Thread by @Andrewwood17

How many people died at a single care home in Tower Hamlets, 50?
What was breakdown of £14 million delayed project allocated to COVID?
The response was 'NO NEED TO KNOW'
For the 1st time in 6 years the 'Marxist' Tower Hamlets Council has stopped me asking questions about them
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"I regret to advise you that your recent enquiry regarding Finance question on costs of COVID will not be processed as you have not demonstrated a 'Need to Know' the information requested, which may be deemed as sensitive, or not concerned with the ward you represent"
Q below
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"ME - Deaths in care home 23041441
As it is not on behalf of a resident or concerning your ward, unfortunately you would have to show a 'need to know' or make the request via FOI. [e-mail]"
FOI rules are different & more restricted
Q below
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Both questions follow Council meetings where I was asking for more information
-Deaths in care home - understanding where, how & when people died is critical to understanding COVID
-Finance - because I think the Council is including non-COVID costs in its COVID costs, see pic
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I asked a question about budget impact of COVID end April, 26 days after deadline remains unanswered
It was a simple Q
Mayor John Biggs often states how dire the £ impact of COVID is on TH, on the costs side I think £19.5 million already received covers costs incurred so far
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but that depends on what £14 m includes, I suspect it includes budget over runs pre-COVID, COVID has delayed a response by 1-2 months but not caused them
On income side I do think there will be a big hit
Mayor Biggs keeps saying how bad £ hit will be, prove it, answer Qs
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Until now TH Council has sometimes not answered my questions, but never outright refused them
This happened Tuesday, I checked that this was not a mistake, Council now following guidance introduced June 2017 that I had not see before
Guidance contradicts Council constitution
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I believe as well as common law
I am on more Council C'tees & attend more Council meetings then anybody else
I have an obvious need to know
Stopping me from asking Q is a fundamental change in my role, it fundamentally changes how democracy & opposition work in Tower Hamlets
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Means I can only (it seems);
-Ask questions related to my ward
-Ask questions on behalf of residents
-Ask questions in C'tee but only if on agenda (I do not control agenda)
-Ask a Q about anything 5 times a year at full Council meetings
I need to confirm with @TowerHamletsNow
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if those are the way they will interpret rules
I can still submit Freedom of Information requests (do not need to be a Cllr to do) but rules are different, take longer, can be rejected if too costly, & only if docs exist
So if no document confirms 50 deaths I cannot get it
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Imagine if opposition MPs restricted in questions they could ask government?
In this case change in use of rules has come I believe from v senior Council officer
It may well be that it gets over turned but shows how difficult my job can be holding administration to account
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This will also make it more difficult for you @EastEndEnquirer @RachaelBurford @ELAdvertiser if Councillors cannot ask questions on difficult subjects internally
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