Exclusive By Sean Whetstone and Hugh Southon
Newham Council is setting up what has been dubbed a ‘truth commission’ to look into West Ham’s relationship with Newham Council during the lead-up to the club being awarded the London Stadium.
In the latest edition of Private Eye it has been suggested the new Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz will create a truth commission to looking at a wide range of possible wrong-doings.
As a result of the Eye’s claims, ClaretandHugh contacted Newham Council where the mayor gave us an exclusive statement on the position. And Mayor Fiaz who laid a wreath at the London Stadium last weekend (below right) confirmed the move to look into the decisions made in connection with the London Stadium.
Her statement reads: “I am committed to openness, transparency and accountability and involving residents in decision making. I’ve brought in independent financial experts to review the council’s budget and published the independent report on decisions made in connection with the London Stadium.
As part of changing the culture and practices in Newham, I have re-invigorated the role of scrutiny and I’ve also made sure that the decision making power is now shared with the entire Cabinet, doubled the number of council meetings and involved residents in Citizen Assemblies in every ward.
Working with my 60 councillor colleagues, I am rebuilding trust with local people and that means embedding good governance, better decision making, and openness in the way we do business. The interim chief executive is also taking forward plans to improve our culture and practices and members have briefed on this.
“Some individuals have raised concerns regarding historic issues in relation to council dealings, and I have asked officers to look into them, as we would do with any concerns raised about the council.”
However, at West Ham United a club insider contacted us via telephone to say: “It is all nonsense. We were the best of the bids picked by an independent body which was not Newham council.
“Our final negotiations were with Boris Johnson and his representatives and not Newham. It is all a waste of time, the truth commission sounds a bit like China or Russia under Stalin! Without us the stadium would be an eyesore and a derelict bowl. Just look at most ex-Olympic stadiums around the world. “
Seems politically motivated but if she is true and transparency shows no untoward actions from us then it could turn out positive. On the subject of negative press I see that idiot Roan is still writing articles for the BBC… they could do with some transparency and truth commission also imho
Ere, do us a favour Cuz, see if you can dig up a bit of dirt on West Ham.
Come on fellas,are you having a laugh? I have a different take on this.
So many people involved in the early days appeared to be on a massive ego trip – Wales included. So surely the new Mayor has to exorcise those ghosts by initiating a thorough investigation into the whys and wherefores of the council’s (lost) investment – £40m or whatever it was.
I don’t see this as a criticism of us, more of the council representatives who were seduced by Coe, Johnson or whoever back in the day – this was money which could have been used for, say, providing badly needed housing, social services, etc. Doesn’t mean that we won’t be slagged off, of course – everyone else does it.