Southwark’s cupboard member for housing has resigned after it emerged he was utilizing an nameless Twitter account to criticise neighborhood teams.
An investigation from South London Press revealed that Cllr Leo Pollak was working beneath the title @SouthwarkYIMBY, a play on NIMBY (Not-in-my-back-yard), to advertise council schemes and home constructing.
However he was additionally slamming resident-led campaigns – this month @SouthwarkYIMBY labelled the Save Lengthy Lane Ballcourt and Backyard marketing campaign “pathetic nimbyism”.
The South London Press investigation discovered that the account was utilizing an e-mail – although it was starred for anonymity – that was “remarkably” much like Cllr Pollak’s council one and had a starred cellphone contact which shared the ultimate two digits together with his publicly-listed cellular quantity.
The account additionally retweeted a number of Cllr Pollak’s tweets.
Cllr Pollak resigned following a request for remark from the publication.
He apologised in his resignation letter for a “critical error of judgement”.
He stated: “It goes with out saying that this represents a critical error of judgement that doesn’t meet the requirements of openness and accountability that you’d anticipate of a public consultant, and I’m writing to give you all a full and unqualified apology.
“I’ve referred myself to the council’s monitoring officer and can settle for any suggestions made.”
Cllr Pollak will proceed to signify residents in South Bermondsey ward as a again bench councillor.
Council chief, Cllr Kieron Williams, stated: “While it’s proper that Cllr Pollak has resigned following a critical error of judgement, we are going to miss his enormous ardour for enhancing the lives of everybody who lives in council housing.
“From driving ahead our plan to construct 11,000 new council properties, to championing native estates by our Nice Estates programme, to campaigning tirelessly on points like proper to purchase and land reform, Leo has labored relentlessly to enhance the lives of our residents.
“Nonetheless, to be able to acquire and retain our residents’ belief, it’s important that each one politicians perform their work in a totally clear manner.
“On this case, sadly Cllr Pollak’s behaviour risked compromising that belief, and that’s the reason I’ve accepted his resignation as cupboard member for housing.”
I’m furious. How dare an elected councillor and cupboard member arrange his personal propaganda machine to bully residents. @SouthwarkLabour routinely deny our residents voices or denigrate anybody who disagrees with them. No surprise persons are sick of politicianshttps://t.co/ZqTK0uQpeW
— Cllr Humaira Ali (@cllrhumaira) February 16, 2021
The Liberal Democrat opposition blasted Cllr Pollak’s behaviour and the feedback of people that gave the impression to be defending him.
Cllr Anood Al-Samerai stated: “I’m so troubled to see Labour defending a councillor who has been secretly bullying residents.
“It’s appalling, no matter your views on council insurance policies. And exhibits such vanity that Labour councillors suppose they know greatest. Residents are allowed to precise views with out being victimised.”
Cllr Humaira Ali stated: “I’m furious. How dare an elected councillor and cupboard member arrange his personal propaganda machine to bully residents.
“Southwark Labour routinely deny our residents voices or denigrate anybody who disagrees with them. No surprise persons are sick of politicians.”
Cllr Williams has but to decide on a brand new cupboard member for housing and can oversee the council’s housing work within the interim.
A spokesperson for the council stated the monitoring officer will perform a full investigation into Cllr Pollak’s actions earlier than reporting her findings publicly.
