Is Brian Coleman putting the whole of London at risk?

I read with horror a comment in the blog by GLA Tory Roger Evans. Mr Evans is the GLA rep for Havering and Redbridge and was until last year the leader of the Tory Group. Mr Evans is highly respected and a very decent sort of chap. Unlike his colleague, Brian Coleman in Barnet, he keeps his voters informed of progress at the GLA via his interesting and informative blog.

Whilst reading this blog (for those of us with a rather lazy rep such as Coleman, it is the only way to keep up to date with shenanigans at the GLA) I read that Brian Coleman, who was given the job of running the London Fire and Emergency planning authority, has cut the reserves for dealing with disasters to £24 million - the comment is in the is blog on Mr Evans site  http://city-hall.blogspot.com/2012/01/budget-round-opening-skirmishes.html . The reserves have been whittled down to virtually nothing, to help freeze council tax and to prop up the Met Police budget.

Let us consider what they have to look after.According to wikipedia, there are nearly 8 million people in greater London. The Fire brigade are responsible for safety on the London Underground and Overground networks. Millions of people commute on a daily basis through the city. Trains, Buses and Tubes all carry millions. We have a dozen major railway terminals, and we also have two airports, one of which is the worlds busiest international airport. All of these hubs are under constant threat from numerous and diverse terror groups and all have a history of attacks.

Then there is the River Thames. This has a history of flooding, which the Thames Barrier was constructed to prevent. Whilst this has been used several times in the last two decades to prevent major floods, there is a possibility that this could fail and inundate London. Who would cover this emergency? The LFEPA. Does anyone seriously believe that £24 million would cover the costs of responding to such an emergency?

And then there is the timing. We have the Olympics this year. Although I hope to God it runs smoothly and have a high degree of faith in our security services and Police, it is clear to all that every nutcase in the world would like to cause havoc in London at this time. What has Coleman done? He's cut the reserves in the year in our history when they are most likely to be needed.

Not only that but he's thinned down the organisation. Does the man not realise that the less resources you have, the more reserves you need. Roger Evans says this in his blog :-

Fire Brigade

Under Brian Coleman, LFEPA has made considerable savings and has even helped to bail out the police budget this year. Reserves have been cut to £24 million which we were assured is sufficient to cover unexpected costs. Training is being contracted out and this is expected to deliver further cost reductions.

He may well be reassured by Brian Coleman that this is enough. I am far from convinced. Sadly only a terrible tragedy would prove me right and I hope to God that doesn't happen. I cannot help but feel scared by this man and his disregard for his fellow citizens. He is up for election in May. Need I say more. He gets £50K a year for his part time GLA job and £25K a year from Boris to run LFEPA. It is time we got someone who understood London.

Conservative Conference Special : Why delegates should give Brian Coleman a very wide birth

Last week at the Barnet Council Cabinet Resources Committee, Barnet Councillor Brian Coleman said the following words in relation to travel costs related to the statutory responsibility for local authorities to provide transport for elderly and disabled people.

"I would like to see some legislation which would mean we would not have to provide a services for these people"
 
Many people were present and some were visibly shocked by what Brian Coleman said. The Barnet Eye believes this comment to be discriminatory and shows that Brian Coleman has a total contempt for the DDA. What makes it even more shocking is that a member who uses the public purse as an expense account in the way Coleman does, can have the Chutzpah to point the finger at the weaker members of society. To illustrate the point, here is a full list of all the transport subsidy Coleman received last year as a member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning committee. A free pot noodle for the first person to correctly count the number of times lunch features in one of his taxpayer funded expenses. It is a rather long list. I could wax lyrical about all manner of things that disgust me about his statement and this list, but I'm sure that any decent person would agree, so make up your own mind. Has Coleman got a leg to stand on criticising the disabled in this way? By the way, the job that lets him claim all this is a gift from Boris. If I was Boris, I'd sack him

(I have taken this from the LFEPA website. If you don't believe me, click here - 
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Brian_Coleman_2010_2011.asp  )

Date Category Details Amount

07/03/2011 Travel Travel (invoiced) - Re. attendance at LGA Annual Fire Conference, 8-9 March 2011, Gateshead, Newcastle. Total travel cost of £174.75 less reimbursement from LGA of £164.00 - £10.75

