Harrow councillor defends awards ceremony trip

3:25pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By David Hardiman, Reporter

Councillor Phillip O'Dell (right) sips champagne at the event in central London. Councillor Phillip O'Dell (right) sips champagne at the event in central London.

A councillor has defended his decision to sip champagne at an awards ceremony instead of facing questions from staff losing their jobs in his department.

Councillor Phillip O’Dell, portfolio holder for environment, said it was “important” that he went to the National Transport Awards at a central London hotel rather than attend Thursday’s cabinet meeting, where approximately 50 front-line Harrow Council staff came hoping to quiz him on job losses.

Plans to cut 53 jobs and four refuse vehicles in a part-merger of the highways, community safety and public realm departments were pushed through at the meeting, but a union leader and opposition councillors heavily criticised Cllr O’Dell for not turning up.

The Public Realm Integrated Services Model (PRISM) is predicted to save £1.85million in the next two years, although it could cost the council £1.15m in redundancy settlements as jobs are cut.

Cllr O'Dell has missed three of the last five council cabinet meetings.

The borough was shortlisted for an award for 'excellence in walking' for its Mollison Way improvement project at the ceremony hosted by radio presenter Jeremy Vine at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel, but did not win.

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Cllr O’Dell said: “The award ceremony was about recognising all the good work Harrow Council’s traffic department has done within the local community.

“It was important for me as portfolio holder for environment to attend in order to recognise the stature of this national award and therefore support the staff and community.

“I have been closely involved in developing PRISM right from the start. The numerous structured meetings of discussions with staff and the trade unions have been conducted by the managers in environment, and I have provided a steer on the direction of the project.

“I have had informal discussions with staff on a number of service visits that I have taken part in, and I have been available to respond to questions at events such as the environment staff forum held in July.”

The proposals were sent back to the council’s cabinet after the UNISON union and members of a scrutiny committee decided there had been “insufficient consideration of legal advice”, but councillors decided to press ahead in Cllr O’Dell’s absence.

Harrow UNISON warned last week that the job cuts, part of the council’s battle to fill a £19 million hole in this year’s budget following massive reductions in central government funding, were “short-sighted” and would hit front-line services.

Comments(22)

diligaf says...
11:43pm Tue 16 Oct 12

Shame they cant rid of Michael Lockwood... what ever gives him the right to have a £200,000 a year salary?? surely by halving his salary and other diredctors at the council staff cuts would not be neccasary?? no one deserves that kind of salary it is absolutely ludicrous

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starbright says...
12:23am Wed 17 Oct 12

Is Cllr O'Dell Serious? "Important" that he attended these awards, I think not, anyone could have gone in his place. What was more important was his responsibility to attend a meeting with his own staff, many of whom are about to lose their Jobs seemingly! Also the fact he has missed 3 of the last 5 Council cabinet meetings, shows clearly to me that he should not hold the position of Portfolio holder as he very obviously does not take this role seriously! The phrase 'I'm alright Jack' springs to mind with this person! Diligaf with you all the way, Michael Lockwood needs to be gotten rid of! Fat salary for a person who sits in his Ivory Tower, runs a failing council, and does not entertain meetings with us lesser mere mortals, Harrow residents! Tried for a meeting with him before over a serious issue, but he refused! Time for a new Chief exec on a lower salary, and a cabinet reshuffle me thinks!

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Harrow Rani says...
9:49am Wed 17 Oct 12

Starbright, once again , I am in total agreement with you! The gall of these councillors to pick and choose what meetings they will and wont attend is nothing short of staggering. Try doing that in the private sector and see how long you can hold on to your job! That ofcourse is the crux of the matter. Tax payers money is being used to pay these Councillors and indeed Michael Lockwood. These people rely on us, the great Harrow public, to do NOTHING when they abuse their positions and that is why they continue in their posts and continue to run a failing council. I never thought I would say this, but, the Tory council were a better team of players than this sorry shower!

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HarrowHeart says...
2:59pm Wed 17 Oct 12

I repeat my questions stated:

Was there a cost associated with attending the awards, did the council pay this (tax payers money) and who else attended the awards and who paid for their tickets?

