Lib Dem councillors for Alexandra ward have written to the new Chief Executive of Haringey Council to express deep concern and dissatisfaction with the council’s decision to block the recent Lib Dem call-in of the Council Executive’s decision to allow the installation of traffic humps in the Dukes Avenue area.

The Lib Dems were informed by a representative of the Council’s Monitoring Officer that the call-in was not valid because it does not give adequate reasons for the call-in or outline an alternative course of action.

However, the reasons for the call-in had been clearly specified, namely that the Executive had not fully considered or adequately addressed the reasons why traffic humps were installed illegally prior to the required consultation process. In addition the Executive had decided to accept an officer’s assurance that the emergency services had been adequately consulted, where the only evidence submitted to the Executive was that the Ambulance Service had expressed no concerns through a third party.

No evidence was submitted relating to the views of other emergency services. Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr Hoban, who proposed the call-in had suggested as an alternative course of action that the decision be referred back to the Executive for reconsideration of their original decision in the light of the reasons given in the call-in.

Lib Dem traffic spokesperson and Alexandra ward councillor Susan Oatway has written to the Chief Executive to raise concerns over the blocking of the Lib Dem call-in.

Cllr Oatway comments:

“The Council has blocked a call-in that was designed to allow both the Council and affected local residents an opportunity to review the original decision and ensure that appropriate consideration was given to issues that had not been adequately addressed at the original meeting.

“This Council has once again prevented the official opposition from bringing the Council to account over a controversial decision. We are deeply concerned that the Council appears to be protecting itself from public scrutiny of another flawed decision.”