Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that an extra £500,000 is to be added to the road sweeping budget from next year. This is seen as a significant step following many years of campaigning by local Lib Dems on environmental issues like road sweeping. The money has been allocated to cover extra sweeps on 50% of the borough’s roads.

Cllr Susan Oatway, Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson, comments:

“Money to increase the frequency of road sweeping is overdue but welcome. The cleanliness of some roads in the London Borough of Haringey is still totally unacceptable despite repeated requests for improvements from residents and local Lib Dem councillors. Labour have known for years that some roads are simply not kept clean by the current sweeping schedule and it has taken them a very long time to act.”

Local councillor and MP Lynne Featherstone adds:

“The environment has been a key priority for our Lib Dem group since before the last election. Labour are belatedly beginning to realise we are right, and trying to make up for four decades of inaction on the state of Haringey’s streets.”

The Sustainable Energy Partnership, which represents all the major environmental and ‘fuel poverty’ NGOs has today written thanking Lynne Featherstone MP for being present in Parliament on Friday 11th November to support two vitally important Bills dealing with climate change and fuel poverty – The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill and the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill.

Both of these Bills were debated in parliament on Friday, and Lynne Featherstone MP helped the former Bill to pass its second reading.

Partnership Organiser Ron Bailey said:

‘The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill is a vital measure. Emissions of CO2 continue to increase and rising energy prices will mean that even more people will suffer from cold homes and fuel poverty this winter. This Bill contains practical measures to deal with both problems.

‘We appreciate that it is difficult for MPs to be in parliament on a Friday, so we are especially grateful to Lynne Featherstone MP for being in the House. This is exactly the example that MPs need to set – action not just fine words. We thank Lynne Featherstone MP for making this commitment to the environment and to ending fuel poverty.’

Liberal Democrat councillors in Haringey were disappointed on Monday night when Haringey Labour failed to address significant failings in the Government’s white paper on education. These policies would have a significant negative effect on the quality of education in Haringey.

In a debate at the Council, Labour proposed wording that criticised some aspects of the white paper, but they did not accept a Lib Dem suggestion that highlighted other serious failings. In particular, the Labour motion did not address the issue of the potential sell-off of school playing fields, or proper stakeholder involvement in the Council’s response.

Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill), Lib Dem Education spokesperson who proposed the amendment, comments:

“I am glad that Haringey Labour have accepted there are serious flaws in the education white paper. But it is very disappointing that Haringey Council failed to take note of all the implications of these dangerous policies. There has been almost universal disbelief that Labour are attempting to push these Tory policies through Parliament and we needed the Council to take a stronger stand than this.

“I am also disappointed that the Executive Member will be responding to the white paper on behalf of the Council without proper stakeholder consultation. Our amendment called for teachers, parent groups and young people to be consulted on our Council’s response, but Labour rejected this.”

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green), whose ward includes Fortismere School, adds:

“Allowing schools to sell-off land for commercial development will put many of Haringey’s schools at a funding disadvantage, as they have little or no disposable land. But in their motion Labour ignored the other serious implication of this policy – those schools that do have valuable land may be forced into selling it off for commercial development. This would lead to the irrevocable loss of playing fields and other facilities, which are vital to the overall education and health of children in Haringey.”

Haringey’s Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed satisfaction after the Labour Council supported a motion tabled by Liberal Democrat councillor and Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban calling for Government action over phone masts.

The motion, tabled following years of campaigning by Lib Dem councillors and activists, requested that Haringey Council calls on local MPs to lobby for more powers for local councils to control the sitting of phone masts and powers to reject mast applications on local public health grounds.

The issue’s importance was made obvious by the public gallery, which was filled with anti-phone mast protestors who had carried out a demonstration outside the Civic Centre prior to the meeting.

The motion was supported unanimously in the chamber although the Labour Council passed an amendment, despite Lib Dem opposition, that watered down the health aspects of the original motion which called for the ‘precautionary principle’ to be adopted.

