company that purports to train people in council skills, Palmer forgot to declare this business which he is required to. There is a council code of conduct that clearly states all business interests have to be declared. But he forgot. No doubt he was afflicted by the same amnesia that the Dear Leader acquired on his mysterious dinner date in New York (at your expense).

So Mr Downes of Residents First complained after reading about it in FTHN and Palmer was duly charged with a breach of the council code of conduct.

However, the so called Standards Committee felt that although he did break the council code of conduct, and that they were mindful in a matter of months such breaches are to be made a criminal offence they decided to take no action because he now registered his interests following the complaint.

Yes, you did read that right.

So Mr Downes appealed the decision as Palmer should receive sanction, or a censure or some other suitable punishment for this "serious breach" (the words used by the Standards Committee) which is soon to be made a criminal offence by law.

So that brings us to today where Palmer was hauled back into the boardroom to face the decision of the Appeal committee who are, more or less the same lot as the ones who let him off before.

And the decision?

To send him for training on the council code of conduct and nothing else.

The committee is made up of so called independent people, the ones considering Palmers alledged abuse of his position in failing to declare a business interest and use council facilities to promote this business is a Dr, and insurance expert Cllr Mary Weale (Palmers Party colleague from Hans Town) who is searching for a parliamentary seat following her unsuccessful bids at Brighton, H&F and Kensington in 2004. And Cllr Judith Blakeman, leader of the opposition.


Now that got Hornet kind of wondering.....


The committee agreed Palmer breached the code of conduct.
The committee acknowledged such breaches will soon be a criminal offence.
The committee took no action to punish the errant councillor.

At times like this the Opposition have to start to act like, well, Opposition. Its pointless to expect the Glib-Dems to turn up let alone offer any thing close to opposition, but we expect more from the Labour Party.

This was a golden opportunity for Cllr Blakeman to do what is expected of her and lead the committee into making the right decision. They could have recommended the suspension of Palmer for a period of time, and in so doing remove his entitlement to allowances. They could have moved a motion of censure at a council meeting to show these flagrant breaches of the code shall not be tolerated.

They could have done something.

But just to recommend he receives training, is like telling someone who has just shot someone with a revolver to have training into how to handle a gun, rather than punish them for actually shooting someone.

Its an insult frankly. In the "real world" (that the self taught stockbroker Palmer has never actually had to live in) he would be on a final written warning at best, or dismissal at worst.

Cllr Blakeman has missed an opportunity, and its about time the Labour Party, and their GlibDem friends in opposition started to do exactly that.

STOP PRESS: Planning Appeal 141-149 Portobello Road

The Dame has just this minute received this draft objection letter from that other Great Dame, Marion Gettleson. She hopes all that it will be useful to all of you wanting to making your feelings felt to the Planning Inspector. The Dame says this is the perfect opportunity for the people's voices to be heard so please do write and object.

From: ..............................

...

....................................................................

Via email (address: teamp3@pins.gsi.gov.uk ) to:

HM Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/19 Eagle Wing
Temple Way House
2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN.


Dear Planning Inspector

Planning Appeal:141-149 Portobello Rd London W11 2DY
Reference: App/K5600/A/11/2154885.

I/we wish to lodge the strongest possible Objection to an Appeal to remove a Planning Condition from Admiral Vernon antiques arcade; limited trading hours in the basement. I/we support local residents' amenity; because.on Sundays to Thursdays; the 'antiques' section of Portobello Market has always been a residential backwater; with a small local Market to the north. Fridays are rather busier; but still 'local.' RBKC is currently attempting to start a Friday Antiques Street Market opposite Admiral Vernon; for 'homeless' antique dealers.

For 150 years Portobello Market has been packed with up to 60,000 visitors on Saturdays only. For 60 years, many have been attracted to the Saturday opening antiques arcades - including Admiral Vernon. Most 'Market' revenue goes on antiques. Despite having Planning Permission for ground floor trading 7 days a week; it has only ever occurred on Saturdays. This is true for all the Appellants' arcades; due to insufficient weekday footfall. Rents reflect 7 day trading. Local 7 day forecourt trading causes local residents considerable nuisance.

