Bowes Park Community Association

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So today I sit on the front bench of Westminster Hall for the debate on ‘Accreditation in the Security Industry’. It comes down basically to the licensing of the individuals and the companies within this trade and follows on the licensing of bouncers and clampers – i.e. a very good thing. But it becomes clear that there is a big ruck between two Labour members – the one who secured the debate and one who clearly has extensive and long knowledge and relationship with the security industry.

It would seem that the SIA (Security Industry Assessment quango) cannot get the licensing done quickly enough for an approaching deadline. To circumvent having unlicensed employees, the industry appears with the SIA to be rushing through a scheme that approves the company – and if you get that accreditation you can employ unlicensed operatives. Well to me that negates the whole purpose. And that is was the debate hinges on. I simply reiterate that the whole point of this legislation for what have been pretty shady industries is to protect us from dodginess. There should be no fast track that evades the licensing process.

Meanwhile back in the Chamber (the main House of Commons – the one you see on TV at Prime Minister’s Questions etc), my colleague on the front bench Lib Dem Home Affairs team, Alistair Carmichael, is holding forth on the Asylum and Immigration Bill – to which I have to go and vote periodically throughout the afternoon. At the final vote we find ourselves in the lobbies alone – thus once again demonstrating that we are the opposition!

I dash to Bowes Park Community Association for their AGM – and arrive late because of the vote. However, the subjects as ever, are traffic and how the money (sweetener) from the proposed North Circular works will be spent. Rubbish, parking and recycling are the other key issues. It is a well-attended meeting and a very good and active association.

I commit to contacting Haringey Council over what they are going to do about the junction outside the old Middlesex University. I did take traffic officer Tony Kennedy there to look at the very dangerous alignment of bollards where motorists – frustrated by having to wait – go on the wrong side of the road to avoid the jams. Tony K said they would tackle it as part of the development of the Middlesex site – and as that is nearly done and I can’t see any change to the road layout – I will pursue!

Last, but not least, I pop into our HQ to catch the very end of the local Lib Dem exec meeting. I like to try and get there and this is the first meeting after our AGM with lots of new members stepping forward to take some of the important officer positions.

Westminster Hall debates

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I rush to Westminster Hall – where mini-versions of Parliamentary debates take place. Members (i.e. MPs) put in for a particular debate – and it is a lottery as to whether you get one. I keep putting in – but haven’t been pulled out of the hat as yet.

The MP who does succeed in getting the debate puts the case for whatever subject they have chosen, other Members can choose to come and speak and will be called if there is time, and then there is a winding up by each of the opposition parties and the Government Minister then has to respond to all the point made. So it can be a useful exercise to put a case and have a Minster address the issues raised by the debate. There is no vote.

So – I rush today to watch one as tomorrow and Thursday I am on the front bench for the Lib Dems in Westminster Hall and want to see one in action before I have to do it myself. However, the Tory who has the debate is not there at the time of starting and the Chair immediately suspends proceedings. The debate falls. As I exit the room, a very puffed Tory rushes past – but too late. Poor guy.

Later on I go to an all-party meeting on prison reform where (Home Secretary) Charles Clarke is putting forward, as far as I can see, LibDem policy on prison reform – rehabilitation, education, community sentences. How come when we have this in our manifesto the buggers just chant ‘soft on crime’? It is so stupid ‘cos everyone knows that prison isn’t working in terms of the prison – 60% of prisoners re-offend within two years and the huge growth in the prison population costs a fortune – money that therefore isn’t available to be spent on other things like crime prevention or the NHS. Anyway – always nice (if galling) to be able to say ‘I told you so’.

LIB DEM CONCERN OVER DELIVERY OF TOTTENHAM GREEN ENTERPRISE CENTRE

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Liberal Democrat councillor Wayne Hoban has been asked by Tottenham Green Enterprise Centre (TGEC) tenants to look into the apparent failure of the Tottenham Enterprise Centre to deliver on its stated objectives. The centre was established in 1998 to ‘promote enterprise to young people up to the age of 28, from Haringey and Tottenham in particular.’

