New civic centre might mean end for Asian charity

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Fearing that a proposed relocation of the Civic Centre to their site will mean the end to their charity, Woodside House based ‘I Can Care’ last Friday invited Lynne Featherstone MP and Cllr Robert Gorrie, leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats, along to see some of their amazing local work.

The charity, which gives welfare advice and does computer, yoga and English classes for elderly Asian residents, only found out about the Labour-led council’s plans to move to Woodside House from a press release. Ms Featherstone is now writing to Haringey Council to ask what measures they are taking to ensure the future of I Can Care .

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“It’s shocking that Haringey Council has publicly announced this planned move to Woodside House without even mentioning it to ‘I Can Care’. There’s been no assurance from Haringey Council, no consultation, not even a phone call. That’s not what I call democratic!”

Robert Gorrie adds:

“Haringey Council’s lack of respect for this vibrant and well supported community group is as unacceptable as is the lack of clarity on how the Council have come to the view that Woodside House is a suitable location for a new Council Chamber. Have they asked residents whether this is a good use of tax payer’s money?”

Parking fines

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Had a meeting last week with three people who are fighting the fight for fairness for motorists. In the wake of the revelations over Labour-run Haringey Council fining motorists for being in two yellow junction boxes in the borough which were illegally drawn – I am meeting them at their request. Some may regard it as supping with the devil – but that’s the point – motorists aren’t devils and they have as much right to fairness under the law as everyone else.

When I was Chair of Transport at the London Assembly I carried out an investigation publicly into parking enforcement in London. Judging from the visit I had from three borough leaders – yes one from each of the main parties – I was lucky not to end up with concrete boots in the Thames! The boroughs didn’t want me to look at this – and that just made me want to look harder. Without going into the findings – suffice to say – that income from parking etc. forms a standard part of the budget of many councils and therefore not all concerns by the motoring lobby are unfounded.

As someone who has often campaigned for parking restrictions and regulation – my concern is that they must be fair and reasonable – and they must be there for a good reason. The scrutiny at the London Assembly found many, many unfair practises and there were loads of recommendations. One – which I think Westminster took up – but not as strongly as I would have liked – is greater sensitivity to the severity of the offence. For example I don’t think that being a couple of minutes late back to a meter when time has expired should carry the same fine as a more serious infringement.

Back to my meeting last week. What Haringey’s illegal junction boxes boil down to is ‘unlawfully earned income’ – which in my view Haringey should therefore be refunding. (A view shared by at least one Labour councillor – Alan Stanton – though he has got into hot water with his colleagues for saying that in public).

Councils cannot and should not be above the law on such things. If we, the public, are to respect the laws and abide by them – they must be fair and be seen to be fair. And that includes the law applying to councils as well as to residents.

What is so interesting – is that if you get a ticket and the signing has been misleading or the junction box illegal – you can challenge it – and chances are that you will get your ticket written off. But there is no comeback on the firm/council/authority as a result. What I would prefer to see is that if it’s decided that you got a ticket wrongly – then there should also be scope for part of the ruling to be that the misleading sign or whatever must be changed.

Anyway – Cllr Martin Newton, who is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for traffic etc on Haringey Council, attended the meeting with me and he is taking it forward at council level. I have written to the Chief Executive, however, to ask if Haringey is going to refund all the motorists who were illegally fined for the two yellow junction boxes. We will see!

Chariot Festival

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Saturday afternoon saw a pair of local party events. First in my own patch – Strawberry Tea at beautiful home of Harold Margolis – and then off to to Tunbridge Wells local party as Guest of Honour at their Summer BBQ fundraiser. Sat Nav saved me!

The house in Paddock Wood was just beautiful: an old Oat House and Hop Press – now fantastic home with fantastic where there were table and chairs and lots of delicious food. And after food – came me! It was a lovely evening – and they seemed to be such an optimistic group – so I have good hopes for their future prospects.

Sunday morning saw me go to the amazing Chariot Festival outside the Murugan Temple in Highgate. I lived next to the Temple (Wembury Road) when it first rose out of the ashes of the old Highgate Synagogue on corner with Archway Road. I will be meeting the Chair and Trustees again to discuss all of the issues – but for today – just look at the photo. Such colour and such delightfully warm and friendly reception. Loved it!

Lynne Featherstone at the Murugan Temple Chariot Festival

Proud of Pubs week

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Lynne Featherstone behind the bar at the Three CompassesThis coming week is ‘Proud of Pubs’ week, so Ive done a photo with the landlord and barman at the Three Compasses Pub in Hornsey High Street – which is situated just underneath my office!

