Forum Topic

New LBH Cabinet posts - now by diktat

It seems three new members - Councillors Candice Atterton, Samia Chaudhary, and Hanif Khan - are to join the Cabinet at LBH this year at the expense of existing members Councillors Corinna Smart and Richard Foote (Councillor Sue Sampson will leave the Cabinet to become Mayor).There's nothing unusual or contentious about swapping the team around, however it would appear that this decision has been taken solely by Councillor Steve Curran, the Leader of the Council, after having interviewed a total of eighteen candidates.Does the Labour Group not get a say in who serves on the Cabinet?  I'm sure in the past members were voted to these positions rather than appointed to them from on high.  Does this mean the political future of every member of the Labour Group in Hounslow depends solely on their remaining in the good books of the Leader?  If so it would certainly explain a lot!For those wondering what relevance this has to the rest of us, I would simply ask if this is the way the Council Leader runs his own local party just what prospect is there of we, the Unchosen, ever having a say in how things are managed in our community?

Phil Andrews ● 3196d2 Comments

Meanwhile the main shopping centre in the Borough is even more grubby and disgusting; Hounslow pavements are to be paved with litter and the streets surrounding Church Street are full of race tracking commuters.I got quite excited at the posting about 'a tree' at Busch corner as these are all being removed along with the green and pleasant ancient hedgerows.  No doubt somebody will now realise that they haven't taken this tree down and will now set about doing so.  Hey ho.

Sarah Felstead ● 3196d

I thought when I saw these people performing at the IBAF meeting discussing the Church St. closure that they hadn't really got the idea of this democracy business. Having read this post now I know they haven't!I know I was on the council sometime ago but certainly every year the Labour Group had their AGM as did, I believe, the other political parties, and various positions were decided upon. People put themselves forward, got nominated and seconded and then an eliminating secret ballot was held when more than one person stood for the same thing, and that even included the position of Leader. I know that things have changed and a leader now gets a four year appointment - totally wrong in my view - but this current method now seems nothing short of a dictatorship, no wonder we have a majority group made up of brown-nosers and wusses. It certainly does explain a lot, but more than that it isn't healthy. Party loyalty is one thing, but spirit and enough nous to know when it is essential for you to have the guts to disagree and stand up for something your constituents are concerned about in the face of political pressure is also needed.

Vanessa Smith ● 3196d