Liberal Democrats welcome Tree Warden training scheme launch

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Ten years after he organised the first Tree Warden scheme in Haringey, Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Hare spoke at the introduction of the new Tree Warden Scheme.

The new initiative, which was launched at Bruce Castle on 1st December 2007, attracted a packed lecture hall of residents and included the planting of two trees in Bruce Castle Park.

Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem Sustainability Spokesperson, comments:

“I was delighted to be able to take part in the launch of a new Tree Warden Scheme for Haringey. The scheme provides training that will help everyone both defend and add to Haringey’s trees. For some people who would like to take it further, the scheme could be an introduction to further training and even work.

“As the organiser of the first Haringey Tree Warden Scheme and a founding member of the Tree Trust I am pleased to see this scheme re-launched for a new generation.”

Public silenced on the 'biggest planning application in history'

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Local residents and Liberal Democrat councillors in the London Borough of Haringey are crying foul, as they will have no say over a major application that should transform parts of Tottenham.

Plans for the redevelopment of the Greater London Supplies (GLS) Depot site in Ferry Lane include 1,210 homes, a new primary school, office space, retail units, a hotel and a health centre.

The decision to grant the final details of the application will be made by the Chair of the planning committee and Haringey Council officials rather than the Planning Committee itself. Lib Dems have criticised the move as undermining councillors’ and residents’ involvement in making these vital decisions, which could determine the shape of the area for decades to come.

Lib Dem councillor, Monica Whyte, who is also her party’s Greater London Assembly spokesperson for Enfield and Haringey, comments:

“Haringey Council christened this site as the biggest planning application in Haringey’s history, yet public involvement is to be minimal. It just shows Labour’s total disregard for their residents if this project is not given the public scrutiny in deserves. Labour are trying to create a flawed process which is completely inappropriate given the large scale and significance of the development.”

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Lib Dem planning spokesperson, adds:

“Outline planning permission was granted only on the guarantee that more detailed plans would be provided later for the committee to consider. It is totally unacceptable that a decision of this size should be taken in a back room rather than within a democratic system with much needed checks and balances.”

Alexandra Palace: Labour loses even more money

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Alexandra PalaceHaringey Lib Dem council group leader Neil Williams tells me that he is increasingly worried about council tax payers being taken to the cleaners by the current goings on at Alexandra Palace.

As ever with Ally Pally, it’s a complicated story – and one to which neither Haringey Council, nor the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (also, alas, a Labour councillor) will give full and frank answers, but it goes like this.

When the Trust (and for this we must sadly read Haringey Labour in practice) thought they had a ‘done deal’ with their chosen developer (Firoz Kassam and Firoka), they (the developer that is) were allowed to start trading in the building, to get their feet under the carpet, as it were. It’s a bit like thinking you had sold your house, and then giving the potential future owners the keys before the deal was signed.

However, the deal on the lease was thrown out by the High Court – as the Charity Commission was found to have failed to consult the public properly on their plans for the Palace. The whole process now has to be done again. This could take months, if it happens at all.

In the meantime, as the Trust had no ‘plan B’ to cope with this cock-up, Firoka is now running the trading business at the Pally – and pretty much pocketing the profits coming in, from events and exhibitions, and so on.

Previously, some pretty tidy contributions from trading have always been used to bring down the cost of the Palace to the Haringey taxpayer, possibly up to about £2 million a year – but this pot of money is now essentially in the hands of Firoka, who show no visible signs of passing it on.

Haringey Council describes this situation as “unfortunate” and blames the Save Ally Pally campaign as well as the Lib Dems – i.e. anyone other than themselves, even though it was they who came up with the flawed sell off and they who let Firoka in to start earning money before the deal was finalised. Indeed, they have employed blue-chip PR advisers, Lexington Communications, who are helping them say so – all being paid for by the Haringey taxpayer, just to rub salt into the financial wounds of this all.

Not good!

