Forum Topic

Cllr Amrit Mann

Should the Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council be sacked from his position as Lead Member for Environment?His record on everything he touches is appalling especially the wheelie bins fiasco and now these massive overspends on the recycling services and the new depot are running in to millions of poundsNo mention of this of course on the Labour leaflets being distributed  or on the doorstop and yet the Council Tax is being increased partly because of his incompetence in office and costing us all extra money each year

Paul Fisher ● 2735d71 Comments

We have a massive democratic deficit in this borough Mark. I seldom meet anybody who has a good word to say about the Labour Party in Hounslow - seriously, hardly anyone - and yet they win time and time again and win well.  This is because they are organised, determined and adopt a painstakingly methodical approach, first identifying their voters (most of whom vote Labour by ritual) and then deploying their huge political machine to getting them out on the day.  They are also seasoned machinators, investing much time and effort into divising devious little schemes through which to divide their opposition - plus, of course, they have the dubious benefit of not being restrained by scruple.Winning council elections is about organisation and perseverance - one takes time and the other takes character.  You should regard the new independent initiative as a work in progress.  It is not enough just to field a slate of candidates and hope everyone goes out and votes for them.  An independent campaign needs, in my view, to work three times as hard as that of the political parties just to keep up with them.  Without a series of leaflets and a full canvass, at the very least, it is pretty much impossible.Also, whatever you do, don't expect any help from the Tories - even when it may appear that their political interest would be best served by accommodating you.  Whatever impression they like to give to the contrary their target is always simply to hold on to Chiswick.  The only time they become animated about what happens elsewhere is when there is an independent challenge, and then their overriding concern is that it should not succeed.  Although they are more adept at disguising the fact they are instinctively every bit as primeval and tribal as local Labour, and they are always much happier playing second fiddle to Labour in a two-party council than they are sharing the field with community-based activists and small parties.I'm not saying independents can't win seats this time around, just don't be too despondent if they don't - community politics can be a long game.  Local Labour had a scare twelve years ago - it didn't take them long to forget the lessons of that defeat, and so their arrogance is your opportunity.

Phil Andrews ● 2725d

There is a whole hosts of Independants standing in the Feltham / Hanworth wards. My worry is that voters who would have voted Labour but are fed up with them will now vote Tory or Independent but it wont be enough for either party to win and that Labour will get back in albeit with a much lower majority. But hey they have said they will fix the problems.......!

Mark Parsons ● 2725d

I have to support what Phil says. Anyone would think that this government which Sam Hearn supports never gave a thought to doing something purely for political purposes. Where have Sam and his 'opposition' colleagues been for the last four years? They've had enough ammunition to land some real blows on this incompetent shower and have just sat quietly by with their mouths shut. As for this lot in Hounslow you would have a real problem trying to identify one of them with any commitment to the principles of the Labour Party, they are in it for the money and the imagined power - the phrase booze up and brewery springs to mind.

Vanessa Smith ● 2725d

We can't believe any of them.  Just listen to the party political ping-pong. It is such a shame that Councils are now run on party lines and aren't full of Councillors whose first and foremost interest is the area and the people who live in it.  There is constant one upmanship and attempted pointscoring and posturing to stay in power or to gain power.Unfortunately you can't just believe the percentages in recycling either.  There are problems with the system countrywide in the way that it is measured and a lack of national leadership. Everybody blames everyone else and meanwhile we and our world are drowning in plastic - a lot of which - like the plastic in tea bags - is completely and utterly unnecessary and should be avoided.

Philippa Bond ● 2725d

Sorry, but any suggestion that the regime currently running Hounslow Council is "hard left" is for the birds.  There is no ideology whatsoever driving this mob beyond a desire to exercise power over those they consider their lessers, a desire which is driven by institutional and personal insecurity rather than by dogma.  Hard left Labour councillors do not enter into sordid electoral deals with UKIP, as this lot did in Isleworth 2014.  Neither would they have supported the obdurate Blairite Liz Kendall in the Labour leadership election, as Steve Curran did.Councillor Sam Hearn, I'm afraid, is away with the fairies.

