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From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 14 September 2006 15:43
To: David Bryant (Green Spaces)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing); Sandra Jenkins (LBH Cabinet Member Environment)); Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)
Subject: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Attn David Bryant. LBH Green Spaces - Cemeteries Dept
While the rest of the cemetery as is well maintained this is not the case with Q Section, the furthest section from the entrance. This has been the state of affairs for at least the last 10 years in spite of my drawing the matter to your attention a number of times.
1. The grass is not maintained to the same standard as the other sections.
2. The depressions above graves that have had a second interment are not levelled after allowing time for the ground to settle. This is the case with Q74 where the second interment took place in 1999. Any settlement should by now have taken place. The resulting undulations make it difficult to achieve proper maintenance of the grass.
3. Litter is allowed to accumulate under the adjacent hedges (See attached photo).
4. The space around the graves are not weeded as frequently as the other sections. This can be seen from attached the photos I took yesterday.
One can only conclude that a proper inspection regime is not in place to monitor the work of the contractors.
I would appreciate if you could get this matter resolved once and for all.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 14 September 2006 15:59
To: Andy Boeckstaens; p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Angela Thompson; John Clavin; Cllr Philip Corthorne; Cllr Sandra Jenkins; hurdn@parliament.uk
Subject: Re: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Dear Mr Silverman
I am sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with the maintenance of Northwood Cemetery and in particular Q section.
I have forwarded your enquiry to Mr Boeckstaens of our Grounds Maintenance section to respond to the issues surrounding general maintenance.
With regard to the matter of subsidence I can advise that this is an on going occurrence and I have asked that the area be looked at to establish the extent of the subsidence that you have reported with a vie w to having the grave topped up.
Yours sincerely
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
--------------------------
From: Angela Thompson [mailto:AThompson@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 29 September 2006 08:45
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: David Bryant; John Clavin; Cllr Philip Corthorne; Cllr Sandra Jenkins
Subject: Gravespace Q73 - Northwood Cemetery
Dear Mr. Silverman,
Further to your recent e-mail correspondence with the Parks & Cemeteries Manager, Mr. David Bryant, I am writing to advise you that following a site inspection of your family gravespace, we have instructed the cemetery attendants at Northwood Cemetery to remove the turf on gravespace Q73 and gravespace Q74, build up the depression and re-lay the turf.
The cemetery attendant has subsequently advised this office that this work instruction has been completed.
I hope and trust the above is satisfactory and of use to you.
Yours sincerely,
Angela Thompson (Miss)
Cemeteries Administrator
Parks & Cemeteries Office
Green Spaces Team
(tel) 01895 250650
(fax) 01895 250646
(e-mail) athompson@hillingdon.gov.uk
--------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 08 November 2006 17:10
To: 'David Bryant'
Cc: 'Angela Thompson'; 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'; 'Cllr Sandra Jenkins'; 'hurdn@parliament.uk'
Subject: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Mr Bryant,
Please refer to my e-mail below of 14/09/06.
Point 1. I have not had any response
Point 2. As notified to me by your colleague Angel Thompson the turf on Q73 and Q74 has now been levelled. Could you however please explain why it has taken an e-mail from me to get this work done.
Point 3. I have had no response.
Point 4. I have had no response.
I would appreciate it if you could get back to me on the outstanding points.
Could you please let me have a copy of the relevant pages from the contact with Sodexho that specifies the work they are required to carry out at Northwood Cemetery.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 13 November 2006 11:01
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Andy Boeckstaens
Subject: Re: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Dear Mr Silverman
I am currently looking into the items you have listed below and will therefore reply in full shortly
Yours
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
--------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 16 November 2006 16:39
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Andy Boeckstaens; Angela Thompson; Cllr Philip Corthorne; Cllr Sandra Jenkins; hurdn@parliament.uk
Subject: Re: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Dear Mr Silverman
Further to you enquiries please accept my apologise for the delay in responding to you whilst I have been gathering information from the relevant officers, I have now received the information I require to enable me to answer your queries and I can advise as follows.
Item1. The grass is not maintained to the same standard as the other sections.
The grass in Q Section is maintained to the same specification as in all other sections. However, it is on a significant gradient and gets notoriously wet, so the quality of grass cutting may not always be as good as in flatter, drier areas. Section Q is also in frequent use for burials, so there is a large amount of wear from grave-digging equipment and pedestrians. These factors will inevitably have an adverse effect on the overall appearance of the section.
2. The depressions above graves that have had a second interment are not
levelled after allowing time for the ground to settle. This is the case
with Q74 where the second interment took place in 1999. Any settlement
should by now have taken place. The resulting undulations make it difficult
to achieve proper maintenance of the grass.
Following interments any settlement to graves is automatically topped up as and when required for a period of up to twelve months from the date of the burial at which time the grave shall be turfed. Thereafter any settlement is carried out by way of a variation order as and when necessary, you will appreciate that settlement is a perpetual problem. The levelling of Graves Q73 and Q74 was indeed carried out as a result of your notification as pointed out in your e mail, which is vehicle for having this kind of work carried out if routine inspections do not highlight the works as being required.