Conrad Black: why Waterstone's should be ashamed

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Waterstone’s seem to have got away with it in terms of the publicity for the event – but I think they should be deeply ashamed for the way they are helping a convicted criminal (and themselves) to make money, and dressing it all up in the language of “oooh, look at our clever new toy”.

What am I on about? Well – last week disgraced and convicted Conservative peer Lord Black did a books signing at Waterstone’s in Piccadilly. Only – he wasn’t there because – following his conviction overseas – he’s not allowed to travel to the UK.

Instead, Waterstone’s reeled out a bit of video conferencing plus a remotely controlled robotic arm so that Conrad Black could get round his travel ban and still “sign” copies of his latest book (about, ironically enough, that other moral reprobate – Richard M. Nixon).

Now – I’m all for treating those convicted of crime in a sensible manner (and that includes using work as part of rehabilitation programmes) but this wasn’t anything like that.

It was a distasteful mix of celebrity and technology to make money for all concerned – with the helping hand of PR courtesy of the robotic arm signing which was only needed because Black was convicted of a crime. Result: more royalties for Black, more profits for Waterstone’s. And to hell with the morality of it all.

So as I said – shame on Waterstone’s for this money grubbing approach to making money however it comes.

And here’s a challenge for Waterstone’s: if you weren’t really just trying to make money out of someone being a criminal and so not able to come to the UK, why don’t you donate all your profits from the event to one of the deserving charities that help victims of crime?

Welcome to Ed Fordham's blog

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A little belatedly – it’s good to see that my Lib Dem colleague over in Camden/Brent, Ed Fordham (prospective candidate for the new Hampstead & Kilburn seat, which takes in a good part of Sarah Teather’s current constituency) has started blogging.

Ed’s not quite perfect – we are on opposite sides in the Lib Dem leadership contest! – but it’s good to see another addition to the blogosphere. Best of luck with the blog Ed!

Don't risk getting AIDS

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Two events today. First is to open the Polish and Eastern European Communities Open Day in Wood Green. What a wonderful community this is too. Less high profile than some – but full of children and families all absolutely delightful. Some of the older members sang carols and then there was a reception with fantastic Eastern European food. I’ll be lucky to get to Christmas without putting on half a stone before!

The pounds piling on were then not helped by equally delicious food at the reception following the lighting of candles for World Aids Day outside Wood Green Library. The heavens opened just as the ceremony was starting – but we all stayed to show that this is an issue that we care passionately about and it needs attention.

At the reception at the Winkfield Resource Centre afterwards, I said a few words about the situation re AIDS and HIV. My visit to South Africa was one part but the other was about the appalling rate of new infections we are now experiencing in London – more than ever before. And awareness has clearly gone down.

When AIDS hit the UK, the campaigns that were run to get us all to be aware and have safe sex were headline news. Now people seem to have relaxed and be thinking it won’t happen to them. But I can assure them it will – if they don’t practise safe sex. Don’t risk it!

Any Questions?

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Off to Leek in Staffordshire for Any Questions? yesterday. What a week to be on!

You have no notice of questions for these programs – but it ain’t that hard to guess. I guessed right on Labour donors, Teddygate, Brown’s decline, Oxford Union debate – but didn’t see the question on the Diana trial.

Matthew Parris is always good value – witty and brief. Geoff Hoon (in unenviable position) defended the Labour government and Brown competently. In fact he turned the tables on Conservative MP Caroline Spelman very neatly by batting back the donor issue to asking her to defend the Midlands Industrial Council – it takes money from donors and then gives it to the Conservative Party – but by acting as a middleman, it means the donors are less open to public scrutiny than if they gave money direct to the Tories – sound familiar ?! Virtually pot and kettle.

And before any indulges in the usual nonesense about the Lib Dem donor Michael Brown – we are in the clear in terms of the Electoral Commission finding that we did all the necessary the checks correctly. And there’s never been any suggestion of him getting any favours in return for having donated to us.

