Forum Topic

Julian Bell, Lead of Ealing Council - in question again?

Is it appropriate for the Leader of Ealing Council, Julian Bell, to receive air tickets to the MIPIM conference in Nice (that's the International property players conference), along with hotel and expenses paid?  Plus, MIPIM gave him the Cycle to Cannes entry ticket at £1,649, plus a train ticket to Cannes,  plus the entry ticket for the conference of £1,000 plus a donation for the charity cycle ride he did to the tune of £2,300?  Not to mention the Berkeley Group paying him and his wife £330 to attend the Berkeley Charity Ball.He's declared it on his personal interests declaration.  Problem is.....MIPIM includes Catalyst amongst other developers, such as Wilmott Dixon and Berkeley.  Is this a conflict of interest?

Angela White ● 4053d22 Comments

There is a register of interests and gifts received at the Council why don't the people who love to fling copious amounts of a certain chocolate like substance on here go and have a look and see if Julian Bell has declared  any potential conflicts? What you are basically implying is that he is corrupt I'd urge him to sue the lot of you for defamation of character.

Gary Sinclair ● 4043d

Read wwww.brentfordtw8.com to see some of what is happening in Hounslow.  Most recently re Brentford Lea Rec which is Metropolitan Open Land.

Philippa Bond ● 4044d

Valid points on where the infrastructure to support densely populated Acton is coming from. Council only implement these facilities retrospectively if at all. More on point the thread raises the worrying matter of Julien Bell and what seems to be a dubious set up between the developers who finance his trips & acommodation & the leader of the council they are asking permission from to build whopping great estates. And why are you ignorning the 2 houses element of this?I would think Julien Bells activities give the potential for bias  If he was squeaky clean then give the appearance of being so.

Tom Coyle ● 4044d

The point here is why is such a plethora of building going on, when the infrastructure to support such densely populated homes is in decay and not being given the financial, technical, green space, medical, knowledgeable support needed. If you are planting seeds/plants whichever you prepare the ground first. Not the reverse. No Brainer.

Jan Farlow ● 4049d

Yes

Gary Sinclair ● 4050d

conspiracy theorists? Does that mean the moon landing was filmed in a garden shed development around Friars Way then?

Ewan Howard ● 4050d

Give it a rest mate , you clearly have an axe to grind or your own political motives, your paranoia makes you sound completely deranged, poor Ealing having to deal with such stupid cynical conspiracy theorists,what ever they do will NEVER please you

Gary Sinclair ● 4050d

Nutter.  As long as it's not on their doorstep, Acton has become the target for Ealing councils dumping ground. Time to wise up Gary.Two homes Bell lives in Acton his constituency is Greenford. Patricia Walker represents Acton Central, but lives in Ealing. Hardly living where they represent, is it.You still haven't answered the question. Please cut the bull, you are only showing yourself up as a Labourite flunky.

Ewan Howard ● 4050d

The council is composed of democratically local councillors who live in their constituencies i.e. they are local people themselves(!)  and they have considerable legal powers regards planning applications and vis a vis developers. So instead of just bitching on this website why not go to the local councillors surgeries and council committee meetings and put your suspicions to them their, because a lot is bounded about regards evil developers in bed with sinister councillors but I have to say very little in the way of hard objective evidence is ever produced. Good luck

Gary Sinclair ● 4050d

Now a question for you Gary.Where are the following that will be needed to accommodate this influx on us with all this HIGH RISE regeneration?Schools, GP's. Hospitals with functioning A&E's, including enough beds to accommodate the rising population, NHS dentists.What are the council and the greedy developers doing to address this shortcoming? Don't feel shy to answer, I'm sure we would all like to know the answer.

Ewan Howard ● 4050d

that contribute to a cynical attitude to public life which undermines the very democracy they carp on about

Gary Sinclair ● 4050d

No, what is nice is to see is our Council and it's leader talking to developers and other interested parties in a drive to regenerate parts of this borough, that is highly commendable and I have absolutely no issue with what Julian Bell is doing, most Councils in London do the same, and I'm sure Julian Bell et al are fully aware of their legal responsibilities in these matters as legal advice will have undoubtedly been sought and been given. People talk about wide spread cynicism with politics but it's some peoples paranoid and delusional conspiracy theories  no doubt with their own hidden agendas

Gary Sinclair ● 4050d

Nice to see our council tax is being spent so well!

