Monthly Archives: Jun 2007

National Childminding Week

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Hornsey childminder visitAfter the Winkfield visit, it was on to Karyn Parker’s house in Hornsey. Karyn is a registered childminder in Haringey – and exemplar.

Three parents are there to meet with me (some who used Karyn for years past and present) and their children. Jo, Vera and Tracy are mums who without the peace of mind of knowing that their offspring are safe and sound – and more to the point – loved, would not be able to go to work as they do. I know that one only too well myself. It was clear that the children of mixed ages had a lovely environment, were stimulated and socialised and safe. As Jo said to me – you want a childminder who as much as possible does what you would do. And that’s the point.

Karyn is now mentoring other child minders. This is the real nuts and bolts of equality for me. Without good affordable childcare – women cannot get back to work. So I was really delighted to meet Karyn (who is absolutely wonderful) – and delighted to do so in support of National Childminding Week – which is why I was there!

Helping deaf and hard of hearing people get jobs

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Following Renate Campbell cuts the cake to open the Deaf Job Clubmy morning advice surgery at Wood Green Library, I went to the launch of the Renate Campbell Trust Deaf Job Club at the Winkfield Resource Centre. In short – this will be a facility, for the deaf and hard of hearing, where staff will be there to help them into work. This might comprise support in putting a CV together or learning skills – as well as educating employers and providing training awareness for staff.

Renate is the daughter of former Labour councillor Mary Neuner, who in middle life literally woke up one morning deaf. Mary worked tirelessly to improve things for the deaf and this launch today is on the back of her efforts. Mary was a real driving force and it is terribly sad that she, herself, died only recently. At least she knew that this was going to happen.

It is one of those things in life, you know. Most people don’t even know someone who is deaf. Most people don’t know someone in a wheelchair. And what people don’t have in their own lives appears as strange and alien. And I am sure that employers or would be employers think that deaf people won’t be able to do the job or it will cost them to have one working for them. And yet – if it is your mother or brother who is deaf, or blind or in a wheelchair or whatever – then they are just people – same as you or me. I have this total belief in a better world where the differences are as nothing compared to what we have in common. And that cuts across not just disability – but culture, race and religion too!

Councillors slam long delays in repairing burst water mains at local school

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Councillor Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat member for Alexandra ward, has criticised local agencies for allowing a burst water main at a local school to remain broken. The water main burst at Alexandra Park School on 12th June 2007 but was allowed to continue flowing for several days whilst Thames Water, the Fire Service and Jarvis, the PFI maintenance contractor to the school, argued over whose responsibility it was to undertake the repair. It has been revealed that the leak originated when a water main was broken when the Fire Brigade drove over the kerb when they went down the side road to tackle the fire at Muswell Hill Golf Club.

Cllr Wayne Hoban (Alexandra Ward) comments:

“Surely the primary responsibility was to repair the leak immediately to ensure that disruption to the school was kept to a minimum and also to prevent thousands of gallons of precious water from being wasted.I am extremely concerned that essential public agencies could not see the logic of undertaking this repair immediately and sorting out ultimate responsibility later.”

Cllr Gail Engert, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Children and Young People adds:

“This situation illustrates the complications that arise when a school is locked into a maintenance contract with a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) provider and is unable to deal with the problem directly. This is very unsatisfactory, given the huge inconvenience caused.”

Liberal Democrats slam Haringey Council project management

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Haringey Liberal Democrats have yet again criticised and expressed their concern at Haringey Council’s poorly controlled and ineffective project management.

Information revealed at the Haringey Council Cabinet meeting of top Labour councillors on 19th June 2007 included a report which included no summary budget information for almost one in five of the projects.

More significantly, the report shows over half the projects are running late or forecast to complete after their “original end date” and a further one in five show no summary date information on which to see whether they are late or not.

Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors believe this shows Labour’s lack of attention to detail and poor track record of running large projects that have resulted in huge waste of Haringey taxpayers’ money through disasters such as the Tech Refresh fiasco.

Projects currently running behind schedule include the procurement project tasked to make savings of £2 million. The original completion date was April 2007 but now forecast to finish in April 2009 – 2 years late.

Another example is project to deliver The Single Status Pay Review settlement. This was cited as “one of the key risk issues” in this year’s Haringey Council Budget process and an issue which may produce “significant costs”. The project to reach a settlement now shows a forecast completion of Jan 2009 from an original completion date of March 2007 – 22 months late.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson comments:

“Successful project management is about two key things – delivering on time and on budget. Haringey Council’s own reporting shows a consistent and continued failure against both these criteria. The Labour Cabinet seems happy managing a process that produces a big thick report which they either don’t read or don’t understand. The result of Labour’s failure is wasted money, wasted time and a poor outcome for Haringey residents.”