Phil Andrews ● 2725d

From the latest copy of Feltham & Heston News:HOUNSLOW COUNCIL'S MISSING £28 MILLIONA total of £28 million has been spent on unnecessary buildings and vehicles after Labour Councillors forced through the de-privatisation of the recycling service for political reasons. They also failed to ensure proper financial management of the programme, and side-stepped requirements that enforce competitive tendering."Taxpayers have seen their money wasted on councillors' pet projects that have been pushed through for hard-Left political reasons rather than to secure better services for residents", explains Cllr Sam Hearn, Conservative Group Leader on Hounslow Council. "Recycling facilities already existed, but Labour has bludgeoned through a white elephant development where the original cost estimate has spiralled to £28million."Publicly-available figures reveal that under Labour increases in recycling have stalled, and even reduced. Under the Conservatives, between 2006 and 2010 recycling improved from 17% to 32%. Under Labour, Hounslow's recycling has flatlined.

Mark Parsons ● 2725d

Sorry but I think it was a perfectly reasonable answer.  I would not trust somebody who lies to me, would you?

Phil Andrews ● 2725d

"Hounslow Council does not have anywhere near enough money to fix the streets in this borough."But they do have money to build a new cycle lane along Boston Manor Road, implement new recycling arrangements, close Church Street, introduce useless 20mph zones... Sorry. If you don't have money for everything - you need to prioritize your expenditures. And I'm not convinced the above expenditures represent the right priorities.“So the answer to the question is that is not local Labour's fault that there is insufficient funding to repair our streets.  But it is entirely their fault that they are pretending to voters that they will do so because they are lying to you, pure and simple.”Sorry Phil, the question was: “do you think Labour can/should be entrusted with dealing with problems they obviously failed to solve recently?”Unfortunately your response is not to this question.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2725d

Hounslow Council does not have anywhere near enough money to fix the streets in this borough.  This would be the case whichever party wins the local elections.When I was a councillor officers would present us with a list of streets in the Isleworth & Brentford area which needed remedial work in a suggested order or priority, with an estimated cost of each project.  Against that we would be reminded of the budget we had within which to operate.  Typically there would be in excess of 100 streets on the list, and the funds we had available would cover work in about three or four of them.So the answer to the question is that is not local Labour's fault that there is insufficient funding to repair our streets.  But it is entirely their fault that they are pretending to voters that they will do so because they are lying to you, pure and simple.

Phil Andrews ● 2725d

Sorry Philippa, let me ask the question in a bit straighter manner: do you think Labour can/should be entrusted with dealing with problems they obviously failed to solve recently?

Alex Shpinkov ● 2725d

The world has changed since 2014. That was before the Ridiculous Yes/No Referendum about something that many hadn't a clue about except that they only had to decide whether they fancied saying Yes or saying No.  It's good but sad that there is a lot more understanding about how our industries work across Europe now than there was then.  The Councils have all had to make a lot of decisions in the light of the continuing reductions of funding from Central Government. Changes in Waste & Recycling contracts generally happen when a contract comes to an end which in the past when contracted out with the big companies tended to be every 25 years...  That's a generation and a bit!

Philippa Bond ● 2726d

Sorry - I don't live in Brentford but the other end of the borough in Hanworth. I spotted this forum entry in a link in our Feltham group page. We have just had the Labour manifesto for the council elections delivered through the front door and it states that they pledge to overhaul doorstep waste collection and recycling (and sort out all the potholes - a different story altogether) but surely this is something that the current Labour council have failed to do so why think a new Labour council will fix both issues?They don't actually mention that its the current Labour council that have caused the issues with waste and recycling and potholes - its as if the current (old) Labour regime don't / didn't exist - so voters will vote for the new Labour regime because they mention they will fix these issues.I've not seen any other party manifestos but if they don't mention the issues with potholes / waste and recycling then I'm guessing Labour will get back in because they are promising to fix the issues that they created.I am just wondering if the Labour manifesto can be considered lawfully correct?Could it be that the current 'old' labour has obviously mismanaged waste and recycling that it must be very apparant to Cllr Curran & Mann, that their handling of this may be there undoing or 'new' labour wants to clear desks of 'old' labour, maybe with some momentum ?.Oh and their manifesto back in 2014 said - Overhaul bin collection; to boost recycling and get streets cleaner!