3. Litter is allowed to accumulate under the adjacent hedges.
Litter is regularly cleared from all sections of the cemetery, although litter often accumulates in the perimeter hedges. I am advised that any litter currently in the hedges will be removed shortly.
4. The space around the graves are not weeded as frequently as the other
sections. This can be seen from attached the photos I took yesterday.
Weeding in Q Section is done in the same way, and to the same frequency, as in other sections. Work is carried out systematically around the cemetery, so all areas will not look the same at all times.
I trust that the answers I have supplied sufficiently answer your enquiries.
Yours Sincerely
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
-------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 24 November 2006 15:03
To: 'David Bryant'
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing); Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)
Subject: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Mr Bryant, thank you for you e-mail of 13th Nov
You have made no reference in it to my request for a copy of the relevant extracts from the Sodexho contract. Where do we stand on that?.
1. I am sorry but the grass in Q section is not maintained to the same standard as the rest of the cemetery. You comments about frequency of burials does not apply the large grass area alongside the roadway where all of the adjacent grave spaces are full. The grass here is often long when the rest of the cemetery has been cut.
2.Surely routine inspections should have identified the need to level these depressions.
Could you please provide me with copies of the last 3 routine inspection reports for Northwood Cemetery.
Also, do I not deserve a "thank you" for drawing you attention the situation at Q74 which you have now remedied?
3. How regularly is the litter cleared from the hedges?
4. Again my observations supported by the photos I attached to my e-mail contradict what you are saying. In recent summers some weeds have been allowed to grow to waist height - but only in Q Section.
A few weeks ago I spoke to one of the two Sodexho operatives who maintain the cemetery. He said that scheduled work was not always carried out because they simply did not have the time to do it. This applied to the application of weed killer to Q section.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 25 November 2006 09:28
To: p@petersilverman.com
Subject: Re: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Dear Mr Silverman
I write to acknowledge receipt of your e mail and advise that I shall be gathering the information requested.
Yours sincerely
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
------------------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 22 December 2006 12:33
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Andy Boeckstaens; Cllr Philip Corthorne; hurdn@parliament.uk
Subject: Re: Q Section, Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue,
Dear Mr Silverman
I am writing in response to your request for information regarding Q section in Northwood cemetery.
Ref your request for an extract from the contract I can advise that I have arranged for one to be sent to you.
1. Grass Cutting Q section
All grass within the cemetery is cut on a rotation basis, ie for instance the operatives start at plot A and conclude the cycle on plot X
the time taken to complete a round of cutting will vary dependant upon work load, ie burials.
I can assure you that all plots are trat equally.
2. Routine inspections
I have looked at the issue of routine inspections identifying settlement, and it appears that no there has not been occurrences of settlement recorded in the inspections
this is something that I need to look at and will address.
Report copies
There are no reports that I can provide as there have not been and defects identified.
3. Litter in Hedges
Litter is cleared from the cemetery on a periodic basis ie when required, I shall ensure that these areas are looked at regular intervals to avoid
any accumulation.
4) Observations upon weeds
Having spoken to the officers that monitor the maintenance in the cemetery I can advise that there are no records of contract failures of any kind.
Clearly you have concerns over the maintenance of section Q which I fully respect and will monitor myself in the new year when the grass starts to grow again to ensure that stands are as they should be across the whole of the cemetery.
Yours Sincerely
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
---------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 05 January 2007 12:59
To: David Bryant (LBH - Parks & Cemeteries Manager)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing); Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood); Andy Boeckstaens (LBH Grounds Maintenance Contacts Officer))
Subject: Northwood Cemetery - Info requests
Mr Bryant, thank you for your e-mail of 22nd December
Requested extracts from the Sodexho contract
This was requested in my e-mail of 8th Nov 2006
In your e-mail of 24th Nov you dealt with other points but made no reference to my request
I pointed this out in my e-mail of 24th Nov
In your e-mail of 22nd Dec you say you have arranged for the extract to be sent to me.
It is now 5th Jan 2007 and I have not received anything.
I make that 39 working days from the original request.
Under the Freedom Of Information Act information should to be supplied within 20 days.
Please do not treat this as a complaint - I am just stating the facts.
I am happy to wait a while further for the extract.
I appreciate that this is a busy time of the year for you and the FOI Act is relatively new.
Also I had assumed, perhaps wrongly, that you must keep a copy of the contract (or at least the sections relevant to cemeteries) handy and it would not be an onerous task for you to photocopy them for me.
If you do not keep this information handy can I suggest that when my copy is made a further copy is made for your own use.
Request for copies of last 3 routine inspection reports
In my e-mail of 24th Nov 2006 I said:
"Could you please provide me with copies of the last 3 routine inspection reports for Northwood Cemetery"
In your e-mail of 22nd Dec you said:
“Routine inspections - I have looked at the issue of routine inspections identifying settlement, and it appears that no there has not been occurrences of settlement recorded in the inspections this is something that I need to look at and will address.”
I apologise if my request was not clear but I would like copies of the reports regardless of whether or not they include references to settlement.
Again, I assume that that you keep the reports handy and that this will not be too much of a problem for you.
Please note I would like copies of the last 3 reports prior to my original request.
