Last night I attended a breifing session in the Town Hall on the replacement of Council Tax benefit with Council Tax support.
There will still be a large number of people statutorally exampt from paying council tax, but as there will be a £4.4 million gap in funding, some new methods will have to used to raise the missing funds, such as lowering allowances, charging for empty properties and even making people pay a minimum contribution.
It was interesting to see the political split at the meeting, 8 Labour Councillors, (Myself, Barry Rawlings, Andreas Ioannides, Anne Hutton, Ansuya Sodha, Gill Sargeant, Claire Farrier and Charlie O'Macauley), Jack Cohen of the Lib Dems and just TWO Tories (out of 38!). Full credit to Barry Evangeli and Sury Khatri though.
The changes are not likely to be very ward specific, because poorer wards will have those on CTB because they are out of work, wealthier wards will have those on CTB because there are retirees.
The Council are consulting for less than two more weeks, you can make a submission here.
The timeline for implimentation is very rushed as well, not due to the Council, but due to the Government. It basically needs to be up an running by 1st April 2013, despite the bill requiring it not actually having been passed yet! If we do not come up with our own version, we will have to get the governement managed system.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Friern Barnet Library- today's result
I went to the court proceedings for the possession order by the Council against the occupiers of Friern Barnet Library. Barnet Labour have two reports here and here about what happened today.
Essentially, due to the public interest in the case it will go to trial on 17th-21st December. This gives a little more time to the licensees to run the volunteer library.
Previously, when the library was first occupied, the Council showed the occupiers Friary House as an alternative venue to run a volunteer library. Then they started negotiating with the occupiers about possible alternative scenarios for running the library. By negotiating, the Council effectively turned the occupiers into licensees. The Council notified them last week that they were ceasing those negotiation,s despite them coming to some very detailed discussions about a large range of options.
We will see what the future holds, but in a worst case scenario the library might have been emptied today,and that the community hubis continuing is a very good thing indeed.
Essentially, due to the public interest in the case it will go to trial on 17th-21st December. This gives a little more time to the licensees to run the volunteer library.
Previously, when the library was first occupied, the Council showed the occupiers Friary House as an alternative venue to run a volunteer library. Then they started negotiating with the occupiers about possible alternative scenarios for running the library. By negotiating, the Council effectively turned the occupiers into licensees. The Council notified them last week that they were ceasing those negotiation,s despite them coming to some very detailed discussions about a large range of options.
We will see what the future holds, but in a worst case scenario the library might have been emptied today,and that the community hubis continuing is a very good thing indeed.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Children and Young People plan
The Council are consulting on what it's like for children and young people. Well, They keep cutting children's services, and narrowing down the number of people who will recieve help 35% being cut from the Newstead Children's Centre in my ward, The lack of proper maintenance has been leaving parks worse for wear, and that's just the parks they leave open. They still want to take Stanley Road from the community.
Young people are demonised by the Government as anti social and having it too easy at school. They have taken away EMA and the New Deal, scrapped Child benefit and youth unemployment is still too high. The Lib Dems betrayed every student in the Country.
I wonder if those will figure in the responses?
Young people are demonised by the Government as anti social and having it too easy at school. They have taken away EMA and the New Deal, scrapped Child benefit and youth unemployment is still too high. The Lib Dems betrayed every student in the Country.
I wonder if those will figure in the responses?
Church Farmhouse Museum - flog it!
The Council have released a list of the items from Church Farmhouse museum which they are flogging off. You may like to take a look here.
It's good that they are releasing the list, but it still doesnt explain why the list of assets the Council has for sale has risen from £3 millio last year to £27 million this year. A ninefold increase.
It isn't that there are Da Vinci paintings in the collection, but it is a local collection of items donated. They might be small beer to the council, but it is a testament to the way Barnet residents have lived. One Tory Councillor is famous for claiming that "we don't do culture in Barnet" and sadly he was right.
It's good that they are releasing the list, but it still doesnt explain why the list of assets the Council has for sale has risen from £3 millio last year to £27 million this year. A ninefold increase.
It isn't that there are Da Vinci paintings in the collection, but it is a local collection of items donated. They might be small beer to the council, but it is a testament to the way Barnet residents have lived. One Tory Councillor is famous for claiming that "we don't do culture in Barnet" and sadly he was right.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Martin School pedestrian safety to be discussed
Hendon Times has the details.
I am not a big fan of the residents forums, or the AEC's (though the latter are a little better) as forums can't discuss policy, and often leave residents annoyed, disappointed, and perhaps even disillusioned. I hope the committee will be able to deal with this issue seriously, and I got Cllr Dean Cohen, the Cabinet member, to confirm in the last Full Council meeting that the Council were considering a 20 mph zone for Church Lane.
