“After reviewing the Employment Tribunal judgement, the Conservative Group on Harrow Council has voted to suspend Cllr Chana for the maximum period allowed under our rules, which is six months. This will allow the Conservative Party nationally to investigate further and if appropriate to take further action” says the Conservative group on the council.
Zeinab Alipourbabaie, a Muslim, has won claims for religious discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal after a manager Kamaljit Chana, also a Conservative councillor in Harrow, told her, “I do not like Muslims” the Times reported, and that the tribunal also found that in a one-to-one meeting with Alipourbabaie in February 2017, Kamaljit Chana, a Sikh, said: “Muslims are violent” and “Pakistani men are grooming our girls”.
Chana’s unprofessional and discriminatory character emerging from the Tribunal findings where he has been found guilty of religious discrimination and harassment in the workplace, tenders his public office position unattainable and could reasonably be regarded as bringing not only his office as Councillor but also the Conservatives as well as the Council into disrepute’.
The Conservative Party will investigate Cllr Chana under the Code of Conduct for Conservative Party Representatives. After a review by an Investigating Officer, a panel appointed by the Party Chairman will examine the complaint and the evidence that has been gathered. This panel must include at least one independent person.

We received reports of sighting Environmental Enforcement Officer at the Harrow Town Centre and were asked questions about their role, responsibilities and powers (couldn’t find this information on the Harrow council website!!).
These officers are in a police-like outfit, including wearing Body Worn Cameras which should only be switched on when approaching people to issue fines and record conversations. The officers should also let people know that they are being recorded.
We understand from the Harrow council that these officers or the council approved such third party officers are now doing a lot of work around covid-19 public and businesses engagement but their usual status, functions and powers are:
Status – on street, third party enforcement team works for the Community & Public Protection Team, handling low level environmental matters.
Functions – business as usual would be issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for low level environmental matters   – up to £100 fine.
They are authorised to serve FPNs and take legal action around a number of areas (e.g. littering, spitting, dog fouling or breach of a dog control).
Conducting legal criminal matters under the scope of PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984) (apparently it is the police and not they who could book for legal crimes – however, they can detain for up to 30 minutes until a Police Officer arrives).
Keep the council clean campaign in some councils aims to catch those who undertake environmental crime. The campaigns have been publicised heavily, including bus panel posters and high street posters across the borough, media releases (newspapers), the council website and social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE: On our specific question whether Dyson is going to appeal against the Bristol Employment Tribunal decision in Zeinab Alipourbabaie V Dyson case, Dyson has replied:
“These allegations were investigated fully and disciplinary action was taken against Kamaljit Chana who was found to have acted inappropriately and no longer works for Dyson.”
Regarding the Tribunal decision, they said, “The claim of constructive dismissal was upheld on the basis of the harassment perpetrated by one individual and the tribunal found that Dyson’s promotions process and decisions were not discriminatory.”
Implicit response to our question therefore is that Dyson needs not to appeal against the Tribunal decision as the Tribunal decision was on the basis of the harassment perpetrated by one individual and not due to the Dyson HR specific process.

We understand Cllr Chana can’t appeal against the Tribunal decision in Zeinab Alipourbabaie V Dyson case himself.

---

Former Dyson Engineer Zeinab Alipourbabaie, who worked for Dyson at its bases in Wiltshire, succeeds in harassment and discrimination claim.
Bristol Employment Tribunal upheld three allegations of harassment related to religion and one allegation of religious discrimination brought by her.
Miss Alipourbabaie claims related to her treatment and discriminatory comments said by senior technical project manager, Kamaljit Chana, also a Conservative councillor for the ethnically diverse Pinner South, Harrow Council.
Appeal play: Dyson has to lodge an appeal against the Tribunal decision within 42 days – Dyson has not said they are lodging such an appeal! But by bringing the possibility of an appeal, Cllr Chana is seemingly trying to delay the Conservative group’s decision making process.
Irrespective of whether an appeal is lodged against the tribunal decision or not or the outcome of an appeal if lodged, the fact is that the Tribunal found that in a one-to-one meeting with Miss Alipourbabaie in February 2017, Dyson manager Mr Chana, said: “I do not like Muslims” “Muslims are violent“ and “Pakistani men are grooming our girls”.
The Judgment of the Tribunal stated: “Mr Chana then proceeded to exclude Miss Alipourbabaie from meetings and emails making it difficult for her to carry out her role, both of which the Tribunal found amounted to harassment related to religion.”
The Judgement also included: “Although Mr Chana denied he had made those comments, the Tribunal said Miss Alipourbabaie’s evidence was both compelling and persuasive.”
In any case, the concern about Cllr Chana suitability as a Conservative party member and a councillor is that:
‘Cllr Chana’s unprofessional and discriminatory character emerging from the Tribunal findings where he has been found guilty of religious discrimination and harassment in the workplace, makes his public office position unattainable and could reasonably be regarded as bringing not only his office as Councillor but also the Conservatives as well as the Council into disrepute.’
This case should serve as a reminder to others that when in a position of authority, all must be treated absolutely fairly and that any harassment and discrimination on grounds of religion will not be tolerated by the council or the political groups on the council.

