Islington Lib Dem leader, Councillor Terry Stacy: 'It is just too much of a coincidence that such a major reshuffle took place the very same night the worst scandal to hit the Labour council blew up'

Published: 18 May, 2012
by PETER GRUNER

CLAIMS that a major reshuffle of the ruling Labour group on Islington Council was sparked by the devas­tating leak of personal data of residents reporting anti-social behaviour, were being firmly denied this week.

In the recent saga, a housing official mistaken­ly sent details of complaints from residents on the Andover estate to 13 youths who were being served with injunctions.

As a result, five residents on the estate have asked to be rehoused and the council has announced an independent inquiry by the National Information Commissioner into the issue.

The Liberal Democrats claim that since the scandal broke Labour councillors decided on a major reshuffle of their leading members.

Changes include:
• Cllr Barbara Sidnell is losing her community safety portfolio and being handed a specially created and portfolio for tenants, residents and communities.

• Cllr Paul Convery is losing his former plan­ning, regeneration and transport portfolio. He now takes over community safety.

• Cllr James Murray is being given significant additional responsibilities for housing management, planning, development and transport.

• Janet Burgess is add­ing arts, culture, libraries and leisure services to her health and adult social care portfolio.

Islington Lib Dem leader, Councillor Terry Stacy, said: “It is just too much of a coincidence that such a major reshuffle took place the very same night the worst scandal to hit the Labour council blew up.”

But a spokeswoman for Islington’s Labour group said the reshuffle was decided a long time before the Andover issue.

 “No one has been sacked, this is simply a change of jobs to give members a wider experience,” she said.