At a time when we're reading about the council needing to cut costs, save money and have to cut staff including those who empty my bin, it would be unacceptable to find out that money was wasted on attending an awards ceremony which had a cost to the council.

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Harrow Rani says...
3:04pm Wed 17 Oct 12

HarrowHeart you have no chance of getting this information. Harrow Council will never disclose this unless you formally request the information and even then you will have a very long wait while they fudge the issue at every turn, . However, if the editor of this newspaper is inclined to read this comment, then maybe he could take up the mantle to find this out for the decent, hardworking, tax paying residents of Harrow.

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starbright says...
3:33pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Here Here Harrow Rani! I suspect Harrow Council will have seen these comments as thay have been known to blog here before! Cllr O'Dell would you kindly respond to Harrow Hearts Questions?

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simonehundall says...
10:10am Thu 18 Oct 12

Nice to see there are 3 people in the photo from Harrow attending to pick up an award they didn't win, but enjoying the high life at taxpayers expense.

I also want to know how many council employees attended and how much it cost for them to attend including travel and any ticket price and also when the council is under scrutiny to keep things tight, how many of those who attended were temporary staff who charge a premium to work for any borough.

I work in Brent and have seen this all too many times and as a harrow resident I'm furious to see them enjoying a drink while decisions are made on the services that affect us.

Also I wouldn't worry too much about Michael Lockwood and his 200k, he's he's harped on about us being the most improved borough for ages to justify his salary but again, how much money was spent of ours to get that accolade - preparing submission documents, staff time, putting on a show for inspectors etc all money which could have been spent on the residents who he claims to be working for.

I'd email the council but as Cllr Susan Hall rightly pointed out in her letter to the papers last week, their emails aren't even working so good luck complaining about bins not emptied, roadworks, traffic outside schools or
Anything else the council is supposed to be spending it's time on instead of partying at national awards (which DO charge for attendance according to their website) looking smug at the luxuries our tax money is affording them.

Those who attended should be sacked unless they do not know the situation the council is in as I'm assuming along with their emails they aren't receiving any copies of the harrow times - only the harrOw people which says everything's great and were the most improved best ever yet despite failing our residents.

I am very angry and want answers, I hope the paper investigates or I may take it higher.

Who attended, how much did they cost the council to attend and were they temporary agency staff, also why has Cllr O Dell missed meetings and why are we being told tough times lie ahead while these fat cats sip champagne at our expense??

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Harrow Rani says...
10:43am Thu 18 Oct 12

Thank you for your post Simone Hundall. Your anger is just and I do believe that something other than blogging on this site should be done to escalate our concerns. The problem with Harrow Council is that if you write to them to complain, the powers that be don't actually read the letter, instead, they just get their PA's to respond with some badly worded letter telling you that your concerns have been noted! Maybe we need to become professional lobbyists to ensure our concerns are heard and responded to? Another thought that a friend and I had was to call for Michael Lockwood to hold a monthly surgery and allow residents to bring their concerns about the Council, to an open forum, If he cared at all about how the residents of Harrow feel about the council, he would accommodate this request in his not very busy schedule.

In thee austere times, it is difficult enough to survive without laying out a substantial amount of our hard earned income for council tax, only to find council employees enjoying a good old jolly at our expense. Not acceptable!!

I also urge the newspaper to delve further and provide us with the answers to your questions above. There should be transparency on this type of spending, but as I have stated in an earlier blog, Harrow Council will avoid being transparent at all costs

As for Lockwood harping on about this being the most improved Borough, I find that astonishing. You have only to walk through areas like Wealdstone to know that we have regressed as a Brorough. Apart from the filthy streets, drug and knife related crime, the lack of private investment reflects the type of Borough this is, namely, one where nothing other than social housing is invested in. What are these so called improvements?

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starbright says...
2:56pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Harrow Rani and Simone Hundall I applaud both of you, and share your anger at some of these buffoons that run our Council! We all need to rise up and let them know that we are far from stupid, and are very aware at the incompetencies of some of these people! I have been saying for awhile that Michael Lockwood should hold a surgery once a month for Harrow Residents and listen to some of the concerns we have! That is of course if he truly cares about the people of Harrow! Again I ask for the Harrow Times to put this to Mr Lockwood, after all it is not a big thing to ask of him!