Mark Parsons ● 2726d

Time is what you make of it.

Philippa Bond ● 2726d

At last!Thanks Jenifer for bringing us back to the real world.

Robin Dickers ● 2726d

That is why for KERBSIDE RECYCLING I say just give the Council what they are asking for - and that is what is listed on the website and was issued with the bins and boxes.The important change to the last contract is NO PLASTIC FILM ie peel it off the recyclable plastic rigid tub/tray/pot and put in the black bin and no PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS or PLASTIC BAGS & POUCHESTAKE YOUR OWN BAG SHOPPING!  (that was a Sainsbury's sticker many many years ago!)However marketing by its nature does not stand still so you have to expect change and to adjust to it.  The alternative is for Government to dictate what packaging may be used and what may not when for this Government marketing rules OK.It isn't difficult.

Philippa Bond ● 2726d

Philippa - your extensive knowledge and efforts to emulate it are more than admirable HOWEVER!  Most people have very busy lives doing other things and do not have the time or the will to undertake all this research deciding what is and what is not recyclable.  At the end of the day most people want quick solutions - throw this into that box and that into this box  and at the end of the week take boxes to the kerbside - end of story.I agree shoppers can try to avoid bringing home too much packaging but speed of shopping will be their aim.  The recycling has to be easy and simple for most people to do it - maKE IT COMPLICATED AND THEY WILL NOT BOTHER!  (sorry caps lock stuck again)

Jennifer Selig ● 2726d

No - I point blank refuse to buy one - I think this recycling system stinks and must be the worst system ever. So we will soldier on and half sole and heel it until it falls to pieces.

Vanessa Smith ● 2727d

Isn't there supposed to be a way of stacking them that stops these plastic bottles (flattened they don't fly around as much and you only have to lean on them the same as you do with aluminium cans)?I'm sure that LBH can't be the only Council using these boxes.  In Conwy with the highest recycling rate in Wales and a similar sort of collection their boxes fit onto wheels.  A system called "trolibocs".

Philippa Bond ● 2727d

That was a question I kept asking - had anybody asked for a replacement one.  So did you order one Vanessa - and did you get one?  How much do they cost?  Where from?Has anybody made their own - found an alternative - how many bags of clementines would you need to eat?  Or is there a better free source of plastic netting?

Philippa Bond ● 2727d

https://www.recycleforlondon.com/one-bin-rubbishhttps://twitter.com/aplastic_planet

Philippa Bond ● 2728d

"Candidates are selected from a wide range of society."I've not seen your candidates John, but when you go onto Hounslow's website councillor page and sort the councillors by party, the Tories appear to be entirely represented by middle-aged to elderly white people in suits.As a middle-age white person who often wears a similar attire I have nothing against them - just not very diverse is it?

