黑洞社区

Hidden agenda

I notice that Gareth Blacker, the London Development Agency director, was suspended last week after a 拢60m overspend on land for the Olympic Games. This raised questions in some areas about the future of the agency should the Tories win the next election. Seasoned politicos wonder why the Greater London Authority 鈥� headed by Tory mayor Boris Johnson 鈥� seems so keen to highlight its budget problems before the report on what went wrong is published. Surely it can鈥檛 be because parking the blame for problems at the agency鈥檚 door will make axing it next year more palatable?

All in good time

Former housing minister Nick Raynsford had his moment under the Sunday Telegraph鈥檚 cruel searchlight last week when the paper took issue with the 拢148,000 a year he earns from outside interests (er, including his fee as a 黑洞社区 columnist 鈥�). Still, it seems it鈥檚 not just Raynsford who has trouble balancing responsibilities. Word reaches me that he has only just received a reply to a letter sent two months ago to Lord Mandelson, which asked that he meet with construction figures to discuss ways the government could help ease recession. The response? Nothing until the autumn 鈥�

Below the parapet

It鈥檚 not only the right honourable Nick having trouble meeting the government. At a regeneration conference put on by the British Property Federation and the Smith Institute this week, speakers included Stewart Jackson, the shadow regeneration minister, and his Lib Dem counterpart. But minister was there none. Although former junior housing minister Iain Wright had agreed to attend, replacement Ian Austin simply couldn鈥檛 find the time. Nor, despite negotiation, could anybody else from the communities department. With the government as unpopular as it is, maybe it鈥檚 not surprising they鈥檙e keeping their heads down.

Taylor Woodrow, to you

Some may recall the uproar last September when Vinci bought Taylor Woodrow and made it clear it wouldn鈥檛 use the red 鈥渢ug-of-war鈥� logo. Further outrage followed when Vinci announced that one of the few instantly recognisable brands in the industry, the Taylor Woodrow name, would also have to go. It is pleasing to hear, then, that the old way lives on in some quarters 鈥� such as Tesco and BAA. It seems that Vinci was so keen not to spook its two big-spending clients that it made an exception and kept the reassuringly familiar brand in its dealings with them. Not for the first time, it鈥檚 clear that what Tesco and BAA want, they get.

Kerslakes, Kerslakes everywhere

Is the Kerslake clan taking over renewal nationwide? With Sir Bob at the Homes and Communities Agency and his sister, Ros, manning the Prince鈥檚 Regeneration Trust, 黑洞社区 was concerned to hear that the HCA鈥檚 new head of communication was one Keith Kerslake. But the agency is no haven for nepotism. Keith is 鈥渘o relation at all鈥� to Sir Bob, one of his press entourage assures me. Must just be a lucky name.

Tat with your toast?

There is no accounting for taste. Take Paul Everall, chief executive of Local Authority 黑洞社区 Control and one of the fathers of our hallowed 黑洞社区 Regulations. One might picture such a gentleman seated at breakfast, leafing through 鈥� besides this esteemed journal 鈥� a copy of the Times, or perhaps the latest missive on Part L. Not so.

Mr Everall鈥檚 publication of choice is, in fact, the free London Paper, whose celebrity-strewn pages litter the capital鈥檚 tube trains. The must-read section? Why, page 18-19 which, for the uninitiated, is where you鈥檒l read the latest 鈥渘ews鈥� of Kate Moss and Jodie Marsh. His story of the moment? Jordan and Pete鈥檚 break up, of course 鈥