RBKC wisely re-confirmed the Admiral Vernon Planning Condition. The Application was deceptive - as is the Appeal. If it succeeds; local residents will suffer 365 day nuisance caused by unrestricted trading; despite any remaining limits on delivery times etc. The pattern is for rents to rise; forcing out dealers. Another 'Clone' retailer will sign a lease at exorbitant rent in respect of inflated footfall figures. Admiral Vernon is pivotal; so once it's 'Cloned;' others will follow & the Antiques Market will be gone. This pattern will be followed north & a once uniquely vibrant & world famous social & cultural treasure will be lost. So much for 'local life, character, vibrancy & legacy' etc. This Appeal counters all RBKC policy on Portobello in 2010 Core Strategy. It will be disastrous for local residents. Westfield - Europe's largest shopping mall - is only 1 km away; so eventually Portobello will look like Westbourne Grove - dead. There is evidently some Town Hall support for such 'gentrification.' The fate of the Antiques Market & perhaps all of Portobello, depends your Appeal Decision on an apparently minor Condition. It is why this case has generated so much public interest. Please consider the plight of all local communities. They are extraordinarily mixed. Very wealthy folk choose to live nearby; because they love the Markets. Please protect all of Portobello's residents - by rejecting this Appeal.

Signed .................................................. date:......................

Saving Portobello

When the Dame gets a communique from Marion Gettleson, that doughty fighter against sinister machinations by greedy and unscrupulous moneybags, she leaps from her luxury poolside recliner and fires up FTHN. If you love Portobello you will do as Marion  requests below.

Dear Dame Hornet
A quick update. RBKC's popular decision to reject a planning application for 7 day trading in the basement of Admiral Vernon antiques arcade, has gone to Appeal.  "Save Portobello Road Market" Campaign has circulated the following; asking people to object. Closing date for objections is 28th July. We are having a public meeting at the Westway pop-up cinema 7.30pm on 28th July ("Passport to Pimlico"). The audience will be asked to use their smartphones etc to email objections before midnight! Perhaps you will graciously consent to give us a little mention. Many thanks.


Deadline 28th July!!! Please act now!!! Once it's gone - its gone!!! Please see the "Save the Portobello Road Market" Facebook Page & ask your family & friends to help Portobello. Thank you."

 "URGENT
ADMIRAL VERNON Planning Appeal for 141-149 Portobello Rd London W11 2DY
Ref App/K5600/A/11/2154885 - Deadline 28th July!!!

In April 200+ people objected to a Planning Application to remove a 15 year old Planning Condition that protects local residents' amenities; by restricting trade in the Admiral Vernon Arcade basement to Fridays & Saturdays only.

The Council supported Portobello by rejecting the Proposal to increase trading days because:
"Local residents have to live with the Market on Saturdays; but during the week are entitled to peace & quiet."

Please Object now to HM Planning Inspector: :

Email address: teamp3@pins.gsi.gov.uk

Quote reference: App/K5600/A/11/2154885

Or Object by Post to:
The Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/19 Eagle Wing
Temple Way House
2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN. Quote reference: App/K5600/A/11/2154885.

The basement was dug out in 1995. RBKC imposed Conditions: "The basement market hereby permitted shall be used for trading purposes on Fridays & Saturdays only" Reason: " To safeguard the Amenities of neighbouring properties." The flats above Admiral Vernon are social housing & so is Portobello Court opposite. Local Residents need our support! Admiral Vernon delivery times are also restricted & none are allowed through Vernon's Yard - to protect residents.  These Conditions are even more vital now; because far more people live above the shops than in 1995. Other issues include Colville School & Market traffic etc. RBKC'S LDF Core Strategy protects the unique character of Portobello Market. It also protects Local Life, the Legacy of Portobello. Please mention Antiques; but the focus here must be on Residents' amenities. Protecting residents is the best way of protecting the Antiques Market.


