I’ve written before bemoaning the shoddy state of record-keeping and a generally lax attitude to quality assurance at Newham council.
But a paper going to cabinet next week just about takes the biscuit.
This report seeks approval to the correction of the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting on 20 February 2014
Yes, you read that right. They need to correct a four year-old set of minutes.
Why? Because the minutes of that meeting omitted to record a key decision in relation to setting up Red Door Ventures, the council-owned private rented development vehicle. That decision was to
Agree that the company be provided with funding through state aid compliant loans and grant facilities
So the council has been lending money – A LOT OF MONEY – over the past four years to Red Door Ventures without any properly recorded authority to do so.
Cabinet will undoubtedly agree to
correct the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 20th February 2014 and ratify decisions made under the purported delegated authority, made in good faith, pursuant to the omitted recommendation.
But this is, to say the least, an embarrassing oversight.
On its face, this is an administrative cock up rather than Sir Robin over-reaching his legal authority (in contrast to the Collegiate 6th Form, where he did something he had absolutely no power to do). It is reminiscent of the unapproved £10 million overspend on the East Ham Town Hall campus project. That was also blamed on unnamed officers. The politicians, who should ultimately be accountable, just shrugged it off.
It all reflects extremely poorly on someone who is seeking a fifth term of office, claiming to the candidate of experience and competence.
forestgatedotnet 
A Mayor who doesn’t check his own minutes is pretty sloppy and asking for trouble. Well, he’s now getting it!