There are other issues as well, such as signage, the walk through Plane Tree Walk, the junction of the High Road and Creighton Avenue etc. We have had real difficulty in getting the Council to engage with this campaign properly. Soon after my election, when this was a very live issue, the Council removed the railings outside the School, without consultation as part of their "decluttering" of the street scene. We vigorously opposed this, and got the railings re-instated. In fact I spoke about it in the Business Management OSC. But I was concerned that they were doing this whilst consulting with the parents. Worst of all, when we asked about the criteria they were using to justify the removal of the railings, they stated that they were not outside the school! I am glad that the council listened though, and I am glad that this is being reviewed. I hope that we can get a positive outcome. I have never seen such a committed and hardworking community group either, the Walksafe N2 campaign are remarkable, and I hope we can get this done for them.
Campaigners fighting for greater pedestrian safety near a school are encouraging people to show their support at a council meeting.
Barnet Council’s area environment subcommittee will discuss plans for safety measures near Martin Primary School in Plane Tree Walk, East Finchley, on Tuesday, October 16.
Supporters of Walksafe N2 have been campaigning for the introduction of a three-way traffic light at the junction at Church Lane and East Finchley High Road and a pedestrian crossing on Creighton Avenue near East Finchley High Road.
The group would also like the council to improve road signage and markings near the school as well as re-introduce a speed limit of 20mph in Church Lane.Colin Rogers is the East Finchley representative on the committee, and I am his substitute.
Roger Chapman, of Summerlee Avenue, is a governor at the school. He said: “We’ve already had 2,300 signatures on our petition, but we want people to come along to the meeting to demonstrate to councillors that there is a lot of support for this campaign.
“There have been some near misses on these roads. These changes would make conditions a lot safer for parents, children and other pedestrians.”
The meeting will take place at 7pm after the residents’ forum at Avenue House, in East End Road, Finchley.
I am not a big fan of the residents forums, or the AEC's (though the latter are a little better) as forums can't discuss policy, and often leave residents annoyed, disappointed, and perhaps even disillusioned. I hope the committee will be able to deal with this issue seriously, and I got Cllr Dean Cohen, the Cabinet member, to confirm in the last Full Council meeting that the Council were considering a 20 mph zone for Church Lane.
There are other issues as well, such as signage, the walk through Plane Tree Walk, the junction of the High Road and Creighton Avenue etc. We have had real difficulty in getting the Council to engage with this campaign properly. Soon after my election, when this was a very live issue, the Council removed the railings outside the School, without consultation as part of their "decluttering" of the street scene. We vigorously opposed this, and got the railings re-instated. In fact I spoke about it in the Business Management OSC. But I was concerned that they were doing this whilst consulting with the parents. Worst of all, when we asked about the criteria they were using to justify the removal of the railings, they stated that they were not outside the school! I am glad that the council listened though, and I am glad that this is being reviewed. I hope that we can get a positive outcome. I have never seen such a committed and hardworking community group either, the Walksafe N2 campaign are remarkable, and I hope we can get this done for them.
How One Barnet will affect children
My colleague, Cllr Barry Rawlings of Coppetts ward has the following article on the Better Bernet website.
Barnet’s Conservative councillors have started on the next wave of council service reviews under their ‘One Barnet’ transformation programme.What I find interesting is that Cllr Harper, the Cabinet member responsible led quite an attack on our comments, calling is scaremongering. Well, We said this was going to happen a while back, and guess what? There were huge cuts to children's services, like the 35% cut to the Newstead Children's Centre in my ward, or the closure of Friern Barnet Library. People should be concerned about the choices of this Tory Council.
To re-cap, here are just a few examples of how your local services have already been ‘transformed’ under the ‘One Barnet’ programme:
In Wave 2 of ‘One Barnet’ the Conservatives running the council are now turning their eye to ‘transform’ the 30% of services that are left. One area they are looking at that has cause for further concern is “Early Intervention and Prevention Services” (EIP).
- Friern Barnet Library has been closed
- Parking charges were hiked by up to 300% in one year
- Sheltered housing wardens have been cut
- Charges for disabled Blue Badge permits have been introduced
- More vulnerable people are being charged for home care help
- 8 children’s centres have been closed
- Affordable child care funding has been cut
- Funding for Day Centres for the elderly is being cut
- More private events in our parks are being allowed
- The welfare rights service that helps vulnerable and elderly residents claim the benefits they are entitled to has been axed
- The council is gambling £1 billion of council tax payers’ money by selling-off 70% of critical council services like planning, licensing and environmental health to large multi-national companies
EIP services are designed to ensure that children and adults at risk are prevented from coming to harm, whether through poverty, poor health, poor educational attainment or abuse, and, where they are in danger of coming to harm, by intervening early to try and stop it.
