Haringey Council has concealed the identity of the media consultants used to provide PR advice during the Baby P tragedy. In a censored answer to a question from Liberal Democrat Cllr David Winskill to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny ‘watchdog’ committee, the Council confirmed that £19,000 was spent on PR/Media advice to the Council. It came from three sources and included media training for key spokespeople. However, the reply declared that the consultants’ names to be “Exempt”, i.e. they must not be revealed.

Further inquiries by Liberal Democrats as to why the identity of media consultants were hidden has forced the Council to reveal that the restriction was due to solicitors for one media company expressing concern that revealing their client’s identity would lead to “adverse publicity and personal distress to their client.”

Haringey Council argues that the public interest is served by not revealing the consultants names:

“… because the Council corporately has a legitimate interest in receiving professional media and public relations advice and, in an environment of very adverse and indiscriminate press comment, this can only be ensured if the identities of consultants are kept out of the public domain.”

Liberal Democrats have demanded further information from the Council regarding their media costs during the Baby P tragedy.

Cllr David Winskill says:

“It is a measure of how toxic Haringey Council has become: professional companies are happy to get the business, send in an invoice and get the dosh from local taxpayers but don’t want any one to know who they’re working for.

“It is legitimate for a council to use PR to help present information in a clear and transparent way but this exercise reeks of political spin, obfuscation and has shattered Haringey’s already shaky reputation.

“I want to get to the bottom of this and make sure that ratepayers are not landed with the bill for Haringey Labour trying to hang on to power.”

Cllr Winskill has submitted a list of twenty further questions on this matter.

To mark international volunteering day on Friday, Lynne Featherstone MP went to help out at the Hornsey Trust’s school for children with cerebral palsy in Muswell Hill. The Liberal Democrat MP saw rehearsals for the Christmas play ‘Ralph the Reindeer’ and lent a hand with the kids’ computer class. Volunteers working in the trust’s charity shops bring in much needed resources to keep the centre going.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The work that takes place here every day is truly inspirational. You see it in the children’s smiles when they have overcome a hurdle or done something they’re really proud of.

“But that wouldn’t be possible without the generous time and commitment of people working in the trust’s charity shops locally. They, like so many other volunteers, give their time so selflessly to make this world a better one.

“But often, volunteers do not get recognised for the impressive work they do every day. That’s why I want to take this opportunity to say well done, and keep the work up.”

As an exceptionally successful year comes to an end, local MP Lynne Featherstone recently visited mental health charity Tulip to congratulate them on becoming The Mall’s charity of the year, and for helping over 400 people with mental health problems locally live fulfilling lives.

The Wood Green-based charity gives tailor-made support to help people manage all aspects of life, ranging from specific help with their mental health problems, to support for independent living, as well as help in accessing work, education and managing their finances. As The Mall’s charity of the year, Tulip will get the proceeds from all the shopping centre’s charity fundraising activities that have taken place this year, which include a sponsored walk and Christmas Craft activities.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Tulip gives dedicated, personalised support to vulnerable people to help them live fulfilling lives. That is such a worthy cause and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate them on a fantastic year.

“I’m especially delighted that Tulip is The Mall’s charity of the year. I really hope the New Year’s cheque from the Mall will help this amazing charity continue its successful work for many many years to come.”

Betrayal – that is the verdict of Liberal Democrat Tottenham Spokesman David Schmitz, after the office of London’s Conservative Mayor, Boris Johnson, moved to back Haringey Council’s plans for Wards Corner.

Mr Schmitz says the move, which came in a letter to Haringey Council from Ian Clement, Deputy Mayor for Government Relations, will dismay local residents and campaigners. During the election campaign Johnson had told them that he would back local traders.

But the battle does not end here according to the Liberal Democrat campaigner.

“The Mayor cannot wash his hands of the problem simply by refusing to intervene in the planning process,” says David Schmitz.

“The Mayor, through London Underground Ltd., has the power, as the owner of a large part of the site, to control what happens there. He can stop the scheme no matter what the planning position may be – and that is exactly what he must do.

“Also, there are serious concerns about the way in which the planning committee reached its decision, and a legal challenge could very well succeed.

“Local residents have been working incredibly hard to save a fine building and a vibrant market in a conservation area, but Haringey Council has just ignored them. It cannot see the value which the building would have if it were to be restored, and it cares so little about the market that it has unquestioningly accepted assurances from the developers.”

Liberal Democrats in Tottenham have selected local campaigner David Schmitz to be their candidate in the Seven Sisters by-election, caused by the sad death of long-serving councillor Fred Knight.

David Schmitz is also the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Tottenham, so is a seasoned campaigner for Tottenham. On the Labour council’s controversial plans for the development of Wards Corner, David Schmitz, a barrister, has been giving free legal advice to members of the Wards Corner Community Coalition to help save the Latin American market and the historic Wards Corner building.

Mr Schmitz says he will be campaigning to hold Haringey Council to account over the appalling mismanagement that led to the tragic death of Baby P and to prevent large payoffs being made to anyone found to have been guilty of gross misconduct. He also wants to tackle Haringey Council neglect in the Seven Sisters area, including dumped rubbish and other local grot spots.

David Schmitz comments:

“More than ever, Tottenham and Seven Sisters need the Liberal Democrats. Only the Liberal Democrats offer an alternative, and with the last local elections so close, a win in January will send a message to Labour that after nearly forty years of mismanagement, local residents have had enough.”

