Residents on Maddison Close have expressed concerns to me about people climbing over their back walls from Ploughman's walk, and have asked for anti climb paint. I have been following this up with officers to see if this can be done. I am looking at looking for funding through the big local project.
Needless to say, I will follow up on any news I get.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
One Barnet Forum
At the residents forum tonight, it was announced that the deputy Mayor, Cllr Kate Salinger will hold a One Barnet residents forum. As yet there are no details.
Whilst I welcome the chance for residents to express their views on this ghastly deal, I fear it is too little too late. I appreciate the sentiment from my former primary school teacher, and she is allowed to be a little more political than the mayor, but there should have been a proper consultation last year. It's too late to ask people what they think about one contract that has already been outsourced, and another that is due to be in a matter of weeks.
The Council should have commissioned a proper consultation and really listened to people's views, rather than ram this through without telling anyone.
That we have no times, dates or venues also say this has been done last minute. It should not be up to the Deputy Mayor to conduct a resident's forum on something so important and such a fundamental change to the way the council is run.
I look forward tot he event (and I can probably guess what Cllr Salinger thinks about One Barnet!) but it's too little too late.
Whilst I welcome the chance for residents to express their views on this ghastly deal, I fear it is too little too late. I appreciate the sentiment from my former primary school teacher, and she is allowed to be a little more political than the mayor, but there should have been a proper consultation last year. It's too late to ask people what they think about one contract that has already been outsourced, and another that is due to be in a matter of weeks.
The Council should have commissioned a proper consultation and really listened to people's views, rather than ram this through without telling anyone.
That we have no times, dates or venues also say this has been done last minute. It should not be up to the Deputy Mayor to conduct a resident's forum on something so important and such a fundamental change to the way the council is run.
I look forward tot he event (and I can probably guess what Cllr Salinger thinks about One Barnet!) but it's too little too late.
We can all improve ourselves
I am very proud of my mum who took her English GCSE today. It is a pleasant reminder that we can always improve ourselves and learn more.
She is due to take her maths GCSE soon as well, for which the Lord has made us all truly grateful. I suppose that with exams, you shouldn't care too much what grade you get, but how much effort you put in.
Well done to all those who take courses later on in life.
She is due to take her maths GCSE soon as well, for which the Lord has made us all truly grateful. I suppose that with exams, you shouldn't care too much what grade you get, but how much effort you put in.
Well done to all those who take courses later on in life.
Horace White memorial bench - update
My motion to the Finchley and Golders Green Area Environment Sub Committee regarding the Bench for Horace white was passed. In effect we delegated officers to look into our request and report back on the feasibility.
It is likely that the Mayor's outer London Fund will pay for it, through the review of North Finchley. It needs to be sited in a viable location, there needs to be clarity about it's maintenance, and it needs to discourage anti social behaviour.
I hope the officers will report back as soon as possible, and I will report back here what happens.
I must add my thanks to Cllr Lord Palmer, who was very helpful and encouraging throughout the debate. (as he usually is in any debate).
It is likely that the Mayor's outer London Fund will pay for it, through the review of North Finchley. It needs to be sited in a viable location, there needs to be clarity about it's maintenance, and it needs to discourage anti social behaviour.
I hope the officers will report back as soon as possible, and I will report back here what happens.
I must add my thanks to Cllr Lord Palmer, who was very helpful and encouraging throughout the debate. (as he usually is in any debate).
Monday, 14 January 2013
Horace Bench- Wednesday at St Michaels Church, Golders Green
My motion calling for a bench in North Finchley to be dedicated to Horace White is to be debated at the Finchley and Golders Green Area Environment Sub Committee on Wednesday night from 7 at St Michaels Church Hall, The Riding off Golders Green Road NW11 8HL.
Please come along to support my motion.
Please come along to support my motion.
Visit to vigil for rape victims
Ansuya Sodha, Alison Moore, Barry Rawlings and I attended a function at the Hindu Cultural Society Centre in Friern Barnet for the victims of rape, after the appaling gang rape case in Delhi.
The details of the case are just shocking, and I hope that the anger of young people in India transforms into something a lot more substantial. Last year there were protests against corruption, but little has really been done.
