Platinum In the News 47 High Earners Under Scrutiny 2015 Joy It has been quite a year for LBTH. No doubt, like myself, many of you have ric Pickles, the communities sec- Pickles has gone further and said that councils been following events since last May's elections with interest. Eretary, announced in December, must “come clean” about their top earners and The headline in the last edition was “The Gloves are Off”. Using another that the annual performance justify their high salaries. They will also have to boxing analogy to sum up the current situation. In the red corner, Mayor appraisals of council executives who explain why bonuses were awarded and how Rahman, his cabinet and councillors, supported by Ken Livingston, George earn more than £100,000 per annum they dealt with poor performance. Galloway and our branch. In the blue corner, the Government, represented are to be published on-line as part of a An analysis by the right wing pressure group, by together with local Labour and Tory councillors and the bor- clampdown on pay. The Taxpayers' Alliance shows that in 2012/13 ough's two Labour MPs, amongst others. Much more in this edition. Councils will be forced to explain why 2,000 sen- there were over 1,500 council employees earn- With the Government's grant settlement, announced last December, ior staff deserved to be paid more than this ing more than £100,000 and when pension con- Congratulations to for- showing a cut of £17.6 million (5%) for 2015/16, and with more to come if the amount and will have to give details of their per- tributions, redundancy packages, and bonuses mer Head of Payroll, Tories form the next government, it is not surprising that the council is look- formance reviews and bonuses. Councils were included, the number rose to over 2,000. Joe Swinburne and his ing to shed another 300 jobs by the end of March. already have to publish all salaries over £50,000 More draconian rules will apply to Tower wife Julie who celebrat- It is not much fun working in local government these days, with a meagre Hamlets, where a number of the most senior in and name employees earning more than ed their 70th wedding pay rise, the first since 2009, as scant compensation. £150,000. All senior appointments and sever- staff earn above £100,000, with appoint- anniversary late last If, like me, you were with LB Tower Hamlets on day one you may realise it ance payments of more than £150,000 must go ments of statutory officers now being under year. Joe met his wife to will be 50 years this coming April. Where did the years go? I am yet to learn if Tower Hamlets Unison to a council vote. the control of the commissioners appointed be when they were ■ the council will be marking this anniversary – no doubt they have more Retired Members Newsletter In response to a select committee report, Mr by Eric Pickles. youngsters and lived in pressing matters to attend to. ■ Hughes Mansions, Val- Till the next time Spring 2015 issue 47 p&p Tower Hamlets Unison 7th floor, Mulbery Place, Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG Retired Members Commitment lance Road, ALCOLM OHEN M C (Retired Members Officer) toemail: [email protected] ver 450 UNISON retired members gap. He urged retired members to continue to , which, gathered in Southport last Octo- support the TUC's call for fair treatment for wid- tragically was to be the The ‘in touch’ O column brings you ber for their annual conference, with owers, civil partners, and same sex spouses. site of the last V2 bomb- the headlines and the theme “defending public services” Discussing the threat to universal benefits from ing on 27th March 1945, in snippets of what’s touch going on in Tower Under Fire Conference recognised that these were difficult UKIP, one delegate from Norfolk made it clear that killing 122 residents, Hamlets! times not only for many retired members but also Nigel Farage and his lot “were not welcome here.” including Julie's moth- he ongoing hearing advice it had received regarding the possibility of for working members. Research by the Joseph The conference agreed to submit motions to er. Joe was 21 and Julie Changing Attitudes in the High Court to consider stopping the programme had cost almost Rowntree Foundation shows that, for the first this summer's national delegate conference 18 when they married Tclaims of serious irregularities in the £37,000. However invoices subsequently time, more working families are now in poverty dealing with the basic state pension and free whist Joe was on leave A refreshing sign of way the 2014 mayoral election was obtained by Trial by Jeory blogger, and former than non-working ones. National retired mem- social care. Closing the proceedings, UNISON from the Royal Artillery changing attitudes was