The Audit Commission, the Government’s ‘watchdog’ for local councils, has criticised Haringey’s customer satisfaction, waiting times, and consultation methods. The move comes in the Commission’s latest report on Haringey’s e-government, customer care, complaints management and communications inspection.

The report gives Haringey a one star rating overall and although they highlight areas that have shown improvement, Lib Dem leader, Cllr Ross Laird points out that the same failings have been mentioned before, and the report is another critical verdict on the Labour run council. Mr Laird says he is particularly concerned about the low level of customer satisfaction felt by local residents towards the council.

Cllr Ross Laird comments:

“Haringey Council is still failing to deliver. The report backs up complaints from local residents, and while there is evidence of improvement in some quarters, other services such as benefit inquiries, remain woefully poor.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone (Muswell Hill) adds:

“Haringey is still failing badly in areas such as consultation with local residents – something for which they have been criticised time and again. Haringey must do better, but never really seems to turn the corner.”

A petition by 72 children from Our Lady of Muswell, Fortismere and St James’ schools calling for basketball nets at Alexandra Park has been boosted by the support of local Lib Dem councillors.

Muswell Hill councillor, Lynne Featherstone has written to the Council’s Executive Member for Alexandra Palace registering her support for the proposals and urging him to comply with the children’s wishes.

Lib Dem deputy leader Wayne Hoban, who represents Alexandra Ward, is keen to highlight the importance of these types of facilities to young people in the community.

Wayne Hoban comments:

“Alexandra Palace and Park has not been used to its full potential for some time, largely due to lack of resources. I am pleased to find local children coming up with an imaginative and practical improvement to the park.”

Cllr Featherstone (Muswell Hill) added:

“I very much hope that the children’s wish will be granted. So much of the time people complain about kids behaving badly – these kids want to behave well. Haringey should do its utmost to make this happen.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Crouch End, Ron Aitken, has called for action by the local police to curb vandalism and hooligan behaviour which is ruining local people’s enjoyment of the allotments between Shepherd’s Hill and the Crouch End open space.

Mr Aitken says that in recent weeks there has been escalation of stone-throwing and intimidation by young people who have been roaming the area, resulting in damage to allotment greenhouses and fear of assault.

Cllr Ron Aitken (Crouch End) comments:

“Allotments should be quiet and relaxing havens for Haringey residents, so enough is enough. I have made the police aware of the situation and I have received an assurance from Crouch End’s local homebeat officer that action will be taken.”

Liberal Democrat councillor and deputy leader Wayne Hoban has asked for written assurances from Haringey Council regarding a number of issues arising from the Alexandra Park School sixth form development.

This letter comes following a number of meetings by the Liberal Democrat deputy leader with the head teacher of Alexandra Park School, the architects and council planning officers. They have all assured him that the concerns of residents living near Albert Road recreation ground, where a temporary site access road will be built, will be taken into account.

However, Cllr Hoban wants these promises to be legally binding so that residents are in no doubt that their park will be returned to them, fully restored after the building work.

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“Many residents are concerned that the temporary road for works vehicles through the park will be made permanent after construction is complete. I am looking for written conformation from the Council that this will not be the case so that the residents around the park feel assured that their park will be returned to them.

“This school expansion development is essential and we fully support it, however we must make sure that the quality of life of those living around the park and school does not suffer as a result.”

Note:

The letter to Haringey’s Chief Executive called for written and legally binding assurances on the following points:

1. The temporary road to be constructed across the Albert Road Recreation Ground will be fully removed on completion of the school development project, or at a time when construction vehicle access is no longer required, whichever is the earliest.

2. The recreation ground will be fully restored to its original condition immediately following removal of the temporary road.

3. The contractor will complete the development within the timeframe specified in the planning application. Failure to complete the development within the specified and agreed period will result in financial penalties being levied against the contractor by the council. All funds raised as a consequence of financial penalties levied against the contractor should be used to improve the Albert Road Recreation Ground.

4. The school has committed to adopting a radical approach to transport to minimise traffic and to promote ‘green travel’; cycling, walking and using public transport. In recognition of increased pressure which will be placed on the Albert Road environs of the school following closure of the Bidwell Gardens entrance, combined with the large projected increase in pupil and staff numbers following expansion of the school, the council will work closely and effectively with the school and local residents groups to ensure that all possible steps are taken to minimise potential risks, particularly with respect to traffic management in the area.

Documents obtained by the Liberal Democrats show Haringey’s ruling Labour party sees itself as weak and incompetent, and failing to get even the basics of housing and the council tax right. The revelations, contained in Haringey Labour’s internal council group election manifestos, are certain to embarrass Labour, with its regular claims that the poorly performing council has ‘turned the corner’ in terms of its local record.

Councillor Charles Adje, Labour’s finance spokesman, who failed by just four votes to oust present Labour leader George Meehan earlier this month, said in his own manifesto:

“We have delegated substantial levels of power to officers without proper monitoring…” and “We are seen as talking tough but not acting tough.” Mr Adje went on to say that “Our peers … [see us] as a non-performing council, which is lacklustre, without focus and direction.”

Cllr Narendra Makanji, who was chosen as Community Involvement lead member, admitted in his manifesto that Haringey Council wastes money on regeneration projects. “The funds available for neighbourhood renewal are often frittered away on consultants and experts drawing up grandiose plans,” he said.

Cllr Isidoros Diakides, who was successful in his bid for the Housing portfolio, wrote:

“Our performance rating by the Government and our tenants’ satisfaction rates are amongst the lowest in London,” and “Our main failure as a council is in ‘getting the basics right’.”

Commenting on the controversial revelations, Ross Laid, Lib Dem leader on the council, said:

“Now we know what Haringey Labour councillors really think, and it reveals the extent to which Labour knows that they are failing the people of Haringey. Particularly telling is the admission that Labour see themselves as having limited influence and little ability to turn the council round.”

Cllr Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson, adds:

“When Labour admits that they can’t even get the basics right, it says a lot about the state of the council. The admission that the council fritters away money is bleak news for local council tax payers, who have suffered such huge increases this year.”

Crouch End Liberal Democrat councillor David Winskill is calling for a meeting between property developers Gold Crest and Crouch End residents living in Haringey Park and Weston Park to discuss the future of the site purchased for £2.5 million earlier this year.

Ever since the land that currently houses lock up garages and a car repair workshop was sold there has been great anxiety amongst local residents over the future of the site and concerns about the density and concentration of any possible housing development. Fears have recently been stoked by the over enthusiastic use of bailiffs to clear the site.

Cllr Winskill has already contacted Haringey’s conservation officer and building control department over rumours that demolition on the site was imminent.

He comments:

“We would like to meet the developers urgently to find out what they have in mind for the site and represent the concerns of residents whose property border the site.

“Anxieties over the development are held by many residents, who quite literally, fear development at the bottom of their gardens. This is the result of the current Government’s changes to planning. Hornsey and Crouch End have become a honey pot for developers with the threat that the area could lose much of its village atmosphere with more pressure piled on the infrastructure [schools, transport, health services].

“I will be working with my colleagues Cllr Ron Aitken and Cllr Lynne Featherstone to ensure that all the concerns of the community are voiced when I meet Haringey planning chiefs.”

Liberal Democrat councillors joined with local residents to secure a promise from Jarvis to “start over” with controversial proposals for floodlights for a new ‘all weather’ football pitch at Fortismere School. In a rowdy public meeting on Tuesday night, organised by Haringey Council to explain the proposals for six 15-metre high floodlights, representatives of Jarvis plc (who are the contractors for the Private Finance Initiative scheme) conceded that public consultation had been inadequate and promised to do better.

Around 60 residents attended the meeting to voice their objection to the scheme and many condemned Jarvis for their failure to consult. As angry residents stormed out of the meeting, local Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Gilbert challenged the representative of Jarvis, David Evans, to act in an honourable way:

“I explained that residents feel let down by Jarvis and no longer have faith in what they are being told. I asked the Chairman of Jarvis to freeze the application for these massive floodlights until another public meeting has been arranged with proper notice for local people.

“I’m pleased that he agreed, but Jarvis need to take away the message that they can not push around local people.”

Councillor Lynne Featherstone, who was also at the meeting, added:

“Throughout the redevelopment of this site Jarvis have acted in an arrogant way and have shown little consideration for the views of local people.

“Jarvis should know that they face an uphill task to convince people, and they need to start rebuilding trust and showing respect to residents.”

Liberal Democrat councillors accused the Labour-run Council of squeezing the life out of local democracy following the passing of parts of the new constitution that will effectively reduce the oppositions ability to hold the Council to account.

Lib Dem whip, Cllr Stephen Gilbert was incensed by what he called a “devilish” set of reforms that were forced through the committee without allowing opposition councillors a proper period of time to consult. The reforms included reducing the amount of written questions to one per councillor and banning written and oral questions from Extraordinary meetings.

He argued that by reducing the amount of questions that councillor asked the Council was further detaching itself from those it represents, reducing its accountability and legitimacy. The Victoria Climbie case was highlighted by Cllr Gilbert as a prime example of how effective questions are in bringing to account the Executive on serious matters reserved for Extraordinary meetings.

Cllr Gilbert (Fortis Green) commented:

“When the administration is failing to deliver proper services and some departments are haemorrhaging money, it is surely more important than ever that the policies and actions of those that are making decisions within the Council are properly open to scrutiny and can be held to account.

“At a time when the public are properly sceptical of its politicians, these measures will do nothing to address the lack of confidence the public has in councillors.”

Local residents in Teatherdown, Muswell Hill are celebrating after Liberal Democrat councillor Matt Davies successfully secured two new litter bins outside Fortismere school.

Cllr Davies got in touch with Council officers after a number of residents drew his attention to the litter problem in the area. The Council have confirmed that they have ordered the bins and will place them on site when they arrive.

Cllr Davies comments:

“I am pleased that the Council will be installing new bins. I They will certainly reduce the litter problem but I am keen to see the council improve the frequency of street cleaning in the area and will continue to press them on this issue.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern at a meeting of the Alexandra Park and Palace Advisory Committee about proposed redesigning of the park following the Palace Board’s successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

According to the Lib Dems, the proposals would see welcome improvements to the Park’s main entrances, but would not result in improvements to lesser entrances from Dukes Avenue and Muswell Hill and would see the removal of the distinctive gantries from the main road entrances. Lib Dem Councillors are also deeply concerned that the wildlife area at the garden centre in the park is not being maintained and under new leasing arrangements may be allowed to fall into further disrepair. Lib Dem Councillors will be writing to the Council and the Palace Board to express their concerns.

Commenting on the proposals, Lib Dem Alexandra Palace spokesperson, Cllr Bob Hare, said:

“There are many good ideas and much needed work in the proposed changes to the park, but we have real concerns about the loss of the distinctive, and we believe popular, gantries at the entrances to the Palace. It is also important that the Board retains its commitment to the maintenance of the wildlife garden at the garden centre. It is important that this site is maintained for public benefit and would be a great loss to the people of Haringey if it were to be removed or fall into disuse.”

Cllr Ross Laird, Leader of the Opposition, added:

“I will be writing to the Council and the Palace Board to ensure that money is earmarked in the future for clearing up and signposting the pedestrian access points to the park. Many of the entrances are a real eyesore and need cleaning up.”