07/03/2011 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey to London Kings Cross to take train to LGA Annual Fire Conference in Gateshead, Newcastle. £31.76

02/03/2011 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey to Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane W1 - Representing LFEPA at the Community Security Trust Annual Dinner. £37.11

02/03/2011 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane W1 - Representing LFEPA at the Community Security Trust Annual Dinner. £37.11

28/02/2011 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from Houses of Parliament SW1 to Department for Culture Media and Sport, Cockspur St SW1 for National Fire Sprinkler Network Seminar. £18.26

28/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - All Party Parliamentary FRS Group Seminar at House of Commons, SW1 £10.89

28/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - All Party Parliamentary FRS Group Seminar at House of Commons, SW1 £9.00

25/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Special Achievement Awards at City Hall. £11.44

25/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Special Achievement Awards at City Hall. £9.00

16/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Lunch with John Smith, Public Appointments, at The Goring Hotel, Grosvenor Gardens, SW1 £10.89

16/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Lunch with John Smith, Public Appointments, at The Goring Hotel, Grosvenor Gardens, SW1 £9.00

15/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £11.44

15/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £9.00

11/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Fire Commission at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1

£10.89 11/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Fire Commission at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £9.00

11/02/2011 Travel Car Parking - Fire Commission at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 - Parking meter fee £7.70

07/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Appointments Committee at Union St.  £11.44

07/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Appointments Committee at Union St. £9.00

04/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Visit by Neil O'Connor, DCLG to LFEPA HQ, Union St. £11.44

04/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Visit by Neil O'Connor, DCLG to LFEPA HQ, Union St. £9.00

01/02/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £11.44

01/02/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £9.00

27/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Authority Meeting at Union St. £11.44

27/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Authority Meeting at Union St. £9.00

25/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £11.44

25/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £9.00

24/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Appointments Committee at Union St. £11.44

24/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Appointments Committee at Union St. £9.00

18/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Minister and CFOA at House of Commons £11.44

18/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Minister and CFOA at House of Commons £9.00

17/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Finance and Personnel Committee at Union St. £11.44

17/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Finance and Personnel Committee at Union St. £9.00

13/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Extraordinary Meeting of the Authority at Union St. £11.44

13/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Extraordinary Meeting of the Authority at Union St. £9.00

11/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £11.44

11/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £9.00

05/01/2011 Travel Members' car mileage - Budget and Performance meeting re. LFEPA at City Hall £11.44

05/01/2011 Travel Congestion Charge - Budget and Performance meeting re. LFEPA at City Hall £9.00

24/12/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Christmas Carol Party at Union St. £11.44

24/12/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Christmas Carol Party at Union St. £8.00

20/12/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Farewell lunch for LFEPA Director of Resources at Union St. £8.00

20/12/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Farewell lunch for LFEPA Director of Resources at Union St. £11.44

15/12/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Meeting with the Mayor of London at City Hall £11.44

15/12/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Meeting with the Mayor of London at City Hall £8.00

15/12/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from GLA, City Hall SE1 to Portcullis House SW1 for Fire Futures Ministerial Round Table; then pick up from Portcullis House and drop off at GLA. £48.48

10/12/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey to Local Government House, Smith Square SW1 for Fire Commission meeting £40.32

10/12/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journeys to St. Paul's Cathedral EC4; and from Haberdashers Hall, 18 West Smithfield EC1 with Chairman's Lady in attendance for LFEPA Carol Service at St. Paul's Cathedral £135.77

09/12/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Budget Meeting at Union St. £11.44

09/12/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Budget Meeting at Union St. £8.00

07/12/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Budget Meeting at GLA, City Hall £11.44

07/12/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Budget Meeting at GLA, City Hall - congestion charge (Previous Charging Day - £10) £10.00

01/12/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Lunch with James Pearson at The Carlton Club, SW1 for FiReControl briefing £10.89

01/12/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Lunch with James Pearson at The Carlton Club, SW1 for FiReControl briefing £8.00

01/12/2010 Travel Car Parking - Lunch with James Pearson at The Carlton Club, SW1 for FiReControl briefing - parking meter fee

