tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post7342341830569566190..comments2024-03-28T09:45:17.708+00:00Comments on WEMBLEY MATTERS: Tell YOUR Brent councillor what you think about a possible “pay off” to Cara DavaniUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-14006434497301680392015-06-22T14:13:07.324+01:002015-06-22T14:13:07.324+01:00Over the weekend, I wrote to my ward councillors a...Over the weekend, I wrote to my ward councillors and to Cllrs Aslam Choudry and Bobby Thomas with whom I have served on different groups in the past.<br /><br />At the time of writing I have received replies only from Cllr Choudry and Cllr Thomas. It may be that my ward councillors have joined Philip on his holiday.Nan.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-57903746455288111732015-06-21T23:28:55.766+01:002015-06-21T23:28:55.766+01:00..Should have said a champaign party with people t.....Should have said a champaign party with people that matters from WM and the National Press!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-59680915056276741672015-06-21T23:21:37.042+01:002015-06-21T23:21:37.042+01:00I shall put the champaign on ice for a good garde...I shall put the champaign on ice for a good garden party with the National Press!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-10470911497336036372015-06-21T18:22:06.838+01:002015-06-21T18:22:06.838+01:00DAVANI’S RESIGNATION TO BE CELEBRATED AT GLASTONB...DAVANI’S RESIGNATION TO BE CELEBRATED AT GLASTONBURY? <br />It will not have escaped WM readers’ notice that Florence and the Machine are headlining at Glastonbury on Friday. One of the group’s early hits was ‘ Dog Days are Over’. It is likely that Florence will have more recent material to perform and this 5 year old song might well not figure in her set. Nevertheless I have presumed to write to the group on behalf of WM readers pointing out the title’s meaning for Brent residents and Civic Centre employees in particular and asking her to please include it in her set as a gesture of solidarity. I realise though that it’s unlikely that such a star will change her setlist in this way.<br /><br />However, if on Friday night you are actually at Glastonbury or watching on BBC tv and you hear Florence shout ‘This one’s called ‘Dog Days are Over’, there can surely be no other way to interpret this than as her very loud and public celebration of our own dear diva’s impending ‘career break’.<br /><br />Mike Hine<br /><br />PS You can catch it on iPlayer when you get back, Philip. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-25654937870103838872015-06-21T13:50:48.629+01:002015-06-21T13:50:48.629+01:00Before attending Monday's meeting perhaps he s...Before attending Monday's meeting perhaps he should take a walk on the opposite side of his road to observe much green household waste dumped in nearby bushes. Another indication of residents' unhappiness with the council.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-80336597771114085242015-06-21T12:40:14.539+01:002015-06-21T12:40:14.539+01:00In relation to Rotherham the Guardian reports..
...In relation to Rotherham the Guardian reports.. <br /><br />The "council lacked “the necessary skills, abilities, experience and tenacity within either the member or senior officer leadership teams”.<br /><br />Concluding that the council needs a fresh start, Casey’s 154-page report said: “The council’s culture is unhealthy: bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced ‘political correctness’ have cemented its failures.<br /><br />“The council is currently incapable of tackling its weaknesses without a sustained intervention.”<br /><br />She also criticised the council’s deep-rooted culture of suppressing bad news and ignoring hard issues, writing: “RMBC goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistleblowers.” Does it sound familiar..?<br /><br />Let's hope Carolyn Downs has the tenacity to root out this unhealthy culture.<br /><br />For further reading into article into Rotherham ref. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/04/rotherham-council-denial-child-sexual-exploitation-failures-report<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-48003625959708980282015-06-21T10:49:14.379+01:002015-06-21T10:49:14.379+01:00Let's hope that Michael Pavey has enjoyed a re...Let's hope that Michael Pavey has enjoyed a refreshing break from the pressures of life in the Civic Centre, and that he is back in time to prepare for the Full Council meeting, and ensure that the Council will not give any "pay off" to Ms D.<br /><br />Philip.<br /><br />P.S. This is definitely my "last post" before I go on a much needed holiday!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-25138289740686837872015-06-21T10:41:35.369+01:002015-06-21T10:41:35.369+01:00Not all Brent Councillors are "in denial"...Not all Brent Councillors are "in denial", but so far none of the Labour councillors have been willing to take a stand publicly over Cara Davani and the Rosemarie Clarke Employment Tribunal case. That does not mean that they have not raised their concerns privately with Cllr. Butt (I have been told, privately, that some have).