A reliable Brent Council source reports that Brent Human Resources staff were called into a meeting yesterday to be told that Cara Davani, head of Human Resources had resigned. I am still seeking offiicial confirmation from Brent Council that this is the case,
It was perhaps no coincidence that Carolyn Downs, the new Chief Executive Officer, whose appointment will be confirmed at the next Full Council, was in the Civic Centre yesterday.
Cara Davani has been on annual leave.
Cllr Michael Pavey, who wrote the report on Brent Human Resources is currently on holiday.
Pressure has been on the Council to take action since an Employment Tribunal found that Cara Davani and Brent Council had racially discrminated against Rosemarie Clarke, victimised her and constructively dismissed her. LINK
Fiona Ledden, also named in the case has already left Brent Council and Christine Gilbert will leave in the summer.
As recently as April 30th Cllr Muhammed Butt sat with Cara Davani at the Scrutiny Committee, in an apparent act of solidarity, when Philip Grant tried to speak to the Committee about the Employment Tribunal case. The Committee voted not to hear him. At one point Butt heckled Philip Grant. LINK
Except for Cllr Daly members of that Scrutiny Committee have now been replaced.
A quick search of this blog will reveal Philip Grant's tireless attempt, backed by meticulous research, to persuade Brent Council of the need to take action on this issue.
If the news is confirmed Philip and Nan Tewari, who first wrote about the case, deserve thanks as active citizens for standing up for truth and transparency in local government.
It was perhaps no coincidence that Carolyn Downs, the new Chief Executive Officer, whose appointment will be confirmed at the next Full Council, was in the Civic Centre yesterday.
Cara Davani has been on annual leave.
Cllr Michael Pavey, who wrote the report on Brent Human Resources is currently on holiday.
Pressure has been on the Council to take action since an Employment Tribunal found that Cara Davani and Brent Council had racially discrminated against Rosemarie Clarke, victimised her and constructively dismissed her. LINK
Fiona Ledden, also named in the case has already left Brent Council and Christine Gilbert will leave in the summer.
As recently as April 30th Cllr Muhammed Butt sat with Cara Davani at the Scrutiny Committee, in an apparent act of solidarity, when Philip Grant tried to speak to the Committee about the Employment Tribunal case. The Committee voted not to hear him. At one point Butt heckled Philip Grant. LINK
Except for Cllr Daly members of that Scrutiny Committee have now been replaced.
A quick search of this blog will reveal Philip Grant's tireless attempt, backed by meticulous research, to persuade Brent Council of the need to take action on this issue.
If the news is confirmed Philip and Nan Tewari, who first wrote about the case, deserve thanks as active citizens for standing up for truth and transparency in local government.
23 comments:
Good riddance of 3 idiots.
I wonder how much Davani's compromise agreement will cost.
Nice little earner if you can get it. Perhaps a few less high paid staff and keep a few more of the workers
If that woman gets any more of the council tax payers' money there should be a thorough investigation. That said, there should be a thorough investigation into how this unprincipled cliquie of cronies paid themselves extortinate amounts, whilst outsoursing essential services to private companies who then pay workers less than the London living wage (something which Brent hypocritically prides itself in doing)!
Well done citizens of Brent!
It is a pity Ms Davani could not have done it sooner and saved everyone lots of money. Better now than never.
Nice. Think I might racially victimise someone and get a huge payout from public funds too.
1) CRONYISM is still thriving as Mildred Phillips, another Davani associate, manages to cling on and with an interim promotion.
2) INJUSTICE still rules as Davani secures payout at our expense for her misdemeanours whilst Rosemarie Clarke must continue to battle for compensation having done nothing wrong.
Oh, and what's the betting that Davani would have sought some kind of indemnity cover from the council - she is s named respondent in the Rosemarie Clarke tribunal case.
The person that has cost us money has been the Leader of the Council, Cllr Butt, with his misplaced loyalty to Davani coming out way ahead of his duty to the residents he is there to serve.
There were two occasions on which I advised Cllr Butt that Davani could be let go without any adverse reflection on her (although heaven knows, she has not shown herself to be deserving of such consideration).
The first time I gave Cllr Butt the advice was in the months leading to the ending of Davani's interim contract. Instead of her services being terminated neatly, Davani was actually made permanent.
The second time I gave Cllr Butt advice was in the period leading to Davani going on maternity leave when there could have been no controversy in her announcing that she would not be returning after the birth. Instead, Davani dashed back to her desk in a record 3 weeks after her twins were born, so indespensable were her services.
If Davani secures a payout a campaign should be waged for the auditors to go in to examine the Cronies mismanagement of local taxpayers money, which is a public disgrace. They should be named and shamed, the lot of them!
FOI asking for details of leaving package? Given that the Clarke judgment drew conclusion of public interest between the way that a senior white manager and a less senior black manager were treated. It is surely in the public interest to know whether CD received a white payoff or a black sacking?
On your Mildred Phillips point, Nan, please see the comment which I have just posted on the "Cara Davani taking a career break" blog above.
On the payout and possible indemnity points (and Anonymous at 16:00's point below), there is definitely the potential for financial irregularities / misuse of Council funds arising from conflicts of interest. I will be doing what I can to get these points examined.