The TGEC was set up as a joint venture involving the London Borough of Haringey, the outgoing Tottenham Task Force, the College of North East London and North London TEC.Although the stated intention was to provide training and support, particularly to small BME-led businesses, many tenants have expressed concern over the apparent failure of the TGEC to provide adequate support. Cllr Hoban was informed that photocopying facilities were withdrawn with no notice, on-site car parking for businesses and their visitors was refused, leading to clamping of their vehicles, though the centre management and casual workers are allegedly routinely issued with parking permits. He was also informed that many tenants have left due to poor management support, lack of quality training and inadequate facilities at the centre.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“I was surprised to discover the depth of dissatisfaction from many tenants when I visited the centre last week. The aims and objectives of the TGEC are laudable, but if they are failing to provide good quality support for young BME small businesses, it will undermine our ultimate goal, which is the creation of successful ‘home-grown’ businesses in Tottenham to increase local employment opportunities and attract inward investment to Haringey.I have asked the Haringey Council to investigate these allegations as a matter of urgency.”

HORNSEY: LIB DEM CONCERN OVER DEVELOPMENT OF WORKS SITE

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Liberal Democrats in the London Borough of Haringey have expressed deep concern over Haringey Council’s plans to redevelop the Pembroke Works, Cross Lane, Hornsey into housing with the loss of 25 jobs.

At a Planning Forum meeting last week Haringey Council, which owns the premises, announced the plans but made assurances that the businesses that use the works would be relocated.

However, Lib Dems say that the four businesses which occupy the premises had not been informed, with the ones that had turned up simply finding out through word of mouth.

The Liberal Democrats are concerned that more housing is being built at a cost to local jobs. They have further fears over the implications to other premises on the nearby light industry site on Cross Lane, also at risk from long-term re-development

Lib Dem planning spokesman Cllr Jonathan Bloch and Lynne Featherstone MP are concerned at the way Haringey Council is going about this redevelopment and have called on them to consult fully with residents and businesses.

Cllr Bloch comments:

“It concerns me that Haringey Council appears to be in conflict with itself. It is talking of wanting to create jobs yet its actions, in selling a fairly modern commercial site that provides jobs, are doing the opposite. “

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Residents on the Campsbourne Estate like their business neighbours and have serious concerns about a number of issues should the property be used for housing. These and other issues need to be addressed through a thorough consultation with both residents and businesses.”

LIB DEMS WELCOME SUPPORT FROM LABOUR OVER MOBILE PHONE MASTS

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Haringey’s Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed satisfaction after the Labour Council supported a motion tabled by Liberal Democrat councillor and Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban calling for Government action over phone masts.

The motion, tabled following years of campaigning by Lib Dem councillors and activists, requested that Haringey Council calls on local MPs to lobby for more powers for local councils to control the sitting of phone masts and powers to reject mast applications on local public health grounds.

The issue’s importance was made obvious by the public gallery, which was filled with anti-phone mast protestors who had carried out a demonstration outside the Civic Centre prior to the meeting.

The motion was supported unanimously in the chamber although the Labour Council passed an amendment, despite Lib Dem opposition, that watered down the health aspects of the original motion which called for the ‘precautionary principle’ to be adopted.

Cllr Hoban and Cllr Neil Williams, who seconded the motion, welcomed the Labour Council’s support. The Lib Dems hope that this motion and the results of an imminent scrutiny review on mobile phone masts will add to the pressure on the Government to change its policy over phone masts.

Cllr Hoban (Alexandra ward) comments:

“I am pleased that this important Lib Dem motion has been passed with universal support. It is a shame that Labour felt it necessary to table an amendment removing the ‘precautionary principle’ that would have addressed major concerns of residents in light of the lack of conclusive evidence on the safety of masts. But the main resolutions of the motion were all retained.”

Cllr Williams (Highgate) adds:

“It is good news that our local MPs can now press for these changes knowing that they have the full backing of both sides of the Council. I know that Lynne Featherstone MP has been campaigning for residents for a long time on the issue of mobile phone masts – this motion’s success will add weight to her argument.”

Cllr Matt Davies (Fortis Green) has recently been dealing with specific problems at Barrington Court (N10) and Aylmer Road (N2) and also spoke in the debate.