Freedom Of Information Act
Could you please let me have a copy of the guidance notes/instructions/advice/intranet page etc you have been provided with to assist in dealing with requests for information.
Have a good weekend
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-------------------------
From: Angela Thompson [mailto:AThompson@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 17 January 2007 16:11
To: p@petersilverman.com
Subject: Northwood Cemetery
Dear Mr. Silverman,
Further to your previous and recent e-mail correspondence with the Parks & Cemeteries Manager, Mr. David Bryant, I am able to advise that the following documentation is being forwarded to your address via the postal system:
Extract from contractors contract pertaining to cemeteries
London Borough of Hillingdon and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
London Borough of Hillingdon complaints procedure
I hope the above is satisfactory and will be of use to you and take this opportunity to extend my apologies for any inconvenience caused by the delay in forwarding this information.
Yours sincerely,
Angela Thompson (Miss)
Cemeteries Administrator
Parks & Cemeteries Office
Green Spaces Team
(tel) 01895 250650
(fax) 01895 250646
---------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 26 January 2007 16:14
To: David Bryant (LBH - Parks & Cemeteries Manager)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing)
Subject: Northwood Cemetery
Mr Bryant,
This is to confirm that I have today received in the post your letter dated 16th January 2007 and the following enclosures:
1. Sodexho contact Part 10 Cemeteries Maintenance
2. LBH and the Freedom Of Information Act including Information for staff.
3. How to Complain to Council print from web site
I had also asked for "copies of the last 3 routine inspection reports for Northwood Cemetery" (24/11/06)
You say in your letter ".... I am unable to supply you with the said copies, as a result of no defects being reported, no reports were actually created and therefore, due to this, this is an area that I would need to look at i.e. ensure that visits are recorded regardless of there being no defects found"
The contact section you sent me gives the requirements for maintaining the Headstone Borders but as far as the lawns and grassed areas (10.1.10 b) are concerned it says they should be maintained to the General Ground Maintenance Specification. Could you therefore please let me have a copy of the sections of this specification dealing with grass/lawns. (I would much appreciate this, say, within a week and not the 21/2 months it took to send me the Cemeteries Maintenance Spec).
Also, although you have no completed routine inspection reports on file to send me do you have a blank standard pro-forma /tick list on which defects and short falls in performance by the contractor could have been recorded, had there been any, during inspections. If so, could you let me have a copy. If not please confirm there is no such document has been in use in the past.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 02 February 2007 16:26
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: Re: Northwood Cemetery
Dear Mr Silverman I write to confirm that all of the information requested has today been dispatches to you in the post.
Should you have any further queries please let me know
Yours sincerely
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
-------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 08 February 2007 11:05
To: 'David Bryant'
Cc: 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'
Subject: Northwood Cemetery
Mr Bryant,
Thank you for your letter of 2nd Feb and the enclosures.
I confirm that you have sent me the sections of the Sodexho contract dealing with grass cutting etc. Thank you for this.
However in my e-mail of 16th Jan I said in respect to Northwood Cemetery:
"Also, although you have no completed routine inspection reports on file to
send me do you have a blank standard pro-forma /tick list on which defects
and short falls in performance by the contractor could have been recorded,
had there been any, during inspections. If so, could you let me have a
copy. If not please confirm there is no such document has been in use in
the past."
I have not received this document nor have you said whether or not the document exists.
I have not therefore received all of the information I have requested.
(What you have sent me are copies of a document called "Grounds Maintenance Inspection Register". This logs the calls made by Andy B to 10 or so sites every couple of weeks including Northwood Cemetery.)
Could you please look again at the penultimate paragraph of my e-mail of 16th Jan and respond accordingly.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-----------------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 08 February 2007 15:41
To: p@petersilverman.com
Subject: Re: Northwood Cemetery
Dear Mr Silverman
I have sent the detail that I believed were appropriate to your enquiry.
I have today been given a copy of a Ground Maintenance works instruction ( Rectification Notice)
please note that this is not for the cemetery but demonstrates what happens where defects are recorded
I trust that this document now provides you with all of the information to satisfied your enquiry.
Yours sincerely
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
-----------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 14 February 2007 16:05
To: 'David Bryant'
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing)
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery
Mr Bryant, thank you for your letter of 8th Feb. Please accept my further apologies if I had not made myself clear.
What I am after is a cemetery specific proforma / checklist.
If no such document exists, you can meet your obligations under the FOI Act by simply e-mailing me to that effect.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-----------------------------------
From: David Bryant [mailto:DBryant@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 19 February 2007 11:01
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery
Dear Mr Silverman
Please accept my apologies for not being clear, I can confirm that we do not currently have a specific proforma for cemeteries.
Yours sincerely
David
David Bryant
Parks and Cemeteries Manager
Telephone 01895 250416
----------------------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 26 February 2007 17:26
To: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing)
Cc: Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)
Subject: LBH Grounds Maintenance Contract / Northwood Cemetery
Philip,
As you know I have been looking into the maintenance of Northwood Cemetery to which I have been a regular visitor over the years. The simple fact of the matter is:
1. The cemetery is not maintained in accordance with the Sodexho contract as evidenced by my observations and a conversation with the Sodexho's operative.
