Forum Topic

What's happened to democracy in Hounslow?

From Brentford Today & TV #Debate not HateNEXT BOROUGH MAYOR IS SET TO BE CLLR AFZAAL KIANI. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE MAYOR WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE LEADER, NOT ELECTED. Annual General Meeting of the Labour Group is next Monday 15 May. The agenda omits the usual "Election of Mayor", thereby setting a precedent and indicating what we reported here three months ago – that the decision will be taken by the Leader Cllr Shantanu Rajawat. Other Councillors are said to be "up in arms".

Vanessa Smith ● 719d3 Comments

The constitution means nowt...unless it's useful for a means to an end.Hounslow, Brent and Ealing are no strangers to bending the rules and all parties have done it over the last few decades.But there is supposed to be a full time officer who enforces protocol, but like other officers they seem to be deft at avoiding the issues by suddenly being on leave, on a course or on other 'pressing' matters.

Raymond Havelock ● 719d

I have looked up the Council's Constitution/Standing Orders.If I am reading this correctly these will be breached if this is allowed to happen. Councillors perhaps, should be pointing this out to the Leader?IntroductionThis Article describes the appointment and role of the Mayor4.1 Appointment of the MayorThe Mayor will be appointed annually by the Council from amongst the Councillors. TheDeputy Mayor will be appointed by the Mayor annually from amongst the Councillors andthis will be noted by Council.Neither the Mayor nor Deputy Mayor can be a member of the Executive.The Deputy Mayor may stand-in for the Mayor in respect of all the roles and functions inparagraphs 4.2 and 4.3 whenever the Mayor is unable to act (for example, due to an overlapof events). If the Deputy Mayor is also unavailable to perform a role or function in paragraph4.2, it shall be open for the Mayor to request a former Mayor of the Borough, still serving asan elected Councillor, to act in his or her place for that particular occasion.4.2 Ceremonial(a) The Mayor shall be the First Citizen of theBorough;(b) The Mayor will promote the Council as a whole and act as a focal point for the

Vanessa Smith ● 719d

Many local residents are aghast at the rampant property developments going on in the Borough which appear to benefit investors and the "foreign" construction, legal and estate agency industries... all far above the heads of us locals ..many who are finding themselves in reduced circumstances.According to the Hounslow Council website...Mr Kiani is deep into real estate and investment activities... and whilst it may be helpful to have Senior Councillors with knowledge of such matters... it all sounds dodgy.

Jim Lawes ● 719d