£6.60

26/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1 £11.44

26/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1 £8.00

26/11/2010 Travel Car Parking - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1 - parking meter fee £8.80

23/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Retained Duty System Member Seminar at Local Govt House, Smith Square, SW1 £10.89

23/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Retained Duty System Member Seminar at Local Govt House, Smith Square, SW1 £8.00

23/11/2010 Travel Car Parking - Retained Duty System Member Seminar at Local Govt House, Smith Square, SW1 - parking meter fee £8.80

22/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Interview with ITV London News, 200 Grays Inn Road, WC1 £9.26

21/11/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey for Chairman and Chairman's Lady - from the Cenotaph, Whitehall SW1 for Annual Service of Remembrance £66.09

18/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Authority Meeting at Union St. £11.44

18/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Authority Meeting at Union St. £8.00

15/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Fire Services Management Committee at Local Govt House, Smith Square SW1 £10.89

15/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Fire Services Management Committee at Local Govt House, Smith Square SW1 £8.00

15/11/2010 Travel Car Parking - Fire Services Management Committee at Local Govt House, Smith Square SW1 - parking meter fee £11.00

12/11/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journeys: Chairman and Chairman's Lady - to GLA Annual Remembrance Service at City Hall, SE1; Chairman only - from GLA City Hall to CLG Eland House, SW1 for Fire Futures Steering Group; from CLG Eland House to Bevis Marks Synagogue, Heneage Lane EC3 for Service of Thanksgiving; from Bevis Marks Synagogue to home £145.93

09/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £11.44

09/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £8.00

08/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Finance and Personnel Committee at Union St. £11.44

08/11/2010  Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Finance and Personnel Committee at Union St. £8.00

03/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Budget meeting with Commissioner and Directors at Union St. £11.44

03/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Budget meeting with Commissioner and Directors at Union St. £8.00

02/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Mayor of London at City Hall re. firefighters strike £11.44

02/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Mayor of London at City Hall re. firefighters strike £8.00

01/11/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Interview with BBC London TV at Millbank Tower £12.53

01/11/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Interview with BBC London TV at Millbank Tower   £8.00

28/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Fire Futures Steering Group at Eland House, SW1 £10.89

28/10/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Fire Futures Steering Group at Eland House, SW1 £8.00

27/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Robin Southwell, CE, EADS at Union St., SE1 £11.44

27/10/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Robin Southwell, CE, EADS at Union St., SE1 £8.00

27/10/2010 Other Expenses Hospitality - Lunch with Lee Howell, CFO, Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service and President Designate of CFOA. £36.68

27/10/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from Union St. to Houses of Parliament SW1. £19.20

27/10/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from Houses of Parliament SW1 to Union St. £19.20

26/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street, SE1 £11.44

26/10/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street, SE1 £8.00

23/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Firefighter's Strike - Interviews at Millbank Tower/ Leicester Square and meetings at Union St., SE1 £14.16

15/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Urgency Committee at Union St., SE1 £11.44

15/10/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Urgency Committee at Union St., SE1 £8.00

12/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street, SE1  £11.44

12/10/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street, SE1 ('Previous Charging Day' amount of £10 applies) £10.00

01/10/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Fire Futures Steering Group at Eland House, SW1 £10.89

01/10/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Fire Futures Steering Group at Eland House, SW1 £8.00

01/10/2010 Travel Car Parking - Fire Futures Steering Group at Eland House, SW1 - parking meter £6.60

28/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

28/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

24/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LGA Fire Services Commission at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £10.89

24/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LGA Fire Services Commission at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £8.00

24/09/2010 Travel Car Parking - LGA Fire Services Commission at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 - car parking fees £8.80

21/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

21/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

16/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Authority Meeting at Union Street £11.44

16/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Authority Meeting at Union Street £8.00

14/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

14/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

13/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Programme Board at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £10.89

13/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Programme Board at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £8.00

13/09/2010 Travel Car Parking - LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Programme Board at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 - car parking fees £8.80

12/09/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journeys with Mrs Coleman - drop off at Church of St Bartholomew the Great, EC1; pick up from St Pauls Cathedral, EC4 - Firefighters Memorial Trust Annual Service of Remembrance (held in two different locations) £140.55

