CouncilSetting the record straight
Tower Hamlets Council's Communications Team works closely with newspapers and other media by issuing news releases, responding to media enquiries, arranging briefings and interviews and organising news conferences and other events. We also provide up-to-date information on this site, which we hope is useful for the public and the media.
But in spite of our best efforts, media reports are not always completely accurate. People have a right to reliable information, just as we have a duty to provide it. That is why we introduced this section to the website. The information we provide is subject to a Code of Conduct under the Local Government Act 2000. This means we are bound by the highest standards of propriety and accuracy in providing information.
11 November 2008
In yesterday’s (Monday 10 November) Evening Standard, an article was published which misrepresents the views of Tower Hamlets Council and the practical work we have undertaken with local people to build a strong community that is resilient to messages of violence or hate.
We have sent the following letter for publication to the Evening Standard. In case the Evening Standard doesn't publish the letter or edits it to fit the page, we feel it's important to set out the council's position in full. Below is the letter sent to the Evening Standard
Dear Sir
We were appalled to hear the messages of hate and vitriol endorsed by a small proportion of the population at a recent meeting held in our borough (Evening Standard, 10 November 2008).
We were also deeply disappointed to read Ed Husain’s untrue claim that we have ‘long turned a blind eye to the activities of local extremists’ and that the borough is in danger of becoming ‘a hotspot for radicals.’
We have long since been deeply committed to practical work with local people to build a strong community that is resilient to messages of violence or hate. Indeed, we have been nationally recognised for our work in this field three times over the last five years.
Last year, Tower Hamlets was a pilot for a Government scheme which tested how councils can work with community groups to bring people from different racial and cultural backgrounds together and foster a better understanding of each other. We ran a number of successful projects which demonstrated the willingness of our communities to engage in such a challenging agenda.
We’re now developing this work further and consulting local people on the Preventing Violent Extremism projects that they would like to see in place for the next three years to continue to build a cohesive Tower Hamlets.
The proof of the success of our work comes directly from our residents. In the last residents’ survey nearly three quarters of our residents say that people from different backgrounds get on well together.
The circumstances of this event (where a banned spokesman broadcast live to people) present some complex challenges to Government and Police.
In relation to this event, we sought advice from the Metropolitan Police. As the group is not on the Government’s list of proscribed terrorist groups, the Police were not in a position to cancel the meeting. We work in close partnership with the Police, sharing information and advising each other on these matters.
We are to strengthen our booking procedures to help ensure that any similar event does not take place on council property again.
Finally, we would like to extend the invitation to David Cohen and indeed Mr Husain to visit us to learn more about the innovative work we’re undertaking to address the challenging issue of preventing violent extremism so perhaps they can report and speak on the council’s work in a more informed manner.
Yours faithfully,
Kevan Collins
Deputy Chief Executive
Tower Hamlets Council
3 October 2008
In today’s (Friday 3 October) Evening Standard an article appears which is both inaccurate and misleading. The Evening Standard has been contacted by the council and has been asked to issue a correction and apology. They have not yet agreed to do this, so in the meantime it’s important to set the record straight.
The story which was printed in the newspaper and published on the Evening Standard’s website is about the council’s Assistant Chief Executive, Lutfur Ali. But, the Evening Standard printed a picture of Tower Hamlets Council Leader, Cllr Lutfur Rahman. When the mistake was pointed out by the council, the Evening Standard removed the picture from its website and from its later editions.
We want to make it absolutely clear that Lutfur Ali is not facing any investigation concerning his recent appointment as Assistant Chief Executive.
Furthermore, no details of Lutfur Ali’s recruitment process have ever been released or confirmed by the council. The Evening Standard has printed uncorroborated assertions which they should, in accordance with Press Complaints Commission guidance, verify by other sources and seek confirmation from the council which they failed to do.
The Standards Committee meeting on Thursday 2 October was not about any allegations against Lutfur Ali.
The committee only deals with complaints against councillors not officers. It’s a legal requirement that all complaints against councillors must be referred to the Standards Committee and the process for dealing with this is set out on other pages on this website. Please see Article 9 of the council’s constitution on the Standards Committee.
The council has written to the Evening Standard to point out the inaccuracies in their story and seeking that they immediately publish a correction and apology.
For further information please contact:
Clare Saul
Deputy Head of Communications
Tower Hamlets Council
020 7364 4697
clare.saul@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Monday 4 February 2008: Response to a discussion which took place on BBC Radio 4’s Any Answers programme on Saturday 2 February 2008
Any Answers - BBC Radio 4
On Saturday 2 February 2008, a discussion took place on BBC Radio 4’s Any Answers programme which included comments from a Tower Hamlets Adult Social Care service user and a complaint about the standard of care received.
Whilst the council cannot go into detail about individual cases, people should be reassured that we have thoroughly investigated the circumstances of the person involved. We are satisfied that an appropriate level of care is provided.
Tower Hamlets Council is acknowledged as providing some of the best social care services in the country. Towards the end of last year we were externally rated as a three star service (the highest possible rating) for the fourth year in a row.
We have halved the rate of admission to institutional care in the last five years and are strongly committed to providing excellent preventative care services. All three of our Home Care teams have been assessed as ‘Excellent’ and we support more older people with intensive home care relative to population than any other local authority in the UK. In addition, we are a national pilot for the extremely successful LinkAge Plus Partnership, providing joined up services to older people. Last year 13,000 people attended partnership events, 4,000 outreach contacts were made with isolated older people and 1,500 people a month use its services.
Whilst there are challenges facing social care services around the country, Tower Hamlets is one of the local authority areas which has not tightened its eligibility criteria for access to care services since the criteria were adopted in 2002.
We will continue to provide this high level service and are determined that we will meet the cost pressures we face in adult social care through maximising efficiency and not by cutting services.
We have contacted Radio 4 to make them aware of this.