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Suspended Brent councillor Bertha Joseph gets £12,000 appointment (From Harrow Times)
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Suspended Brent councillor Bertha Joseph gets £12,000 appointment
5:30pm Friday 23rd October 2009
A COUNCILLOR suspended for using charity sponsorship to buy a ball gown has been promoted on an emergency planning committee.
Councillor Bertha Joseph (Cons/Kensal Green) has been kicked off Brent Council for six months after being found guilty of bringing her office into disrepute during her second term as mayor from 2007 to 2008.
She was also found to have used her position as mayor to gain an advantage, in a Standards Committee hearing on Tuesday, October 13.
But Tories on the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which runs London's fire services, have made her deputy chair, giving her an extra £12,000 a year of public money in allowances.
On top of the £7,000 she already gets as an ordinary member of the organisation, she is now on £19,000.
Councillor Navin Shah, London Assembley member for Brent and Harrow, said: “This smacks of croneyism.
“This smacks of absolute contempt for the residents and members of the public who expect better standards and better conduct.”
Councillor Ann John, leader of the Labour Group on Brent Council, said: “The Tories are using public money to reward a woman who has been found guilty of serious breaches of the Local Authorities Code of Conduct.”
Cllr Joseph intends to appeal the ruling that led to her suspension, claiming she was entitled to use the funds in that way.
Last week she told the Harrow Times: “I accepted that I failed to declare the sponsorship on time. However, it was my honesty in declaring the sponsorship which resulted in the investigation.
“I was not caught, nor was I prompted or reminded by the trigger of an investigation. It was an honest mistake.
“The committee also decided that I made a personal gain from the sponsorship, despite the fact that two years ago, I gave the 'material gain' - a sponsored ball gown - to charity.”
The Harrow Times contacted Cllr Joseph and Brian Coleman, London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, who chairs the organisation, for a response and is awaiting a reply.
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Your Say YourHarrow
The Police are Parasites, Barnet says...
5:20pm Sat 24 Oct 09
SeaBee, Pinner says...
7:10pm Sat 24 Oct 09
Sincere, Brent says...
6:03pm Mon 26 Oct 09
That trial by newspaper has been adopted by the lowest form of political life and we can write what we feel with no shame behind the anonymity that a user name allows us.
I say to all those brave people who have commented negatively on here about this situation, how do you know the truth about what you are saying and is the tittle tattle of Brents' nasty political machine entering into your lives your heads and finally your key board.
Where is our sense of fair play, giving the person the benefit of the doubt until all avenues are exhausted for an individual of such an outstanding record has been cleared.
I say shame on you all for such behavior, in life if we cannot say something positive we should refrain from negative.
I hope that Councillor Joseph is afforded the respect due to her until she has had her appeal heard.
I would also say to SeaBee, that unless she was the person who received the dress in the Charity shop and is able to compare it with the dress the Councillor wore to the Ball, which will be documented, then your comments are offensive to both Councillor Joseph and all of us who give regularly to charity shops expecting discretion.
May God forgive you
Sincere, Brent says...
6:33pm Mon 26 Oct 09
jackdaw wrote:We too are glad you live in Harrow, such a mean spirited person has no place in Brent.
I am glad I live in Harrow and not Brent. This Councillor has been dipping
into money raised for charity and taking gifts and she has only been suspended from office for 6 months!
She ought to hang her head in shame.
If she were representing my ward I would want her to stand down immediately. Since when did this behaviour count as a minor misdemeanour?
She doesn't appeal to me! Why hasn't she done the decent thing and resigned.
As a former Mayor doesn't she think she has to set a good example?
How can she be promoted for this behaviour? It is no wonder people are cynical about politics.
If you had any experience of living here, I may accept your argument and the right to have a say, but fortunately for all of us you don't and your mean nasty spirit is in another borough festering away. Comment on your own borough, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
jackdaw, Harrow says...
9:50am Tue 27 Oct 09
As you are using the name "sincere" you can hardly complain about other posters doing the same thing.
Commenting on an item in the news is called FREE SPEECH or would you prefer censorship against any criticism.
I seem to have touched on a nerve. Could that nerve be called guilty conscience.
You mention "trial by newspaper". Are you suggesting that Jack Royston's article is factually inaccurate because that could be called slander. If you feel this to be so I suggest you sue but I am sure he will have no case to answer.
I am still glad I live in Harrow because There is obviously something rotten in the (State of Denmark)ward of Kensal Green. The Cllr. needs to clean up her act.
I bet the electorate of Kensal Green ward wished they lived in Harrow because until they can elect a cllr. with a clean record their ward is represented by a cllr. with a honesty problem.
Sincere, Brent says...
10:15am Tue 27 Oct 09
jackdaw wrote:Wow, such bitterness and hatred I wonder why you feel the need to be so. Maybe your a Labour man, in which case I completely understand your frustration.
I quote "behind the anonymity that a user name allows us."
