shirkers
The case of the absentee Colville councillors raises the question as to whether three concillors per ward is ever necessary.In the case of Colville, one councillor carries the entire workload because of the absences of Benton and Issie.
Cllr Bakhtiar is now left doing all the case work.
But this is not just a Labour issue.
Other wards suffer with one councillor carrying the workload.
Cllr Marshall at Courtfield Ward rarely turns up for work!
Another is the traditionally indolent Mary Weale of Brompton and Hans Town ward.
She has even forgotten where the ward is!
Still, the hefty allowance helps maintain her 'chateau' in Tarn et Garonne...courtesy of K&C taxpayers,
Soon the Dame will be taking a closer look at the shirkers...so beware!
Did Quentin Marshall have aspirations of being a Tory MP?
ReplyDeleteI heard they did not want him back in the day of Sharin Ritchie. Not surprised if he is idle as this suggests.
Marshall has a charisma bypass
DeleteAnd a terrible attendance record of only 25%
Deletehttps://www.rbkc.gov.uk/Committees/mgAttendance.aspx?UID=155
Marshall is another one who was on the TMO and dd nothing.
Delete"Later in the day, the inquiry heard from Quentin Marshall, another councillor and chair of the housing and property scrutiny committee, which was asked to examine the refurbishment work to Grenfell Tower following a petition signed by residents of the tower.
DeleteIn an email to the local Conservative MP, he wrote: “This [the refurbishment] is essentially a £100k gift from the state. I’m therefore not massively sympathetic to general ‘it’s all terrible’ complaints.”
The works to Grenfell Tower were funded wholly through RBKC’s Housing Revenue Account – a ringfenced pot of money that is drawn from the rents paid by tenants and sales receipts. It received no additional state funding.
He said some of the residents’ complaints about the refurbishment were “grossly exaggerated” and should be taken “with a large pinch of salt”.
This email was sent before a formal investigation into the complaints due to be held by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) board had been carried out."
Why hasn't he been shafted?
DeleteTerrible attitude from Marshall. Why hasn't he been shafted?
DeleteInteresting, the rule of three also applies in Stanley Ward. Kim Taylor-Smith largely absent but entirely excusable because he's doing so much heavy lifting on the bigger stage. Will Pascall totally absent. Leaves Josh Rendall who does all the work - involved, listens, effective, a possible future MP for us in 2029 after Ben Coleman has done his term.
ReplyDeleteStanley's Councillors were never up to much. I haven't forgotten the lack lustre Priscilla Fraser. Good on PR with a jolly hockey sticks persona, useless on representing people.
DeleteFraser and Cockell represented North Stanley (later Stanley) at the same time. To give Cockell his due he was very good with residents' casework but that changed when he became the Leader of the Council. Too busy to deal with serious deficiencies at the TMO.
DeleteCilla was a different kettle of fish. On one occasion, she attended a residents' meeting wearing a very nice evening dress. She announced,
.. " I'm sorry, I cannot stay for long because I am due at a black tie .. .. .. dinner at the Town Hall."
A fleeting visit from a Tory who did not want to ignore a very strong Tory voting contingent of residents. After Cilla flitted off to the Town Hall, someone suggested that we should residents to stand as independent candidates against her.
Martyn Kingsford and Gordon Perry both left the TMO as its Chief Executive, suddenly, during the time that Cockell was Leader of Council. Word on the street at that time was, Cockell was far from happy with the chronic underperformance of the TMO and held those at the top to account.
DeleteOne was pushed and the other one jumped.
I am sure that if Cockell had continued as Leader of the Council that Robert Black would have been shown the door too.
If Cockell had continued as Leader of the council most of North Kensington's social housing would not be here today, with innocent right to buy leaseholders pushed out of Londom.
DeleteI remember Martyn Kingsford. He had a very nice working relationship with Joan Hanham. There was a mutual admiration society between the two of them. Kingsford was always writing statements saying that Lady hanmam "very kindly appointed me to the post of Deputy Housing Manager in ..............."
DeleteWhen Sir Pooter took over the Leadership of the Council, he was unimpressed with capital works not being done to Council tenants flats. Pooter had respect for property and understood the importance of looking after it.
Pooter had so much 'respect' for peoples' homes he was determined to get rid of them. His protege Fielding Mellon picked up the baton and tried to carry on with what Pooter started.
DeleteYes, there may be something in what you say about Sir Pooter 20.17.
DeleteBut, and it is a significant but, the Socialist Councillor, Emma Dent Coad, supported the Tenant Mismanagement Organisation to the hilt despite receiving complaints from the many, not the few. She had no concern for the mental anguish wrought on those who lived in Council flats in Kensington and Chelsea. If I did not know better, I would have believed that the TMO was being run by Pol Pot. The many, not the few, were done down by the TMO, but so long as they lived in a flat owned by a state body then the TMO's wrong doing could be passed over.
