Debating equalities

Posted on by

Have to run off slightly early from Haringey’s Youth Question Time at the Civic Centre to make it for a three-way panel – Harriet Harman, Theresa May and myself, who were invited by WIPP (Women in Public Policy) to debate the new Equalities Bill. Not that we’ve seen it yet – as the Government hasn’t published it yet. Harriet didn’t come – substitute was Emily Thornberry with whom I often appera Westminster Hour.

It was a relatively small group of women who came to the debate in my old stomping ground of London’s City Hall – but a very important and influential one for all that. Very much enjoyed talking afterwards to a woman (who turned out to be a constituent) who is CEO at the Stephen Lawrence Trust and others.

Why I'm so proud of the children at Nightingale School

Posted on by

Went to Nightingale School to talk to them about the wonderful project they have taken up – Schools for Africa. This is a charity set up by Sally Keeble (the Labour MP I went to South Africa with last year), who has done lots of work on AIDS. The charity basically gets children here to fill boxes to send to Africa for children there who have nothing. It’s not clothes or shoes or money – it’s boxes for Christmas that will have things like colouring books, crayon, pencils, some toiletries and make up and some toys.

I wrote to all the schools in Haringey asking if they would like to join this project – and Nightingale stepped forward. I suspect as the years go by more will join in.

Anyway – on Monday a group of the children came up to Parliament so I showed them around and they then joined children from all over the country who are doing ‘Schools for Africa’ and heard from speakers from the World Food Organisation to Levi Roots (of Reggae, Reggae Sauce fame) telling them about the poverty and AIDS and all that is needed in Africa.

And today I went to the school assembly to tell them about the project, how it would work and who the boxes (24) will go to at Christmas. The particular cause that the Nightingale children will be supporting is AIDS orphans who are in orphanages set up by surviving women with AIDS. There are so many of these orphans – something like 650,000 who simply cannot survive and look after their siblings on their own.

Can’t think of a better way to put a smile on children’s faces – both there and here – than by this really brilliant project. Really proud of the Nightingale children!

Alarm as Haringey Health Trust's performance plummets

Posted on by

Haringey Teaching and Primary Care Trust’s official rating for quality of service has fallen from ‘good’ to ‘fair’ and its performance in meeting national targets has fallen to ‘weak’.

Local MP Lynne Featherstone and Councillor Richard Wilson have demanded an urgent meeting with the Trust’s leaders to seek assurance over an action plan for improvement.

The annual rating check was revealed today by the official watchdog, the Healthcare Commission.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“A patient who received a diagnosis like this would be worried.

“I am extremely concerned that so many failures have been highlighted in vital frontline services from breast cancer screening to access to GP service.

“The leaders of the Trust need to explain what they are doing to urgently improve the quality of service local residents are receiving.”

Councillor Richard Wilson, Haringey Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, added:

“I am alarmed that so many important services that local people rely on have suffered such a dramatic deterioration.

“With such high levels of health problems in Haringey, it is scandalous that services are getting worse rather than improving.I will be demanding a plan of action to get our local NHS back on the right track. “

Have your say on policing

Posted on by

The Metropolitan Police Authority (on which I served for five years) is having a ‘have your say’ on policing in London to hear what Londoners think should be policing priorities for 2010/11.

Whatever I think about the new management – for those who don’t get my nuance – I mean Boris Johnson, who has taken over the chair of the authority (which is why Ian Blair went bye-bye) – it is still an opportunity to say what you want the police to concentrate on in future.

The real question is whether contributions will see an affect on outcome as we are all very suspicious of consultation here Haringey. However, born an optimist, I hope people will contribute, and am then happy to do battle to get open and transparent analysis of the submissions and fight for them in the outcomes!

The questionnaire can be downloaded from www.mpa.gov.uk/yourviews/haveyoursay.htm

Liberal Democrat's criticise Labour's last minute attempt to gag community group

Posted on by

Liberal Democrats have condemned Haringey Council’s last-ditch attempt to stop Asian Older women’s user-group ‘I Can Care’ addressing the Full Council on Monday night by saying its £12 million plan to develop Woodside House is now “on hold”.

Council officials, backed up by Labour members at the meeting, tried to dissuade members’ of ‘I Can Care’ from presenting their deputation saying that it was no longer needed. Around 50 elderly members and 60 residents attended the deputation. However questions remain over how long the £12 million decision to move the Civic Centre will stay “on hold”. This uncertainty puts into further doubt the future of community groups and the luncheon club users who have been delivering services for over 20 years at Woodside House.

