STOP PRESS: Private Eye's - Smart Alec

In the latest edition of Private Eye (28 Nov 08) you will find a rather interesting article in the 'Rotten Boroughs' section, p13 entitled 'Smart Alec'. Your local newsagent will happily sell you a copy of the genius publication for £1.50.

Regular readers of the Eye will be aware that Newham Council and Sir Robin Wales are a frequent feature in the Rotten Boroughs section - which is indicative of the less than healthy activities and interests that the local council seems to be happy to be promote and be part of. Other names mentioned are : Hill & Knowlton and Boris, Mayor of London.

"SMART ALEC"

"Last month Newham council voted in favour of allowing London City Airport to increase flights from 80,000 to 120,000 a year - an extra 150 flights a day. The protests of east London residents worried about noise , pollution and global warming were brushed aside. Anti-airport campaigners were dismayed at the about-turn of London mayor Boris Johnson, who had said he opposed the airport's expansion and then said he was actually in favour of it.

Newham labour councillor and City Airport consultative committee member Alec Kellaway is a big supporter of the airport, faithfully following the line of Newham mayor "Sir" Robin Wales that it is "good for jobs" andhelps regenerate the area. Alas , very little of the business that comes through the airport actually stays in the borough - although there are oppurtunities for cleaners.

City Airport earlier this year hired big-hitting PR firm Hill & Knowlton to spin its case. H&K is owned by the US media/PR conglomerate WPP - in which according to Newham council's register of members interests , Cllr Alec Kellaway happens to own shares worth more than £25,000. No conflict of interest there , then."

Hill & Knowlton and Newham Council, Keeping it in the family

Last week we found out that Cllr Alec Kellaway holds £25K + shares in WPP - the owner of Hill & Knowlton. No wonder Cllr Kellaway was pretending to residents that expansion would not be at any cost, whilst being a secret squirrel and submitting a letter in support of the expansion behind their backs. A slight conflict of interest wouldn't you say? Something about lining one's own pocket and business interests. Not a very honest move for a lay reader.

Today - yet another connection between Hill & Knowlton and Newham Council has come to light:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/3/BBB/339

Paula Feery
Associate Director at Hill & Knowlton
London, United Kingdom

Past
Community Relations Manager at London Borough of Newham

Paula Feery’s Summary
Key player in the Learning and Skills Council's current ‘In Our Hands’ national campaign to inspire everyone to learnMedia and stakeholder relations for UK government agency with an £11 billion annual spendCommunications strategist for national and international programmes

Paula Feery’s Specialties:
Public sector media relations and internal commsCorporate communications - profile and brand development. Creating fully integrated PR/marketing/advertising campaigns

Associate Director
Hill & Knowlton
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; WPPGY; Public Relations and Communications industry)
March 2006 — Present (2 years 9 months)
Public sector - education/employer B2B communications, public awareness campaigns for the Learning and Skills Council

Community Relations Manager
London Borough of Newham
(Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; Government Administration industry)
November 2004 — August 2005 (10 months)
BME communications, change management for this Olympic borough

Oh joy, lets keep in the family!

A Case of The Kellaways

Back in April 2008, Newham residents were told by Stephen Timm's MP and Councillor Alec Kellaway(also member of the London City Airport Consultative Committee) the following:

"Alec said extra employment would be a deciding factor but not at any cost, & what we need is anything that can counter this". For example, when the LCA are not abiding by its operating procedures, Extra noise levels, from noisier flights, especially the noisy private jets (numbers of these are supposed to be limited), flights out of hours, & so called emergency flights (they are only allowed to claim a cetain amount). They claim to be a good neighbour, with good liaisons with locals, & doing lots for the community, does anyone have any evidence of this?"

Well, as you all know, London City Airport have behaved appallingly towards residents and they have completely ignored many of the conditions in the Section 106 which have resulted to the detriment to residents. The fact that residents who have lived in an area for over 40 years have to ask others what the airport has been doing for the community says it all - nothing.

So Cllr Kellaway and Stephen Timms MP were passed this information - after all that is what they requested from the residents. What is more, Newham have even admitted the failings of the their own ability to enforce, and of their 'frustration' with London City Airport to follow the legally set conditions upon which they are required to operate.So what are they going to do with the evidence? Or was this simply an excercise they hoped residents would fail in?

Councillor Kellaway was clearly suffering from amnesia when speaking to the residents or was he just being rather two faced and hypocrital with them about 'the airport should not expand at any cost' . Why do we say this?

Of the three wards nearest to the airport, NOT ONE councillor has made a represenation on behalf of their constituents in regard to the London City Airport expansion application: THAT IS OF COURSE EXCEPT COUNCILLOR KELLAWAY - IN A PRIVATE CAPACITY HE SUBMITTED A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPANSION (this can be viewed at Newham Planning).

So we cannot help but question why Councillor Kellaway would want to be so disingenous to his constituents and send them on evidence finding missions when all along he had not told them that he had sent a letter of support to Newham?

Here's a few freebies that Cllr Kellaway has received from the LCACC and LCA:

03/07/2007 - London City Airport Consultative Committee, 10th Anniversary Reception. Name of Donor: London City Airport Consultative Committee (Masterplan time!)

12/07/2007 - London City Airport Consultative Committee Annual Familiarisation Trip to Edinburgh incorp. coach trip, and lunch; Name of Donor: London City Airport Consultative Committee. (Application time!)

27/05/2008 - Complimentary Gift Bag; Name of Donor: Reception on boat by City Airport to celebrate 20 years of operation, City Airport, Royal Docks, E16

And a full list of councillors who have not been bothered to do what they are paid to do, represent the residents.

• Canning Town South (Councillors Craig, Ademolake and Stafford)
• Custom House (Councillors Butler, Holland and McCauley)
• Beckton (Councillors Bowden, Chaudhury
• Royal Docks: (Councillors McAlmont, Murphy and Tucker)

And they wonder why residents have no faith in them.