Forum Topic

Hounslow and Berkely Homes

I've lived in Brentford since I was very young apart from 30 years working overseas. Three of our grandchildren work at Heathrow and rheir jobs are not secure. I thought that I would see what the figures for losses are and it's not a pretty picture,It's amazing what you come across when you have a good look. I found that Hounslow have set up an Economic Recovery Board which has about 16 members including someone from Heathrow. One member of the board that surprised me was a dirctor of Berkely Homes who are looking for a planning permission on the sites of Tesco and Homebase in Osterley. This guy has said that his company is keen to help out with lots of houses in Osterley. It doesn't seem right that this guy is on the #c9nomic Recovery Board. Is there a conflict of interest here or am I being naive? I wonder what sort of deals have been agreed between hounslow and Berkely Homes.

Fred Heston ● 2213d14 Comments

As the 'Economic Recovery Board' aren't determining planning application there's no conflict at all.To turn this on its head, every Council has a planning committee made up of Councillors, 99% of which are not qualified town planners, but which are elected by their constituents to represent them.  So can you always feel confident that those Councillors will make decisions solely having regard to the development plan and all other material planning considerations, and not let their judgement be affected by the majority view of their constituents who elected them in the first place ?!.

Adam Beamish ● 2213d

Ha, ha, ha - hysterical.

Vanessa Smith ● 2213d

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOI) 2000 RESPONSEThank you for your request for information of 5th August 2020. You have requested the following:Information on how many times Cllr. Curran has met with reps. of the Northumberland Estatewith regard to the Park Rd. Allotment site.Cllr Curran has attended three meetings regarding the Park Road Allotment site.How many planning officers were present at these meetings? Were Minutes taken at all/anyof these meetings?At two meeting there were two officers present and one officer at the other meeting. Nominutes were taken.

Vanessa Smith ● 2213d

What can this possibly mean? All speculation welcome!

Anne England ● 2213d

Well, it also gets even better, someone has forwarded their FOI asking for Notes/Minutes of these meetings and received a different answer! So now we do have notes of one meeting that was held in 2019 - which begs the question why did my FOI give incorrect information? This is the second FOI in a week that I've received with an incorrect answer, what on earth is going on? The public have to be able to rely on getting the right information, or else what's the point?

Vanessa Smith ● 2213d

Time for the local government ombudsman] or the minister for local covet to be lobbied.Far too many porkies going on at the moment and from where. I'll accept that Councillors are just as easily getting the wall pulled over their eyes as the rest of us.What is worrying is why the heck none of them question anything when every one else seems to twig what not quite the full ticket.

Raymond Havelock ● 2212d

Time for the local government ombudsman or the minister for local Govt to be lobbied by public or council tax paying residentsFar too many porkies and secrecy going on at the moment but from where? I'll accept that Councillors are just as easily getting the wool pulled over their eyes as the rest of us. What is worrying is why the heck none of them question anything when every one else seems to twig what not quite the full ticket. Choosing to either ignore or just pedal out whatever the official line might be.Is it really only Tony Louki who has the gumption to question and challenge time and again?

Raymond Havelock ● 2212d

Raymond, I think this would be a job fpr the Information Commissioner rather than anyone else. I have had a second FOI come back which also has given me incorrect information, and this is just not acceptable. I have queried this and hope I get a response sooner rather than later. This of course, could be more cock-up than conspiracy.

Vanessa Smith ● 2212d

It could be. It does amaze me how poor people's ability to comprehend clear english is here. We have a language that can be quite specific , hence it's worldwide technical use.Or it's laziness.

Raymond Havelock ● 2212d

Another English teacher on here

Robert A Field ● 2212d

Only A-Level and a C at that!

Raymond Havelock ● 2211d

Robert A Field why are you sneering at using our beautiful English language?  Are you advocating sign language or what exactly?

Jennifer Selig ● 2210d

Incorrect use of English is everywhere. Very often on television. Probably people who read a lot notice it more. I remember somebody asking me why I used comas in letters. I explained why, and they replied that it was not really necessary as people still understood without them being inserted.

Nicholas Beard ● 2210d

It's why so many are getting into so much of a muddle with Twitter and Facebook.Not able to articulate in in a few words. Which is not easy.

Raymond Havelock ● 2210d