Liberal Democrats criticised Haringey Council for failing to notify ‘I Can Care’ chairman Raj Doshi of the delay in the Woodside house project until yesterday – although a press statement was issued by the Council last Friday. Haringey Council also failed to clarify many of the points raised by the deputation.

I Can Care’s 400 members, who currently meet in Woodside House, are worried about their future accommodation, and say Haringey Council has failed to offer a viable and safe alternative.

To date Haringey Council has spent £250,000 using external contractors on the Woodside House development but failed to consult local stakeholders fully.

Cllr John Oakes, Liberal Democrat spokesman for Community Involvement, commented:

“I think Haringey’s last-minute trick shows that it will go to any lengths to silence the community groups it says it supports if they start sticking up for themselves, or happen to mention an awkward truth. This little episode underlines Haringey’s real dislike of consultation and discussion.”

Haringey Council and Icelandic bank account

Posted on by

So – the world saviour is enjoying his moment in the sun. Lord knows it’s been a pretty frozen existence for the rest of Gordon Brown’s first year or so. However, the recriminations over the financial meltdowns have kicked off big time and it was him stirring the financial pot and writing the recipes over the last ten years.

Here in sunny Haringey we feel a cold wind blowing in from Iceland – and up until now have been relatively restrained in blaming Labour for what has happened with £37 million of local reserves caught in the Icelandic net of bankruptcy. However, at last night’s full council it was revealed that Haringey Council was moving money into Icleandic accounts as late as the 29th September – way way after the warnings were there. Why on earth were the Labour councillors in charge not screaming at the finance officers to move the money once the ratings had dropped?

Quite rightly, Robert Gorrie (leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Haringey Council) has called for an independent investigation.

This is what he said: “What is clear is that Haringey Council has been caught up in a financial storm that has uncovered real failings in the Council’s economic leadership. Haringey Council was typically slow to reassure residents and are still drip feeding the bare minimum of information out to the public. Repeated suggestions that losing £37 million will not impact future spending plans are simply ludicrous. This loss is almost 10 per cent of Haringey Council’s annual expenditure on services or more than 30 per cent of the Council’s own annual capital expenditure. Something will not get done as a result of this loss and the Council need to be honest with residents where and when that cut will fall.

“We must now have a full and independent investigation to get to the bottom of the decisions made to invest in these banks so the responsible parties can be properly held to account. Every pound needs to be accounted for and all residents’ worries need to be put to rest.”

Too bloody right!

Council backs Liberal Democrat calls for block to Heathrow expansion

Posted on by

Liberal Democrats secured cross-party support for their stand against the expansion of Heathrow airport last night.

Liberal Democrats however have urged Labour councillors to do more than simply back the council motion, but actually to lobby the Labour ministers who will be making this decision.

Labour councillors agreed to break ranks with their national party and join other Liberal Democrat councils, such as Islington and Camden, in the 2M Campaign against the expansion of Heathrow airport.

Councillor Butcher, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson commented:

“Enough is enough. We cannot stand back and ignore the damage to the environment that will be caused by Heathrow’s expansion. We will never move to a carbon free economy if we allow airports to grow and grow.I am pleased that Labour councillors supported our motion, but now they have to do the hard bit and persuade their ministers to actually see sense.

“Local residents living under Heathrow’s flight path will bear the brunt of more flights and more pollution.As a local council we have to send a clear message that we don’t want a bigger airport.”

Councillor Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, added:

“We must call a halt to any expansion of Heathrow – either through additional runways or by allowing more frequent landings on existing runways. 100,000 domestic and short haul flights could be slashed if high speed rail was introduced. As seen from examples across Europe, passengers would switch en masse from air to rail if journey times were improved through introduction of high-speed rail.

“High-speed rail may be expensive – but the planet can’t afford us not to provide an alternative to unnecessary air travel.”

Alexandra Palace: Labour councillor unapologetic

Posted on by

A top Labour Haringey councillor was last night unrepentant amid fresh calls from Liberal Democrats for his resignation for his role in the Alexandra Palace debacle.

Liberal Democrats highlighted the findings of the independent Walklate Review carried out for Haringey Council which suggests that Cllr Charles Adje pushed through granting a licence to Firoka for his own political reasons.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Haringey Liberal Democrat leader, said at the meeting of the Full Council that the independent report found no evidence for why the decision was made to award a licence and that this decision had cost Haringey’s taxpayers £2 million. The only motivation was from Cllr Adje who was at the time vying for a position as Haringey Council resources spokesperson and wanted his management of Alexandra Palace to look favourable.