I am very, very proud of this pub. They are phenomenal example of community public spirit – and beyond that – pubs are soon going to be just about the only community location left as the Labour government runs a coach and horses through our local post offices etc. So – three cheers for the Three C’s!

Nightingale Primary School: bright as buttons

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Lynne Featherstone taking questions from children at Nightingale Primary SchoolAfter Woodside House, dashed to Nightingale Primary School where the children had written to me about the terrible situation for water in Tanzania. I had already written back to them all individually (hopefully giving them a good idea of how our democratic processes should work!). This bunch are bright as buttons. Hand after hand shot up with question upon question. And full marks to their teachers – as it was clear that they had been prepped for my visit and their interest had been really stimulated. That’s the way to do it.

In writing their letters to me (which had all been individual) they had learned, not only about the water issues in Tanzania, not only about helping and caring about people across the world and about poverty, but also about democracy, how to write a letter and lots of other stuff that life is made of. I was well impressed by this group.

What was funny in their letters was that the last paragraph in one form or another asked me, as the MP, to give lots of money to Africa and hold charity events to raise money to Africa. They were a bit shocked when I explained that my salary went on my house, food and children – just like everyone else and that I had no money as such as an MP to give.

So I explained that the Government has money for international aid and that I would write to Douglas Alexander (Secretary of State for International Development) and ask him to help with the situation in Tanzania. And in terms of me holding a charity event myself – I explained that if I did that for one cause then how would I refuse another equally deserving cause. But that if they wanted to do a charity event – then I would be very happy to come and support it. I just wish I did have a magic wand – but it’s not yet part of the MP kit!

Anyway – as I say – these children were absolutely great and I have suggested they come up to Parliament for a tour and then they can have another hour to interrogate me – as there were clearly lots more questions but time ran out.

Popular classes under threat

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Lynne Featherstone and Robert Gorrie at Woodside HouseOff to Woodside House yesterday where I meet a huge class of Asian ladies doing exercise. As you can see from the photo – very colourful and very determined that Haringey’s Labour Council are not simply going to remove their vital facility without a fight!

Woodside House is the proposed target for Haringey to redevelop into a new Civic Centre for the Council (with the idea of selling off the current one). That is why Cllr Robert Gorrie, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Council group, and myself have come to see what’s what.

Thus far – the Council (Labour) have not been able to answer any questions as to why this site, what criteria, what consequences, were alternatives looked at – nothing. Nada! Hopeless as usual. And with the vital Woodside Luncheon Club under threat as well as the exercise classes – not to mention the building that has been done up to provide English lessons, computer skills etc – Haringey Labour are really asking for trouble! And I will almost certainly be happy to give it to them. No consultation. No discussion. No investigation. No nothing. Bastards!

Highgate Tube fence rides again…

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First up on Friday is meeting at Highgate Tube to discuss the dreaded fence issue. Without going back over the arguments – residents are divided about the fence on Archway Road by Highgate Tube station as on the one hand people living on the roads behind the station want good protection against all the noise from the road, whilst those on the road or going along the road don’t want an eyesore.

Anyway, a fence got put in with Transport for London also promising a lot of planting that would end up screening the fence – and allow it to be replaced with a chain link fence instead. Problem – the planting never grew – well not fully.

Anyway, TfL had obviously done their work to find a solution – which is to put in maturish trees and new planting so that before too long – the cutting will look beautiful and dense and the solid fence will be able to be replaced with chain link. But still a long way to go…

Save our Parks Police

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Well – Haringey Council’s plans for our parks and open spaces – which include a proposal to disband the Haringey Parks Constabulary – are in full swing. This is despite the massive concerns about young people and knife crime and Met Police statistics that indicate there were over 700 offences in parks and open spaces in Haringey over a one-year period. Ten dedicated Constables are to be made redundant.

My local Liberal Democrat councillor colleagues have proposed a fully costed, practical alternative to these cuts, which instead builds on the work of the Parks Constabulary, meets the needs of residents for safe, secure and green open spaces and will ensure that Green Flag status is not threatened by Labour cuts.

We propose keeping the Parks Constabulary, appoint dedicated Park Wardens and continue the role of the Parks Police securing council buildings and Alexandra Park. This would avoid the unnecessary and expensive tendering out of these last two functions – and the risks associated with private security companies.

That would provide some savings to help fund our plans, with the rest coming from cutting out one of the Council’s spin-doctor posts, the inspector post in parks police and Labour’s “nanny state” parenting advisor. What we’d get instead would be far, far better.

Our plans would also integrate the Parks Police into Safer Neighbourhoods Team, allowing our parks to benefit from close coordination between both these groups of people who are essentially doing the same thing – fighting crime.

