Haringey Council

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Quite emotional for me – tonight’s Haringey Council Mayor Making is the first sitting of Haringey Council since the local elections. I remember what it was like when I was first elected to the Council in 1998 along with Julia and June (the first ever Lib Dem group on Haringey) and I became Leader of the Opposition. Then the layout of the chamber meant there were three rows each side, and we would sit in a little clutch at the front on one side – surrounded by Labour members on all sides (and long ago two Tories as well) who laid into us in the most bullying way you can imagine. Toby Harris was the then Leader of the Haringey Council and he and his cohorts spent much of each meeting just slagging me individually and the Lib Dems collectively off. I had to rise to speak on every item virtually. I often think how lucky I was to have such a rough start in politics. It certainly makes the Commons Chamber seem like a nursery by comparison!

Anyway – tonight and only eight years later, as I sit as the MP at the front of the guest seats, – there are still three rows of councillors each side of the chamber – but instead of 54 Labour and 3 LibDems – now it is 30 Labour and 27 LibDems. And how subdued and conciliatory Labour have suddenly become. It felt fantastic! To see how we have grown and to recognise that change is possible and hard work does reap rewards…

Some things don’t change, however, and all the important positions in the Council, as ever, are exclusively Labour – indicating that they are not yet willing to accept that the balance has changed in Haringey.

Hornsey YMCA

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Pouring with rain and freezing cold – the 10K run in the Hornsey YMCA’s annual Fun Run and Children’s’ Race day was still great – but not like a summer day when families spend the day having fun and picnicking.

I start the race and then give out prizes a couple of hours later when the runners have run. The money raised this year (and this was the biggest year of entry ever) is going to TreeHouse Trust – a local charity that provides top-notch education for children with autism in Muswell Hill. They have integrated well into the local community – and some of their children were taking part in the races today. Fab!

It was so wet and miserable, however, that despite the British stoicism that saw all the runners run regardless, not all the winners hung around for their prizes. The overall winners were there – and well done to everyone who took part. The Hornsey YMCA does fantastic work in the local community and deserves much more thanks and recognition than it gets. Today they had their new community bus at Priory Park. This bus will go out to reach those youngsters who normal channels don’t reach to give them information on pathways to work and sexual health advice and so on.

Later in the day I go to St Mary’s where the Lib Dems are having their thank you party to all those who helped us in the recent local elections. The room is packed – and the really great thing is that there are dozens of people I don’t know. In the old days I knew everyone. But we have grown so hugely over recent years – this is the result. So I spend the next few hours talking to the people I don’t know – all of whom really helped us to the fantastic result we achieved. Taking eleven seats directly off of Labour and topping the poll across the borough was no mean feat – and if there are a couple of by-elections now…

Cannot help but mention in passing the farcical state that the Home Office appears to now be in. It’s like a Carry On film – where one gaff follows another. However, hate to say I told you so – but on every possible occasion since I was elected I have pointed out that the Home Office is the most incompetent and inefficient organisation I have encountered. I have a stream of people through my surgery every week whose lives are held in suspended animation because the Home Office loses their documents, takes years to answer, makes mistakes, and so on. Just glad its awfulness is now being so publicly exposed. This must herald substantive change as people’s lives are completely screwed by such a dreadful department.

Liberty AGM

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Guest on panel of speakers at Liberty’s Annual General Meeting. Walking in slightly early I catch the tail end of motions being put. And extremely heated and controversial they were. The first I caught was on whether teachers who had had allegations made against them of child abuse issues – false allegations mind you – should be able to get them removed from the record. Currently the Criminal Record Bureau searches result in these allegations being recorded and remaining part of the record. Not surprisingly (and quite outside the current news about the CRB making mistakes on their checks) this has meant that perfectly innocent teachers have found that because of this they have been unable to continue in their profession. Very emotive – and so emotive in fact – that it got sent back (remitted) for further work I guess. But the interesting thing about this moral dilemma is that it follows a current trend where we are seeing the authoritarian view voiced saying that the tarnishing of innocent people is a price we have to pay for the protection of our children. I don’t think that is right. I think we are sophisticated enough to get it far more right than we are getting – and it is not good enough to presume guilt ‘in case’. Protection for children must be rigorous and paramount – but where it is found to be wrong (the allegations were found to be false), there can be no reason for leaving erroneous records in place to hound those falsely accused in perpetuity. You cannot argue that simply because an allegation – possibly malicious – has been made then there is no smoke without a fire. That is the danger of police records and the holding of innocent DNA and so on. These mistakes are perpetuated once systemised in the cyberworld and the potential extension across other databases means that errors or wrongs will be exacerbated and perpetuated.

The second of the motions I caught was whether a member of the BNP should be allowed to be employed in the public services – like the prison service. The argument raged – and it is a difficult one. Do you take the purist view and say regardless of politics or religion everyone should be employed on an equal basis until such time as they act or do something wrong. Or do you avoid the problem by not employing and thus excluding the possibility? These are the questions of moral dilemma for a free society – and seemingly even Liberty has difficulties finding the answers.

Wood Green development

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Surgery all morning at Wood Green library followed by meeting with the council officers involved in the Wood Green Master Plan.

Master Plan is a bit of a misnomer – as this is really a Wood Green Planning and Business Improvement document. It’s early stages – but as far as I could glean this was a bit of strategic assessment of what might improve the regeneration and status of the area. There are a number of big sites that will be developed in the relatively near future – like Heartlands and the old Civic Centre site. The issues of jobs in an area of high unemployment, planning, sustainability and so on need to be handled sensibly to bring in the sort of retail that will provide more trade and attract more people – whilst taking into account in the needs of local residents whose services – such as transport, schools and health facilities – will need to cope with any growth. And the confidence of residents is dented when ghastly looking buildings from lowest common denominator developers get built.

However, that having been said, I am heartened by the fact that strategic thinking is going on – so long as it is followed by strategic consultation before it gets to a stage where we all feel we have no effect on outcome. I was delighted to learn that the new Haringey Chief Exec – Ita O’Donovan – has been having a go about design quality of the built environment. In my first meeting with her, I made it clear that I felt Wood Green was being damaged by ugly buildings that people then had to live with for years. In fact my first speech in Parliament talked about this – as it is always those in areas of deprivation who get the most badly stuffed by this sort of crappy design and materials.

I also lobbied at the meeting for improvement to Wood Green station – which can barely cope with the numbers already using it. It is not just a lick of paint that is needed but a redevelopment and expansion of capacity. And my last thrust was on sustainability – this is an opportunity to bring some real meaning to sustainability and also to be innovative. Why not bring some real green-ness to Wood Green High Street – water, trees, landscaping, planting street furniture of a real high standard – would all make such a difference! And the front of the library … need I say more?

Last issue of the day is the tragic knifing of schoolboy Kiyan Prince in Edgware. Carrying a knife in a public place should carry the same sentence as that for firearms. If you are murdered by a gun or murdered by knife, the outcome is the same – you are dead. In the Violent Crime Reduction Bill going through Parliament the Lib Dems did put an amendment at Report Stage asking for this. Labour voted against increasing the sentence. The Bill will raise the age at which you can buy a knife from 16 to 18 – which we supported (despite Labour’s attacks on us to the contrary) – but wanted Labour to put in what types of knives were prohibited. As it stands the new legislation means you will be able to get married at 16 but not buy your cutlery from John Lewis until you are 18!

The 7-year tariff for carrying a gun has reduced gun crime. Knives should be the same. I don’t take the view that we should automatically have scanners in every school – that is not the answer to knife crime. I heartily approve of teachers being given the powers to search those kids they suspect of carrying – but don’t believe we should treat all children as criminals. Even more importantly, as knife-carrying is epidemic, is to work on the why and the causes to change behaviour. The culture means that kids believe it is cool to carry a knife – a fashion accessory to gain status. Supporting teachers, the school police person, acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) which target behaviour improvement – we need a long sustained and well-resourced emphasis on working on children to turn this around. Punishment, strong sentencing and enforcement all play an important part – but they are not enough on their own to counter the ills of society.

The Spinney

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Meet to discuss drugs policy. Clearly the Government’s prohibition strategy isn’t working – indeed it could be argued somewhat well that prohibition (much like drink in the most famous prohibition of them all) is making it worse in some ways. Addiction is flourishing in many places and the countries where the raw materials are grown have often seen drugs become industries that dominate and ruin large parts of those very countries. Much to be thought about.

In afternoon I visit The Spinney. The Spinney is just that – a little wooded spinney that adjoins on one side Rhodes Avenue Primary School and on the other Alexandra Recreation Ground. The school has got six months use of The Spinney. To date it has been a dumping ground and little used – but local volunteers have helped clear it up, the school has laid a nature trail and when I visited classes were busy studying nature for real. Absolutely fabulous. The Council have said in principle they are happy for the school to have some use of it in future – but that they will not be responsible for cleaning, health and safety or opening and locking the gates. And the local community also – understandably – wants to have access to the site too.

So – could I help? Well, after the meeting I spoke with my colleague Wayne Hoban (one of the Lib Dem councillors representing the area) about setting in motion a meeting of the key local interest groups – school, community, Friends of the Park and the Council to see where the land lies. You can perhaps see a solution where the children from the school have exclusive access during the school hours – but outside of school hours on a weekday, on weekends and during the holidays it is available for everyone. But would that be acceptable to all parties? And how would the practicalities of maintenance, care and safety be addressed? None of this insurmountable – and I have to say – it is a little magical space that would be wonderful for the Rhodes Avenue children and the local community to enjoy!

NEW RAILWAY FENCE AS STROUD GREEN LIB DEM TEAM HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

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After 60 years of waiting, Stroud Green has finally been promised a new fence for the railway bridge at Oakfield Road. Following months of campaigning, recently elected councillors Ed Butcher, Laura Edge and Richard Wilson have secured a commitment from Network Rail to replace the dilapidated railway Bridge fence.

