I campaigned in my recent election on the issue of school places, and you will know of my support for the Archer Academy in the secondary school places sphere.
There is also an issue of primary school places, and the Council have received a pot of money for primary expansions. Some of that money will go to Martin School to expand it into a three form entry. Martin School is rated outstanding by Ofsted, and we are keen that they maintain that well deserved status, and that there is a managed, sustainable and successful expansion.
Alison, Colin and I had a meeting at the school to discuss the expansion, and it was a very productive and helpful meeting. I am glad I have properly met Mr Pickering, the acting Headteacher. We discussed the plans, and the outstanding issues in preparation for a meeting Alison and I had with a Council officer.
We raised a number of issues, and attained some assurances on some, but not on others. It won't be the last such meeting so we will have more bites of the cherry.
I won't go into details of what we discussed, as not all details are finalised, and I don't wish to put out details or information that isn't true. Nor would I want to break confidences! I feel it important to let residents know that Alison, Colin and I are on the case, we are dealing with the issues that people raise, and are listening to all those interested.
If you do want to contact me on any details, please email cllr.a.mittra@barnet.gov.uk as I am keen to listen to residents.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Christmas festival
We had a really good first East Finchley Christmas festival on the High Road on Saturday. I hoped we might have success, and perhaps this could be an annual thing. There was a joke going round that the weather in December was better than it had been during the cancelled Cherry Tree Woods festival in March! I hope this added a boost to the European market, who were there as well.
I think this was a really good boost to the traders, who are suffering badly from the Council's parking policies. It is a real statement about how strong volunteering and community are in East Finchley as well that this was such a success. I want to belatedly thank all those involved, and thank them for their hard work.
I know Alison and Colin enjoyed it immensely as well. I can tell you that the next summer festival is shaping up nicely as well, so look out for updates on that!
I think this was a really good boost to the traders, who are suffering badly from the Council's parking policies. It is a real statement about how strong volunteering and community are in East Finchley as well that this was such a success. I want to belatedly thank all those involved, and thank them for their hard work.
I know Alison and Colin enjoyed it immensely as well. I can tell you that the next summer festival is shaping up nicely as well, so look out for updates on that!
Friday, 7 December 2012
Take a stand- join Labour
If you think last night was the end of it, you are badly wrong. Cllr Marshall thinks One Barnet cannot be delayed even a week, well I have some news for you!
There are different routes still available on the NSCSO, judicial review, call in etc.
But the NSCSO is only half the battle. We must stop the awful DRS contract, which will see core council services- the things you shouldn't get rid off en masse, like planning or environmental services. Losing these services would be a hammer blow to the Council's ability to function independently. For all the big talk, there are NO guarantees of success. The only certainty is uncertainty.
But you can help us to convince Barnet Council to change their minds. You can join the Labour Party.
We don't have the finite resources of the Tory Party, what we do have are hardworking dedicated members. We don't get fundraisers at the Carlton Club, but we do talk to the people we represent. If you've always been inclined to support us, this is the moment for you to take a stand against barnet Council and Join the Labour Party.
If you don't feel comfortable joining the Party, but you want to get involved, then contact us here. If all you can do is deliver leaflets, or want to do something fun like canvassing, we can use any help you can give!
There are different routes still available on the NSCSO, judicial review, call in etc.
But the NSCSO is only half the battle. We must stop the awful DRS contract, which will see core council services- the things you shouldn't get rid off en masse, like planning or environmental services. Losing these services would be a hammer blow to the Council's ability to function independently. For all the big talk, there are NO guarantees of success. The only certainty is uncertainty.
But you can help us to convince Barnet Council to change their minds. You can join the Labour Party.
We don't have the finite resources of the Tory Party, what we do have are hardworking dedicated members. We don't get fundraisers at the Carlton Club, but we do talk to the people we represent. If you've always been inclined to support us, this is the moment for you to take a stand against barnet Council and Join the Labour Party.
If you don't feel comfortable joining the Party, but you want to get involved, then contact us here. If all you can do is deliver leaflets, or want to do something fun like canvassing, we can use any help you can give!