Chris Hurley ● 4050d

Below is from the Ealing.gov.uk website as declared gifts and hospitality by Julian Bell (let's put aside for now the long-standing issue of the two homes he resides in, one privately owned by him, the other is an A2 Dominion housing association home):Thu, 1 Nov 2012 November 2012 I received a Diwali gift from Lord Noon MBE of Bombay Halwa Ltd - 1 box of Bombay Mix, 1 box of luxury Indian sweets and 1 box of dry fruits. Thu, 7 Mar 2013 7-15 March 2013- Charity cycle ride MIPIM conference, Cannes. Cycle to Cannes Cycle ride entry Sponsors - Barratt Homes/Benson Elliott/Catalyst Housing/Countryside Properties/EC Harris/Segro/University of West London/Willmott Dixon/Berkeley Group/3 Fox International £1649Thu, 7 Mar 2013 7-15 March 2013- Charity cycle ride MIPIM conference, Cannes. Cycle to Cannes Charity donation £2,300Thu, 7 Mar 2013 7-15 March 2013- Charity cycle ride MIPIM conference, Cannes. MIPIM conference entry ticket £1,000Thu, 7 Mar 2013 7-15 March 2013- Charity cycle ride MIPIM conference, Cannes. Train ticket- Cannes to London £220Tue, 12 Mar 2013 7-15 March 2013- Charity cycle ride MIPIM conference, Cannes. Hotel in Cannes 12-15 March £480Tue, 12 Mar 2013 7-15 March 2013- Charity cycle ride MIPIM conference, Cannes. Lunches/Dinners 12-14 March £260Thu, 27 Jun 2013 The Berkeley Group Attended the Berkeley Foundation Charity Ball with Mrs Bell including a three course meal and entertainment Approx £300Fri, 1 Nov 2013 Lord Noon MBE Received a Diwali gift from Lord Noon MBE of Bombay Halwa Ltd - box of Indian sweets (Mithai) and a box of nuts. Mon, 10 Mar 2014 MIPIM Cycle to Cannes Charity Donation £2,300Mon, 10 Mar 2014 MIPIM Cycles to Cannes Entry (Sponsors - Wilmott Dixon, Countryside Properties, Benson Elliott, Catalyst Housing, GVA, EC Harris, St James, University of London) £1,649Mon, 10 Mar 2014 MIPIM Cycle to Cannes Jerseys (Sponsors - Wilmott Dixon, Countryside Properties, Benson Elliott, Catalyst Housing, GVA, EC Harris, St James, University of West London) £171Mon, 10 Mar 2014 MIPIM MIPIM Conference entry ticket £1000Fri, 14 Mar 2014 MIPIM Plane tickets from Nice to Heathrow £540.00Tue, 11 Mar 2014 MIPIM Hotel room for three nights £509Tue, 11 Mar 2014 MIPIM      Breakfast/lunch/dinner events £250.00

Angela White ● 4050d

This is the whole point - it's all a bit too cosy and their referred to as "partners", therefore, I ask, where is the objectivity when a multi-million pounds ambitious redevelopment project comes along?  It seems this was an invitation to many of the senior employees and the Leader of the Council by several companies and housing associations who wished to woo them, am I right?

