Council Leader in Multiple Code of Conduct Breaches
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ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 10 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER JULY 2019 NEWS Anger as bin collections petition is rejected by Enfield Council despite 6,000 people signing it P . 2 INTERVIEW Mayor of Enfield Kate Anolue talks about her extraordinary life, from fleeing war to midwifery P . 7 COMMENT Extinction Rebellion campaigner on why Enfield must declare a 'climate emergency' P . 8 ARTS & CULTURE How a community arts programme is celebrating local talent in Edmonton P . 12 The new £46m Meridian Water Station, replete with golden roof, was opened in June – read more on Page 3 A M E E Become a M M member of Enfield Council leader in multiple Dispatch and get O the paper delivered to B your door each month E C – find out more R E on Page 16 code of conduct breaches B Nesil Caliskan under pressure to apologise over 'bullying' of colleague BY JAMES CRACKNELL There are also now fears that apology to fellow Labour council- rejected counter-claims from Cllr several key recommendations lors Yasemin Brett and Derek Levy Caliskan that Cllr Brett had “insti- he Labour Party is being issued by the Labour Party's in relation to her code of conduct gated a smear campaign”. enfielddispatch.co.uk asked by local council- National Executive Committee breaches, but as the Dispatch went In a statement Cllr Brett said: lors to take disciplinary (NEC) – following its investigation to press there was no confirmation “Bullying has no place in public action against the leader into “irregularities” with Enfield from either Cllr Brett or Cllr Levy life and the perpetrators must be @EnfieldDispatch Tof Enfield Council amid growing Labour group's selection process that these letters had been sent. held to account. The Labour Party concern over her conduct. for the 2018 local election – are In a statement made following the must now intervene and defend /EnfieldDispatch Following two separate investiga- being ignored. In May half of the ruling by the director of law and colleagues from bullying.” tions it was revealed in June that council's previous cabinet quit governance that she had “failed Dismissing the council mon- Nesil Caliskan had been found guilty after complaining that party pro- to treat Cllr Brett with respect” itoring officer's findings, Cllr [email protected] of breaching the code of conduct – cedures were not being followed and bullied her, the council leader Caliskan said: “The report found with one concluding the leader's by the leadership team. declined to apologise and instead that I could have given Cllr Brett behaviour “amounted to bullying” Cllr Caliskan has been ordered by claimed her behaviour did not more warning for temporarily and another that she attempted to the council's monitoring officer amount to bullying. The indepen- removing her from cabinet for two “compromise the impartiality” of and deputy monitoring officer dent solicitor who investigated the council's scrutiny process. to write two formal letters of the incident between the pair had CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 NEWS No.10 JULY 2019 ENFIELD DISPATCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 in an email sent to then-committee other Labour councillors, Dinah chair Cllr Levy. The committee's Barry has also revealed that Ward weeks, after she publicly voted role is to hold the council’s decision- she resigned as the group chair ED. against democratically-agreed makers to account, and it had voted earlier this year because of boundary Labour policy. I don’t think most to challenge proposed changes “persistent bullying by a small people would call that bullying. to bin collections, but the inves- number of people” and added changes In other councils, she would tigating solicitor concluded the that “hard-working councillors o have been permanently sacked council leader “overrode the are being abused”. nfield's political ward bound- N .10 from the group.” obligation to accept the role of A spokesperson for the Labour aries are set to change – A second investigation, the out- overview and scrutiny”. Party's London region, in a state- Eand the Local Government JULY 2019 come of which was also revealed Since the incident came to light ment, said: “We are in the process Boundary Commission for England last month, found that Cllr Cal- Cllr Levy said Cllr Caliskan had of implementing the NEC recom- is asking for feedback. Enfield Dispatch is the iskan had again breached the code “broken the established princi- mendations for Enfield Labour A review has recommended redrawing borough's free community of conduct – this time by suggest- ples of democracy” and that her group and all recommendations the borough's 21 existing wards and newspaper. We publish ing the chairman of the overview pattern of behaviour “has poten- will be carried out in due course.” creating five new ones, although with monthly and distribute and scrutiny committee meet with tial to