On my way home today I saw the front page of the odious Evening Standard. Unusually, it saved the Boris Johnson love-in for the middle pages. On the front were the theatre actors who had won awards last night. I gather a fair few have been lambasting the Government for the Arts Council funding cuts.
I have a lot of sympathy. Whilst people like me struggle to find money for the basic casework needs of our constituents, you might think I would take excpetion to spending on "luxury" goods like theatre and arts. But really, if things are to get better for my constituents in East Finchley, Arts funding is important.
As Danny Boyle said, we don't make cars anymore (we do need an industrial policy, but that's for another blog entry) and the future growth and prosperity for the country will have to be on Britain as a great place to live. An important part of why that's true is our phenomenal cultural heritage. Our history and culture is world renown, and it does draw people here to invest, to set up companies and employ people here. The future jobs of East Finchleyans will depend to some extent on London keeping and enhancing that artistic and cultural "vibe" we have and makes us so attractive abroad.
As we have seen with the Phoenix cinema, East Finchley Open and the Cherry Tree Woods festival, Arts and Culture are very much part of the fabric of the community, and I know that all over the ward we value it. We don't do much culture here in Barnet, but one place we do is East Finchley.
Going back to the original question, why do I think Arts funding is still important when there are other, more basic and important needs; I say there are a number of things. Firstly, the Arts funding is £450 million (Being cut to £350 million). A drop in the ocean of the £700 Billion national budget. Just like international development aid, cutting it does nothing to reduce the deficit, and probably does more harm in the process.
Secondly, that money is an investment. Many American film companies were re-locating bacuse of the generousity and success of our system. Cutting the funding will jeopardise our worl leading position, and compromise future jobs. There are many East Finchleyans who work in the Arts, and cuts there are making the ward directly worse off.
Thirdly, where there are those in need of financial assistance for thier problems, this funding is tiny, and simply will not cover even the most desperate of needs. We would lose all that we gain for money that won't fix the full problem.
Fourthly, Britain is doing well abroad. Our TV is internationally recognized for it's quality. Our Actors are all over films and TV around the world. They are helping to change the image of the country, and these cuts might diminish the "soft power" of Britain's international media. Soft power is increasingly recognised as important in diplomacy, and there is really nothing for good press sometimes!
So in short, Arts funding is very important to the economy, our culture, and our image abroad. All these things help East Finchley. We should be very proud of our Culture sector, and I hope the Government are doing everything they can to mitigate against their cuts.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Policing in Barnet
Andrew Dismore carries the message from the Barnet Metropolitan Police Service on the future of policing in the borough. it isn't a pretty sight. Mayor Johnson sits in City Hall, promises more police but really cuts them. He is a real let down for Londoners, and it is astonishing that the media are giving him a free pass for having failed, within months, on another election pledge. I am in particular concerned by the reduction in front counter services. At a time when residents are very worried by burglaries, and there has been a spike in the number of them recently, despite a major operation. I see nothing about how to tackle that.
Re: Changing the way front counter service is delivered in Barnet Borough
In September 2011, the Commissioner set out the vision for the MPS – the ‘One Met Model’ – under the banner of Total Policing. It has three targets: cut crime, cut costs and change the culture. We will focus on:
Better ways of working
Better use of technology
Better use of communication and visibility.
MetChange is the programme that will deliver higher quality policing services in a more effective and cost-efficient way. The MPS must change the way it delivers its services to modernise, become more responsive and put the public at the heart of what it does. The ‘One Met Model’ is being developed with neighbourhood policing at the foundation and response by dynamic and flexible pan-London investigative and specialist units. The support functions will be rationalised and more resources will be focused at the front line.
The MPS will cut crime and improve services and performance by:
-More officers from non-operational roles to the front line
-Streamlining operational support services
-Making the MPS and its services more accessible to the public.
-Our objective is to deliver a 20% reduction in crime, a 20% reduction in costs and a 20% improvement in public confidence.
-One part of the MetChange programme is a review of how the MPS delivers its front
counter service.