As you can see from the list of examples given above, EIP services have already been cut under ‘One Barnet’ – 8 children’s centres have been closed where early intervention and prevention services were provided, and child care funding has been cut. In addition, the council have been given extra money by the government to provide 800 more affordable child care places in the Borough, but they are refusing to spend all this money to do this. They are only planning to try and provide around 500 extra places and admit they will take much longer than the specified time to do it.
This is the reality of ‘One Barnet’ service transformation.
The latest plans for EIP under Wave 2 of ‘One Barnet’ are theme rather than service based, and, unlike the Wave 1 ‘One Barnet’ £1bn sell-off, there is a hint that the resident or service user is being thought of.
To use the council’s own words in a recent presentation to councillors on the review:
“It emerged that successful Early Intervention & Prevention tends to be multi-agency. For work to succeed it requires all agencies involved to have: a strong cultural commitment to early intervention and prevention, a willingness to work in partnership and high-quality data and information flows, when any one of these three is less than solid, programmes of work will suffer.”
Quite so!
What will happen when one of the multi-agency partners the council commissions services from is a multi-national corporation like Capita or E C Harris as is proposed under Wave 1?
As the council itself says “when any one of these three is less than solid, programmes of work will suffer”.
- Cultural Commitment – this commitment is based on a public sector ethos, a commitment to public service and the desire to improve the life chances of the most disadvantaged. It is based on co-operation rather than competition. It brings the public and voluntary sector together rather than selling parts of it to the private sector.
- Willingness to work in partnership – this is vital and involves partnership working for those groups, both statutory and voluntary, whose main focus is Barnet and its residents. It involves donating time and resources to make Barnet a Better place. This will never be the primary focus of a multi-national company whose main legal commitment is to their shareholders and not local people.
- High-quality data and information flows - while private sector companies often own and use data effectively will they willingly share it with others? Early intervention and prevention is for both children and adults at risk and there is a duty to share information, but large companies often have this work sub-contracted several times. This may mean many different companies can have access to sensitive data that may not even be stored in the country. Is this a risk too far?
It is not only the programmes of work, but real Barnet people who could suffer. This should be of concern to everyone.
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Labour's Spokesperson for Adults Social Care & Health
Fiona Twycross AM on food poverty
I recieved the following communicaion from London wide Labour Assembly Member Fiona Twycross. If you have any input please get in touch with her.
GREATERLONDONAUTHORITY
Dear Councillor
Just last year, one charity’s foodbanks fed almost 15,000 people in the capital. Kids Company – a charity working with vulnerable young people – reports that 37 per cent of 5-12 year olds at three of their centres claim there is not enough food for them to eat at home every day.
I am writing to let you know about an investigation I am leading in to food poverty in London as a member of the London Assembly's Health and Environment Committee. As a councillor, you are well placed to know about the extent to which this is an issue - and to what extent this is a growing issue - in your local area. It would be really helpful if you could forward this email including the link below to any organisations or individuals in the area you represent with knowledge of this issue and encourage them to take part in the consultation. Issues that the investigation will be focussing on include the scale and health implications of the issue, existing emergency support for people already in need, as well as broader measures to address the risk factors for food poverty. The link below will take you through to the relevant page on the London Assembly website:
If you or anyone else would like more information about this investigation or would like to respond to the consultation directly yourself, please contact simon.shaw@london.gov.uk
Thank you
Fiona
Fiona Twycross AM
LONDONASSEMBLYLABOUR
CITY HALL
THE QUEEN'S WALK
LONDON
SE1 2AA
t: 020 7983 4101
GREATERLONDONAUTHORITY
Friday, 5 October 2012
Andrew Dismore report back
Introduction
This reporting period is a bit longer than usual as it covers the summer holidays and the Olympics, when City Hall in large part shut down for the Games and I wanted to report to you on a full City Hall cycle.
Before getting into the "meat" of this report - which will focus on the very worrying cuts in the emergency services- a few words on the Games.
Whilst I didn't get any tickets in the various ballots for Olympics events, it was great following the progress of Team GB on the TV - I was glued to the set as I am sure many of my readers were too. I was able to go to the athletes' parade though and see in the flesh both many of the UK medal winners and others who took part in the Olympics and did the country so proud, too.
Congratulations and thanks also to the "Games Makers", the volunteers who did so well to make the experience so enjoyable for everyone, the emergency services and the armed forces drafted in at such short notice, and to Transport for London for coping so well with the huge extra demand on he capital's transport network.
London Fire Brigade
I am a member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority ("LFEPA"), which is the body which is in charge of the Fire Brigade. After some key events in August and a series of meetings in September, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the future of the Fire Brigade in London.