Christina Hill ● 2728d

It doesn't all have to be sorted in the same way - there may be different contracts (or the Space Waye website may not have been updated to take into account a change in the reduction in recyclability of film type plastic). Collections from flats can be different from houses etc. Some plastics are more recyclable than others and some countries manage to recycle more. The charge for carrier bags was for a reason - they are after all a fairly new invention and we lived happily without them for years.  We've known that China would stop accepting all the West's plastics and mixed paper for quite a while - they did warn us.  Unfortunately we are rather slow in this country - Wales and Scotland are faster in putting alternative plans in place eg Scotland are going for a Deposit Return System for plastic bottles as so many are not recycled despite a market for them.  In England I understand that there is lobbying against the idea by big business.  Meanwhile our streets and countryside are littered with them.There are campaigns asking the supermarkets to use less plastic - in Germany you can leave packaging at the supermarket so you don't have to take it home to deal with or for your Council to deal with.  Perhaps their Producer Pays system works better than ours.  Alternatively you can choose to buy less packaging by buying loose fruit and vegetables from a market stall or shop that uses less.  Why does a bulb of garlic in a net in Morrisons cost more than one without?  Or an aubergine in the Coop come in  plastic bag and one in Sainsbury's with just a sticker?  I wouldn't buy soft fruit scooped into a paper bag from the market as in the past but would be prepared to take my own punnet or pay extra if I didn't.Why not see if you can get a further meeting with the LBH team but from reading about a meeting on this website where residents only got a few minutes to ask questions it may not be that easy.For the unbelievers:https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/ecover-launches-100-recycled-pet-plastic-bottles/That is what we should be aiming for.  Looking at at the bottom of a punnet for grapes I can see that it is R-PET and that means that it is made from recycled (or a percentage thereof) polyethylene terephthalate.  We need to see our waste as a resource.  Aluminium can be reused again and again and is a lot cheaper when so much energy is saved in its production. We can expect more producer responsibility requirements as recently there has been an increase in plastic packaging and there are plenty of campaigns against so much packaging.  It can be difficult to find loose apples in supermarkets now they all seem to be suddenly appearing in cardboard trays with unrecyclable plastic film wrapping - and no longer in the "recyclable at a larger supermarket with the carrier bags" plastic bags.

Philippa Bond ● 2729d

Just had a look at what plastics can be taken to space ways,it lists soft and hard plastics, but find since recycling has changed in hounslow, more of my plastic is now going into fortnightly bag rather than weekly collection. Why if all plastic can be taken to space way can't it be collected weekly from home it must all be sorted in the same way,maybe the relevant councillor in charge can explain!

Jean Harrison ● 2730d

Guy thanks for reply, we had our deep clean last week, and the rubbish l meant apart from no.21 was the public bins in Boston manor rd, which will be even worse after football l expect, but thanks for trying to help.

Jean Harrison ● 2730d

Guy thanks for reply, we had our deep clean last week, and the rubbish l meant apart from no.21 was the public bins in Boston manor rd, which will be even worse after football l expect, but thanks for trying to help.

Jean Harrison ● 2730d

Jean, I've just seen an email to the effect that rubbish collection could not take place on one side of BMR because of obstructions from Hounslow Highways.I have asked for a special collection but I haven't had a response (not surprising as I asked this evening after close of business)Hounslow Highways need to do a special clean up there and I will ask for that too, as it is essentially their fault

Guy Lambert ● 2731d

Regarding recycling fiasco come down boston manor road near railway station we have the fullest bins in the borough, people still waiting for household rubbish to becollected even though they are redflagged for assistance waiting since Wednesday. Maybe bins willbeemptied at the weekend but the loose rubbish  blowing around this evening will still be there on monday and don't get me started on the bikes along there

Jean Harrison ● 2731d

Each to their own Vanessa, but I have a slight preference for a guilty silence over a crock of sh*te.

Phil Andrews ● 2731d

To be fair - and I hate to be with any of them - it's not just Guy - at least he's prepared to stand his ground - shaky though that is. The rest of them who voted for that abomination are just craven cowards, a lot of whom won't be around in a month or two, leaving us with the mess they created. That they haven't got the guts to defend or explain why they voted the way they did really says it all.