-----------

   Sincerely
   Marion Gettleson

Uttlesford District Council Can, Why Cant RBKC?

The Dame thought it is interesting that Liz Jones's mother gets first class attention from a small, local district council, yet RBKC- one of the world's richest-with billions of pounds in assets and reserves of £170 million, cannot. But then they prefer to squander OUR money on  £26 million Chinese granite paving; millions on Holland Park Opera-and anything that saves this council having to properly care for the old and infirm. We need to address the question: if Uttlesford District Council can do it's duty by the old and the sick, why cannot ours?

Mum’s dying – and her nurses put me to shame

By Liz Jones

Last updated at 12:59 PM on 10th July 2011
It's a tragedy when anyone becomes old and infirm, but somehow it seems more shocking when that person was once defined by their physicality, their talent, their elegance. In the news last week was the decision by the Supreme Court to deny an overnight carer for Elaine McDonald, who is now 69 but who was once a prima ballerina. 
She suffered a stroke just over a decade ago and needs help to get to the bathroom. Her local council, Kensington and Chelsea, advised her to use incontinence pads, thereby saving themselves £22,000 a year.
This was the story that shocked me most over the past few days, a story that should exercise David Cameron as much if not more than the phone-hacking scandal. 

 Aged 92,(my mother) she has spent a decade bedridden, and is suffering from dementia. She is now dying.

As I drive up the M11 to visit her, still in her own home in Saffron Walden in Essex, I thank the Lord she does not live in Kensington and Chelsea. Her decline over the past few days has been swift. She sleeps, mostly, and has barely eaten in a week. The only liquid she has taken on board has been water, syringed into her mouth. But at her small rented house on Friday, it was like being in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. 

As well as her live-in nurse, a lovely young woman from Latvia who takes a holistic approach to looking after my mum that extends to planting flowers in the garden, there are three uniformed carers a day who come in to help with the heavy lifting and changing.

 

   My mum comes under the aegis of Uttlesford District Council, which must be peopled by saints. Given that my mum is dying, she is getting palliative care for three months, which is completely, 100 per cent free. The family has in the past had to contribute to the cost of her care, to the tune of about £600 or £700 a month.

I imagine that the amount of nursing is so extreme now, it would be far cheaper to dump my mum in a geriatric ward, but this option has not even been raised by her social worker. (When Mum could talk, she always giggled about having a social worker. ‘It’s as though I’ve been naughty!’ she’d say.)

Freedom of Comment? Act responsibly

Whoever posted this am that the Dame did not allow free speech/debate was firmly put in their place. However, as the Dame said sometimes posts are potentially defamatory-such as these two below. The observant will see that that they imply wrong doing on the part of a cllr and an officer and it is only right to treat such posts with caution. However, 13.52 and 13:57 if you have any evidence that you would like to present  to Dame  please make another comment so the Dame's PA can provide a top secret email address and we can root out these evil doers

Anonymous 13:57 said...not to mention all the dough xxxx and xxxxxx allegedly enjoy from the lost (stolen?) children of Kesnington - property or care homes anyone- where?
9 July 2011 13:52 Anonymous said...they fork out 20k a day to private silks in secret courts in order to swipe children- some orphans- bloody criminals, ask xxxx and his business interests, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

RBKC Shame : Richard Littlejohn speaks out in national newspaper

RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Callous judges have sentenced Elaine to life without dignity

07/07/11 21:26

Elaine McDonald, a celebrated former ballerina, needs help using the bathroom three times a night. But she lost her appeal against a decision to deny her a night-time carer. Five Supreme Court judges ruled by 4-1 that there was no legal duty on her local council to supply her with a home help

This is what he had to say about the Rotten Borough...pity he missed out on the £26 million wasted paving Exhibition Rd with Chinese granite...but the point is well made. It is about priorities.

