CARE HOMES PURCHASE OFFER MUST BE LOOKED AT SAY LIB DEMS

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Lib Dems are calling for Haringey Council to consider fully any applications from outside bidders to take over the two Haringey care homes currently facing closure.

The move follows revelations by Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson and local councillor Lynne Featherstone last week that at least one of the two homes has been the subject of an offer of purchase and for it to be run as a going concern. In response to this revelation, the Labour Lead Member said she had not made the offer public in order not to raise the hopes of residents and their relatives.

Lib Dems says that the proposals should be looked at seriously and openly by Haringey Council, and residents and their relatives may well find the bid to run the homes as a going concern far preferable to their closure and the moving of residents to other locations.

Lib Dem Social Services Spokesperson Cllr Wayne Hoban comments:

“Residents and their relatives are entitled to know of any proposals on the table for either or both of Cooperscroft and Trentfield and they must be looked at fully and fairly.

“It is not a question of getting people’s hopes up but looking at all the possibilities. Residents will understand that, and will want this process to take place without prejudice.”

Racial equalities in Haringey

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Race Equalities meeting at Haringey Council. This is the first meeting of this body since I was appointed to it – despite being ten months through the year. I made enquiries some months ago as to why there were no meetings for so long – and was told nothing formally as usual.

Informally – I was given to understand that there hadn’t been meetings as Labour wanted to avoid them. Anyway, at the meeting the Labour Executive Member for Regeneration was unable to be there. So the Chair simply said to the attendees (representatives of Haringey’s many communities) that they should send in questions which would be answered.

One of the representatives objected saying that as this was the only place they ever got such a line-up of Council Executive members to discuss these issues in public, it was outrageous that no-one – not Labour member nor officer – was at hand to answer questions, particularly as there had not been a meeting for about 10 months.

Hear! Hear! My point exactly. So I raised it – thus bringing down the wrath of Labour members and Chair who said that as the community reps had meetings with them privately if they needed to I should basically mind my own business! Perish the thought of having some openness and democratic accountability! Roll on 2006 I say. (Next local elections).

GOOD NEWS ON HIGHGATE POLICING

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Haringey Lib Dem Councillor and GLA member Lynne Featherstone has said she is pleased at a commitment from the Metropolitan Police Authority that it will tackle the issue of neighbourhood policing in Highgate.

The move follows a request from Ms Featherstone during a visit to Haringey last Thursday by MPA Chair Len Duval.

Ms Featherstone says that the Highgate area, split between three boroughs, is losing out on police initiatives to improve neighbourhood policing under the Safer Neighbourhoods Scheme. The trend is clear, as other areas such as Crystal Palace, also situated on a number of borough boundaries, have pointed out the same problem.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Highgate is split between three boroughs and therefore no single borough will put the area forward as a Safer Neighbourhood area. Yet the same need for neighbourhood policing exists in Highgate just as it does in other areas where the scheme is being rolled out.

“I am glad that this problem will now be looked at over the next six months so that before the next roll-out of the scheme, Highgate, Crystal Palace and other areas suffering similarly, will have the same rights to neighbourhood policing as areas contained wholly within one borough.”

STRATHLENE HOUSE – FEATHERSTONE ACTS ON SAFETY OF SITE

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Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone has successfully secured an assurance from Haringey Council that will ensure the safety of the derelict Strathlene House site in Muswell Hill. The news comes after weeks of pressure from Cllr Featherstone who is concerned that the building could be a potential health and safety hazard.

Cllr Featherstone, who has visited the site with local residents, has been concerned that the windows of the empty building in Muswell Hill were slamming open and shut during high winds. She contacted the Council to request that they secure the property, situated adjacent to Fortismere School.

The Council initially said that they were powerless to do anything to secure the building because it was private property and it was the responsibility ofthe owners to secure it. However following persistent pressure from Cllr Featherstone, the Council have visited the site and agreed to take action. This week they confirmed they will be writing to the property owner and advising them to secure the premises. If they fail to act the Council has assured Cllr Featherstone that a notice will be served.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that the Council has finally agreed to take action.

“The building’s location means that it is a danger if it is not safe and secure. I will be keeping a close eye on this issue to ensure swift action is taken.”

DOG MESS – CLEAR-UP NOT ENOUGH

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Overflowing dog bins with three weeks worth of mess were finally emptied and cleaned up in Priory Park earlier this month after Lynne Featherstone asked Haringey Council to take urgent action.

Cllr Featherstone was alerted to the problem by a local resident who said that the bins had not been emptied, with many of them spilling over. Despite contacting Haringey Council on six separate occasions, the concerned resident saw no action taken.

Cllr Featherstone immediately contacted the Council demanding a swift response. The Council replied apologising for their contractor, who had expressed regret that a lapse had occurred. They assured her that the mess had been cleared.

Cllr Featherstone is pleased that action has been taken. However she has expressed concern at the contractor’s performance and the Council’s failure to address a serious health complaint by a resident.

Cllr Lynne Featherstone comments:

“While Haringey Council continues to promote itself as Better Haringey complaints such as these continue to roll in.This resident’s serious complaints were ignored six times.

“The Council must monitor its contractors and ensure that they are providing the service that residents pay for through their taxes.”

MUSWELL HILL JUNCTION – SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WAY

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Muswell Hill councillor Lynne Featherstone has moved a step closer in her long-running campaign to make safe the dangerous Muswell Hill/ Park Road junction, N10 after Haringey Council confirmed that they are seeking funding for this financial year for a number of improvements.