Welcome to the London Borough of Capita
So it's agreed. Months, years even of campaigning and hard work have come down to now. I won't say all is lost, because we still have the even worse DRS contract, which must be stopped. I feel disappointed becuase nothing has monopolised more of my seven and a half months on Barnet Council more than this.
When I was first elected, I thought being a councillor would be an extension of much of what I already did organising and helping out in the community. I thought I would be more of a ward Councillor than one who did a lot of work in the Town Hall, then this landed on my desk. After Andreas' stunning victory in Brunswick Park, we got two extra Committee seats, and I got one on Budget and Performance, to go with subbing on Auditing. So I have been on the scrutiny frontline!
We will need to do a stocktake and see what scrutiny can really achieve in a Council where we aren't actually delivering the services ourself, and that we are in effect reviewing an oganization we will, in my view, have little control or influence over. Once we are run by Capita, I think it will be their way, and we will be a sideshow.
For all the promises, guarantees and assurances, I don't believe any of it. From what I hear about Capita, from what I know about the Council's own terrible record on contracting and procurement and what I read about what is going on in local government elsewhere, I fear for this Borough. I am not convinced there is anything Capita have to fear. They are staking just 12% of their management fee on meeting performance targets. Piddling amount. nothing to lose if they fail our borough. Any of the management fee they lose out on will be compensated for by the dirty great mounds of profit they will be making at my constituent's expense. Pass me the sickbag.
Last night was a night to remember, for all the wrong reasons. The public were treated with contempt when they asked questions, there was no real debat, just a set of pre-written questions, and pre-written answers. Formailities for form's sake. That wans't scrutiny, open minded decision making or thorough research. It was a blind leap into darkness.
But let's not be too disheartened, there is still so much more to fight for. The DRS as I mentioned, but I hope there might be a judicial review of the NSCSO as well. Let's get back on our saddles and fight the next battle.
When I was first elected, I thought being a councillor would be an extension of much of what I already did organising and helping out in the community. I thought I would be more of a ward Councillor than one who did a lot of work in the Town Hall, then this landed on my desk. After Andreas' stunning victory in Brunswick Park, we got two extra Committee seats, and I got one on Budget and Performance, to go with subbing on Auditing. So I have been on the scrutiny frontline!
We will need to do a stocktake and see what scrutiny can really achieve in a Council where we aren't actually delivering the services ourself, and that we are in effect reviewing an oganization we will, in my view, have little control or influence over. Once we are run by Capita, I think it will be their way, and we will be a sideshow.
For all the promises, guarantees and assurances, I don't believe any of it. From what I hear about Capita, from what I know about the Council's own terrible record on contracting and procurement and what I read about what is going on in local government elsewhere, I fear for this Borough. I am not convinced there is anything Capita have to fear. They are staking just 12% of their management fee on meeting performance targets. Piddling amount. nothing to lose if they fail our borough. Any of the management fee they lose out on will be compensated for by the dirty great mounds of profit they will be making at my constituent's expense. Pass me the sickbag.
Last night was a night to remember, for all the wrong reasons. The public were treated with contempt when they asked questions, there was no real debat, just a set of pre-written questions, and pre-written answers. Formailities for form's sake. That wans't scrutiny, open minded decision making or thorough research. It was a blind leap into darkness.
But let's not be too disheartened, there is still so much more to fight for. The DRS as I mentioned, but I hope there might be a judicial review of the NSCSO as well. Let's get back on our saddles and fight the next battle.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Make a stand against the NSCSO
Today's the day.
Cabinet will vote on whether to approve the NSCSO contract at 7pm at Hendon Town Hall.
I urge people to come to Hendon Town Hall this evening to show the Tories how much people don't want this. They need to know that they will lose the next election badly if they don't listen to ordinary residents. They always say that the campaign against One Barnet is led by the same left wing activists (As if that means they have no rights to be heard). I know this isn't true, When we talk to voters, even Tory ones, there is deep concern.
I understand there will be a petitioning of North London Business Park at 7.30-10.30 this morning as well.
