Councillors call for talks over CEO "suspension"
Isle of Dogs councillors are among the Tower Hamlets politicians calling for urgent talks over the "suspension" of chief executive Martin Smith.
Peter Golds, Tim Archer and Phil Briscoe want an extraordinary meeting of full council to discuss claims the CEO was sent home from duty on Wednesday.
The news came on the eve of voting for the European elections, for which Mr Smith is the council's returning officer.
The Conservative councillors speculate that the chief executive - who was only appointed two years ago - was removed following a clash with council leader Lutfur Rahman. The council did not wish to comment on the reports at this time, but claimed a response may be issued next week.
Councillor and Poplar and Limehouse MP candidate Tim Archer said: "Martin has confirmed to me that he had been asked to go on leave because of a disagreement between him and the leader of the council. But he can't go on leave because he's the returning officer, and there's the small matter of the European elections to consider.
"It's very unusual. There have been examples of chief executives leaving because they fell out with the leader, but they are very rare. If it's a case that they can't work together, you'd expect it to be dealt with in private and in a professional manner, not the day before an election."
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He is suspended because he is not a Muslim, the Assistant CEO and Tower Hamlets Labour crony Lutfur Ali will take over and as ever the decisions will be made after Friday prayers at the Mosque.
This Council is a joke now, how dare they think that they can do things like this because an officer doesn't do what they want, that
they can sack or suspend them.
Or is it a case of Luftar Ali wanting to appoint an Asian CEO, that would be even more corrupt.
I dread to think what will happen at the elections next year, the public will end up voting for the BNP to get rid of this corrupt bunch of losers!
When I was Chairman of the Finance Committee in Redbidge in the early 1980s I had the privilege and pleasure of presenting Martin Smith with his professional certificate when he graduated from the (then) Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Martin had a meticulous eye for detail, and an uncanny ability to see though any attempts at deception. He always played the proverbial "straight bat". He applied himself completely and unstintingly to his duties, offered detailed and impartial advice, and could always be relied upon to apply his time well and effectively.
I would be surpised - astonished, even - to learn that Martin had departed in any way from his long-established, thouroughly laudable principles. This situation has to be a "set up" and those responsible for setting it up should be disqualified from holding public office.
Yeah blame it on the Bengali/ Muslims go on! just because the council leader is exercising his rightful powers and being a puppet like the way the fat cats would like. Lutfur Rahman is elected by the public who the hell is the chief executive employed by – yeah by his cronies
I cant belive what I'm reading about Luftar Ali - especially his appointment, his continued employment? What government howver big or small, can allow this to go untreated!!!