There are 54 councillors and eleven1 were absent from this meeting. Councillors Nunn and Mugglestone were attending a family funeral but the other nine? Twenty percent of councillors absent for a council meeting? Did they forget to pick up their £200 for this week?
The death of veteran councillor Linda Hawthorn was eulogised in various ways. Chris Wilkins (@ 25 minutes)2, a family friend, sounded like a vicar who’d been given notes and then went through the motions. The contrast with Robert Benham (35 mins) couldn’t have been greater. A warm, kind and personal statement did both him and Linda proud.
Graham Williamson (43 mins) forgot to bring his petition to the meeting. A pitiful lapse. This provides a commentary on his organisational abilities.
Barry Mugglestone was absent for Question Time.3 Mischievously Ray Morgon arranged for Judith Holt to have meetings with Barry about Qs. 1 and 3. Martin Goode (1 hour15) asked a very pointed question about the King’s Park estate and the quality of its infrastructure. Jason Frost (1 hour 26) asked a good question on biodiversity and planning.
A motion on e-scooters was led by Robert Benham (1 hour 50). He highlighted their menace. Robert could have asked why Havering’s private million pound policeforce4 don’t enforce the law but didn’t. Mandy Anderson (2 hours 05) said the Over 50s Forum condemned e-scooters. The HRA amendment was pointless.
Councillor absenteeism is outrageous and especially Damian White’s.
Notes
1 John Crowder, Philippa Crowder, Laurence Garrard, James Glass, Robby Misir, Barry Mugglestone, Stephanie Nunn, Katharine Tumility, Christine Vickery, Damian White and Darren Wise See https://havering.blog/2023/04/08/haverings-councillors-value-for-money-march-2023/ for a discussion of this point
2 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) All timings relate to this webcast
3 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 12/07/2023 19:30 (havering.gov.uk) Go to Item 9 p93ff
4 Havering’s million-pound contract is with the MetPolice for five policemen. LBH is paying and OAPs fear e-scooters and so let our police leap into action. Havering’s Million Pound Mistake, 2019-22 – Politics in Havering
Politics in Havering 
Lack of enforcement of illegal parking and cycling on the pavement has gone on for years, so e scooters are just another thing to add to the list. Councillors, the council and police are not interested. Barry certainly isn’t capable of dealing with any of it as he’s out of his depth.
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I entirely agree that when laws aren’t enforced the cumulative impact is that none of them are obeyed and there is a severe deterioration of the quality of life. I thought that the council was paying a million pounds to the MetPolice to have an input on to their priorities.
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