"Admittedly, care provision is expensive, but so are grandiose new civic centres; superstar salaries for senior officers; gold-plated pensions; inflated allowances and expenses for 'Cabinet' members; daft diversity departments, global warming directorates; propaganda sheets masquerading as newspapers; 'walking bus' co-ordinators, equality enforcers, gay rights advocates; anti-nuclear programmes, and all the other wasteful and unnecessary initiatives on which councils all over Britain choose to fritter away taxpayers’ money.
The £22,000 it would cost to provide Miss McDonald with a carer would barely pay for half a dozen hideous traffic humps or a few square yards of fancy paving slabs in Kensington High Street."

Wanted! One Missing Baronessa

Just as the Dame was enjoying a mid morning coffee by her infinity pool the phone rings. It is an anxious Cllr Sir Merrick ShortlyShortly Cockle on the line. "Dame, you seem to know more about the Royally Rotten Borough than I do myself so I need your help'(who says Pooter ignores the Dame now?)

What could the Dame to do help this august and important personage? Well, it transpires that La Baronessa has gone missing and has not been seen in the purlieu of the Town Hall for time immemorial-or at least ever since she ascended to the grandeur of the Lords.

The thing is this..... La Baronessa, like Pooter, has two jobs: her RBKC one which delivers £50,000 a year and her Lords allowances, which if you turn up enough, can dole out another £42,000. The catch is you have to clock in. With RBKC you just wait for Mr Holgate to send you a cheque for £4 grand every month. Now the envious and bitchy will be making insinuations but the Dame says 'stop'. It could be the Baronessa is simply on a sabbatical. Just in case here is a pic of the lady. If you see her please call the Town Hall and ask to speak to the Leader. Or you can email him leader@rbkc.gov.uk

Palmer speaks but no one listens

Coouncillor Matthew Palmer has just commented that Councillor Cockell ignores the Hornet. But if he does, he does so at his political peril. The Dame's old friend, Richard Littlejohn quite clearly does not 'ignore' the sagacity of the Dame. So much so that Richard has picked up Justin Downes's reflection on dignity, and how rather than wasting £26 million on fancy paving, the Council should do it's duty of protecting the old, the infirm and the needy-after all: we paid our Council Tax to provide us with help when we needed it. We never thought it would get blown on repaving Exhibition Rd for the benefit of a few tourists and the egos of one or two overpaid councillors. When you start to get the hackles of Littlejohn rising you know that you are really 'cocking up'. If you want to do yourself a favour, Cockell, call off your ludicrous colleague Palmer. He is damaging you.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2012386/Callous-judges-sentenced-Ballerina-Elaine-McDonald-life-dignity.html

Thai Tidings

The Dame thought she would give her 'take' on the Daily Mail article. The loyal Phelps DHL'd a copy of the paper to her Thai luxury 'state of the art' hideaway(no Phelps, you cannot stay and I will not dilate upon the reason) Left: The Dame's Thai Villa

Cllr Cockell is telling anyone who will listen that it is all old news, but he is embarrassed by the timing: worse the the fact that it has taken away from the very smug feeling of ‘another step up the ladder’- and, far more importantly, the huge income boost. Some of the Labour and LibDem lot(and probably quite a few Tories) are saying if he really cared about doing a good job in the ‘Royal Borough’, as he loves to call it, he would deduct his new salary from his council allowance. After all, he secured this unusually generous allowance (£65k) in the first place by telling colleagues that the job of leader had become a full time one. Suddenly, it is no longer full time.... but just a couple of days a week! In fact Cockell was very lucky with the Mail Article. Two very embarrassing matters were not mentioned. 

First his very unwise statement on the internet immediately after the details of his extravagant trip to New York became public. With unconscious irony he said ‘My expenses are mostly routine’!! (only you could think that one up, Councillor) ‘but I have been on one foreign trip to a conference paid for by this council and as this is unusual I am providing a separate account of this trip, and full documentation’. Full documentation? But there was no restaurant receipt for the dinner with the nameless 'mystery guest'. Something else ShortlyShortly forgot:his two other Royal Borough funded trips to the US. Other forgettable things? Well how about all those chauffeur driven trips he had made in the Bentley:then he told the local press that he only went in the Bentley when the Mayor gave him lift.

