| Topic: | Re: 'Please do the needful' - meaning and e-mails (amd). | |
| Posted by: | Victor Mishiku | |
| Date/Time: | 10/08/13 21:10:00 |
| From the Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_the_needful "Do the needful" is an expression which means "do that which is necessary", with the respectful implication that the other party is trusted to understand what needs doing without being given detailed instruction. The expression is currently used mainly in South Asian English (particularly Indian English). The events in this case appear to be: 1) According to Cllr. Julian Bell (as he himself stated in the Town Hall Chamber at Full Council on the night of 16th July 2013 in reply to a question from Cllr. Ian Potts, Ward Councillor), "Pre-Application Advice" was given to the intended applicant for planning permission, Dr Onkar Singh Sahota. We now know that this advice was given at a meeting convened by the Senior PA to Cllr. Bell. Mr Noel Rutherford, Director of the Environment Group (who is not a planner) attended. The Head of Planning Ms Aileen Jones knew of the meeting but apparently did not attend it. A heavily censored e-mail has been produced by the Council (no doubt The Investigator, Mr Alex Oram, will require the uncensored original version) which is dated 17th October 2012. The e-mail is written by Cllr. Bell's office at 16.45 to Dr Sahota and copied to [censored], Mr Noel Rutherford, Ms Aileen Jones. It has for the "Subject" - Meeting - Planning Issue. The e-mail says "Dear Dr Sahota, I have been asked to set up a meeting between Julian, Noel Rutherford and yourself" and goes on to ask about suitable times and the location. The e-mail states "I am also copying this email to Aileen Jones and Noel Rutherford in Planning to see if either of them are able to attend. Thanks [censored]" At 17.36 on the same afternoon, Dr Sahota using his GLA office e-mail address Onkar.Sahota@london.gov.uk replies: "Dear [censored] Thank you for progressing this meeting. It would be helpful to meet on site so that we can have better context to the discussions and space perspective. Monday 22 October at 1.00 p.m. at 43 Castlebar Road. Ealing W5 4PL. The architect will be [censored - censored] of De Matos Ryan Architects www.dematosryan.co.uk Look forward to the meeting. BW, Onkar" 2) The next censored e-mail produced by the Council is on 21st December 2012 sent by Dr Sahota to Cllr. Julian Bell from a NHS e-mail address at the Hanwell Health Centre, Church Road, W7. The e-mail reads: "Dear Julian, I am pleased to let you know that the application has been made and registered. The application reference number is PP-02367585. Please do the needful. Best wishes, Onkar" We do not yet have the reply from Cllr. Bell to the 21st December 2012 e-mail, but it seems to show that the two of them were still in contact about the proposed development during October to at least just before Xmas 2012. However, in his comments made to Mr James Gates at the "Ealing & Acton Gazette" reported in the 19th July 2013 issue on page 2 of the newspaper, Cllr. Bell suggests that the (October) meeting at No.43 ended his involvement. Cllr. Bell told the newspaper: "Subsequent to this meeting I took no further part in the process and Dr Sahota's application was submitted and then decided on at planning committee". Cllr. Bells suggests therefore that there was no further contact after the (October) meeting, yet it is clear that AFTER submitting the planning application, Dr Sahota was back in touch with "Dear Julian" and his e-mail of 21st December 2012 was marked "Importance - High". As I say, we have not yet seen the reply by Cllr Bell to that e-mail of "High Importance". Why was it so important? "Please do the needful" - What exactly did Dr Sahota want Cllr Bell to do that was of such high importance to him? It is said that Cllr Bell only holds his position as Leader by the grace of the Southall block vote and that important positions have now been given over to Southall Councillors, who effectively control "The Queen of the Suburbs". Cllr Bell works for the Southall MP, who is Dr Sahota's political ally. "Please do the needful" - One wonders, was it a request or an "instruction"? Why was Mr Noel Rutherford roped in? He is not a planner, but a former Building Control Officer. Was he there to advise about "subsidence"? |