Figures uncovered by Haringey Liberal Democrats have revealed a shocking ‘black hole’ in Haringey’s school places provision. In an answer to a Lib Dem written question submitted in March 2007, Haringey Council have only now confirmed that out of the 110 children that did not receive any of their four school preferences for a reception place, just under a quarter – 25 – came from Alexandra ward – one of nineteen wards in the borough.

Haringey Liberal Democrats have continually expressed their concerns at the recurrent gaps in local school places provision that annually blight the families of Haringey. Lib Dems have used a map to illustrate the ‘black hole’ that shows the gap in provision in Alexandra Ward. The lack of places has forced local residents to reconsider living in the area and to contemplate moving in order to get a local reception places when their children reach school age.

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

“I call on Haringey Council to urgently address this situation. With the number of new family houses being built locally the problem will only get worse. For someone who moved into the area because it is so suitable to bring up a family, to now be contemplating having to move out because there is not likely to be a local school place for their children is totally unacceptable. Unfortunately it’s another case of the Labour council not having a robust enough forward plan for school places that foresees potential shortages before they happen.”

Cassie Harris a local resident adds:

“Our priority is finding a place at a local school so we and our children can be part of the local community. I feel very strongly about this: if it is not possible then we will be forced to move. A lot of local families and friends are in the same situation as us.”

Commenting on the School Adjudicator’s decision that Haringey Council should run Haringey’s new school, Lynne Featherstone MP says:

“I took an active role in the adjudication process as it is very much our policy that schools should be run by Local Education Authorities to ensure proper local accountability and efficient use of precious educational resources.

“Attention now turns to Haringey Council to deliver on the promises they have made. I will be there every step of the way to scrutinise their performance to make sure parents and pupils get the first class school they deserve.”

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

“I am pleased that the School Adjudicator has listened to the local community and decided in favour of a new community school. Haringey now needs to rise to this challenge to make this a successful school for all.

“This decision is a first, nationally, and therefore important – and you do have to ask why the decision was taken out of local hands by the Labour government in the first place. It is symptomatic of their entire approach.”

Haringey Council has come under fire for its hidden housing waiting list. Correspondence to local MP Lynne Featherstone from Haringey Council officials has revealed that over 1,400 housing applications are waiting to be processed before even getting on to the housing register. This is in addition to the 25,000 people waiting on the official housing register itself.

Recent figures have shown that the number of people on Haringey Council’s housing register has leapt by 10,000 in 2003-6. Haringey’s Liberal Democrats have pointed to Haringey Council’s own admission that the promise for 1,000 new homes in Haringey is not enough to quell the surge in demand and have criticised Labour’s failings to bring the figures under control even before the missing 1,400 are taken into account.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“On top of the thousands of people already on the growing official register, we discover another 1,400 who are waiting simply to wait. Labour’s policy on housing is completely out of control and it is the people who are desperately in need of a permanent roof over their heads who are suffering.”

Councillor Catherine Harris, Haringey Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson, adds:

“Broken manifesto promises on decent homes, a hundred years to be housed and now this hidden waiting list – failure is too soft a word for Haringey Labour’s housing fiasco.”

Local Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on the Government not to reduce Haringey Councils’ decision powers over huge new superstore developments.

Small businesses in Haringey have come under increasing pressure from big superstores, but the government is now considering removing a crucial tool of Haringey Council in defending Haringey’s unique shopping areas such as Green Lanes or Crouch End.

The Government’s review of planning suggested that they scrap the ‘needs test’, which allows local planning authorities to decide supermarket planning applications based on need, but local Liberal Democrats have hit back saying that scrapping it would stop Haringey Council objecting to supermarkets taking business away from local shops.

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Lib Dem planning spokesperson, comments:

“Every local shop I visit is concerned about the effect that more gigantic supermarkets setting up will have on their business and the high street generally.

“If Haringey Council cannot say ‘No’ to supermarkets when they are not needed, how will they ever be able to stop them undermining our treasured independent shopping areas across Haringey? From Highgate to Tottenham the individuality of shopping that gives each area its character could be under threat. ”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“Whilst Haringey residents are campaigning to protect our high street and local community, the Labour Government is seeking to undermine our efforts and make it easier for big businesses to drive local shops, like the Post Office, newsagents and independent shops, out of business.

“I’m calling on the Government not to scrap the ‘supermarket needs test’ and to give power back to our local community so we can save our independent shops from the spread of supermarkets and help it grow into the hub of our sustainable, vibrant community.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Haringey working on a scrutiny report into the ‘extended services’ provided by schools in the borough have potentially opened the door to valuable partnerships between independent schools and community schools in the borough.

As part of their review, Lib Dem councillors proposed that Haringey Council should seek links and partnerships with independent schools. Councillors have discussed their ideas with the Masters and Bursars of both Channing and Highgate Schools, who responded very positively to this pioneering proposal.

