David Weeks (politician)

David Weeks is a former Conservative Leader of Westminster City Council and served on the council from 1974 to 1998.^[1]

Career

He was leader of the council from 1991 to 1993, deputy leader^[2] from 1983 to 1991, and acting leader during 1987 to 1988. He chaired several of the council's major committees: Policy and Resources, 1991–93; Planning and Development, 1987–91; Finance and Personnel, 1983–87; and Housing, 1979-83. From 1977 to 1979 he was the chief whip of the council's ruling Conservative group.

Activities

Weeks's influence can be seen most visibly as chairman of the planning and development committee, when he directed a number of initiatives across the centre of London. He was the originator of the Paddington Basin Special Policy Area, which expanded commercial development outside the West End. He was involved in the planning applications for the Royal Opera House extension, the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, the refurbishment of Leicester Square, and the former St George's hospital at Hyde Park Corner.^{[citation needed]}

He oversaw the negotiations for the ending of temporary office consents in Mayfair (which extended back to WWII). He led a revision of the City of Westminster Plan, including the statutory process of consultation. He was involved in changing traffic arrangements in front of Buckingham Palace, curtailment of vehicle parking in the Royal Parks, and upgraded and refined street furniture livery across Westminster.^{[citation needed]}

Weeks planned the introduction of the Government's new Council Tax regime in 1992, and was one of the founders of the business promotion agency, London First. As chairman of Westminster's finance committee, he led the privatisation of the refuse collection service.^{[citation needed]}

He was Leader of the Council at the time it was ordered to buy back the Westminster Cemeteries after they were sold without proper provision for maintenance.^[3]

Chairman of housing

As chairman of housing, Weeks instituted a policy of declaring a new Housing Action Area each year across the northern part of the City of Westminster. He oversaw new developments and refurbishment programmes that took the council's own total residential stock to over 23,000 dwellings. He presided over the introduction of the Right to Buy for council tenants.^{[citation needed]}

Homes for Votes scandal

Weeks was deputy leader to Shirley Porter at the time of the "Homes for votes scandal" and was found jointly liable along with Porter and others to the tune of £36 million by the District Auditor, but this was reduced on appeal by the High Court.^[4] In a 2001 judgement, Lord Bingham of Cornhill, described Dame Shirley and David Weeks, as guilty of a "...deliberate, blatant and dishonest misuse of public power. It was a misuse of power by both of them not for the purpose of financial gain but for that of electoral advantage. In that sense it was corrupt.^[5][6]

See also

• Westminster cemeteries scandal

References

1. ^ ALL MEMBERS OF WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL. Westminster City Council Election Results (unofficial page), 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
2. ^ Surcharge upheld against Dame Shirley Porter. BBC News, 19 December 1997. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
3. ^ Letter: The cemeteries of Westminster council. From David Weeks in The Independent, 7 July 1992. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
4. ^ Q&A: Dame Shirley's downfall. BBC News 24 April 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
5. ^ " 'Corrupt' Dame Shirley ordered to pay Pounds 26.4m" in The Times, 14 December 2001.
6. ^ "Magill v. Weeks [2001] UKHL 67 (13th December, 2001)". Bailii.org. http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2001/67.html. Retrieved 22 October 2011. 

Further reading

• Dimoldenberg, Paul (2006). The Westminster Whistleblowers: Shirley Porter, Homes for Votes and Scandal in Britain's Rottenest Borough. London: Politico's Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84275-179-4. 

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