Fire Cuts
Over the next two years, Mayor Boris Johnson is imposing cuts of £64.8m on the Fire Brigade, about 25% of its total budget. Although the Commissioner (the uniformed Chief Fire Officer) has worked hard to indentify "back office "cuts of about £14m, it is now clear (if it was ever in doubt!) that the balance cannot be achieved without the closure of fire stations, withdrawal of fire engines, or a combination of both. A fire station with one fire engine (known in the trade as a "pump" or "pump ladder") costs on average £1.45m a year to run; and a station with two pumps costs £2.43m. It is not rocket science to work out that up to 30 fire stations and/ or pumps are at risk, and indeed this was even reported in the Fire Brigade's own internal staff magazine "Shout", which made clear the required cuts could not be achieved in any other way.
My efforts have been directed to two objectives: challenging the scale of the cuts Mayor Johnson is imposing; and trying to find out which stations are threatened.
The key issue for public safety is the attendance time, once a call has been made. On average, in round terms, the first fire engine arrives in about 5.5 minutes. In Barnet, it is 6.5 and in Camden 4.5 minutes, so even in the GLA constituency there is a wide difference, and a minute can mean the difference between life and death.
Early press speculation in June suggested that Euston fire station was threatened, but I have not been able to get any confirmation one way or the other.
At the first Plenary meeting of the London Assembly after the summer, coincidentally we had a scrutiny session with the chairman of LFEPA (Johnson appointee James Cleverly) and with the Commissioner. I challenged the chairman then, but the details of likely closures were not forthcoming. You can read the transcript of this meeting by clicking here or watch the webcast by clicking here.
At Mayor's Question Time, I questioned Mayor Johnson, but he also would not provide the details of closures. You can read the transcript by clicking here or watch the webcast be clicking here.
I asked the Commissioner at the first Resources Committee meeting of LFEPA in early September again with no result, so at the full meeting of LFEPA on 27th September, on behalf of the Labour members, I tabled an amendment to require the officers to produce at the least their up to date drafts on the possible closures, so we could get an idea of what was under consideration. I regret to say this proposal was voted down, because the Liberal Democrats and Green Party members of LFEPA voted with the Conservatives to block it. as it is a "hung" authority, we could have had the details of possible closures if the Liberal Democrats and Green Party had voted with us and not against transparency, but they decided to allow the secrecy to continue. This will mean that the details will only come to light to o late for any meaningful public consultation or input into the decision making process. We were told we would get the list of threatened stations "in due course"- and I am sure you can see that means after the chance for any meaningful input has passed!
However, I had more success with another part of my amendment with LFEPA agreeing (but not the Conservatives, who abstained) to lobby the Mayor to ask him to reconsider the budget he has laid down requiring these draconian cuts.
AssetCo
Another big concern I have, is over the privatised contract to maintain the fire brigade's vehicle fleet (including all the fire pumps and special vehicles) and other equipment. It is not a secret that the company responsible, AssetCo, was in financial difficulty and was seriously underperforming on the contract's requirements. Whenever I visit fire stations, the firefighters complain of the poor maintenance of their appliances and kit.
In August, without notice to LFEPA, the company was sold for £2 to another company, AB and A Ltd, a private company founded only days before with one sole director, Sir Aubrey Brocklebank. The company has never filed accounts, we have no idea as to its financial backers, and it is registered and run from Sir Aubrey's home, a semi detached house in Northamptonshire. His sole experience of vehicles seems to be the fact that he runs a Citroen 2CV car racing team, which hardly qualifies him, in my view, to run the entire London Fire Brigade fleet and equipment maintenance operation! The contract also provides for the compete replacement of the fleet with new vehicles, starting in a couple of years' time.
Whilst I am not allowed to put all the details in the public domain due to legal constraints, as soon as I heard about this, I wrote to LFEPA chairman Cleverly, with a detailed series of questions: my correspondence with him and his replies are on my website. I have to say the response of Mr Cleverly and Mayor Johnson has been utterly complacent when faced with this serious situation, both in correspondence and in Assembly meetings, when I questioned them on it. You can read the transcript of this meeting by clicking here or watch the webcast by clicking here.
Most of the discussions in LFEPA about AssetCo are being held behind closed doors for legal reasons, which is unfortunate as I would very much like to share the details with you. My view is we should get out of this arrangement asap!
Other Fire Brigade matters
On a more positive note, I am pleased that the Brigade have agreed to investigate my suggestion, that all the vacant residential property on fire stations should be looked at, with a view to bringing it back into use. When we have such a housing crisis in London, it is clearly wrong that homes are left vacant like this. Whilst understandably the Brigade does not want to be a landlord, there are a quite a number of flats, houses, and single persons' accommodation not in use, and it seems to me the best solution would be for the Brigade to do a deal with a housing association to take over the properties and run them on behalf of the Brigade, with nomination rights for fire service key workers to live in them. The Brigade are now inviting interest in the cottages behind West Hampstead Fire Station.