When challenged about the 'factual inconsistency' he said it was a 'political denial'-or rubbish to that effect. And what about the reaction of his colleagues? Most would say his standing with colleagues is so low it has made little difference. Just one more embarrassment from the man who puts himself first and everything and everyone else nowhere. Even his ‘supporters’ want him to go, and he knows it, but he needs the money. In the meantime the residents must pay the price of an accident prone leadership, where the joint working with Hammersmith and Westminster make his own position daily more irrelevant and even the existence of the ‘Royal Borough’ itself an expensive and irrelevant anachronism. If he had the slightest conscience he would resign while he still has a little dignity left.

THE TRUE COST OF DIGNITY

THE DAME ASKS JUSTIN DOWNES TO EXAMINE THE DECISION....

The Supreme Court majority decision that K&C does not have to provide a helper for stroke victim and former ballerina Elaine McDonald so she might live in dignity in her own home, raises numerous emotional issues. Clearly savings have to be made. Whether this particular one is right or fair is not something I want to address here.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2011868/Former-ballerina-loses-Supreme-Court-battle-overnight-care-told-wear-incontinence-pads.html#ixzz1RORcBPl3

I want to go off at a slight tangent and pick upon the dissenting judge's reflections upon dignity.

The press have once again given the Council a beating up: it really is an accident prone council and, considering the size and vast cost of the PR department, one wonders whether they give any value for money. The answer in my mind is indubitably no. If the cost is, as mooted by the Dame, something close to £3 million a year  it should be closed down and a PR agency bought in at a fraction of the cost. The Council, fairly or unfairly, came out of this affair very badly. The PR Dept really missed opportunities for the Council to press its case.

My concern is this. K&C is slammed time and time again for extravagance. Residents pay considerable chunks of  income on council tax.The fact that the Council is sitting on £170 million plus of reserves is proof that it has all come through excessive over taxation:there is no other way such a spendthrift council could have built such reserves.

The real question is whether it is more important to maintain the dignity of residents hit by the vicissitudes of life, or whether taxes should be splurged on projects and services seemingly more aligned to puffing up the corporate dignity of the Borough and its Leader.

Perhaps one explanation is Cockell’s very different perspective on dignity.  I remember when I first saw the gleaming new Bentley I wrote to Cockell questioning the judiciousness of spending over £100,000 on such a vehicle (and from what I understand it was much against the wishes of the Conservative Group). He replied in a quite fractious manner, justifying it by saying it was required, “to maintain the dignity of the Royal Borough”.   So his view of his dignity is being driven round in a Bentley, perhaps some explanation of the Council’s treatment of Elaine McDonald.  We now know that it was much more to do with his enjoyment of using it-something he denied-however later, under pressure, admitted.

But it is not just about silly baubles such as limousines. This council has been engaged in a vast spending programme: one which seems to have little benefit to the local taxpayer and all to do with the ego of the Leadership. Just a few examples....

·         Holland Park School. A perfectly good school is being knocked down at huge cost and the   loss of the playing field. The cost has now soared to £100 million

·         Exhibition Road. Another £26 million 'hit' and likely to cause massive congestion

but what really riles is this. Yes, we know that spending has to be cut but there is precious little evidence of leadership by example. Cockell arrogantly boosts his allowances at a time when he could make some token gesture of restraint. The same goes for Derek Myers and his senior team. All are on salaries they could never hope to achieve in the harsh world of private enterprise.

The same goes for councillor's expenses. First class travel and entertaining are all retained with no thought of the negative perceptions engendered. But in the words of the Leader, "it is necessary spending for the dignity of the Borough"

Small wonder this council is under relentless attack from the press, particularly from True Blue papers, such as the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the Standard......