2. This is not surprising because there is no adequate inspection regime in place. For example there is no check list against which a inspector can note whether or not the routine contractual tasks have or have not been completed.
3. As a consequence LBH are paying for work that is not being done.
4. When I did a survey of a number of local parks a year or two ago a similar picture emerged. While inspection visits were made they were not geared to checking if Sodexho had carried out their obligations.
Assuming this state of affairs applies across the whole contact the money wasted might run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
I believe that our elected representatives should now investigate whether or not this contract is being managed in a competent manner.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-----------------------------------------------
From: Cllr Philip Corthorne [mailto:PCorthorne@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 27 February 2007 00:27
To: p@petersilverman.com
Subject: Re: LBH Grounds Maintenance Contract / Northwood Cemetery
Peter,
I could raise this myself, and take it to the appropriate level of seniority
or perhaps the Environmental Services Policy and Overview Committee
could investigate this - they are the ones which make policy recommendations
to cabinet. However, as with the former scrutiny committee, I cannot compel
them to take agenda items.
Let me know your preferred option.
Philip.
----------------------------------------------
Sent: 25 March 2007 17:15
To: Philomena Bach (LBH)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing); Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)
Subject: Northwood Cemetery
Ms Bach I would be grateful if you could give this your personal attention as it involves an important management issue.
I have expressed concern to David Bryant over the years about the poor level of maintenance of Q Section of Northwood cemetery.
Recently he sent me a copy of the sections of the Sodexho contract covering cemeteries and also sample copies of pages from the grounds maintenance inspection register.
The contract specifies, in relation to the Maintenance of Headstone Borders:
"The contactor shall tend headstone borders on seven maintenance visits per annum, during the first week Feb, April, May & June, July, Sept and Nov.
All headstone borders shall be cleared of weeds on each routine maintenance visit and shall be cultivated to a depth of 75mm.
The edges of the grass areas about headstone borders shall be trimmed on 5 occasions .. in April, May June, July & Sept
.. borders shall be edged using a half moon edging tool .. normally in Nov...."
Having been a regular visitor to the cemetery for over a decade I can assure you that these levels of maintenance have never even been remotely approached. Wall to wall weeds in Q Section is the norm. I can supply photos.
References to the cemetery in the inspection reports are cursory. There is no adequate monitoring and inspection regime in place i.e. one that logs the performance of the contractor against the contractual requirements.
As a result the council must be paying the contractor for work they are not carrying out and the condition of the cemetery, a least in Q Section, is way below an acceptable standard.
I would be grateful if you could give this matter your personal attention to ensure that Q section is brought up to standard promptly and that a proper inspection regime is implemented and measures taken to ensure the contractor complies with their obligations. The first step is to design a pro forma inspection check list so that each contractual task can be checked on a monthly basis.
Please note will be away till 13th April.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------------------
From: Mary Worrall [mailto:mworrall@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 02 April 2007 11:40
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Philomena Bach; Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: Northwood Cemetery grounds maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
Thank you for your email addressed to Philomena Bach. Philomena has asked me to reply directly to you.
Similar issues to the ones raised in your email had indeed been brought to the attention of our term contractor. The company did address specific issues, however the overall arrangement still did not, in some regards, provide the quality of service we recognise that members of the public were understandably seeking.
As you may know, the council has recently re-tendered its grounds maintenance contract for the Ruislip/Northwood area and with issues such as the one you raise in clear focus, we used a 50:50 price/quality evaluation, rather than basing the evaluation of tenders purely upon a financial basis, as had been the case with the previous contract.
With effect from April 2nd 2007 the successful contractor, Enterprise, starts work throughout the Ruislip Northwood area, including Northwood cemetery.
Monitoring of the new contract will be taking a different form from the previous contract, to ensure that it is clear to the contractor that performance, in all aspects of the operation they will be carrying out for us, must be maintained at a good quality at all times. We would welcome any further feedback you would like to give as this arrangement rolls out and I would welcome copies of the photogrpahs, if you would like to provide them, so they can be forwarded to the new contractors.
I hope this reply is helpful. If I can be of further assistance, do please let me know.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely
-------------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 01 May 2007 14:51
To: 'Philomena Bach'
Cc: 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'; 'Mary Worrall'
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery grounds maintenance
Dear Ms Bach
Does Mary Worrell's e-mail of 2nd April constitute your complete response to mine of 25th March or have your any further comments to make before I take matters further.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
---------------------------------------
From: Philomena Bach [mailto:PBach@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 04 May 2007 08:41
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Mary Worrall; Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery grounds maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
I refer to your email dated 1 May, and can confirm that I passed your original enquiry to Mary Worrall, the Council's Green Spaces Manager.
I note that in her reply she invites you to let her know if she can be of further assistance.
If, as your latest email suggests, you have further issues to raise, I suggest that you accept Mary's invitation to contact her again.
Regards
Philomena Bach
Director of Environment & Consumer Protection
London Borough of Hillingdon
----------------------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 13 May 2007 11:45
To: Philomena Bach (LBH)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing)
Subject: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Thank you for your e-mail of the 4th May.