conducted is the latest episode in a deputy editor of the Docklands and East London bers' committee chair, David Kippes, explained president Lucia McKeever urged delegates to prior to him being post- the Nativity parade year surrounded by controversy for Advertiser, Ted Jeory ( under the Audit Commis- that they were “not asking for the world – just fair- support UNISON's working members in the chal- ed to the Far East. organised by sion Act), show the council spent nearly £82,000 Christchurch Primary both the Executive Mayor, Lutfur Rah- ness – the chance to have enough money in their lenges they face in the coming year saying “It is Celebrations included a on legal advice and £41,000 on PR in an ultimate- School where the vast man and the council. pocket to get by without having to go cap in hand.” essential that we support our branches in bring- surprise party and a ly unsuccessful attempt to stop the programme. majority of youngsters Addressing the issue of discrimination in pen- ing in new working members. telegram from the With the Election Court being However these allegations are from Muslim fami- sion schemes Bob Deacon of Wolverhampton As retired members you have a wealth of Queen.■ presented with claims of voter lies. Pupils from the didn't appear to dent Lutfur branch stressed that the gender pensions gap experience, so please contact your branch intimidation and vote rigging to Brick Lane school col- Rahman's reputation as he needs to be addressed as well as the gender pay and ask what you can do to help.” ■ Benefits add to the claims - initially aired lected Bayleaf the don- was re-elected for a second First key from the Spitalfields on a Panorama programme in term with a clear majority over Councillor Honoured Tower Hamlets city farm for the parade March last year - of the Mayor his nearest rival, Labour's using public funds for self-pro- Cllr Khan in response said she was “ hugely became one of the from Buxton Street via . Shortly afterwards ead councillor for motion by doubling grants to honoured, humbled, and grateful” to be recog- first boroughs in Spitafields Market to a he wrote to the BBC Director housing and develop- Bangladeshi charitable organ- L nised by the awards. “If my work can encourage London to introduce packed Bishops Square General Sir Tony Hall in which ment, , has isations and selling council other women, particularly mums, living ordinary Universal Credit for where carols and sea- he said inter alia, “I am the only been named Hero of the buildings to “friends” at below lives in Britain and across Europe, to get involved benefit claimants sonal songs were sung ethnic minority directly-elect- Year at this year's Euro- market prices, Mayor Rahman pean Diversity Awards. in politics and public life more generally, and act when the system was including of course, Lit- ed mayor in Britain. Since I was tle Donkey. Amongst the has been under constant fire first elected in 2010 I have The citation said “ Rabina Khan is a as positive role models to today's generation of rolled-out for new spectators were staff from his political opponents, been subject to a campaign of truly inspirational Muslim woman Muslim women, then that will be my greatest applicants in early from international law not least the Communities vilification in the right wing who has dedicated her life, both personally and achievement.” March this year. Five firm, Allen and Overy, Secretary, Eric Pickles. press that has focused almost professionally, to creating an inclusive and equi- Apart from her role as cabinet member, in other London bor- whose HQ is in the The Panorama programme exclusively on my background table society for all. Her particular focus has been which capacity she has spoken on behalf of oughs were also square, and whose staff prompted Pickles to order audi- as a Muslim of Bangladeshi on challenging perceptions of Muslim women the mayor during the past year, and as ward selected after pilots in ■ volunteer as the school's tors Price Waterhouse Cooper Mayor Lutfur Rahman origin. By stigmatising the role and advancing the integration of Muslim women councillor, Cllr Khan is also a film producer the north. learning monitors. Two 9 (PwC) to carry out an investigation into the way of faith organisations in our diverse borough and into mainstream society across Europe.” and writer, and a mother of three. ■ year-olds took turns to the council made grants and disposed of buildings singling out the Bangladeshi community and play Mary and ride surplus to requirements. The order came the day Muslim organisations for criticism the Panorama Memorial Still to be Completed Bayleaf through the after new legislation had been implemented programme makes Tower Hamlets a target for local streets. The