There are a variety of reasons that a member of the public visits a front counter. 18% of all contacts relate to court imposed bail conditions (normally a requirement to present yourself at a police station) or the requirement to present driving documents as a result of a traffic violation or police check. 18% of contacts are as a result of visitors meeting officers or custody suite enquiries in the larger police stations. The remaining 64% of contacts, therefore, relate to visits that could potentially be made to any police officer in any location; the principal activities are: finding out general information or collectingforms 17%, lost or found property 14%, reporting a crime 12%, discussing general police matters 11% and collision report/civil dispute/missing persons/complaints 8%.
Usage of front counters is declining, with 12.3% of all crime in 2011 being reported
in front counters, compared with 13.7% in 2008. With the developments in face-to-
face service provision and improvements in technology, demand at front counters will
continue to fall. At present Barnet Borough has 4 police stations that provide a front counter service. Colindale is open 24 hours a day. Barnet, Golders Green and Whetstone are open 15
hours a day. In order to maintain this service I have to remove uniform police officers
from active patrol duties. Recent survey data shows that no station takes more than 3
crime reports in any 8 hour period and only Colindale and Barnet exceed a proposed
minimum standard of footfall.
In order for the MPS to put 2,000 more officers back into neighbourhood policing it has identified that it needs to reduce up to 65 front counters. To maintain and improve access by the public it will replace them with over 200 Contact Points in popular locations such as community centres, supermarkets and shared local authority buildings. The services at these contact points will be delivered by local Safer Neighbourhood Officers at a time when they can be most efficient.
To support the MPS position the proposal in Barnet is:
-To close the front office at Whetstone Police Station and Golders Green Police Station.
-To reduce the service at Barnet form 15 hours a day 7 days a week to 8 hours 5 days a week.
-To keep Colindale open 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
-To increase the number of advertised Neighbourhood Police contact points across the borough in line with a shared services policy, i.e. police surgeries in hospitals,
local authority buildings, supermarkets etc.
-There is no requirement for a statutory consultation process with the community at large but it is important that I canvass the issues and concerns of our key stakeholders.
One anticipated concern is the closure of the Golders Green front counter service and its impact on the Jewish communities. To alleviate these concerns an alternative front counter service will be created at the Golders Green safer neighbourhood patrol base on a Friday and Saturday.
As is often the case for such matters the time scale for stakeholder engagement is short. It would be preferable to have a face to face meeting to discuss the proposal in more depth and I am available to do just that. However, given your undoubtedly busy schedule I thought it would be best to provide what I can via letter.
If you require any clarification on the above or the background statistics to support the
MPS case please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Monday, 26 November 2012
BAWA
Last Friday I visited the Barnet Asian Women's Association, BAWA at thier base in Friary House, Friern Barnet. Theyw ere having a late Diwali celebration, and as always with BAWA, they did it in some style. Good food, good company and a warm celebration is the standard for them, and this time they topped my previous visits.
Unfortunately the issue with the gate is still occuring, and I am continuing to press the Council. The lack of access is leaving vulnerable elderly people at home, alone and depressed. They need dial-a-ride to drop them off to the front door.
I stayed at the end to have a chat with some of the members. It's really very sad in a way to talk to these remarkable women and hear the difficulties many are going through. Many do not speak English well, and some are widowed, so self-reliant for the first time in thier lives. I picked up some casework, but more importantly got a little taster of the issues a very under-represented minority are suffering from.
But I am always impressed by what happy people they are despite their problems, and how much they contribute. I hope we can get a resolution to the gate and make this a real success.
Unfortunately the issue with the gate is still occuring, and I am continuing to press the Council. The lack of access is leaving vulnerable elderly people at home, alone and depressed. They need dial-a-ride to drop them off to the front door.
I stayed at the end to have a chat with some of the members. It's really very sad in a way to talk to these remarkable women and hear the difficulties many are going through. Many do not speak English well, and some are widowed, so self-reliant for the first time in thier lives. I picked up some casework, but more importantly got a little taster of the issues a very under-represented minority are suffering from.
But I am always impressed by what happy people they are despite their problems, and how much they contribute. I hope we can get a resolution to the gate and make this a real success.