Vanessa Smith ● 2731d

Everyone knows John is a hard-working councillor, but like many of his gang he seems to have a special problem with smaller parties and in particular unaligned residents who try to get involved.  The last time it happened they chose to surrender power rather than allow it to continue.  So anybody new to the game who feels minded to take on the rotten local establishment needs to understand that when push comes to shove they are all in the same bed and both need to be taken out if the job is to be completed, because if needs be they will work together to restore the status quo.  It's more than I was capable of, but there are new and younger people whose interest has been aroused and one should never say never.I will bet a pound to your penny that any leaflets circulated by the Tories around Isleworth and Syon will lead on bloody Council Tax with maybe a line or two about recycling targets or potholes.  They are stupid but not that stupid, they do not want to win in these parts and both their decent local candidates and their voters are being taken for mugs

Phil Andrews ● 2731d

It would be interesting to know if the Lib Dems will re-open Church Street if elected or if Guy's Folly will remain.

Steve Taylor ● 2731d

I too would always vote - but this time neither of the big beasts can rely on me or any of us in this house. I really like John, he works hard and takes a real interest, however, the Tories have never really provided any sort of credible and effective opposition in Hounslow. God knows the Dear Leader and his compatriots have given them enough ammunition one way and another, I always thought that the saga of the Wheelies was a prime example of something that provided a great opportunity for any opposition party. After seeing the polls (if you can believe them that is) across London boroughs - it would appear that Labour will crush all before it which is dreadful news for Hounslow, this lot are arrogant enough, they will be out of control if the predictions are right.

Vanessa Smith ● 2731d

Why would I not vote?  Are there only two parties active in this country?You need to start thinking outside of the box John.  Your and your party's atavistic hostility to anybody else gatecrashing your little club has already consigned you to opposition in perpetuity in Hounslow.But there is an upside, which more than makes up for it.  Steve likes you.

Phil Andrews ● 2731d

After being involved in two employment support allowance (ESA)  assessments, which both separate disabled candidates were turn down for ESA. Both these cases were  taken to the appeal court and the judge in both cases overturned the original DWP assessor decision  So there is no way I would vote for a proposed Conservative candidate who works or did work as a Work and Pensions disability benefits assessor.This information was included in the very early stages of the local Conservative  party when they first introduced there prospective candidates, the DWP assessor information is now missing from the candidates information. Mind you the candidate may not work in that job any-more.I doubt that many disabled residents would not vote for such a person after being assessed by one, and ended up in the appeal court.  Of the 170,000 appeals for personal independence payments (PIP) claims that have been taken to the Tribunal in the past five years, since 2013, claimants won in 63 per cent of cases. In the same period, there have been 53,000 employment support allowance (ESA) appeals, of which claimants won in 60 per cent of cases.Both Atos and Capita – the companies contracted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)' to carry out the bulk of the assessments – saw a rise in the proportion of reports graded “unacceptable” last year. Information copied from this pagehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/benefits-uk-disability-assessment-company-report-finds-government-cuts-a8208271.html

Bernard Allen ● 2731d

PhilI'm glad you like our candidates. They will do well, are valued and supported and like you, others are impressed.I hope you'll continue to take an interest in our campaign. Candidates are selected from a wide range of society.I'm assuming given your aversion to labour you're not going to vote which is most disappointing. For balance can we have your considered and balanced comments on the other parties candidates please?Best wishes

John Todd ● 2731d

Then why have you brought some of your best candidates from places such as Brentford and Hounslow West and stuck them up in Chiswick?Hounslow South has always been a marginal, in which the Tories have either won or been in close competition.  Got all the best candidates you could have found in place for that one have you?Nope, it seems to me the target is nine again.  Any more is a bonus - and, if truth be told, a bit of a headache.  Especially if it upsets Steve.I have seen the three girls you have standing in Isleworth.  They seem nice enough and they are keen.  They really think they are going to win, bless them.  I'm not a Conservative and I won't be voting for your party but I honestly do feel for them.  They deserve better.And incidentally Councillor Curran is the leader.  He doesn't "endorse" the failings of his subordinates, he is responsible for them.

