Forum Topic

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz

Reported on Ealing Today that West London Waste Authority has shortlisted two contractors to handle residual waste for 6 boroughs including Ealing.Guess who is the chair of WLWA? The one and only Councillor Bassam Mahfouz. Wonder how that will work, and will he have any inside knowledge which he does not wish to reveal before the contract commences? Wrong lorries?

George Knox ● 5060d10 Comments

When I tried to find out how much less was going to landfill I found that the figures I came up with weren't just for Ealing - it was jointly with the other members of West London Waste.  (There was something - saying how many fewer trainloads were being sent off - at one time.)http://www.westlondonwaste.gov.uk/west-london-waste-authority/what-happens-to-your-waste/

Philippa Bond ● 5039d

There are a number of threads, postings and stories on other forums, including actonw3.com, indicating wide and  continuing dissatisfaction with Ealing Council on matters around recycling and waste collection. Some make interesting reading.

S Bradford ● 5039d

It is hard to believe anything that the people running the council say now. I was told on the phone that the lorries that collect the green box and white canvas sacks are supposed to keep items like shoes and batteries and oil on a separate compartment on the lorry. this week i put out some batteries on the top of my green box in a clear plastic sack so they would know it was batteries and also i had a pair of old shoes in there too, maybe not so visible and they threw the lot into a wheelie bin and then emptied the wheelie bin into the back of the lorry without separating the batteries or shoes. I just don't believe them anymore

Mark Stevens ● 5051d

Philippa,you are quite right when you say"Statistics don't show a lot of things - and the collection of the figures is often shown to be flawed." and, I may add, most often they do not add up.Have a look at the figures given in the Recycling and Street cleaning on pages 12 and 13 of Around Ealing - June 2012. Then compare them with those released by the council in response to the written questions made at the Special council meeting on 8th May, some of which related to the street cleaning and fly-tipping grading (you will find these on my tread posted after the council meeting "Street cleaning - the facts") and you will soon discovered how figures can be manipulated. Tony Blair had a reputation of being a Spin Doctor but our elected leaders clearly have overtaken him.What I find most amusing is the comment make by Cllr Bell, leader of the council: "I will be personally checking (street cleaning) performance level". Has even him got so little faith on the performance of the portoflio holder, Cllr Mahfouz?

Rosa Popham ● 5059d

Dunno.  What interests me is where they get their "advice" from.  Winchester had a bad start to their new similar contract.  Everybody has their own agenda.  I still wonder whether wheelie bins and AWC were top of someone's agenda here. No consultation when participation depends on the goodwill of the residents. That seems strange.It was a report from a company called Eunomia which gave a list of ways that Councils could make more money from recycling that highlighted garden waste.  Statistics don't show a lot of things - and the collection of the figures is often shown to be flawed.  We are all tempted by them because they are easy to hang on to and bandy about but they often don't mean much.I know a lot of people started using that system BECAUSE it was offered free and weekly.  Many either didn't use it or composted before.  It made the recycling rates rise; and the Recycling League Tables placings made it even more exciting; but that didn't mean that everybody who when offered it for a price would pay for it. There is no column and no percentage for people stopping composting or stopping having bonfires or whatever else they were doing with it!  It depends on lots of things eg how much garden you have and how much room you have for bins whether you'd choose to have it!You need to look for the bits that are missing in these reports.

Philippa Bond ● 5059d

Including failure to disclose?

George Knox ● 5059d

Masses of bureaucracy in which to lose the plot.

Philippa Bond ● 5059d

An awful long time gives time to dot the i's and cross the t's.

George Knox ● 5059d

He's been chair for a while.These tender procedures take an awful long time.

Philippa Bond ● 5059d

I'm sure that his experiences of recent events will well qualify Cllr. Mahfouz in this capacity.

Simon Bell ● 5060d