If the rumour mill grinds correctly Cllr Ali is plotting to get himself elected leader of the Council Labour Group.
With it comes a very useful salary( I think you mean 'allowance', The Dame) which won't come amiss.
The Dame hears that residents Ali is supposed to represent are concerned he spends so much time hobnobbing with Labour powerbrokers that casework gets ignored.
Cllr Ali is a very self-important fellow with a charm bypass.
The Dame believes in moderation in all things but there is annoying spam polluting her little site so she is having to take steps to banish these irritants.
There will be a minimal delay before publication whilst the Dame had her cup of Typhoo, a fag and a glance at the Daily Mail.
Is She Frit?
The Dame has picked out this particular comment regarding an award for ex Cllr Freeman.....But ever since the Grenfell Fire, Dizzy has failed to nominate any New Aldermen. This is partly because she fears nominating an Alderman who is subsequently fingered by the Public Enquiry (eg.Paul Warrick or Maigraid Simmonds) but mainly because the backlog of overdue Aldermanic Nominations consists mainly of Campbell's enemies and opponents ( eg. Robert Freemen, Julie Mills, Monica Press, Pat Healy, Robert Atkinson, Warwick Lightfoot, Charles Williams, Pat Mason and Judith Blakeman) Leader Campbell is so insecure that she fears acknowledging the talents, achievements and calibre of those that she cannot control - even after they retire from public service.
This is particularly unjust in the case of exLabour Councillors as they (unlike ALL the Tory potential Aldermen) were never allowed the honour of serving as Mayor of the borough. This too because Dizzy was too frit to allow the possibility of her being eclipsed, even for a year, by a popular Labour Mayor. The Town Hall has failed to display any cause for optimism since the fire discredited the entire Council. But perhaps some warmth and hope for the future could be generated, after the conclusion of 'Top of the Pops' Councillor Survey in mid-March, by holding a joint Mayors Awards & Aldermanic bash ??
Every year the Mayor's Award recognises those who have, over the years, made an outstanding contribution by way of public service.
A survey is currently underway rating our councillors.
You can take part in the survey by clicking HERE
Many comments have referred in glowing terms to Robert Freeman who retired from the Council after years of selfless service.
Ex Cllr Freeman is a man of great modesty so the Dame will not publish some of the comments.
Freeman was universally liked and respected across the political spectrum.
What an extraordinary oversight that he was never elected leader.
Detectives did an amazing job tracking down these psychopaths.
The judge, a Karen Holt, sentenced the murderous thugs to just 6 years meaning they will be back on the streets terrorising people in a couple of years.
Sometimes one pities hardworking detectives...
So, who is to blame for these derisory sentences which insult the detectives, the victims, and us law-abiding citizens.
Well, the Dame thought she would do her own investigation and found out that the judge, Karen Holt has been investigated herself. BACK SCRATCHING
How can anyone take the judiciary seriously when a judge is severely reprimanded yet still allowed to carry on getting her £120,000 a year plus a fat pension?
Nadhim Zahawi is regularly advised by Jeffrey Archer.
Zahawi and the old rogue Archer are old business partners and political allies.
Iraqi-born Zahawi, nicknamed “Lemon Kurd” by Archer, was an aide to the one-time Tory deputy chair and ill-fated London mayoral candidate during Archer’s controversial 1991 Simple Truth concert to raise funds for Kurdish refugees.
Groups subsequently complained that they saw very little of the £57m reputedly collected; a KPMG investigation found that the figure couldn’t be verified.
When RBKC threatens to 'consult you' be very wary!
One of the most disliked councillors(according to an about to published councillor performance survey) boasted, "we hear but we don't listen'
Dear Dame,
RBKC yet again lives down to its reputation.
So far secret plans exist to “redesign” Portobello Market; possibly into oblivion. These are the options:
a) On 31st January only, RBKC intends to consult its 150,000 residents in two sessions totalling about 200 minutes: 11.00am - 12.30pm or 6 - 8pm at the rather modest upper level in the Tabernacle in Talbot Road. Hopefully, there’s a lift.