10/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LGA Fire Services Management Committee at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £10.89

10/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LGA Fire Services Management Committee at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 £8.00

10/09/2010 Travel Car Parking - LGA Fire Services Management Committee at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1 - car parking fees £8.80

09/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner and Directors at Union Street £11.44

09/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner and Directors at Union Street £8.00

08/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Robin Southwell, CE, EADS UK Ltd at Union Street £11.44

08/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Robin Southwell, CE, EADS UK Ltd at Union Street £8.00

07/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

07/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

06/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Finance and Personnel Committee at Union Street £11.44

06/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Finance and Personnel Committee at Union Street £8.00

01/09/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

01/09/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

25/08/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - CLG Fire Futures meeting at DCLG, Eland House, SW1 £11.44

25/08/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - CLG Fire Futures meeting at DCLG, Eland House, SW1 £8.00

18/08/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Mayoral Appointments Interviews at City Hall (LFEPA) £11.44

18/08/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Mayoral Appointments Interviews at City Hall (LFEPA) £8.00

11/08/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Budget Review meeting at Union Street £11.44

11/08/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Budget Review meeting at Union Street £8.00

04/08/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with CFOA at Local Government House, SW1 £11.44

04/08/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with CFOA at Local Government House, SW1 £8.00

03/08/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Visit by Greg Barker MP to Westminster Fire Station £8.00

03/08/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Visit by Greg Barker MP to Westminster Fire Station £11.44

20/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £11.44

20/07/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union St. £8.00

19/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Fire Services Management Committee at Smith Square £11.44

19/07/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Fire Services Management Committee at Smith Square £8.00

19/07/2010 Travel Car Parking - Fire Services Management Committee - Parking at Smith Square £8.80

15/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Authority meeting at City Hall £11.44

15/07/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Authority meeting at City Hall £8.00

14/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Lunch at House of Commons with new MPs £11.44

14/07/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Lunch at House of Commons with new MPs £8.00

14/07/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from GLA, City Hall to Houses of Parliament - lunch with new MPs   £33.85

14/07/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from Union St to St Pauls Cathedral EC4 - Mayor's Service £33.85

13/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - London Councils Leaders Committee at 59.5 Southwark St. £11.44

13/07/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - London Councils Leaders Committee at 59.5 Southwark St. £8.00

12/07/2010  Travel Members' car mileage - F&P Committee meeting & Lunch with Borough Commanders & DACs at Union St. £11.44

12/07/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - F&P Committee meeting & Lunch with Borough Commanders & DACs at Union St. £8.00

05/07/2010 Other Expenses Subsistence - Hotel - LGA Conference, Bournemouth, 5-8 July 2010 £14.25

05/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LGA Conference, Bournemouth, 5-8 July 2010 £120.90

05/07/2010 Accommodation Accommodation (claimed) - 3x nights accommodation at Park Central Hotel for LGA Conference, Bournemouth, 5-8 July 2010 £364.80

05/07/2010 Travel Car Parking - 4x days Car Parking for LGA Conference, Bournemouth, 5-8 July 2010 £30.00

01/07/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Ministerial visit to LFEPA by Bob Neill MP £11.44

01/07/2010 Travel ge - Ministerial visit to LFEPA by Bob Neill MP £8.00

01/07/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey - Union St to 1 Poultry EC2 - lunch with Edward Lord JP at Coq d'Argent. £33.87

29/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with the Mayor for London and Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

29/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with the Mayor for London and Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

24/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Annual Authority Meeting at Union Street £11.44

24/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Annual Authority Meeting at Union Street £8.00

23/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Minister at Eland House, SE1 £11.44

23/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Minister at Eland House, SE1 £8.00

23/06/2010 Travel Car Parking - Meeting with the Fire Minister £4.40

22/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Commissioner at Union Street  £11.44

22/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

18/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LGA Fire Services Forum at Smith Square, SW1 £11.44

18/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LGA Fire Services Forum at Smith Square, SW1 £8.00

18/06/2010 Travel Car Parking - LGA Fire Services Forum £8.80

17/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Lunch with Councillor Stacy £11.44

