Alpha square bribery story in sunday times

Following the Sunday Times exposure of corruption in the planning process, Tower Hamlets Conservatives call for Commissioners to be re-instated and oversee planning applications and for a full and proper police investigation into this scandal.
 
The Sunday Times exposure that a “fixer” with close connections to the local and national Labour Party requires immediate answers.
 
There is more large scale development in Tower Hamlets than anywhere else in the country and this development dominates the Isle of Dogs. In the last seven years Tower Hamlets Council has approved residential towers of 75, 68, 67, 60, 55 storeys in height plus many more between 40 & 50 storeys high, most within walking distance of Alpha Square.
 
There has long been a belief locally that the system has been corrupted by fixers and middle men with connections to councillors. Now we have overwhelming evidence that the system may have been deeply corrupted through influence peddling and even the bribery of Councillors.
 
We therefore find it astonishing that this was all kept secret and that Labour’s Mayor John Biggs did not report this issue immediately to the police on the 26th November 2015, five months after his election,  when he was told about it and demand that the police  fully investigate.
 
Nothing appears to have been done until at least five months later when external consultants Ernst and Young were brought in sometime during April 2016, who then recommended calling in the police. During this entire period Councillor Shiria Khatun, named in the Sunday Times, was Cabinet member for Community Safety which involved her dealing with the police on a regular basis.
 
The Councils own anti-bribery policy says:
 
‘Rigorously investigating instances of alleged bribery and assisting police and other appropriate authorities in any resultant prosecution’1
 
and its anti-fraud and corruption strategy says
 
‘We expect our Directors and Heads of Service to deal firmly and quickly with anyone who is responsible for fraud or corruption. Head of Paid Service/Director of Resources in consultation with the Corporate Anti- Fraud Manager may refer matters to the police if there is suspicion of any criminal activity having taken place.’2
 
Calling in Ernst and Young after five months as opposed to the fraud squad does not satisfy the Councils own policy requirements.
 
Were other developers approached by this individual after meetings set up by the former Deputy Mayor for Tower Hamlets?  Was the Mayor concerned about donations made directly to the Labour Party?
 
Councillor Andrew Wood, deputy leader of the Conservative Group said:
 
“Whilst this story maybe one of a businessman close to the Labour Party trying his luck the delay in reporting this to the appropriate authorities and the resultant secrecy we believe is extremely damaging at a time when the Council was trying to emerge from the cloud left by Lutfur Rahman. It suggests nothing much has actually changed.”
 
Councillor Peter Golds, Conservative Group leader is calling on the Secretary of State to;
 

• Appoint specialist and Independent Commissioners  to oversee and decide planning applications within the borough until this investigation is complete and the Commissioners and residents are assured that councillors will act properly and with due diligence.

 
The Conservative Group are also calling for full disclosure by Tower Hamlets Council on:
 

• Who was told, what was done, by whom and when with regard to the Alpha Square application.

 

• When and if the DCLG Commissioners were informed of this corruption?

 

• When was the council’s Monitoring Officer informed?

 

• When was the Corporate Anti- Fraud Manager involved?

 

• When were external consultants appointed?

 

• When and who decided to call in the Police?

 

• What was the reason for keeping this secret from the planning committee of 18th February 2016 which rejected the FEC application regarding Alpha Square?

 

• That the Police interview Councillors on the committee to see whether they had been approached by any individual regarding this application either to support or oppose it

 

• That the Police interview Tower Hamlets planning officers with regard to this application.

 
Finally in the public interest, we call upon;
 

• The Tower Hamlets Labour Party to reveal whether Abdul Shukur “Shuks” Khalisadar or any of his related organisations made donations of time, resources or money to the Party? If so  how much did he donate and when?

Sources
 
1.    New Homes Bonus for building the most new homes in the country

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-homes-bonus-final-allocations-2017-to-2018

2.    Council Bribery Policy https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Risk-management-and-insurance/Anti-Fraud/anti-bribery-policy.pdf

3. Council Anti-Fraud & Corruption Strategy  https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Finance/Financial-transactions-management/Fraud/Anti-Fraud-Strategy.pdf