Conservative Councillors need to understand that there is an alternative. They don't need to do this. I have never questioned the sincerity or decency of Conservative Councillors, but I sincerely believe they are thoroughly wrong. They must look seriously at service transformation, they must look seriously at a public sector comparitor and they must consult the public to ask them what they think.
No one doubts the challenges ahead, but the options before us are not the right way forward. We got an email from Andrew Dismore AM about how he is working on getting out of the contracting failures on London Underground. He says that once a contract is signed, there is no way back, even if it goes wrong. And the failure of the contract should be the foremost concern at the front of the Cabinet's mind. They tell us it is reckless to carry on the way we are, but it is even more reckless to go ahead with One Barnet, with so little scrutiny, so little consultation, and so little consideration of alternatives.
Mr Dismore also raised the question which I feel is most pertinent to us, which is what is being handed on. If there is a failure, there is no council to take things back. Once we go in, they take everything, and we will never have the capacity to bring things back wholesale if the contract fails, whatever these nonsensical guarantees, and non existent assurances.
But we all, as residents, have a duty to the borough as well. We need to stand up and be counted. I hope that if you agree with me, you will be sitting next to me in Committee rooms 1 and 2 tomorrow.
UPDATE: Apologies, I had heard the meeting was to be held at 6pm, rather than the normal time of 7pm. Needless to say, it is a genuine error on my part, and I ought to have checked the frontsheet when I read the papers. Many thanks to Daniel Hope of Barnet Bugle for letting me know my error.
I have cut the following paragraph, as it is innaccurate, however I stand by my criticism of the treatment of staff in general. The staff I met outside NLBP this morning as we gave them leaflets seemed to agree with me. But nontheless, apologies for the innaccuracy.
"That in itself is a cheap trick, holding the meeting an hour earlier, making it harder for campaigners and activists to come along, specifically their own staff at NLBP. I said at last weeks Budget and Performance meeting that they treated the staff abysmally, and this is just one example."
Cabinet will vote on whether to approve the NSCSO contract at 7pm at Hendon Town Hall.
I urge people to come to Hendon Town Hall this evening to show the Tories how much people don't want this. They need to know that they will lose the next election badly if they don't listen to ordinary residents. They always say that the campaign against One Barnet is led by the same left wing activists (As if that means they have no rights to be heard). I know this isn't true, When we talk to voters, even Tory ones, there is deep concern.
I understand there will be a petitioning of North London Business Park at 7.30-10.30 this morning as well.
Conservative Councillors need to understand that there is an alternative. They don't need to do this. I have never questioned the sincerity or decency of Conservative Councillors, but I sincerely believe they are thoroughly wrong. They must look seriously at service transformation, they must look seriously at a public sector comparitor and they must consult the public to ask them what they think.
No one doubts the challenges ahead, but the options before us are not the right way forward. We got an email from Andrew Dismore AM about how he is working on getting out of the contracting failures on London Underground. He says that once a contract is signed, there is no way back, even if it goes wrong. And the failure of the contract should be the foremost concern at the front of the Cabinet's mind. They tell us it is reckless to carry on the way we are, but it is even more reckless to go ahead with One Barnet, with so little scrutiny, so little consultation, and so little consideration of alternatives.
Mr Dismore also raised the question which I feel is most pertinent to us, which is what is being handed on. If there is a failure, there is no council to take things back. Once we go in, they take everything, and we will never have the capacity to bring things back wholesale if the contract fails, whatever these nonsensical guarantees, and non existent assurances.
But we all, as residents, have a duty to the borough as well. We need to stand up and be counted. I hope that if you agree with me, you will be sitting next to me in Committee rooms 1 and 2 tomorrow.
UPDATE: Apologies, I had heard the meeting was to be held at 6pm, rather than the normal time of 7pm. Needless to say, it is a genuine error on my part, and I ought to have checked the frontsheet when I read the papers. Many thanks to Daniel Hope of Barnet Bugle for letting me know my error.
