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Torture in the Town Hallby Tim Webb It’s not an easy job being a Hackney Councillor. At the emergency meeting called to discuss the borough’s financial crisis they found themselves strapped to the rack The Borough Treasurer had accused them of overspending. They were innocent The real culprits were the Council managers but these people were not publicly accountable. And where was the evidence that they were big spenders? Was Hackney now a better and brighter place? Surely all that dosh couldn’t have been flushed down the plughole. Or could it? The Chief Inquisitor tightening the ropes and stretching their minds to bursting point was demanding agreement to a document called the ‘Financial Recovery Plan.’ He was Max Caller, Managing Director of Hackney and author of the Plan.The shadowy figure of the District Auditor, the grim reaper of local government, lurked in the background. Screaming for mercy was to no avail; the cuts had to be implemented. Confessing to a Labour/Tory conspiracy was pointless, as conspiracies need organisation, something not seen in a Hackney administration for years. Outside the Town Hall, and in the finest traditions of the London mob, a large crowd bayed for blood and revenge. Well, not really. About two or three hundred were gathered in the lashing rain and some bounced up and down to the rhythms of a lone drummer. Placards saying ‘Tax the Rich’ and a banner ‘Kill Councils not Communities’ were waved around. The police responded sensitively by packing the area with clumping Robocops in riot gear and shields, a low-flying helicopter and lookouts on surrounding roofs. Traffic in Mare Street was blocked. For a short time it all seemed a little heavy and your fearless correspondent took shelter in the welcoming atmosphere of the Samuel Pepys pub. Inside the Council Chamber, Mayor Joe Lobenstein opened the proceedings with an appeal to the gallery for order and a fair hearing for everybody. ‘You’ll be lucky!’came the instant response from upstairs. The victims were far from united by their plight. Labour took the punishment stoically while explaining that it wasn’t really their fault. They blamed the previous Managing Director and his loony ‘Transforming Hackney’ plan, pointing out that this was supported by the Lib Dems. Labour leader Jules Pipe was suitably dressed in a sombre three-piece suit, rather like an undertaker. As he spoke of the financial crisis and the need to accept the amended Plan, we could almost see the glint of moonlight on the brass handles of the awaiting coffin. He was rewarded by a cry of ‘Tory Scum!’ from the public gallery. A couple of his colleagues said the Council workforce enjoyed too generous terms of employment. They probably hadn’t met the skilled engineer - a first-time demonstrator outside - who told N16 that he was to be made redundant after 30 years service. His redundancy pay had been cut from around £21,000 to £6,600. Others, notably Fran Pearson and Julie Grimble, two harassed-sounding Chairs of committees, spoke with conviction (over the hubbub from the gallery and Lib Dems) about the very real difficulties they faced in trying to administer cash-strapped Hackney. The Tory leader, Eric Ollerenshaw, banged on in bluff northern tones about necessary sacrifices in a manner that implied that soft southerners in Hackney have had it too good for too long. His sidekick, a younger man in a woolly sweater called Chris O’Leary, intervened several times in the proceedings to establish himself as a leading Conservative spokesman. He is obviously playing Portillo to Ollerenshaw’s Hague. Watch out, Eric. The leading Liberal Democrats interrupted and chatted amongst themselves during the evening. They obviously believed that continual ‘points of order’ and objections to the Mayor’s rulings would somehow avert the inevitable. They put forward some cogent criticisms of the Plan but no alternative proposals. Their speakers played to the gallery (literally) from where they received shouts of support. Chit Chong, the Green representative, denounced the loss of the borough’s translation service. The people were represented by a deputation from the Hackney Council Tenants and Residents’ Convention. They weighed in with some gusto against the disastrous ITNet, the private company which had failed to collect council tax and pay housing benefits. They were asked to answer questions from Councillors, a difficult task, as these all turned into speeches. Just in case the Councillors felt the pain was bearable, the sinister figure of the
Borough Treasurer explained that the dreaded Section 114, which removes Decision time arrived at around 10.30 pm. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of the Plan. Labour and Tories for, Lib Dems and Greens against. The ropes were loosened and the torture was over - for the time being. Can there be gain from the pain?
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their financial powers, could be re-imposed even if the amended Plan was
passed. If the District Auditor felt that they were only trying to buy time before
returning to their spendthrift ways they could be back on the rack immediately - with a
few thumbscrews thrown in for good measure.