I do not wish to raise any further issues at this time and will reserve further comment until after I have received your answer to the question posed in my e-mail to you of 1st May.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------------------------
From: Philomena Bach [mailto:PBach@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 14 May 2007 08:32
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: Re: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
Thank you for your email of 13 May.
If you believe that there are questions outstanding from previous correspondence, please advise what these are and I will arrange for you to receive a response from the appropriate officer.
Alternatively, you may wish to accept Mary Worrall's invitation to contact her again.
Regards
Philomena Bach
Director of Environment & Consumer Protection
London Borough of Hillingdon
---------------------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 14 May 2007 10:42
To: 'Philomena Bach'
Cc: 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Ms Bach, I am confused. Is that a “yes” or a “no” or is it an “I refuse to answer”?
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-------------------------------------------------
From: Philomena Bach [mailto:PBach@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 16 May 2007 16:55
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
Thank you for your email of 14 May.
I regret that you are confused as I believe that my previous email was perfectly clear.
If you believe that there are questions outstanding from previous correspondence, please advise what these are and I will arrange for you to receive a response from the appropriate officer.
Alternatively, you may wish to accept Mary Worrall's invitation to contact her again.
Regards
Philomena Bach
Director of Environment & Consumer Protection
London Borough of Hillingdon
-----------------------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 18 May 2007 12:04
To: 'Philomena Bach'
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
I will take that as a refusal to answer the question.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
---
From: Helan Smallbones [mailto:HSmallbones@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 22 May 2007 12:28
To: p@petersilverman.com
Subject: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
Thank you for your email of 18 May.
If you believe that there are questions outstanding from previous correspondence, please advise what these are and I will arrange for you to receive a response from the appropriate officer.
Philomena Bach
Director of Environment & Consumer ProtectionLondon Borough of Hillingdon
--
From: Philomena Bach [mailto:PBach@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 31 May 2007 17:14
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Helan Smallbones; Mary Worrall
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
I refer to your email dated 28 May 2007.
I have reviewed our previous correspondence and note that your email of 13 May 2007 refers to your email of 1 May which asked whether Mary Worrall's email of 2 April constituted my complete response to your email of 25 March.
Mary Worrall, the Council's Green Spaces Manager responded, on my behalf, to your email of 25 March 2007, and, in her email, explained the grounds maintenance arrangements at Northwood Cemetery, invited you to provide any further feedback on these arrangements, and suggested that, if she could be of further assistance, you contact her again.
For the sake of clarity, I confirm that my response to the question posed in your email dated 1 May is to repeat my invitation to you (see my emails dated 14, 16 and 22 May), that if you believe that there are questions outstanding from previous correspondence, to advise what these are and I will arrange for you to receive a response from the appropriate officer.
Regards
Philomena Bach
Director of Environment & Consumer Protection
London Borough of Hillingdon
---
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 31 May 2007 18:46
To: 'Philomena Bach'
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing)
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
But that is not an answer to my question.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
---
From: Philomena Bach [mailto:PBach@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 01 June 2007 11:27
To: p@petersilverman.com
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: RE: Northwood Cemetery Grounds Maintenance
Dear Mr Silverman
I have nothing to add to my previous response (my email dated 31 May 2007)
Regards
Philomena Bach
Director of Environment & Consumer Protection
London Borough of Hillingdon
------------------------------------
From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 12 September 2007 17:31
To: Mary Worrall (LBH - Head Of Green Spaces)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne(Cab. Mem. Housing)
Subject: Northwood Cemetery / Enterprise Contract
Ms Worrell,
Could you please let me have:
1. Copies of the section of the new contract with Enterprise that covers cemeteries in general and / or Northwood Cemetery in particular.
2. Where there are references to other sections of the contract e.g. standards for grass/ lawn / flower bed etc maintenance could you let me have copies of those sections as well.
3. The front page of the contract.
4. Full name and address of Enterprise.
I would like electronic copies i.e. e-mail attachments if that is possible.
In your e-mail of 4th April you said:
"As you may know, the council has recently re-tendered its grounds maintenance contract for the Ruislip/Northwood area and with issues such as the one you raise in clear focus, we used a 50:50 price/quality evaluation, rather than basing the evaluation of tenders purely upon a financial basis, as had been the case with the previous contract."
I would like to look through all of the relevant documents covering this re-tendering and wonder if in the first instance you could let me know what documents exist and whether they are available electronically.
Also, if you have something which explains "50:50 price quality evaluation" please let me have a copy. It is a term I am not familiar with.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------------------
From: Stuart Hunt [mailto:SHunt@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 24 September 2007 16:59
To: Peter Silverman
Subject: Northwood Cemetery / Enterprise Contract
Dear Mr Silverman
Mary Worrall has asked me to respond to your enquiry on her behalf. I take up the role of Green Spaces Manager (Ruislip/Northwood) from 1st October and one of my responsibilities will be the Ruislip/Notrthwood grounds maintenance contract and its delivery,.
I have put the requested sections of the documents in the post today (20 Kingsend, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7DA), as not all are available to me electronically. These include the Front page of the contract, which also has the Full name and address of Enterprise and also the relevant sections of the contract.