cause reputational damage to The Labour spokesperson added many wards subsequently electing 10,000 free copies of her regularly to ensure he was the council”. As the Dispatch went that Cllr Caliskan's multiple code two representatives instead of three each issue to cafés, pubs, “more closely aligned to key deci- to press Cllr Caliskan had not re- of conduct breaches, including the borough would still be represented community centres, sions” on Labour group priorities. sponded to requests for a comment. the finding that her behaviour by 63 councillors in total. libraries, GP surgeries, Cllr Caliskan made this remark In another example of the huge amounted to bullying, “was an Existing wards including Turkey schools, hair salons, and after an overview and scrutiny division between the coun- internal council matter”. Street, Chase, Enfield Highway, South- outside railway stations. committee meeting last October, cil's leadership team and many The council declined to comment. gate Green and Southbury would be renamed and replaced with new Publisher wards such as Bullsmoor, Whitewebbs, David Floyd Ridgeway, Oakwood, Hoe Lane, King- Editor Anger as bin collections smead, Raglan and Arnos Grove. James Cracknell Residents have until 5th August to submit their views on the proposals Designer via consultation.lgbce.org.uk. Jonathan Duncan petition rejected Project Manager “We are all transparently aware of Anna Merryfield the council’s need to make savings, New trains but genuinely feel that this blanket Contributors decision is out of touch with the welcomed Zac Ntim, Chris Horner, feelings of the electorate.” Nicole Brown, Chris Rash, The council is already facing nfield North MP Joan Ryan Harriet Piercy, Alastair Ball, severe criticism over its changes has welcomed the arrival of Vicki Pite, Alison Yates, to bin collections, with former new trains on a key commuter Claire Docherty, Claire E Fisher, David Williamson, deputy leader Daniel Anderson route – but is still calling for the line Jo Johnson, Giuliana describing the public consultation to be taken out of private hands. Rubinia, Simon Allin, held last December and January as The Change UK MP said new Callum Shepherd a “sham” and a “fiasco” after the air-conditioned six-carriage Great council chose to proceed with the Northern trains – with space for an least-popular option. The changes, extra 100 passengers – would greatly CONTACT due to be introduced from Novem- improve journeys along the Hertford Call 020 8521 7956 Both black and blue-lid bins will be collected once ber, are expected to save £2million Loop Line into Moorgate. per fortnight under the council's changes Email EnfieldDispatch@ and will also include a new weekly While only a few new Class 717 trains socialspider.com food waste service and £65 charge are running so far, the full £240million Post Salisbury House, Bury for garden waste collection. fleet will be introduced by the end of Street West, Enfield N9 9LA BY JAMES CRACKNELL they do not include the addresses A council spokesperson said: the year – serving Crews Hill, Gordon of signatories, Helen says she has “The lead petitioner has been Hill, Enfield Chase, Grange Park, ADVERTISING nfield Council has rejected submitted postcodes to the council informed that the petition was not Winchmore Hill and Palmers Green Contact Klaudia Kiss: a petition signed by more for verification. accepted as it does not meet the stations. Joan Ryan said: “I’ve been than 6,000 people – because Helen said: “We have got twice as requirements of Enfield Council’s calling on rail bosses at Great North- Call 020 8521 7956 E it says it cannot verify they are many signatures as we need for a published petition scheme, which ern to deliver a brand new fleet of Email klaudia@ socialspider.com local residents. debate but the council has moved was approved by full council in 2017. trains, so I am pleased to see the new The 'Bin the new bin collections' the goalposts on the regulations “The petition scheme specifies rolling stock operating on the line. petition was launched in March by for submitting petitions – saying that petitions presented to the “However, residents continue to com- Palmers Green resident Helen Blair- they must now include addresses local authority must include the plain about the frequency of services man in reaction to the council's plan and emails. This is lunacy. I have addresses of everyone who has and performance. That’s why I am to switch to fortnightly collections postcodes for every signatory. signed the document. urging government ministers to devolve for both general waste and recycling. “Comments made online reveal “In the case of the ‘Bin the new these services to Transport for London Council guidelines state that any anger and irritation at the cava- bin collections’ petition, this is not – polling has shown there is majority We are grateful to Love Your Doorstep for their ongoing support petition which amasses support lier and dismissive way that this the case and addresses have not public support for TfL to be given control.