The news comes after months of frustration for local residents and Cllr Featherstone who have had to work hard to secure the improvements to a traffic blackspot.

The improvements planned for this financial year, dependent upon funding being secured, include the implementation of an anti-skid surface at selected locations and additional markings to improve lane discipline.

Cllr Featherstone welcomes the news but believes further safety improvements are needed for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“This junction is an accident hotspot in the borough mainly due to its very poor lay-out.

“In an ideal world, it would be completely redesigned. However these planned improvements will help to improve safety for local residents and all who use it.”

SOLUTION IN SIGHT FOR MUSWELL HILL TRAFFIC JAM

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Traffic jams in Colney Hatch Lane could be reduced if plans for new double yellow lines get the final go-ahead. Local Liberal Democrat councillor Lynne Featherstone says that the changes would prevent snarl-ups caused by parked cars on the busy route just south of Muswell Hill Broadway.

Cllr Featherstone has undertaken a site visit on the issue with a council officer and a consultation has now taken place, which received a positive result from the majority of local residents who responded.

Lynne Featherstone, comments:

“The overall impact will be extremely positive, with less congestion and pollution in the Muswell Hill area. In a small number of places where the loss of parking spaces would be a problem, the Council is looking at providing some on-kerb parking. We are now waiting for the Council to work out the details of the scheme.”

Transport survey

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An email comes in from a witness who has asked the scrutiny officers at the Assembly to fund his on-line parking enforcement survey. Apparently they refused – which is right – we are not funders. However, he has set up this survey anyway – so I hope that people will log on and fill it in.

The Parking Scrutiny has got the biggest response ever to any scrutiny of the Assembly and it would indeed be very helpful to have people complete this survey and for it to be submitted as evidence to my committee. The survey is at http://www.benchpoint.com/parking

Meeting David Blunkett

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After an entire day on budget – rush off to a drinks reception at New Scotland Yard to celebrate and mark Sir John Stevens’ retirement.

As I wander around Ken spots me and grabs me and says ‘all day and you couldn’t come up with a figure’. You have to hold your nose as you say those words to replicate his nasal tone accurately. We are having a good-humoured battle of words when David Blunkett come up. Ken introduces me and we shake hands. Blunkett comments on how warm my hands are and Ken makes I suppose what was meant to be a funny remark something about being careful about women with warm hands – can’t remember exactly – but I was acutely embarrassed.

Ken mentions my plans to stand for Parliament. Blunkett says that if we take the council and I have a chance to be leader of the council as he was in Sheffield, that would be even better than going to Parliament. Well – Neil Williams is our leader of the Lib Dem council group and in 2006 if we take the council as we intend, he will be a great leader.

Blunkett then says that he cannot wish me luck in the election (for obvious reasons) but wishes me well personally. Then he and his dog move off.

I was so aware of everything that has happened to him in recent months – how could I not be? Many times I wished him to leave office – but never for the reasons he had to in the end. I believe we are edging towards an illiberal and authoritarian state – much of it driven by him – but in his personal life I am sympathetic.

The London budget

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It’s the first of our budget debates today at the GLA. The process is: Ken presents his budget, we ask him lots of questions, then each of the five parties can put forward an amendment to the Mayor’s budget. Then they are voted down as each party usually only supports their own amendment.

Then the parties see if they can get a two-thirds majority and agree on a form of words to amend the budget. Then that is debated and voted on. And thus it was. Except Labour didn’t put forward an amendment because the Mayor is now back in the fold and they’re keener on supporting him than (the proper GLA role of) scrutinising his plans.

All the parties supported the Metropolitan Police budget in full. Everyone clearly recognises that we need to roll out Safer Neighbourhoods and get police on the beat, ring-fenced in every neighbourhood. This year a further five areas per borough will be delivered.

However the Mayor’s demand for more cash for transport doesn’t stand up in the detail.

We break for lunch – during which Ken corners me to ask why on earth I want to go to Parliament because it’s so awful and I am having a good time at the Assembly. I understand what he is getting at (he didn’t have a very good time there I know) but I explain that taking a Labour borough like Haringey and bringing Liberal Democracy there is a worthwhile challenge – and that Parliament will open up a whole new set of challenges. Ken is – whatever our differences – still a proper human being. And that side of him I can relate to.

As predicted – all the amendments fall and then Lib Dems, UKIP, Tories and Greens hash out a joint amendment which calls for a lowering of the precept (the bit the Mayor takes from our Council Tax bills) but also manages to put more money into road safety and environmental issues. This may not sound like much – but it is passed by the critical two-thirds majority and makes history as this is the first time the Assembly has used its power to thwart the Mayor’s cash grab.

The process will continue – and the Mayor now has to come back to the Assembly on 14th February with a rearranged budget. If our two-thirds majority holds (and I have no doubt that the Mayor will be desperately trying to buy the Greens off with bribes) then the Mayor will be forced to lower the precept.

Of course, Ken being Ken is furious, and immediately launches into the media (aka Evening Standard) to declare that if he doesn’t get exactly the precept he wants he will have to raise tube fares.

Nonsense! We will simply be removing padding from the transport budget. What the Mayor really means is that his costs on the tube are escalating because negotiations with the tube unions have delivered everything the unions want but at a cost – which he now has to find money for. Any rise in tube fares will be about his failure to negotiate a balanced deal.