Friday, 23 November 2012
Read for yourself the impending One Barnet disaster
The papers have been published for the Budget and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting next thursday, which I encourage all Barnet residents to attend.
I have not yet had a chance to go through them in detail, but my first impressions are that this will be a horrific disaster. And the New Support and Customer Services Organisation contract, despite being bigger at £700 million, is the less contrvoversial one.
The Labour group have had our briefing, which I will not go into detail, as they were behind closed doors, and we had an opportunity to put some questions about this contract. Whilst some fears were allayed, and some benefits were pointed out, I remain thoroughly unconvinced.
You will hear more of my arguments on Thursday, though they will be recognizeable as the points I have been making for months. I feel this is a bad deal, and it is us who are taking the risks, not Capita. I also feel there has been no consultation, no proper scrutiny, no public involvement, and no mandate. God help us all if this gets through.
I have not yet had a chance to go through them in detail, but my first impressions are that this will be a horrific disaster. And the New Support and Customer Services Organisation contract, despite being bigger at £700 million, is the less contrvoversial one.
The Labour group have had our briefing, which I will not go into detail, as they were behind closed doors, and we had an opportunity to put some questions about this contract. Whilst some fears were allayed, and some benefits were pointed out, I remain thoroughly unconvinced.
You will hear more of my arguments on Thursday, though they will be recognizeable as the points I have been making for months. I feel this is a bad deal, and it is us who are taking the risks, not Capita. I also feel there has been no consultation, no proper scrutiny, no public involvement, and no mandate. God help us all if this gets through.
The amazing work of Elysian House
As a member of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, I visited Elysian House in Colindale, not far from the station. I visited with the chair of the committee, Cllr Alison Cornelius, a fellow Labour member of the committee, Cllr Julie Johnson and her husband, Cllr Geoff Johnson, who is a ward Councillor in Colindale.
Its common to be either impressed or unimpressed on a visit, but rare to be moved. Today, I was thoroughly moved by visiting this house.
Elysian House is a recovery centre for people with mental health issues. It is usually a halfway point between hospital and home, or a refuge for people when times get too tough for them. Designed like a hotel, but with a more homely feel, it is a place for patients to recover and re-learn their old lives, and get them ready and prepared to go back home. It has quiet areas, TV areas, a big kitchen, activities and large rooms, which seem to be a real effort to meet the various needs of patients, such as double beds.
They have a hugely caring and loving staff, who are passionate and committed individuals. Extremely well trained, and offering international leadership in outpatient services for those who have had breakdowns. They do everything they can for their patients, and show what is best practice is. I hope this becomes the national model.
We spoke to a service user, who happened to be a constituent of mine in East Finchley, and it is very clear that Elysian house is making a huge difference for its users. I was very moved talking to them, and I can see how important this service is to a successful recovery. They have excellent statistics, and re-admission rates are low. It's amazing, that just like the primary care strategy, there are things you can do that both cut costs and are of huge benefit to patients.
I understand there is a similar facility on Fortis Green, and I would like to arrange a visit there as well, to see how the smaller facility there operates. I am hugely impressed with the service, and I wish them great success in rolling out their delivery model accrossthe country the world.
Its common to be either impressed or unimpressed on a visit, but rare to be moved. Today, I was thoroughly moved by visiting this house.
Elysian House is a recovery centre for people with mental health issues. It is usually a halfway point between hospital and home, or a refuge for people when times get too tough for them. Designed like a hotel, but with a more homely feel, it is a place for patients to recover and re-learn their old lives, and get them ready and prepared to go back home. It has quiet areas, TV areas, a big kitchen, activities and large rooms, which seem to be a real effort to meet the various needs of patients, such as double beds.
They have a hugely caring and loving staff, who are passionate and committed individuals. Extremely well trained, and offering international leadership in outpatient services for those who have had breakdowns. They do everything they can for their patients, and show what is best practice is. I hope this becomes the national model.
We spoke to a service user, who happened to be a constituent of mine in East Finchley, and it is very clear that Elysian house is making a huge difference for its users. I was very moved talking to them, and I can see how important this service is to a successful recovery. They have excellent statistics, and re-admission rates are low. It's amazing, that just like the primary care strategy, there are things you can do that both cut costs and are of huge benefit to patients.