After all, Councillor Emma Dent Coad did not have to live in a Council flat but as long as people remained shackled to Municipal Socialism, the excesses of the TMO, the suffering, the bullying and mental anguish meted out by thoroughly evil people at the TMO was disregarded with the proverbial socialist blind eye.
Both Capitalist and Socialist Councillors in K&C should all be hanging their heads in shame for their part in the immiseration of Council tenants - and not just Sir Pooter and Rock Fielding Mellon.
Serious errors of judgement were made by Councillors of all political colours regarding the Tenant Management Organisation. I include Councillors who at any point in time served on the TMO Board as well as those Councillors who had a bit more going for them (and were bright enough) to avoid the privilege of doing a stint on the TMO.
DeleteTory Councillors have been hung out to dry over the TMO mess. Labour Councillors have been allowed to blame the "Tory Bastards" without facing up to their part in supporting the TMO shambles.
Any Councillor who was on the TMO Board at any time from 1996 to 2017 has much for which to reproach themselves. And those who were not on the TMO need to take a long hard look at themselves.
How did Dizzy Lizzy get away with servng on the TMO board without ever going to bother to check out the conditions in any of their tower blocks?
DeleteA well known Councillor told me that Dizzy Lizzy, after she sat on the platform at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the TMO at The Town Hall in 2008, referred to Council tenants as "these people." I suppose this snobbish rich Tory could not believe that CouncilTenants started to revolt. Even the police could not contain the uprising.
DeleteI suppose that Dizzy Lizzy along with Dent Coad, Condon Simmonds and Quentin Marshall could believe that The Town Hall that Stronghold of Conservative Goodness was in revolt. Punches were thrown.
I wonder if Sir Martin Moore Bock knows about the Tenants' Revolt nine years before the Grenfell tragedy. How did these Councillors allow the failed tenant management experiment to continue with Grenfell as its conclusion?
All very interesting! But this has serious repercussions.
DeleteWhen
EMMA DENT COAD,
ELIZABETH CAMPBELL,
MAIGHREAD CONDON SIMMONDS,
and
QUENTIN MARSHALL
were TMO Board Members, an Executive Director of the Kensington and Chelsea TMO was found to have repulsive, pornographic, images objectifying women on his computer in the TMO's Offices.
This man was very controlling and very difficult. I know of one woman to whom he lied and treated her unethically.
It should be cause for the utmost concern that these four Councillors, three of them who are women, kept quiet about this appalling conduct.
Whatever happened to the Sisterhood and Women's Safety?
Dizzy Lizzy in a Tower Block with "these people," now that would never do. Just what do you think you are suggesting? Her Jean Muir outfit would stick out like a sore thumb in the brutalist, Trellick Tower.
DeleteDizzy knows that Council flat dwellers don't spit in the street but they live in Tower Blocks full of bed bug infestations. Dizzy prefers the more homely, congenial, surroundings of a Swiss Chalet, if I what I hear is true; rubbing shoulders with the Royal family.
Dent Coad, Marshall, Condon Simmonds and Campbell were TMO collaborators.
DeleteJust what did they think they were doing saying nothing about this pornographic material being stored on a TMO computer system?
ITV came clean about Paul Schofield,
and,
the BBC had to make a statement about Huw Edwards.
But as always, the TMO was protected by its Tory Councillor Board Members and even worse by a Corbynista who was supposed to be an opposition politician.
My god!
The echo of reverberation 21.54.
DeleteAmazing that with the exception of Condon Simmonds, all of these Councillors are still serving as Councillors. There should be mechanism, (not the ballot box) for disqualifying people who have exercised poor judgment.
To think that Emma Dent Coad believes she has something to offer national politics.
The list of councillors & former councillors who served on the TMO board has gone missing.
DeleteI bet the list has gone missing.
DeleteSome of us have long memories and know the names of the tenant members and council nominated members who shafted those who paid the rent.
Do spill the beans
DeleteThe saying ‘too many cooks’ usually is about ‘spoiling the broth’. Meaning too many persons involved in managing an activity can ruin it. This expression alludes to each of many cooks adding something to a soup, which finally tastes awful.
ReplyDeleteA term that could apply to all the senior interim officers beloved of Dizzy, Quirk & now Holdsworth.
Delete19.06. I tell you what. I am sure that some of the Councillors would put arsenic in the broth if they could.
DeleteRendell is a nice guy but he does have a tendency to be one of Dizzy's yes men at times
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIn Norland (2 cllr ward) David Lindsay is good (might not always agree with him but admit he's a decent councillor ) but the other one Stuart Graham is another absentee who does nothing.
Bring back Julie Mills!
DeleteIf only she would stand. An excellent councillor.
DeleteI agree. The Royal Borough has been poorer without Julie Mills.
DeleteCllr Graham was Head of Comms at CCHQ...suppose being a cllr is just for cv when tries to get a seat
ReplyDeleteThere's too much of that on the Conservative side these days
DeleteNo issues with the number of councillors. The problem is over of the quality of them, which has deteriorated on both sides in recent years.