only he memorial commemorating the businesses to sponsor one of 173 coni- months to 78 years. meaning local authorities being investigated in further attacks from extremists groups. The risk concession to the 21st 173 people who lost their lives in cals in the roof of the “stairway” that will Sunlight will shine this way were liable for the full cost. T century was that they of disorder is high, which could damage residents the Bethnal Green tube disaster still go on top of the existing memorial plinth through them onto A few weeks after the Panorama programme had to wear riding hel- and businesses, including the ability of Canary requires a further £40,000 to be fully situated in the nearby Bethnal Green the pavement its reporter, John Ware, alleged that Mayor Rah- completed when the final “roof” sec- Gardens. The conicals will be of different below. The names mets. ■ Wharf to attract international investment.” man had used public funds to try to get the broad- tion can be installed. shapes and sizes to represent the vic- of all the victims will be carved around PwC sent 20 or so of its highly paid staff to carry Campaigners are asking individuals and tims whose ages ranged from five the sides of the teak “stairway”. cast blocked. The council confirmed that legal out the audit, at of course the council's expense, continues p.2 Produced by TH Unison on behalf of Retired Members Group © 2015 – Printed by ArtZone Co-op Ltd. Tel: 020 7481 9053 – www.artzone.coop Nursery Distilling

Closures continued from p.1 Under Fire Hands Off Tower Hamlets Returns to Reversed with their 200 page is, those who were able made to justify it, as an attack on local democ- East End The announcement by report being issued in to stay awake. They By JOHN MCLOUGHLIN (BRANCH SECRETARY) racy and our community. Under the protection The East London the mayor last October 2014. In it were sustained by piz- of parliamentary privilege, Mr Pickles Liquor Company September to close the ric Pickles decision to impose they allege poor finan- zas bought by the Cor- described Tower Hamlets as a “rotten Bor- started operations in council's four commissioners on Tower Hamlets cial management in porate Director of Edu- E ough...where there have been widespread remaining children's has once again created a torrent of Bow last summer, relation to the sale of cation, Social Care and allegations of extremism, homophobia and nurseries because of comment on our Borough. making gin, whisky and anti-Semitism.” We reject this characterisation budget cuts was the old Poplar Town Wellbeing, Robert Eric Pickles used parliamentary privilege to vodka, the first distillery of our borough, particularly coming from a rep- reversed after a Hall, a lack of trans- McCulloch-Graham, on describe Tower Hamlets as a “rotten Borough ... in east London for resentative of a government that has rejected vigorous campaign by parency when issuing his credit card. What the where there have been widespread allegations more than a century the concept of multi-culturalism and consis- mums, backed by grants, including that returning officer hadn't of extremism, homophobia and anti-Semitism tently panders to racist sentiment. producing spirits. UNISON and Labour on some occasions expected was such a that have been allowed to fester without proper ● Tower Hamlets is no rotten Borough. The It is based in the former and Tory councillors, challenge.” the council had large turnout, almost at PriceWaterhouseCooper's report acknowl- glue factory in Bow but not by the mayor's That description denigrates the many awarded grants to TH Mayoral, Council and EU election count at the “Troxy” 22 May 2014 General Election levels, edges that “the Authority is widely seen to be Wharf, near Victoria outstanding achievements of Unison groups which had not applied. The council said it and the number of cross votes between parties in delivering services that are of good quality” Park, where the caucus of councillors. members and others who have worked to “regretted” flaws in its processes but added that the local elections with many re-counts because (PwC p44). It lists a number of outstanding company is now The nurseries provide build and improve services in Tower Hamlets. there was “no evidence of criminality or fraud.” of a number of close results. Counting resumed achievements such as the 65% of pupils in the affordable childcare for We understand that even civil servants at the making handcrafted In his statement to the Commons in Novem- on Monday at the Sports Arena in Mile End Park borough gaining five or more GCSEs at grade 150 toddlers, many DCLG sought to distance themselves from spirits in two copper A*- C including English and mathematics. This with disabilities and ber, Communities