A request for Haringey Council to be transparent about going to Cannes 2015

Below is my letter to Councillor Kober asking for her to be transparent in providing detail about the council's participation in MIPIM 2015, the property developers annual gathering in Cannes.

Before you read the letter I refer you to my Freedom of Information request about the council - Nick Walkley, Lyn Garner, Cllr Alan Strickland - going the French Riviera in March 2014.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/participation_in_the_mipim_2...

The recent letter to Cllr Kober offered the opportunity for the council to be up-front rather than have the information dragged out of them by an FOI. The Leader has not even acknowledged.

Below is the text of email sent on 16th January.

Dear Councillor Kober,

Please can you answer the below questions about Haringey Council's participation in MIPIM 2015, happening 10-13th March in Cannes?

I am sure you will, because you were bullish in defending the decision to go to MIPIM 2014. Plus, I know you will want to be transparent with residents at this key time when massive cuts to local services are being proposed.

So, rather than resort to the FOI route I am offering you the opportunity to be open. But
If compiling the requested information will take the full twenty days response time, then perhaps you can give a straightforward immediate confirmation of the council's participation.

On a related matter I have asked - via FOI - for the council's assessment off the benefits of attending MIPIM 2014 and while this was promised to me by the end of 2014 nothing has been provided. Nine months have passed since MIPIM 2014 and I would have thought the Council would have some idea of the benefit of going to Cannes. Please can you also get the quick release of this information?

I hope you cannes respond positively to this request about MIPIM 2015 and not require the information to be dragged out of the council by an FOI. Please can you provide any other information that you believe is useful in helping me as a taxpayer living in the Tottenham growth housing zone understand the obsession with exhibiting my local community at the developer beauty parade in Cannes?

Copied to all councillors so they know at a time of proposed cuts you still have the money to invest in the sell-off of Haringey at MIPIM 2015. Also copied to the chief executive and the director of 'physical' regeneration because their fondness for going to Cannes is known too.

As ever, happy to meet to discuss.

Regards,
Martin Ball

Tottenham Hale resident

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Dear Haringey Council,

Can you confirm that Haringey Council is attending MIPIM 2015 in Cannes, France, on 10-13th March?

When was the decision taken and by whom?

Which councillors and officers are attending the event to represent the council?

Who has the council paid to register as attendees at the event?

What is the expected expenditure of participating in MIPIM 2015?

I request all recorded information related to the decision to attend MIPIM 2015 and in particular the officer report on why the council should be present in Cannes.

Has the council approached other companies for sponsorship? Have other companies approached the council? I request copies of recorded information covering emails and meetings between the council and any sponsors. I request the names of sponsors and any money or benefits-in-kind they are providing to the participation of Haringey Council in MIPIM 2015.

Is the council paying for the Tottenham Model - currently on display in John McAslan's N17 Studio - to be displayed in Cannes or will John McAslan pay the cost of it being exhibited along the French Riviera? What is the cost of transporting the model to Cannes?

What is the council's strategic aim from participating in MIPIM 2015?