Phil Andrews ● 2731d

For clarity these are not government proposals but those from the Conservatives on the council.I don’t have a clear view of all reserves - the council finances are complex and there are many rules from central government about this. There are clearly reasons why a council has to keep funds in reserve - for example after Grenfell we had one block with the same cladding: we had funds available to strip and replace with fireproof cladding and we did right by residents and saved money by moving very quickly before shortages of contractors and material emerged. By the same token we have just replaced every front door in the Brentford towers - well over 500 of them - to ensure all are fireproof.And of course we have been making many savings by reducing current expenditure: getting rid of Carillion from the libraries will save £2.6 Million per annum, for example, so we are able to protect the libraries and their opening hours.We have also restructured to reduce management costs in various areas. All councils have been hit by really huge reductions in government payments: 10 years ago our biggest income stream was the Rate Support Grant from central government. This provided far more money than council tax. This has nearly disappeared and in a couple of years it will go completely.

Guy Lambert ● 2731d

Thanks Guy but this seems again more like a political statement and does not address my question. You’ve explained what the Government proposals are (with some numbers), mentioned that the reserves you have are small (without numbers – so it’s impossible to assess the government’s proposal versus the available reserves), but you still did not explain what’s the link. How did you manage to balance your financing to cover for the government cuts? Is all deficit covered by the council tax rise? Did you use some of the reserves – perhaps at a lower scale than expected by government? Did you optimise your expenditure and costs of services to ensure the available funds are spent efficiently?

Alex Shpinkov ● 2731d

Cllr CurranSteve endorses Amrit's failures and congratulated Guy and his recycling project colleagues for squandering millions. I successfully called in the draconian youth service cuts supported by numerous labour councillors. Steve and his loyal cabinet colleagues rejected our recommendations. That was punitive.I supported the local Group against the closure of Church St and the original call in re the proposed Floreat School site  too.We have some great candidates standing in all Wards. They are all supported

John Todd ● 2731d

No views on Steve Curran's leadership then John?Bearing in mind he's the leader of the party you are going to be opposing in the local elections in just over two months, does that not give you something of a credibility problem?  Especially in areas like Isleworth, where most people's issues with local Labour are about its obvious lack of integrity and its aversion to democratic engagement rather than a few pence on the Council Tax.Usual lack of support for your candidates outside of Chiswick it would appear then but, hey, Steve loves ya so all is well.

Phil Andrews ● 2732d

We don't have much in the way of reserves - they have been carefully assessed over the years of successive deep cuts in central government grants.The Conservatives proposed raiding these by £4.3M - £2M by halving contingency reserves set to cover risks relating to business rates and expected savings from moving to the new civic centre etc - just rash because as they said themselves 'the scale of the risks are not yet understood' - and £2.3M by raiding the 'new homes bonus' - a grant from the government to help us ameliorate the dire housing crisis - and redirecting that to cover current expenditure. We prefer to spend it on building houses - badly needed and a long term asset.To be fair, it is in line with Tory ideology of flogging off assets to pay for current expenditure (see railways, British Airways, Airports, Electricity, Gas, Water, Oil, BT, Post office, BP etc)

Guy Lambert ● 2732d

Not to be one and to make sure together with all fellow Councillors that rogue landlords are dealt with by the Council as these are the people who do not provide adequate space and decent accommodation for their tenants.  There are unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation in the Borough and these need to be registered and managed by law by their landlords.

Philippa Bond ● 2732d

Reserves how much does our council have in reserve. ?.

Robert Ayres ● 2732d

Agree. Although Guy personally is very instrumental in solving this fly-tipping dealing with the specific cases. But this just confirms that the system doesn't work and someone has to "manually" push it.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2732d

When all's said and done Councillor Mann is not the leader.  What's your view on Steve Curran and his style of leadership John?

Phil Andrews ● 2732d

Guy, what’s the link between the ‘far less increase of the council tax’ and the refusal to spend reserves? Is it just a political statement? Or are you trying to say that instead of spending reserves you have reviewed and optimised the spendings, the currently available funds and came up with the council tax increase required to cover the deficit? And that this increase appeared to be “far less than the cuts to central government grants”?

