A council leader has told the local MP to “better inform” himself before becoming embroiled in the escalating dispute over a holiday that was crowdfunded for a well-liked street cleaner.
It appeared to be an act of neighborly kindness when almost 200 people in Beckenham, southeast London, contributed over £3,000 to send road sweeper Paul Spiers on a summer vacation in Portugal.
Spiers, 63, is employed by Veolia, a waste management business; nevertheless, Veolia stated that he was not permitted to receive the money since its employees are not allowed to accept “gifts or incentives.”
They said they had no control over the problem. A representative stated, “We are under contract with Bromley Council, so our staff is not allowed to accept any money or incentives outside of the agreed pay structures.”
The new Labour MP for Beckenham and Penge, Liam Conlon, wrote a letter to the Conservative leader of Bromley council on Tuesday morning urging him to “take a common sense approach” and permit Spiers to go to see family in Portugal.
Conlon stated, “I have written to Councillor Colin Smith today to inquire about possible actions.” “I’m hoping they can use common sense and maintain the council’s high ethical standards while still letting Paul have the holiday that we all want for him.”
Smith provided the Guardian with the intimate reply he had written Conlon on Monday evening. “I sincerely hope that your team has taken the time and effort to read Veolia’s position statement on related matters since sending ‘your’ message, so they are better informed as to their dilemma and their suggested course of action in response,” the statement stated.
“While I understand that Mr. Conlon has been an MP for a full 40 days now, I would advise it is better to wait for a response to a letter before publicizing it,” Smith said in an interview with the Guardian.
In order to allay any concerns about people being duped on social media by politicians, he said, “Veolia and one of their employees are involved in this matter, and the council is not in a position to give them contractual instructions.”
Personally, I’m happy to see that Veolia has acknowledged Mr. Spiers’ value addition to both their company and the Beckenham community, which he serves so well, since this story emerged. May they both live long.
According to Veolia, it will match the funds generated and give them to a charity that Spiers designates. According to the spokeswoman, “Paul will receive Bromley’s employee of the quarter, an internal financial reward to recognise his hard work and dedication.”
David Jeffreys, the mayor of Bromley, has stated that while he was reliant on the council as well, he supports the recommendations made by the community to make sure Spiers receives the money by creating a special mayor’s prize for him.
“I might consider something akin to [Paul receiving a special award].” That’s conceivable,” he stated. “I know Paul very well, and his wonderful work for the community is exactly the kind of work that deserves recognition, but the council has the final say on this matter.”
Residents spoke about how Spiers, a seven-year Bromley road sweeper, kept the streets clean and uplifted people’s emotions with his “positive presence” and Elvis Presley playing on a portable speaker on Monday.
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