I have also included a couple of documents which explain the tender evaluation process which was used ie: 50:50 price/quality.
With regard to the documents covering the re tendering process, these are many and varied ranging from hand written notes to 6 A4 folder tender submissions. Again many of these documents are not available electronically. Could you please let me know what type of document you would like to go through and I will check out how we can best get you the information.
I hope the above helps, but should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours Sincerely
Stuart Hunt
Countryside and Conservation Manager
4W/08 Civic Centre
Uxbridge
UB8 1UW
tel 01895 250916 (internal extension 3916)
e-mail - shunt@hillingdon.gov.uk
----------------------------------
From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 01 February 2008 12:42
To: Stuart Hunt (LBH Countryside Conservation Manager)
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne
Subject: Northwood Cemetery / Enterprise Contract
Stuart,
Thank you for your e-mail of 24th September and the information provided.
I am sorry to trouble you with a further request for information.
Could you please let me have:
1.A copy of any correspondence (e-mails, letters etc) between the Council and Enterprise which makes reference to the grounds maintenance work carried out by Enterprise at Northwood Cemetery (not burials) from April 2007. Where contact has been verbal, please let me have copies of any notes, meeting minutes etc recording what was said.
2.Copies of any inspection reports made by the Council checking the condition of the cemetery and / or the performance of Enterprise against contract since April 2007. If these are voluminous please let me have just the last 6 A4 sheets.
I would prefer the documents to be supplies electronically where possible.
Many thanks
Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-----------------------------------
From: Stuart Hunt [mailto:SHunt@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 15 February 2008 14:39
To: Hillingdon-Watch
Cc: Kathryn Sparks; Richard Ingle
Subject: Re: Northwood Cemetery / Enterprise Contract
Dear Mr Silverman
In reference to your request for information, I have today posted a copy of Monthly Inspections carried out in the Ruislip Northwood area. These inspection sheets include inspections of and references to Northwood Cemetery. I have also included copies of Cemetery section inspection sheets.
Also included are copies of contract review meetings held with Enterprise since April 2007. These documents are all hard copies hence putting them in the post to you.
I hope the above and sent information answers the request made in your e-mail.
Yours sincerely
Stuart Hunt
Green Spaces Manager
Ruislip Northwood
4W/08 Civic Centre
Uxbridge
UB8 1UW
tel 01895 250916 (internal extension 3916)
e-mail - shunt@hillingdon.gov.uk
--------------------
From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 30 March 2008 11:08
To: Sandra Jenkins (LBH Cabinet Member Environment))
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne; Ray Puddifoot (Leader LBH); Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood); John McDonnell (MP Hayes & Harlington); John Randall (MP Uxbridge); Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems); Anthony Wray (LBH Labour Party Leader)
Subject: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Ms Jenkins, this is to draw your attention to my report on a serious and longstanding failing in the management of the Borough’s green spaces.
To see it please action the following link www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk and them click on Cemeteries and Green Spaces.
Please let me know what actions the Council will now take to remedy matters.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770
---------------------
Letter From LBH in Repose to e-mail To Sandra Jenkins:
Mr Peter Silverman
20 Kingsend
Ruislip
Middlesex
HA4 7DA
Ref: PN/3/3/08
Date: 3rd April 2008
Dear Mr Silverman
Complaint Re: Grounds Maintenance – Northwood Cemetery
Thank you for your email addressed to Cllr Jenkins highlighting your concerns regarding the standards of maintenance at Northwood Cemetery. Cllr Jenkins has forwarded your complaint to me as the Service Manager and I have investigated the issues you have raised relating to the performance of our grounds maintenance contractor and the way in which Officers within our Green Spaces team monitor the scheduled works.
Officers were already aware of a number of the issues, which you have identified and have taken actions to ensure that our contractor, Enterprise, perform to the standards specified within the contract.
In response to the specific items you have listed on your website, I am able to provide the following information.
Headstone Borders – the headstone borders along with a number of other areas had been identified at the beginning of the contract in April 2007 as needing additional works to bring them up to the contract standard. It was agreed that these works would be carried out as part of a winter works programme and would be completed by the end of March 2008 along with all other remedial works which had been identified at the commencement of the contract. Officers had agreed this programme in order to enable Enterprise to bring all sites up to the specified standards at no additional cost to this Council.
Grass cutting - a formal default notice was issued to Enterprise for the whole of the Northwood area in July 2007, including the cemetery grass cutting. This was included under item 3 of the August 2007 minutes of which you have a copy, as at that time only 50% of the grass areas fell within the specified standards, I am pleased to say that all grass areas were returned to the specified standard within the agreed timescale.
Grass Edges and Clearing grass cuttings (Arisings) – Officers have identified 3 occasions over the last 9 months when these works had not been carried out and have instructed Enterprise to rectify the problem within two days, on each occasion this has been done. These works were not recorded as being required solely at Northwood cemetery as it was a general issue across the Northwood area.
There been ongoing discussions with Enterprise for a number of months regarding the service that is being delivered. We have made it clear that we are expecting a number of significant improvements in standards from the 1st April 2008; this is in accordance with our original agreement at the commencement of the contract. A failure to deliver the standards specified will result in failure notices being issued and financial penalties being imposed upon Enterprise.