I understand there is a similar facility on Fortis Green, and I would like to arrange a visit there as well, to see how the smaller facility there operates. I am hugely impressed with the service, and I wish them great success in rolling out their delivery model accross
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Have Your Say
Here are the latest consultations Barnet Council are running. If they are important to you, please contribute to them.
There are important ones on the Inclusion Strategy Principles, and the Children's service budget.
There are important ones on the Inclusion Strategy Principles, and the Children's service budget.
Keep putting pressure on Freer, Offord and Villiers
I understand Barnet's three Tory MP's email in boxes sould have a few comments from members of the public angry about the One Barnet Programme. I am glad that people are taking my advice and asking their MPs why Councillors of their own party are leading them down the garden path.
We knowMr Dr Offord, the former deputy leader of the Council is having a few tough words from his own side, though given how rude he is to them perhaps he will become irrelevant. Mr Freer is the architect, and one of his former colleagues, Cllr John Hart of Mill Hill, thinks he is still pulling the strings, according to Roger Tichborne's blog. Given the furore over parking already in the Finchley and Golders Green constituency, One might have thought Mr Freer would like to stop his colleagues from scuppering his re-election chances.
The real question though, is Theresa Villiers. Ms Villiers has not expressed a public position on One Barnet as far as I am aware. Given the extremely large swings we saw in May in Chipping Barnet, she would do well to engage with the issue. Cllr Longstaff, Cllr Rams, Cllr Tambourides, Cllr Rajput and Cllr Cornelius are Chipping Barnet Councillors. She must have some clout with half the cabinet surely?
I hope people will put pressure on the Tory Councillors and MPs.
We know
The real question though, is Theresa Villiers. Ms Villiers has not expressed a public position on One Barnet as far as I am aware. Given the extremely large swings we saw in May in Chipping Barnet, she would do well to engage with the issue. Cllr Longstaff, Cllr Rams, Cllr Tambourides, Cllr Rajput and Cllr Cornelius are Chipping Barnet Councillors. She must have some clout with half the cabinet surely?
I hope people will put pressure on the Tory Councillors and MPs.
More good work from Andrew Dismore AM
I am glad to see Barnet and Camden's Labour GLA member Andrew Dismore is still hard at work. He and Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband sent Diwali greetings to the Hindu and Sikh community, which is warmly appreciated.
He also asked residents to identify dangerous roads and junctions in Barnet for road safety week. This is a vital issue of concern to many residents, after the success of the Walksafe N2 campaign, I hope there will be a sea-change in Barnet Council's aattitude to pedestrian safety. I campaigned with Cllr Anita Campbell and Andrew earlier in the year on the Stirling Corner issue, and again it seems that the change in the Cabinet means a little more sense is seen on road safety.
He is also camapigning against the closure of Whetstone and Golders Green police stations. Given that crime is a serious issue for a lot of people in the borough, it seems a little odd that the party which calls itself the party of law and order would propose this. It seems that the only 24/7 police station in Barnet will be Colindale. I don't yet know where any replacement desks will be, but as with the reduction of hours at the Barnet station to working day, working week hours, I can't be sure that'll be enough.
Andrew has also published his November report from City Hall.
He also asked residents to identify dangerous roads and junctions in Barnet for road safety week. This is a vital issue of concern to many residents, after the success of the Walksafe N2 campaign, I hope there will be a sea-change in Barnet Council's aattitude to pedestrian safety. I campaigned with Cllr Anita Campbell and Andrew earlier in the year on the Stirling Corner issue, and again it seems that the change in the Cabinet means a little more sense is seen on road safety.
He is also camapigning against the closure of Whetstone and Golders Green police stations. Given that crime is a serious issue for a lot of people in the borough, it seems a little odd that the party which calls itself the party of law and order would propose this. It seems that the only 24/7 police station in Barnet will be Colindale. I don't yet know where any replacement desks will be, but as with the reduction of hours at the Barnet station to working day, working week hours, I can't be sure that'll be enough.
Andrew has also published his November report from City Hall.