Secretary Pickles branded with the final EU declaration not being made until Pickles’ comments, not least the implied stills up to 650 litres at success has been possible through effective special needs. Tower Hamlets “a rotten borough” in an appar- the following day. comparison with another authority where the a time. collaboration between schools and a local Although the mayor's ent attempt to give the report's findings more To add to the council's and mayor's discomfort, failure to protect children and young people One of the company's authority working to a common purpose in the spokesman initially weight than they warranted. Pickles went on to allegations that the mayor broke election laws had led to public outcry. interests of all children. owners, Alex Wolpert said that government's say that as a result of the report he had decided were included in a petition to the High Court filed Tower Hamlets is no rotten Borough. We can ● Much of the insinuation of corruption by a Ben- explained “ We want to grant cuts meant the be proud of the services we provide in one of to send in commissioners to oversee a number by four residents including play-write Andy Erlam gali, Muslim-led administration is thinly veiled to revive east London's council was forced to Britain’s most unequal Borough’s with wide- of functions in the Town Hall. These would of the Red Flag Anti-Corruption Party, who stood racism and Islamophobia. By contrast, Tower rich legacy of spirit make these difficult spread deprivation. The imposition of commis- include the appointment of chief officers, the unsuccessfully in the 2014 local elections, and Hamlets is aborough with a proud record of manufacturing. The decisions, weight of sioners, with powers to appoint the key statutory disposal of council properties,the awarding of Brick Lane restauranteur Azmal Hussain. opposing those who seek to divide our commu- craft spirits trade went opinion caused him to officers responsible for fundamental decisions grants, and publicity. The commissioners would Although both the mayor and council challenged nity. We have worked with the Mayor and oth- reverse his original on services is wholly disproportionate to the find- through a resurgence remain until March 2017 and issue six monthly the petition, their objections were overruled, with ers to ensure that Tower Hamlets is “No Place decision and to look for ings of the PwC report. As we went to press the in America and now we reports to him. Both the borough's Labour MPs, the hearing going ahead on 2nd February with for Hate”. savings elsewhere. Council had submitted a response to Eric Pickles ● are experiencing a Rashanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick asked ques- Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey, a sen- and his response is awaited. In fact the PwC report finds no evidence of renaissance here, with fraud or corruption in Tower Hamlets as has Child tions in the Chamber after Pickles had spoken, ior lawyer sitting as a judge. The petition alleges The Tories talk a lot about localism. But no-one several distilleries but neither said anything to challenge the state- the mayor exerted unlawful “spiritual influence” should doubt that if commissioners, directly been alleged. The imposition of commission- ers is wholly disproportionate to the failings in starting up in London.” Poverty – ment that Tower Hamlets was a “rotten” bor- on voters to secure his re-election and is seeking accountable to Eric Pickles, are given powers to process described in the PwC report that the The gin is aged on-site Worst in ough, although being fully aware that Tower to overturn the result and to have a fresh election. appoint a Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer for three years, while (section 151) and Chief Legal Officer who can Council and Mayoral administration accept Country Hamlets had won plaudits from both London The dossier handed to the High Court accuses need to be rectified. their rum is imported Mayor Boris Johnson and academics on the Lutfur Rahman's campaign of breaking election only subsequently be suspended, removed, or ● Figures released last replaced by the commissioner key decisions The move to impose commissioners will put from Guyana. way it was running a number of its core services law by telling voters it would be un-Islamic to vote autumn, by the End about Tower Hamlets will lie completely outside power in the hands of unelected officials Child Poverty including education and social care. Two of the for any rival candidate in the May 2014 election. It the control of local people. accountable directly to Eric Pickles. Commis- Green Light Campaign, showed commissioners, Max Caller, chair of the Bound- pointed to a letter signed by 