Driven out? Parking chief quits job - Councillor Danny Chalkley stands aside in Westminster Council’s cabinet reshuffle

Published: 21 May 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

MOTORCYCLE campaigners have welcomed news that City Hall’s parking chief has quit.

Councillor Danny Chalkley has stood aside in Westminster Council’s cabinet reshuffle and will be replaced by Cllr Lee Rowley following a tenure dogged by parking contract blunders and relentless protest over the introduction of motorcycle parking charges.

Charles Lort-Phillips, from the No To The Bike Parking Tax campaign, said: “As far as we’re concerned it’s goodbye and good riddance. We don’t expect much will change, we think he was pushed out as a PR move. It’s not just the motorbike charge, it’s taxis, parking and court cases that have driven him out.”

Cllr Chalkley is the most high-profile exit from the council’s frontbench and will continue to represent Vincent Square ward.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my five years in the cabinet managing a large and important portfolio. I decided before the election that it was time to concentrate on other projects. I am very proud of the huge achievements made by the team I had the pleasure of working with for the benefit of our residents, businesses and visitors. I wish to pay tribute to all the officers that have supported me so well over the last five years.”

Last year Cllr Chalkley said he had become victim to a “hate campaign of harassment, intimidation and bullying”.

Cllr Rowley will take immediate responsibility for a department under the spotlight over the costly re-awarding of the parking enforcement contract to NSL Ser­vices.

Among the immediate headaches for Cllr Rowley are rising tensions between the council and utility companies in the north of the borough and the defiant motorcycle campaign group which shows no sign of caving in. 

Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group, said: “Councillor Chalkley has paid the price for the very many parking failures that have engulfed Westminster over recent years. We now call on the new cabinet member for parking, Councillor Lee Rowley, to finally see sense and to scrap the hated motorbike parking tax. 

“It is time to start afresh and the only way to do this is for the council to admit that the motorbike parking charges have been an incredibly unpopular and expensive mistake.”

The reshuffle in 2008 when Colin Barrow became council leader means there is little new blood in the cabinet, with most posts being filled by councillors with previous experience in the top jobs.

Deputy leader Robert Davis, finance boss Melvyn Caplan, cabinet member for housing Philippa Roe, and Nickie Aiken, who looks after children and young people, all keep their offices.

The appointments in City Hall’s 10-strong cabinet were officially announced at Wednesday’s full council meeting at Marylebone Town Hall. All elected councillors are given a £1,000 “IT allowance”.

Cllr Barrow said: “Westminster is one of the best and most cost-effective authorities in the country. These new appointments have been implemented to ensure we continue to provide excellent value for money to local taxpayers while strengthening our services to vulnerable people and improving education in the city.”