tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post6666345596530825298..comments2024-03-29T14:57:02.824+00:00Comments on WEMBLEY MATTERS: Cara Davani leaving Brent Council to take a 'career break'Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-75062058607243962282015-06-29T12:59:48.541+01:002015-06-29T12:59:48.541+01:00Is it possible for this blog link to be sent to th...Is it possible for this blog link to be sent to the Kennel Club, Dog World and posted on Facebook so that people that trust Ms Davani in the dog showing and breeding world can see what her real character is? The Kennel Club should refuse to accept her as a breederAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-4371738925736804042015-06-18T21:54:57.946+01:002015-06-18T21:54:57.946+01:00Suspicion ugly raises it's head... I can't...Suspicion ugly raises it's head... I can't help but wonder who came up with this idea and whether such an outsourcing bid would go to one cronies private firms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-57799206217185471852015-06-14T21:43:39.944+01:002015-06-14T21:43:39.944+01:00Has to be Carolyn DownsHas to be Carolyn DownsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-19594847717185356912015-06-13T12:06:55.616+01:002015-06-13T12:06:55.616+01:00I am sorry to hear this, Glynis.
Please do not b...I am sorry to hear this, Glynis. <br /><br />Please do not be put off writing to or speaking to Ward Councillors, because ultimately they are the ones we have elected to represent us, and some at least may take their role (as well as taking their £10k annual allowance) seriously. If they don't know what we think, and are only fed what to believe from within official Brent Labour channels, how can things ever change for the better? <br /><br />The more concerned local residents (and voters) who do make their views over Cara Davani clear, especially about possible "payouts" or indemnities, the more chance (even if a slim one) there is that the right thing will happen, not the wrong one. We have voices, and emails; let's use them!<br /><br />Philip Grant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-79682060196528092012015-06-13T10:30:12.524+01:002015-06-13T10:30:12.524+01:00Brilliant, Nan. The excellent Tim Minogue reads th...Brilliant, Nan. The excellent Tim Minogue reads this blog, so I hope your summation shows up in the Eye. Alison Hopkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-82143602091236722662015-06-12T23:52:43.238+01:002015-06-12T23:52:43.238+01:00.......back from commercial break Pa..........back from commercial break Part 2 of 2 <br /><br /><br />Just the odd little fly in the ointment now. No point giving up at the end of the interim contract. On the other hand don't want to work for peanut-sized permanent salary in a borough under financial strain. This is where friends in high places come in handy. Draw up new HR structure. Justify putting in highly paid Director-level role whilst cutting back on front-line staff. Well, Director's salaries don't grow on trees..... and how can Davani's mates Gilbert and Cllr Butt say no and better still, how can they not appoint her to the job?<br /><br />Make sure deputy HR role is held by a mate too....... Mildred Phillips (Tower Hamlets) is turning out to be endlessly useful. Compliant Mildred – does as she told, can't run an investigation for toffee, so no chance of her asking awkward questions.......... you just never know what might blow up on a dog show day or if one pops out for a spot of maternity leave and you wouldn't just Anyone poking their nose in and Finding Things Out.<br /><br />Davani has always known that her continued employment would depend on her mate Gilbert sticking around. No point having gone through all this exhausting chicanery for a few measly months of employment. <br /><br />Of course, there is an election coming up, then there's the borough plan, perhaps they might find some historic remains under the Town Hall, then we could have the borough declared a site of archaeological importance (keep that Philip Grant out of our hair, kill two birds and all that)....... potentially useful ways of extending mate Gilbert's contract. Gilbert has probably set a world record and brought a whole new meaning to INTERIM.........<br /><br />Have to advertise permanent C Ex role more's the pity. Unlikely that candidate list will feature any mates from Ofsted or Tower Hamlets and Questions May Be Asked if someone got appointed without a Member interview, worse luck. It wasn't an idle thought....... it did work before. <br /><br />A pox on all candidates independently applying for the C Ex job.......... I wonder who's going to get it? Hope they keep me in the loop........ mortifying if I have to end up reading about it on Wembley Matters. <br /><br />Who the hell IS Carolyn Downs? Can't be much good, never worked at Ofsted or Tower Hamlets........ WHAT a good thing I had the Davani Forward Plan up my sleeve: How to Bail Out with Maximum Benefit. Time to let Butt and Gilbert know who really calls the shots – and anyway, where would they be without me? I even had to hang around wiping their noses for the whole of the count on election night.........and me just about to give birth to twins............ I'd have to answer to the RSPCA if I did that to one of the dogs...........<br /><br />Hope there's enough in petty cash to pay me x months' salary because there's no way I'm accepting it on an Oyster Card. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nan.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-59552935500923944862015-06-12T23:50:19.657+01:002015-06-12T23:50:19.657+01:00Me at 11 June 01.44 and Anonymous reply 12 June 11...Me at 11 June 01.44 and Anonymous reply 12 June 11.49 above. Anonymous 11.49, you are right about (a) the length and (b) planning. None of this has been accidental. Whatever else may be said of Davani, there is no shortage of active (self-interested) brain cells there. This is a story of cronyism and backstabbing worthy of a Michael Dobbs novel and could have run as follows. <br /><br />WARNING: SOME READERS MAY FIND THIS STORY OFFENSIVE (plus it doesn't have a happy ending). <br /><br /><br />Once upon a time Davani materialised in Brent through the good offices of her mate Clive Heaphy who she worked with at Ofsted. Heaphy agreed to pay Davani a heap of dosh (OK, £750 sterling per day inclusive, since you insist....... this IS mean to be a work of fiction). An interim post was created for her as Head of HR. <br /><br />Davani never set out to bury herself in Brent and Heaphy only intended that she should be around for a few months. But Heaphy reckoned without the Davani resourcefulness. She quickly spotted a gap in the Brent market that she knew she could fill if the circumstances were right.<br /><br />The right circumstances, is to make sure the people above you are indebted to you. How to bring this about? Granted that Heaphy is a mate of hers but he is the one with the real power since HE has the ear of the Chief Exec and the Council Leader. <br /><br />Then again, even if you took Heaphy out of the equation, that still leaves Gareth Daniel, C Ex, who is a major inconvenience as he never worked at Ofsted or Tower Hamlets.<br /><br />Heaven-sent opportunity falls into her lap. New Council Leader Butt and C Ex Daniel are not getting along. Davani appoints mediator who somehow can't manage to get the parties to kiss and make up. Now I wonder why that was.......?<br /><br />Meanwhile, new Council Leader Butt is feeling a bit vulnerable. Trainer of prize-winning terriers, Davani, knows just how to soothe nervous animals, get them to trust her, perform prize-winning tricks, that sort of thing.<br /><br />All going swimmingly, its just that this Heaphy man keeps getting in the way. Yes, I know he's a mate but he really has to go........ <br /><br />We simply must bring in a Davani-friendly C Ex and who better than good mate Christine Gilbert, who at least has the right sort of background – Ofsted, Tower Hamlets.... AND is easy enough to sell to new kennel member, er, Council Leader, because.......... SHE'S married to HIS good mate Tony McNulty. What could be more cozy? What could be more heart warming? What a turn-up for the books eh? You couldn't make it up if you'd wanted to.<br /><br />Davani radar picks some mutterings of discontent about Heaphy. That's the ticket, something to work with at last, if there's one thing we do well, its getting rid of people...... Better take that legal woman, Ledden, off the management chop list and use her to steer Heaphy out the door.<br /><br />.........commercial break Part 1 of 2<br /><br />Nan.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-42867280113293595132015-06-12T22:31:17.119+01:002015-06-12T22:31:17.119+01:00I've written to my preston ward councillors an...I've written to my preston ward councillors and my local MP and never even had an acknowledgement!G.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693258266986371077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-11704814745678237582015-06-12T18:58:43.693+01:002015-06-12T18:58:43.693+01:00Sorry! - I got my dates mixed up. The next Full Co...Sorry! - I got my dates mixed up. The next Full Council meeting is on Monday 22 June, so all the more reason to contact your local councillors with your concerns as soon as possible. For the record, I sent an email to my Fryent Ward councillors this afternoon.