Also, do you know how many firefighters it takes to change a light bulb?
Answer: none, as they are not allowed to do it! We can send them a hundred feet up on a hydraulic platform, or into a burning building, but they are not allowed to use a step ladder to change a fire station bulb. Instead a big contractor is called in charging hundreds of pounds to do the job! I have proposed, and this is also being looked at now, that we should have devolved budgets, like in schools for head teachers, for at least routine and minor maintenance tasks, which I am sure will deliver savings on property upkeep costs.
Policing cuts
If what was happening to the Fire Brigade wasn't bad enough, Mayor Johnson and the Coalition Government are imposing major cuts in policing, and changes are underway in the methods of policing too, as a result. Answers to written questions I put to the Mayor show that as of May 2010, when the Conservative led Coalition came to power, there were, in Barnet, 607 warranted officers, 110 sergeants and 171 PCSOs. In Camden, the figures were 884 of ficers, 136 sergeants and 120 PCSOs.
As of 31st July 2012, the numbers had dropped to, in Barnet, 530 warranted officers, 88 sergeants and 97 PCSOs. In Camden, the figures were 777 officers, 121 sergeants and 77 PCSOs. The impact on the individual Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) has been very serious indeed: full details are in my recent press releases for Barnet and Camden.
And as they were allegedly protecting police numbers during the Olympics, worse is yet to come.
The traditional SNTs of ward based officers will no longer be the case, with the "local policing model" requiring bigger teams covering wider areas with more responsibilities. The introduction of this system has been put back , and now looks likely to come in, in April next year.
Police Stations are under threat, too. The Mayor has been very underhand with this, in that the list he published was not complete: for example Hampstead Police Station is likely to go. When I questioned him on this, the Mayor referred to such stations as "Stalags" (that is Nazi prison camps) and refused to agree to a public consultation on the closure or alternatives. I had a joint letter with Cllr Abdul Hai of Camden Council published in both the Ham and High and Camden New Journal on the future of Hampstead Police Station.
The only police station commitment is to one station open 24/7 per Borough, and so we will see other stations going too, before long. The only alternative that has been tried so far, (not in Barnet and Camden) is a weekly enquiry point for a couple of hours at a supermarket, which did not find much favour with the public!
We will also see the mergers of Borough policing: for example, I have seen proposals which suggest that Barnet and Harrow police will be merged. I shall be opposing this!
Economy Committee
This City Hall committee, which I chair, is well into our inquiry into the problems of the high street. We have visited 6 high streets round London so far, to meet with traders, local councils, experts and shoppers, including visits to North Finchley and Camden Town in the GLA constituency. We have held a formal evidence session at City Hall where the public came to give us their views (including a number from Barne t!) and to hear from experts, too. It is clear so far that whilst every high street has different problems, themes are emerging, such as the problem of high parking costs, difficulties with landlords, unsympathetic local authorities, and planning law issues. Suggestions for solutions are also coming forward, and whilst we still have a way to go in taking evidence, I expect our report will be out in the New Year.
North Finchley visit: Left to right - Cllr Jim Tierney (West Finchley), Cllr Arjun Mittra (East Finchley), Cllr Pauline Coakley-Webb (Coppetts), Joanne McCartney AM (Enfield & Haringey), Andrew Dismore AM (Barnet & Camden) and Cllr Anne Hutton (Woodhouse)
Transport Committee
I sit on the Transport Committee at City Hall. At the last meeting, we heard from the head of Transport for London (TfL), Peter Hendy, on TfL's performance during the Olympics, and then held the concluding evidence session on our inquiry into cycling in the capital. We will be publishing a report on this.
Consultations
I am now in a position to consult constituents more formally on matters within the Assembly/GLA's terms of reference, on local issues. The first I have just launched concerns Stirling Corner roundabout, and pedestrian safety - if you use the junction and want to feedback to me you can download the consultation by clicking here. If you have any ideas for issues you think I should consult on, please let me know.
Press releases and public letters
I have published a number of press releases and letters, links as follows:
Press Release: Flooding at Filton Blood Testing Centre proves my point about Colindale closure
Press Release: Cuts to Policing in Camden
Press Release: Barnet Police Numbers in Free Fall
Dismore launches Stirling Corner road safety consultation
Press Release: Future of Hampstead Police Station "not clear"
PRESS RELEASE: Firesale of AssetCo raises serious questions
Press Release: Boris Johnson's post Olympic threat to Peel Centre playing fields
180% Rise in long-term youth unemployment in Camden
775% Rise in long-term youth unemployment in Barnet
"If there was a gold medal for dropping the ball, Boris would be an Olympic Champion"
Joint Letter in Ham & High: Hampstead Police Station
Letter to Barnet Newspapers: Hendon Museum Sell Off
Broadcast media appearances include BBC and ITV London TV news and BBC London radio on the Economy Committee high street inquiry and the issues at LFEPA referred to above.