Patrick McCrossan is the sort of no-nonsense Chelsea Green resident who should go on the Council. He writes on Nextdoor that seating for the mucked-up Chelsea Green open space is being bought from Holland.
We are supposed to be supporting British makers yet some officer with too little to do has decided to support a Dutch manufacturer. The Dame hopes that no oversea trip was involved in the buying.....
Two points need to be made....a perfectly attractive well-made bench(above) is made by a South Yorkshire company that boasts everything is made in Yorkshire from scratch.
This country's manufacturing base will wither away and die if we don't support our own companies.
The Council will claim it was cheaper to buy in Holland. They could also argue it could be more cheaply made in China. The Council need to produce price comparisons.
We are also told that Council officers who don't even live in K&C have decided to obliterate the name, Chelsea Green. No consultation with residents about discarding a quaint and attractive area name.
Patrick writes...
"Seating is being sourced from Holland and should be installed within next two weeks.
Drainage is being looked into.
Signage that currently means removing Chelsea Green forever is being considered. Currently, RBKC idea is to no longer have Chelsea Green as a name. It was removed without consultation and residents' thoughts were completely ignored."
The Dame hears the THINK in-depth survey is generating an enormous response.
If you really value local democracy then you really should CLICK HERE and add your voice.
Why should an appalling councillor collect £40-70,000 a year when unfit for purpose?
The Dame believes the results cannot be ignored.
This is the first time such a survey has been carried out and residents should demand the results be debated in the Council chamber.
This Is North Kensington has got one stage further.... knowing how obsessed our council is with box ticking has set up a proper survey.
The Daily Mail has promised to publicise the results.
Now, anonymously and with just a simple tick you can rate your councillors.
This is a unique opportunity and a chance to really identify the good, the mediocre and the simply appalling....yes, people like Weale and Faulks!
So CLICK HERE to have your say!
And remember these councillors cost you a great deal of money!
Some do it for love....some for power and many for money.
Councillors with their allowances cost us around £1.5 million a year...Yes, that's right near £30k a week including all the backup, laptops, pensions et al.
RBKC residents after a trip to the Customer Service Centre at Kensington Town Hall are usually asked to rate the service and give feedback. This usually produces mixed results.
Discussions between residents over the work of their Councillors also produce mixed results (which do not always follow party-political lines).
Thus The Dame thought how helpful and interesting it would be to our local political parties if residents could rate their councillors from 1 🌟 (very poor) to 5 🌟 (excellent) and give their feedback.
Perhaps if all the respective party bosses could see which councillors are doing an excellent job and which ones do next to nothing, they might finally start to get rid of the "dead wood" and reward those who are working hard for their constituents.
So, here is the chance to sort the wheat from the chaff.
On the Conservative side four councillors have already been nominated...Lindsay, Addenbrooke, Cryon and McVeigh.
So let's all scratch our heads and come up with the answers.
Your chance to 'make a difference.
Dear Dame,
Dizzy Campbell was wanting more freedom in her Conservative Home article.
It looks as if she thinks that Albert Hall is in RBKC as she has used it in her garbled Con Home article.
Someone needs to tell her that the iconic Hall is in Westminster.
Regards
xxxxx
Can RBKC stop referring to residents and taxpayers as 'customers'?
We are not 'customers': we own the bloody shop and pay the wages of the 'shop assistants'.
It's all part of this silly delusion that councils are 'businesses'. Councils are not 'businesses'....businesses are generally efficient and make profits.
Councils are monopoly suppliers and are far from being efficient.
Yours irritatedly
A resident
In its December Winter newsletter, the Society's Thomas Blomberg chronicles in depth the financial history of Thames Water and the connection between lack of investment and the constant infrastructure issues culminating in the disastrous sewage flooding that hit so many residents.
The case against privatisation of key utilities like water companies is devastatingly made by Blomberg.
Thames Water is a rogue company run by self-centred and irresponsible managers who know that they run an untouchable monopoly.
The Kensington Society does admirable work and this analysis of Thames Water is a perfect example.
Here is a link to the December 2022 Issue
Felicity Buchan was Exchequer Secretary when a Clinton connected consulting firm, Teneo got the mandate to administer failed energy provider, Bulb.