If you want to join the campaign to save the Parks Police you can sign our petition at ourcampaign.org.uk/parkspolice

Youth crime figures revealed

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The woeful lack of youth facilities in the London Borough of Haringey is partly to blame for the high levels of youth crime say Liberal Democrats.

New information uncovered by local councillor Ron Aitken reveals that Haringey Council has failed to reduce youth crime in the borough over the past four years. Youth Offending Service figures show that consistently one in twenty young people in Haringey aged 10-17 commit offences per year.

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised Haringey Council for its lack of progress in tackling youth crime saying that Labour-run Haringey Council has not focussed enough on facilities for young people.

Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat Crime Spokesperson, commented:

“Haringey Council has let down the young people in our borough for failing to tackle this problem. Week after week we hear that young people are involved in violent attacks and sadly nineteen under-eighteen year old have been murdered this year alone. The Council has spent £12million since 2004 on tackling youth crime yet what have they to show for it?”

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Liberal Democrat Deputy Crime Spokesperson, added:

“It is quite clear that all Labour party efforts with their spin and punitive methods have failed. Young people need good, well managed facilities and support to tackle the causes of these offences – something sadly lacking in Haringey at present.”

Finally – equality for some

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“Now Labour plans to bar white men from jobs” – just one of the screaming tabloid headlines about the Equality Bill. What a fantastic nine-word summary of what is wrong with so much of our tabloid journalism: whipping up fear and division based on a fairy tale. I’m not sure what is worse – believing that the person who wrote the headline was so ignorant of the story they thought it was true – or so cynical they were happy to write it knowing it wasn’t.

Because the truth is there is no provision like that in the Equality Bill. Nowhere. All the Bill proposes is that if two different people are equally qualified for a job (and that is a very big if!), it should be ok to choose between them on gender or race grounds.

And why may you want to do that? Well, to take one example – there’s a real shortage of male teachers in primary schools. We all bang on about the need for more male role models for children at this stage. So why shouldn’t the law allow give the school the option if it wants (because yes – that’s all the Bill would do – it wouldn’t force this upon any organisation) to decide that faced with two equally qualified people, it wants to introduce a bit more balance amongst its teachers and employ a man? And if the school wanted just to ban white men regardless (or indeed black men – though notice how that didn’t make it into the headline) – then that would be illegal. End of story.

This sorry tale is though a good reminder as to how we can’t take the case for equality for granted – particular when there are Conservative MPs like Mark Pritchard jumping on the bandwagon happily exaggerating away and mirroring these fairytales too.

It is also a distraction in some ways from the big issue missing at the heart of the Bill – effective action to tackle the continuing discrimination in pay. So, the private sector – in which around 80% of the population work – will escape any form of mandatory measures to ensure that there is no discrimination in their workplaces – thus probably ensuring that the gender pay gap and the employment barriers that exist in race, disability and so on continue barely troubled by the Single Equality Bill.

Given that there are something like 120,000 cases waiting to be heard at equal pay tribunals this is not some trivial niche issue. That is approaching 200 cases per Parliamentary constituency. It should be a huge scandal, grabbing every MPs’ attention – but instead, it is overlooked and sidelined by our political system.

So I will aim to help push those better intentioned MPs in all parties to add in more effective measures to the Bill as it wends its way through Parliament. Lord Lester (our Lord Lester) who basically wrote the book on the equalities agenda is quite clear that mandatory pay audits are absolutely vital to deliver any sort of significant change.

What is to be welcomed in particular in the Bill, and which seems to have been agreed at the eleventh hour, is the inclusion of our older citizens into the public sector equality duty and following on from that – although no timetable was given – the end of discrimination against them in goods and services.

Helped the Aged – and others – have done some great work to illuminate just what goes on at the moment. Take two examples. First, the Disability Living Allowance. People aged 65+ who become disabled are not eligible to receive this allowance – they qualify instead for Attendance Allowance, which takes longer to qualify for and pays less. Second – car insurance, where it is seen as acceptable to charge people more for being old, regardless of their health or driving record. Charging more because someone is genuinely a higher risk – that would be fine- but simply assuming “old = risky driver” in the absence of evidence to back that up – that is discrimination as plain and simple as if someone was to say, “they’re black – so let’s charge them more”.

The Bill will also bring in a much-needed consolidation of the huge number of different laws, rules and regulations – good news again. And of course the passage through Parliament will provide plenty of opportunities to try to make the legislation better!

This article first appeared in Liberal Democrat News. For subscription details, click here.

(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2008