I have cut the following paragraph, as it is innaccurate, however I stand by my criticism of the treatment of staff in general. The staff I met outside NLBP this morning as we gave them leaflets seemed to agree with me. But nontheless, apologies for the innaccuracy.
"That in itself is a cheap trick, holding the meeting an hour earlier, making it harder for campaigners and activists to come along, specifically their own staff at NLBP. I said at last weeks Budget and Performance meeting that they treated the staff abysmally, and this is just one example."
East Finchley War memorial
There has been some concern relating to a proposed development at number 78-80 Brackenbury Road. The former British legion building is to be converted into two houses, but there is a memorial to 22 local residents who died in the first world war. The Planning officers had already attached strong conditions to the application that the plaque would have to be re-located (at developer's expense) and preserved, however, I felt that more had to be done to keep the plaque in a very local area.
As I explained to the committee, Church Lane is one of the oldest inhabited parts of East Finchley, and there are a number of long settled families still living in the area. In fact, I know some descendents of people listed on the plaque still living in East Finchley. As such, It is extremely important that that specific part of East Finchley retained the plaque. The Borough Archivists have been negotiating, and I understand that Trinity Church on Church lane are interested in having the plaque. This would present an ideal solution in my view.
At the committee, we attached a condition that the plaque would be relocated as close as possible to the current site, and an informative that the plaque should be retained in the East Finchley Ward. We were saisfied with this, though initially I had pressed for a condition that it be retained in the ward, officers advising that it is up to the Borough Archivist, hence the informative. I had also reieved legal advice earlier stating that to be the case.
So the plaque is saved, and will be relocated nearby, within East Finchley. I have recieved a number of complaints on the issue and hope this clarifies the position, and is acceptable.
As I explained to the committee, Church Lane is one of the oldest inhabited parts of East Finchley, and there are a number of long settled families still living in the area. In fact, I know some descendents of people listed on the plaque still living in East Finchley. As such, It is extremely important that that specific part of East Finchley retained the plaque. The Borough Archivists have been negotiating, and I understand that Trinity Church on Church lane are interested in having the plaque. This would present an ideal solution in my view.
At the committee, we attached a condition that the plaque would be relocated as close as possible to the current site, and an informative that the plaque should be retained in the East Finchley Ward. We were saisfied with this, though initially I had pressed for a condition that it be retained in the ward, officers advising that it is up to the Borough Archivist, hence the informative. I had also reieved legal advice earlier stating that to be the case.
So the plaque is saved, and will be relocated nearby, within East Finchley. I have recieved a number of complaints on the issue and hope this clarifies the position, and is acceptable.
Excellent LINk meeting, and my near mental breakdown
Tuesday evening I went to the Local Involvement Network (LINk) AGM at the Greek Cypriot centre in Britannia Road in North Finchley.
There were some fascinating presentations from health professionals. As any of my followers of my twitter account will know, I had a near meltdown as the dietitian spoke, she basically slated my diet. Apparently, waffles and creme brulee are bad for you. Adding banana to a nutella crepe does not "cancel out the calories" as I earnestly believed. And a juicy fruits chewing gum is not one of your five a day. Neither are five banana crepes. I now smpathise with the US Republicans and their science denial on climate change. Why believe science if it tells you things you don't like? The dietitian was young, she couldn't possibly know how healthy a walnut whip really is...
Also good advice prom a podiatrist. Apparently, chiropodists changed their names to podiatrists 20 years ago, without telling anyone, hence the confusion. As someone who gets really sore feet, i found the session useful. And just like the dietitian I will ignore the advice because it seems like a lot of hard work.
Then an optician spoke. I had some questions for her, but was unable to ask due to time pressures. I am thinking of getting laser eye surgery, as I hate my glasses, and wanted o know how you can take care of your eyesight better.
An interesting theme that came out from the optician, and the speaker from MIND and some of the others is how ethnic minorities are far more susceptible to certain health problems. interesting, as there were so few ethnic minorities in the room.