Teneo's parent company, Teneo Global LLC, is a Delaware-based entity so none of the £30 million fees will attract Corporation Tax.
In other words, the poor old British taxpayer gets stuffed twice....once by having to fund the Bulb fiasco and then again by having to pay brutal Teneo fees now the subject of a High Court case.
Teneo has always been a bit of a mystery. Its founder, Declan Kelly was recently kicked out for "drunkenly touching women inappropriately".
Teneo specialises in recruiting high-profile politicians to promote its business paying them vast fees.
Lord Hague just received a £250,000 fee for services difficult to ascertain.
Other Tories like Oliver Letwin figure. You can see the LIST here.
If you are a reader with the misfortune to have lost money with Bulb you will be comforted to know that senior Tory figures will be beneficiaries of your distress!
It is an utter disgrace that a firm like Teneo should be allowed to rip off hard-pressed British taxpayers in this way. Hopefully, the High Court will substantially reduce the fees.
The Dame calls upon Miss Buchan to explain why the Treasury ever allowed Teneo to handle the Bulb administration.
This government has a revolting stench of corruption rising from its putrifying body.
Cllr Campbell tries to persuade us that councils need more freedom from C. Government constraints.
What nonsense. Left to their own devices councils would be even more profligate with our money.
This council has just recently appointed a 'storyteller' and funded 'mindfulness' courses!
But, more to the point, is something that THINK has picked up and that is the outrageous levels of salaries paid to senior officers. It is a national disgrace and something the Taxpayers Alliance has focused on.
K&C senior officers are in the top quartile of officer pay. The old saw that they have to be paid these levels to attract them is a myth: none of these officers would be employable in the for-profit sector.
Dame,
You seem determined to ignore Reform UK despite it gathering momentum with sound and sensible policies.
It is only fair that you give some space to a party with policies that make sense or are you just a Tory/Lab/Lib Dem lapdog?
Reform UK is fielding a candidate in Kensington so there is relevance.
I know many who are quietly saying they won't vote Tory or Labour but might consider Reform UK.
This is an excellent policy broadcast and worth watching.
Thanks
Disappointed Hornet and Reform UK supporter
In her search for 'relevance' and a seat in the about-to-be-shut-down Lords 'Dizzy Campbell got her £140k a year PR man to write a load of vacuous nonsense in Conservative Home about giving local councils more freedom. Link
Giving councils-especially this one, the freedom to fritter away council tax is the last thing Government should be doing.
The only comment (below) on her boring article summed it up!
RBKC has had a few bad leaders: Campbell tops the list!
"There's no way of avoiding the conclusion that the UK's local councils are inherently anti-development and anti-business, with pathological attachment to imposing fees and obsessing over increasingly minute details of whatever they're tasked to do.
I struggle to see how devolving more power to these failing institutions is going to help the economy."
As missile bombs and threats rain down on the terrified citizens of Ukraine the world's largest democracy refuses to condemn Russia for its barbarity. Its pusillanimous attitude has been attacked by India's leading historian, Ramachandra Guha LINK
It's cruelly ironic that India-itself a victim of colonialism should be supporting Russia as it attempts to colonise Ukraine.
Maybe our MP, Felicity Buchan could bend the ear of our PM of Indian descent and persuade him to bring pressure on Mr Modi?
Countries trading with Russia are no different from countries that traded with Nazi Germany.
How different from the surly and inanimate Border Force people who seem to delight in manufacturing long queues to justify their existence.
Naturally enough, the Public and Commercial Services Union whined about the use of military personnel.
Amusingly it claimed that Border Force people required years of training to do the job: they conveniently forgot that the 'years of training' led to a failure to pick up an illegal immigrant working as a Border Force officer!
Felicity Buchan needs to consider this. The Armed Forces, in short order, stepped in and saved hours of queuing misery.
She should suggest to the chairman of the Home Affairs Committee that senior military officers responsible for saving the day come before the committee.
Officers could give their candid views on how the hapless Border Force could be made fit for purpose.
The MOD has taken over the Border Force cutters so why not extend to our airports and ports?
Tom Orton