17/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Lunch with Councillor Stacy £8.00

16/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Conservative Group AGM at Union Street  £11.44

16/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Conservative Group AGM at Union Street £8.00

08/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Commissioner at Union Street

£11.44 08/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

07/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - All Party Fire and Rescue Seminar at Portcullis House, SW1 £11.44

07/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - All Party Fire and Rescue Seminar at Portcullis House, SW1 £8.00

03/06/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA 30 Year Long Service Awards £11.44

03/06/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA 30 Year Long Service Awards £8.00

28/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Emergency Services Liaison Meeting at Winchester House £11.44

28/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Emergency Services Liaison Meeting at Winchester House £8.00

25/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - GLA/LFEPA Meeting at City Hall re. shared services £11.44

25/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - GLA/LFEPA Meeting at City Hall re. shared services £8.00

24/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LGA Fire Services Management Committee at Smith Square, SW1 £11.44

24/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LGA Fire Services Management Committee at Smith Square, SW1 £8.00

21/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - London Councils Leaders meeting at 59 1/2 Southwark Street, SE1 £11.44

21/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - London Councils Leaders meeting at 59 1/2 Southwark Street, SE1 £8.00

20/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre £11.44

20/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre £8.00

18/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at union Street £11.44

18/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at union Street £8.00

12/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Nicholas Griffin, Mayor of London Adviser for Budgets and Performance, at Union Street £11.44

12/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Nicholas Griffin, Mayor of London Adviser for Budgets and Performance, at Union Street £8.00

12/05/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - Cab journeys to and from Goring Hotel, 15 Beeston Place, SW1W OJW for lunch with John Smith £67.75

11/05/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at union Street £11.44

11/05/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at union Street £8.00

08/04/2010 Travel Taxi (invoiced) - separate cab journeys to and from lunch meeting with Robin Southwell, CEO, EADS £91.20

07/04/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFEPA Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre £11.44

07/04/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - LFEPA Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre  £8.00

30/03/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner and Mayor at City Hall £11.44

30/03/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner and Mayor at City Hall £8.00

25/03/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - LFB Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre £11.44

25/03/2010 Travel Congestion Charge -  LFB Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre £8.00

23/03/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with John Barton, General Sec of RFU at City Hall £11.44

23/03/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with John Barton, General Sec of RFU at City Hall £8.00

16/03/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

16/03/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

08/03/2010 Other Expenses Subsistence - Dinner at Hilton Hotel, Manchester  £15.00

24/02/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Lunch with John Ransford, CE, LGA £11.44

24/02/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Lunch with John Ransford, CE, LGA

£8.00

11/02/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Opening of Harold Hill Fire Station £24.51

09/02/2010 Travel Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £11.44

09/02/2010 Travel Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street £8.00

Political Expenses special - Brian Coleman LFEPA expenses scandal - Updated

Note : This blog is a reposting of one which was deleted by the blogger system problems, where several posts disappeared - It is an updated version of a post on 11th may

London Assembly member Brian Coleman, is allowed to claim expenses to cover his costs a member of the LFEPA (London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority).

Details for April 2010 to March 2011 are here :-

http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/mem_exp_10_11.asp

You may be interested to see how much he claims compared to his colleagues

Brian Coleman	April 2010 to March 2011	£3,480.20
Darren Johnson	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Gareth Bacon	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Mike Tuffrey	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Murad Qureshi	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Navin Shah	April 2010 to March 2011	£0.00
Richard Tracey	April 2010 to March 2011	£23.96
Tony Arbour	April 2010 to March 2011	£378.86

You may wonder what costs so much. Well amongst the other entries, it seems that the Taxpayer is picking up the bill for Conservative members away days :-

6/11/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1	£11.44
26/11/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - London Councils Conservative Group Away Day at Westminster City Hall, SW1	£8.00

There are plenty of other interesting items here :-

http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Brian_Coleman_2010_2011.asp

I don't see why the London Taxpayer should subsidise Tory Away Days. Interestingly his Tory Colleagues haven't claimed for this.

A few other interesting notes. 