A number of possible pilot projects were discussed with Highgate, with Haringey Council being asked to follow this up with urgent discussions with the schools to get these exciting projects off the ground – for the benefit of pupils from both the state and independent sectors.

Cllr Martin Newton (Liberal Democrat, Fortis Green), who chaired the review, comments:

“The scrutiny review was an opportunity to see if potential links and partnerships with Haringey schools were possible. I was absolutely delighted by the wonderfully positive response we received from both Channing and Highgate to this idea. I hope that the Council follows this up with constructive talks with the schools to see how this can be developed.

“While pilot projects would have to be worked out, the very real potential benefits for local students could involve tuition in more specialist subjects not available elsewhere, or sporting activities.”

Cllr Gail Engert, member of the review, and Lib Dem spokesperson for Children and Young People adds:

“Some of the ideas coming forward have the potential of making a real contribution to the future of Haringey’s pupils. I am pleased we have been able to get agreement for talks to take place and hope that these will result in trials of these projects in the near future.”

Pupils from Avenue Nursery School, Highgate, were accompanied by Lynne Featherstone MP on a litter survey of Highgate Wood and Highgate Station.

Lynne Featherstone said:

“Teaching young people to treasure the environment is so important.Climate change has rightly taken centre stage in green issues, but we cannot forget the damage done to our surroundings by simply not putting litter in the bin.

“The kids did a fantastic job of spotting rubbish and we discovered the number one culprit was cigarette butts – particularly around Highgate station.I am very grateful for them inviting me along and I hope they will keep up the good work!”

Commenting on the stabbing of a police officer in Wood Green in the early hours of Sunday morning, Lynne Featherstone says:

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the officer and his family.I am shocked and appalled by this senseless act of violence against someone who devotes their professional life to protecting our community.

“There must now be an investigation of the circumstances of this incident to see what lessons can be learnt and to make sure our officers are safe.

“This is a sad reminder of how dangerous knives are and why knife crime should be treated as seriously as gun crime – particularly in sentencing.I wish a speedy recovery to the officer and very much hope the perpetrator is brought to justice.”

Haringey Council has finally agreed to fund a £15,000 survey to establish the extent of contamination by Polonium 210 at the home of the late Alexander Litvinenko in Osier Crescent, Muswell Hill.

The move follows weeks of sustained pressure from close residents, local MP Lynne Featherstone and her Lib Dem colleague, Cllr Martin Newton, in which the Labour Council failed to get grips with the problem and keep worried residents informed.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem Fortis Green wards comments:

“I welcome the fact that this survey is finally being undertaken and it will give the facts as to the extent of contamination and what is needed to clear it up, but this should have been done months ago. This Labour Council was wrong to just ignore close neighbours and not let them know what was happening.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds:

“Given what we all hope is the unique nature of this incident, there has been a lot of buck-passing The residents of the street don’t deserve to be blighted whilst various agencies argue what to do about it.”

In their support for Compost Awareness Week, (6th – 12th May 2007) local Lib Dems have launched a five-point plan to encourage residents to start composting. Compost Awareness Week has been set up to encourage residents to keep Haringey’s gardens, allotments and open spaces in bloom by getting more and more people to home compost their kitchen and garden waste.

Lib Dems believe that by supporting and promoting composting, Haringey may take a step closer to becoming an environmentally sustainable community. Composting is seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to dumping waste into landfill sites.

Haringey’s Liberal Democrats have provided five easy steps for residents to follow to create their own compost:

1) Get a compost bin!Cheap, subsidised Bins are available from the Council.

2) Create a good mix of waste – Good compost needs the right mix of ingredients. Create a good carbon to nitrogen ratio, of browns to greens. Dried flowers, woody stems and cardboard (browns) are high in carbon, while fresh grass cuttings and kitchen waste (greens) are high in nitrogen.

3) Nurture – Every now and then introduce air into your bin either by using a garden fork to mix the material or by adding scrunched up paper and card. To help speed up the composting process, add a handful of soil, finished compost or a compost accelerator (young nettles are an excellent natural accelerator).

4) Keep adding – a good mixture of materials.

5) Be patient – Your compost will be ready to use when it resembles dark soil and has a sweet, earthy smell. This can take anywhere between six months and two years.

Cllr Bob Hare (Lib Dem Spokesperson on Green Issues), makes compost on his allotment in Haringey. Cllr Hare comments:

“Composting kitchen and garden waste is a simple yet effective way to get resident’s involved. The environment and recycling is an issue that we all care about and composting is a way that everyone can do their bit.”

Cllr Lyn Weber (Lib Dem Deputy Spokesperson on Green Issues) adds:

“If all households composted their waste this will have an enormous beneficial impact. We need to act now to reduce the amount of waste we landfill and composting is an ideal opportunity.”