He adds:

“On the whole, it was a useful debate and most councillors were very constructive. I am disappointed that the motion was watered down slightly, but the key element of lobbying Government to give us powers to reject masts on health grounds was agreed. This will give local residents genuine hope for the future on this issue.”

LIB DEMS DISAPPOINTED BY EDUCATION WHITE PAPER FAILINGS

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Liberal Democrat councillors in Haringey were disappointed on Monday night when Haringey Labour failed to address significant failings in the Government’s white paper on education. These policies would have a significant negative effect on the quality of education in Haringey.

In a debate at the Council, Labour proposed wording that criticised some aspects of the white paper, but they did not accept a Lib Dem suggestion that highlighted other serious failings. In particular, the Labour motion did not address the issue of the potential sell-off of school playing fields, or proper stakeholder involvement in the Council’s response.

Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill), Lib Dem Education spokesperson who proposed the amendment, comments:

“I am glad that Haringey Labour have accepted there are serious flaws in the education white paper. But it is very disappointing that Haringey Council failed to take note of all the implications of these dangerous policies. There has been almost universal disbelief that Labour are attempting to push these Tory policies through Parliament and we needed the Council to take a stronger stand than this.

“I am also disappointed that the Executive Member will be responding to the white paper on behalf of the Council without proper stakeholder consultation. Our amendment called for teachers, parent groups and young people to be consulted on our Council’s response, but Labour rejected this.”

Cllr Matt Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green), whose ward includes Fortismere School, adds:

“Allowing schools to sell-off land for commercial development will put many of Haringey’s schools at a funding disadvantage, as they have little or no disposable land. But in their motion Labour ignored the other serious implication of this policy – those schools that do have valuable land may be forced into selling it off for commercial development. This would lead to the irrevocable loss of playing fields and other facilities, which are vital to the overall education and health of children in Haringey.”

Violent Crime Reduction Bill

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The critical parts of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill are proposals brought forward by the Government to deal with alcohol-fuelled disorder and the rise of weapons (use and carrying) on our streets.

I am right behind the Government on the overall aims. I may well be critical of some of the detail – and am very critical of the way they may use the new powers – but drinking and gun and knife crime need tackling. I also think that this legislation (as ever) just deals with the symptoms of the dreadful malaise that stalks (mainly) our young people – some of whom drink to oblivion and some of whom in believe that carrying a weapon makes you cool.

However, one of the key point of the Bill is Drink Banning Orders. They are a bit akin to parents grounding their children – a short sharp punishment which would stop them from being able to go to their favourite pub or club for a couple of months. The grounds for dishing one our are problematic – as one Labour MP seemed to think that running down a street and calling to a friend would be enough to constitute disorder. There was no definition of disorder – but in the end the proposals try and target behaviour which by ‘normal’ standards would be unacceptable but not criminal. Difficult – but we will see how it works. It will need close monitoring.

Another proposal is that – in areas where there are lots of establishments serving alcohol – a local authority or a police chief can impose an Alcohol Disorder Zone (ADZ). This will be a defined area where all the establishments where alcohol is a prime reason for their existence will have to pay extra for policing.

The idea is good – but the difficulty in this part of the legislation is that well-behaved good landlords with model establishments will have to pay too. The Government as a consequence of opposition concerns has promised a variable charging scheme – so that culpability is relative to charge. But so far we have seen nothing concrete.

Also the Government has refused to cap the charge that can be made – so businesses don’t know how much they may be in for. I think there may be some real unjust actions as a consequence of ADZs. For instance – each area has an opportunity to put together an 8-week action plan. If the plan is also agreed by the Local Authority and the police they will then have 8 weeks to take the actions and demonstrate that they do not need to have such a zone imposed.

However, take the example of a good landlord within the action plan area who does everything asked of him by the plan, spends money, puts in lighting, hires more door staff – whatever required by the agreed plan. If others don’t do what is required the local authority will still impose the plan and the good landlord will have to stomp up despite doing everything that was asked of him. That is bound to breed resentment and become a disincentive to good behaviour.

The other part of the Bill is mainly about weapons. Basically the Bill, quite rightly, seeks to address the rise in knife crime and the use of imitation weapons along with some new limits on legal weapons. LibDems support the Government on this – and during the course of the passage of the Bill we have sought to address the rise in knife crime to give it parity to gun crime. The 7-year sentence on carrying a gun has seemingly produced a drop in gun crime.

