Daily Times

The crisis of the UK’s local governments is growing day by day. The councils face numerous social, political and economic crises. Unemployment and homelessness are on the rise, and corruption, nepotism and racism have increased. Low wages and welfare cuts have created a criminal culture. Drug addiction, prostitution and human trafficking have become profitable business. The gap between the poor and rich, extremism, hatred, racism, discrimination and forceful eviction of tenants from their houses are wider diseases that put the lives of elderly people in trouble.

The pattern of local government in the UK is very complex as the distribution of functions varies according to administrative arrangements. In London, all decisions are taken by parliament because London does not have devolved assemblies outside the city. In 1994, the UK was subdivided into nine regions, while only London has an elected mayor and parliament. Like many other boroughs, the London Borough of Hounslow has its own bureaucratic system, which is very complicated. The borough was established in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963.

In the UK, councils are responsible for ensuring public money is safeguarded, properly accounted for and used to deliver maximum value to their communities. Consequently, their business must be conducted in line with the law and proper standards, but the case is different here. Corruption is an issue that has painted an ugly picture of local governments. Corruption is problematic precisely because it crosses the boundary between public life and private interests. Transparency International, in its report for 2013, has expressed deep concern over the prevailing culture of corruption. In Hounslow Council, there is a considerable degree of concern from residents about the involvement of council staff members in corruption cases. These residents feel that mechanisms for scrutiny remain weak despite growing instances of corruption.

Numerous cases are currently emerging about Miss Mary Harpley, chief executive of the Hounslow Council, though the process of investigation is very slow. For example, in the housing strategy for 2014, while the council accepted the multidimensional role of ethnic minorities and said it should support them and meet their needs, Miss Harpley continues to maintain a strict bureaucratic system that prevents minorities from petitioning or entering her office. This is a clear contradiction evident in Miss Mary Harpley’s policies.

When complainants want to contact her by phone, she does not respond. The humiliation of old aged men and women of different ethnicities and the harassment of poor tenants through various administrative means raises serous questions about the allegedly multicultural policy of Miss Harpley’s office. In Hounslow West, a dozen ethnic minority residents told this scribe that officers of the housing department continue to harass them illegally, going so far as to suspend their housing benefits or prolong the processing of their claims. An elderly man from Wellington Road told me that the attitude of housing benefit officers is unmistakably regrettable, and that they have to endure sneers and scornful smiles continuously. Miss Harpley must understand that a majority of the council residents have come from a war zone; they are oppressed, distressed, suffer from anxiety, torment and mental diseases. They have lost their families and loved ones, lost their houses and properties. They must be treated in a professional manner, not oppressed bureaucratically.

Mismanagement and the intractable bureaucratic culture in Miss Mary Harpley’s council offices raised several questions about her administrative mechanism and fairness. Allegations of corruption, degradation and harassment of visitors have surfaced repeatedly, while racism and discrimination are obviously prevalent. That all this could be going on under Miss Harpley’s nose without her knowing beggars belief, yet so far no action has been taken against corrupt officials or those who intimidate tenants time and again.

The Borough of Hounslow, in its anti-fraud and corruption strategy, states, “The council will not tolerate fraud and corruption by its councillors, employees, suppliers, contractors or services users and will take all necessary steps to investigate all allegations of fraud and corruption, and pursue sanctions available in each case, including removal from office, dismissal and prosecution.”

However, this seems to simply be a whitewash, with various stains on the council’s reputation consistently emerging. In one case, according a local newspaper report, two officers of the Hounslow Council were accused of using labour and supplies from Hounslow Homes to repair their own residences. There were also allegations that a dummy company was secretly established to fraudulently siphon off funds.

The council issued a quizzical statement saying, “Such allegations are treated very seriously and investigated in accordance with the Hounslow Homes Disciplinary Procedure.” It appears this was simply a move to placate residents. The Hounslow Chronicle once revealed that a major probe into alleged staff corruption was launched by the council’s housing arm, which manages 16,500 houses in the borough. However, the council’s spokesman was afraid to disclose whether any staff member had been suspended or sacked as a result of the probe. In another case, the Fraud Squad of Scotland Yard was called by the council following concerns arising from an internal investigation thought to involve the housing service division; the squad made some arrests but further investigation is needed as to the depth of these crimes. Meanwhile, Miss Harpley receives a generous salary while the council suffers a financial crisis. The council ironically stated, “It is astonishing that it appears chief executives are finding elaborate ways to hike their pay through the back door. A culture of bumper pay and perks has no place in local government, especially during this tough time across the public sectors.” However, so far, little has been done.

Whilst this situation prevails, poor and helpless complainants will continue to suffer from injustice, Hounslow Council services will remain incorrectly oriented and inept officers will walk away knowing that Miss Harpley’s administration is in denial of the truth. We were told upon the appointment of Miss Harpley that she would introduce professional measures to tackle corruption and mismanagement but she has failed to do so or to create a climate of ethnic concordance.

The writer is the author of Punjabi Taliban and can be reached at zai.musakhan222@gmail.com