Philip Grant.
You are not the only one to have given practical advice to Brent on how they could get rid of Cara Davani without having to sack her (and I agree that her actions, against Rosemarie Clarke and others, do not show her to have been deserving of such consideration). This is a paragraph from an email I sent to a senior Council member seven months ago:
'Quite frankly, on the evidence in this case I believe that Cara Davani's position as Brent's Director of HR is untenable. It appears that she is quite a feisty character, and that she may have developed a close working relationship with the Council Leader, so it might be best if Cllr. Butt were to put it to her that it would be in the best interests of Brent, and herself, if they parted company. I am sure that it could be arranged in a way where she could "save face", and protect her reputation in HR circles, perhaps by deciding to resign from her post so as to spend more time with her twin babies, while still being available for part-time consultancy work (not, please, for Brent!) through her company or as an associate with The HR Lounge. I am not sure when she needs to be employed until in order to finish qualifying for her maternity leave / pay, but I am sure that, if necessary, the exact details of her notice could take that into account, while allowing her to go straight away 'on compassionate/family grounds'. '
Why is it that Cllr. Butt seems unable to accept good advice from well meaning local residents?
Philip Grant.
Keep up the great work, Phillip!
Philip, I think your advice was what was taken, with the proviso that Davani's version of saving face included a big compromise agreement.
Why indeed Phillip, does a cash-strapped council fail to make effective use of the excellent, free advice to be had on its own doorstep?
The present bunch of malefactors have cost us dear by stuffing their own pockets at the expense of all of us who are facing service cuts – extortionate daily rates supplemented by unconscionable use of council Oyster cards not authorised in any contract.
[Note to new Mayor of London – public transport now so expensive that folk earning a meagre £750 a day (yes, pounds sterling) can't afford it.]
Part of my reason in proffering advice to the Leader of the Council was because I wanted to see fairness upheld for all the staff who had been complaining about Davani's (mis)conduct and who had no one they could complain to. I also wished to head-off the consequences of the Rosemarie Clarke case coming to court with its consequences of –
reputational damage to the council;
the cost to Rosemarie's health and future career prospects;
the cost to the public purse both of conducting the case and of settlement /damages.
We long-suffering council tax payers would never countenance the behaviour of Davani /Potts /Gilbert, so why should we have to shoulder the financial burden of their misdeeds?
To add to the insult, we are now paying hand over fist for expensive barristers - the very ones that advised the council that they had some hope of appealing the Tribunal judgement when it was clear that there a greater prospect of finding a bomb under the Civic Centre – what's that? they did?
An even more unpalatable aspect to this case is the continued deployment of unadulterated spite - undoubtedly Philip will be able to identify the correct quote in the Tribunal judgement. It is spite that drove Davani's actions against Rosemarie. It is spite that continues the vendatta against her that is taking such an enormous toll on her health and well-being, and of which this council should be thoroughly ashamed of itself. It is this very spite that in the end will cost us all far more than we should ever have been expected to pay.
It is one thing for us to have to fork out for a genuine error made by a well-meaning council officer; it is another thing entirely for us to fund the private reprisals of unprincipled wretches........
Rosemarie's remedy hearing comes up in mid-September. Whilst all the miscreants in this tragedy have swanned off with their ill-gotten gains at our expense, they have left a good, former council officer struggling to achieve a just settlement for a life in tatters, health in ruins and any future prospect of a career, a pure fantasy.
I spy with my little eye...... a possible job for Cllr Filson and the Scrutiny Committee.......quite apart from your investigations, Philip
http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/chair-invites-topics-for-brent-scrutiny.html
Perhaps it is now time for Carolyn Downs to examine and update the staff handbook in relation to the Code of Conduct and consider writing a new policy to prohibit cronyism, conflict of interest and office romance - specifically for those employed at a high decision making level who are supposed to adhere to good practice in Employment Law, Dignity at Work as well as Equality issues ( but conversely end up interviewing, managing and promoting each other; or, worse, making tainted pillow agreements on major issues that then get ratified, without question, by many sleepy ill-informed councillors). This is an important issue as it has become evident that such poor / corrupt practice has impacted detrimentally on the reputation of the borough as well as individuals' lives as well as community that staff are paid, or elected, to serve.
If she gets a payoff local residents should run all highly paid officials and Councillors out of the Civic Centre!
I have it from a reliable source that there is no 'if' about her pay off.
What is the date of the Watford EmploymentTribunal settlement hearing and can RC's friends and supporters attend?
Would not surprise me if Davani walked away with more than Gareth did. She must have so much dirt on Butt.
If this is true there should be a public outcry! Not only been found guilty by a tribunal of bullying and harassment, she / HR (& other cronies) have also reportedly been resonsible for ignoring other serious allegations of bullying and harassment of vulnerable people. If the powers that be really care there should be full independent inquiry. Brent will never recover until this happens and/or there are some other meaningful measures put in place to ensure the perpetrators dont get rewarded for such unlawful actions.
Freedom of information requests as to whether bullying is rewarded should be submitted without delay!!!!
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