Category Archives: News releases

Haringey Council raids schools budget to close funding gap

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Over two million pounds have been stripped away from money for Haringey’s schools after the Labour cabinet, last week, decided to spend it on street lights, highways and parks. Local Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern at the decision, saying that Haringey’s Schools Budget, which is already under severe pressure, should not have been raided to fund a financial gap created by Labour’s recession.

On Tuesday (8th September 2009) Haringey Council agreed to divert £2.238 million of money originally allocated by the Government to Haringey’s schools, as part of an attempt to cover up a £5 million black hole in their Capital Budget.

Haringey’s children already receive over £1,000 each less in funding from the Government than neighbouring boroughs.

Cllr Gail Engert, Liberal Democrat Children, Schools and Families Spokesperson, comments:

“Haringey have stripped the council’s coffers clean of cash and are now spending on streetlights, highways and parks money that was allocated to Children’s Services and needed by our children for items such as urgent repairs to our primary schools.

“Labour’s recession hens are coming home to roost and, in Haringey, Labour’s financial incompetence means that, like old Mother Hubbard, the cupboards are bare.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“Haringey Council has tried to dress this issue up as Labour bringing forward spending, but it is little more than covering up a massive hole in Haringey Council’s budget created by the effect of Labour’s recession on council finances.

“Our Fair Funding Campaign highlighted the fact that that every child in Haringey already receives over £1,000 less funding than children in neighbouring boroughs. We do not want to now see Haringey Council taking money away from investment in our schools.”

£5m raid for troubled Haringey ‘Decent Homes’ project

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Money set aside to repair local residents’ homes was raided by Haringey Council’s Labour Cabinet last week, after it was  forced to pump yet more taxpayers’ money into the troubled ‘Decent Homes’ programme. Over £5 million was diverted from Haringey Council’s Major Repairs Fund to plug a gap in the Decent Homes budget, due to a Labour overspend on digital aerials and pitched roofs.

Only last month it was revealed that the Decent Homes project was £26 million in the red. The Homes for Haringey Gateway Report showed that the project overspent on items that were not shown in the original budget. This threatens work to homes still to be improved by the four year Decent Homes programme.

Local Liberal Democrats, concerned at the continual problems with the Decent Homes programme, have questioned Labour’s ability to control such large financial projects.

Cllr Matt Davies, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, comments:

“This project is rapidly descending into a financial farce. Sadly, once again, it is the Haringey taxpayer and council leaseholders who will have to pick up the tab for Labour’s financial incompetence.

“The Council’s own report shows that the Decent Homes project is over-budget, thanks to the massive overspend on digital aerials and pitched roofs.

“It may be desirable to have these, but you do not spend money that you do not have and which was never in the original budget.

“Now, Labour have had to dip into the Major Repairs Fund, which was already allocated for urgent repairs, to bail out the Decent Homes Project. It clearly demonstrates yet another Labour financial project that is out of control.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“This is more evidence of a council in crisis. Council leaseholders are being used as a cash cow, to hide Labour’s financial incompetence in the Decent Homes programme. They have had to fork out over £1000 each, to fund Labour’s reckless spending.”

Opposition demands urgent investigation after new Haringey Children's Services revelations

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Opposition councillors have demanded an urgent review of Haringey Council’s foster care services after it was revealed today that a child was placed in the care of the family of bomb-plotter Abdulla Ahmed Ali in 2006.

Local Liberal Democrat MP, Lynne Featherstone, says that this is yet more evidence of a council in crisis and raises more questions over Haringey Council’s ability to look after children.

It also follows Haringey’s Ofsted report in July this year that said that Haringey Council was still failing to protect all vulnerable children adequately.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“We knew that there is an on-going problem with Haringey Council’s ability to look after our children, but now we have new questions about Haringey Council’s ability to place children in safe and secure foster homes.

“We need answers now to ensure that no other child has been, or will be, in danger when they are placed in care.

“After the awful tragedy of Baby Peter and the clear failures made by Haringey Council, these new revelations show further evidence of the need for a root and branch review of Haringey Council’s Children’s Services that only a public inquiry can provide.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have written formally to the Chief Executive of Haringey Council, Ita O’Donovan, and Children’s Service chief, Peter Lewis, to demand assurances that no further mistakes by Children’s Social Services have been covered up.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Haringey Liberal Democrat leader, comments:

“Haringey Council vowed during the Baby Peter tragedy that they would end the silence and cover up in Children’s Services, yet this shows a council still committed to a culture of secrecy.