01/12/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Lunch with James Pearson at The Carlton Club, SW1 for FiReControl briefing	£10.89
01/12/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Lunch with James Pearson at The Carlton Club, SW1 for FiReControl briefing	£8.00
01/12/2010	Travel	Car Parking - Lunch with James Pearson at The Carlton Club, SW1 for FiReControl briefing - parking meter fee	£6.60

What is interesting here is that there is no corresponding entry in the Gifts and Hospitality register. Does this mean  that Councillor Coleman attended a fire control briefing lunch and paid for his own dinner?

Or what about this

12/10/2010

Travel

Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street, SE1 ('Previous Charging Day' amount of £10 applies)

£10.00

Here Coleman forgot to pay the congestion charge on time, so the Taxpayer picks up an extra £2

Or what about these entries :-

14/07/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Lunch at House of Commons with new MPs	£11.44
14/07/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Lunch at House of Commons with new MPs	£8.00
14/07/2010	Travel	Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from GLA, City Hall to Houses of Parliament - lunch with new MPs	£31.51

4/07/2010

Travel

Taxi (invoiced) - Taxi journey from Union St to St Pauls Cathedral EC4 - Mayor's Service

£31.51

 Again, nothing in the register of gifts & hospitality for this date - even more interesting is how you get a £31.51 Taxi bill from GLA, City Hall to the Houses of Parliament? I've walked this route on many occasions, it isn't exactly a long way. Coleman has claimed mileage to drive to the House of Commons and for a Taxi bill. By an amazing coincidence, he also had exactly the same taxi fare on the same day from Union St to St Pauls Cathedral, a distance of just over a mile.

There is a GLA and Mayoral Election next year. Brian Coleman's job as chair of the LFEPA is a gift from the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Brian Coleman gets a free all zones travelcard for being a GLA rep (+ a salary of £50K per annum). One has to conclude that Boris Johnson thinks that Coleman using his expenses in this way is absolutely fine. We have to conclude that he thinks that his fire boss using his expenses to pay for Tory awaydays is fine. I wonder how many people who might vote for Boris or Brian Coleman think that this is how we want elected representatives to carry on?

Brian Coleman is top of the table

Yet again, Brian Colemans expenses top the table at the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

Brian Coleman has cost over 50% of the expenses to date in the financial year. The whole sorry story is here :-

http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Documents/FEP1692.pdf

As ever Coleman doesn't believe in belt tightening. What disgusts me is the fact that Coleman gets his congestion charge paid by the Taxpayer.

All GLA members get a free six zone travelcard. Coleman is too grand for this. He doesn't care, we sunsidise him. We are the mugs !

This is the sort of bloke Boris thinks are good to have around. Boris appointed Coleman, he could sack him, but doesn't

A prestigious award for Councillor Brian Coleman

There was one award from the 2010 Barneteye awards, which I withheld until today. It is a very special award, which commemorates two of my all time heros.

First up, it commemorates footballer Gary Waddock. Gary's career contained spells at QPR, Millwall, Swindon and Luton. He was also manager at QPR, Aldershot and Wycombe Wanderers. He also made 21 appearances for the Republic of Ireland. Gary is an example of the fact that if you work hard, you don't have to be the greatest or most skillfull player to have a long and successful career in your chosen profession.

The other hero is Gareth Hunt, who played Mike Gambit in the New Avengers. Although perhaps not Laurence Olivier, he did get to play opposite Joanna Lumley's Purdey, which at the time was a job any kid my age would have died for.

In honour of these two behemoths of British culture, I have decided to create the "Waddock-Hunt" award. Now clearly no one in Barnet has had a long distinguished career in football and played a new avenger opposite Joanna Lumley, so our awards committee decided on a novel approach.

Now I can't take all the credit for creating this fantastic award. In fact it was originally devised by a group of brave London Firemen, who I happened to speak to last May whilst canvassing (oh how long ago that seems). One of them recognised me from the TV coverage of the Standards Committee and our conversation went like this.

Fireman : Aren't you the bloke who took Coleman to the Standards Committee
RT : Yeah
Fireman : Good on you mate, he had it coming
RT : Thanks
Fireman : How much did it cost him
RT : Ten Grand in legal fees, although he celebrated like he'd won an Oscar when he lost
Fireman : There's only one award I'd give him - Waddock-Hunt
RT : Yeah, I'll give him that award when I do me New Years honours list at the Barnet Eye
Fireman : Good on yer mate, tell him we'll come around and stick the award where .... (censored)

So that is the story of how this prestigious award was born.

