Comments on: Live Transport Committee Meeting

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:52:44 +0000

Thanks for the clarification – at the time I was being continually pestered for games of Mario Kart by the aforementioned ill offspring and only heard the Deputy being mentioned as a well-qualified figure, Cleverly’s subsequent complaint that it looked a trifle odd to appoint an entirely partisan figure when you’ve just sacked the previous chap for partisan activities and the suggestion that they seek an interim appointment rather than appointing the Deputy. I must have missed the final decision. Glad to set the record straight.

By: Tory Troll

Tory Troll — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:19:40 +0000

Cooke is not necessarily going to be replaced by Reith. The committee are going to write to the board to see if anyone is interested in the interim position. The selection process for the permanent Chair is already underway and should conclude in September.

By: Mr. Stop Boris

Mr. Stop Boris — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:52:58 +0000

Good report, and good outcome – thanks Tom.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:28:36 +0000

Agreed, but the point was that Brian Cooke was sacked for misusing his position as Chairman to promote a particular candidate in breach of the clear rules he’d signed up to. Cleverly’s point is therefore valid if Lorna Reith has been using her position as Deputy Chair to promote a particular candidate. If she hasn’t been*, it’s partisan double-standards. James is rather new at this, and was visibly angry, which is probably why he came up with an argument with a big hole in.

Jenny Jones I suspect would have voted for a lesser sanction, if it had got that far, on the basis of his previous record, but of course the instant dismissal won on the first round, so we never found out what she or the Tories would have gone for.

* It would be unsurprising if she hasn’t been using her position as a Labour councillor to promote Ken Livingstone, of course, but she should have kept this separate from her work with London Travelwatch, as indeed should Brian Cooke.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:07:34 +0000

Seems strange that Jenny Jones articulated a position where she opposed a sacking (but supported censure) and then abstained in the vote on the question of an immediate termination.

“Funny how it’s inappropriate for a Labour supporter to chair it, but a Tory supporter is fine.”

i think the point James Cleverley made was that it would perhaps not be credible to sack the chairman of Travelwatch for what appear to be partisan interventions, only then to be replaced with a Labour councillor.