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Eric Pickles expands role of commissions to clean up Tower Hamlets

Eric Pickles, Secretary of StateEric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has taken a series of steps in relation to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, following last week’s Election Court judgement.

 Proposed directions extend the powers of the Commissioners over the whole of the local authority, as the Commissioners see fit, in order to exercise to ensure good governance and sound financial management. Previously, the Commissioners had powers over grants, contracts and electoral administration.

 Immediate proposed Directions seek to stop the destruction of hard copy and electronic documents by the Council.

 Additional Commissioners are also being appointed: Chris Allison, former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and co-ordinator of the 2012 London Olympics security, and Alan Wood who has extensive experience in turning around Children’s Services.

 A final Direction was issued (further to correspondence from March) to give Commissioners control over the appointment of the council’s Head of Paid Service – the council’s most senior civil servant, following obstruction by the mayoral administration.

 Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said:

 “Given the independent Election Court’s clear findings of corruption in the mayoral administration, there is a clear need for stronger checks and balances in the run up to the mayoral by-election, especially given many of the associates of the tainted mayor remain in place.

 “The Commissioners have identified a series of concerns about the ongoing running of the council, including the destruction of documents. We will take whatever action is necessary to ensure a free and fair election and clean up this rotten administration.”