Cllr Hoban and Cllr Neil Williams, who seconded the motion, welcomed the Labour Council’s support. The Lib Dems hope that this motion and the results of an imminent scrutiny review on mobile phone masts will add to the pressure on the Government to change its policy over phone masts.

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“I am pleased that this important Lib Dem motion has been passed with universal support. It is a shame that Labour felt it necessary to table an amendment removing the ‘precautionary principle’ that would have addressed major concerns of residents in light of the lack of conclusive evidence on the safety of masts. But the main resolutions of the motion were all retained.”

Cllr Williams (Highgate) adds:

“It is good news that our local MPs can now press for these changes knowing that they have the full backing of both sides of the Council. I know that Lynne Featherstone MP has been campaigning for residents for a long time on the issue of mobile phone masts – this motion’s success will add weight to her argument.”

Cllr Matt Davies (Fortis Green) has recently been dealing with specific problems at Barrington Court (N10) and Aylmer Road (N2) and also spoke in the debate.

He adds:

“On the whole, it was a useful debate and most councillors were very constructive. I am disappointed that the motion was watered down slightly, but the key element of lobbying Government to give us powers to reject masts on health grounds was agreed. This will give local residents genuine hope for the future on this issue.”

Liberal Democrats in the London Borough of Haringey have expressed deep concern over Haringey Council’s plans to redevelop the Pembroke Works, Cross Lane, Hornsey into housing with the loss of 25 jobs.

At a Planning Forum meeting last week Haringey Council, which owns the premises, announced the plans but made assurances that the businesses that use the works would be relocated.

However, Lib Dems say that the four businesses which occupy the premises had not been informed, with the ones that had turned up simply finding out through word of mouth.

The Liberal Democrats are concerned that more housing is being built at a cost to local jobs. They have further fears over the implications to other premises on the nearby light industry site on Cross Lane, also at risk from long-term re-development

Lib Dem planning spokesman Cllr Jonathan Bloch and Lynne Featherstone MP are concerned at the way Haringey Council is going about this redevelopment and have called on them to consult fully with residents and businesses.

Cllr Bloch comments:

“It concerns me that Haringey Council appears to be in conflict with itself. It is talking of wanting to create jobs yet its actions, in selling a fairly modern commercial site that provides jobs, are doing the opposite. “

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Residents on the Campsbourne Estate like their business neighbours and have serious concerns about a number of issues should the property be used for housing. These and other issues need to be addressed through a thorough consultation with both residents and businesses.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Wayne Hoban has been asked by Tottenham Green Enterprise Centre (TGEC) tenants to look into the apparent failure of the Tottenham Enterprise Centre to deliver on its stated objectives. The centre was established in 1998 to ‘promote enterprise to young people up to the age of 28, from Haringey and Tottenham in particular.’

The TGEC was set up as a joint venture involving the London Borough of Haringey, the outgoing Tottenham Task Force, the College of North East London and North London TEC.Although the stated intention was to provide training and support, particularly to small BME-led businesses, many tenants have expressed concern over the apparent failure of the TGEC to provide adequate support. Cllr Hoban was informed that photocopying facilities were withdrawn with no notice, on-site car parking for businesses and their visitors was refused, leading to clamping of their vehicles, though the centre management and casual workers are allegedly routinely issued with parking permits. He was also informed that many tenants have left due to poor management support, lack of quality training and inadequate facilities at the centre.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“I was surprised to discover the depth of dissatisfaction from many tenants when I visited the centre last week. The aims and objectives of the TGEC are laudable, but if they are failing to provide good quality support for young BME small businesses, it will undermine our ultimate goal, which is the creation of successful ‘home-grown’ businesses in Tottenham to increase local employment opportunities and attract inward investment to Haringey.I have asked the Haringey Council to investigate these allegations as a matter of urgency.”

Muswell Hill Lib Dem councillor Gail Engert has welcomed action by Haringey Council to extend the hours of the recently installed controlled parking zone (CPZ) in Beattock Rise, off St. James Lane N10.