<br /><br />Philip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-63076654547507510712015-06-12T18:28:35.610+01:002015-06-12T18:28:35.610+01:00To anon12:37 - thank God!To anon12:37 - thank God!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-19409889084316575772015-06-12T14:43:36.300+01:002015-06-12T14:43:36.300+01:00Mo Butt will never resign but this will be what ul...Mo Butt will never resign but this will be what ultimately finishes himAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-38635073879584603462015-06-12T13:34:36.036+01:002015-06-12T13:34:36.036+01:00It's Carolyn DownsIt's Carolyn DownsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-54609136414880763642015-06-12T12:37:34.146+01:002015-06-12T12:37:34.146+01:00I dont understand. so who is to thank for getting ...I dont understand. so who is to thank for getting rid of cara? if it isnt mo butt then is it Michael Pavey?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-3415111871724841292015-06-12T12:32:46.745+01:002015-06-12T12:32:46.745+01:00Mildred Phillips - like Mss Davani and Gilbert - a...Mildred Phillips - like Mss Davani and Gilbert - also has her own consultancy, according to her Linkedin page, below. Does that mean she'll be paid into a private account, rather than via payroll? Same old same...?<br /><br />https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=106517426&authType=name&authToken=sMxe<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-81242833247776900702015-06-12T11:49:10.152+01:002015-06-12T11:49:10.152+01:00Agreed Nan - when Langham was appointed, Davani...Agreed Nan - when Langham was appointed, Davani's reporting line surprisingly changed from the CE to her. Just goes to show that this has all been in the planning for quite some time and they are all in to together! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-53795207126829487342015-06-12T11:41:52.748+01:002015-06-12T11:41:52.748+01:00If Butt had any principle he woud have gone last y...If Butt had any principle he woud have gone last year. He ousted Ann John and I cannot believe that he thinks that the council under his leadership is better than that of the previous leader..... Re writing to Brent's Monitoring Officer - I accept that this is the process - but feels like the monitor monitoring the monitors. I would also like to add that Alderman is the line manager of Potts - Davani's partner....here we go again!....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-6225378597670615632015-06-12T10:26:03.153+01:002015-06-12T10:26:03.153+01:00It is clear that many people, including local resi...It is clear that many people, including local residents, and employees / former employees of the Council, have serious concerns over any possible "payoff" to Cara Davani, and any agreement which may be made for the Council to meet any damages award or costs awarded against Ms Davani personally when the Rosemarie Clarke Employment Tribunal "remedy" hearing is finally held(in mid-September, unless delayed further for any reason).<br /><br />Can I suggest, please, that Brent residents should write to their ward councillors, expressing their concerns and the reasons for them, asking them to raise the matter at the Full Council meeting on 26 June and to ensure that Brent does not make any such payments to or on behalf of Ms Davani. I would also suggest that these emails to councillors are copied to Brent's Chief Executive at: chief.executive@brent.gov.uk . Thank you for your support in this.<br /><br />Philip Grant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-11040781248442178732015-06-12T10:16:47.470+01:002015-06-12T10:16:47.470+01:00Dear Anonymous at 08:33,
I would agree that if Cl...Dear Anonymous at 08:33, <br />I would agree that if Cllr. Butt does not resign, then there are very strong grounds why Brent's Standards Committee should take up the matter of his actions in this case, and get them independently investigated. Whether they will or not remains to be seen, but anyone wishing to request such action can do so by writing to Brent's Monitoring Officer (also Chief Legal Officer), setting out their concerns and any supporting evidence for them. Her email address is: fiona.alderman@brent.gov.uk .<br /><br />Philip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-87322347434309490492015-06-12T09:59:47.667+01:002015-06-12T09:59:47.667+01:00nothing like a tweet you come to regret.!!nothing like a tweet you come to regret.!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-57322868347708943742015-06-12T08:33:47.036+01:002015-06-12T08:33:47.036+01:00Well said, Phillip! I think Mohammed Butt should c...Well said, Phillip! I think Mohammed Butt should certainly resign, as should all the other Cronies who have clearly abused their powers. <br /><br />In fact, I recall that misconduct in public office is an common law offence...