As you are using the name "sincere" you can hardly complain about other posters doing the same thing.
Commenting on an item in the news is called FREE SPEECH or would you prefer censorship against any criticism.
I seem to have touched on a nerve. Could that nerve be called guilty conscience.
You mention "trial by newspaper". Are you suggesting that Jack Royston's article is factually inaccurate because that could be called slander. If you feel this to be so I suggest you sue but I am sure he will have no case to answer.
I am still glad I live in Harrow because There is obviously something rotten in the (State of Denmark)ward of Kensal Green. The Cllr. needs to clean up her act.
I bet the electorate of Kensal Green ward wished they lived in Harrow because until they can elect a cllr. with a clean record their ward is represented by a cllr. with a honesty problem.
Commenting upon the news is one thing, being over bearing with your opinions as if they are facts is another, something is rotten in this kingdom alright, when ordinary people, one would presume, can get so heavily involved in another's business and think they have the moral high ground, trial by tittle tattle nonsense. You seem intelligent if not a little bitter and aggressive, so why are you not running for office, or are you already in one hiding behind this anonymity.
With regards to the anonymity afforded us all on here, I was not complaining, merely commenting upon the fact that people are able to hide who they really are and not feel the shame of there actions and words, maybe you do.? Who Knows.
As for me I am a Kensal green resident, I voted for Ms Joseph as a Labour Councillor and I see no reason not to continue to do so as a Conservative, I vote on the person I believe is best for the job at hand and Bertha has proved she is the best over many years..
We in Brent are used to the dirty politics of the Labour party and the constant newspaper stories against people who are not in favor, as for suing for slander, that is for the person offended by the article and for her representatives to pursue, I have no doubt Bertha will clear her name and she will continue on to be a councillor for many years.
I hope you can get some therapy for your aggression and maybe a creative outlet for your pent up anger. Try Yoga, its wonderful.
In the meantime I wish you well with your future and hope you never start stalking the streets with that anger towards women.
Walk in the Lord
Brent resident, Brent London says...
10:37am Tue 27 Oct 09
Surely we do have a right to comment on things in the news, but to add something, on facts we know not to be bitter and vile to a person we do not know and a situation we cannot understand without ALL the facts.
Like Jackdaw, I have read the newspaper article, and I have seen where the cllr, says she declared things late, not did not declare things.
I know in this climate, where the MP's and the Bankers are getting away with murder almost, that it is easy to pick on the little people in life.
But I ask what is fair, and why are you so angry towards this woman.
When commenting on anything a little balance is always a good thing and some knowledge of the facts is even more desirable, thos who get their facts from newspapers are often distorted in their opinions.
Please try and take a deep breath now before blasting my head off as mine does have its uses and it is not filled with newspaper driven filler.
Sincere, Brent says...
11:11am Tue 27 Oct 09
After all I would not like to openly comment on things which I had no knowledge of.
jackdaw, Harrow says...
11:39am Tue 27 Oct 09
You comment that "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" assumes that Cllr. Joseph is indeed a sinner. Not only a sinner but a winner as her promotion shows.
I am against bad behaviour in public life and that goes for all politicians of any party,Borough, gender, religion etc.
Why is a desire for honesty seen as venomous?
Why would you assume I wish to stalk women? I suggest you go for therapy as this wish to stalk women must be a projection (technical term used by therapists)of yours.
Sincere, Brent says...
12:18pm Tue 27 Oct 09
jackdaw wrote:Jackdaw, It is not my business to look into the hearts of others, but I would assume that by your responses you feel you are without sin.!
Sincere,
You comment that "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" assumes that Cllr. Joseph is indeed a sinner. Not only a sinner but a winner as her promotion shows.
I am against bad behaviour in public life and that goes for all politicians of any party,Borough, gender, religion etc.
Why is a desire for honesty seen as venomous?
Why would you assume I wish to stalk women? I suggest you go for therapy as this wish to stalk women must be a projection (technical term used by therapists)of yours.
I am also against bad behavior in public life, therefore I choose to look into bad behavior and comment when I am satisfied bad has been done.
In this case I am not sure bad was done, but maybe a mistake, which we are all capable of surely.
I notice you side stepped my enquiry on Cllr Navin Shah, how very political of you, maybe that is your calling and we are being fooled into thinking you are just an ordinary member of the public, such as myself.
It is your Venom against an alleged wrong doer in a different borough that has me curious of your motives and of your ability to be open minded and fair.
The desire for honesty is not venomous, your attitude whist seeking it is very suspect and I for one would not like to have to meet you in the dark.
Seek first the truth in your own heart, before you seek it in others.
Brent resident, Brent London says...
12:31pm Tue 27 Oct 09
I have noticed Sincere, that you asked about Navin Shah, who was involved in Harrow, before his appointment to the GLA. The question was side stepped by Jackdaw, which begs the question who is Jackdaw and why has he side stepped that question, when it is a question about his own borough and is about public life and it's accountability.