Zeinab Alipourbabaie, a Muslim, has won claims for religious discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal after a manager Kamaljit Chana, also a Conservative councillor in Harrow, told her, “I do not like Muslims” the Times reported last Sunday.
Bristol employment tribunal ruled that Zeinab Alipourbabaie, a senior electronic engineer at Dyson in Wiltshire, was excluded from meetings and emails, criticised unfairly to the company vice-president and advised against promoting her by a senior technical project manager, Kamaljit Chana.
The tribunal also found that in a one-to-one meeting with Alipourbabaie in February 2017, Kamaljit Chana, a Sikh, said: “Muslims are violent” and “Pakistani men are grooming our girls”, the Times reported.
In responding to the demands for action against Cllr Chana, Cllr Paul Osborn leader of the Conservative group on the Harrow council has assured:  “We take these allegations extremely seriously and are investigating them whilst following due process”.
Harrow Monitoring Group has reported Cllr Chana to the Conservatives with a specific question ‘how Chana with such unacceptable attitude towards Muslims can ever be a member of the party and a councillor?’
A Pinner resident expressed typical local concern: “To read the comments by Kamaljit Chana is frightening and damaging Muslims. How can we stop dangerous people like Kamaljit Chana?”
“We will not hesitate to take firm action accordingly. We await publication of the tribunal judgement and we will scrutinise this ruling” Cllr Osborn reassured.
Cllr Osborn appears serious: should he be point scoring, the easiest was to immediately suspending Cllr Chana then re-instate him later as the Conservative party has done in many such cases.
Although Cllr Osborn couldn’t say more at this stage, the reported evidence against Cllr Chana is overwhelming which is likely to result in his exclusion from the Conservative group or even him resigning from the council himself.

UPDATE: pressure is building on the Harrow opposition group (Conservative) to immediately suspend Cllr Kamaljit Chana from the group while this matter is being investigated with the eventual outcome to expel him from the party.
Formal complaints have been made to local and national Conservatives, including by the Harrow Monitoring Group. Cllr Chana’s political future is seriously in danger.

---

Bristol employment tribunal ruled that Zeinab Alipourbabaie, a senior electronic engineer at Sir James Dyson’s bases in Wiltshire, was excluded from meetings and emails, criticised unfairly to the company vice-president and advised against promoting her by a senior technical project manager, Kamaljit Chana, (also a Conservative councillor in Harrow).
“Bristol employment tribunal found that in a one-to-one meeting with Alipourbabaie in February 2017, Chana, a Sikh, also said: “Muslims are violent” and “Pakistani men are grooming our girls”, reports The Times.
The company said it had disciplined Chana for bullying, “These allegations were investigated fully and disciplinary action was taken against Kamaljit Chana who was found to have acted inappropriately” the Times reports.
The Conservative Party said it would investigate if it received a complaint, according to the Times.
Harrow surprised? Before this:
Anjana Patel, a Tory councillor in Harrow, “tweeted angrily at Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, asking her “how are you going to help?” after Hindu girls in India were molested and converted to “her religion” (Islam). As if it was somehow Malala’s responsibility”, included in ‘LBC obtains dossier showing 10 Tory councillors sharing Islamophobic comments’
Stephen Wright, a Tory councillor, was censured by Harrow Council’s standards working group, which unanimously found he had brought his office into disrepute.
It came following a complaint from a woman who alleged he had “used information to exaggerate his influence as a powerful decision-maker to form an inappropriate personal relationship with her” reported the Harrow Times.

“There have been numerous reports in the press and across social media about the significant rise across the county of people being tested positive for Covid-19 and residents, like us, are quite rightly worried about a second wave of the virus” Cllr Graham Henson, leader of the Harrow council, has said.
National press reported the number of coronavirus cases have doubled in Harrow in the space of a week.
In the seven days to September 1, there were 41 new cases in the borough, which doubled in the week to September 8, reported MyLondon.
Cllr Henson informs the rate of infection in Harrow was at 26.4 people per 100,000 residents as the latest data show (32.3 according to MyLondon), below 40 that could trigger local lockdown.
“Currently, there are no plans for the drastic local lockdown action in the borough as there has been in other parts of the country, however we will not hesitate in using the new enforcement and closure powers if we need to” said Cllr Henson.
“If we are to reduce the spread of the virus in Harrow we must all continue to do our bit – by continuing to wash our hands and wear face coverings and social distancing where possible. Remember the Hands, Face, Space mantra” appeals Cllr Henson.
Cllr Henson reminds: “The new rule of six is now effective and we must all see it as a helpful means of virus control. It is there to protect our friends and families and save lives. Remember to get tested if you have any symptoms and let’s work together to track Covid-19. We must be all doing our bit to keep Harrow safe”.
Another local concern about the coronavirus is that some Harrow pupils have been tested positive on their return to now reopened schools (they have not been infected at the schools).
In any case, Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas has raised concern: “I am told that parents & their children cannot get an Covid test in or near Harrow”.