We table an amendment that will impose an equal sentence on carrying a knife as a gun. You are equally dead if murdered by a knife as a gun – so we are seeking parity of sentence. Unfortunately, Labour voted against increasing the charge for carrying a knife. They have a measure in the Bill that raises the age from 16 to 18 for purchasing or selling a knife. But there is no description as to what sort of knife – which leaves the unsatisfactory position of being able to get married and have children at 16 but not buy cutlery!

Imitation guns have become a real problem – but the whole of the re-enactment brigade and airsoft players (a game) are up in arms (so to speak) in case their pastimes are inhibited. All of us on the Bill across all parties have been trying to bend over backwards to ensure that the games can continue but that the mischief of imitation weapons is ended.

So the Bill, supported by both Lib Dems and Tories, now goes on its way to the Lords. The measures will curb some of the excesses we all hope – but we all know that deep down this Bill just doesn’t begin to address what lies beneath: what is the root cause of the disaffection of our young people so that they drink themselves stupid and aspire to carrying weapons? That is the nut we have to really crack.

GOOD NEWS AS HARINGEY BOWS TO PRESSURE ON GRAFFITI

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Liberal Democrat councillors in the London Borough of Haringey have welcomed the news that Haringey’s graffiti fighting budget is set to increase permanently from £50,000 to £120,000 from April 2006.

The news, contained in draft budget proposals, follows a long campaign by Lib Dem councillors and local MP Lynne Featherstone. It formed a cornerstone of the manifesto for the local election in 2002, when Labour-run Haringey had one of the lowest funds for fighting graffiti in the whole of London.

The Lib Dems, who through their annual residents survey report hundreds of graffiti blackspots, are delighted that Haringey Council has acknowledged the problem and has matched it with more sufficient funding.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Neil Williams (Highgate) comments:

“I am delighted that Haringey Council has finally responded to our calls that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of graffiti.”

Lib Dem Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“It is good news that more of these eyesores in the borough will be removed. However the Council and government must do more to address the social issues that lead to this vandalism.”

LIB DEMS WELCOME FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO BEATTOCK RISE PARKING

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Muswell Hill Lib Dem councillor Gail Engert has welcomed action by Haringey Council to extend the hours of the recently installed controlled parking zone (CPZ) in Beattock Rise, off St. James Lane N10.

The CPZ was implemented in July following pressure from Cllr Engert and local residents. It was introduced to prevent cars from outside the estate parking on the small entrance road and blocking access to an estate which contains some sheltered housing.

However residents and Cllr Engert expressed disappointment that the CPZ was not 24-hours a day, seven days a week. There has also been concern over the lack of enforcement of these parking restrictions and Cllr Engert has been keen for Haringey Council to address them.

In new correspondence, Haringey Council has now confirmed that it will make the CPZ round-the-clock and has directed its parking contactor, Wings, to carry out evening patrols on the estate. They have also agreed to investigate the inconsistent recycling and refuse collection on the estate.

Cllr Engert has welcomed the news and hopes that within weeks the problems that she has been campaigning to resolve since her election in early 2004 will finally be resolved.

Cllr Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“I am pleased that these issues are being addressed and I am hopeful that this will resolve the current parking misery for residents, many of whom are elderly and disabled, and they will be able to park near their homes. However I will continue to keep a close eye on the situation.”

Remembrance Sunday

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I go to lay the wreath at the Wood Green War Memorial. The sun shines down brilliantly. I am, as always, concerned about not falling or tripping as you walk back from laying the wreath and backing down three steps before bowing my head. However, no accidents occur. My concern is not to detract from the solemnity of the occasion. I am, as ever, moved to tears by the Last Post and indeed by one of the hymns at the church service afterwards. It is good to stop and remember. Somehow it always reminds me of a finer time when people certainly seemed more decent. Whether that is reality or not – it seems so to me.

After the ceremony and the service, I rush home to hours and hours of preparation for tomorrow’s Violent Crime Reduction Bill Report Stage and Third Reading which I am leading on the floor of the House.