Not the Only Bad Boy in City Hall
Posted on 31. Mar, 2009 by Richard Barnbrook in Latest News
Here’s my latest batch of responses from Mayor Boris. Looking at last night’s Channel Four Dispatches expose it would seem that I’m not the City Hall bad boy anymore.
Richard Barnbrook
The House of Lords EU Committee has recently stated that the European Union should be utilised in order to assist with “security” during the 2012 Olympic Games. Can you assure me that this is not just the thin end of the wedge and that economic circumstances or terrorism will not be used as an excuse to emasculate the Britishness of the event and promote the concept of Euro federalism?
Answer from the Mayor:
Providing security for the Olympic and Paralympic Games will require many organisations and authorities to work effectively together.
Congestion Fine Amnesty
Question No: 690 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook
Given the current economic climate many people who have a Congestion charge fine (at times through a simple oversight) have found themselves in a position where they can not afford the £60.00, meaning it is not paid in 14 days and results in a £120, then £180.00 fine – would the Mayor agree a 14 day period when fines could be cleared for a lower fee of around £25.00? this would help out Londoners and also bring funds to TFL that may never come in? Obviously it is an individuals responsibility to pay the charge on time but this (one off) scheme could help highlight the need to pay on the day.
Answer from the Mayor:
Rather than introduce another level of penalty I am committed to ensuring motorists don’t get a penalty in the first place. This is why TfL is working hard with the new congestion charging service provider, IBM, to implement automated payment accounts as soon as possible.
When automated payment accounts are introduced, people will be able to sign up and see the charge automatically debited from their account without the fear of a penalty for forgetting to pay.
In the interim, I am pleased that the overall compliance with the scheme is very high and the level of penalties continues to reduce.
Muslim Safety Forum – £40k p.a.
Question No: 691 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook
On election last May, shouldn’t the newly-elected Mayor have scrutinised existing grants paid to obscure organisations? The Evening Standard revealed that an agreement exists to fund a charity named the ‘Muslim Safety Forum’. The nominated contact of this is a Mr Azad Ali, a Civil Servant apparently recently suspended from his Treasury job for publicising his somewhat radical Islamic views.
Under Mr Johnson’s leadership, £30k has continued to be paid to this organisation. The Mayor has said funding will end when the agreement transpires — so when will this be? (And is it normal practice to lock the LDA into such risky time-factored contracts regarding funding?)
Answer from the Mayor:
In June 2009, the grant funding to the MSF was scrutinised based on information available at the time. The Funding Agreement, which was due to expire on 31 March 2009, was with the GLA and not the LDA, and in light of more recent information funding to the MSF has been terminated.
Mayor’s Decision List – DD 133 part 1
Question No: 692 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook
The Mayor’s Decision List for the period 12th February to 11th March includes decision DD113, which says: “ Approved a payment of £50,000 to the Black Londoners Forum Limited. Part 2 of this report is confidential under the FOI Act.”
Further legal & financial implications are classified as confidential for the purposes of the FOI Act.
Given the recent public concern over the LDA’s funding of certain community organisations, it is prudent to question the bona fides of granting public funds to such groups. What are the reasons for confidentiality, and why should the legal & financial implications be granted immunity from FOI requests?
Answer from the Mayor:
When MDs and DDs are produced, legal advice is given regarding what exemptions apply to the information therein under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In the case of legal and financial implications in DD 113, legal advice was provided that this information was exempt from disclosure.
Mayor’s Decision List – DD 133 part 2
Question No: 693 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook
Regarding DD 133: Can you confirm that this payment to the Black Londoners Forum is a one-off matter, or part of an ongoing series of payments? And is this a time-factored contract or agreement over a specified period of time? If so, what are the other details of the agreement?
Answer from the Mayor:
The payment is a single settlement payment to the Black Londoners Forum Limited. It is not part of an ongoing series of payments. At present, there are no further contractual commitments between the Greater London Authority and the Black Londoners Forum Limited.
Keith Vaz
Question No: 694 / 2009
Richard Barnbrook
The following question 251/2009 was submitted to the February Mayor’s Question Time: ‘Can Mayor confirm that in the future he will deal with all people in a professional way and not use obscene language like he did in a phone conversation to Keith Vaz MP? Can the Mayor confirm that this is not a sign of him falling apart under pressure?’ In your written response, you stated that “This was a private conversation.” as this conversation was all over the National newspapers and you are the Mayor of London this behaviour may be taken as bringing your office into disrepute so in no way can it be taken as a” private conversation.” With this in mind can the Mayor answer the original question?”
Answer from the Mayor:
I refer you to my previous answer.
