ORPHANS OF WEALTH

Dear All,

As you know the tragic events that took place on 14th June at Grenfell Tower has cost over a hundred lives has left a mark on our city.Over the years we have seen manny similar tragic events, but normally they are in factories (sweat shops) in Bangla-Desh or a collapse of building on the outskirts (shanty -town) of a south American city. The only difference is  between this the others tragic events is the fact it happen only a few miles away in a neighbouring borough right on our doorsteps in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

In the early hours of 14th June,I received two phone calls one from a women who was going down to the fire area to look for friends and offer them a place to stay , and another from a women crying who just wanted to talk about the tragic events she had witnessed on TV. The following day (15th)a friend of nearly 50 years call into me and told me about his son and family  who lives in one of the other twin blocks of Grenfell tower estate. They had witnessed the fire throughout the night and how his partner was talking to her son on the  phone as the horror unfolded in that long night .

As the days passed it became clear they the fire did not only wreak death and destruction it also exposed inequalities. .K+ C is the wealthiest  Area in London (and may be the world ) and has many high rise expensive hotels and private apartment blocks.These high rise hotels have the maximum fire protection  and have been erected using non-toxic building material etc.I do not object these people having the maximum fire protection. What I object to is the different way society treats the so called "Creators of Wealth" who stay in the big hotels and are pampered in comparison to the way that same society threat the "Orphans of Wealth" who  they hide in Tower blocks with insufficient fire protection and their needs are ignored .

John McDonnell the Shadow Chancellor, said that politicians are guilty of murder , I am not sure if he said that just for affect. However it did highlight the fact that politicians are responsible for decisions and I have always believed apathy is not a political decision its a cop-out.That is why I called for special full council meeting on 3th July .The meeting would have endorse a strategy for officers to follow and the officers in turn would have  been up-to date with local information from Councillors .Officers would have been able to explain what they we're doing , and the resource implication .This would have ensure councillors were not just observers waiting for the next bulletin, but were local representatives , representing local people.The CEO, Head of legal,The Leader and the Mayor decision to limit discussion and to kick it to the  full council meeting on 11th July ,was wrong,anti democracy and not Transparent. The meeting already has 17 items on it the and the councils response to Grenfell Tower is item 15.

Since the disaster , I have exchanged numerous emails mostly private with Officers and the CEO, here are some of them.

Time line

14th June at 09:22, I wrote  about  visible deterioration of some of the new blocks in South Kilburn  and tried Tom identifying short -life up  property we  could get up and running .I understand Cllr  Kalwala was doing the same thing  in Stonebridge looking for voids to be ready to help K+C . I am proud of what others and myself did to ensure Brent was ready to support tthe residents of Grenfell Tower if needs be.

15th June at 4-30PM,I went down to South Kilburn  and  to have a look  the blocks and ensure the area was cleared of any fire hazard. i understand Cllr Shazard and Cllr Colacicco were doing something similar in Mapesbury .I looked at all the blocks including George and Swift house (which were owned by a housing association) which had been of concern to residents for sometime, including  issues about the failing exterior , i informed the CEO of my concerns .The CEO instructed officers to investigate  my concerns about George House.

24th June  at 11-16 AM, I requested a emergency full council  meeting ( which I later changed  to a special meeting ) the requisite number of councillors agreed to call the meeting and the CEO asked The Leader and another officer to discuss with the Mayor.

26th June at 3pm. The CEO writes to all councillors, misleading all councillors saying that I had not got the 5 councillors you need the requisite a meeting naming myself , Cllr Pavey , Stopp , Warren .However the CEO,The Mayors office and the The leader of the council were well aware ,Cllr Chan  and Cllr Hector had also supported the request for a meeting by email to the Mayor ,the Leader of the council and Labour group leadership on the 24th June . 

The CEO then advise the Mayor  should not use his powers to call a special meeting , instead we should have a drop-in section, which would not be open to the press or public and would not be minuted, replacing a democratically called meeting. The CEO also promised time to ask questions at the drop -in , but  the head of legal said I/2hr of questions is enough for councillors to ask questions and she would not agree to officers staying on after the 7pm deadline. 

28TH June at 11-15 am. My fears were confirmed , just as I had alerted the CEO on the 15th June the cladding at George house failed the fire test,however the FB did not recommend immediate evacuation of the block and 24 hrs wardens are now in place to walk the scheme. 

Now because of the CEO intervention we have not got a full council meeting tonight ( Monday 3th july), where we could publicly support and reassure residents in SK and support officers action .instead we have a drop-in for Cllrs  and they are only allowed 1/2hr  to ask questions about the fabric and material the short term safety,  and medium and long term solutions.While the public  of course are banned. 

This lack of transparency shown by senior officers and the attempt to highjack the Democratic process and limit debate is why I will not be turning-up tonight.I have instead arrange a meeting for 2pm tomorrow with the HA who manage George House which I invite all councillors too , I am also inviting Peter Gadsdon  or one of his colleagues ( he and his officers are doing a good job) if he or one of his colleagues is available to attend . I will imform the public meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night about the outcome of the meeting and hopefully will be able to give residents an update.

Their are obvious lessons to learn about fire protection, which will emerge , but there are other issues  about  how council meetings and decisions  are conducted and implemented  .Over the next few months  the council will have to be more transparent and the CEO and cabinet will have to start to listen to local councillors.There can be no more mistakes like trying to close the Granville community centre without understanding the consequences of regeneration on an area like Kilburn.Poorer areas also need a guarantee that they will retain all the funds they are due from the Community infrastructure levy (CIL) from the related 106 income and it will not passed onto wealthier areas, who have not suffered the from the consequences of the redevelopment/ regeneration programme.

 Fairness  and transparency is needed if we are going to avoid creating more

                                Orphans Of Wealth .

Regards