Liberal Democrat councillor Wayne Hoban has once again slammed Haringey Council for failing to hold anyone to account for the bungled £10 million Tech Refresh computer upgrade overspend.

The continued criticism follows the latest letter received by Cllr Hoban in June 2007 from Haringey Council again refusing to disclose any further information and upholding Haringey Council’s decision to refuse to provide him with the information requested.

Cllr Hoban submitted his original Freedom of Information (FOI) request in March 2006 following an Audit Commission report which had highlighted many major management failures in relation to this IT project. He requested ‘full details of the terms under which the previous Tech Refresh Project Manager had left the employ of Haringey local authority, including details of any financial payments which may have been made in connection with his departure.’

Cllr Hoban comments:

“I am extremely disappointed that, yet again, Haringey Council has failed to take effective action to hold anyone to account for this huge management failure. Haringey residents deserve better.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats’ campaign against a future move by Haringey Council towards fortnightly rubbish collections received a warm reception from carnival goers at its launch at the Tottenham Carnival on 23 rd June 2007.

The Lib Dems have expressed their concerns that collecting rubbish only fortnightly would be inappropriate for an urban area like Haringey and would be likely to cause an increase in smell and vermin as well as escalating problems of rubbish volumes for residents living in flats.

They are arguing that there are much better ways of increasing recycling rates, such as by providing more flexible access for residents to recycling facilities, increasing the types of items that can be recycled, and encouraging much more business recycling.

At 27th March 2007 meeting of the Council’s ‘watchdog’ committee Cllr Brian Haley, Labour member for Environment and Conservation was less than forthcoming when he said that scrapping weekly collections was “not on the horizon for the near future” but “there was nothing ruled in and there is nothing ruled out”. Lib Dems have issued a challenge to the Labour Council to make their policy on fortnightly collections clear to residents.

Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem spokesperson on sustainability comments:

“Our campaign highlights the complete incompatibility of fortnightly rubbish collections with an urban area like Haringey. Our borough is too densely populated to scrap weekly collections without increasing the amounts of smell and vermin. Whereas rural areas may be able to cope with collections every other week, imagine a high-rise flat coping with the amounts of waste all residents must produce in two weeks.

“To increase recycling rates what is needed is a clearly thought out doorstep recycling scheme that maximises the amount that can be recycled. What we have seen from Labour is a co-mingled service that does not deliver the quantity or quality recycling that is needed.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Deputy Leader said:

“We all remember the piles of rubbish and the stench caused by last summer’s bin strikes in Haringey.Fortnightly bin collections would cause these problems all year round.

“Labour need to make their position clear. They should listen to residents and the Lib Dems and say they won’t scrap weekly refuse collections.”

Local MP, Lynne Featherstone, has this week strongly back green group Transport 2000’s campaign urging the Government to tackle rail overcrowding in Hornsey & Wood Green and expand passenger services in its forthcoming 30 year strategy paper.

To mark her support Ms. Featherstone joined forces with ‘The Railway Children’ star and Transport 2000’s patron, Jenny Agutter, and the ‘Sardine Man’ to highlight the common rail experience of her constituents.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone says:

“Anyone who regularly has to wrestle their way on to a train at Alexandra Palace at nine o’clock in the morning will not need convincing that the Government should take urgent action to address the chronic overcrowding on Hornsey & Wood Green’s rail commuter services.

“At this time of year commuters also have to contend with soaring temperatures, making the situation particular unbearable at peak times.

“If the Government is serious about climate change then it must make environmental friendly travel options, such as rail, the natural first choice for every commuter – not the sweaty, overcrowded and often unpleasant option it is now.”

Lib Dem councillor David Winskill has criticised Haringey Council for their continued failure to repair unsafe footpaths that pose a potential risk to residents’ safety. Cllr Winskill has repeatedly tried to help residents in Crouch End by reporting hazardous paving stones to Haringey Council but his efforts have been ignored.

On 7th June he reported two missing paving slabs and an uneven walking surface by the fountain at Hornsey Central Library in Haringey Park – these have yet to be repaired.

Cllr David Winskill (Crouch End) comments:

“Uneven and damaged footpaths can be a real danger to residents – especially the elderly. Haringey Council needs to ensure that it has a proactive approach. Two weeks after these hazards were reported the slabs are still missing.

“There are lots of other examples of problems of rats, pot holes, defective signage, dumped rubbish that have had to be pursued time and time again to get anything done.

“Haringey Council just can’t seem to get a culture of get it right and get it right first time.”