Angela White ● 4050d

Above from http://www.3foxinternational.com/events/49/Ealing--MIPIM-2015

Paul Webster ● 4050d

The agenda:Ealing @ MIPIM 2015Date: 10-13 March 2015Location: Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France"Ealing is a thriving part of London, a great place to live, work and enjoy," said Ealing Council assistant director of regeneration and planning policy Lucy Taylor. "Investors have recognised that and are clamouring to develop in the borough. The challenge to us is how we can keep improving, making sure that the whole is more than the sum of the parts. Our challenge to developers and investors is to deliver more innovative and even higher-quality ideas and schemes, in terms of developments and also lifestyle improvements for our residents and commercial occupiers. We have to make the best better."Ealing Council unveiled a series of initiatives and targets for the Ealing Challenge at MIPIM in March 2015 and invited developers, investors and their advisors to meet the team at the event. Where and when you can meet Ealing in London:Tuesday 10 March15:00 - Cycle to Cannes cyclists arriveLocation: Palais des Festivals forecourtEaling Council leader Cllr Julian Bell and assistant director of regeneration and planning policy Lucy Taylor arrive as part of a 100-strong Broadgate Estates Cycle to Cannes peloton, after cycling 1,000 miles from London for charity.19.30- Ealing in London dinnerInvitation-only dinner with the Ealing in London delegation. Attended by the Ealing in London team, its partners, the GLA and guests. Wednesday 11 March09.30 - "Inward Investment Strategies at Borough Level."Location: New London Architecture, main stage, London PavilionEaling Council executive director for regeneration and housing Pat Hayes is participating in a panel discussion.10.00 - "Ealing: How we are using a council-owned company to build new homes." Location: New London Architecture, main stage, London PavilionEaling Council executive director for regeneration and housing Pat Hayes chairs a panel discussion including Nick Joplin, executive director, Grainger Plc; Richard Cherry, CEO partnerships, Countryside Properties; Tom Titherington, director of business development and market intelligence, Catalyst Housing.10.30 -Perceval House 'meet and greet' with the Ealing in London teamLocation: Ealing in London Stand, London PavilionAn open invitation to MIPIM delegates to discuss the forthcoming mixed-use redevelopment of Ealing Council's civic centre with Ealing in London and its partners.Ealing Town Centre is one of the most attractive investment locations in London and Ealing Council is one of London’s most proactive, go-ahead Local Authorities. Ealing Council is redeveloping one of their key assets - its offices at Perceval House on Ealing Broadway.The team are interested in talking to partners who could potentially bring original, creative and deliverable skill sets to this prestigious project.  Come and meet the team to talk about this new and exciting opportunity.11.00-Catalyst Housing meet and greet with the Ealing in London teamLocation: Ealing in London Stand, London Pavilion (Open invitation)Catalyst is one of London’s largest developers of private homes.  They have extensive experience of delivering complex, multi-phase, regeneration projects working to regenerate either their own or local authority estates and neighbourhoods.  Meet Julia Moulder (Director of Development), Griff Marshalsay (Assistant Director of Development) and Sue Cooper (Head of Business Development) at the Ealing in London stand along with members of Ealing Council, to learn more about their work, expertise and plans for the future.14:00 - Southall 'meet and greet' with the Ealing in London team and developer St JamesLocation: Ealing in London Stand, London PavilionAn open invitation to discuss the redevelopment of this substantial former gasworks in west London.This 85 acre Brownfield site will create 3750 new homes and 1000 jobs with a new school, health centre and parks being created with leisure and retail opportunities. The site is adjacent to the new Southall Crossrail station, with journey times of just 18 minutes into central London.Find out about the commercial property opportunities this scheme is bringing forward, with Ealing Council and developer of Southall gasworks, St James.15:00 - Broadway Living WorkshopLocation: Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co YachtBroadway Living host an invitation only workshop for councils developing their own housing stock, with advisors from Wragge Lawerence Graham & Co and Savills. Thursday 12 March14:30 - "Housing Innovation."Location: New London Architecture, main stage, London PavilionA panel discussion chaired by New London Architecture chairman Peter Murray and including Pat Hayes, executive director of regeneration and housing, Ealing Council; with Simon Powell, assistant director strategic projects and property at the Greater London Authority; Rosanna Lawes, executive director of development, London Legacy Development Corporation; Alex Greaves, residential fund manager, M&G Real Estate; and Iain Painting, planning partner, Barton Willmore. Who you can meet from Ealing in London:Ealing Council:Cllr Julian Bell, leaderPat Hayes, executive director of regeneration and housingNoel Rutherford, director of built environmentLucy Taylor, assistant director of regeneration and planning policyPhilippa Cartwright, regeneration project manager, Broadway LivingWendy Stokes, development project manager, Broadway Living MIPIM partners: St James - Sean Ellis, chairman; Alison Dowsett, managing director; Paul Prichard, development director and  Bruce Strong, ‎Commercial Development DirectorA2Dominion - Darrell Mercer, chief executive; John Knevett, chief commercial officerBenson Elliot - James Jakeman, principal; Peter Cornforth, director of retail operationsBritish Land - Charles Maudsley, executive director; Jean-Marc Vandevivere, head of residential; Tim Roberts, executive director and head of offices; Charles Butters, head of office investmentCatalyst Housing - Tom Titherington, director of business development and market intelligence; Julia Moulder, director of development; Griff Marshalsay, assistant director of development; Sue Cooper, head of business developmentCountryside Properties, Richard Cherry, CEO partnerships; Graham Cherry, CEO, new homes & communities; Peter Williams, director land; Michael Hill, associate director; Ian Simpson, land director; Philip Whitehead, regional regeneration directorCrosstree - Matt Mason, development directorGVA-John Jones, senior director; Lisa Riva, senior directorLondonewcastle - James Shindler, development director; Tom Berg, acquisitionsRydon Construction - Mark Mitchener, managing director; Tom Rigby, development directorUniversity of West London-Professor Peter John, vice-chancellor & chief executiveWillmott Dixon-Chris Tredget, managing director; Ian Smith, director

Paul Webster ● 4050d

No comment from Peter then.  I am all for listening to why this isn't or is a case of conflict of interest, or at least gives the appearance as such, which brings Julian Bell's impartiality and objectivity into question.  Vlod, I agree - if these trips are a necessity, surely they can be claimed as expenses.  Someone somewhere needs to ask some serious questions.

Angela White ● 4050d

It used to be a principle in the public sector that one accepted no hospitality that one could not return (eg., having sandwiches at meeting with a contractor is ok, being taken out to a Michelin starred dinner is not). If attending MIPIM is that important, expenses should be paid by the Council and justified as an appropriate way to spend Council taxpayer's money.

Vlod Barchuk ● 4053d

I rather think you have a point here Angela. I would have thought the acceptance of such generous gifts by Mr Bell and his wife would lead to questions being asked. For example Why? For what purpose? Who is going to benefit? The answer is ......... In fact any member of any governing/parliamentary group should beware of putting themselves in such a position.

Jan Farlow ● 4053d

Peter, I believe the question was mine.  I put it out there, so perhaps YOU can answer why you think this might be appropriate and not questionable at all.

Angela White ● 4053d

Can you spell out why you think, as you clearly do, that what you describe is not appropriate? Are you complaining about the conference itself, or that UK council leaders go there to meet property developers, or that they meet property developers at all, or that they go there at all, or that Mr Bell isn't paying for this trip out of his own pocket, or that he shouldn't accept a charity donation? And why do you automatically regard council leaders meeting property developers as a conflict of interests when, on many occasions, they need to work together?

Peter Evans ● 4053d