Mayor's Questions
You can view my questions to Mayor Johnson by clicking here.
Problem solving and casework
Adam Langleben who was working at City Hall for me on a temporary basis, managing incoming correspondence, casework and my diary has now been confirmed in his post as my permanent Research & Support Officer: adam.langleben@london.gov.uk
Please pass this email on
Please feel free to forward this email update on to any other local residents or neighbours who you think might be interested in it. If they would like to receive their own copy in the future, they should email me at info@andrewdismore.org.uk, with their address in Barnet or Camden.
If you use social media, please follow me on twitter for the latest updates. You can follow me at @Andrew_Dismore.
Best regards
Andrew Dismore
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
This reporting period is a bit longer than usual as it covers the summer holidays and the Olympics, when City Hall in large part shut down for the Games and I wanted to report to you on a full City Hall cycle.
Before getting into the "meat" of this report - which will focus on the very worrying cuts in the emergency services- a few words on the Games.
Whilst I didn't get any tickets in the various ballots for Olympics events, it was great following the progress of Team GB on the TV - I was glued to the set as I am sure many of my readers were too. I was able to go to the athletes' parade though and see in the flesh both many of the UK medal winners and others who took part in the Olympics and did the country so proud, too.
Congratulations and thanks also to the "Games Makers", the volunteers who did so well to make the experience so enjoyable for everyone, the emergency services and the armed forces drafted in at such short notice, and to Transport for London for coping so well with the huge extra demand on he capital's transport network.
London Fire Brigade
I am a member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority ("LFEPA"), which is the body which is in charge of the Fire Brigade. After some key events in August and a series of meetings in September, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the future of the Fire Brigade in London.
Fire Cuts
Over the next two years, Mayor Boris Johnson is imposing cuts of £64.8m on the Fire Brigade, about 25% of its total budget. Although the Commissioner (the uniformed Chief Fire Officer) has worked hard to indentify "back office "cuts of about £14m, it is now clear (if it was ever in doubt!) that the balance cannot be achieved without the closure of fire stations, withdrawal of fire engines, or a combination of both. A fire station with one fire engine (known in the trade as a "pump" or "pump ladder") costs on average £1.45m a year to run; and a station with two pumps costs £2.43m. It is not rocket science to work out that up to 30 fire stations and/ or pumps are at risk, and indeed this was even reported in the Fire Brigade's own internal staff magazine "Shout", which made clear the required cuts could not be achieved in any other way.
My efforts have been directed to two objectives: challenging the scale of the cuts Mayor Johnson is imposing; and trying to find out which stations are threatened.
The key issue for public safety is the attendance time, once a call has been made. On average, in round terms, the first fire engine arrives in about 5.5 minutes. In Barnet, it is 6.5 and in Camden 4.5 minutes, so even in the GLA constituency there is a wide difference, and a minute can mean the difference between life and death.
Early press speculation in June suggested that Euston fire station was threatened, but I have not been able to get any confirmation one way or the other.
At the first Plenary meeting of the London Assembly after the summer, coincidentally we had a scrutiny session with the chairman of LFEPA (Johnson appointee James Cleverly) and with the Commissioner. I challenged the chairman then, but the details of likely closures were not forthcoming. You can read the transcript of this meeting by clicking here or watch the webcast by clicking here.
At Mayor's Question Time, I questioned Mayor Johnson, but he also would not provide the details of closures. You can read the transcript by clicking here or watch the webcast be clicking here.
I asked the Commissioner at the first Resources Committee meeting of LFEPA in early September again with no result, so at the full meeting of LFEPA on 27th September, on behalf of the Labour members, I tabled an amendment to require the officers to produce at the least their up to date drafts on the possible closures, so we could get an idea of what was under consideration. I regret to say this proposal was voted down, because the Liberal Democrats and Green Party members of LFEPA voted with the Conservatives to block it. as it is a "hung" authority, we could have had the details of possible closures if the Liberal Democrats and Green Party had voted with us and not against transparency, but they decided to allow the secrecy to continue. This will mean that the details will only come to light to o late for any meaningful public consultation or input into the decision making process. We were told we would get the list of threatened stations "in due course"- and I am sure you can see that means after the chance for any meaningful input has passed!
However, I had more success with another part of my amendment with LFEPA agreeing (but not the Conservatives, who abstained) to lobby the Mayor to ask him to reconsider the budget he has laid down requiring these draconian cuts.
AssetCo
Another big concern I have, is over the privatised contract to maintain the fire brigade's vehicle fleet (including all the fire pumps and special vehicles) and other equipment. It is not a secret that the company responsible, AssetCo, was in financial difficulty and was seriously underperforming on the contract's requirements. Whenever I visit fire stations, the firefighters complain of the poor maintenance of their appliances and kit.
