Commenting on the naming of Robert Zoellick, former Deputy Secretary of State, to be the next President of the World Bank Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“No offence to Mr Zoellick, but this is another American and another Bush appointee.

“The World Bank has fallen into disrepute through political appointments.

“It is not credible for the World Bank to preach good governance to developing nations when its own governance is based on such an outdated and patriarchal world view.

“The President of the World Bank should be chosen according to a transparent process on the basis of merit and qualification.

“It is a shame that the British Government has done nothing to push for an open and meritocratic selection process for the World Bank presidency.”

Recently uncovered figures have supported residents’ and Lib Dem concerns that fly-tipping in Haringey is an ongoing problem blighting the cleanliness of the borough.

Data received from Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database, show that Haringey is fourth in a list of councils with the highest incidents of fly-tipping in England.

Liberal Democrats throughout the borough have recently gathered photos to show that fly-tipping is a problem that continues to ruin the cleanliness of the borough. Latest incidents of fly-tipping highlighted by Lib Dems include much-loved green spaces Parkland Walk and Queens Wood (Highgate) that have been subject to unsightly waste dumping.

Recent Audit Commission figures show that clean streets was second only to the level of crime in Haringey resident’s most important issues.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem spokesperson for Traffic, Street Cleaning and Rubbish comments:

“People obviously want clean streets but fly-tipping continues and at what seems an increased rate. Haringey Council needs to ensure that it clamps down hard on the fly-tippers to make the borough a cleaner place. We cannot continue to see more people indiscriminately dumping waste wherever they please.”

Cllr Karen Alexander (Harringay ward) adds:

“Despite continual requests for improved street cleaning, rubbish collection and enforcement of fly-tipping, many of the Harringay Ladder roads are still plagued by unsightly clusters of rubbish bags and other discarded items. My main concern is that clean up operations only seem to occur where residents or councillors are active at alerting Haringey Council to its existence. In other areas, where residents are less active, dumped rubbish seems to remain untouched.”

Cllr David Winskill, who chaired a recent Overview and Scrutiny review of fly-tipping in Haringey, adds:

“The blight of fly tipping is a big problem caused by a small number of thoughtless, anti-social people. The Review had the brief of looking at prevention and the key message is that Haringey needs a joined up, cross agency approach. The Lib Dems are keen to ensure that preventative action is properly resourced and will hold Haringey Labour to account if it diverts cash elsewhere.”

Councillor Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat member for Alexandra ward, has criticised Haringey Council over its ‘ Alice in Wonderland’ approach towards the Golf Course Allotment Holders in Alexandra ward. Allotment holders secured a new allotment community building through a recent successful Lottery application but now have been disappointed that the news that Haringey Council will now not insure the building.

Cllr Hoban has expressed astonishment that despite years of inadequate maintenance and support from the Council of the previous building, which forced the allotment holders to apply for Lottery funding, Cllr Brian Haley Labour Environment boss, has now informed Cllr Hoban that Haringey Council will not insure the new building because “the council does not own the building”.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“This is a completely bonkers approach by this Labour Council. The old building was insured by the Council; therefore, there can be no justification for not transferring this insurance cover to the new building.It is not as though the allotment holders, who should be congratulated for their fantastic efforts in achieving lottery funding, plan to take the building with them if they cease to be allotment holders.

“A perfectly sensible solution would be for the allotment holders to sign a document which would effectively transfer ownership of the building to the Council on the understanding that the building will remain on the Golf Course Allotment site for the use of their allotment holders. This simple measure would enable the Council to insure the building. I will be pressing Haringey Council to adopt this simple solution at the earliest opportunity so that allotment holders can have this pressing and unnecessary financial commitment removed from their shoulders.”

Continued pressure by Liberal Democrats in Highgate has been rewarded with a promise by Haringey Council’s Urban Environment Department to spruce up some rundown planters in Highgate.

In April councillors requested a Council ‘Spring Clean’ to provide a more attractive environment. Planters and raised beds on the junctions with Hornsey Lane Gardens and Milton Park amongst others will now be revamped by 27th May 2007.

Haringey Council has also assured Cllr Bob Hare that the area will be included in the Open Space Improvement Plan for 2007/08 to improve the area further.

Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem Spokesperson on Green Issues, comments:

“This is great news. I am glad we have been able to make progress towards these sorry looking planters and the raised beds getting a new lease of life.They will make the area much more attractive.”