Surely it is also open for people to comment on this scandal which involved many tens of thousands of pounds.
I suspect that Sincere was correct when sincere suspects that there is some political affiliation with this person hiding behind this anonymous mask.
I read on the standard website that our borough solicitor is leaving us.
She is said to have engaged in an affair with a former deputy leader of the council, we all heard that her partner hanged himself over it. What part of public life do you wish to comment upon now, morals or criminality, they are equally culpable.
I look forward to Jackdaw's response on the questions posed.
Harlesden Rastaa, Harlesden says...
1:06pm Tue 27 Oct 09
After all we all know in Harlesden that one of the people commenting Councillor, Ann John was heavily criticized for taking holidays and other back handers for her favors, ( Evening Standard article)
http://www.thisislon
don.co.uk/standard/a
rticle-23714706-deta
ils/Governor+enterta
ined+Brent+leader+on
+India+trip/article.
do
And that this is not the first time this Councillor has come under the spot light for such things and as for Navin Shah, is there no one left who does not know about his scandalous behavior, whilst Leader of Harrow Council.
Seen in context the alleged wrong doings of Councillor Joseph seem to pale into insignificance.
I see another one of our Council employees Terry Osborne, is also leaving for waltham Forest, joining Mimi Konigsburg, ( Victoria Climbie case ) and a lot of others who left us.
I see this story over Bertha Josephs as an attack on the Black community, and especially as Bertha is one of the only high profile Black women in Brent.
I cannot understand why this dress issue has been so highlighted, whilst two commenters in the article have such scandal attached to their own names, let 's remember that people in glass houses should not throw stones Councillors, and those of you who act in a covert way as their agents beware, we know those games down here on the streets.
jackdaw, Harrow says...
1:37pm Tue 27 Oct 09
I am not a secret agent for any political party nor would I wish to be, Let those other people you have mentioned mount their own defence.
Tell the readers more because I for one do not know about these other scandals.
Let's have the allegations out in the open so we can have politicians with good reputations. It is what we the voters deserve and not this murky tricky you suggest they are involved in.
Harlesden Rastaa, Harlesden says...
2:33pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Do you not know anything about Cllr Shah leaving Harrow in huge debts.
You seem to be a single issue kinda guy to me, well at least as a single issue person you would expect that you got the facts straight before commenting. Look around you and comment on what you see in Harrow and then comment on Brent. Oh and before you do please get your facts right its only fair.
One love
jackdaw, Harrow says...
3:32pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Neither am I so parochial as to be limited to just my own Borough's affairs.
Having been alerted to this scandal by Jack Royston's very clear article, I suggest you furnish him with the details and evidence of scandals in both Brent and Harrow.
He could do an expose a week and I shall be interested to read them(especially those already hinted at)!
What all voters wish is to be able to vote for persons of good reputation.
Carry on Jack Royston, I say, with with your revelations.
Harlesden Rastaa, Harlesden says...
4:11pm Tue 27 Oct 09
You may find that this story is much bigger than the bottom feeding one you seem preoccupied with now. If you like scandal, then Ann John is about as big as it gets.
But perhaps your taste in scandal is fro the housewifey variety not the shameful type as shown by Ann John.
Ital is Vital
Sincere, Brent says...
4:21pm Tue 27 Oct 09
He sees only what is in front of his nose, and as with most self righteous individuals hates to be wrong therefore he bites back without any real teeth to speak of commenting on a dress scandal instead of the real in your face scandal of Ann John and her planning back handers.
He does not have the strength of character to investigate further nor accept that he knows only what Royston has said.
It was Maeve Binchey, who said, be careful not to read Sh+t as eventually you start speaking it.
Therefore I am careful what I read and I have read enough from the Corvus monedula and seek intellectual communication elsewhere now. In other words I am bored with you and your discourse.
jackdaw, Harrow says...
5:11pm Tue 27 Oct 09
As to the other scandals mentioned I am sure as rastaa says 'Jack the Revelator' will be only to aware of these issues and will carry on probing.
Carry on Jack!
DimSum, Harrow says...
8:44am Sat 14 Nov 09
None of them have a moral compass.
GREED is the keyword.
Sincere, Brent says...
11:24am Sat 14 Nov 09
Therefore I feel that it is not appropriate to keep labeling this councillor as tarnished.
When a persons name is clear, we should abide by that. After all it would be a terrible society, if we all carried round the label of wrongful guilt.
Think of those persons imprisoned for years for crimes they did not commit.
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jackdaw, Harrow says...
6:29pm Fri 23 Oct 09
into money raised for charity and taking gifts and she has only been suspended from office for 6 months!
She ought to hang her head in shame.
If she were representing my ward I would want her to stand down immediately. Since when did this behaviour count as a minor misdemeanour?
She doesn't appeal to me! Why hasn't she done the decent thing and resigned.
As a former Mayor doesn't she think she has to set a good example?
How can she be promoted for this behaviour? It is no wonder people are cynical about politics.