More on the Register of Interests

We've received a letter (via email) from someone claiming to be the former councillor for Plumstead, Pete Challis (we say "claiming" as we have no means of establishing if it is really is him). In it, he has demanded that we issue Cllr Alex Grant with an apology for our story regarding the Register of Member's Interests.

Apparently we got it wrong because we didn't look at "the actual register of interests" which is available to view by making an appointment with the Head of Legal Services. In the "actual register of interests" Alex Grant has apparently stated he was employed by Greenwich Labour Party up to the election. According to petechallis05, Cllr Grant is surviving on his income from the Cllr's allowance and the money he receives for being the Chair of the Planning Board (shouldn't that be registered as a remunerated position?).

Given the above we'd like to take this opportunity to not apologise to Alex Grant. As was clear in our post yesterday. We made no accusations at Cllr Grant, we merely asked questions of curiousity. As such we have nothing to apologise for. On the issue of the "actual register", we'd like to take to thank petechallis05 for exposing the fact the Council has inaccurately published the Register of Member's Interests online. Sir, we salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.

There is something else the erstwhile informant Pete pointed out to us though. According to him the Tory councillor Chris Taylor has not submitted any new interests to the "actual" Register since 23rd May 2005. However the non-actual register online says it was updated and signed by Cllr Taylor on 5th June 2006.

Can someone from the Council get in touch with us and tell us which Register is correct on this point and, more importantly, why there appears to be two registers?