101 religious leaders, Any council worker not familiar with Mr Pick- sioners will have extensive powers to appoint LBTH has given the Tower Hamlets having and remove the most senior officers in the ary Commission and former Chief Executive of including Imams and Madrassah teachers, pub- les would do well to check his record as a coun- green light to plans by a child poverty rate Hackney, and Sir Ken Knight, the government's lished in the Bengali Weekly Desh newspaper in cillor in Bradford where, with no majority, he Council and make other decisions that should double the national only be made by democratically elected local the fire and rescue advisor arrived in the Town Hall the week of the election, which appeared to used a Tory casting vote to cut the workforce by Group to regenerate average with 49% of in December, with another, yet to be named, instruct Muslims to vote for Mr Rahman. Other one third and privatise key services. Councillors. It comes at a time when Pickles' children living in sub- government is attempting to force through cuts almost five million commissioner to join them later. charges made in the petition include remarks, Tower Hamlets Unison helped initiate this state- standard conditions – of an unprecedented level that disproportion- square feet of the Eric Pickles also announced that neither the allegedly made by the mayor's campaign team, ment from trade unions and community organi- the worst in the UK. sations in the Borough: ately affect communities with high levels of Wood Wharf site on Poplar and Limehouse council's Electoral Service Manager, John telling electors rival candidates would close local ● deprivation like ours. the northern edge of Williams, or Louisa Stamp, Head of Democratic mosques, and saying voting for Lutfur Rahman As trade unionists and community activists in MP, Jim Fitzpatrick Tower Hamlets we express our concern at, and We believe that it is for the people of Tower the near Services, were to be allowed to be appointed was a religious duty. There are also allegations of blamed the council for opposition to, Eric Pickles decision to impose Hamlets to determine democratically for Blackwall. Plans the high levels of Returning Officer at May's General Election. It is irregularities at the count. commissioners on Tower Hamlets Council. themselves who runs our Council. ■ include 3600 homes, deprivation and added likely that one of the commissioners will take on The results of the local elec- ● We regard his decision, and the comments This article first appeared in Tower Power. with a quarter being “I wrote to Mayor this responsibility. This follows problems with the tion became a side-event “affordable”, a new Rahman regarding this counts last May which stretched over five days, compared to the mayoral elec- issue and raised my Starters and Leavers primary school, public with Tower Hamlets being the last constituency in tion. Candidates supporting library, doctors' concerns that the four mongst those joining our ranks in the last council. We wish them and the EU to announce the result of the European Lutfur Rahman under the surgery, hotel, shops, wards with the highest year include:- all other “starters” a long and Parliament vote. Mr Williams could consider him- “Tower Hamlets First” banner and a community hall. poverty were in receipt AMiriam Carapiet, who retired in February from her post happy retirement. News of of the lowest grant self unfortunate, in that, with the council being made significant gains from There are also four as child care worker after 40 years service with LBTH, the death of Steve Mersey, support.” ■ without a chief executive and a number of other Labour taking 18 of the 45 public open spaces Rachael Saunders and Alan Lorymer who took early retirement, aged 57, aged 65 reached us shortly Steve Mersey chief officers last year, he took on the roll of seats contested. However planned. ■ at the end of 2013 after 28 years with the council. Alan after the last edition of In-Touch was published. Steve 2015 Returning Officer. With the count starting on Fri- Labour under its new leader, Mile End councillor, 2015 47 day morning in the Troxy in Commercial Road, Rachael Saunders, remain the largest party with joined Tower Hamlets from the GLC in 1985. He start- lost his battle with cancer in April last year. He joined 47 in what the 400 or so staff counting didn't expect 22 councillors, whist the Tories won 5 seats. The ed in Internal Audit before moving to Accountancy the Internal Audit Section in February 1991 where he in ■ touch 2 were to be still working on Saturday morning, that Lib Dems lost their last remaining seat. ■ where he worked for the majority of his time with the remained until his early retirement in March 1999. 3 touch