In the Romford Recorder, 28th April 2023, there was a headline about the doubling of the price of parking permits. Leadership hopefuls, Keith Prince and David Taylor, attended the photo opportunity. They smelt blood. They were right, there was a cock-up.
David Taylor has discovered the importance of political homework. He’d attended the Overview and Scrutiny meeting and nothing was said about doubling the price of parking permits. The following day they were doubled with, “…the agreement of the chairman.” Gillian Ford said, without irony, that, “…we instigated an inquiry.” That is: an inquiry into her own budget.
Football fans sing, “You Don’t Know What You’re Doing” at referees. If the public had been at the cabinet meeting, it would have been appropriate.
David Taylor was right. Cabinet didn’t know every aspect of their own budget. But the explanation of the cock-up is interesting.1 Ray Morgon said it wasn’t his fault. “We are still looking at how this happened….” This translates as, “The officers run the council and tell us what’s happening afterwards.”
What’s interesting is the invisible Chris Wilkins.2 He’s chair of finance. The revenue increase must have been discussed with him and he didn’t alert Morgon. This is remiss.
Officers aren’t politicians and are insensitive to the political implications of their proposals. Decision-making by officers is disastrous.
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Havering’s Cabinet Meeting, 3 May 2023
As usual the meeting was dreary.3 Apart from Martin Goode asking detailed questions nothing happened.
David Taylor should have asked about the cost of the parking permit ‘U’ turn. If he had asked he’d have found out it was £250,000 or ten teacher assistants.
Notes
1 Havering Council reverses doubling of parking permit prices | Romford Recorder
2 Wilkins spent the entire cabinet meeting glued to his iPad, which gives a terrible impression, after what happened in the house of commons.
3 Webcast Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com)
Politics in Havering 