Cllr Gorrie went on to say at the meeting:

“There can be no doubt from the report that the process was driven and directed by Councillor Adje. There must be some substantial concerns about the quality of support and advice given which allowed Councillor Adje to make such a bad decision in such a bad way and for what appear to be have been at least in part political motives. But make it he did and responsible for it he is and given this history we must challenge the probity of having such an individual in charge of the Council’s Resources.Councillor Adje should step down as Cabinet Member for Resources.”

Cllr Robert Gorrie commented today:

“It is incomprehensible that Labour have ignored an independent investigation which puts blame firmly at the door of Cllr Adje. More perplexing is that he will continue to hold the purse strings of the Council after demonstrating such suspect judgement when he was Alexandra Palace Chair.

“Labour have a history of political disaster at the Palace and the current Chair, Cllr Matt Cooke, has continued along this damaging path. He failed to terminate the Licence when the Judicial Review confirmed the consultation failings and it was his disastrous management that may have left the Trust open to legal challenge by Firoka.

“We have called for Cllr Cooke to resign as Chair of the Trustees to make way for a suitable non-political Chair. Only then will residents stop being the losers who, time after time, have to pick up the tab financially for Labour’s mistakes.”

A special lesson in democracy for Stroud Green school pupils

Posted on by

Democracy was brought to life for the pupils of Stroud Green Primary School on Monday morning with a special assembly by one of the ward’s councillors Ed Butcher to mark Local Democracy Week.

Cllr Butcher, who is also one of the school’s governors, explained the role of a councillor and the Council in providing local services.The assembly finished off with an election of special candidates played by cuddly toys.

The children voted by an overwhelming majority for Raminda the Duck following her populist promises for a two day school week and the replacement of school dinners with a free sweetshop.

Councillor Ed Butcher commented:

“It was a fantastic opportunity to help explain what democracy is and why it is relevant to the kids.

“I hope they enjoyed the assembly as much as I did.There are few duties in being as councillor that are as exciting as making young people feel as passionate about politics as I do. “

Head Teacher Denise Sewell added:

“Citizenship is a very important part of the curriculum for our school.Bringing local representatives in as well as our active school council are all part of helping our young people how they can take part in civic life and hopefully inspiring them to one day get more involved.”

Liberal Democrats demand independent investigation into Icelandic bank deposits

Posted on by

Haringey Council was still investing new money in Icelandic banks as recently as 29th September 2008.

This emerged last night as Labour leader Cllr George Meehan tried to defend the investment of Haringey’s taxpayers’ funds totalling £37m in three failed Icelandic banks. Liberal Democrat councillor Robert Gorrie has demanded a full independent investigation into deposits in Glitner (£2 million), Heritable (£19.8 million) and Landsbanki (£15.2 million), saying he found it extraordinary that the cash was invested so recently when other councils had pulled out a year ago because of market concerns about the Icelandic institutions.

A full explanation is also needed as to why £35 million was invested in the same institution following statements by Cllr Meehan that, “he had asked the same question”, but was unable to answer it.

Cllr Gorrie said that excuses that Haringey Council was following advice from economic experts and the Government would not wash. He pointed out that the majority of local authorities were not exposed to this crisis and Haringey’s exposure per taxpayer was one of the highest in the country.

Liberal Democrats have vowed leave no stone unturned in their questions to Haringey Council to get to the bottom of Haringey’s unprecedented exposure to the banking crisis.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Liberal Democrat Leader and Resources Spokesperson, commented:

“What is clear is that Haringey Council has been caught up in a financial storm that has uncovered real failings in the council’s economic leadership.

“Haringey Council were typically slow to reassure residents and are still drip feeding the bare minimum of information out to the public. Repeated suggestions that losing £37 million will not impact future spending plans are simply ludicrous. This loss is almost 10 per cent of the Council’s annual expenditure on services or more than 30 per cent of the Haringey Council’s own annual Capital Expenditure. Something will not get done as a result of this loss and Haringey Council needs to be honest with residents where and when that cut will fall.

“I find it inexcusable that it deposited money in these banks just over two weeks ago when most knew that doubt was circling the Icelandic banks.

“We must now have a full and independent investigation to get to the bottom of the decisions made to invest in these banks so the responsible parties can be properly held to account. Every pound needs to be accounted for and all residents’ worries need to be put to rest.”