Hussain's Register - What Did Sharma Know?

We all now know that Labour's Deputy Leader, Mahboob Hussain, failed to declare his, his wife's and his family's shareholding in Five Star taxis even when that Company was "tendering" for shares of multi-million pound Council contracts.

The £164,159per annum Chief Executive of Sandwell Council, Jan Britton, has taken it upon himself as an officer of the Council to excuse Hussain's illegality (why?) and, apparently choosing to act as Hussain's spokesperson, has claimed that this was all some sort of a "mistake" and that the form was somehow difficult to fill in (total b*llocks). Of course, Britton is supposed to be in a politically-restricted post.....

Now Sandwell Council has an employee specifically given a statutory role (ie a defined legal position) as "Monitoring Officer" - £128,138 per annum Head of Legal, Neeraj Sharma. (When you have some time you might like to read my blog of 29th June, 2014, "Lessons from History?.....) One of Ms Sharma's legal duties is the keeping of the Register of Members' Interests.

Hussain, Sandwell's most-celebrated amnesiac, says he had forgotten about his Register entry when Five Star were bidding for the contract at the end of 2013 and so I am indebted to a third party for sending me this:

E-Mail to Neeraj Sharma specifically as Monitoring Officer - 12th NOVEMBER, 2013 (NB date)

"Register of Members' Interests - Councillor Mahboob Hussain

In his Declaration of 5th March, 2013, Councillor Hussain refers to unspecified interests in "Five Star Taxis, Portersfield, Dudley DY2 7AT". For the avoidance of any doubt, can you please clarify whether he is actually referring to "Five Star Taxis and Minibuses Limited" Company Number 06557553 of the same address."

Remember, this is while the taxi contract is up for grabs. Ms Sharma replied by e-mail on 23rd NOVEMBER, 2013:

"I have now had the opportunity to discuss your query with Councillor Hussain and I am able to confirm that the declared interest does relate to the company number you mention."

It is noteworthy that no attempt was made to correct the register at this stage nor to declare any interest in the contract tendering.

We must now ask why Hussain - even when reminded of his Register entry at this crucial time - saw fit not to amend his legal declaration and we must also ask what was actually discussed and how much Sharma knew at this point in time (during contractual tendering) about the Hussain family shareholding - particularly as Hussain has made the sweeping (and very alarming) statement that "everyone" at SMBC knew about it (including, one assumes, officers AND leading councillors).Unfortunately, the public who DO have a legal right to know these things were NOT told!

Of course, Labour's Hussain went on to make a false declaration when he changed his Register entry on 11th September, 2014. This is a criminal offence under Part 1 Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 and regulations made thereunder - The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 which came into force on 1st July, 2012.

(By the way, Sandwell Council's pet arse-lickers, The Express and Star, tried to claim yesterday that the second taxi contract bid for was for a share of a £3.5m contract but this is wrong. It is for a three-year contract at £3.5m PER ANNUM ie £10.5m. They also neglected to mention that Sandwell Labour have already paid Five Star some £100,000! You can't trust the Star!)

THE SANDWELL SKIDDER - A COMMUNITY BLOG - READ THE SKIDDER, KIDDER!

E-mail: thesandwellskidder@gmail.com                   Twitter: @bcrover (Vernon Grant)

Confidential phone no: 07599 983737