Alex Shpinkov ● 2732d

Hounslow has become the fly-tippers Nirvana under current environmental leadership. London's most Rotten Borough rules suprememe and Labour councillors are proud of it. You couldn't make it up. A regime of zero self worth, desire or ability to do better.

Steve Taylor ● 2732d

Council tax is increasing by far less than the cuts to central government grants, as John well knows. We reject Tory plans to spend meagre reserves to prop up current spending. LBH will not end up bankrupt under this leadership, unlike Tory Northamptonshire.

Guy Lambert ● 2732d

Cllr Mann currently holds the record for the largest overspent budget in the LBH books. Both capital and revenue -a unique feat Lampton recycling is now £3 m plus overspent and the new depot in Southall Lane costed at £9m now coming in at £22m.He criticises the use of consultants but used one of the best and ignored their advice regarding testing the market on this project to be able to prove 'good value'. Guy and Co endorsed this nonsense.Financial folly at its best. Speaks proudly of his achievement too.That's why the council tax is increasing. No mention in Ruth's leaflet highlighting this administrations achievements.A leading candidate for the Carillion financial dexterity award perhaps?

John Todd ● 2732d

What have landlords and tenants to do with Amrit Mann?  Is he supposed to be in charge of those too?

Jennifer Selig ● 2733d

Sorry Steve just to clarify my comment about not reading/digesting points wasn't directed at you.As for being sensitive...that'll be a first !.

Adam Beamish ● 2733d

Not sure what you would expect Amrit Mann to do about bad landlords?

Steve Taylor ● 2733d

I think we need stronger legislation regarding landlords and tenants.  Landlords too often are not providing good enough accommodation for their tenants.

Philippa Bond ● 2733d

"He obviously has the knack of 'winning over' or charming some people whilst not caring a jot about others or their concerns about the environment."More likely he has influence within the community and where people will do as they are bid come election day.

Vanessa Smith ● 2733d

I am sure people do read and digest what you write Adam so I believe you are being a tad sensitive when people don't always agree with you.. You simply have a different experience of the bloke to others as evidenced by this thread. You finally became quite friendly with him after a bad start and others believe he is a waste of space.  I dare say his constituents in his chosen ward were happy with him or he wouldn't have been elected. He obviously has the knack of 'winning over' or charming some people whilst not caring a jot about others or their concerns about the environment.A true politician. Perhaps he will be Leader some day or even an MP!!

Steve Taylor ● 2733d

I do wish people would read and digest what I write before posting.I didn't say he was a great Councillor or a bad one, I merely described my personal experience of the guy as an then Council Officer, and speculated that perhaps his constitents were happy with him.

Adam Beamish ● 2733d

"He is notorious for NEVER answering any communication.  Naturally Hounslow residents have questions about the new refuse and recycling extravaganza he has foisted on we ratepayers, now millions over budget."Precisely. He is a waste of space but then again the various directors, and so called  (overpaid) 'assistant directors', for the past 15 years have all been effectively useless. Under the current regime Hounslow Borough has become a free for all for fly-tippers and environmental criminals.

Steve Taylor ● 2733d

If Cllr Mann is such a good egg Adam - what has happened to him in the dozen or so years since you worked with him?  He is notorious for NEVER answering any communication.  Naturally Hounslow residents have questions about the new refuse and recycling extravaganza he has foisted on we ratepayers, now millions over budget.  No wonder the rates have had to be raised!

Jennifer Selig ● 2733d

People often vote for a party not for an individual. So they see the party they always vote for - and tick the box.Some voters eventually  get disappointed with the performance of their traditional party of choice - and in this case a lot of them just don't bother to vote at all.