What was good to see about the event on Friday night was that there were people from the Hindu community here, of all ages, men and women, who came to ask or a change of attitude. It doesn't take much effort to change attitudes to women, It involves small things like not telling your granddaughter to do the washing up "because you're a girl, i's your job" which was not infrequent in my own home.
A good point that was raised was that this isn't just about teaching or how to treat women, it's also about how to educate young boys, and telling them they should respect women. I think this is vital, I have just come back from India, and I saw for myself how rudely people at airports were to my own relatives. Needless to say I put that right, but there won't always be bolshy people like me to go around rebuking people, it's a change in attitude.
While I was in India, one of the most disturbing details apart from the case was of the reaction by male figures in society, such as the MP son of the president, who said that protesters were "painted and dented", or the Communist MLA who said the Chief Minister of West Bengal would enjoy being raped beause it would feed her victim mentality. (Not the first time idiots of the far left have talked crap on rape allegations). One religious figure even said the victim should have dropped to her knees and prayed to god and that would have saved her.
10 years ago, this would have been met with a short spell of anger, but no real repercussions. I am glad that things have moved on.
The details of the case are just shocking, and I hope that the anger of young people in India transforms into something a lot more substantial. Last year there were protests against corruption, but little has really been done.
What was good to see about the event on Friday night was that there were people from the Hindu community here, of all ages, men and women, who came to ask or a change of attitude. It doesn't take much effort to change attitudes to women, It involves small things like not telling your granddaughter to do the washing up "because you're a girl, i's your job" which was not infrequent in my own home.
A good point that was raised was that this isn't just about teaching or how to treat women, it's also about how to educate young boys, and telling them they should respect women. I think this is vital, I have just come back from India, and I saw for myself how rudely people at airports were to my own relatives. Needless to say I put that right, but there won't always be bolshy people like me to go around rebuking people, it's a change in attitude.
While I was in India, one of the most disturbing details apart from the case was of the reaction by male figures in society, such as the MP son of the president, who said that protesters were "painted and dented", or the Communist MLA who said the Chief Minister of West Bengal would enjoy being raped beause it would feed her victim mentality. (Not the first time idiots of the far left have talked crap on rape allegations). One religious figure even said the victim should have dropped to her knees and prayed to god and that would have saved her.
10 years ago, this would have been met with a short spell of anger, but no real repercussions. I am glad that things have moved on.
Asking people what they think is revolutionary
Just when things couldn't get more farcical at Barnet Council, you hear they they will not hold a sceduled consultation on policing, booked by Barnet and Camden GLA rep Andrew Dismore. Apparently, they informed our group on friday evening. Why is the Tory Mayor's man allowed to come hear and "consult" but our own representative isn't? You don't think what they are doing is "politically motivated"?
I suspect in reality it's the word "consult" that has Barnet's Tory administration worried. They can only deal with one view at a time. Barnet is being shortchanged by Boris Johnson's Police station cuts, and won't be held to account.
I suspect in reality it's the word "consult" that has Barnet's Tory administration worried. They can only deal with one view at a time. Barnet is being shortchanged by Boris Johnson's Police station cuts, and won't be held to account.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Scrutiny training
this evening I attended some scrutiny training at the Town hall.
We had an interesting discussion about skills, the type of questions you ask, how to approach scrutiny and what it's for. We had a good moan about how ineffective it is in Barnet when the Tory administration do bugger all to listen to anything anyone has to say.
Talking about Tories, it was fascinating that 10 Labour Councillors out of 22 were there, just 2 Tories out of 37 were. Alison, myself, Jim, Anne, Ansuya, Agnes, Julie, Geoff, Andreas and Gill were the Labour members. Just Brian Salinger and David Longstaff for the Tories. Says it all really.
There were some useful tips, and it's clear to me that our attitude to commissioning is all wrong in Barnet, we put little emphasis on pre decision scrutiny and too much on post service evaluation. Needs to be the other way round!
There were some funny bits too.
