Harlow Council leader and Labour clash over who is running the council
News / Mon 28th Oct 2024 at 10:09am
THERE were angry exchanges in the Harlow Council chamber as the Labour opposition continued their quest to find out who was running the council.
During the meeting, Passmores councillor, Tony Edwards tried to get to the bottom of it.
He was met by a robust response from the council leader, Dan Swords.
To recap: After the long long reign of the chief executive, Malcolm Morley, Harlow Council has had a revolving door of chief executives (Brian Keane, Andrew Bramidge) as well as interim chief executives (Rob Tinlin, Yvonne Rees).
The Conservative leaders argument is that it is all about outcomes.
Labour is not convinced and cllr Edwards made his feelings known.
The exchange is below.
Adam
2024-10-28 10:29:10
Muppets, muppets are running the council, and the country. It does not matter which colour red or blue they are they are all muppets destroying our once great nation.
Seamus
2024-10-28 12:25:59
Councillor, and I do stress councillor Swords, doesn't like being challenged does he. It ties in with his inability or unwillingness to answer the simplest of questions. Why are so many departments without a head of department? It's a very simple question that deserves a straight forward answer. Councillor Swords wouldn't answer because he might fear the Nolan Principles being applied to himself and those councillors who also seem to have taken over the running of departments which has never been the role of a councillor.
Nicholas Taylor
2024-10-28 13:29:11
So residents are not allowed to know what was contained in the report about the future of the Senior management team and the way the council will be run in the future? So no resident consultation about this matter? Whilst it is understandable that reports that are commercially sensitive are held in private there is no reason why others should be. Cllr Edwards was right to ask questions as he did, readers will note how Cllr Swords refused to answer and then shut down debate. Quite frankly the situation is appalling, the council should be run on a day to basis by directors of service and council officers, not elected Councillors who have no qualification to do so. Role on May 2026 when the next Local elections take place.
AB
2024-10-28 13:39:33
Councillors are apparently running the council without the objective and professional oversight, let alone involvement, of senior officers. This is very dangerous and with the arrogant blocking techniques used by Councillor Swords,vwill end in a corrupt mess.
JR
2024-10-28 15:39:16
Dan Swords just like to play at being head of Harlow council He's arrogant just as "BOYS," of he's age are. He doesn't & can't answer a question because he doesn't have the knowledge or capability of being head of Harlow council. He just shuts everything down because he has no answers. The less staff he has with qualifications the less wages he has to account for & the more he can take, jack of all positions , also thinks he's running the whole show. Swords likes having a platform especially when it comes down to the sites where he can have he's hard hat on ....please he's a big kid !!. As for the public do a survey around Harlow because none of what he say's is true or correct. Harlow council staff around him must have been mad to put him in the position of head of Harlow council. What guy really looks like you can take him seriously with a suit that is ill fitted & grubby trainers on. He twitches & messes about everytime with he's tie when he is put on the spot. He never looks or comes across comfortable with confidence unless he's on some building site with he's hard hat pair red gloves high Vis jacket ZIPPED ALL the way up he's trainers & a big smirk across he's face in Harlow News like a big kid!! All he's interested in is the job description the wage & playing at what he's suppose to be doing, why do you think Harlow is in the shape it's in right now & that is it's worse than it was since he's been on board. Personally I think he's full of bull...t We need someone with confidence knowledge & above all who really does care for Harlow people across the board on everything.
Frank
2024-10-28 18:27:39
the council is saving a fortune on the saved wages of overpaid directors and chief executive, all these staff do is make a final decision following the recommendation of lower paid front line staff. Officer to team manager to service manager to assistant director to director to chief executive to Dan Sword, well done Dan for cutting out all the middle men and taking on the roles himself.
Ian McNaught
2024-10-28 18:28:41
I am a Council tenant and I did not realise that such a simple question could not be answered in a honest and straight forward manner. I dread to think what else is not being made public knowledge. This is not good news, if you cannot ask a simple question, I fear for Harlows future.
Les Bayliss
2024-10-28 18:32:40
Seems like Dan Swords wants to do what the last Tory Government were good at. Dont take responsilbilty or accountability, contract out and blame others. Just like the traffic log jam throughout the Town. Not good enough Im affraid
New Town Dreaming
2024-10-28 21:13:41
My goodness, the arrogance of Dan Swords here is astounding. If he really thinks that the people of Harlow feel that they are getting a good service, he’s more out of touch than I thought. And then to thank the council staff, who must be overstretched filling roles which are vacant or absent but still needed. What happens when those people burn out? Will the lack of need to pay their wages be spun as a positive surplus too? Thank you Councillor Tony Edwards
Richard
2024-10-28 22:06:52
This council is corrupt to the core like most councils they line there own pockets and steal the public's money with their fraudulent council tax they issue fake summons and liability orders against people that have discovered their criminal actions and hide behind unlawful regulations its about time the police investigate their malfeasance in public office and time people wake up to the fact.
Nigel
2024-10-29 00:05:44
How can be spending are money well When you waist millions? on redoing the town centre again , when pot holes on roads cycle tracks and pedestrian pathways around the town , Tory council guilty of giving public money away to there friends in construction , Fredrick Gibbard would be turning in his grave at what the Tories are waiting are money on
Mick
2024-10-29 06:34:31
Let the public see the full accounts, something is strange when they are covered up.
KY
2024-10-29 13:49:52
Well done Tony Edward's for bringing to notice that Harlow Council have a ship with no crew and no leadership in place! Seems to reflect the national Tory Party for the past 14 years!
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