ReplyDeleteIn Pembridge we have two cllrs - Joanna Gardner seems to do most of the work. This may be perception and incorrect, but she is a very good councillor.
DeleteI've found both Joanna Gardner amd Dori Schmetterling to be always visible, helpful communicative, & I don't even live in their ward.
DeleteBoth are good & the 2 Pembridge councillors do some of the work left by the 2 absent Colville councillors.
DeleteDori Schmetterling is known to stick his massive ore in where it’s not wanted. Thoroughly nosey and unhelpful man.
DeleteHe's quite the gossip . Hornets could get some stories from him.
DeleteCllr Schmetterling, it has been advised that you are an inveterate gossip. Please contact the Dame for an invite to her 'political' soiree
DeleteIn the case of Colville (and Golbourne), MyLondon report market traders fear Portobello Market is going cashless and that it could alienate some locals and damage business https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/neighbourhood-home-famous-london-market-27888418 Any action/views from the local Councillors (or Council as a whole) on this?
ReplyDeleteFurther gentrification of the market on ithe way?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLabour Party in North Kensington had been bought off. Watch out kensal Canalside. Powell has sold u out.
DeleteSpill, more details please 00.30.
DeleteKensal Canalside is the only remaining development site in the borough. It requires buildings taller than some would want if it is to provide social housing which will allow those on the housing list or currently living in overcrowded conditions to remain in the area . Those who oppose highrise ( usually from the comfort of their own secure accommodation) are condemning others in our community to be moved miles away or even out of London . High rise buildings need not be dangerous or inferior ( eg Trellick Tower)
DeleteHello EDC supporter conspiracy theorist at 00:30 Joe Powell is not a councillor, he is not responsible for Tory RBKC, he does not sit on the planning committee and is not MP. Got that? Most of the Labour councillors who aren't doing or saying anything were picked by your favourite and are a bunch of stooges with no bloody opinion of their own.
DeleteThe people selling out North Kensington to developers are RBKC council. See Cllr Taylor-Smith and Canalside house.
11.32 Apart from the usual opposition from residents about height, design, whether it is in keeping with surroundings or the fire safety, an issue with tower blocks is the ongoing high cost of maintaining them. Think escalating service charges and rent. So not really a suitable housing option for low income or no income people on the council homeless waiting list
DeleteThe only alternative to the intensive redevelopment of the Kensal site will be the deporting of residents in need of housing to East London or out of the city entirely
DeleteThe sad reality is that the vast majority of the borough's homeless won't get housed either way.
DeleteOne Councillor who did serve on the TMO with distinction and who quitted herself well at the public enquiry was Judith Blakeman . For years she fought the maladministration and tyranny of the TMO despite numerous attempts to silence & discipline her . A lonely plough to follow and for which she received no thanks or support ( especially not from her Labour colleague Dent Coad who ,as with so much else showed no interest in actually helping people
DeleteThe fact that the Kensal site cannot meet the total need for social housing in RBKC is not an argument against housing ad many as we can on both the Kensal Canal site & around Golborne . A reelected Mayor Khan and a newly elected ZlLabour government should be able to come together to achieve this .A utopian housing policy should not be allowed to be tbe enemy of Good maximum density development
DeleteHave you seen Ballymore's City Island? That's a similar density of what they are planning to build. It's unimspiting ugly grey and dark with a wind tunnel effect. No greenery. No character and very depressing and unimvitimg
Delete. Yes do build homes
for people to live in but do consider their quality of life and the impactor the development on the existing community.
Where do you live 16:04 if you don't mind my asking?
DeleteThe people who push for maximum density developments never live in them or anywhere near them
Funny that.
It won't make a scratch on reducing the RBKC waiting list You'll get a tiny few token housing association homes in with poor doors that's it
DeleteIt's not about housing or communities it's all about £££££ for greedy piggy developers
If you keep encouraging refugees to settle in the most expensive and densely populated councils in the UK there will be long waiting lists. Stop asking the impossible
DeleteLocal people should be housing priority
DeleteLocal People will have priority & the more appropriate housing units ( with matching facilities) that we build the more local people will be housed locally . Simples ! Link the new development with Kensal Green cemetery & communications and the local community will all benefit. We must call upon MYor Khan & the incoming Labour government to make sure that North Kensington and not overseas developers benefit from this last big development opportunity in K& C
DeleteKhan will accept the developers preferred maximum density with minimal social housing like he does everywhere else.
DeleteHear hear Ian Henderson! Haven't heard the current Colville councillors (for how long?) utter a single word on Portobello market.
ReplyDeletePlease come back to Colville you are greatly missed!!
Coad's worst day's work was the shafting of Ian Henderson; a star and brilliant Labour MP in the making. Fancy Coad using the daughter against him.
Delete