East Barnet gas debacle - the council recommends...

Times series on Barnet council's ad hoc scrutiny committee report of their investigation into the East Barnet gas debacle. The committee's key recommendation was that National Grid pay householders more compensation for the days they spent without gas.

For me the stand-out part is not where committee chair Brian Coleman offers to stand Jack Cohen a dinner, but where he says the council can recommend what they like, but have very little power to make National Grid do anything.

“We can't give them a time limit, we've got no authority over them. We are suggesting they do it but they can say yes, no or mind your own business.

“They are a private company responsible to shareholders and directors.”

I have seen the Future Shape of Barnet council and it doesn't work terribly well?