Email to GLA Representatives and Redbridge activists

 This is the email below I sent to GLA representatives and others on the 13th September. If there is a positive  response. I will write further. 

Dear GLA representatives and Redbridge Activists 

On 19th September, I and I hope others will ask Cllr Rai to order a transparent investigation into Jas Atwal and his managing agent for whether they should be charged for not having landlord licences.

 

I expect my question to be ruled out of order, on the next day, the 20th September, we could announce organise a cross party delegation to 10 Downing Street asking the PM to intervene.

 

Redbridge Trades Council is supporting the trip.

 

I don't have to one of the six attending, the idea is that elected representatives are likely to get some press coverage and hopefully we might get some MPs to meet us. A cross party selection of MPs and GLA reps seems difficult to achieve, but if it happened it would put pressure on the PM to do something. My view is it is really important that we all subject to the rule of law.  

 

First draft of letter below:

 

Dear Sir Keir Starmer


 

We are concerned by reports that Cllr Jas Athwal MP has not renewed his landlord licences.


 

Should this be correct his tenants may have suffered harm. This is because if he had renewed his licences an inspection may be been triggered which would have led to the reported defects being remedied.


 

Redbridge Council is refusing to commission a transparent investigation into whether Cllr Athwal or his managing agent should be questioned. We say this is unacceptable, we say we must be equal before the law, anything else undermines faith in our democracy.


 

We ask you you to instruct Redbridge Labour to commission an investigation in Cllr Atwal and his managing agent to include:


 

  1. An immediate Council inspection of all 15 properties owned by Cllr Athwal

  2. An immediate Council inspection of a selection of similar properties managed by Cllr Athwal 's managing agent to discover if the faults found at Cllr Athwal's properties were a one off or typical of the flats managed by the agent.

  3. Publication of the relevant emails from the council to Cllr Athwal and his agent/

  4. A judgment as to whether charges should be brought against Cllr Athwal or his managing agent.

This episode has shown clear conflict of interests arising from Councils monitoring Cllrs like Jas Athwal who are landlords. We suggest you set a national landlord register to prevent such conflicts arising.

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

Andy

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