<br /><br />If this is the case why hasn't there been a full public investigation into this matter, as this unprincipled group are clearly covering up and condoning her alleged misconduct? <br /><br />Such misconduct has clearly has amounted to an abuse of the public's trust whilst in office, yet no one has given any reasonable excuse or justification for supporting her/those who have abused their powers - why?<br /><br />Perhaps Creg Clark, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government should be asked to investigate??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-58826591105604994512015-06-11T21:46:30.823+01:002015-06-11T21:46:30.823+01:00Part 2 of Philip Grant's comment on whether Cl...Part 2 of Philip Grant's comment on whether Cllr. Butt deserves credit (Sorry, too many words again!):-<br /><br />In early December 2014, Brent's appeal was rejected, as there were not reasonable grounds for an appeal (as I had told Cllr. Butt in my email of 21 September). On 6 December I wrote to him again, saying: <br />'I have just heard what you are probably already aware of, that the appeal in the names of Brent Council and Cara Davani (but paid for by Brent?) against the Employment Tribunal judgement in the Rosemarie Clarke case has been rejected as having no prospect of success. I attach a copy of the ruling on this, in case you have not seen it for yourself.'<br /><br />I went on to say:<br />'I am also sending, as I would have done anyway, a copy of an open letter which I sent yesterday afternoon to Christine Gilbert. This sets out the grounds on which the decision which she made, in conjunction with Cara Davani and Fiona Ledden (and to a lesser extent Raphael Prais, an interim Employment Lawyer), to appeal in Brent Council's name against the Employment tribunal judgement was not only flawed legally (now proved to be the case) but unsafe because of the conflict of interests of the officers involved. I believe that the actions of Ms Gilbert, Ms Davani and Ms Ledden amount to a breach of trust, an abuse of their powers and a misuse of Council funds in pursuing the appeal in their own interests, and not in the interests of the London Borough of Brent.<br /><br />In addition, the position of Cara Davani as Brent's Director of Human Resources is surely now untenable, as a result of her actions which caused this case to be brought and have now been upheld as having amounted to victimisation and, through the ill-judged actions of Ms Ledden and others involved in presenting Brent's case to the Tribunal, racial discrimination. The harm of that "guilty" finding of racial discrimination could still be reduced in terms of Brent's public reputation, although not in law, if the Council now acts promptly. As I have previously suggested, this would require the Council to make a full and public apology to Rosemarie Clarke, to disclose the truth over why its officers decided to continue disciplinary proceedings against Ms Clarke after she had ceased to be a Council employee and to take immediate action to ensure that the officer(s) responsible for the victimisation of Ms Clarke (especially Ms Davani) face the consequences of their actions. <br /><br />The Full Council meeting on Monday evening would appear to provide a good opportunity to make an announcement to both Councillors and the public in response to the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling. I will leave this in your hands. For the sake of Brent's employees and its people, please do not make further errors of judgement in the handling of this matter!'<br /><br />Needless to say, my (I believe, sensible) advice was not taken. Does Muhammed Butt deserve credit for his handling of Cara Davani's actions in the Rosemarie Clarke case? No, because there were several opportunities when he could have acted properly, but chose to act improperly instead. <br /><br />My honest advice to Cllr. Butt would be that he should seriously consider whether he is a fit and proper person to continue acting as Leader of Brent Council. He probably won't take my advice, or even reply to the email I am sending him with a copy of this comment, but at least it is "on record".<br /><br />Philip Grant.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-87084858707971121782015-06-11T21:43:40.691+01:002015-06-11T21:43:40.691+01:00Part 1 of a comment from Philip Grant:
Should Cll...Part 1 of a comment from Philip Grant:<br /><br />Should Cllr. Butt be given any credit for Cara Davani leaving Brent Council in June 2015? We will probably never know, but I do know that he carries at least some of the responsibility for her not leaving Brent sooner than June 2015.<br /><br />On Sunday 21 September 2014, I sent an email to Cllr. Butt, and after referring briefly to another matter on which he had not replied to me, I wrote:<br /><br />'... this email is about an even more serious matter, the judgement by an Employment Tribunal that former Brent employee Rosemarie Clarke was constructively dismissed by the Council, and that Brent (through its Operation Director, Human Resources, Cara Davani) was guilty of racial discrimination against, and victimisation of, this employee. My question in this email is:<br />What has Brent done about this since the judgement was published, and what are YOU going to do about it now?<br /><br />I did raise this matter with you in emails back in May, and we spoke about it briefly during our meeting on 26 June (the one which I have referred to as our "secret" meeting, as Tom Cattermole, on your behalf refused to let me publish the notes of, and to which you have not replied to my request to reconsider that view). I can understand you not wishing to comment on this matter publicly when you had an election to win, and when the Employment Tribunal proceedings were still in progress, but now that the judgement has been made, and is in the public domain, you as Leader of the Council need to be seen to be taking the right action to deal with it.'<br /><br />As regular "Wembley Matters" readers will know, I am not afraid to give councillors and council officers practical advice on dealing with matters where I think that it would be helpful. Here is part of the advice that I gave in that email:<br /><br />'What should you do, on Monday morning if it has not already been done before? If Ms Davani has not already resigned or been suspended, you should ensure that the Chief Executive, or the person deputising for her if she is not available, speaks to Ms Davani and insists on her immediate resignation, in the light of the findings of the Tribunal about her actions. While this would treat her misconduct more leniently than she has treated that alleged of others, it would allow her to go immediately, but with payment from Brent for her period of notice, and at least show that the Council is taking the judgement seriously. If Ms Davani refuses to resign, formal misconduct proceedings (including her suspension) would be required, with care being taken that the correct procedures are properly carried out (unlike in Ms Clarke's case).<br /><br />I think that my suggestions in the paragraph above are the very least that the people of Brent should expect of you. What message would it send to Brent's diverse community, and to Council employees, if the Council turns a blind eye to this judgement, and allows a person who holds its highest Human Resources post to continue in office after being "found guilty" of racial discrimination, victimisation, bullying and harassment? Looking at it from your own point of view, failure to act against Ms Davani will fuel the rumours/allegations that you are "protecting" her because she has some hold over you, as a result of her aiding and abetting you in either getting rid of officers you did not like and/or ensuring the appointment of officers you did wish to see employed by Brent without going through the correct Council recruitment procedures.'<br /><br />Cllr. Butt did not reply to me, but on 26 September Tom Cattermole sent me an email on his behalf, containing the text of Brent's (now known to be Christine Gilbert's) statement saying that the Council was appealing against the Employment Tribunal judgement, and setting up Cllr. Pavey's review to learn the lessons from that case.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-72544641308295047082015-06-11T20:57:58.126+01:002015-06-11T20:57:58.126+01:00Humour or not - wasting public money and treating ...Humour or not - wasting public money and treating people badly is a serious matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-75854529426041194162015-06-11T20:53:44.000+01:002015-06-11T20:53:44.000+01:00I wouldn't give him any credit as this is some...I wouldn't give him any credit as this is something he has clearly lost amongst many of his colleagues and members of the community. I would however call it insincere opportunistic sidings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-58559830951703806102015-06-11T20:41:48.532+01:002015-06-11T20:41:48.532+01:00If Carolyn Downs wishes to keep her reputable name...If Carolyn Downs wishes to keep her reputable name perhaps she needs to consider doing some serious Crony Cleansing within the Council; to turn a blind eye may completely destroy her reputation as well her kind looking face and inner soul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com