Some Friday Fun – hat tip General Boles on Twitter. Apologies for formatting. Read more…
The Future of Housing Associations & Social Housing
Yesterday we had the news that Genesis, a large Housing Association is to stop building homes for rent following the recent Government budget.
Today, Inside Housing magazine reports that other housing associations are seeking advice on how to deregist…Read more…
“Bloody dangerous” Newham’s proposed pension Special Purpose Vehicle
I posted last week here my concerns about a proposal to Newham Executive about setting up a so called “SPV” for the Councils pension fund.
This would cost at least £500,000 to set up and is in my view very risky and could result in a complete waste of public money.
I am very concerned that there…Read more…
UNISON supports Jeremy Corbyn & Angela Eagle in Leadership elections
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“LOBOs and the confessions of an ex-auditor”
Check out this article in the local government finance online site “Room 151”. Former auditor, Stephen Sheen, looks critically at the decision making process that resulted in Councils taking out LOBOs (Lender Option; Borrower Option) in the first place…Read more…
West Ham Votes for Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson
A little late but last Thursday West Ham CLP narrowly nominated, Jeremy Corbyn, as Labour leader ahead of Liz Kendall, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper. Tom Watson, was nominated as Deputy leader beating Caroline Flint, Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle and Be…Read more…
Beware of Shapeshifters & Outsourcery: Protecting public services and the public purse – APSE seminar
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Great Newham Run 2015
Off message-ish but last Sunday (19 July) I took part in the first Great Newham Run 10k in the Queen Elizabeth Park. I have also taken part in the Great North Run in Newcastle and the Great South Run in Portsmouth.
For I think the fifth year in a row…Read more…
“Alternative Financing Proposals for the Newham Pension Fund”
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UNISON Selection of Labour’s Leader and Deputy Leader Candidates
This survey below has gone out to all UNISON members in Greater London region who pay a voluntary affiliation levy to the Labour Party. We did a similar survey for the London Mayoral candidate and got an excellent response.
I hope to be able to…Read more…
Submission on “Call in” over Pension Provision for Members 22 July 2015
This is a report I submitted today as a Councillor to Newham Overview and Scrunity Committee.
“Recommendation
1. Firstly, I would like to thank members of Overview and Scrutiny for supporting my request that this decision is “called in” and reviewed.
2. The decision by the Executive Mayor to…Read more…
Select Committee Hear Damning Evidence on LOBO Loan Scandal And Conflicts
I was at the Parliamentary select committee hearing yesterday with Newham Councillors, Cllr Fiaz and Cllr Whitworth. Bearing in mind the savage cuts in our budget, I was incensed to hear futher details how Councils were duped into buying LOBOs when p…Read more…
UNISON Nominates Murad for City & East London
I was pleased that Greater London UNISON Labour Link has given a supportive nomination to Murad Qureshi for the directly elected GLA seat City & East.
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Life as a Home Carer in Modern Britain
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100th anniversary of my Grandfather arriving at Gallipoli
According to this history of the “Hawke Battalion” Royal Naval Divison (RDN) by Douglas Jerrold, my Grandfather ( Taid in Welsh) Sub-lieutenant, Frederick Matthews, first joined them on active service a 100 years ago yesterday on 18 July 1915.
The Ba…Read more…
How banks are ripping off Councils and what to do about it
This post was published on LabourList today. Tomorrow (20 July 2015) at 4pm the Select Community on Communities Local Government will hear evidence from the Channel 4 Despatches programme and their expert witnesses.
“This article is written by Cl…Read more…
Workers’ Capital in the Twenty-First Century
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UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis: My 3 Pledges to you
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Select Committee Investigation into Councils and LOBOs: Monday 20 July
In this session the Communities and Local Government Committee will examine the evidence presented on the Channel 4 Dispatches programme of Monday 6 July 2015 regarding local councils and lender option, borrower option loans.
Inquiry: Lo…Read more…
West Ham Labour Party Nomination for Leader, Deputy & City & East Thursday 23rd July 2015
“You are invited to West Ham CLP’s all member meeting to nominate our candidates for Leader and Deputy Leader and our candidate to stand for City and East London constituency for the London Assembly in 2016.
When and where:
When: 7.30pm on Thursday 23 July
Where: Vicarage Lane Community Centre,…Read more…