NATIVE LAND GRAB/ HOLLAND PARK PLAYING FIELDS

Evidently each time Cllr Cockell is asked by councillor colleagues when he is going to step down as Leader his reply is always 'Shortly Shortly'-hence the soubriquet Cllr 'Shortly Shortly'.

Anyway.... to more serious stuff.....on July 12 the Major Planning Development Committee will be making a vital decision. It will decide whether to grant a third Planning Application for destruction of the treasured Holland Park School playing fields so that super luxury flats can be built and sold at vast profits, to secretive money men from parts of the world you would not want your daughter sending postcards from in her gap year.

No surprise that the recommendation from the Planning Department will be to grant  consent.

The Council has spent tens of millions of pounds on providing an unnecessary school building against an unsecured contract sum from Native Land. It cannot possibly afford the purchasers to “walk away” from the contract:it would lose £90m, plus, of course, the Council’s share of profits to come from  flogging the monster flats to dodgy 'got rich quick' foreigners. How can the Council be expected to make an impartial decision? The Council also faces  a ticking time-bomb. Holland Park School has indicated that it will apply for Academy status in 2013. From that point the land would no longer belong to the Council and any proceeds from the sale would belong to the school so £90m of  profits gained at the expense of the playing fields would go down the drain.

Another reason being given is that the approved consent made on the Council’s own application was so awful that almost anything would be an improvement.The previous application was such rubbish that English Heritage said the plans for the school would damage two Conservation Areas. Not a bad achievement. These proposals for the school itself remain unaltered, despite the fact that it stands for everything Michael Gove claims to be abhorrent.

So in spite of the fact that the application is a blatant policy breach of Kensington & Chelsea’s Core Strategy, the application is recommended for approval. In particular it will have a significant adverse affect on the views from Holland Park, already reeling from another dreadful decision to permit high rise buildings on the Commonwealth Institute site. It also breaches Core Strategy CH2 which prevents the provision of off-site affordable housing in the already over-crowded northern wards of the Borough. These are major policy breaches and will create dreadful precedents for the future. So just why are they being recommended?

Very unfortunate and very embarrassing-but then this is what happens when 'Shortly Shortly 'Cockell plays the big time developer, assisted by the mysterious Daniel Moylan.

ROYAL BOROUGH V NATIVE LAND AND HOLLAND PARK SCHOOL

The Dame was startled to be called at her Thai hideaway: No, you mischievous folk, it was not Cllr Moylan inviting her to a 'soiree' at his nearby luxury 'pleasure dome'.
Instead it was a mid ranking Hornet Street officer 'DeepThroat'. Her news was disturbing. It was all about the Holland Park School land deal!

The Dame soon expects to be in full possession of the facts. However, it seems Native Land might be sitting prettier than they first imagined. But then when an astute property developer pitches against Pooter Cockell the outcome does not require the psychic skills of Mystic Meg. This image comes to mind.
When she has all the facts, dear and loyal reader, you will be the first to know....as long as one of those horrid newspapers don't beat the Dame to it...

DAILY MAIL SAVAGES LGA CHAIRMAN MERRICK COCKELL

The Daily Mail has close to five million readers-a few more than the Dame. It's readers are bedrock Tories and more than just a few of those will be stunned to read Andrew Pierce's article on Merrick Cockell in today's Mail. Many will be struggling with mortgages, household bills and all the other financial issues and irritants that dominate our lives:they will be angry to read just how easy is Merrick Cockell's life: it is, after all, you and I who pay his £120,000 a year plus expenses(nearly as much as the PM-and more than Pickles!)
But more to the point they may be wondering how Eric Pickles allows RBK&C to totally ignore his directives. Let's us remind ourselves what they are..

• Use reserves to save cutbacks to essential services-RBKC with £170 million ignores him
• Scrap council newspapers-RBKC continues to spend over £500,000 on the rag that nobody reads
• Chief executives should reduce salaries by 10%-ours costs US £280,000 a year and sneers at that idea
• Councillors should reduce their allowances-RBKC are at the top of the quartile
• Councillors should not 'double job'-Cllrs Cockell, Ritchie and Moylan are getting rich doing just that.

