Author Archives: Phil

Ealing Council gives teachers’ union £10K

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Phil

I have blogged about Nick Grant, the branch secretary for the Ealing branch of the teachers’ union NUT, before here. In a surprising unforced error (see answer to question below) the council has admitted that at a time when every … Continue reading →

Posted in Ealing and Northfield | 11 Comments

Questions: Council reneges on promise to cut union facility time

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Phil

When the full council signed off the budget in February 2011 it contained a promise to cut union facility time, paid time to allow union reps to do union business, by 20% in 2012/13 (see page 178 of the budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Ealing and Northfield | 3 Comments

Council senior management costs rising again

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Phil

Ealing Council has failed to make any progress over the last year in cutting the cost of its senior management team. In fact it has gone up by 2.2%. The Labour council has tried to dramatise the magnitude of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ealing and Northfield | 1 Comment

Charity is something else

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Phil

The point of the parable of the widow’s mite was that the mite was all she had but she gave it willingly. I have to say that I heartily agree with Dan Hodges. It is very nice that the wealthy … Continue reading →

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Waste of effort?

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Phil

Today the Tory group on Ealing council has written to the Mayor demanding an extraordinary council meeting to examine the waste and re-cycling contract which has blown up so spectacularly in the council’s face over the course of April. It … Continue reading →

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Boris’ election broadcast

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Phil
Posted in Mayor Johnson | Leave a comment

Labour heads in the sand

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Phil

Last night the Labour administration had the opportunity to get on the front foot and apologise to a full council meeting for the unfolding waste and re-cycling disaster that is sweeping across the borough. They chose not to take it … Continue reading →

Posted in Ealing and Northfield | 10 Comments

Northfield ward let down by new waste contractors yesterday

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Phil

Local councillors are getting lots of reports of failed rubbish and re-cycling collections across Northfield yesterday. We heard that the new joint collection of green boxes and plastics failed at Claygate Road, Raymond Avenue, Boston Road and the North/South Road … Continue reading →

Posted in Ealing and Northfield | 5 Comments

London transport week – more kidology from Livingstone

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Phil

The contrast this week between the transport manifestos of Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone was quite stark. On Monday Johnson produced a crunchy list of practical transport measures that build on his solid record of achievement in the transport realm. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ex-Mayor Livingstone, Mayor Johnson | Leave a comment

Do it now!

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Phil

Talking of choosing, you only get to choose if you are registered to vote. The deadline is Wednesday 18th April, more here. Similarly for postal votes or changes to postal votes. Do it now!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment