MP pays tribute to volunteers at drug and alcohol treatment charity’s North London branch.

Westminster Drug Project (WDP) provides the Catalyst and Re-Start drug and alcohol services in the Borough of Barnet. It celebrated National Volunteers’ Week at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley.

Finchley & Golders Green MP Mike Freer paid tribute to the passion and commitment of the volunteers who help people to recover from drug and alcohol dependency at the charity Westminster Drug Project.

He said, “Volunteers do a huge amount of good. Often they can win the confidence of people who need help, and inspire them to change, where others fail.

“Volunteering also breaks down prejudice by bringing people in and giving them insight to people’s lives and how they can be helped, whether the issue is addiction, or HIV, or disability.

“It’s a two way street. I’ve been a volunteer and you get a lot back from it. It can also be very important experience on your CV.”

The MP heard moving accounts from former service users who are now volunteers themselves. Jon (26) explained how he had started using drugs as a way of escape: “Eventually I ended up a dependant opiate user and was committing crimes to support my use. My life spiralled out of control and for a 16 month period I was basically homeless and in and out of prison.

“The reason I am mentioning this is because it was a turning point in my life: after a sustained period of abstinence from drug use and crime, I was offered the opportunity to attend a volunteers’ training course at Westminster Drug Project.

“I decided to go because throughout my using days I had some contact with drug services and was very surprised at how helpful, and friendly the staff were.” Jon described how he developed experience and received further training. “By early 2010 I feel I started to prove myself in my role: I was given more responsibility and I was given the chance to help develop our service. I feel that I was always listened to and supported by management and staff.”

Eventually Jon was encouraged to apply for jobs, and decided he wanted to work for WDP. Today he is a successful drug and alcohol practitioner.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, told the volunteers who had come from across WDP’s services in London and the South East of England, “Volunteers’ Week celebrates the fantastic contribution that volunteers make. Today we say thank you for all the amazing work you do. By giving your time, your skills and your leadership to WDP, you are significantly increasing the help and support we can give to our service users.

“Our mission is to support people to recover from drug and alcohol dependency and help people lead full and active lives in their families and communities. Volunteering is a key part of that cycle, of connecting people with the help they need so that they in turn become empowered and able to give back.”

Volunteers make up one in four of the workforce at WDP – about 100 volunteers and 300 staff. Over half the volunteers have recovered from drug and alcohol dependency themselves and are able to provide powerful role models to current service users.

If you are interested in volunteering with WDP, please visit the website www.wdp-drugs.org.uk and click on volunteering for more information and application form, or visit Re-start. If you want to talk to someone about a drug or alcohol problem, whether for yourself or someone you know, please contact Re-start at:

6-8 Alexandra Grove, North Finchley, N12 8NU – Telephone 020 8492 2525

 

The Big Society is Alive in Barnet – at the launch in the arts depot.

Paul Binks

By Paul Binks

The Launch of Barnet’s Big Society Innovation Bank .

‘Barnet will be one of the fastest growing areas in London over the coming years. With reductions in public spending to tackle the deficit mean that times will be tough for the next few years, for both those who depend on good public services and those who provide them.’ Councillor Robert Rams.

The Barnet Big Society Innovation Bank has been launched so that we in Barnet get the biggest bang for our buck. This works by ensuring that the public are primarily involved in the decision-making process of where our money is spent.

From the revenue budget allocated to the Borough of Barnet, the council has set aside £600K to be invested in community-minded projects proposed and delivered by the local populace over the next 3 years.

As the Government’s Big Society agenda gains momentum, local citizens and communities will have more opportunities to take the reins in addressing local issues. Cynics would say that this is just another example of how the Government are transferring costs to the voluntary sector and alleviating themselves of responsibility should anything go wrong. The Government argue that at a time of financial constraint in the public sector, ‘business as usual’ is not an option. Nationwide polls show that the people largely accept this sentiment and which is why we are seeing a great shift in the landscape of public services.

Nick Hurd MP

The Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner patroned the scheme with an appearance and furthered the Big Society notion stating “too much power has been taken away from local Government and centralised. The transference of power back to the community is a big weapon every MP knows about.” He continued to eulogise the principles of the Big Society before changing focus to the people within the room, “Seize the opportunity in the challenge to test the notion that local communities know best.” This statement seemed to underpin the scheme’s true value to us in Barnet. For time immemorial many have exalted their wisdom in criticising the ‘powers that be’ in the administration of taxes with countless schemes suggested as superior models to those implemented. Not because of intellectual superiority but of local knowledge.

Well this is our opportunity to prove this, one never given to our forefathers and like our recent vote on the Alternative Vote, one which may never see again for generations if at all.

Councillor Andrew Harper

The Interim Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew Harper stated that the introduction of the bank was part of the ongoing realignment in the relationships between the Council and the people and Not-for-profit organisations and charities. He stated ‘the council is not the single depository of wisdom in the borough’ which requires no convincing on my part. He continued by saying ‘you are better at judging the effectiveness of grants and so it is your ideas not ours which will drive the scheme, ideas which will be properly supported by the Council and turned into practical solutions.’ In a similar vein to Nick Herd he challenged the audience by saying “go on, surprise me”.

Ultimately the new scheme is to galvanise creativity from all sectors of the borough so that local people can innovate and find new solutions for old problems. Ideas which have previously been overlooked are very much on the table should we have the aptitude and the conviction to push them forward.

To summarise how the scheme will work a key initiative outlined in the Big Society Innovation Bank Prospectus is SUSTAINABILITY. ‘We are using grants to kick-start community-led activities that can sustain themselves through new income streams such as charges to clients, trading income and corporate giving, as well as public sector and charitable income.’

The first theme is for new projects that strengthen the bonds within the community or reduce the need for public sector support or intervention.

The second theme is to enable groups or individuals to seize control of existing projects that currently rely on public sector support and run them in such a way they will no longer rely on that support.

The funds are allocated in the form of grants which are available to any individual or group. Unconstituted groups are eligible for grants from £500-£5K and constituted groups are eligible for grants ranging from £500-£50K. A project or scheme must be submitted to the council to be assessed and if successful the funds will appear in a one-off payment devoid of any conditions or external arrangements with the council. If a scheme fails in the application process it can be resubmitted to a later round of assessment.

“Have you ever got together with someone to make Barnet a better place?” Councillor Andrew Harper. If you have or haven’t but would like to, the opportunity is there for anyone to put forward the suggestions they believe will make this a stronger and more cohesive community.

Question from audience

For more information – http://www.barnet.gov.uk/highlights/highlights-big-society-innovation.htm

New Council Cabinet in Barnet

This may interest people as it does show who to write to. All “puff” removed.

New Barnet Council Leader welcomes two new faces to his cabinet

The Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, has announced his new Cabinet.

The nine-strong team will work alongside the Leader to set and implement policy over the coming months.

Councillor Cornelius will take on responsibility for Strategy, Communications, Corporate Governance and the Mayoralty alongside his position as Leader.

Councillor Andrew Harper currently continues as Deputy Leader as well as overseeing the portfolio for Education, Children and Families.

The two new faces to Cabinet are Councillor David Longstaff, who will take on Safety and Resident Engagement, and Councillor Tom Davey will take over Housing.

Councillor Joanna Tambourides will move to a new portfolio of Planning.

Those continuing with their current portfolios are

+  Councillor Brian Coleman as Cabinet Member for Environment

+  Councillor Daniel Thomas for Resources and Performance

+  Councillor Sachin Rajput for Adults

+  Councillor Helena Hart for Public Health

+  Councillor Robert Rams becomes the Cabinet Member for Customer Access and Partnerships

Serious warning to ‘would be’ iPhone purchasers

Eighteen months ago Apple filed a patent to be able to close your camera down remotely, to be activated if sensors detect you are filming a live concert.

In one way, this may sound reasonable as there are rules forbidding you to film commercial concerts.

However, if your school holds a concert and a parent wants to record their child performing, the camera might be shut down (see below).

Another factor is, your iPhone is never your property and can always be controlled by the Apple company.

But there may not be a real worry here as these huge corporations are always filing patents which never come to fruition.. However it is rather worrying.

There’s a lot of “noise” about this on the internet and it might work by concert organisers having an IR beam directed at the audience, the camera picks it up, and broadcasts a beam back identifying itself stating the camera is being used. The equipment at the concert could then shut down that phone’s camera. If that is the case, then school concerts are OK

Also seen on the Internet is the idea that government authorities at riots and “sensitive demonstrations” could use the same equipment.

I am glad I handed my iPhone back within the 14 days grace and bought an equivalent Android phone. Apple equipment is first class, Apple politics, their desire to lock their users in, and their desire to control them, isn’t

New political boundaries for Greater London

The following website will allow you to download a PDF of the boundary changes in Greater London or, indeed, any other part of the United Kingdom.

The change for Finchley is the amalgamation of Finchley & Golders Green, and Hendon.

http://www.democraticaudit.com/the-uks-new-political-map

Resignation letter of Lynne Hillan, leader of Barnet Council

Leader of the Barnet Council steps down

At the last council meeting on the 17th May, Councillor Lynne Hillan, Leader of Barnet Council, announced she was stepping down as Leader with immediate effect – but you all knew this! However, you may be interested in reading her resignation letter which was read out in full at the meeting.

The Chief Executive of the Council read out the following statement from Cllr Hillan.

“As many of you will know I have been receiving treatment for cancer for some time. Over recent weeks my condition has worsened and I have had to reconsider my role in the Leadership of the council.

“Each and every day I have represented the people of Barnet as a councillor has been a great privilege and I feel particularly honoured to have served as Leader over the last year and a half. Rather to my surprise, I have also enjoyed it.

“The last few decades have seen dramatic changes in the borough, particularly with Barnet becoming a far more family orientated place. I’ve seen these changes in my own street. In part this is down to the work the council has done in supporting its residents, particularly through our excellent schools.

“When I first took up my post as Cabinet member in children’s service we had 11 schools deemed inadequate by Ofsted. During my time in the council we have developed the best state schools in London and I was thrilled that during my Leadership the children’s service received the highest possible rating from Ofsted. And having fought to keep special schools open at a time when other councils were closing theirs, I am delighted that all of our special schools have during the last year been rated as outstanding.

“It’s a sign of how well the council now serves its residents that I can also look back on my time as Leader and see that adults social services – the portfolio for which I have greatest affection – also received the highest possible rating from its regulator.

“During my time as Leader I have seen Barnet Council find its place firmly on the national stage. We have a reputation as a pioneering and innovative council, not afraid to challenge the status quo or push the boundaries.

“We have paved the way for national pilots such as Right to Control and community budgets and we have constantly looked at new ways to involve residents in the running of their services.

“This has not just been down to the willingness of the council to put its residents at the heart of everything we do. It is because Barnet is a place where community really matters, where people care for their neighbours and where there is already a Big Society. In some ways I feel the national mood is catching up with Barnet, rather than the other way round.

“My son Ben constantly complains that I and my friends talk about nothing other than politics. And I’m afraid I can’t think of any time when this has been more true than over the last 12 months when we have worked to establish a three year budget that leaves us well prepared to face the future.

“I am proud that we’ve been able to set a budget that will continue to protect services for those who most need the council’s help and support.

“As one might expect, the people of Barnet have understood the challenge we face and our budget meeting, the last I have been able to attend as Leader, took place without the histrionics we saw in some other places.

“I know we have got a very strong Cabinet and my colleagues will be more than able to provide the Leadership the council will need over the coming years.

“I am immensely grateful for the advice and support that Cabinet and group colleagues have given me during my Leadership.

“I am sure that the manifesto on which we ran and won in the last local elections will provide a clear agenda for the borough in the future.

“There has been a growth in cynicism about politicians and their aims. But I have been proud to have worked with both colleagues and opponents who have a deep commitment to public service and an ambition to better the lot of all of Barnet’s residents.

“In all my time at the council I hope you will agree I have been a fighter; fighting for my ward, fighting for better services for residents and fighting for a better deal for Barnet.

“I now have other, more personal battles to fight, and I cannot fight these while holding the responsibilities that Leadership of the Council brings. I am therefore announcing that I am standing down as Leader of the Council.

“I wish you well.”

The caretaker, Councillor Andrew Harper (current Deputy Leader) will look after matters until a new leader is elected.

Barnet Council is to become one of the first local authorities to establish a ‘trading company’ deliver adult social services.

Will this be a good move or not? What do you think? We would welcome any impressions for or against such a move in the comments box below.

New trading company set to provide greater choice

Barnet Council is to become one of the first local authorities in the country to establish a ‘trading company’ to help deliver adult social services.

Last night (24 May 2011) Cabinet Resources Committee agreed that the council should look to set up a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) in conjunction with Barnet Homes.

The move is a key step as adults with disabilities are transferred to a system of direct payments which they can use to pay for their care.

These cash payments are intended to give residents greater choice and control over how their needs are met and where money is spent – but the system does not allow residents to buy the services they need directly from the council.

Once set up, the new trading company will provide a point from which to purchase those services.

In the process more people will benefit from greater choice and control over their care.

The LATC will be wholly owned by Barnet Council but will have its own board of directors and manage its own operations.

The staff who will run the new LATC will be drawn from both the council and Barnet Homes, the organisation responsible for managing the borough’s social housing stock.

In future, other local authorities or individuals outside the borough could approach the trading company to purchase services, helping generate income.

Cllr Sachin Rajput, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “I appreciate that it may not be obvious to residents how this relates to them, but it is an important change to the way the council works and will make sure that we can continue to meet the needs of disabled people.

“This is about forging a new relationship with citizens by giving people greater control over the services they use.”

Tracey Lees, Barnet Homes’ Chief Executive, added: “I’m delighted that we could now have the opportunity to extend our expertise to support the delivery of adult social care services.

“We are determined to build on our success as a social landlord while offering excellent support to drive service quality and efficiency within adult social services.”

The Finchley Art Society’s Spring Exhibition – a resounding success!

Hon President Henry McMillan introducing Mike Freer MP

On Saturday Mike Freer, MP (Finchley & Golders Green), opened the Finchley Art Society’s (FAS) Spring Exhibition at Trinity Church in Nether Street. As you can see from the photographs below, there was a huge turnout for this first day event. Mike Freer commented on the high standard of art at the exhibition and, whilst the potential buyers milled around enjoying the paintings, partaking of nibbles and drinks, against the very pleasant tinkling of ivories in the background, the team were constantly complimented at the large turnout and excellent paintings.

Viewers at the opening day of the Spring Exhibition

If you missed the opening day, which was announced in our events page, all is not lost – opening times are Monday to Thursday and Saturday 9am-10pm, Friday 9am-6pm and Sunday 2-6pm. The last viewing day of the exhibition is Sunday 29^th May so there is plenty of time.

Please look in our Events page as there are lots of other events going on at Trinity Church during the two weeks of the exhibition, including painting demonstrations on 14^th and 21^st May.

The FAS team, left to right: Danuta das Gupta, Loretta De Lange (Chairman), Mary Harper, Henry McMillan (Hon President), Pam Taylor, John Dornin, Colin Clark

Like most successful occasions, events only run as smoothly as clockwork when a lot of hard work has been put in behind the scenes, and the Society is no exception, so our team certainly deserve their photograph here.

Further photographs:

A small corner of the exhibition

The incredibly young violinist

Boris hails huge improvements to road safety in London during last ten years

As part of our intention to be “partisan politics” impartial, we published an article yesterday which showed the Conservative led Barnet Council in a bad light, so to balance this, we now show what the Conservative led  City Hall has managed with road safety in London.

• 57 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured since mid to late nineties
• 49 per recent drop in number of fatalities on London’s roads

New figures published by the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) show how road safety in London has improved dramatically over the last ten years exceeding both Government and City Hall targets.

In the same week that the United Nations declared 2011 to 2020 a Decade of Action for Road Safety, the new TfL figures reveal how deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads have dropped by a staggering 57 per cent over the last decade.

This trend is continuing. Last year, the first time since records began in the 1970s, the number of fatalities fell below 150 to 126, which represents a 32 per cent reduction compared with 2009, and a 49 per cent reduction since the mid to late nineties.

What’s more, figures recently published by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that London is considerably below the national average in terms of fatalities at 24 per million people, compared to a UK average of 38 per million.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “London’s roads are now much safer than they were a decade ago and the Metropolitan Police, London Boroughs and Transport for London all deserve praise as other countries look to our lead. But there is still much more to be done, especially around the safety of cyclists on our streets, and that is exactly why we continue to fund road safety schemes across the Capital. A great deal has been achieved in the Capital but if we are to continue to reduce casualty levels we must not lose our focus in this important work and I welcome the UN’s Decade of Action.”

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “Road safety is something that TfL takes exceptionally seriously. The £14.8 million we will be directly spending on road safety schemes across London during 2011/12 will look to build on the tremendous achievements we have achieved in the last ten years, as well as further reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the Capital’s roads every year.”

The disappointing case of Barnet Council, HADAS and the Church Farmhouse Museum.

The following letter has come to our attention and as we believe that the recipient would like to remain anonymous, We have omitted his name, otherwise the letter is exactly as it it, other than we have emboldened certain parts for your attention.

Dear xxxxxx

Hendon and District Archaeological Society (HADAS) has since its foundation in 1961 had close association with the Museum in Greyhound Hill. We have had displays at the museum and have donated a display case. One of our collections was lodged at the museum. In addition, we have on a number of occasions had excavations in the museum grounds and have involved local schools in some of these. In 2010, we dug in the grounds and also, with council permission, opened up two second world war air raid shelters in Sunnyhill Park at the back of the museum. The Hendon Times published information on this and included encouraging and complimentary comments from Councillor Rams.

On 3^rd December 2010, the council started a consultation period of 6 weeks on a proposal to close the museum, a period covering Christmas and the New Year, and the school holidays. The documents for this were not published until 17^th December. It was stated that local organisations connected to the museum were notified. Somewhat surprisingly this did not include HADAS. Once we discovered the situation, we consulted a number of other groups and contacted the council to declare an interest in taking over the running of the museum.

However, in order to do this we needed information on what we were taking over. Details of the rent that would be charged (a piece of vital information) was not forthcoming, there was no inventory of fixtures and fittings, no inventory of the collection either in the form of up-to-date accession lists or identification marks on the objects. The use of the building for other purposes as well as a museum proved problematical with issues around disability access and toilet facilities. Solving these issues needed a lot more time.

We sought meetings with the council staff to discuss these points, and this meeting took place on  3^rd March. Details of recent museum operating costs were sent to us on 14^th March, but no information regarding the possible rental arrangements. On 14^th April, we were advised that the council would give us three months starting from 1^st April to develop a business case, but that we should submit our proposals by 31^st May. This period included 5 bank holidays. No information regarding rents was provided. We again requested that information but as at 27^th April, it was still not available.

Meanwhile, the museum had closed on 31^st March, and the Curator made redundant. Visiting the site, we found that a number of items had been consigned to a skip, and we then discovered that items were being offered to another museum without our knowledge.

In order to get the necessary volunteer and financial support we needed to be able to tell residents and potential supporters, at a minimum, how much it was going to cost per annum and then we needed an adequate timeframe to prepare an acceptable proposal. The lack of relevant information made this an impossible task. As a result we have reluctantly and sadly come to the view that we were unable to proceed with preparing a proposal to run the museum.

We have been extremely disappointed by the apparent lack of interest, co-operation and urgency displayed by the Council and its staff. HADAS hope that that despite our withdrawal the museum and, more particularly, the Grade II* listed building will be maintained and kept safe in the care of the London Borough of Barnet as it has for over 60 years.

Don Cooper
HADAS – Chairman

We are trying hard to be non-political but in the case of the Church Farmhouse Museum, of which one of our volunteers is/was honorary secretary of the Friends of the Church Farmhouse Museum, and is very unhappy at the way the museum has been forced to close, even though a voluntary body was willing to take it over.

So far so good – Tube Strike now off – what a rollercoaster!

BBC News just reported the Union have said the strike has been suspended.

May I suggest those who are religious pray this evening.

So far – not so good – Bob Crow says strike still on.

Accouding to the electronic version of the Daily Telegraph a little while ago, ”

Bob Crow: ‘Tube strikes still on’

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow denies that a series of walkouts by London Underground workers have been called off.”

This is sheer madness. I refer to the different information coming out from both sides, not the strike which we won’t take sides on. Somebody is lying. It can only be the London Transport negotiating team or Bob Crow. I don’t know which. Do you?

So far so good – Tube strikes called off

According to a Telegraph Electronic News article just this moment:

A series of planned strikes by Tube workers in a row over the sacking of two drivers has been called off, London Underground has announced today.

The article went on to say

Mike Brown, LU’s managing director, said: ”As we’ve always said, there are established mechanisms in place to deal with individual disputes, and that is the process that has been followed here.

”Following a meeting with the RMT leadership this morning, the RMT have withdrawn their threat of industrial action, and we have avoided significant disruption for London.

We will keep this under review in case it changes.

AV Referendum result: How Barnet voted

Here are the results for Barnet UK

Residents in Barnet have voted against the Alternative Vote during the 5 May Referendum.

55,451 of residents, or 64.7 per cent, voted against the Alternative Vote with 30,153 residents, or 35.2 per cent voting in favour of electoral reform.

85,738 residents cast their votes in total, equivalent to 38.9 per cent of those registered to vote in the first UK-wide referendum in over 30 years.

27,789 postal votes were returned, which equates to 68.7 per cent of postal ballot votes sent out – amongst the highest in London.

The question being put to voters on 5 May was:

“At present, the UK uses the ’first past the post’ system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the ’alternative vote’ system be used instead?”

Seems very similar to the National Average.

Six Underground strikes over a month period from 16th May to 17th June inclusive.

The forthcoming tube strikes, over a two week period are as follows

9.01pm on Monday 16 May to 11.59am on Tuesday 17 May

12 noon on Wednesday 18 May to 11.59am on Thursday 19 May

12 noon to 9pm on Friday 20 May

9.01pm on Monday 13 June to 11.59am on Tuesday 14 June

12 noon on Wednesday 15 June to 11.59am on Thursday 16 June

12 noon to 9pm on Friday 17 June

This has been taken from the article in City-AM, and has further information for those interested.

The Finchley Society’s public meeting in North Finchley and slide show of photographs over 100 years old

By Pam Taylor

There was a good turn-out of visitors to the Finchley Society meeting on the evening of the 28^th April. Scattered around the sides of the hall were various objects and old photographs for us to look at (poster of Woodside Park station describing the achievement of the Finchley Society).

An attentive Audience for Peter Pickerings talk

Spike Milligan, who was President at the time, suggested to London Transport that Woodside Park station was worthy of a special redecoration scheme; various leaflets promoting the Society and even a continuous screen show of local photographs.

The meeting was opened by the society’s chairman, David Smith, who welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming. He described the Finchley Society as a coming together of people who like living in Finchley. There are changes taking place all the time, and they like to think that they are acting on behalf of the people of this area, by looking with some considerable scrutiny at planning applications to make sure they are acceptable to the community as a whole.

The chairman then introduced Peter Pickering who talked to us about various planning issues with a particular emphasis on North Finchley which was the theme for the evening. He told us that Barnet Council publish all the planning applications every week. There are three clauses to which they pay particular attention:

1. Converting a family house with garden into a purpose built block of flats outside the town area (Holden Road and Courthouse Gardens)
2. What is proposed if it is too dense a redevelopment
3. Threatens retail diversity and the vitality of the town centre

Barnet Council have a planning strategy to improve North Finchley’s town centre, but they appear not to be moving forward. There could be a new super library at the artsdepot which will combine both the Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries.

One of the old photographs taken of the screen

Derek Warren then gave a very interesting slide show of old photographs of the Finchley area. Lots of people joined in commenting on the various photographs and telling us what had been built there since, with Derek telling us the date of the various photographs. We had a refreshment break and then continued a little longer with the slide show.

A very enjoyable evening if you have a sense of belonging in the area.

An unbiased and helpful assessment of AV versus First Past the Post.

By Paul Binks

Alternative Vote, “Yay” or “Neigh”

We’ll be asking ourselves whether to vote Yay! Or Neigh! on May 5^th. But do we know enough to be content with our decision. Vociferous publicity is there to aid us, but with so many factions contradicting each other and unqualified celebrities being wheeled out for support, it’s like separating the wheat from the chaff to make sense of any of it.

The last time we were given this chance was in 1931 and we may have to wait as long for another. I’ll try to aid this process by separating fact from fiction.

Despite the perception that AV is a modern system, AV was actually devised by an American Robert Ware in 1871. As a Governmental election tool it was first used by the Colonial Territory of Queensland in 1893. It has been used in the Presidential election of Ireland, regional US elections such as California and our own main political parties’ leadership contests as well a host of others. But it’s only used by three National Governmental Elections; the Melanesian States of Papa New Guinea and Fiji along with our Colonial cousins in Australia. With Democracy being the superior form of Governance in the World this statistic seems peculiar and even stranger in that Australia and Fiji want to abandon the system altogether.

Looking at the systems may shed some light on this.

Most will be aware that AV works by listing candidates in preferential order starting from 1 to whatever number of candidates are standing. If a candidate achieves at least 50% of the 1^st preferences then the contest is over and an MP elected. If not then the candidate who came last in the count is omitted and the 2^nd preferences of those that voted for they are redistributed. This continues until a candidate achieves 50%.

First past the post (FPTP) works by each voter having one vote and whoever has the most votes wins.

The strongest argument for AV is that MPs will be more representative of their communities with a stronger mandate. This will strengthen the bond with the MP and dissipate the controversy surrounding their decisions. The problem arises when a MP attains say 15% of their votes from 4^th or 5^th preferences in a contest where they came 3^rd initially. How credible could they be?

This will discourage diametrically-opposed debate as parties narrow their positions to win favour from supporters of the middle and the floating voter. A more well-round politics would be more representative of the country. But to have a balanced viewpoint there must opposing views.

In time there would be less to distinguish between the politics which would lead to a surrendering of traditional tribal positions, favouring a selection based on candidates whom are most trustworthy, or rather who are the most convincing performers. We only have to look at the Governorship of California to imagine this scenario.

Elections will appear like fairs as candidates trade their principles to appeal to non-partisan voters. This has been suggested as politicians working harder for their constituents. However, this referendum is upon us only because of the public backlash against the expenses scandal and the association with the Global recession which lead to the first hung parliament since 1974. If this period has taught us anything it’s that we are yearning for politicians with solid ethics and are preparedness to maintain these through adversity.

Tactical voting would be a thing of the past for those in marginal seats. Although the outcome would still be the same, but relying on a voter’s 2^nd preference. This point has no relevance other than determining a party’s total support nationwide which would only be useful in a proper Proportional Representation system.

The great advantage is that parties would be able to present several candidates without fear of splitting the vote. This would present power to the grassroots. For examples, Tories could choose a traditional or a Neo-Conservative if they wish.

The heart of this debate is Democracy. There will be many voters who have a clear vision of the community they wish and will choose one preference only. They will be penalised if their preference does not win as they will have no further influence, leaving all others to determine the outcome. Some will have more votes than others.

In contradiction, it has been said that AV will end the hopes of extreme parties gaining a foothold. This could be true, but the supporters of extreme parties will influence the contest even if not by first choice. Winston Churchill expressed his fear of this when campaigning at the last referendum in 1931, stating “AV gives the greatest influence to the most worthless votes for the most worthless candidates.”

Maybe it’s a price worth paying, but do we want a society where no parties can ever break through our ancient landscape? As the BNP would be obliterated so would the likes of the Green Party and UKIP. It should be debate that discourages the contemptible from making a breakthrough, not the system, if we are democratic.

Finally we must consider the implications. The party coveting the central ground would improve its standing by taking seats from the left and right which will create continuous Hung-Parliaments and mean less conviction and more compromise.

It has been said that Politics would become more accountable but the exact opposite could be true. Manifesto pledges can be omitted under the guise of not being part of Coalition agreements. This becomes a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free-Card for any inconvenient or out of favour policy. In some cases they genuinely will be undeliverable as we have recently seen with the Lib-Dems failure to abolish University tuition fees. Either way Coalition partners will have carte-blanche privileges to redefine their Governorship from that promised to the voter.

In summary, AV has advantages and disadvantages. It’s clearly not flawless but then neither is our current system otherwise we would not be having this debate. But the key question is whether this is better than what we have and is it more democratic?

[Ed – Whatever you vote, be assured this is going to have to stay with us for a long time so I guess we should vote for whatever will be best for Britain rather than what will be best for our party.]

TUC March – where to avoid

On Saturday 26 March 2011 a large number of people are expected in central London to take part in a march and rally organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The route that the march will take to Hyde Park includes Victoria Embankment, Bridge Street, Parliament Square, Parliament Street, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Cockspur Street, Pall Mall, Waterloo Place, Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, and Park Lane.

At 06.00 Bridge Street will be closed in both directions, Westminster Bridge will be closed Westbound, Whitehall will be closed Northbound.

At approximately 08.00 Victoria Embankment will be closed in both directions from Southwark Bridge.

At approximately 10.00 the whole route will be closed to all traffic.

Further contingency road closures are part of the traffic plan and may be implemented to assist with traffic congestion and/or public order issues.

Closures will be lifted as soon as possible following the event, but road users are strongly advised to avoid this part of central London throughout the day and evening.

Where possible road works will be removed from the affected areas before the start of the march.

Buses A number of bus services will be subject to diversions and early curtailments if they are unable to travel their usual routes through the affected part of central London. Diversions and curtailments will start to be put in place from 06.00 on the day and it is anticipated that they will be lifted around 19.00/20.00

The routes affected include: 2, 3, 6, 9, 9H, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15H, 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 29, 36, 38, 52, 53, 73, 74, 82, 87, 88, 91, 94, 137, 139, 148, 159, 176, 211, 388, 414, 436, 453, C2. N2, N3, N11, N44, N52, N87, N109, N136, N155, N381

Extra staff will be on-hand to provide public information and to assist with the diversions.

Tube and London Overground

The main Tube stations near to the route of the march will be open on the day, including Embankment, Charing Cross, Waterloo, Westminster, Hyde Park Corner and Green Park. As normal, station closures will be used if necessary to manage any crowd issues within or outside stations.  There are a number of planned engineering works taking place on the day, which affect several lines in central London, including:

There is no way you will see the Taylors within the North and South Circulars on this day. Like every violent march in the past, we are assured that this march will be peaceful

Legal action taken against Barnet Council

By Ifé Fatunase

Many of us have so much going on in our lives these days, it is no wonder that we often choose the easier, quieter option of doing nothing.

Prices at the fuel pumps rocket, we shrug our shoulders and fill up our cars. Someone lights a cigarette on the upper deck of a bus, we simply move downstairs. We pay out more for lunch at the work canteen, but say nothing about the smaller potions we receive.

If that’s what Barnet Council hoped its residents would do when it announced plans to increase Control Parking Zone (CPZ) fees, then it was very much mistaken.

A group of residents, called Barnet CPZ Action, plan to take legal action against the council to stop the increases which come into force on March 21.

Barnet Council want to raise resident parking permits in CPZs from £40 to £100 a year. However, what’s incensed the Barnet residents even more, is the increase of the one day visitors permit from £1 to £4.

Jeanne Wray, a 79-year-old, who lives in one of the areas affected, is furious. She said: “I quite often have friends round during the day, but they are not going to be able to afford to come if the visitor vouchers increase from £1 to £4.”

When she raised the issue at a council meeting last month, she was told that she would simply have to have her friends over in the evening. She says that’s impractical as her friends are also pensioners and cannot travel in the dark.

Last week, on March 11, Barnet CPZ Action started the legal proceedings, serving the council with formal notice of the court challenge. David Attfield, a lawyer leading the group said: “We have tried all other avenues and have been left with no alternative other than to legally challenge the new charges in the High Court. We have sought independent advice from a barrister and believe we have a good case to apply for Judicial Review.”

Barnet council now has over a week to consider its position.

The basis for Barnet CPZ Action’s legal challenge is the issue of whether any council can put up parking charges solely for the purpose of increasing its revenue.

The group points to a report by the RAC which states: “It is illegal (however) for local authorities to set charges in order to provide a source of revenue for other activities, even if the money raised is used to fund transport provision. The level of charges must be based solely on the need to manage parking.

“Any local authority that sets its parking charges or penalties in order to raise funds is acting ultra vires (i.e. illegally) and may be challenged in the Courts.”

The action group believes it can win because Barnet Council’s financial plans for next year, shows it wants to reduce its Highways Maintenance budget by £1.5 million but expects to raise £1.42 million from the CPZ charges increase to spend on roads.

The members of Barnet CPZ Action say they are fired up and confident of winning this ‘David versus Goliath’ battle, but they do face an obstacle. They believe they need to raise £15,000 to stand a good chance of taking the case all the way to trial.

A meeting last week of over 70 residents raised £3,000 in donations in a single evening. Barnet CPZ Action is now appealing to all residents in the borough to help them reach their target, and say most of the donations will be returned to donors if the case is successful.

This Saturday, March 19, Barnet CPZ Action will have a stall in East Finchley outside Budgens on the High Street from 10am to 2pm to talk to Barnet residents and answer questions.

If you want support the legal action by making a donation, get involved or just to find out more information about Barnet CPZ Action, you can visit their website on www.barnetcpz.blogspot.com , email barnetcpz@gmail.com or follow them on Twitter @barnetcpzaction

RAC report can be viewed at http://www.racfoundation.org/research/mobility/on-street-parking

Mayor Honours Pupils at Town Hall Robes Show

by Ayisha Khan

The Mayor of Barnet hosted a show at the Town Hall in honour of more than twenty schools in the borough who took part in a charity event.

Councillor Anthony Finn paid homage to 1,000 pupils from schools in Cockfosters, Mill Hill, Hendon, Barnet, Totteridge, Whetstone and Muswell Hill, who raised £10,000 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Camp Simcha.

The ‘Town Hall Robes Show’ was an opportunity for the children to meet the Mayor and be presented with certificates to thank them for their participation in a ‘dress down day’ held last month, whereby they wore non-uniform and donated £1 to the two charities.

Lorraine Felding of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice said, “[The ‘dress down day’] was an initiative on behalf of the Mayor to engage with the schools so that it would build awareness, and we felt it’s a very powerful message when children are helping other children.

“It was a fun way of doing it – one particular school dressed in an animal theme.” Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet raised the money for a community fund that supports life-limited children and their families within the borough.

Neville Goldschneider of Camp Simcha said, “It was a very inclusive kind of thing to do – a ‘dress down day’ is quite a simple idea and it’s nice that all the children could take part in it very easily.

“Seeing that the funds have clearly come from children from all different backgrounds within the borough, we thought that that was a really nice way to use the money.” Camp Simcha has a project that sends balloons, clowns and toys to children in hospitals regardless of religion and background.

Cllr Anthony Finn added, “One’s got to be grateful for the kids taking part and to encourage [them] to do future activities not just in this charity but in other charities.”

West Finchley Residents Association

The following is an extract from a recent meeting of the newly formed West Finchley Residents Association. If you live in the area of West Finchley (local to the West Finchley station) please contact the editor and we will put you in touch with the association.

Dates for your Diary

• As the national “Big Lunch” is scheduled to take place during the half term holiday this year the WFRA will be holding an alternative event – a Midsummer Picnic in the Park – on Sunday, 26^th June, as last year, by the play area at Dollis Brook Park. Details to follow later in the year!

• The first AGM of the WFRA will take on Sunday, 18^th September in the Gordon Hall – we hope this will be a social occasion as well as a meeting.

• Following on from views expressed by members, over the weekend of 7^th / 8^th May all local residents will be canvassed – and signatures collected – regarding Conservation Status. A Sub-Committee is currently producing a leaflet for all residents, giving information about the impact of Conservation Status and explaining the processes involved. Volunteers will be needed to help with the canvassing – please let us know if you are able to help.

Wheelie Bins permanently blocking pavements

In order to take up this issue with the Council it would be helpful to have photographic evidence. If wheelie bins block the pavements in your street (on days other than the refuse collection day) you are advised to take a photograph and send it to us.

Dollis Valley Green Walk

Some time ago, Barnet Council was awarded £400,000 by the Mayor of London to make improvements to the Dollis Valley Green Walk. Work is due to start in Spring 2011 and be completed by early 2012. One of the first areas to be repaired is the path in Windsor Open Space. Use this link for more information: http://www.barnet.gov.uk/index/environment-planning/parks-and-open-spaces/dollis-valley-green-walk.htm

Recent Burglaries

There have been 2 burglaries recently in Courthouse Road – on each side of the road. In the most recent case, last week, having climbed over the fence, the burglars forced the back door and stole cash and jewellery.

Security

The “Safer Neighbourhoods Team” will be invited to attend a WFRA Committee meeting to give advice about security issues raised by residents for example, one resident is concerned about the need for lighting on the path to the allotments from Nethercourt Ave (leading to the rear of houses on Fursby Avenue).

Parking

A member wants to alert residents to over-zealous traffic wardens. He cited a personal incident where a fine was issued for parking partly on the kerb where this was deliberately and regularly done to give consideration for other road users. In this particular case, our local MP, Mike Freer, has taken up his complaint. However, residents are reminded that parking on kerbs or across the pavement, even slightly, can lead to a fine.

Damage to Grass Verges

In response to concerns raised by a local resident in Nether Street, Cllr Jim Tierney has written to the Council asking for a solution to be found to the problem of the grass verges along Nether Street (between Howcroft Cresent and the mini roundabout at Finchley Way) being significantly damaged by car drivers mounting kerbs to pass on-coming traffic. The WFRA will also follow this up with the Highways Department.

1 Courthouse Gardens

Having won their appeal we await the developers’ commencement of work on the demolition of this feature building. It is recognised that there is a need to closely monitor the building works once they begin, to ensure the developers build to the agreed plans and in accordance with the conditions, such as consideration of local residents as required by the inspector.

General Planning issues

The WFRA Committee has proposed working with our Ward Councillors to bring about a meeting with the Council Planning Officers to explore their perspective on planning for the West Finchley area in advance of further applications.

Safe Electrical Earthing of Homes

Many residents are aware of the recent scheme replacing domestic lead water pipes with plastic pipes. A concern has been raised which has caused a number of residents to worry that their homes would not now be electrically earthed since, in the past, lead pipes were used for earthing.

It has proved difficult to get to the bottom of this issue – very little expert help or knowledge has been forthcoming!

However, following some advice from an electrician and a little research, it seems that for nearly 40 years it has been required that electrical earthing should not be through the water pipes. So it is likely that anyone who has had any significant electrical work carried out in their home in recent years will have a modern electrical system which is properly earthed.

If residents are still concerned here are a few tips from information we have gathered:

UK Power Networks is the local energy distribution company responsible for London:
http://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/products-services/networks/index.shtml

It is their responsibility to ensure that PME (Protective Multiple Earthing) is in place; it is the householder’s responsibility to ensure that their property is properly connected to the PME; it is the Supplier’s responsibility (ie the company to whom the householder pays their bills) to provide this connection.

An appointment can be booked (free of charge) with UK Power Networks to inspect a property and to check that the PME is in place – phone 0845 6014516 (select Option 4, then Option 3). However, this could take 8-10 weeks! If a problem with the earthing was revealed, the householder would then have to book their Supplier to come and sort out the connection.

In the meantime, an electrician could be employed to fix up a temporary earthing stake.

Alternatively, an electrician could be employed to do the whole job…. which saves time but involves a cost to the householder.

UK Power Networks will only work on a house by house basis so it would not be possible to organize anything collectively.

We cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of any of the above information but we hope it will be helpful. In the end, it seems that each householder should take steps to check that their own house is safely earthed.

White bus man – Mike Freer is about.

Mike Freer will be in our coverage area on Saturday 19 March between 9.30am and 11:00am,

Parliament on your pavement at North Finchley, ring the constituency office on 020 8445 5875 or his Parliamentary office on  020 7219 7071 to book an appointment and find out the location in N12.

Barnet Council comes clean

All expenditure over £500

The following copy is on the Barnet Website at: www.barnet.gov.uk/barnet-expenditure

Spending over £500 is published as part of a drive to improve openness and transparency.

During the financial quarter July to September 2010 £ 95 million was paid to vendors on a huge variety of items including care homes, agency staff and utility bills.

For reasons of privacy payments to individuals including foster carers, children’s and adult carers are not included in the list. Payments made via CHAPS e.g. repayment of loans, funding to schools, housing benefit payments and payments taken directly from our bank account (excluding agency costs) are not included either.

The spreadsheet listed below is shown in a fairly raw format. Although it may seem easy to produce, this document was pulled together using information from over 1,000 different cost centres, 11 service areas and 1,000 capital projects and a number of different systems. We will aim to present this information in a more useful way as we go forward.

If you have suggestions as to how the council can best present this information please email us at: expenditure@barnet.gov.uk The council will continue to publish data quarterly in arrears.

The paragraph in italics has been emphasised by the Finchley Arrow.

I suggest readers might like to respond to Barnet’s email address (above) asking them to include this omitted information with the legend “Details withheld under our standard procedure” so we can at least see what the payments are?.

Barnet Council wins against the little people

There is a beautiful detached house at the top of Courthouse Gardens very close to West Finchley station. It is not only pretty but sits in so well within the local neighbourhood. For the last five years the local residents have been battling to prevent a property developer pulling down the house and building six flats in its place.

When the developer first put in his plans to build eight flats, the Council Planning Officers recommended them for approval – a decision which clearly showed their ignorance of this part of West Finchley.

The presence of a large number of residents at the subsequent Council Planning Committee Meeting ensured that the plans were carefully scrutinised and the Councillors voted against their Officers’ recommendations. Local residents were determined to save 1 Courthouse Gardens and a 5-year battle began. Our West Finchley Councillors have been vociferous in supporting the campaign along with MP Mike Freer.

Over 100 local residents have written letters of objection to the Council and to the Inspectorate at each stage of the process, and have attended each of the Council Planning Committee Meetings in large numbers. In response, the Councillors continued to vote against the recommendation of their Officers who (residents felt) were particularly obstructive at the last meeting. In fact, the last Inspector commented on the “somewhat clumsily worded” Council report which might have given her the grounds to dismiss the last appeal.

At a residents’ meeting in the Gordon Road Scout Hall in April last year (forty attending) it was decided to form a residents’ association and the West Finchley Residents Association (WFRA) was duly formed.

There have been FOUR appeals to date and the last one reads:

I allow the appeal, and grant planning permission for demolition of existing building and erection of a part single, part two storey building plus rooms in the roof space, comprising six residential units.

So it now appears to be a “done deal” and the WFRA have lost. The next step of taking the appeal to the High Court would result in huge costs.

All the residents can now do is to memorise the conditions laid down by the Planning Inspectorate on how the building should be done, and keep a firm eye on the builders when they start work. In this case, the Planning Inspectorate will have the free services of over a hundred residents to police the building or the flats.

Peter Pickering of the Finchley Society says:

“It is a depressing result. But Inspectors’ decisions can be challenged only in the High Court, and this seems to me to be (with one exception) a well reasoned and balanced letter; the Inspector has covered our arguments, as well as the narrower grounds of the refusal, and has done what she can to weaken the precedent effect. There was a recent case in Wentworth Avenue where the decision letter was much less good, and we sought advice on the possibility of a High Court challenge, and were advised that there was no hope. The exception, to which I referred above, is the argument that this proposal could contribute to an objective of PPS3, to wit the creation of a mixed community. I believe that this is a misreading of the intent of this provision of PPS3, which was, I think, aimed against the creation of new large upper class ‘gated’ developments, or acres of unrelieved ‘social housing’, not to encourage the disturbance of currently harmonious areas.

The Inspector turned down the appellants’ request for costs against the Council, accepting that the Councillors had reasonable grounds for coming to their decision to refuse the application (even though she did not agree with it), that they were fully entitled to go against the advice of their officers, and that they were not unduly swayed by the local opposition.”

I am sure that there was no hidden agenda with the council over this sorry state of affairs.

NEWS FLASH: Avenue House to close down?

New information coming in is that the situation is indeed serious with threatened closure at end of this month when the building and grounds could be closed to the public.

I have contacted the Barnet Council Press Office, and also Avenue House but have been met with a wall of silence. We will keep you informed if they contact us about the situation.

David Smith of The Finchley Society says; “This is quite alarming news as all our archives are at Avenue house. Then there is the Stephens Ink museum on the premises. And, Spike Milligan statue committee will not be able to put his statue in the grounds if they are closed to the public.”

There is a rumour, and we stress it is just a rumour, that there is a possibility that a school is interested in acquiring the premises and land.

 

 

Letter to the editor

Letter to the editor, from the Dollis Park & District Resident’s Association,

Dear Editor,

Please find some useful information about Parking Charges in Barnet and the forthcoming Resident’s Association AGM

Residents Association AGM on Thursday 3rd February 2011 at 7:30 pm to be held at the Blue Beetle Hall on Hendon Lane, N3 (Next to St Mary’s Church)

Guest speaker on Fabulous Finchley and opportunity to hear about and discuss local issues including the fortcoming Winston House development.

Now to the Parking Charges

Barnet are proposing to sharply increase the charges as follows:

Resident permits:
First car:  Currently £42 increasing to £100 (138% increase)
Second car: Currently £75 increasing to £125 (67% increase)
Visitor permits:    Book of ten vouchers: Currently £12 increasing to £48 (400% increase)

The full details of the proposed changes are set out in a document located on Barnet’s web site. See pages 9 and 10 for the CPZ charges, and pages 12 and 13 for the Pay and Display charges.

The Cabinet Resources Committee are meeting on 13 January to approve the proposed increases which are proposed to take effect “from 1 February or as soon as practicable”.

Online Petition There is an online petition started by a Barnet Resident which already has 1600 + signatures if you object.

Regards

Stuart Warner
on behalf of Dollis Park & District Resident’s Association

Barnet Museum Closures

Further to my enquiry about a recent Barnet Council meeting, I received this press release from HADAS (Hendon and District Archaeological Society)

Closure of Church Farmhouse Museum and Barnet Museum

Barnet Council’s cabinet met on Monday 13th December and proposed the withdrawal of funding from the only two council-supported museums in the Borough; Barnet Museum and Church Farmhouse Museum. There will be a period of public consultation until 17th January 2011, and then a final recommendation by the cabinet in February.

The Borough of Barnet contains a long and rich history dating back to the Romans and beyond, and this has been a significant contributor over the years to the sense of community and coherence within Barnet. It is essential that this sense of history and community should continue if Barnet is not to become just another outskirt of the Metropolis, and these two museums are important factors in this. For example, in addition to its educational exhibitions, every year Church Farmhouse Museum in association with HADAS, the Barnet-based archaeologists, hosts demonstration excavations in its grounds for local schools. These have proved extremely popular and educational, helping the pupils gain an understanding of their history and that of Barnet.

Whilst we recognise the need to economise, the benefits to the Borough of keeping these museums open are out of all proportion to the relatively small sums of money involved, and we strongly oppose any suggestion of their closure.

For further comment contact:

Don Cooper
HADAS Chairman
www.hadas.org.uk

Museums in Barnet

Can anyone confirm that at last night’s council meeting, Barnet Council is closing all museums in the Barnet area?

I have tried to get through to the press office but they aren’t available. Nor is anyone else to talk to me.

 

Email andrew.taylor@finchleyarrow.co.uk or phone 0794 162 2401 if you can help.

Barnet’s young people to get a national voice

The followinbg is a Barnet Council press release aimed at the younger generation. If anyone from N3, N12 or N2 is elected to the National Youth Council, could they please contact the Finchley Arrow and we will write an article about them to get them more known locally.

If any reader knows of any young people who might be interested in joining the NYC why not tell them about it as it will be an excellent item to put on their CV. And another feather in Fincley’s hat!

Now the press release:

Young people in Barnet will soon be able to make their voices heard nationally as nominations open for the borough’s first ever representatives to join the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP).

The UKYP was established in 2000 and is run by young people for young people, giving them the opportunity to share their opinions on a wide range of issues from job opportunities to foreign policy.

Its views and recommendations are listened to by local and national government and providers of youth services. In 2002, for example, a campaign by the UKYP resulted the Government announced that sex and relationship’s education become statutory in all schools.

All of Barnet’s 11-18 year olds are able to vote for two Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) and two Deputy MYPs who’ll represent them at national events. All representatives will be non political.

Bobby Wiafe, a member of Barnet Youth Board, Barnet’s youth council which campaigned for the borough to join the UKYP, said: “More than 80 per cent of Local Authorities are represented already in the Youth Parliament so it’s only fair that our voice is heard as well.

“It gives young people the chance to get to know what an election is like, giving them the experience so that when they turn 18 they will know about voting and being represented” she added.

Councillor Andrew Harper, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“The UK Youth Parliament gives young people an insight into how democracy works – hopefully we will see some of them become councillors or even MPs in the future.”

If a young person is interested in running for a MYP post in Barnet they first need to nominate themselves by contacting 0208 359 6086 or emailing ukyp@barnet.gov.uk. They will then be invited to attend a workshop in January where they will work on their manifestos.

These manifestos will then be posted online on the Barnet Young People’s website and young people will be able to vote for their preferred candidate between 7 and 18 February 2011.

The election process will be promoted in Barnet secondary schools and students will be encouraged to vote online in February.

For more information about the UK Youth Parliament or to download an application form, visit: http://www.barnet.gov.uk/youth-parliament

Barnet Council notes

by Andrew Taylor

I thought I would show a little example of just how helpful Barnet Council can be when you send an email to the First Contact email address there.

I sent the following email:

I am worried at the decline of the pound and lack of interest being paid on my savings so I am going to get involved with stocks and shares.

Can you tell me the best library for directories of companies, directors and anything else to do with investing?

My nearest library is Finchley Central and North Finchley is marginally a little further away and Hendon is a bus ride of around 20 minutes.
_________________________________________________________
Andrew *Ampers Taylor* – London UK – Editor of The Finchley Arrow

Within a few days, I received the following extremely helpful email. Although we are not a political newspaper I feel, as nobody knows Gilbert’s political persuasion, we can safely include this as it is non-partisan. In other words, this is a member of staff writing to me and not the council.

Reply by Barnet Council

Our Ref: 90118824

Dear Mr. Taylor,

Thank you for your e-mail.

You can visit your local library for the advise.

We hope you find this information helpful and if we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us or visit www.barnet.gov.uk for more information about Council services

Yours sincerely,

Gilbert Caspa

Customer Services Officer
Chief Executive Services

Now I don’t know about you, dear reader, but this is not the sort of reply I consider very helpful. This man is an “officer” of the council but personally I would consider him as an “other rank” and for those who have served in the army, perhaps a GD (General Duties) man?

Wine Tasting event raises £930

The Finchley branch of Majestic Wine was the setting for a recent fundraising event in aid of the Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Appeal.

Event organiser, Cllr John Marshall said “I was delighted to be asked to organise a fundraising event for the Mayor’s Appeal which is supporting Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Camp Simcha, both of these local charities do excellent work in our community. The event was enjoyable and a great success, raising £930 for the Appeal. Thank you to Ian Whiscombe and his staff at Majestic for their help on the night”.

For further details about future fundraising events, information about both charities and how to get involved with the Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Appeal 2010-2011, please visit www.mayorbarnet.webs.com or telephone Joan Lipkin-Edwards on 020 8455-0029.

From left to right: Rosie Daniels; Cllr John Marshall; Ian Whiscombe (Manager, Majestic Wine, Finchley); Deputy Mayoress of Kingston; Deputy Mayor of Barnet (Cllr Lisa Rutter); Mayor of Barnet (Cllr Anthony Finn); Deputy Mayor of Kingston (Cllr Ken Smith JP) and Mayor of Haringey (Cllr Eddie Griffith)

 

Henlys Corner gets the green light.

Some very good news from Transport for London (TfL) – the Henlys Corner improvement scheme is going ahead as planned.

As Mike Freer said in last month’s email he’s been lobbying TfL, Government Ministers and Boris to make sure the vital work was not cancelled.

The Government’s Spending Review meant that all major projects were put on hold, but the Government have listened to the argument that transport needs to be funded to keep the private sector motoring, so to speak.  Work on the notorious A1/North Circular junction should now begin early next year, taking around seven months to complete.  When finished the traffic flow should be smoothed and crossing Henlys Corner will no longer be for the brave or the foolish.

What a novel idea

This contract with the public in the Cambridge constituency has been signed by an independent candidate. Tell us if you don’t think it should be an official contract that all candidates should sign in the comments below. No need to comment if you agree. Note all the points where he says he will resign if he steps over the line.

Ampers

Constituents Contract

I, Old Holborn, as candidate in the General Election 2010 hereby agree to the following contract with my constituents:

• I will remain a fiercely loyal representative for my constituents. I will not put any party or other interest, before my constituents. If I do, I will resign.

• I will work with any organisation in Scotland, the UK or Europe if it will help the people of my constituency.

• I will never promise what I know I cannot deliver.

• I will endeavour to acknowledge all letters from constituents within 24 hours between Monday and Friday.

• I will endeavour to acknowledge all emails from constituents within 24 hours between Monday and Friday but hopefully sooner.

• I will attend regular advice/consultation sessions which will be widely advertised in the constituency. I will arrange home visits for the elderly, disabled and carers.

• I will never knowingly claim credit for something when the credit is not mine.

• I will tell people my real views, even when I know they will disagree with me.

• I will do my best to keep my website updated every day. I will blog regularly.

• My calendar will be published on my website and kept up to date daily from Monday to Friday.

• I will not claim one penny in expenses that is not absolutely required for me to carry out my job as an MP. If I do not keep this pledge, I will resign.

• I will publish my expenses (if any), in full, monthly or possibly weekly on my website. If I do not keep this pledge, I will resign.

• I will not use any taxpayer funded equipment or office for any other reason that to carry out my duties of MP. If I do not keep this pledge, I will resign.

• I will be a whistleblower against anyone. In this, I will not be anonymous and I will use the press. If I am caught knowing about illegality or sleaze and not whistle blowing, I will resign.

• I will be a full time MP with no jobs outside politics nor will I take any money from anyone for access. If I do work for anyone, it will be in a voluntary capacity which will not infringe on my time as an MP.

Signed Old Holborn 27.4.2010

2005 General Election results

Finchley & Golders Green

Labour – Rudi Vis – 17,487 – 40.47%
Conservative – Andrew Mennear – 16,746 – 38.75%
Liberal Democrat – Sue Garden – 7,282 – 16.85%
Green – Noel Lynch – 1136 – 2.63%
UKIP – Jeremy Jacobs – 453 – 1.05%
Rainbow Dream Party – Rainbow George Weiss – 110 – 0.25%

Total votes cast 43,214

68,637 voters eligible

Turnout 62.96%

Votes cast at the last (2006) Local Elections for Finchley

Finchley Central

Greenspan, Eva Conservative Elected: 2604
Freer, Michael Whitney Conservative Elected: 2543
Thomas, Daniel Clive Byron Conservative Elected: 2402

Total Conservative votes: 7,549
Percentage of total vote: 64.33%

Paun, Alay Labour 691
Walsh, Michael Anthony Labour 756
Watkins, Brian James Labour 702

Total Labour votes: 2,149
Percentage of total vote: 18.32%

Davis, Malcolm Brian Liberal Democrat 526
Graber, Ingeborg Liberal Democrat 435
Graham, James Peter David Liberal Democrat 508

Total Liberal Democrat votes: 1,469
Percentage of total vote: 12.52%

Dunn, Miranda Jane Green 567
Percentage of total vote: 4.83%

Total Votes cast: 11,734

West Finchley

Houston, Ross Semple Labour Elected: 1799
Tierney, James Bernard Labour Elected: 1717
Mcguirk, Kath Labour Elected: 1667

Total Labour votes: 5,183
Percentage of total vote: 41,95%

Ableson, Richard Neil Conservative 1618
Knight, Gareth Lewis Keith Conservative 1587
Wilding, Peter John Conservative 1603

Total Conservative votes: 4,808
Percentage of total vote: 38.93%

Blount, Malcolm Spencer Hurlston Liberal Democrat 602
Pawar, Prem Singh Liberal Democrat 537
Turner, Janice Liberal Democrat 575

Total Liberal Democrats votes: 1,714
Percentage of total vote: 13.87%

Gee, Michael Robin Green 649
Percentage of total vote: 5.25%

Total votes cast: 12,354

Finchley: Keeping it local

What our councillors are doing for us

By Sue Walder

Do you know which council ward you live in? Do you know who your local councillors are? Do you know what they do on your behalf?

N3 has two wards – West Finchley and Church End.  West Finchley ward is covered by three local Labour councillors: Jim Tierney, Kath McGuirk and Ross Houston. Church End ward is covered by three local Conservative councillors: Mike Freer, Eva Greenspan and Daniel Thomas.

The Finchley Arrow posed a set of questions to both sets of ward councillors to find out what they’ve been up to and what West Finchley councillors: their main focus for 2010 will be.

What are the main concerns of residents in your ward?

Church End councillors:

The recession, the fear of crime; transport (e.g. Henly’s Corner congestion); the Northern Line being split into two so ‘our’ branch would only be Bank-bound forcing everyone wanting the Charing Cross branch to change at Camden (which is very crowded even at the best of times); access to local GPs; the loss of the Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit and Major Trauma Centre at the Royal Free Hospital.

West Finchley councillors:

The main concern is the lack of affordable housing – we have a lot of residents in private rented accommodation on the council waiting list. Other issues include: local planning issues, school places, parking, the condition of the roads in the ward, general highways issues, public transport, enforcement in relation environmental issues such as pollution, graffiti, noise and rodents (the ward includes the town centres at North Finchley and Finchley Central), and wider concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour, council tax, council services and the economy.

What do you consider to be your main achievements on behalf of residents of N3 during 2009?

West Finchley councillors:

We have supported local residents in resisting overdevelopment. Local residents have formed an action group to campaign for a conservation status for the area between West Finchley tube station and Dollis Brook and we have fully supported this initiative. We hope there will be cross party and community support to take this proposal forward and preserve a classic garden suburb environment from the sort of overdevelopment you unfortunately see elsewhere in the ward.

Traffic congestion and safety is a big issue and we worked with the local police and council highways department to help improve the flow of traffic in Nether Street. Feedback on the changes has been positive. We are all active governors of local schools and take pride in their success. We have campaigned for the regeneration of our town centres and against  council pavement tax. We have successfully opposed the removal of trees and pressed for road and pavement improvements, e.g.in Dollis Road. A big success was Kath’s campaign to get cardboard and plastics included in the council’s recycling.

Church End councillors:

Getting mayor Boris Johnson to commit more than £8m to sorting out the Henly’s Corner Junction; ensuring our local schools remain well supported; bringing forward a town centre plan for Finchley Church End to keep the local economy vibrant; keeping council tax as low as possible despite major inequalities of central government funding; investing capital to improve school buildings; getting plastics and  tetrapak recycling added to the service; campaigning to improve the breast screening service for local women and persuading NHS Barnet to replace the analogue scanners with digital scanners.

What are the key issues for 2010 affecting the people of N3?

Church End councillors:

Helping the local town centres to come out of the recession; ensuring primary schools have enough places for local children; keeping the Henly’s corner improvements on-track. Also, fighting off inappropriate development on backlands (garden-grabbing), e.g. keeping vigilant on The Greensquare.

West Finchley councillors:

Getting a conservation area agreed for the West Finchley area; securing the economic viability of our town centres, local shops and businesses, maintaining the success of our local schools, fixing our local roads – there are far too many pot holes – and getting a review of the 326 bus route. We have submitted our concerns on many of these issues to the consultation on the Local Development Framework.

Which Council bodies are you a member of?

West Finchley councillors:

Ross Houston
Chair of governors at Northside School (LEA governor); Labour Spokesperson on Housing and Community Engagement; Shadow Cabinet; Adult Social Services Committee; Finchley and Golders Green Area Environment Committee; Policy and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee; governor of Friern Barnet School; council nominated director of Barnet Homes; Council nominee on Barnet Police and Community Engagement Group.

Kath McGuirk
Labour Spokesperson on the Environment; Shadow Cabinet; LEA governor and Moss Hall School; Licensing Committee; Ad Hoc Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Policy and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee.

Jim Tierney
LEA governor of Finchley Catholic High School; Labour Spokesperson on Planning; Shadow Cabinet; Planning and Environment Committee; Finchley and Golders Green Area Planning Sub-Committee; Appeals Committee; Corporate Joint Consultation (Health, Safety & Welfare) Committee; Corporate Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee.

Church End councillors:

Mike Freer
Pensions Committee; Corporate Joint Negotiating Committee; General Functions.

Eva Greenspan
Planning & Environment; Area Planning; Scrutiny; DT Cabinet; Cabinet Resources; Area Environment.

Daniel Thomas
Cabinet; Cabinet Resources; Area Environment.

How does your membership of those bodies benefit the residents of N3?

Church End councillors:

They cover all aspects of the council’s operation and the key areas that impact residents’ lives – planning, roads, pavements, cleanings, refuse, recycling, keeping council tax down.

West Finchley councillors:

We’re all governors of good local schools. Active and engaged governing bodies make a positive contribution to the success of these schools. All three of us are also in the shadow cabinet as opposition spokespersons on key areas of council work and help hold the administration to account. Our work on planning environment and licensing committees has a direct impact on the local community and we always listen to the concerns of local people. We are all very active in the committees that help to scrutinise the work of the council – vital for a healthy local democracy.  Ross is one of three councillor directors helping to ensure that Barnet Homes, which runs the council’s housing, improves its management for tenants and leaseholders. Jim keeps a tight brief over planning issues and Kath has a formidable reputation campaigning on local environmental issues such as pot holes, recycling, parking and parks/open spaces. We work well with local police and are active in the West Finchley Safer Neighbourhood panel.

What are the best and worst things that central government has done which have directly affected your work on the Council, and how do you think that might change following this year’s general election?

West Finchley councillors:

Best – giving local government a decent financial settlement over the past decade (Barnet got the fifth highest settlement of the 33 London boroughs this year) – reversing years of local government being starved of funds under successive Tory governments. Barnet has also been fortunate in getting generous funding to re-build our schools under the Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Worst – the closure of the Post Office in Nether Street. Although this was not strictly a government decision we were very disappointed that our campaign to save it was not successful. We all remain convinced of the case for a local post office.

Following this year’s general election we fear that if there is a change to a Tory government we’ll have draconian cuts to council funding and services. We need prudence in public spending not a ‘slash and burn’ wholesale destruction of our local services.

Church End councillors:

Best – reducing the amount of targets we have to report on from more than a 1000 to 100;
admitting Barnet to the Building Schools to the Future programme; giving some support to sure start centres.

Worst – adding responsibilities to the council without the funding; persistently giving the council below inflation increases in the grant settlement forcing the council to turn to council tax payers to meet the shortfall.

After the election if a Conservative government is elected we will see council tax frozen for a further two years and powers returned to local councils; the council will be able to retain council tax growth and business rate growth (currently sent to Government) to invest locally.

If there is no change of government we will continue to see council tax taken from Barnet and given to out-of-London councils.

West Finchley Conservation Area:

By Sue Walder

This first appeared in the February 2010 issue

Following the ongoing protest against a proposed development at 1 Courthouse Gardens (see The Arrow, November 2009), the idea to get West Finchley deemed a conservation area is gaining momentum with a public meeting scheduled for 4:00pm on Sunday 7 March at Gordon Hall, Huntly Drive (off Nether Street) to gauge local interest in pushing the proposal forward.

The area under discussion includes: Finchley Way, Brent Way, Hamilton Way, West Avenue, Nether Street parade of shops (including the tube station and Gordon Hall), Courthouse Gardens, Courthouse Road, Fursby Avenue, Nethercourt Avenue, Chesterfield Road and Westbury Road.

Created by local councils, conservation areas typically have special architectural or historic interest. There are already 18 conservation areas in Barnet including Lodge Lane, Moss Hall Crescent, Finchley Church End and Finchley College Farm. All these areas have restrictions on developments to preserve their unique character or appearance.

Kieran Kettleton, who will be chairing the public meeting and is a member of the local residents’ group behind the idea, said that if the meeting arouses enough interest residents will be encouraged to sign a petition to be submitted to the Council with a proposal.

“Our aim is to protect the area from over-development,” he said.

“If we get conservation area status it wouldn’t stop extensions or loft conversions, but it should protect the area from developments such as blocks of flats. Conservation area status would help to maintain our suburban neighbourhood of family homes with gardens.”

At the public meeting, residents will get the chance to ask questions and find out more about West Finchley’s history. If anyone has old photos of the area, or stories of interest, then please email kettleton.family@tesco.net.

Barnet gets £5.3 million for transport improvements

By Sue Walder

This first appeared in our January 2010 issue.

Last month Transport for London (TfL) confirmed funding for all local London boroughs including £5.3 million for Barnet together with greater freedom over local transport spending for 2010/11.

Funding for local schemes is allocated each year by TfL on the basis of detailed plans submitted by each borough.

A spokesman from Barnet Council said there are a number of proposals for improvement works in Finchley as a result of the funding package but work is still in progress to finalise these plans.

“There has already been some work to enhance the A1000 corridor, and the 2010/11 spending plans look to complete and extend these improvements, ” said Corporate Communications Officer Jonathan Schroder.

“There are plans to improve the approaches (pavements and other highways elements) to West Finchley, East Finchley and Finchley Central stations, as well as a number of other stations in the borough, and work is now under way to prioritise what can be done in 2010/11 with the funding available. To complete all the proposed works Barnet will need a similar level of funding for the next three years, but the council is aiming to carry out work which will deal with the most pressing issues surrounding these stations in the early part of the programme.

A clear plan of work will be developed for the beginning of the 2010/11 financial year.”

Barnet’s funding package also includes £764,000 for essential road maintenance and £175,000 to promote ‘smarter travel’ to schools, with initiatives such as ‘Walking on Wednesdays’ and  ‘Walk to School Week’.

London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said: “Barnet has identified a range of small- and large-scale projects that will make a real difference to local people by improving town centres and public spaces, reducing the number of collisions on our roads, improving the environment and promoting greener forms of travel.

“Barnet also has the flexibility to move certain funding between projects if, during the course of the year, they find more or less funding is needed for individual schemes.