Following the national rise in coronavirus cases (352,560 cases and 41,586 deaths as of 9/9/2020), Harrow council leader Cllr Graham Henson alerts “Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the borough, as well as other parts of London, are indeed rising”.
He informs that last week, council data showed there were 54 confirmed coronavirus cases in the borough in the final week of August – those aged 20-50 are the most affected group – but overall below the figure where a local lockdown would be considered.
“The rise comes as we return to places of work and school and bring about some normality in visiting shops and restaurants again. But the risks of catching and spreading the virus when we are outside of our homes increase. You are most at risk when in busy crowds, confined spaces or close contact with others” he said.
Both Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer showed less care for C19 spread and favoured fully re-opening the schools: we  drove pass some high schools in Harrow at the closing – streets were full of readily  mingling pupils – no masks, no social distancing – very worrying indeed!
In a separate move, the Socialist Campaign Group asks the government to pursue zero covid strategy which puts the health of the people first.

Harrow council is carrying out risk assessments to see how the three Neighbourhood Resource Centres in Harrow, closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, could be reopened safely.
Council wants these assessments detailed and include all the measures that would be needed for the safe re-opening of the buildings, including social distancing, hygiene and regular cleaning, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), one-way systems within the buildings, and transport arrangements.
But the council alerted “We are also mindful that winter may bring some additional challenges – we wouldn’t want to reopen and be faced with having to potentially close them again”.
Opened in 2009, Neighbourhood Resource Centres in Harrow usually provide vital day care services and therapy for people with learning difficulties whilst also giving the families much needed respite from their roles as carers.
“To reopen safely we would need to use the spaces in the Centres differently – including reducing the number of people attending at any time to meet social distancing guides and to prevent the spread of covid. One way we could do this is by running morning and afternoon sessions rather than whole day sessions so that we could support more people in the centre.  We are also looking at how we could establish “bubbles” for staff and users to minimise risk” explained a council spokesperson.
Regarding the users concern about the loss of the centres services, the council spokesperson claimed “We are in regular contact with our clients and their families keeping them updated on the status of the centres. We have been carrying out social work reviews to ensure care plans are adapted to provide the right care and support needed. We have also developed outreach and community activities for some of our citizens, including home visits and taking some people out for short trips or walks and have moved some activities online using WhatsApp and Zoom”.
However, all users are not happy with the arrangements. A local GP whose severely disabled brother attended a local neighbourhood resource centre for many years, reported to the Harrow Monitoring Group that ‘poor communication has resulted from these closures as well as failure to negotiate the alternative services offered’.

As previously reported, Harrow has secured London mayor funding to deliver more pedestrian space to help with government required social distancing. This includes pavements in some areas are to be temporarily widened by using barriers as confirmed by the deputy leader of Harrow Council, Cllr Keith Ferry.
The extra width of the temporary pavements will allow pedestrians to pass each other while social distancing since public safety is a priority during the coronavirus.
No doubt coronavirus preventive measures, like use of the barriers in some parking spaces to widen spaces for public movement, have implications for businesses,  but most are not selfish and support the measures.
Given the significance of the barriers in ensuring public welfare and safety, the Harrow opposition’s play that the barriers ‘will upset a lot of people’ looks unpleasant point-scoring, as it used to be under Cllr Hall’s confrontational leadership of the Tory group.
As the opposition leader Cllr Paul Osborn seems more worried about a ‘decrease in footfall at shops’ because of restricted parking and his deputy  Cllr Marilyn Ashton about the possibility of  ‘more businesses forced to close’, it looks they are towing their party’s practice ‘money before people’.
However, Cllr Ferry on the basis of a council survey,  has said that ‘widened pavements are likely to attract more customers’.

“Covid-19 has had a huge impact on all parts of the economy, with potentially damaging consequences for London. By implication, the Mayor’s Budget has also been significantly affected, forcing the Greater London Authority (GLA) to make savings across the board” alerts Navin Shah, Brent and Harrow assembly member.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that City Hall faces making up to £500m in cuts to public services if the government fails to provide financial support to local authorities.
The London Mayor has called upon central government to do the responsible thing and provide the urgent emergency funding needed to protect policing, fire and transport services, but this has not been forthcoming, Mr Shah shares his concern.
Further savings are possible by relocating the City Hall to the ‘Crystal’ building based at the Royal Docks. This is estimated to save £55 million over 5 years.
“As Chair of the London Assembly, I am working on a cross-party basis to scrutinise the proposals to relocate City Hall and have written to the Mayor and Chief Officer of the GLA on the back of concerns raised by Assembly Members at a recent Oversight Committee meeting” he informs.
Regarding  the government’s short-term ‘bailout’ of Traffic for London, forcing TfL to suspend free peak hours travel for over 60s and abolished free travel for under 18s, Mr Shah says he  has been working with Age UK, alongside other campaigners to oppose these punitive conditions.
In a money saving measure, London mayor has taken a 10% pay cut as he called for Boris Johnson to bail out local authorities facing funding shortfalls due to coronavirus.