The CPZ was implemented in July following pressure from Cllr Engert and local residents. It was introduced to prevent cars from outside the estate parking on the small entrance road and blocking access to an estate which contains some sheltered housing.

However residents and Cllr Engert expressed disappointment that the CPZ was not 24-hours a day, seven days a week. There has also been concern over the lack of enforcement of these parking restrictions and Cllr Engert has been keen for Haringey Council to address them.

In new correspondence, Haringey Council has now confirmed that it will make the CPZ round-the-clock and has directed its parking contactor, Wings, to carry out evening patrols on the estate. They have also agreed to investigate the inconsistent recycling and refuse collection on the estate.

Cllr Engert has welcomed the news and hopes that within weeks the problems that she has been campaigning to resolve since her election in early 2004 will finally be resolved.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am pleased that these issues are being addressed and I am hopeful that this will resolve the current parking misery for residents, many of whom are elderly and disabled, and they will be able to park near their homes. However I will continue to keep a close eye on the situation.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in the London Borough of Haringey have welcomed the news that Haringey’s graffiti fighting budget is set to increase permanently from £50,000 to £120,000 from April 2006.

The news, contained in draft budget proposals, follows a long campaign by Lib Dem councillors and local MP Lynne Featherstone. It formed a cornerstone of the manifesto for the local election in 2002, when Labour-run Haringey had one of the lowest funds for fighting graffiti in the whole of London.

The Lib Dems, who through their annual residents survey report hundreds of graffiti blackspots, are delighted that Haringey Council has acknowledged the problem and has matched it with more sufficient funding.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Neil Williams (Highgate) comments:

“I am delighted that Haringey Council has finally responded to our calls that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of graffiti.”

Lib Dem Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“It is good news that more of these eyesores in the borough will be removed. However the Council and government must do more to address the social issues that lead to this vandalism.”

Two former members of The Bridge NDC (New Deal for Communities) Board have been granted permission for a Judicial Review in the Appeals Court against the Board, Haringey Council and the Government Office for London.

The former Board members were Chair and Vice Chair of the Board’s Finance & Performance Scrutiny Panel. Their dismissal led to a signed petition by 600 local residents to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, asking for an independent investigation and for an independent forensic accountant to investigate The Bridge NDC finances.

Liberal Democrat councillor Wayne Hoban, who has been looking into these allegations since being contacted by local residents concerned about the way in which the £50 million NDC project is being managed, has asked for copies of the audited accounts and auditor’s notes for the 5 year period (2001 / 2005) that the project has been running, but has been informed that they are not available.

Cllr Hoban states,

“It is incredible that this £50 million project should not have Annual Audited Accounts which can be inspected to ensure that the money is being spent appropriately.This shows that the concerns expressed by residents and the local community about the way in which this multi-million pound project has been managed to date are well founded, and requires immediate action. In view of the non-availability of audited accounts for the first five years of the project, nothing less than an independent forensic auditor’s investigation of The Bridge NDC accounts will do.”

Muswell Hill is to enjoy festive cheer this Christmas after Lib Dem councillors in Muswell Hill, Fortis Green and Alexandra wards secured the funding for Christmas lights for Muswell Hill. The move follows the Labour Council’s refusal to pay for new ones earlier in the year..

The fiasco started in July when the Area Assembly heard assurances from Haringey Council that they would be putting up lights on Muswell Hill Broadway following pressure from Lib Dems and local residents.

The lights were checked by the Council in August and viewed to be safe.However when contractors retested the lights last month they found them to be unsafe. Haringey Council added that there were no funds to purchase new ones.

Lib Dem councillors, determined to see Christmas lights on the Broadway this year, offered a solution. They have asked secured money from the Area Assembly budget to pay for new lights.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am delighted that we will now have lights in Muswell Hill.I am sure that the shops and the local community will benefit from festive customers these lights will bring.”

Cllr Martin Newton (Fortis Green) adds:

“It’s great the Council has agreed to stop playing Scrooge over the lights. I am delighted for the residents and traders that we have found a way around this ‘can’t do’ attitude the Council seems to have.”