In August, without notice to LFEPA, the company was sold for £2 to another company, AB and A Ltd, a private company founded only days before with one sole director, Sir Aubrey Brocklebank. The company has never filed accounts, we have no idea as to its financial backers, and it is registered and run from Sir Aubrey's home, a semi detached house in Northamptonshire. His sole experience of vehicles seems to be the fact that he runs a Citroen 2CV car racing team, which hardly qualifies him, in my view, to run the entire London Fire Brigade fleet and equipment maintenance operation! The contract also provides for the compete replacement of the fleet with new vehicles, starting in a couple of years' time.
Whilst I am not allowed to put all the details in the public domain due to legal constraints, as soon as I heard about this, I wrote to LFEPA chairman Cleverly, with a detailed series of questions: my correspondence with him and his replies are on my website. I have to say the response of Mr Cleverly and Mayor Johnson has been utterly complacent when faced with this serious situation, both in correspondence and in Assembly meetings, when I questioned them on it. You can read the transcript of this meeting by clicking here or watch the webcast by clicking here.
Most of the discussions in LFEPA about AssetCo are being held behind closed doors for legal reasons, which is unfortunate as I would very much like to share the details with you. My view is we should get out of this arrangement asap!
Other Fire Brigade matters
On a more positive note, I am pleased that the Brigade have agreed to investigate my suggestion, that all the vacant residential property on fire stations should be looked at, with a view to bringing it back into use. When we have such a housing crisis in London, it is clearly wrong that homes are left vacant like this. Whilst understandably the Brigade does not want to be a landlord, there are a quite a number of flats, houses, and single persons' accommodation not in use, and it seems to me the best solution would be for the Brigade to do a deal with a housing association to take over the properties and run them on behalf of the Brigade, with nomination rights for fire service key workers to live in them. The Brigade are now inviting interest in the cottages behind West Hampstead Fire Station.
Also, do you know how many firefighters it takes to change a light bulb?
Answer: none, as they are not allowed to do it! We can send them a hundred feet up on a hydraulic platform, or into a burning building, but they are not allowed to use a step ladder to change a fire station bulb. Instead a big contractor is called in charging hundreds of pounds to do the job! I have proposed, and this is also being looked at now, that we should have devolved budgets, like in schools for head teachers, for at least routine and minor maintenance tasks, which I am sure will deliver savings on property upkeep costs.
Policing cuts
If what was happening to the Fire Brigade wasn't bad enough, Mayor Johnson and the Coalition Government are imposing major cuts in policing, and changes are underway in the methods of policing too, as a result. Answers to written questions I put to the Mayor show that as of May 2010, when the Conservative led Coalition came to power, there were, in Barnet, 607 warranted officers, 110 sergeants and 171 PCSOs. In Camden, the figures were 884 of ficers, 136 sergeants and 120 PCSOs.
As of 31st July 2012, the numbers had dropped to, in Barnet, 530 warranted officers, 88 sergeants and 97 PCSOs. In Camden, the figures were 777 officers, 121 sergeants and 77 PCSOs. The impact on the individual Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) has been very serious indeed: full details are in my recent press releases for Barnet and Camden.
And as they were allegedly protecting police numbers during the Olympics, worse is yet to come.
The traditional SNTs of ward based officers will no longer be the case, with the "local policing model" requiring bigger teams covering wider areas with more responsibilities. The introduction of this system has been put back , and now looks likely to come in, in April next year.
Police Stations are under threat, too. The Mayor has been very underhand with this, in that the list he published was not complete: for example Hampstead Police Station is likely to go. When I questioned him on this, the Mayor referred to such stations as "Stalags" (that is Nazi prison camps) and refused to agree to a public consultation on the closure or alternatives. I had a joint letter with Cllr Abdul Hai of Camden Council published in both the Ham and High and Camden New Journal on the future of Hampstead Police Station.
The only police station commitment is to one station open 24/7 per Borough, and so we will see other stations going too, before long. The only alternative that has been tried so far, (not in Barnet and Camden) is a weekly enquiry point for a couple of hours at a supermarket, which did not find much favour with the public!
We will also see the mergers of Borough policing: for example, I have seen proposals which suggest that Barnet and Harrow police will be merged. I shall be opposing this!
Economy Committee
This City Hall committee, which I chair, is well into our inquiry into the problems of the high street. We have visited 6 high streets round London so far, to meet with traders, local councils, experts and shoppers, including visits to North Finchley and Camden Town in the GLA constituency. We have held a formal evidence session at City Hall where the public came to give us their views (including a number from Barne t!) and to hear from experts, too. It is clear so far that whilst every high street has different problems, themes are emerging, such as the problem of high parking costs, difficulties with landlords, unsympathetic local authorities, and planning law issues. Suggestions for solutions are also coming forward, and whilst we still have a way to go in taking evidence, I expect our report will be out in the New Year.