<br /><br />It will be interesting to see whether any statement is made at tomorrow evening's Full Council meeting, about any possible "pay off" to the departing Director of HR. Will the Chief Executive or Leader / Deputy Leader tell fellow councillors and the public what is happening, or will one of them claim that they can't say anything, because it is a confidential matter relating to a specific employee, or will they just say nothing and continue their attempted cover-up? <br /><br />If the Council leadership try to get away with saying nothing to Full Council, will any councillor(s) be willing to speak up, and publicly question them about it? I hope that those councillors who are well aware of what is going on, and know that it is wrong, will put their consciences before misplaced "loyalty to Party", so that they are not branded as "in denial", like their colleagues in Rotherham were over that Council's own scandal.<br /><br />Philip GrantAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-36381775867181295922015-06-21T00:40:49.252+01:002015-06-21T00:40:49.252+01:00Ms Casey, whose recent damning report into Rotherh...Ms Casey, whose recent damning report into Rotherham Council resulted in the resignation of its entire cabinet, stated that Rotherham Council remained ‘in denial’ over the scandal. I cannot help but wonder if Creg Clark, the communities and local government secretary, were to carry out an investigation into Brent whether it would conclude that Brent Councillors were also 'In denial' over the Rosemarie Clark, scandal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-27096643840581767532015-06-20T22:19:31.774+01:002015-06-20T22:19:31.774+01:00If they were charged for misconduct in public offi...If they were charged for misconduct in public office, would it be for 'Acting in Concert' with Davani & Cro's?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-86015524165390471052015-06-20T20:21:44.413+01:002015-06-20T20:21:44.413+01:00Interestingly, Michael Pavey also missed developme...Interestingly, Michael Pavey also missed developments as he was on holiday too. Martin Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194641151012303116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-36104917556293586532015-06-20T20:12:46.647+01:002015-06-20T20:12:46.647+01:00Dear Mike,
I hope you enjoyed your holiday. I'...Dear Mike,<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed your holiday. I'm about to go on one. I will be very pleased to hear that a good thing happened - a clear statement from either Christine Gilbert, Muhammed Butt or Michael Pavey to Brent's Full Council meeting that THERE WILL BE NO PAY OFF, OR INDEMNITY OVER THE ROSEMARIE CLARKE CASE, GIVEN TO CARA DAVANI - when I return from mine.<br /><br />Philip Grant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-63364673344644250262015-06-20T14:55:20.246+01:002015-06-20T14:55:20.246+01:00If there is an independent and thorough investigat...If there is an independent and thorough investigation into the alleged unlawful practices of Davani & Cronies, shouldn't the wrong-doers (including our elected Councillors who condoned the actions) be charged with misconduct in public office?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-4148132622542742062015-06-20T14:38:39.639+01:002015-06-20T14:38:39.639+01:00Many thanks, Phillip!
Let's hope our elected c...Many thanks, Phillip!<br />Let's hope our elected councillors and leaders are not evasive about rewarding Cara Davani's unlawful wrongdoings with bucks and Butt's..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-29526529756585457892015-06-20T12:21:54.558+01:002015-06-20T12:21:54.558+01:00Davani going? Thank the Lord! As Florence and ...Davani going? Thank the Lord! As Florence and her Machine once put it: 'The dog days are over'. But why do all the good things happen when I'm on holiday?<br /><br />Unless someone has already suggested an appropriate slogan, may I suggest the adoption of:<br /><br /> 'PISS OFF YES. PAY OFF NO'<br /><br />Mike Hine<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-29193910452309134562015-06-20T11:07:01.012+01:002015-06-20T11:07:01.012+01:00Dear Anonymous at 15:40,
I'm not sure exactly...Dear Anonymous at 15:40,<br /><br />I'm not sure exactly what in the blog or comments you are referring to with: 'so effectively asking councillors to break the law', but I can assure you that I would not wish councillors to break the law, just as much as I deplore it if they breach Brent Council's Members' Code of Conduct.<br /><br />Philip Grant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-74285689001235663292015-06-20T11:01:01.017+01:002015-06-20T11:01:01.017+01:00I have now heard back from one of my Ward Councill...I have now heard back from one of my Ward Councillors to say that they have asked Cllr. Michael Pavey, the Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet member responsible for employment matters, to answer my question over whether the Council will make any "pay off" to Cara Davani, in whatever form. <br /><br />As this is a matter of concern to both the public and councillors, I would hope that there will be a statement on this point, either from Cllr. Pavey or (as I had suggested) Christine Gilbert, at the Full Council meeting on Monday evening.<br /><br />In the meantime, please carry on contacting YOUR local councillors about this case. Thank you.<br /><br />Philip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-67746374166531278992015-06-19T17:32:39.824+01:002015-06-19T17:32:39.824+01:00Possible sample letter to local councillors.