Please be assured that Officers from the Green Spaces team are working hard to ensure that the standards specified in our contracts are delivered, and whilst we would prefer Enterprise to deliver those standards, we will not hesitate to take whatever action is deemed necessary to ensure those standards are met.
I trust the above information is helpful and answers the points you have raised, however should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me, I would be more than happy to meet with you and discuss your concerns.
If however you remain dissatisfied with my investigation and response you have the right to escalate your complaint for review by Mary Worrall Head of Highways and Green Spaces. If you decide to escalate your complaint do please let me know or if you prefer please write directly to Ms M Worrall, Head of Highways and Green Spaces, 3S/03 Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW. Email MWorrall@Hillingdon.Gov.uk
Yours sincerely
Paul Naylor
Green Spaces Service Manager
---------------------
From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 17 April 2008 18:34
To: Sandra Jenkins (LBH Cabinet Member Environment))
Cc: Cllr Philip Corthorne; Ray Puddifoot (Leader LBH); Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood); John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington); John Randall (MP Uxbridge); Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems); Anthony Wray (LBH Labour Party Leader); Christopher Neale (LBH Dir. Fin. & Resources)
Subject: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Ms Jenkins,
Please refer to my earlier e-mail of 30th March reproduced below.
I have received in reply a letter from Paul Naylor in Green Spaces dated 3rd April saying he had investigated the issues raised relating to the performance of the grounds maintenance contractor, Enterprise plc, and the way in which Officers monitor the scheduled work. I have asked him for an electronic copy which I will post on www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk to make it available to all interested parties.
He says that Officers have taken actions to ensure that the contractors perform to the standards specified within the contract but does not say what those action are. He goes on to say that it has been made clear to them that the Council are expecting a number of significant improvements in standards from 1st April 2008.
However after I brought the same issues to the attention of Green Spaces in March 2007 I was given a similar response. I was told “Monitoring of the new contract will be taking a different form from the previous contract, to ensure that it is clear to the contractor that performance, in all aspects of the operation they will be carrying out for us must be maintained at a good quality at all times.” That of course did not happen.
On 2nd April the Ruislip and Northwood Gazette took up the issues I had raised on my web site and ran a story headed “ Cemetery is in grave condition”. A week later I was alerted by another regular visitor to Northwood Cemetery that two Enterprise lorries had turned up and additional staff (6 instead of the normal 2) were busily digging the borders and sweeping up the detritus from the paths. He said that it was the first time in 10 years that the headstone borders adjacent to his in–laws graves had been cultivated. When I went up the next day they were still going flat out. I said hello to the senior operative whom I had spoken to two or three times over the years. He said “If you are Mr Silverman I have been told not to talk to you!”
It is difficult not to conclude that this sudden spurt of activity was in response to the exposé in the Gazette. A very similar situation occurred in 2005 when I was Chairman of The Friends Of Ruislip Lido. We had complained about the dirty state of the recently re-opened toilets in June. In spite of following it up we received no response from Green Spaces. Then in September a front page article appeared in the Gazette decrying the state of the toilets. 2 days later we were told that cleaning contractors had been asked to quote for the job.
Could you please let me know what the steps are in fact going to be taken to ensure that the contractors perform to the standards specified within the contract specifically in respect to Northwood Cemetery as well as across the other areas covered by the contracts with Enterprise. Inter alia I would expect to see inspection checklists drawn up with items relating to each contractual task on a month by month basis. We must not waste another year.
Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770
----------------------------------
From: Cllr Sandra Jenkins [mailto:SJenkins@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 29 April 2008 19:21
To: Hillingdon-Watch
Cc: John Randall (MP Uxbridge); Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems); Cllr Anthony Way; Christopher Neale; Cllr Philip Corthorne; Cllr Raymond Puddifoot; Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood); John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)
Subject: RE: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Mr Silverman
Thank you for your recent enquiry, I can confirm that Officers will be monitoring the performance of all Contractors in accordance with the contractual requirements of our specification to ensure standards are delivered, this will include periodic inspections, monthly and quarterly meetings and customer feedback.
Kind regards.
Cllr Sandra Jenkins
---------------------------------
From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 30 April 2008 11:23
To: 'Cllr Sandra Jenkins'
Cc: 'John Randall (MP Uxbridge)'; 'Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems)'; 'Cllr Anthony Way'; 'Christopher Neale'; 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'; 'Cllr Raymond Puddifoot'; 'Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)'; 'John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)'; Hugh Dunnachie - Chief Executive, LB Hillingdon
Subject: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Ms Jenkins,
Thank you for getting back to me.
However, what you have said is more or less what I was told a year ago.
The subsequent regime which included “periodic inspections, monthly and quarterly meetings” was totally ineffective and the contractor, as demonstrated by my observations at Northwood Cemetery, continued to massively under deliver its contractual obligations.
Can you be more specific and say what is going to be different this year?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770
PS Could you please let me have copies of all correspondence / minutes of meeting etc you have had with Officers relating to, or touching on, the contract(s) with Enterprise plc and any which make specific reference to Northwood Cemetery since my e-mail to you of 30th March 2008. Electronic copies please. Please note I have still not received an electronic copy of Paul Naylor’s letter of 3rd April in response to this e-mail to you. I want to pass on copies to interested parties including those local MPs who have specifically asked to be kept posted on developments.