“Who knew about this fiasco and was keeping it a secret and how many more cases of Haringey Labour failure do we not yet know about?”

Local Liberal Democrats call for better battery recycling in Haringey

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In a bid to make it easier for local residents to recycle their household batteries, local Liberal Democrats have today called on Haringey Council to increase the number of battery recycling points in the borough.

Currently, residents can only recycle their batteries at Haringey Council’s two recycling centres – in Hornsey or Tottenham. In contrast, several local authorities across the country run successful schemes that give residents the opportunity to recycle their batteries in special battery recycling points on the streets or in local shops.

Lynne Featherstone MP and Liberal Democrat Green spokesperson Cllr Bob Hare, are today calling on Haringey Council to look at innovative options that will make it easier for residents to recycle their batteries instead of throwing them in the normal rubbish.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

‘Batteries, especially if old or broken, can be very dangerous to people and the planet. Throwing them away with the normal rubbish sadly means they end up on the landfill, with potentially very worrying long-term consequences.

‘Recycling needs to be easy and accessible – we all want to do our bit for the planet – but if that means driving half-way across Haringey to recycle our batteries, many may feel it is not worth the extra effort or the extra carbon foot-print.

‘That’s why we are calling on Haringey Council to look at options to help residents make the green choice when it comes to disposing of old batteries.’

Cllr Bob Hare adds:

‘I hope Haringey Council will take a good hard look at the many innovative and simple options out there that will make it easy for residents to recycle their batteries, either by dropping them off in battery points on their street, at their local library or shop.’

Labour do not care about Finsbury Park residents say Liberal Democrats

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Liberal Democrats have demanded that a Labour councillor stand down from a local regeneration board after it was revealed that the councillor has not attended for nearly two years.

Cllr Gina Adamou, who is councillor for Harringay ward, has not attended a meeting of the FinFuture board, which aims to improve the Finsbury Park area, since early 2008. This has prompted local Liberal Democrats to say that Labour do not care about improving the area and that she should make way for a Liberal Democrat councillor to attend the meetings.

Figures show that since 2007 Cllr Adamou has only attended four of the twenty board meetings that have taken place. This news comes on top of the announcement from Haringey Council earlier this year that they would scrap funding to improve the area.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

‘It clear that Labour does not care about the Finsbury Park area. It is time that Cllr Adamou stood down from the FinFuture board and let a Liberal Democrat stand up for the residents of the Finsbury Park area.

‘The area around Finsbury Park is used by thousands of Haringey residents, and is in desperate need of regeneration. It beggars belief that Labour thinks that this is such a low priority.’

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

‘In June this year Labour pulled funding for anti-dumping officers for streets around Finsbury Park. Now we have a Labour councillor who is either unable or unwilling to be Haringey’s voice on an organisation that helps to regenerate the local area. This is totally unacceptable and a symptom of Labour’s neglect in this area.’

Notes

In June 2009 it was revealed in a message from the Chief Executive of FinFuture that despite problems with fly-tipping, littering and graffiti in the area, Haringey Council has ceased funding that funding for two environmental officers from 1st April 2009. Hackney and Islington Councils, who also support Finfutures financially, continues to fund one officer.

Full details of Cllr Admaou’s attendance at FinFuture board meetings:

  • In 2007/08 there were 13 Board Meetings, of which, Cllr Adamou attended 4
  • In 2008/09 there were 6 Board Meetings, of which, Cllr. Adamou attended 0
  • In 2009/10 there has been one scheduled Board Meeting so far and Cllr Adamou gave her apologies.

Local MP helps kick-start YMCA's season of special coffee mornings

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To help kick start a year long project of activity-filled coffee mornings for the over 60s, Lynne Featherstone MP this week attended a special launch at the Hornsey YMCA.

The sessions, which will be running every Tuesday and Friday morning, will give local residents over 60 the chance to socialise, get advice on issues such as heating, dental care and housing, and get a chance to learn new and fun skills. Apart from exercise classes at the YMCA gym, residents will also get the chance to catch up on skills such as drama and drawing.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
‘These coffee mornings are just brilliant – it’s an excellent opportunity for local residents to meet new people and learn some great skills.

‘At the same time, some great advice is on offer to help you manoeuvre through life’s jungle of bureaucracy. I hope residents will take advantage of these brilliant sessions and come along for some fun.’

Mark Odenore, Hornsey YMCA Housing Director adds:
‘Hornsey YMCA would like to thank all those who attended the launch. We have been working with older people in the community for a long time, and we are patronised by many older people in the community who use our restaurant.