Dea...Possible sample letter to local councillors.<br /><br /><br />Dear Cllr (surname)<br /><br /> I am a resident in your ward and am writing to ask you look into the matter of the outgoing Director of HR possibly receiving a pay-off from the council.<br /><br /> I firmly believe that such a pay-off would be wrong and unlawful and I am adding my voice to those of others who are calling for an investigation into this matter.<br /> <br /> It surely cannot be right for a person who was found by a Tribunal to have victimised a member of staff and racially discriminated against that member of staff to be paid public money to leave the council nearly a year after the Tribunal judgement.<br /><br /> Under Brent’s Anti-Fraud and Bribery Policy, the council has a duty to prevent financial malpractice where possible, so that funds are not lost to the Council because of irregularities such as undisclosed conflicts of interest. I understand that any potential payments which might be given to the outgoing Director of HR as part of her leaving arrangements are likely to involve conflicts of interest.<br /><br /> Information about this has been given to the council's internal audit department. Would you please ensure, as a matter of urgency, that this information is thoroughly investigated and that no payments are made to the DIrector of HR except her normal salary, until the outcome of a full investigation into the points that have been raised.<br /><br />Yours etc.<br /><br /> Nan.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-9912330187395202472015-06-19T15:40:16.592+01:002015-06-19T15:40:16.592+01:00So effectively asking councillors to break the law...So effectively asking councillors to break the law. That'll workAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-76380865402583855832015-06-19T15:00:52.561+01:002015-06-19T15:00:52.561+01:00Dear Anonymous at 00:21,
I'm sure that the at...Dear Anonymous at 00:21,<br /><br />I'm sure that the attachments which I sent with my email would be of interest (and in some cases, amusement) to many readers, but they were prepared principally as part of the serious business of trying to prevent financial irregularities at Brent Council. I have sent them to the proper authority for protecting Council Taxpayers from such irregularities, Brent's Audit and Investigation Team, as part of detailed allegations that any leaving "pay off" to the Director of HR could well involve 'conflicts of interest'.<br /><br />It is the Audit and Investigation Team's responsibility to ‘investigate any allegation that may have a direct, or indirect, impact of the finances for which [the Council is] responsible.’ I hope that they are now doing so, and I do not think it would help them if the people whose potential conflicts of interest they are investigating could read on "Wembley Matters" exactly what evidence they have been given .<br /><br />You can probably work out which people at Brent Council, who could be in a position to make agreements with Cara Davani over leaving payments, are mentioned in my report to Brent's A&I Team, from reading the comments on previous blogs which mention her. If you put "Davani" as a search term in the box near the top of the right-hand column, I'm sure you will find many "hits"! <br /><br />Philip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-23945024264636183192015-06-19T09:40:21.834+01:002015-06-19T09:40:21.834+01:00Dear Anonymous at 22:04,
I think it is better tha...Dear Anonymous at 22:04,<br /><br />I think it is better that people tell their councillors what they think, rather than me putting words into their mouths. It does not have to be a long letter or email (councillors would probably prefer it short and to the point!). I have included a paragraph in my "blog" from the letter I had sent to the B&K Times, which may help with key points.<br /><br />Philip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-28808206754742871682015-06-19T00:28:13.263+01:002015-06-19T00:28:13.263+01:00I agree - no pay off! She has duped many into thin...I agree - no pay off! She has duped many into thinking she can do what she likes as she knows it all - seemingly to make excessive bucks at the expense of others'. Methinks it's time for her wings to be clipped, in the hope of an awakening to the austerity, suffering and anguish in the real world - as she has used the establishment and sailed on coat-tails of many for too long..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-20747697037079872532015-06-19T00:21:53.159+01:002015-06-19T00:21:53.159+01:00Publish the attachments please Philip, else how ar...Publish the attachments please Philip, else how are we to know about the conflicts of interest? You've only given us half the info we need!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-17111885430777193072015-06-19T00:07:09.844+01:002015-06-19T00:07:09.844+01:00Poor Phillip - to write a synopsis of wrong-doings...Poor Phillip - to write a synopsis of wrong-doings may take weeks and could turn into a living nightmare!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-20279401946422751892015-06-18T22:04:03.333+01:002015-06-18T22:04:03.333+01:00Philip can you please post sample letter that Bren...Philip can you please post sample letter that Brent Residents can send to their local Councillors. ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com