Now it is normal practise for holders of an MBE or an OBE to be known as Sir Edward Heath OBE etc. As such, the Barnet Eye urges all readers to now refer to Brian Coleman using his newly bestowed title - forthwith he is Councillor Brian Coleman Waddock-Hunt.

Councillor Brian Coleman Waddock-Hunt is cordially invited to join the Barnet Eye and members of the London Fire Brigade to receive his commemorative pot noodle and  a £5 WH Smiths Book Voucher outside the Town Hall before the next meeting. If the good councillor can let us know the exact time, we will ensure a nice TV crew arrives, so his sponsors for this award can show the whole world just how good a job they think he's doing as chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. It brings a tear to the eye to see a boss held in such esteem by his employees.

Brian Coleman - "Probably the most popular politician in London"

For those of us who have followed the London Fire dispute, there is a sense of wonder at vigour with which chair of the London Fire Authority, Brian Coleman has tried to wind up the Fire Brigade Union. I've wondered what sort of a man would deliberately seek to antagonise a profession so widely respected by all.

Well, reports of a conversation have reached the Barnet Eye, where Brian seems to confirm that the whole thing is a deliberate strategy. Of course this is "hear say". We all know that Brian has my email address so if he wishes to email me and tell me that this isn't true, I'd be more than happy to print a clarification of what exactly he said.

Anyway, it appears that Brian was asked whether it was wise to pick such a public fight with Londons Brave firemen and he responded "Listen, everyone is sick of bully boy unions. Everyone thinks it's time we stood up to them. I'm probably the most popular politician in London for doing this"

I wonder if Boris Johnson is quaking in his boots at the thought of a challenge from Brian Coleman. Methinks all of this press coverage is going to Our Brians head.

If I was a London Fireman I'd go on strike

The Firemen of London have voted to go on strike. 80% voted for a strike, a huge total. The man who is in charge of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority is none other than Barnet Councillor Brian Coleman. Those of us who have followed the dispute know that Mr Coleman has been provoking the FBU, trying to goad them into a strike. Mr Coleman is on record as a "union basher". It is also a matter of public record that the private company, ASSETTCO, who provide strike cover, have sumptuously wined and dined Coleman. I've been on the receiving end of communications from Coleman. They were so rude, I reported him to the standards committee and won. As a result of his intransigence, people will die. It is a disgrace. Boris Johnson should sack him and appoint a reasonable person, who wants to run a service, not destroy it. If I was a fireman, I'd go on strike. Brave men deserve better.

Coleman on Ken - Firemen to be given 90 days notice

Brian Coleman has just told Ken Livingsone on the LBC 97.3 radio show that he's going to give all of Londons firemen 90 days notice if they don't accept new shift patterns and other changes. That's Brian Coleman who earns between £114,000 and £130,000 per annum depending on who you believe. The same Brian Coleman who voted himself and other cabinet members a huge payrise of 100%. The same Brian Coleman who used his role as chief whip of the Barnet Tory group to publicly humiliate Kate Salinger for abstaining in the vote. The man is a bully and a menace

Barnet Eye war on Spongers and parasites : A Coleman Porky prime cut?

Poor old Brian Coleman. The stress of all the troughing must be getting to him. He claimed in todays Evening Standard that he works 100 hours a week and he has only had three days off since Xmas (presumably New Years Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday).

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23857940-councillor-on-pound-118500-a-year-says-im-good-value-for-money.do

I suppose, the nub of the matter is what constitutes work. Lets see what he does for Barnet :-

He's on the following committees :- 

Annual Council - Member -  Next Meeting May 2011 (annual)

Cabinet - Member - Once a month

Cabinet Resources Committee - Member - Once a MonthChipping Barnet Area Environment Sub-Committee - Substitute - Once a MonthChipping Barnet Area Planning Sub-Committee - Substitute - Once a monthCouncil - Member - Next meeting November 02 (approx every 2 months)

Then there is his ward surgery (which presumably he shares with the other two councillors) :-
Third Saturday of the month 10.30am-12noon. Barnet House, 1255 High Road, N20.