Anyway – good fun discussion all round and got home at 1am!

Liberal Democrats demand urgent action to tackle illegal Houses in Multiple Occupation

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The increasing number of people living illegally in overdeveloped homes is a result of the lack of action by Haringey Council say the borough’s Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Wayne Hoban has expressed his concern that Labour-run Haringey Council has not tackled effectively the problem of illegal Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and has demanded that Haringey Council urgently review its policy.

In response to a request from local residents to tackle suspected illegal HMO in Alexandra ward, a Council Planning Enforcement Officer responded: “there is no planning definition of what a HMO requiring planning permission is.” He also stated that: “we are working on producing a fixed definition but at the moment we use our best judgement.”

Cllr Wayne Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“I am staggered that the Labour Council is running a borough which clearly has a major problem with illegal HMOs, that often blight the lives and environment of many local residents, and yet does not have a clear policy on this important issue. Leaving such decisions to a planning enforcement officer’s best judgement is just not good enough.

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Lib Dem Planning Spokesperson, adds:

“The provision of good housing should be the Council’s goal rather than turning a blind eye to illegal substandard HMOs. These illegal developments are often poorly built, badly maintained and overload services and schools without contributing revenue to the Council. Without providing a robust and clear policy to take action Haringey Council is allowing illegal developers to pocket the profits.”

Anger at damning Social Services inspection verdict

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The Liberal Democrats have condemned Labour’s continuing failure to protect vulnerable elderly and disabled people – as the Government’s inspectors issued a damning verdict on Haringey’s social services.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has for the second year in a row found that Haringey is amongst the worst performing councils in the country and awarded the Labour-run authority 1 star – the lowest rating awarded this year and contrary to Labour promises that the service would improve.

The inspectors criticised Haringey Council’s slow procedures for helping older people, and its lack of support for residents who care for elderly and disabled family members. Nearby councils such as Islington and Camden were found to be excellent – and achieved the highest 3 star rating, but Haringey failed to increase its star rating.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Adult Social Services spokesperson, comments:

“Under Labour, Haringey has become one of the worst places in England to get ill or old, with care services rated amongst the worst in the country. There is just no excuse: over the borough boundary in both Islington and Camden the inspectors found that support for elderly people was excellent. If these councils with Liberal Democrat leaders can give elderly people the respect and support they deserve why can’t Haringey?

“Haringey Labour has consistently told the public that the service is on track, improvements have been made and that they expect that reports will recognise this. Unfortunately for the residents of Haringey the Labour administration has not delivered the service that they deserve but instead let the down the people that need help and support the most.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“It is the most vulnerable people in our community who are being let down. They really don’t need empty promises, but just decent services to make their lives that little bit easier. Labour claim to be the party of social justice, but I don’t see much of what is fair or right in the poor standard of services on offer to our elderly and disabled.”

Concern at Lee Valley Technopark losses

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One in ten business units in the Lee Valley Technopark are empty, costing Haringey Council £406,231 per year in lost revenue, according to new figures unearthed by the Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dems say that this is evidence of Labour’s continuing failure to deliver successful regeneration projects, costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds and with little return.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem Regeneration and Enterprise Spokesperson, comments:

“Technopark was unveiled in 1992 as a flagship project that would revolutionise the area in the dot com world. Fifteen years later and we are left with a site that has never been full and is steadily losing tenants. Unfortunately for the borough, the ‘easy come and easy go’ slogan that the Council uses to advertise the units should read ‘easy come and most gone’. The bubble has definitely burst and Haringey Council should be doing more to make sure that this site does not go to waste and that the taxpayer does not.”

Cllr Carolyn Baker (Harringay Ward) adds:

“Almost 1 in 12 adults are unemployed in Haringey and unemployment is significantly higher than the national or London average. The Technopark development was meant to bring much needed jobs for local residents but has failed to deliver.”