Author: Nick Tiratsoo

Selwyn Primary School in Highams Park: now heritage experts SAVE makes the case for a re-think

July 1, 2016 Uncategorized

A previous post (see link below) raises concerns about LBWF’s plans to rebuild Selwyn Primary School in Highams Park. Now SAVE Britain’s Heritage (‘a group of architectural historians, writers, journalists and planners’ which aims to provide ‘a strong, independent voice in conservation, free to respond rapidly to emergencies and to speak out loud for the historic built environment’) has entered the fray, and written to LBWF with a forceful and considered case for a re-think. The accompanying press release is as follows: ‘SAVE…[objects] to the dem... »

The Evening Standard publishes new revelations about the Cllr. Ahsan Khan affair UPDATED

July 1, 2016 Cllr. Ahsan Khan, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Uncategorized

The Evening Standard yesterday rendered a public service by publishing further information about Cllr. Ahsan Khan’s proclivity for surepticiously handing out community ‘awards’ (as he describes them), using the Mayor’s Parlour, with the Mayor of course present. The full story is here: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/east-london-council-gives-award-to-leader-of-extreme-islamist-party-a3284671.html The headline and first paragraph give a flavour: So the full truth is gradually beginning to emerge. Cllr. Khan’s beneficiaries included the repulsive, the undeserv... »

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Waltham Forest Labour and democratic debate in the neighbourhoods

June 20, 2016 the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Labour Party

Some years ago, the average resident of Cann Hall (where I live) who aspired to have a say in how the neighbourhood developed could do so via the local ward forum, and also the Leytonstone Community Council (which embraced Cathall and Leytonstone wards, as well). Both bodies had official status, were serviced by LBWF officers, and received finance from the Town Hall to support modest measures of amelioration. But, crucially, they were also independently chaired, and not in thrall to councillors; had agendas which were determined bi-laterally (i.e. fashioned by the chair, vice-chair, and office... »

Cllr. Tim Bennett-Goodman resigns the Labour Whip

June 15, 2016 Cllr. Tim Bennett-Goodman, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Labour Party

Word reaches me that Cllr. Tim Bennett-Goodman has resigned the Labour Whip, for reasons spelt out in his letter, below. It is a sad day for the Labour Party. Prior to becoming a councillor, Tim Bennett-Goodman had a long history of community-based activity in Waltham Forest, and was widely recognised for both his integrity and his commitment to improving the area. It says much about the current state of the Labour Party that he no longer feels comfortable in its ranks. ’14 June 2016 Dear Paul Resignation of Party Whip Thank you for acknowledging and accepting my resignation. It as with ... »

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STOP PRESS: the E11 BID Co. heads towards being struck off

June 10, 2016 E11 BID Co., Fawaad Sheikh, Waltham Forest Business Board

According to a document made public at Companies House, reproduced below, the E11 BID Co. is now threatened with being compulsorily struck off and dissolved. This blog has covered the troubled and troubling E11 BID Co. before (see links below). The issue now seems to be that the company missed the deadline for filing its 2014-15 accounts, which was 31 March 2016. It really does seem extraordinary that directors who are entirely dependent on other people’s money cannot manage the elementary step of filing properly. Little wonder that those traders in Leytonstone who are forced to financed... »

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Cllr. Ahsan Khan and a Mayoral reception to honour ‘a friend of mine’ UPDATED

June 6, 2016 Cllr. Ahsan Khan, Cllr. Saima Mahmud, Cllr. Terry Wheeler, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest

Browsing YouTube at the weekend, I was amused to come across this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9fLay0VLbE It is a short film shot in the Town Hall, at which Waltham Forest’s Mayor honours a guest. One interesting thing is that the Mayor in question is not Cllr. Saima Mahmud, bur Cllr. Terry Wheeler, her predecessor – suggesting that the practice of Mayoral honouring which has recently caused such controversy is nothing new. In addition, the first few seconds of the film are very illuminating. Cllr. Khan introduces the event, and states that it is being held to honour ‘th... »

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LBWF Leader Chris Robbins and Syrian refugees: the same old same old

May 27, 2016 Cllr. Chris Robbins, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest

Back in October 2015, the Leader of LBWF, Cllr. Chris Robbins, went public with a pledge to house Syrian refugees. The Waltham Forest Guardian story started with his picture in large format – – and then included the following specifics: ‘Ten refugee families fleeing Syria will be housed in Waltham Forest…The council have promised to provide decent homes “wherever possible” and provide access to health care, education and local job opportunities’. Many readers no doubt reasonably concluded that this humanitarian gesture was immanent, and attributed cred... »

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Ex-mayor Cllr. Saima Mahmud and her ‘receptions to honour’ at the Town Hall

May 26, 2016 Cllr. Ahsan Khan, Cllr. Liaquat Ali, Cllr. Saima Mahmud, Cllr. Shabana Dhedi/Qadir, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest

The recent fuss about Cllr. Ahsan Khan has revealed that the 2015-16 Mayor, Cllr. Saima Mahmud, habitually hosted receptions in the Town Hall, at which supposedly distinguished visitors were honoured with ‘mementoes’. There are several questions that arise. One is about whether this practice accords with basic democratic principles. It would be nice to think that those enjoying Mayoral honour were chosen openly and without favour. But it transpires that this was far from the case, with one or two ordinary citizens arranging a large number of the events, and little or no input from anyone on th... »

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‘Cllr. Khan cleared’ shock, and other Labour Party witterings

May 20, 2016 Cllr. Ahsan Khan, Cllr. Terry Wheeler, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest

In what surely must be the biggest surprise since Leicester won the Premiership, it appears that barrister Jonathan Auburn’s no doubt thorough review has cleared Cllr. Ahsan Khan of any wrongdoing, and he is to be restored to the Cabinet shortly. Cllr. Khan’s adventures in bestowing ‘community awards’ are thus vindicated. In a related development, I understand that the Cabinet has been increased in size, with the unimpressive Grace Williams and the Pilgrim Sharon Waldron joining, and the dispeptic Mark Rusling leaving – a development that of course makes a further call on the public purse. Mor... »

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LBWF Chief Executive Martin Esom responds to my questions re the Cllr. Ahsan Khan affair

May 12, 2016 Cllr. Ahsan Khan, Martin Esom, Prevent

I post Mr. Esom’s responses below. Much of what he writes is self-evidently vague, and seems to have been written with the explicit aim of avoiding giving anything away, hardly appropriate in the light of the seriousness of both the events in question and the wider situation that we find ourselves in. Regarding the ‘community award’, I understand that LBWF is claiming that every visitor to the Mayor’s parlour is given the same ‘memento’ or ‘keepsake’. I wonder how it is then that the Evening Standard came to use the phrase ‘community award’, particularly since the paper... »

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