Andrew Pierce is one of the UK's leading journalists. When he writes as he does it should be taken as a wake up call. The people are getting fed up with sponging and grasping councillors.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2010975/Top-Tory-Sir-Merrick-Cockell-gravy-plane.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

THE DAME PLANS TO EXPAND

Lots of encouraging comments...thank you.

The Dame has decided to let her loyal followers have an insight into her expansion plans.

Apart from the Royal Borer-Cockell's private newspaper, which we taxpayers fund at a rate of hundreds of thousands of pounds a year- and the K&C Chronicle, residents of the Rotten Borough have no way of finding out what Cockell and crew are getting up to. In her munificence the Dame has decided that come autumn she will be organising a massive drive to ensure as many residents as possible read her wise words.
So expect a missive from the Dame through your letter box directing you to FTHN...

THE DAME DOES AN AUDIT......

Very soon the Dame and entourage will be slowing down for the summer break, so it's time to see what, if anything, has changed in the Royally Rotten Borough....
In just over 12 months much has happened-either initiated by Dame Hornet or by one of her loyal fans.

1.  Rampant expense abuse is over:Cllr Cockell is no longer entertaining "mystery friends" to dinner in New York and submitting expense claims ($2,100) for hotel stays in Boston without receipts being presented. His expenses are now vetted by the Town Clerk instead of a junior officer.
2. The Hornets Nest is now the rallying point for residents of all political hues who resent the abuse of power for which this council has become synonymous. But the clean up campaign continues....
3. Daniel Moylan, the driver of many nonsensical and money wasting ego projects has been neutralised and is no longer a power in Hornton Street
4. 
   Cllr Cockell and friends are now having to look over their shoulders. No longer can they act as if they owned the place
5. Barry Phelps, a legendary bully and financial man of mystery has been booted out; thanks to a spirited campaign by the Hornet
   Councillors-such as Cllr Palmer, who thought they could non disclose business interests have been bought to book and realise that they are not above the rules...... BUT there is much work in progress. Freedom of Information requests and continued press coverage will be used to shine the light on abuse of power and financial recklessness. 
   

The Dame will continue to campaign to

• Reduce outrageous senior officer class salaries. Eric Pickles has made a clarion call demanding Chief Executives reduce their salaries by 10%. Oddly our man Myers, costing us £280,000 a year has chosen to laugh off the suggestion.
• The Dame would like to see some national benchmarking for Cabinet salaries and the Leader's SRA reduced from £66k to a more just £40k, in line with Hammersmith and Fulham. So far, we have made no progress with this objective.
• She wants to see an end to double jobbing-Eric Pickles has slammed the practice, but our £125,000 'Leader' seems not to have heard, nor Cabinet colleague Baronessa Ritchie on close to £100,000
• Put an end to ludicrous Trophy Projects such as Holland Park School and Exhibition Rd. Residents have proven over Sloane Square that it can be done.
• Force proper explanation of out of control credid card spending and normalise the current obscene expenses regime. RBKC councillors are practically alone in still being able to travel First Class. Have they forgotten that this is a perk that MP's and senior military are now excluded from: or do they think they are more important? Finally..... 
• Restore Democracy to K&C
  The culture of fear in Hornton Street: control by the Leader of individual councillors via SRA's: the abuse of the "consultation" process by using it to announce decisions rather than to consult. The absence of checks and balances is proving a tough nut to crack. It seems that only the retirement of Cllr Cockell- to make way for fresh blood will achieve this. No Leader of any council should be allowed to linger on after 14 years of mediocre rule. Time to go Cockell! 
  
  So it's been a productive time demonstrated by the nearly 67,000 viewings. The Dame welcomes reader's additions to the 'wish list'  and bids you all a fine summer holiday