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jackdaw says...
4:45pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Starbright

I think your idea that Michael Lockwood should hold a surgery is a good one. If there are communication failures within the Civic Centre and residents are not alerting him to problems because they are being filtered out by staff and councillors it would bring about improvement.
He would be able to identify and rectify the problems.

Reading the comments above I feel I am back in 18th century France with Marie Antionette saying let the residents drink champagne.

There is talk of an uprising and storming of the Tuileries Palace, oops I meant the Civic Centre, to make residents voices heard. However, Harrovians are too well behaved to resort to revolution but they would like their voices heard.

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starbright says...
7:00pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Jackdaw I like your idea of an uprising anyone else interested? Lets hope Harrow Times puts this idea to Michael Lockwood and look forward to a response!

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HarrowHeart says...
10:02pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Simonehundall, Harrow Rani, Starbright and Jackdaw all raise valid points - thank you.

Michael Lockwood needs to listen to concerns of residents as he's the one appointed to manage the council. With so much mismanagement at the top we have one story for residents and one for the council.

I also agree that I'd like to know how much money was spent preparing the submission which got Harrow the Most Improved Council accolade.

Transport Times have confirmed there was a hefty ticket price and a call to the council says three staff members and Cllr O Dell went to the awards - how much did this amount to? How many agency/temporary staff were there representing Harrow at these awards (should temporary staff even be allowed to represent the borough at a cost to residents?) and why has Cllr O Dell not attended most of the meetings he is supposed to?

I remember reading about the council saying let's talk. we're listening - well are they listening now?

How much money has been spent on consultants in the past 2-3 years at the council, why are we paying for their staff to attend self-serving awards (4 staff no less when it only takes one to physically receive an award) and are we, the residents, paying for the mismanagement of Harrow Council?

The finance director who all the local press reported is being paid an extortionate amount a few months back hasn't seemed to make the financial situation any better (except her own), this restructuring we're reading about sounds like a raw deal for residents - less refuse vehicles, less staff and more money for the consultant who delivers it. Emails aren't going through after spending a fortune on upgrading IT systems - obviously that's failed as Cllr Susan Hall has pointed out.
Parking fines can no longer be reasoned or disputed and will all be automated via the website - so forget appealing if you're elderly, have no access to the internet or are a victim of a genuine error, none of this sounds like a listening council at all.

I was born in Harrow, I love the borough and have seen it change over the years and welcome what it's become, but if you think for a second we should accept shoddy excuses and mismanagement at our cost to send staff to award ceremonies when we're told to tighten our purse strings, you've got another thought coming.

I shouldn't have to call the council to get these answers - Harrow Times and the council, answer these questions:

1. How many staff attended the awards?
2. How many of these are temporary/agency staff?
3. How much did it cost to attend the awards? Ticket price and travel should be included if there was a fee as TAXPAYERS PAID FOR THIS.

Answers by next week's paper please, or do we really need to try and get an investigation started which who knows what else it will unearth?

If there really is transparency and you've nothing to hide, then answer the questions.

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maundythursday says...
10:20pm Thu 18 Oct 12

With 50 staff's jobs on the line there is no defence.

I also want answers to the questions and those who attended during these tough times and those who authorised them to attend or thought it appropriate to spend tax payers money going to a glammed up evening was worth it when we're in an economic crisis should be ashamed of themselves.

Who thought they should attend, asked and got permission to go and HOW MUCH DID THIS COST? If our moneys been spent we weren't asked permission. We're told parking costs may go up, bills are higher and we face tough times ahead, but for one night let's pay for the staff and Councillor o Dell to party and live the high life!

Thanks for reporting on this, it's obvious from the comments this is a major issue and something many are unhappy about. I hope the staff who went and thought it was ok to spend our money going and Councillor O Dell lose their jobs or are reprimanded in some way because they aren't fit to be in a role where they are responsible for spending tax payers money, especially if they spend it on themselves. Surely there's a rule against it?

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harrow78 says...
5:20pm Fri 19 Oct 12

Oh I love all the armchair warriors on the Harrow Times. Endless moaning, endless complaining… but what do you actually do about it? Do you go to Council meetings and make your point? Do you submit petitions or make representations? Do you go and speak to your local councillors at their regular surgeries? Do you e-mail them or phone them using the publically available contact details? Of course not. You just come on Harrow Times and moan and moan and moan.