I'm proud to be a Governor at Friern Barnet School
Before I was elected to be a Councillor, my main contribution to the community was as an LEA Governor at Friern Barnet School. I love the school, and I think we achieved a huge amount in the last few years. The Headteacher, the Senior Leadership Team, the Chair of Governors, the staff and the pupils make this a great local school. The Arts focus is very much welcomed even by a relative philistine such as I, and winning the prestigious Jack Petchey award for the glee club last year was a major achievement.
Today there was a Governor's day, where we Governors spent the day at the school, talking to staff and students. I was, as usual, hugely impressed with both. I spoke to a range of students, and I was pleased to hear how much they like being at the school and how good they think the school is. They were a very articulate group of students, and I hope they will all go far in life.
As the maths faculty link governor, I was really impressed with the department, and the level of achievement in the last year has been phenomenal. I observed a lesson and couldn't believe the stark differences between teaching now and when I was at school 10 years ago. Vast improvements to the quality of teaching, and the engagement of pupils in the lesson.
We sat in with the student parliament, and helped them come up with some ideas for anti-bullying week. Again, they are an innovative bunch!
As a thank you, a cross section of year groups did various performances, all of which were absolutely excellent, particularly the dancers.
I think any visitor to the school would see why the school is now rated outstanding by OFSTED, and how and why the school achieve so much in attainment for the students. I can only wish them further success in the future, and I hope to stay as a Governor there for some time to come.
Today there was a Governor's day, where we Governors spent the day at the school, talking to staff and students. I was, as usual, hugely impressed with both. I spoke to a range of students, and I was pleased to hear how much they like being at the school and how good they think the school is. They were a very articulate group of students, and I hope they will all go far in life.
As the maths faculty link governor, I was really impressed with the department, and the level of achievement in the last year has been phenomenal. I observed a lesson and couldn't believe the stark differences between teaching now and when I was at school 10 years ago. Vast improvements to the quality of teaching, and the engagement of pupils in the lesson.
We sat in with the student parliament, and helped them come up with some ideas for anti-bullying week. Again, they are an innovative bunch!
As a thank you, a cross section of year groups did various performances, all of which were absolutely excellent, particularly the dancers.
I think any visitor to the school would see why the school is now rated outstanding by OFSTED, and how and why the school achieve so much in attainment for the students. I can only wish them further success in the future, and I hope to stay as a Governor there for some time to come.
The Billion Pound Gamble in Parliament
Monday night saw the screening of the film Billion Pound Gamble in Committee room 12 of the Houses of Parliament. We had excellent overviews from Bill Esterson MP, who's own Sefton Council has brought services back in house after 5 years. He also spoke with great knowledge about the national picture of councils rejecting their failed outsourcing contracts, such as Southwest One, Liverpool Council and others. There was an introduction from David Anderson MP, who also talked about the national picture, and how it was affecting vulnerable people. Hilary Benn MP also came down briefly at the start to show his support as well.
They showed first the brilliant cartoon that explains the One Barnet idea in a simple and easy to follow way, and must be watched. This recieved one of the biggest applauses of the night.
I have seen the film before, and if you haven't then buy it! I'm not going to describe it, other than to say it is very much worth seeing.
in the Q & A afterwards there was an excellen discussion, very enlightening and elightened. There were a lot of people who were not usual activists, and a lot of young people as well. Some were not inhenerntly against outsourcing, but agreed that the biggest problem was the failure to consult, and the failure to do a proper in house comparison bid.
I think this was a worthwhile session and I am glad members of Parliament are sitting up and taking notice.
They showed first the brilliant cartoon that explains the One Barnet idea in a simple and easy to follow way, and must be watched. This recieved one of the biggest applauses of the night.
I have seen the film before, and if you haven't then buy it! I'm not going to describe it, other than to say it is very much worth seeing.
in the Q & A afterwards there was an excellen discussion, very enlightening and elightened. There were a lot of people who were not usual activists, and a lot of young people as well. Some were not inhenerntly against outsourcing, but agreed that the biggest problem was the failure to consult, and the failure to do a proper in house comparison bid.
I think this was a worthwhile session and I am glad members of Parliament are sitting up and taking notice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)