John Biggs comes out to play

Labour’s John Biggs promised that he would be accountable to his electors and he’s making a start by coming out from the Town Hall to meet the public at sessions he has called the “Mayoral Assembly”. The Assembly is timed to last just 90 minutes, the same time as a Premier Division football match – that’s about half the time scheduled for meetings of the Council in the Town Hall.

Cllr Oliur Rahman, Leader of the Independent Group of councillors, said, “I think Labour’s John Biggs has played a bit of an own goal here. How much transparency can we get in just 90 minutes? That’s less than one minute for every one thousand people who voted in the last mayoral election. All I can say is, ‘referee!’”

The next “Mayoral Assembly” will be held at Chisenhale Primary School, Chisenhale Road, on Wednesday, 9th March from 7.30-9pm. It is the second Assembly which John Biggs has held since he became mayor some eight months ago. The event has been billed as an opportunity for the community to discuss any issues or concerns they have with John Biggs and senior council staff, but it will also have a special focus on Anti-Social Behaviour and on street cleanliness.

This very wide agenda was emphasised by John Biggs, who said: “It’s very important to me to meet residents and hear from them, face to face, about what matters to them in their local area. I look forward to hearing what people have to say about our plans to improve street cleanliness and tackle anti-social behaviour, or any other issue that they would like to raise. I’m hoping for a lively debate!”

•Residents who cannot attend the Assembly are encouraged to send their questions in to the Town Hall:
•telephone 020-7364 4389
•email: consultation@towerhamlets.gov.uk
•tweet to @MayorJohnBiggs or @TowerHamletsNow using #askthemayor