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jackdaw says...
11:14am Sat 20 Oct 12

Two posters Starbright and Simone have tried meeting and emailing the Council but met with failure. As Council taxpayers we are entitled to expect a service. The posters are not moaning they are asking for a service for which they pay to be delivered.

They are asking for their voices to be heard. As we are all in this austerity period together we expect councillors to set a good example and this means all political parties.

They are lucky the residents of Harrow are well behaved and are not storming the Civic Centre. but just asking for answers and clear communication.

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starbright says...
2:00am Sun 21 Oct 12

Jackdaw thank you! Harrow78 have we touched on a nerve with you? You are obviously a Counciller, Cllr O'Dell maybe, or someone who works for the Council, and us 'armchair warriors' appear to have rattled your cage! I have exhausted every avenue you have suggested above, over the last few years with what I know to be a big issue! What I have encountered in that time is Councillors and Council officers who lied to me, covered up failings, back stabbed other colleagues, have their strings pulled by Harrows legal dept, and others higher up! I have been lied to continuously then finally ignored with no more communication! I am sure I am not the only Harrow resident that has been treated in this way! So Harrow78 I suggest if you post comments in the future that you know what you are talking about first!

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jackdaw says...
8:39am Sun 21 Oct 12

Why do we need three councillors per ward? Why not have only two councillors and then the money saved could go to fund some of the services that are being reduced.

If jobs are being cut throughout the Civic Centre then it is only fair that Councillors share the pain.

Suggest you type in Harrow.gov.and go to members allowances. Car allowances and for every committee they head they get another wad of money thrown at them.

Yes we are all in it together (not).

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harrow78 says...
11:25am Sun 21 Oct 12

No, I am not a Councillor and no, I do not work for Harrow Council. But my point stands - you are posting and demanding information from the Council on the Harrow Times - a completely private company that operates for the sole purpose of making money. You think the Harrow Times will forward any of your concerns to the Council? You think any of the writers actually care? If you want information from the Council, speak to the Council!

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jackdaw says...
12:08pm Sun 21 Oct 12

The posters above have been contacting the Council and have had requests for meetings turned down. Emails sent either do not get through or are responded to inadquately by a badly worded letter from the office junior.

The reason why people are appealing to the Harrow Times is that finally exasperated they are trying a different route to get service from the council.

Whether the reporter cares or not is irrelevant as he is paid to write a story and does not express his personal views. In fact it was the reporter who managed to find out from the Council the cost of the jaunt.

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starbright says...
4:27pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Very well said Jackdaw! Harrow78 when you have a valid point then post something sensible on here! Harrow Times has helped us in the past and this week with the expenses. I also suggest you read the posts properly! How can you get information from the Council when they refuse to respond to you? Us who have affected a response this week on the expenses actually care, you obviously do not!

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maundythursday says...
4:37pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Everything said here is viewable to everyone. It holds the council accountable publicly instead of them saying sorry in private.

The council have been contacted and that's how we know there are 3 others who attended and one of them is an agency worker who went to the awards, so not even someone who is representing the council but we paid for. How many agency staff get these perks and how long have some agency staff been there? Surely temporary staff are there to fill a temporary position or help fill a gap, not be there for years at the cost of us.

Every single one of these comments you can bet is being read by the council and they will have to respond. If not, others are aware of what is going on.

Enough is seriously enough.

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Harrow Rani says...
9:36am Mon 22 Oct 12

Harrow78 - Although only a handful of us have felt strongy enough about this issue to actually blog on here, there are thousands who have read the article and merely shrugged their shoulders. You are right in that we should attend council meetings and voice our concerns in person. Maybe we should get petitions signed and delivered to the Council. However. the only problem is the Council's unwillingness to actually do anything about these issues raised by the local businesses and local residents of Harrow. When all reasonable efforts to get your concerns heard are exhausted we have no alternative but to seek help from the local media in raising our concerns. I am sure the council have read these comments, and yet they still have not taken the trouble to respond. What makes you thing that a signed petition would have got a better response?

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