Haringey Liberal Democrats

Haringey Liberal Democrats have attacked the local Labour council for leaving council owned buildings empty for so long squatters have moved in.

The buildings on the Cranford Way Industrial Estate have been empty since 2011. In July 2011 the Cabinet agreed to sell the property which had been earmarked for use by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA). The NLWA said the property wasn’t suitable and the buildings have been on the open market ever since.

However the council have been unable to find a buyer for the properties and now a group of squatters calling themselves the Crouch End Active Community have moved in. The group describe themselves as “…a community of 30 homeless young, (many who are under 25 and would not qualify for housing benefit) enthusiastic and very creative people.”

The Lib Dem opposition have voiced their concern that council buildings have been left empty for so long. The opposition have also recently attacked the council for failing to build any council homes since 1989.

The Lib Dems are arguing that the buildings should either have been sold by now or knocked down so council homes can be built on the land.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem leader of the opposition, comments:

“It is disgraceful that council owned property has been left empty for 2 years. How on earth can the Labour council have allowed this to happen?

“Public money has been wasted by leaving this building empty for so long and now the council will have to pay for expensive lawyers to remove the squatters.

“The Labour leadership should have acted long ago and either sold the building or knocked it down and built council homes.”

Cllr Monica Whyte, Lib Dem councillor for Hornsey, comments:

“The Labour run council should not have allowed this situation to happen in the first place. This is a building that could be earning revenue while a decision is made as to what is going to happen to it next; instead it has lain empty for 2 years. That can’t be right.”

Labour run Haringey Council has admitted that there is a major problem with potholes in the Haringey following the local Lib Dem campaign to get the borough’s pothole ridden roads fixed. The admission comes after months of campaigning by the Lib Dems and a recent horrific case of a man left with brain injuries after falling over a pothole in Haringey.

The opposition Lib Dems have repeatedly raised concerns that local roads are in a terrible state with many in need of urgent repair. They recently sent a list of 41 damaged roads to the council demanding they were repaired or resurfaced urgently. So far the council has not said whether the roads will be fixed or not.

Now the Labour council has admitted there is a serious problem with pothole repairs, and that their current policy of not fixing potholes until they are 6cm deep, and leaving deeper potholes for up to a month before fixing them is failing. Neighbouring boroughs like Camden fill potholes that are half as deep (3cms). The council has now admitted in a new paper that their current policy risks further compensation claims, saying “the current (pothole) intervention levels..are at the limit of what is acceptable should the council have to defend an injury or claim.”

The council has suddenly decided to change these policies and try to fix potholes. They have announced that there will be a 6 months trial of a new system of dealing with potholes with more inspections and faster repairs.  Potholes will now be filled in within 7 days rather then up to 28 days after they have been inspected.  Roads will also be inspected more regularly; presently 92% of local roads are only inspected once every 6 months.

Haringey Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Labour council’s sudden u-turn on potholes, which includes proposals for more inspections, lower intervention levels and quicker response times.  However, Lib Dem councillors have questioned how quickly Labour will be able to tackle the large build-up of potholes caused by the current policy of ignoring many potholes and not resurfacing roads often enough.

The changes to the repair system will be approved at a Cabinet Member Signing meeting on 20th May.

Cllr Jim Jenks, Lib Dem spokesperson for the Environment, comments:

“Finally the Labour council have admitted the error of their ways. It is a shame it has taken them so long to realise what local residents have know for a long time that roads in the borough are in a terrible state because the council takes so long to fix potholes.

“It is common sense that if you leave a pothole unrepaired for weeks it will get bigger, be more expensive to fix and more likely to injure someone or cause damage to cars. What is surprising is how long it has taken the council to recognise this.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Opposition Leader, comments:

“This report clearly shows the Labour council doesn’t have a clue, how on earth can it have taken them so long to realise that repairing dangerous potholes as soon as possible is absolutely sensible.

“Local residents pay the 5th highest council tax in London and should have some of the best maintained roads instead they have to use ones that are ridden with potholes and crumbling. We identified 41 roads in need of urgent repair and have been campaigning hard to get them fixed.

