| Topic: | Mrs Helen Harris refuses to forward on my Formal Complaint | |
| Posted by: | Victor Mishiku | |
| Date/Time: | 28/09/13 00:59:00 |
| Mrs Helen Harris, Head of Legal Services LBE, has refused to forward my Formal Complaint against the Leader of the Council in the "Sahota Affair" to The Investigator appointed to examine this matter of public concern. Mrs Harris's writes that I failed to identify which codes were breached and complains that my Formal Complaint document (23 pages) includes a questioning style format as to the matters raised and complained of. Mrs Harris's e-mail reply of 27th September can be seen at the end of this posting. Mrs Harris's "Decision" can be read at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14377445/Scanned_20130927162221.pdf My reply sent to Mrs Harris today (28/9/13) is as below: ----- Original Message ----- From: vmfree To: Harrish@ealing.gov.uk ; Martin Smith Cc: alex.oram@chi-assoc.com ; jjaafar@sky.com ; CHARLES CHARALAMBOUS ; g.berg@rocketmail.com ; John Chapple ; khourymazen@hotmail.com ; hukra@hotmail.com ; aeltourgman@btinternet.com ; susansutovic@aol.com ; elena.c@talk21.com ; Marilyn Ashton ; carole.percival@btinternet.com ; MyMoves ; ebringerw5@Yahoo.co.uk ; River Trading ; Alex Hawran ; Magdalena Kos ; petercauser@hotmail.co.uk ; Valerie Scott ; Anthony.Young@ealing.gov.uk ; Ian Potts ; David.Scott@ealing.gov.uk ; david.millican@ealing.gov.uk ; roseh@ealing.gov.uk ; Gary Malcolm ; andrew.Steed@ealing.gov.uk ; rusidalal@hotmail.com ; ANGUSJHUCK@aol.com ; ballj@ealing.gov.uk ; Nigel.Bakhai@ealing.gov.uk ; justin.anderson@ealing.gov.uk ; colm.costello@ealing.gov.uk ; Jason.Stacey@ealing.gov.uk ; Joanna.Dabrowska@ealing.gov.uk ; Mark.Reen@ealing.gov.uk ; John.popham@ealing.gov.uk ; alan@grampa.demon.co.uk ; nickblack ; AnthonyRoden@gmail.com ; Michael Evans ; Hazel@talbot68.plus.com ; tessaleverton@doctors.org.uk ; Helen Kimball Brooke ; mjalal@hotmail.com ; Naz Ghanadian ; nadia hajian ; pjpercival@btinternet.com ; PJ Fleming ; Martin Tighe ; Ann Salaun ; James Clifford ; karie clifford ; collettdunkley@london.com ; suerobson@btopenworld.com ; Stephen Rodney ; bill.blyth@tnsglobal.com ; richard.barras@gmail.com ; Judy Harris ; Moira Black/Robert Gurd ; Vivienne Hanreck ; Anthony Lewis ; shares ; MiejoMortimer@yahoo.co.uk ; anybody.101@whatsit.plus.com ; Clive Jackson ; Michael Russell ; jamesgates@trinitysouth.co.uk ; emmaheseltine@trinitysouth.co.uk ; mira.barhillel@standard.co.uk ; sinemsirri@hotmail.co.uk ; Esin Sirri ; richardstokes295@btinternet.com ; Dexter Smith ; Plimmer_Robert@Hotmail.com ; z David Munkley ; Richard Sable ; Alan Gerry Joe and James Wickens ; Alan Forbes ; rex@ankersfamily.org.uk ; John Jurkiw ; Rohit Radia ; shilps100@doctors.org.uk ; kuldip sandher ; Shelagh Daboul ; Diane O'Neill ; ozegovic@btinternet.com ; alex Butler ; Bruno Rondinelli ; peter gallagher ; Peter Hutchison ; carolynbrown@credence.fsworld.co.uk ; Richard HERING ; jrinw3@aol.co.uk ; edithoakes@aol.co.uk ; Peter.White@sms.xerox.com ; Matthew Walker ; pandora.hadfield@googlemail.com ; triciawcox@btinternet.com ; Jean Cutts ; Alan Smith ; Jenny King ; Michael Burrows ; Lucien Gover ; Tim Owen ; Petebamber@aol.com ; Tony Kaye ; irene@wears.demon.co.uk ; YENIJ@aol.com ; nicky gill ; Chester Ball ; Riet van Bremen ; jane@stats.ucl.ac.uk ; ravi kaushal ; lailitakaushal@hotmail.co.uk ; IreenEsmann@talktalk.net ; stevepoundmp@parliament.uk ; Angie4ealingacton@googlemail.com ; Fraserk@ealing.gov.uk ; DTeevan@aol.com ; declan ; editor@ActonW3.com ; zac@zacgoldsmith.com ; eric.pickles@communities.gsi.gov.uk ; Mayor@London.gov.uk ; edit@ealinggazette.co.uk ; 'Kevin Redford' ; ipcunningham@uwclub.net ; Sonia Mansurian ; Margaret Griffiths ; Frank Chesworth ; Gerald Moran ; Nok Nok ; Bennett, John K. ; Benjamin Dennehy ; Tracy Evans ; Susan Deans ; John Talbot ; Liam O'Brien ; Mirek Malevski ; Hughes, Matthew J ; DIANE BRUCE ; Beth van der Eems Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2013 12:11 AM Subject: Reply to Mrs Helen Harris - My Formal Complaint Mrs Helen Harris Head of Legal Services, LBE. Dear Mrs Harris I am astonished to receive your note below of 27th instant and attachments. I wonder have you actually read my complete Formal Complaint (23 pages) fully? You will recall that you specifically asked me to identify the specific codes that I believed were being breached and that is exactly what I did. You now (incorrectly) suggest that I did absolutely nothing after you asked me to identify which codes I wanted to refer to specifically, but this is exactly what I did do. As I say, your letter implies that I completely ignored your request! The codes I identified were as below and please see pages 7 & 8 of my Complaint for the final document text: Ealing Council Code of Conduct for Members - Part 2 High standards of conduct - Section 3 You must maintain a high standard of conduct, and comply with the following general principles of conduct: The General Principles Selflessness — you should serve only the public interest and should never improperly confer a benefit on yourself or an advantage or disadvantage on any other person. Integrity — you should maintain high standards of conduct at all times; you should not place yourself in situations where your integrity may be questioned; and you should avoid any appearance of improper behaviour. Ealing Council Code of Conduct for Members - Part 2 - Section 4 You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or the council into disrepute. Ealing Council Code of Conduct for Members - Part 2 - Section 7 You — (a) must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage; Ealing Council Code of Conduct for Members - Part 4 Related documents 14.. The council has adopted other codes and protocols which do not form part of this Code but which deal with specific activities you may be required or wish to carry out in the course of your duties as a councillor. You are required to comply with the latest version of these from time to time and any breach may be regarded as a breach of this Code. The following codes and protocols are currently in effect : (1) Code of Conduct for Members in relation to Planning Matters ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Code of Conduct for Members in relation to Planning Matters - Section 5 The Council’s Protocol for member involvement in pre-application presentations and discussions is set out below as follows:- Any presentations or discussions with developers should be part of structured arrangements agreed with officers and may also include other interested parties. Officers of appropriate seniority should normally attend the meeting. A written note of the meeting should be kept and the meeting should be recorded in the subsequent planning report. Code of Conduct for Members in relation to Planning Matters - Section 7 If you are approached about a planning matter (even if you are not a member of the Planning Committee) by any applicant, agent, objector or other interested party, you should: (a) Consider whether or not it would be prudent in the circumstances to make notes of the meeting and (if so) make such notes (b) Disclose any such contact if you make representations about a planning matter (either at or outside the Planning Committee meeting) (c) In the light of such contact, and of other relevant considerations (including, for members of the Planning Committees, the importance of remaining impartial as a decision maker), carefully exercise your judgment as to the best