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17 Nov, 4 tweets, 2 min read
Motion about Mayoral referendum ready for tomorrow
Bluntly we think this is being rushed through & when you rush you make mistakes so the motion is trying to identify the errors & slow things down
As an example how does the Leader & Cabinet model work?
A Labour Cllr said there
1/
was only one model for Leader & Cabinet
But
a. is leader elected annually or every 4 years?
b. are Cabinet members individually responsible for decision-making or collectively responsible or is leader responsible?
None of that is clear, do we restart what we did 11 years ago
2/
or adopt a new model for Leader & Cabinet?
When & how do we decide that?, before or after the referendum? who helps advice us on how other Councils do this or do we not need to learn from others?
How do we make these decisions, when?
Hopefully not at the end of a long meeting
3/
Reminder to sign the petition if not already done to ensure a proper debate
change.org/towerhamletsma…
4/

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More from @Andrewwood17

Andrew Wood Profile picture
19 Nov
I made a mistake, I asked you to sign a petition, which 615 of you signed, thanks, even though you were described last night by a Labour Cllr as being possibly from Timbuktu or Honolulu!
It asked to consider the Committee system as an option to explore in any future referendum
1/
In the vote last night lots of Labour Councillors said in their comments while voting
"For the people to decide 2021"
What they meant was for the people to decide from only 2 options which the Labour party had picked for them & where some fundamental issues remain unresolved
2/
Attempts to do this properly where ignored last night
That more people, 615 had signed the petition to consider the Committee system, then had signed the Labour group petition 504 people, was why a Labour Cllr had to attack the signatories as not local

3/
Read 15 tweets
Andrew Wood Profile picture
17 Nov
More evidence of financial reporting issues at @TowerHamletsNow
3 weeks at Cabinet we were told TH Council expected
£30.6 million of government support + they then confirmed verbally another £14 million received = £44.6m
But an FOI response said they had got £62.6 million
1/
But tonight on the agenda of the Health Board is an update on another £3.2 million of extra grants that we were told about in June. I was not aware of it until today.
+ £1.2 million for extra support over winter according to the Conservatives but cannot find any backup yet
2/
According to the Council 3 weeks ago total estimated cost of COVID to the Council for full-year £35.9 million
versus £62.6 million of grant income = what happened to the surplus £26.7 m?
Or does that include costs which Council does not include in £35.9m?
I am now confused
3/
Read 7 tweets
Andrew Wood Profile picture
16 Nov
Thread on next Mays London elections, why I won't vote for Shaun Bailey & why you should not vote Labour in London wide list
This is very early but it has been obvious for months that London is already being directly impacted by the election
e.g. arguments TfL funding, ULEZ &
1/
Hammersmith bridge
The government are having a go at Sadiq Khan hoping it helps Shaun Bailey + send messages to north England
Sadiq Khan is having a go at the government for a variety of reasons, some political & some legitimate in his role as Mayor
London caught in the middle
2/
Why not Shaun Bailey?
I like Shaun, I really wish he had been elected as an MP last December, Parliament is the right place for him
But I do not think he would make a good Mayor of London
That is almost entirely influenced by his campaign (or should I say lack of it)
If you
3/
Read 10 tweets
Andrew Wood Profile picture
12 Nov
"The scale of growth planned for the Isle of Dogs & South Poplar to 2041 poses a significant challenge for the delivery of water services infrastructure in the
area. Much of the existing infrastructure is close to, or already at capacity; and flood risk and water quality are
1/
key concerns in many parts of the area."
Summary from the Isle of Dogs and South Poplar Integrated Water Management Plan written by @AECOM , published 17 days ago that I only found after searching because I knew what it was called from asking Thames Water about it
Not
2/
informed about its publication by the GLA nor @TowerHamletsNow which is typical
Says water demand could increase by 55% by 2041 without mitigation
Production of this plan was recommended in 2017 & made public in May 2018, see pic
But not complete till Oct 20
Sense of urgency?
3/
Read 5 tweets
Andrew Wood Profile picture
11 Nov
Croydon Council effectively bankrupt
Have been issues for years, long before COVID & first serious signs of trouble date to 2017
Tower Hamlets Council in a much better position thanks in part because government more generous to us, business rates income from CW, development
1/
generating lots of CIL, S106 and especially New Homes Bonus from government (TH Council never mention this fact)
But where we are similar to Croydon is in our internal processes to spot issues like this
Big problems in our year end accounts & pensions spotted by new auditors +
2/
new temporary staff
I do not think Overview & Scrutiny nor Audit entirely fit for purpose here either & TH Council has failed to deliver its savings programmes
But more seriously has never been honest about is true financial position (always always governments fault)
Too few
3/
Read 4 tweets
Andrew Wood Profile picture
11 Nov
What happens to Mayor John Biggs if he wins/loses the Mayoral referendum 6th May?
By law within 28 days of referendum result need a special meeting on next step
Interesting to compare the Newham v Tower Council notes about what they say happens next if Mayoral model loses vote
1/
Newham says "If a referendum is held and votes for a change of governance arrangements, within 28 days of the poll date, the Council must pass a second resolution to implement the change in a Special Council Meeting held for this purpose."
2/
But Tower Hamlets says something a little different
"If a referendum is held ...the Council must pass a second resolution to implement the change in a Special Council
Meeting held for this purpose and if necessary transitional arrangements agreed"
What does transitional mean?
3/
Read 7 tweets

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