We were talking about a study in Haringey which cost £20,400 to help stop 40 men from smoking. We were told that the net financial earnings that had been made by the extended lifetime of these men was £233,794 per person. There was a bit of an argument that broke out as people pointed out there were added costs as well of people living longer, and questions about how much these people would work, assumptions about missing days etc, to which Julie Johnson said that these people "were strivers!". you had to be there, it was perfectly timed.
When we broke into plenary sessions, we looked at how to approach scrutiny, and Anne Hutton and I had a chat about when you look at services, does monitoring come before management or vice versa? I'm pleased to announce that we have invented management gobbledegook. The Manager/Monitor continuum. One constantly leads to the other. I patent this idea, and claim all credit for it. All the other attendees were blown away by our brilliance, and I could see some were visibly moved. Astar was born tonight in management speak.
We had an interesting discussion about skills, the type of questions you ask, how to approach scrutiny and what it's for. We had a good moan about how ineffective it is in Barnet when the Tory administration do bugger all to listen to anything anyone has to say.
Talking about Tories, it was fascinating that 10 Labour Councillors out of 22 were there, just 2 Tories out of 37 were. Alison, myself, Jim, Anne, Ansuya, Agnes, Julie, Geoff, Andreas and Gill were the Labour members. Just Brian Salinger and David Longstaff for the Tories. Says it all really.
There were some useful tips, and it's clear to me that our attitude to commissioning is all wrong in Barnet, we put little emphasis on pre decision scrutiny and too much on post service evaluation. Needs to be the other way round!
There were some funny bits too.
We were talking about a study in Haringey which cost £20,400 to help stop 40 men from smoking. We were told that the net financial earnings that had been made by the extended lifetime of these men was £233,794 per person. There was a bit of an argument that broke out as people pointed out there were added costs as well of people living longer, and questions about how much these people would work, assumptions about missing days etc, to which Julie Johnson said that these people "were strivers!". you had to be there, it was perfectly timed.
When we broke into plenary sessions, we looked at how to approach scrutiny, and Anne Hutton and I had a chat about when you look at services, does monitoring come before management or vice versa? I'm pleased to announce that we have invented management gobbledegook. The Manager/Monitor continuum. One constantly leads to the other. I patent this idea, and claim all credit for it. All the other attendees were blown away by our brilliance, and I could see some were visibly moved. Astar was born tonight in management speak.
Librarians
Barnet staff are going through some difficult times right now, and morale isn't good. So I was sad to hear on my first surgery back in 2013 in the library that staff were not being given much time to prepare for some competency based tests.
I have submitted written questions to council about this to ascertain what these tests were about. I don't think it was felt that enough time has been given in preparation. I know that feeling, having only been given a week with the NSCSO papers before scrutiny.
There is a major restructuring going on, as budgets are being squeezed. This is not the friendliest way of saying goodbye to staff, and I hope we can clear the picture.After the "omnishambles" with the landmark library in the Arts Depot, and Friern Barnet having been in disarray for 6 months, some basic competency is needed in the political leadership of libraries.
I have a special affection for the helpful and hard working staff at East Finchley Library, and I hope more effort is made in the future to make sure all staff are valued.
I have submitted written questions to council about this to ascertain what these tests were about. I don't think it was felt that enough time has been given in preparation. I know that feeling, having only been given a week with the NSCSO papers before scrutiny.
There is a major restructuring going on, as budgets are being squeezed. This is not the friendliest way of saying goodbye to staff, and I hope we can clear the picture.After the "omnishambles" with the landmark library in the Arts Depot, and Friern Barnet having been in disarray for 6 months, some basic competency is needed in the political leadership of libraries.
I have a special affection for the helpful and hard working staff at East Finchley Library, and I hope more effort is made in the future to make sure all staff are valued.
Martin School expansion
I visited Martin School in the ward today to see the expansion plans. it seems to be taking shape, and the school will have a more coherent internal structure, with year groups together. There are outstanding issues, such as a storage space, a space for bins, asbestos in a wall. some resolution seem to have been found on finishing the resurfacing, plane tree walk and parking spaces, but clearly there is more the school want done.
I hope to keep you informed about progress.
I hope to keep you informed about progress.
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