In fact, that was a general issue afterwards. one speaker was concerned that not enough was being done by LINk to go out to estates like Graeme Park to give people free health advice like this, and that this meeting was very middle class. In fact, during a show of hands, I turned out to be the only person there who lived in a housing estate. I don't count though, apparently, as I am a Councillor. thought that was very unfair, I thought people wanted more young people, ethnic minorities and poor people from estates in politics, and when you get one, we don't count. Anyways, it was pointed out to the gentleman that they had done exactly as he had suggested- in Graeme Park!
But a really good session, I'm glad Barry Rawlings and I attended.
There were some fascinating presentations from health professionals. As any of my followers of my twitter account will know, I had a near meltdown as the dietitian spoke, she basically slated my diet. Apparently, waffles and creme brulee are bad for you. Adding banana to a nutella crepe does not "cancel out the calories" as I earnestly believed. And a juicy fruits chewing gum is not one of your five a day. Neither are five banana crepes. I now smpathise with the US Republicans and their science denial on climate change. Why believe science if it tells you things you don't like? The dietitian was young, she couldn't possibly know how healthy a walnut whip really is...
Also good advice prom a podiatrist. Apparently, chiropodists changed their names to podiatrists 20 years ago, without telling anyone, hence the confusion. As someone who gets really sore feet, i found the session useful. And just like the dietitian I will ignore the advice because it seems like a lot of hard work.
Then an optician spoke. I had some questions for her, but was unable to ask due to time pressures. I am thinking of getting laser eye surgery, as I hate my glasses, and wanted o know how you can take care of your eyesight better.
An interesting theme that came out from the optician, and the speaker from MIND and some of the others is how ethnic minorities are far more susceptible to certain health problems. interesting, as there were so few ethnic minorities in the room.
In fact, that was a general issue afterwards. one speaker was concerned that not enough was being done by LINk to go out to estates like Graeme Park to give people free health advice like this, and that this meeting was very middle class. In fact, during a show of hands, I turned out to be the only person there who lived in a housing estate. I don't count though, apparently, as I am a Councillor. thought that was very unfair, I thought people wanted more young people, ethnic minorities and poor people from estates in politics, and when you get one, we don't count. Anyways, it was pointed out to the gentleman that they had done exactly as he had suggested- in Graeme Park!
But a really good session, I'm glad Barry Rawlings and I attended.
Monday, 3 December 2012
East Finchley Christmas festival
This Saturday will see the very first East Finchley Christmas festival. Running concurrently with the French Market, we are hoping to give East Finchleyans some festive cheer, especially as we were unable to hold the Cherry Tree Woods festival in June.
The High Road will be shut off in sections, at the junctions with some of the County Roads. Please come and have a look. If it is successful we may be encouraged to see this run in perpetuity. Needless to say, the Next summer festival is being organised as we speak.
I hope this can provide a boost to the economy here, and a boost to the shops in the area, which are still suffering badly from the parking changes.
The High Road will be shut off in sections, at the junctions with some of the County Roads. Please come and have a look. If it is successful we may be encouraged to see this run in perpetuity. Needless to say, the Next summer festival is being organised as we speak.
I hope this can provide a boost to the economy here, and a boost to the shops in the area, which are still suffering badly from the parking changes.
Some alternative ideas to One Barnet
The Barnet Labour Party have suggested some of the different ways we would approach administration in the Council. These are important and deliverable changes to the way the Tories are doing this now. I think consulting the public is hugely important. One of the most distressing aspects of One Barnet has been that it has been slipped under the carpet, with no overall consultations.
In addition, Cllr Geof Cooke, my colleague in Woodhouse ward, has made some important obervations about the NSCSO contract. This is a point all four of us repeatedly questioned at Budget and Performance last week, and in private too. I am simply not confident about the credibility of the guarantees.
In addition, Cllr Geof Cooke, my colleague in Woodhouse ward, has made some important obervations about the NSCSO contract. This is a point all four of us repeatedly questioned at Budget and Performance last week, and in private too. I am simply not confident about the credibility of the guarantees.
See the One Barnet contract
...or at least the volumes we saw last thursday. We read a volume each in the three hours we had with them.
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