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Haringey Labour councillor resigns over HDV
A Haringey councillor has resigned, attacking council leader Claire Kober in his resignation letter for her pursuit of the controversial Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV).
Stuart McNamara, a former cabinet member, was critical of the HDV during his time on the council’s housing scrutiny committee but was removed from that committee by council leaders.
In his letter, he said he still supported the Labour Party, of which he and Ms Kober are both members, but that he would not be standing again as a councillor.
In the letter, he denounced Ms Kober’s “intransigence over the HDV” and accusing her of “wrecking ball tactics”, “horrific wasting of public money on nonsense vanity projects” and “an ideological determination to pursue outdated and maverick policies”.
Mr McNamara had a number of complaints about Ms Kober’s leadership in his five-page letter, but his main reason for resigning was the HDV, a council plan to regenerate the borough in a 50/50 partnership with private developer Lendlease.
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The plans have caused uproar in the borough, the local Labour Party, and nationally. They are currently subject to ongoing legal battles.
Mr McNamara wrote: “What you are currently planning to do through the council’s proposed partnership with Lendlease which was, in effect, sprung on all of us when it was too late to plead for reason and restraint, is splitting the Labour Party and putting you at odds with almost everyone else, including a number of your cabinet [members].
He added: “You have totally ignored the scrutiny process, which was far more thoughtful, thorough, and in depth than anything you, or officers, could deliver and you have sought to insult the intelligence of your fellow councillors and the public by peddling the pretence that the council has undertaken meaningful consultation and has met its Public Sector Equality Duty.”
In her response to Mr McNamara’s letter, Ms Kober accused him of being involved in “approving the business case for the HDV and agreeing in November 2015 that the council should proceed with the procurement of a joint venture partner” while he was on the council, a charge he denies.
She concluded: “I agree that the challenge is greater now and will continue to be so, which is why I understand your decision to put your health and your family first and wish you the best of luck in the future.”
The Labour process for selecting candidates to run in next year’s council elections is underway.