means to play your representative role as a ward member with regard to the planning matter in question (d) Avoid giving the impression that you, or anyone else, can exert any improper influence over the planning process (e) If the contact is to seek professional, technical or legal advice with regard to a planning matter, consider whether or not it is appropriate to refer the enquirer to the appropriate council officer or other appropriate independent person or organisation, and (f) Immediately report to the appropriate officer any improper contact, pressure or inducements to yourself or - if you become aware of them - to others involved in the planning process. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The "Questions" style of presenting the Complaint you refer to is merely my way of expressing my complaints and how I believe these codes have not been observed, which seems pretty obvious. For instance as an analogy, a complaint might say "Why did he break the speed limit of 30mph?" - this equates to a complaint that: "he broke the speed limit"! As Head of Legal Services LBE, it would hardly take you much delving to understand what my Complaint is all about! You also received or saw e-mails where I went into detail on some of the matters and referred you Forum postings which were indexed to show public concern (the most read topic of recent times, I believe). To reject my Complaint out of hand, which, contrary to what you say, does identify the codes because it seems that you do not like the precise printed layout of my Complaint, when its meaning and essence is crystal clear, is, I believe, unjust. I regret that I do not consider that you have dealt with my Complaint fairly and I will there seek to challenge this by reporting the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman and if possible, the Scrutiny Committee of the Council. My full Complaint final text and documents (total 23 pages) may be seen at the following URL reference: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14377445/Formal Complaint_23.Page_document.pdf I am posting this reply on the Forum in the public interest. Yours sincerely, Victor Mishiku 28/9/13. Copy to The Investigator - Alex Oram Esq, and others as listed above. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ----- Original Message ----- From: vmfree To: Helen Harris ; alex.oram@chi-assoc.com ; jjaafar@sky.com ; Gerald Moran Cc: CHARLES CHARALAMBOUS ; g.berg@rocketmail.com ; John Chapple ; khourymazen@hotmail.com ; hukra@hotmail.com ; aeltourgman@btinternet.com ; susansutovic@aol.com ; elena.c@talk21.com ; Dina Dmitrijeva ; Ewelina Lapinska ; Marilyn Ashton ; carole.percival@btinternet.com ; carolynbrown@credence.fsworld.co.uk ; Richard HERING ; MyMoves ; ebringerw5@Yahoo.co.uk ; Alex Hawran ; Magdalena Kos ; petercauser@hotmail.co.uk ; Valerie Scott ; Anthony.Young@ealing.gov.uk ; Ian Potts ; David.Scott@ealing.gov.uk ; david.millican@ealing.gov.uk ; roseh@ealing.gov.uk ; Gary Malcolm ; andrew.Steed@ealing.gov.uk ; rusidalal@hotmail.com ; ANGUSJHUCK@aol.com ; ballj@ealing.gov.uk ; Nigel.Bakhai@ealing.gov.uk ; justin.anderson@ealing.gov.uk ; colm.costello@ealing.gov.uk ; Jason.Stacey@ealing.gov.uk ; Joanna.Dabrowska@ealing.gov.uk ; Mark.Reen@ealing.gov.uk ; John.popham@ealing.gov.uk ; alan@grampa.demon.co.uk ; nickblack ; jjaafar@sky.com ; AnthonyRoden@gmail.com ; Michael Evans ; Hazel@talbot68.plus.com ; tessaleverton@doctors.org.uk ; Helen Kimball Brooke ; mjalal@hotmail.com ; Naz Ghanadian ; nadia hajian ; pjpercival@btinternet.com ; PJ Fleming ; Martin Tighe ; Ann Salaun ; James Clifford ; karie clifford ; collettdunkley@london.com ; suerobson@btopenworld.com ; Stephen Rodney ; bill.blyth@tnsglobal.com ; richard.barras@gmail.com ; Judy Harris ; Moira Black/Robert Gurd ; Vivienne Hanreck ; Anthony Lewis ; shares ; MiejoMortimer@yahoo.co.uk ; anybody.101@whatsit.plus.com ; Clive Jackson ; Michael Russell ; jamesgates@trinitysouth.co.uk ; emmaheseltine@trinitysouth.co.uk ; mira.barhillel@standard.co.uk ; sinemsirri@hotmail.co.uk ; Esin Sirri ; richardstokes295@btinternet.com ; Dexter Smith ; Plimmer_Robert@Hotmail.com ; z David Munkley ; Richard Sable ; Alan Gerry Joe and James Wickens ; Alan Forbes ; rex@ankersfamily.org.uk ; John Jurkiw ; Rohit Radia ; shilps100@doctors.org.uk ; kuldip sandher ; Shelagh Daboul ; Diane O'Neill ; ozegovic@btinternet.com ; alex Butler ; Bruno Rondinelli ; peter gallagher ; jrinw3@aol.co.uk ; edithoakes@aol.co.uk ; Peter.White@sms.xerox.com ; Matthew Walker ; pandora.hadfield@googlemail.com ; triciawcox@btinternet.com ; Jean Cutts ; Alan Smith ; Jenny King ; Michael Burrows ; Lucien Gover ; Tim Owen ; Petebamber@aol.com ; Tony Kaye ; irene@wears.demon.co.uk ; YENIJ@aol.com ; nicky gill ; Chester Ball ; Riet van Bremen ; jane@stats.ucl.ac.uk ; ravi kaushal ; lailitakaushal@hotmail.co.uk ; IreenEsmann@talktalk.net ; stevepoundmp@parliament.uk ; Angie4ealingacton@googlemail.com ; Fraserk@ealing.gov.uk ; DTeevan@aol.com ; declan ; editor@ActonW3.com ; Team P13 ; zac@zacgoldsmith.com ; eric.pickles@communities.gsi.gov.uk ; Mayor@London.gov.uk ; edit@ealinggazette.co.uk ; 'Kevin Redford' ; ipcunningham@uwclub.net ; Sonia Mansurian ; Nok Nok ; Bennett, John K. ; Benjamin Dennehy ; Tracy Evans ; Susan Deans ; John Talbot ; Liam O'Brien ; Mirek Malevski ; Hughes, Matthew J ; DIANE BRUCE ; Beth van der Eems ; Martin Smith Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 2:14 AM Subject: Complaint Addendum - My Complaint Form dated 31st July 2013 Mrs Helen Harris Head of Legal Services, LBE. Dear Mrs Harris I have received your "automatic reply" message that you are away until 19th August 2013 as below: ----- Original Message ----- From: Helen Harris To: vmfree Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 2:52 PM Subject: Automatic reply: My Complaint Form dated 31st July 2013 Thanks for your email. I am out of the office until Monday 19th August and will look at your email following my return. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please note, further to my e-mail response to you yesterday (8th August), I will be preparing for you a Complaint Addendum referring to the specific breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Councillors as relate to Cllr. Julian Bell's conduct in the Sahota matter that you asked about. Regarding such breaches, of which there are more than one, it may well be necessary for interrogatories to determine the extent of these breaches. The Council will receive the Complaint Addendum from me before your return to work. Yours sincerely, Victor Mishiku 9/8/13. ----- Original Message ----- From: Helen Harris To: vmfree (vmfree@madasafish.com) Sent: Friday, September 27, 2013 5:37 PM Subject: Your complaint Dear Mr Mishiku I apologise for my delay in making a decision in relation to your complaint against Cllr Bell. I have now had the opportunity to consider in detail the issues you have raised. In all the circumstances, I have decided not to refer your complaint for investigation. I attach a copy of my decision. Please be reassured that I sent a copy of your complaint to the investigator looking into Cllr Dennehy’s complaint, at an early stage in his investigation. I am confident that investigator will take into account any standards issues that he considers may arise from the questions you raised. For your information, I also attach a further copy of the council’s adopted standards procedure. Kind regards Yours sincerely Helen Harris Director of Legal and Democratic Services |