---------------------
From: Cllr Sandra Jenkins [mailto:SJenkins@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 05 May 2008 18:18
To: Hillingdon-Watch
Cc: 'John Randall (MP Uxbridge)'; 'Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems)'; Cllr Anthony Way; Christopher Neale; Hugh Dunnachie; Mary Worrall; Philomena Bach; Cllr Philip Corthorne; Cllr Raymond Puddifoot; 'Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)'; 'John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)'
Subject: Re: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Mr Silverman
Thank you for your e-mail which I have passed to the relevant officers for a response.
Regards
Cllr Sandra Jenkins
----------------------
From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 06 May 2008 10:46
To: 'Cllr Sandra Jenkins'
Cc: 'John Randall (MP Uxbridge)'; 'Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems)'; 'Cllr Anthony Way'; 'Christopher Neale'; 'Hugh Dunnachie'; 'Mary Worrall'; 'Philomena Bach'; 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'; 'Cllr Raymond Puddifoot'; 'Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)'; 'John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)'
Subject: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Cllr Jenkins,
Thank you for getting back to me. I look forward to hearing from the relevant officers.
In the meantime could you let me know:
(a) If you have reviewed the evidence presented on my web site with officers and if so,
(b)What your personal opinion is of the management of the Enterprise contract and the previous contract with Sodexho in the context of Northwood Cemetery over the past few years..
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770
-------------------------
From: Cllr Sandra Jenkins [mailto:SJenkins@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 07 May 2008 17:17
To: Hillingdon-Watch
Cc: 'John Randall (MP Uxbridge)'; 'Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems)'; Cllr Anthony Way; Christopher Neale; Hugh Dunnachie; Mary Worrall; Philomena Bach; Cllr Philip Corthorne; Paul Naylor; Cllr Raymond Puddifoot; 'Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)'; 'John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)'
Subject: Re: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Mr Silverman
My officers will keep you appraised of the situation and therefore I would appreciate it if you would remove
me from your Hillingdon Watch e-mail list.
Thanks and regards.
Cllr Sandra Jenkins
-------------------------
From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 09 May 2008 10:06
To: 'Cllr Sandra Jenkins'
Cc: 'John Randall (MP Uxbridge)'; 'Cllr. Mike Cox ( LHB Leader Lib Dems)'; 'Cllr Anthony Way'; 'Christopher Neale'; 'Hugh Dunnachie'; 'Mary Worrall'; 'Philomena Bach'; 'Cllr Philip Corthorne'; 'Paul Naylor'; 'Cllr Raymond Puddifoot'; 'Nick Hurd (MP For Ruilsip Northwood)'; 'John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)'
Subject: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Cllr Jenkins
I have removed your name from the Hillingdon Watch Mailing list. This is the list of people to whom I send alerts whenever the site has been updated.
It then occurred to me that you might mean more than that i.e. that you do not wish me to e-mail you, or copy you in on e-mails to other people, regardless of the subject matter including the current topic (Management Failings – Cemeteries and Green Spaces).
I would appreciate it if you could say whether this is the case. An e-mail with the word “yes” would suffice.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770
--------------------------------
From: Cllr Sandra Jenkins [mailto:SJenkins@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 14 May 2008 19:17
To: Hillingdon-Watch
Cc: Cllr Raymond Puddifoot
Subject: Re: London Borough Of Hillingdon - Management Failings - Cemeteries and Green Spaces
Mr Silverman
To reiterate, my officers will respond appropriately and during my regular meetings with them they will keep me
up to date on matters appertaining to the Borough.
Regards
Cllr Sandra Jenkins
-----------------------------
From: Stuart Hunt [mailto:SHunt@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 20 May 2008 18:44
To: petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk; ESGMembersEnquiries; Paul Naylor; Cllr Sandra Jenkins
Cc: Mary Worrall; Paula Wright
Subject: London Borough of Hillingdon
Dear Mr Silverman
Thank you for your e mail dated 5th May addressed to Councillor Jenkins who has asked me to respond to you in my role as Green Spaces Manager (Ruislip/Northwood).
As pointed out in Paul Naylor's letter to you, the contractor for the Ruislip Northwood area made a commitment to bring the standard of maintenance up to specification within a 12 month period (By April 2008). We will continue to monitor the performance of all contractors in accordance with contractual requirements of the specification as pointed out in Councillor Jenkins reply to you of 29th April.
In response to your postscript I can confirm that there is no specific correspondance/minutes of meetings relating to Northwood Cemetery between Councillor Jenkins and Officers.
I hope the above response answers your queries, but if you require any further information please could you contact the Hillingdon contact centre to ensure that your enquiry is recorded and dealt with within the council's customer service standards.
Kind regards
Stuart Hunt
Countryside and Conservation Manager
4W/08 Civic Centre
Uxbridge
UB8 1UW
tel 01895 250916 (internal extension 3916) e-mail - shunt@hillingdon.gov.uk
--------------------------
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