Meeting Ofcom about pirate radio stations

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Met with OFCOM earlier today following my raising of the issue of pirate radio stations illegally broadcasting in my area and adversely affecting London Turkish Radio – which is in my constituency.

I can’t go into details about the specifics of what they will be doing to act on this particular issue – but am assured that act they will.

I had a master-class in the issues around radio, bands, enforcement and so on. One issue that sticks up quite clearly is the complete nonsense of the difficulties of catching and raiding illegal stations and the costs involved therein – compared with the ‘punishments’ meted out when someone is caught and convicted.

The average fine is somewhere around £118. There’s nothing wrong with the penalties that can be meted out – they are up to and including two years imprisonment – and other countries treat this seriously and apply such penalties. But for reasons I don’t understand – here the judiciary doesn’t to the same degree. No wonder they’re raided one night and then start up again the very next day. It’s financially still advantageous for them to do so as the fine and the cost of the equipment taken don’t come to anything like the money they make per week – and clearly they have no fear that the court will lock ’em up.

Should I talk to the media off the record?

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Story of Ming and Gordon’s siren voice rumble on. I am called by Sky, BBC and Daily Politics to see if I will just have a chat – off the record if I like. Hmmmmmmm – never be fooled by journalists saying they want a chat off the record! And there’s nothing more to say – Gordon wants us. We don’t want him!

PS If you want to know what I think Gordon will be like as Prime Minister – read this.

Liberal Democrats survey residents on Pay-to-Park schemes

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Liberal Democrats have set up an on-line survey to monitor views about the Stop-and-Shop parking schemes that have been introduced today in Muswell Hill and Crouch End. The party wants to find out fully what impact these schemes have on the local community.

The Labour Council has been criticised by Lib Dems for imposing these schemes despite overwhelming rejection from the local communities. Questions have also been raised about the cost of ‘unnecessary’ parking surveys in Muswell Hill and Crouch End completed only after the new parking schemes were given the green light by the Council. Figures uncovered by the Lib Dems have shown that the surveys cost a staggering £38,325. The Labour Council has admitted that kerbside space in adjoining residential roads is already at saturation point in both Muswell Hill and Crouch End so just counting the comings and going of cars in this expensive survey just before their scheme is even implemented is meaningless, say Lib Dems.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem spokesperson on traffic issues comments:

“We have set up an on-line survey to really find out what impact these schemes have on the local community as Labour seem incapable of carrying out any meaningful consultation. What is important is to ask traders, visitors and residents about the impact of the scheme when this is operational. Has there been a change in perception over parking from visitors and residents?What impact has there been on local businesses?”

Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End) adds:

“I was astonished when I found out the cost of the most recent Council survey. But more worrying is that the Council told us from the outset that surveys had been done to study the traffic in the area. If these were done why do they need to be done again? This money could have been used more fruitfully by mending the countless number of holes in Haringey’s roads or planting new trees.”

Liberal Democrats in cross party petition for memorial to local Tottenham hero

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Haringey Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party support for their petition calling for a memorial to local Tottenham hero Walter Tull. As the first black outfield professional footballer, Walter Tull played for Tottenham Hotspur between 1909 and 1911. He was also the first black commissioned officer in the British Army and died on the Western Front on 25th March 1918 in World War One.

David Lammy, the Member of Parliament for Tottenham, has agreed to be the first signatory to the petition.

Cllr Carolyn Baker (Harringay Ward) comments:

“It is clear that Walter Tull is a local hero. His achievements in football and his military career, against the prejudice of the time, should not go unrecognised. We should all be proud to support this petition to request that Walter Tull is remembered for what he did for Spurs, Haringey and the country.”

For more information about Walter Tull visit www.waltertull.originationinsite.com

Being propositioned by a Tory MP

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On the way up to the weekly Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party meeting – I found myself being propositioned in the lift by a Tory – politically propositioned of course. (And no – I am not going to name him). Very sweetly done, I thought and humourous and obviously off of the back of the Guardian’s story about Brown’s overtures to Ming. Personally, I expect a lot more shmoozing from both sides trying to woo us Lib Dems. Labour and Tory are after our voters and after us. And whilst I may enjoy the odd bit of flirting – I remain independent. My mum always said play hard to get!

Seriously, though, I don’t know how many times we Lib Dems have to repeat the mantra – a plague on both their houses and we’re going out there for maximum Lib Dem votes, maximum Lib Dem MPs and maximum Lib Dem policies! Labour are clearly terrified of what’s coming down the track. The Tories are desperate. And we’re concentrating on our work!