Alex Shpinkov ● 2734d

Whatever people may think of him the fact he has been a Councillor for years now suggests that his constituents are happy with him.I've never made any secret of the fact that Cllr. Mann and I certainly didn't see eye to eye when I first started working at LBH back in late 2001.  In part that was because I was young, naive and idealistic then, I'd come from enforcement teams at previous authorities where Members effectively rubber stamped my recommendations, there was never any suggestion of the authority not enforcing.So to find recommendations of myself and my team to enforce being overturned was a complete shock to me.  But I think it was the making of me, it made me realise that I had to leave no stone unturned and able to see matters from all perspectives.By the time I came to leave LBH 5 years later it was abit of a joke between myself and Cllr. Mann what a bad start we got off, because as time went on our relationship improved massively as we both understood where the other was coming from and I'm quite openly admit I liked the guy.And this was at a time when Heston & Cranford Area Committee was in all kinds of trouble about planning issues, particularly enforcement matters, yet I know from the time I spent there and the dialogue I had with H&C members both at committee and away from committee that he would never try to sway me or influence me from doing my job, something I certainly couldn't say about every member of that committee.The lesson I learnt from that was not to underestimate the importance of the constituents behind the Members, which I still think many people do, it's easy to say "oh how can anyone vote for that person, I'd never do so", but you're just one person with your own perspectives on matters.If the Church Street issue was such a vote winner, for example, you'd assume all the Members who voted for it won't retain their seats, but I bet it won't work out that way.

Adam Beamish ● 2734d

The voters in that ward could do a lot of things - but there are other factors at play I suspect.

Vanessa Smith ● 2734d

I see Amrit Mann is one of 3 Cllrs in Heston East why can't the voters in that Ward just not tick his name when they get in the voting booth but leave him out altogether.  If nobody ticked by his name he'd surely be out.

Jennifer Selig ● 2734d

No-one appears to have a single good word to say about Amrit Mann so how come he manages to get elected as a Councillor?  Who are the people voting for him?

Jennifer Selig ● 2734d

Total waste of space. Hasn't been to a single meeting with residents and Thames Water re Mogden and raw sewage flow to the River Thames.

Steve Taylor ● 2735d

If you talk to people who have to deal with him, as we do (if you can catch the man actually working) they all shake their heads & roll their eyes, & this waste of space is paid allegedly £25,000 plus allowances pa of our money. Disgraceful but no surprise with this administration we have now at LBH.

Robin Dickers ● 2735d

Well, it seems that one of the new prospective candidates for Isleworth was away for the best part of December and January, so quite what will happen if this individual gets elected is questionable. All councillors are entitled to holidays but being absent for long periods of time on a regular basis really isn't on.

Vanessa Smith ● 2735d

Apparently spends more time in India on business and has been almost impossible to contact or get any sort of response from. Far too slippery and rumoured to have orchestrated the Wheelie Bin persecution episode involving his Leader who has never pulled him up for his poor stewardship of his portfolio.Not a good example and shows how often careers and local politics do not always mesh well.

Raymond Havelock ● 2735d

Requested a new net for our plastics bin as ours is going home, only to be referred by the recycling team to a site where we can purchase one. Recycling no longer provide them! No wonder there's plastic everywhere, talk about a cock-eyed system.

Vanessa Smith ● 2735d

I am given to understand that Cllr. Mann could not get re-selected for his council seat - which should tell him something, he apparently appealed and won! So the ward members don't want him but they get him anyway, ain't local democracy wonderful? This recycling scheme we've been landed with is a real dog's breakfast, the bins don't stack and people don't use the nets on the plastic bin and the streets are constantly to be found with bits of plastic blowing everywhere, a total ba**s up.

Vanessa Smith ● 2735d

Well as a cllr he wont get a big pay off but certainly does not in any way deserve his annual £25,000 plus allowances paHe has also been in charge as the Mogden Sewage Works continue to blight the lives of thousands of residents but never appears to want to get involved

Paul Fisher ● 2735d

Been to several meetings at LBH which he has been present, an absolute waste of space & always has been. He is king of the delegation merry -go - round. If something lands on his desk he passes it over to someone else who has no idea what to do & they then do the same, so it goes on, passing the buck & no one can be culpable.Another one due for a big pay off methinks!

Robin Dickers ● 2735d