Hornsey and Wood Green Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone, who was until 2006 a Haringey councillor, adds:

“I’m delighted David has been chosen. He will be a strong voice for the people of Seven Sisters and South Tottenham.The tragedy of Baby P is the latest and the worst result of Labour’s failure to run the Council properly. Local people are more than ever disgusted with Haringey Labour, who are clearly not up to the job of running the Council. The days when Tottenham residents would just put up with Labour neglect are over. That is why the Liberal Democrats will be fighting hard to win on 15th January.

“David Schmitz is already a formidable Tottenham campaigner for the Liberal Democrats. He almost unseated a former Labour Mayor in a huge swing in the 2006 local elections. His role was key to securing the election of Lib Dem councillors in Tottenham for the first time in many years.”

The whole area is now turning to the Lib Dems, with the Conservatives knocked into third place in the last general election. They have no seats at all on Haringey Council.

David Schmitz’s commitment to the Tottenham community is deep and of long standing:

“A few years ago, the house next door to us became a drugs den,” says David Schmitz. “Haringey Council’s inability to deal with the problem turned me into a local campaigner.

“When the drug den was destroyed by fire, my partner and I bought the wreck and spent a year doing it up as our home. I was so impressed by what Lynne Featherstone and the Liberal Democrats were achieving in Haringey that when our building work was done, I decided that the time had come for me to join in their campaigns.”

There is fury in Haringey following to the latest astonishing moves by the ruling Labour group to block any debate or questions in the Council over the devastating report into the death of Baby P that was published this week.

A special meeting next Tuesday will currently only include the formal appointment of a new Leader of the Council and Children’s Services member after the resignations on Monday. Requests by opposition councillors for a statement and discussion on the damning report have been rejected.

Liberal Democrat councillors are moving to call a further special meeting to ensure Haringey Council does debate the report and its implications in public.

The Liberal Democrat opposition says that Haringey is slipping into a disastrous ‘business-as usual’ amnesia over the case. Cllr Robert Gorrie points out that only last week, the acting Leader of the Council, Lorna Reith, had defended the now removed Labour councillors Liz Santry and George Meehan, by saying she had “seen how effective they had been”.

She went on to describe as “unfortunate” Liberal Democrat attempts to hold the two councillors to account. Calls for their resignations were blocked by another Labour councillor, the chief whip, and now leader of the Labour group, Claire Kober.

Liberal Democrats say that the refusal shows Labour-run Haringey Council is determined not to change in the wake of the Baby P tragedy, and that Haringey Council must answer questions about the report, what happens next, and how the Council orchestrated a ‘whitewash’ into the initial Baby P review.

Liberal Democrats say the new leaders of the council and its Chief Executive must set out in detail and in public how Haringey can move forward and show it is working with the team brought in to protect the borough’s vulnerable children.

Liberal Democrat Leader Robert Gorrie comments:

“There is immense anger that Labour are already showing signs of business as usual.

“It is extraordinary that Haringey Council’s leadership and its Chief Executive are actively avoiding the opportunity to set out a clear plan of action in response to the devastating Ofsted report.

“Their behaviour sets the culture and context for council officers in the future, and the first signs are not encouraging that the necessary root and branch changes necessary will be made to the services that protect our most vulnerable citizens.

“It is an absolute insult, and residents in Haringey will simply see this as further proof that after almost forty years of failure, Labour are simply unable to change.”

Hornsey & Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone adds:

“It’s another shocking denial of debate and scrutiny over this issue by Haringey. This is one of the roots of the problem, and this must change.”

To help raise funds for sick children in hospitals and hospices, Lynne Featherstone MP was today holding a tea party with her staff in their Hornsey Office. Team Featherstone joined hundreds of people all over the UK taking part in Wallace and Gromit’s Great British Tea Party. Lynne and her staff had a range of yummy treats on offer, from Welsh teacakes, to Swedish Christmas cakes and of course Wensleydale cheese.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to have some fun and raise some money for a worthy cause. It’s a shame Wallace and Gromit couldn’t make it. Maybe better luck next year.”

Lynne Featherstone MP is asking the Department of Health and NHS London to intervene after it emerged that breast cancer screening services across North London will fail to meet national targets for years to come, due to capacity problems.

Lynne Featherstone is writing to ministers and officials following a meeting with Haringey Primary Care Trust, whose failings in the North London breast cancer screening service meant that they would be unable to meet current national targets, and would be unlikely to do so for a number of years.

The worrying news emerged after the Liberal Democrat MP and local health spokesperson Cllr Richard Wilson met with the health trust management on Thursday to discuss the Healthcare Commission’s recent assessment, which showed a general deterioration in quality of service.Breast cancer screening is one of the areas the trust is performing least well on, with not enough local women being seen by the screening service.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Breast cancer screening saves lives, and not having a service that’s up to scratch locally is really devastating.

“This is a problem across North London and it is clear that this problem cannot be resolved by local action alone. That is why I’m calling on Whitehall and NHS London to pull in all stocks to help Haringey women get the service they need and deserve.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats have emailed all of their members and supporters asking them to cast a vote for Lordship Recreation Ground in its bid to get a £400,000 slice of the Mayor of London’s “Help a London Park” fund.

The money would be used for improvements to the much neglected park, the biggest in Tottenham. Ideas include a new city farm, environmental centre, restoration of the River Moselle, improved entrances, play facilities and landscape works.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Culture, Leisure & Lifelong Learning, Cllr David Winskill, said:

“I have a real soft spot for Lordship Rec. Years ago, when I was student, I had a vacation job as a park keeper there and fell in love with the place. It is a real green oasis in the built up city and I hope everyone will take half a minute to vote. The local Friends Group has worked really hard and deserves the money to make the improvements.”

To show your support for the Rec, go to www.london.gov.uk/parksvote/region/north/lordship.jsp.