Transport Committee
I sit on the Transport Committee at City Hall. At the last meeting, we heard from the head of Transport for London (TfL), Peter Hendy, on TfL's performance during the Olympics, and then held the concluding evidence session on our inquiry into cycling in the capital. We will be publishing a report on this.
Consultations
I am now in a position to consult constituents more formally on matters within the Assembly/GLA's terms of reference, on local issues. The first I have just launched concerns Stirling Corner roundabout, and pedestrian safety - if you use the junction and want to feedback to me you can download the consultation by clicking here. If you have any ideas for issues you think I should consult on, please let me know.
Press releases and public letters
I have published a number of press releases and letters, links as follows:
Press Release: Flooding at Filton Blood Testing Centre proves my point about Colindale closure
Press Release: Cuts to Policing in Camden
Press Release: Barnet Police Numbers in Free Fall
Dismore launches Stirling Corner road safety consultation
Press Release: Future of Hampstead Police Station "not clear"
PRESS RELEASE: Firesale of AssetCo raises serious questions
Press Release: Boris Johnson's post Olympic threat to Peel Centre playing fields
180% Rise in long-term youth unemployment in Camden
775% Rise in long-term youth unemployment in Barnet
"If there was a gold medal for dropping the ball, Boris would be an Olympic Champion"
Joint Letter in Ham & High: Hampstead Police Station
Letter to Barnet Newspapers: Hendon Museum Sell Off
Broadcast media appearances include BBC and ITV London TV news and BBC London radio on the Economy Committee high street inquiry and the issues at LFEPA referred to above.
Mayor's Questions
You can view my questions to Mayor Johnson by clicking here.
Problem solving and casework
Adam Langleben who was working at City Hall for me on a temporary basis, managing incoming correspondence, casework and my diary has now been confirmed in his post as my permanent Research & Support Officer: adam.langleben@london.gov.uk
Please pass this email on
Please feel free to forward this email update on to any other local residents or neighbours who you think might be interested in it. If they would like to receive their own copy in the future, they should email me at info@andrewdismore.org.uk, with their address in Barnet or Camden.
If you use social media, please follow me on twitter for the latest updates. You can follow me at @Andrew_Dismore.
Best regards
Andrew Dismore
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Stop ‘One Barnet’ in light of West Coast main line fiasco
Stop ‘One Barnet’ in light of West Coast main line fiasco
Barnet Labour have released this.
I warned some time ago that G4S was a warning shot about what could go wrong with Mike Freer's One Barnet, and I said that we wouldn't have the armed forces on standby to provide planning services if OB failed. Well the fiasco with WCML is another reminder.
My colleague from Woodhouse ward, Cllr Geof Cooke makes similar points here for Better Barnet.
Barnet Labour have released this.
I warned some time ago that G4S was a warning shot about what could go wrong with Mike Freer's One Barnet, and I said that we wouldn't have the armed forces on standby to provide planning services if OB failed. Well the fiasco with WCML is another reminder.
My colleague from Woodhouse ward, Cllr Geof Cooke makes similar points here for Better Barnet.
Ed right about "One Nation Labour"
I have been away for the last few days, so I did not get to see Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester live, but I read the reports. I like the idea of appealing as a one nation party.
I have always thought that we should be an inclusive party, and welcome people from different backgrounds, from different demographics and different parts of the country. I can't stand the argument that anyone or anywhere should be written off. You might have thought that it would be pointless to work hard in the seat of the Prime Minister, but then why did we won Finchley, and have 9 councillors there now? I note that Labour have won a few councillors in Witney as well...
I have always thought that The Labour Party was at it's best when we were the biggest of tents. That means big debates no doubt, and dissappointment, but it means we reflect the country we seek to represent. Nothing makes me more sure of this than watching the US election, where one party is actively insulting those that don't agree with them.
Ed Miliband has given is a lot to think about, and I will be pleased to take this to the doorsteps of East Finchley!
I have always thought that we should be an inclusive party, and welcome people from different backgrounds, from different demographics and different parts of the country. I can't stand the argument that anyone or anywhere should be written off. You might have thought that it would be pointless to work hard in the seat of the Prime Minister, but then why did we won Finchley, and have 9 councillors there now? I note that Labour have won a few councillors in Witney as well...
I have always thought that The Labour Party was at it's best when we were the biggest of tents. That means big debates no doubt, and dissappointment, but it means we reflect the country we seek to represent. Nothing makes me more sure of this than watching the US election, where one party is actively insulting those that don't agree with them.
Ed Miliband has given is a lot to think about, and I will be pleased to take this to the doorsteps of East Finchley!
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