Councillor Jon Hartley

[MaryT]

Anyone else having problems getting responses from Cllr Hartley (Dulwich Hill ward)? I notice that someone else on here suggested that he never acknowledges emails from residents?

[Sally Eva]

you can answer this yourself by emailing him and seeing if you get an acknowledgement

[first mate]

Perhaps the OP already has, hence her question?

[MaryT]

Yes Sally, I've emailed him several times since Xmas. I don't contact Councillors frequently but when I've done so over the years, I've found them generally engaged and responsive. It's unprecedented to just be ignored and, regardless of the query I'm raising, that's worrying from the point of view of  our local democratic voice. Its a Councillors role to represent local people! A different thread on here made reference to a lack of response from one of our ward councillors and, since there are only two, I'm guessing it's the same one. I'm following up my own concern separately but I'm asking on here about whether others have had the same problem. I'd like to think it's a one-off but, increasingly, I suspect it's not. Hope that gives a bit more context!

[Nigello]

Of the two councillors, only one in that ward has ever responded to my emails or texts (for which I’m grateful, of course)….

[Insuflo]

MaryT, I’ve contacted the Dulwich Hill councillors several times in recent years, always copying them both in. I have never had an acknowledgment from Jon Hartley (not even an automated response or out-of-office) nor had any response or engagement from him regarding the issue raised.
 

On each occasion, only Maggie Browning responded (she uses an out-of-office if she is away). The last time, I received no response from either for 3 months, until Maggie Browning emailed me to apologise for not responding and asking if the problem had been resolved.

Edited July 20 by Insuflo

[PeckhamNicola]

does either of them have a surgery? probably not over summer, but I thought they had to give the opportunity for their constituents to meet them.

[Insuflo]

47 minutes ago, PeckhamNicola said:

does either of them have a surgery? probably not over summer, but I thought they had to give the opportunity for their constituents to meet them.

I’ve tried to find details of surgeries being held before but not found any. The section of the Southwark website that details councillors’ surgeries says that:

Your locally elected Councillors will be holding a roving surgery programme in the Dulwich Hill area to enable residents to raise any local issues. Residents will be notified by letter in advance of the date, time and specific streets/roads where the surgery will take place. 
Surgeries are not held in August, on Bank Holidays, Easter or in Christmas Week. 

Dulwich Hill Ward Councillors

I’ve never seen any notification of surgeries being held, including on the DH councillors’ social media accounts. I don’t know if any other residents of Dulwich Hill have? Neighbouring wards all seem to have times and places posted for surgeries. 

 

[Pugwash]

Maggie Browning usually very good responding to emails. Roving surgeries - we got a letter some time ago that they were in Barry Road between certain times - but neither neighbours of ourselves saw them. Face to face surgeries rarely held now due to violent attacks on MPS and Councillors.

[Sue]

15 minutes ago, Pugwash said:

 Face to face surgeries rarely held now due to violent attacks on MPS and Councillors.

That's completely understandable (not having the surgeries, I mean).

Edited July 21 by Sue
Edited for clarity.

[Insuflo]

25 minutes ago, Pugwash said:

Face to face surgeries rarely held now due to violent attacks on MPS and Councillors.

No, face to face surgeries are held by the councillors in most wards, including Dulwich Wood, Dulwich Village, Peckham Rye, Rye Lane, Peckham etc:

https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 
 

 

 

[Sue]

11 minutes ago, Insuflo said:

No, face to face surgeries are held by the councillors in most wards, including Dulwich Wood, Dulwich Village, Peckham Rye, Rye Lane, Peckham etc:

https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0 
 

 

 

That's very brave of them then. I hope they have good security measures.

[MaryT]

Thanks for these responses. Yes, Cllr Browning & Cllr Hartley did a door-knocking exercise a couple of months ago. It was Maggie Browning who knocked and I told her that I'd had radio silence from Jon Hartley. She looked embarrassed but not surprised. I have spoken to him since, only after writting to Ellie Reeves, our MP about it his lack of response. He agreed to address the issue I asked about but I've not heard from him since. It's really not acceptable for an elected Councillor to consistently ignore his ward constituents. Since it's clearly not a one-off, I'm gonna pick this up formally. I'll let you know how I get on...

[CPR Dave]

Does he turn up to meeetings at Tooley Street?
 

is he claiming his full allowances too?

[MaryT]

CPR Dave, attendance records are available on Southwark's website. Maggie Browning has attended 100% of meetings. Jon Hartley has attended 65%.

[caroandcj]

Yep, I've emailed Cllr Jon Hartley a couple of times and had nothing in response. Quite poor really.

[Pugwash]

Jon is rarely seen at various Dulwich Hill events/activities i.e Police SNT meetings. Maggie is generally very reliable but is now on Maternity Leave.  I have been informed that in the next 2/3 weeks, the labour Party will be choosing their candidates for the next council elections in 2026. Not being a labour party member I do not know how you would raise objections when existing councillors are not up to the job?

[Sally Eva]

you could write to the leader of the council suggesting that they are a poor advert for the Labour Party

[heartblock]

The Labour Party is a poor advert for the Labour Party. I think this council just reflects the national picture. 

[aggie]

I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that John Hartley is married to the new leader of the council. Her response to a complaint about her husband would be interesting!

[Lollipop]

I  too have never had a response from John Hartley but have always found Maggie Browning does respond.  Yes it can take her a bit longer but many councillors work as well. 

She's been very good at sorting out any issues I have raised. 

[Penguin68]

8 minutes ago, Lollipop said:

Yes it can take her a bit longer

Presumably because she's carrying the whole load of her ward (and her fellow counsellor!) 

[drewd]

I have written to the councillors in this ward various times over the years and Jon Hartley has never been the one to respond. It has always been the other councillor - most recently Maggie Browning (but in the most recent case, she has also not replied.)

[MaryT]

Oh dear! The general response is that my experience of Jon Hartley is the norm. That’s bad. As an update to my issue with him, Ellie Reeves’ office advised that I contact the Southwark Labour Party Chief Whip in the first instance with my complaint. Coincidentally, the Chief Whip turns out to be Cllr Maggie Browning. She acknowledged my complaint and, in response, said that she had ‘spoken’ to Jon Hartley and appeared satisfied that he’d now responded to me. Not sure that’ s an adequate response, since it seems to been well-known that he consistently ignores constituents. Maggie will know that better than anyone as she’s paired with Jon in our Ward, and she’s having to pick up the stuff which he’s ignoring. As people have noted, Maggie does indeed respond to constituents but she’s now on maternity leave. Alas, I think that means we’re lumbered with just Jon. I’ve bypassed him in respect of my own issue, because I think he’s a waste of my time. In case anyone else should be having problems with him, especially now that Maggie Browning is away, I’d recommend emailing Ellie Reeves MP. Her office is very responsive in my experience and, if she hears from enough disgruntled constituents of Cllr Hartley, I imagine she be quietly speaking to the Southwark Constituency Labour Party about him. Ultimately, if he stands again, he won’t be getting my vote. Be annoyed people, be very annoyed ! Your vote should count for something and the candidates privileged enough to get it should do the job they were elected for!