‘We felt that this project would help to combat isolation, exclusion and help local residents to develop a sense of community.

‘We hope that as the project grows, it will serve as a reference point in the weekly activities of older people in the local area. We would also like to invite any member of the community aged over 60 to join the sessions, and to make use of our restaurant where we provide subsidised lunches for older people.’

Local Liberal Democrats have summer uni fun at local youth centre

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To get a flavour of this year’s summer university, Local Liberal Democrats and Youth Councillor Adam Jogee yesterday got an exclusive tour of the activities at Muswell Hill Youth Centre.

This year’s summer uni, now in its third year, has over 200 courses for young people aged between 13-19. At Muswell Hill Youth centre, Local MP Lynne Featherstone, Councillors Gail Engert and John Oakes, and Youth Councillor Adam Jogee, got a chance to sample some of this year’s fun.

The group met young people learning DJ’ing, cooking, hair design and boxing, and even got a chance to try out some of the activities themselves.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Summer uni is such an excellent way to spend activity filled summers days- learning new skills and making new friends.

“Muswell Hill Youth centre is just buzzing with activity, and I really had fun trying out the decks!”

Adam Jogee, Haringey Youth Councillor adds:

“It was good to touch base with the staff and summer uni participants at Muswell Hill Youth Club and see them enjoying the activities that move from success to success.

“Full credit to the hard working officers and to the passionate and committed young people.”

Local MP visits special allotment scheme for National Allotments week

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To mark national allotments week, Lynne Featherstone MP yesterday visited an innovative scheme in Bounds Green, where residents from sheltered accommodation have invited local primary school children to learn about gardening and experience the joy of growing.

The scheme’s allotment has flourished since the project started in 2007 with the help of the intergenerational team of gardeners from Passmore Edwards House and Bounds Green Primary. Today, they grow food ranging from new potatoes to beetroot, carrots and peas.

The Liberal Democrat MP has now written to Haringey Council to encourage it to promote similar schemes in other parts of the borough.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s so heart-warming to see the combined fruits of older and younger people’s labour. It’s clear that the school children have benefited enormously from a wealth of knowledge about growing plants. And it’s just as good to hear of the joy the children bring to Passmore Edwards’ residents.

“This is truly inspirational, and hats off to Marion Carden, Passmore Edwards’ scheme manager, for driving this fantastic project forward. I hope Haringey Council will share my enthusiasm for such a brilliant initiative and help promote the idea in other local schools and sheltered accommodation.”

For more information about National Allotments week:
http://www.nagtrust.org/page5.html

Local MP gets top TfL boss to look at bus to new hospital

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Presenting back the bus cards to Mr Hendy

Local MP Lynne Featherstone has this week secured a promise of personal intervention from the top Transport for London boss over transport links to Hornsey Hospital.

At the successful meeting on Tuesday with London Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy, the Hornsey and Wood Green MP presented hundreds of ‘back the bus’ post cards signed by local residents in support of the Liberal Democrat campaign to improve local bus links to the site.

The Commissioner has agreed to arrange a meeting between himself, Lynne and local health service bosses to look at how the transport needs to the new Park Road health centre can be met.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I’m delighted that TfL has recognised the need for better transport to the new hospital. With such wonderful new facilities it’s a real shame that the question of how to get there has been overlooked for so long.

“Now Haringey health service and Transport for London have got to come up with the goods.

“I just want to add a huge thank you to all local residents who took the time to ‘back the bus’ – I look forward to seeing Transport for London and the local NHS getting stuck into discussing real transport options so we can get the right bus service for local people.”

Success as threatened ticket offices to remain open

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Ticket offices at two local train stations in Haringey look set to remain open following a campaign by Liberal Democrats. This week First Capital Connect announced that threatened ticket offices at Alexandra Palace and Finsbury Park stations will now be saved from cuts. Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement but are disappointed that ticket office closures at Harringay, Hornsey and Bowes Park stations will still go ahead.

In January 2009 local Liberal Democrats launched a campaign against cuts that proposed to reduce local ticket office hours by 114 hours.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It is great news that Alexandra Palace and Finsbury Park station ticket offices will be saved from closure.

“But we will not stop there. The same safety and customer service concerns remain at Harringay, Hornsey and Bowes Park station. We will continue to push for local residents and passengers to get the services that they need and deserve.”

Cllr Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, adds:

“We would like to thank all local residents who supported our campaign. This will really make a difference for those local people who use train services from Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace stations.”