Cllr Butcher says: “While out collecting petition signatures, one resident told me she remembers the original fence being removed for the war effort! I am so pleased that pressure from us and residents has made this happen. A new fence for the bridge is long overdue.”

Cllr Wilson adds: “The rusty corrugated iron bridge is quite frankly an eyesore and local people we’ve spoken to have been badgering the rail authorities to do something about it for decades.”

Their campaign included a 20-page petition to the former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling and getting Lynne Featherstone MP to weigh in on the issue with her formidable campaigning power.

“The Stroud Green Lib Dem team asked me to help as part of their constant pressure on Network Rail over this eyesore. It’s fantastic that they’ve accomplished something so significant so soon,” says local MP Lynne Featherstone.

LABOUR'S INTERNAL WARFARE BEGGARS BELIEF SAY LIB DEMS

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Commenting on the removal of Haringey Labour Leader Charles Adje, Lib Dem Leader Neil Williams comments:

“This confirms the total chaos within the ruling party in Haringey. Within days of the local elections, the person they put up to run the council has been removed. It is typical Haringey Labour, which continues to show contempt for the residents of the borough.

“Bringing back George Meehan as Labour and council leader is like bringing back Iain Duncan Smith to lead the Tory party. He has the confidence of not even one third of Haringey’s councillors, and there will be such open warfare within the Labour Group, they will be totally unable to focus on improving council services.”

“Also of great concern is Labour appear to have brought back the councillor who presided over the Tech Refresh project. This simply beggars belief.”

The future of local police stations

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Main event of the day for me is the long-awaited meeting with the police about our local police stations. There has been a lot of concern about the future of police stations in the borough (and indeed across London). And we know that our precious stations like Muswell Hill and St Ann’s are in the firing line. The police make no apology for wanting buildings that work and will deliver effective policing. Well – we all want that too – but if that means closing some stations – then there had better be something better on the table to persuade us that this really is an “improvement”.

So – the public need to be consulted properly on any proposals and fully informed about what alternatives there are. As I understand it at the moment – there will be a patrol centre and a custody centre at Wood Green, there will be an office and management block somewhere and – if we can find suitable premises to house up to three Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Muswell Hill – then those teams, along with a front counter open to the public, will be based in the centre of Muswell Hill. I gather it is difficult to find premises that are suitable – so a lot is still up in the air but it’s possible we’d end up with something better than the current situation.

My nervousness, or remaining nervousness, is not really about changing location (as in this case it’d mean moving the police building in Muswell Hill to a more central location). But firstly – it must be consulted on with local people. And secondly – if local people are amenable to a sensible program of estate renewal and agree that if suitable alternative is found in Muswell Hill – then they will need cast-iron guarantees about its future and longevity etc. Once bricks and mortar of our local police station are gone – it’s much, much harder to get them back. So – the sooner the consultation and debate with local people begins, the better.

LIB DEM INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT COUNCIL DRIVES A COACH AND HORSES THROUGH ITS OWN PARKING POLICY

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It was revealed this week by Woodside and Noel Park Liberal Democrats that new residents of Eclipse House, in Station Road, Wood Green, are being issued with permits allowing them to park their cars in nearby streets in the Wood Green controlled parking zone.

Lib Dem candidate for Woodside in the local elections, Nigel Scott, says this breaches a condition applied to the planning consent granted in 2002 preventing occupiers of the building from being given permits.

Nigel Scott comments:

“Not only has the planning condition to refuse parking permits to buyers in this building proved to be worthless, prospective buyers are actually being encouraged to buy by being offered parking permits by the developer.There are currently applications pending for hundreds of ‘car free’ flats in Wood Green. If all the newcomers who have cars are given permits, there will probably be fighting in the streets over parking. There is simply not enough space.”

Newly elected Lib Dem Noel Park councillor Fiyaz Mughal adds:

“This proves how hollow the Council’s undertaking was. They said there would be no parking permits issued for occupiers of this building, but as soon as it is completed – they issue them anyway!How will they be able to prevent occupants of any other new development from securing parking permits now?”

Hornsey & Wood Green Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone says:

“Haringey Council has to explain who is authorising these permits and explain where it leaves the Council’s policies on encouraging car-free developments. Otherwise how can residents have any trust in the Council’s planning policies?”

LABOUR CHAOS BAD FOR BOROUGH, SAYS LIB DEM LEADER

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Commenting on the chaos caused by a leadership challenge in the local Labour party, Lib Dem leader Cllr Neil Williams said:

“We predicted that if this shambolic Labour group were re-elected there would be chaos – and within just a few days of the local elections, that is exactly what has happened.

“It is a great shame for the Council, which needs a united and determined team committed to improving services in the borough, not hell bent on fighting each other.It just shows that Haringey Labour is totally committed to carrying on in the arrogant and complacent way they always have in the past.”