Then there's the the reports he has to read as Cabinet member for Environment (3 since April as far as I can see) :-
http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/dp/meetinglist1mthcom.asp?intSubSectionID=25&intSectionID=4&meetingtype=Officer%20in%20Consultation%20with%20Cabinet%20Member%28s%29

You get the idea. Given that his former boss Mike Freer once said that the Council officers do all the work, there isn't a 100 hours a weeks worth of work here, is there?

Then there's his work for the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (he's chairman).

Forthcoming Meetings

• 16 September 2010
• 18 November 2010
• 27 January 2011
• 24 March 2011
• 23 June 2011 - Annual meeting

That's what I call a highly taxing schedule of work.
It seems he attends a few other committees - check if you like -
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/CommitteesAndPanels.asp

Here's his full list -
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/MemberProfile_BrianColeman.asp

There's the appointments committee (last meeting in February)
There's the Finance and Procurement Committee (four meetings a year?)
The urgency committee (last meeting in March)

And here's some idea of what he was up to (his expenses) for Feb & March when he was "working 100 hours a week without a day off)

30/03/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner and Mayor at City Hall	£11.44
30/03/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner and Mayor at City Hall	£8.00
25/03/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - LFB Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre	£11.44
25/03/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - LFB Long Service Awards at Southwark Training Centre	£8.00
23/03/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Meeting with John Barton, General Sec of RFU at City Hall	£11.44
23/03/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Meeting with John Barton, General Sec of RFU at City Hall	£8.00
16/03/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street	£11.44
16/03/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street	£8.00
08/03/2010	Other  Expenses	Subsistence - Dinner at Hilton Hotel, Manchester	£15.00
24/02/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Lunch with John Ransford, CE, LGA	£11.44
24/02/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Lunch with John Ransford, CE, LGA	£8.00
11/02/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Opening of Harold Hill Fire Station	£24.51
09/02/2010	Travel	Members' car mileage - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street	£11.44
09/02/2010	Travel	Congestion Charge - Meeting with Fire Commissioner at Union Street	£8.00

And what about the GLA - Well this is approx half his income at Barnet and LFEPA. Do you see 50 hours a week here? I will have a look at what he's up to for the other 50 hours at the GLA later in the week. In the meantime you may be interested to know that his boss at The GLA, Roger Evans says on his blog today that they are all off now till September, which gives you some idea of the heavy work load there.


http://city-hall.blogspot.com/2010/07/mqt.html

All I can say is this, Mr Coleman claims that he works 100 hours a week look a tad dodgy to me based on this. A few sporadic committee meetings, a few dinners and a meeting every two weeks with the Fire Commissioner. We'll look at his "work" for the GLA later this week. You can check his profile here. You would expect a flagrant self publicist like Coleman to tell us all about his work in his press releases. According to his profile the last one was over a month ago


http://www.london.gov.uk/profile/brian-coleman


For a man who works so hard, he seems to have a lot of spare time for outside interests :-

http://www.london.gov.uk/profile/brian-coleman/register-of-interests

• Representative on the Queen Elizabeth Grammar Schools Endowment Fund
• Ravenscroft School Charitable Trust
• Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education
•  1 Friern Park Management Committee (Chairman)
•  Darlands Lake Management Committee (Chairman)
•  Representative on Totteridge Manor Association
•  Vice President of Totteridge Residents’ Association
• (Parliamentary) Committee of the Friends of Cyprus
•  Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
•  Freeman of the City of London
•  Member of the Guild of Freeman
•  Member of Barnet Rotary Club
•  Member of Finchley Methodist Church
•  President of Edgware & Hendon District Scouts
•  Old Elizabethans (QE Boys Old Boys Association)
•  Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents’ Association – Associate Member
•  Liveryman of Worshipful Company of Farriers
• Patron of the Larches Trust, Larches House, No.1, Rectory Lane, Edgware Middlesex, HA8 7LF 

So does Brian Coleman really work 100 hours a week for Barnet, The GLA and LFEPA for his £114,000 a year? I'll let you decide. I'm off to be sick