“This is a welcome admission that the current system of ignoring potholes and hoping they go away is not working and making our roads dangerous.  However I worry that the council has allowed our roads to get into such a terrible state?that?it will take many months before the potholes are fixed – and that is many more months of cars and bikes being damaged and residents risking injury.

“Haringey Lib Dems will press the Labour council to fix these potholes as quickly as possible.”

Haringey Liberal Democrats are calling for a special council meeting to discuss the outcomes of a damning independent commission into the failing education system in Haringey.

The report criticised Haringey Council’s education service for the ineffective support offered to local schools. It also criticised the lack of vision and leadership from the council, which has been run by Labour for the last 40 years. The independent report went on to recommend that Haringey Council urgently make a number of significant changes to improve the local education system.

Dame Hassan, Chair of the Commission, said in the introduction to the report:

“We are struck by the strength of criticisms made by many stakeholders and by the deeply embedded blame culture that has surfaced in many of our meetings.

“Our overriding conclusion is that there is much that must be done urgently.”

Since the report was launched on 14th February, the commission’s recommendations have not been adopted by the council’s Cabinet or debated by councillors at a full council meeting, despite numerous requests by the Liberal Democrats. As the policy has not been endorsed by any council body it is not council policy.

The lack of action is particularly concerning as in the same month that the education commission report was launch Ofsted found during their inspection that both Trinity and Noel Park Primary were schools causing concerns.

Opposition politicians have now formally asked the new Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Shelia Peacock to call a special meeting so that councillors have the opportunity to debate the report’s recommendations and formally adopt them as council policy.

Cllr Katherine Reece, Lib Dem spokesperson for Education, comments:

“Haringey’s children all deserve an excellent education. The Labour leadership of the council must take responsibility for its failure to provide an excellent education for all and adopt the report’s recommendations as council policy. They must ensure that the recommendations in the report are urgently implemented and that councillors have the chance to discuss the report at a council meeting.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition, comments:

“It is unacceptable that children in Haringey are much less likely to attend a good or outstanding school than children in nearby boroughs. The life chances of our children are being damaged and local families deserve better. Labour need to take urgent action to improve education in the borough but 3 months after the report was launched the recommendations haven’t even been debated by councillors let alone adopted by the council’s cabinet.

“The Labour leadership seem to be incapable of implementing this important report and scared to debate it in public at a Full Council meeting. We are calling for a full and proper debate; this is far too important an issue to be left on the sidelines.”

Haringey Council have u-turned and will be consulting on implementing a borough wide 20mph zone having twice previously rejected the idea. Neighbouring Camden and Islington have already agreed to implement borough wide 20mph zones in their areas.

The consultation on the proposals is due to be approved on 18th June when the idea will be discussed at the council’s Cabinet.

The Liberal Democrats have campaigned locally for the change arguing that the costs involved are justified by the reduction in accidents and injuries, which have been experienced in other parts of the country where the zones have been introduced.

Money is available for the scheme; Haringey Council’s own figures show a surplus of £5,544,000 made from parking, an increase over last year of £2,211,000. Camden Council claims that statistics from Transport for London show a more than 20% fall in accidents in Belsize Park, which has had a 20mph zone since 2006.

However, in October last year, the Labour Cabinet Member for the Environment, Nilgun Canver, said:

“Introducing a borough-wide 20mph limit would cost approximately £3.2m and studies have been inconclusive in proving how useful they are. As such, I consider it imprudent to introduce a borough-wide limit when the evidence does not yet prove its effectiveness.”

The council’s Cabinet also decided not to consult on the introduction of a 20mph limit on residential roads in the borough in July 2011.

The Liberal Democrats have campaigned for the introduction of a borough wide 20mph limit since 2010. Hundreds of local residents have signed a Lib Dem petition calling for the introduction of a 20mph zone.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition, comments:

“I am delighted that Labour have seen sense, u-turned and agreed to consult on a borough wide 20mph zone following  years of Lib Dem campaigning. It is shame they have decided to wait so long as they have rejected this idea twice in recent years.

“I wonder how many accidents would have been prevented if Labour had listened to local residents when our Lib Dem campaign was launched back in 2010 and adopted the lower speed limit back then?  It is frustrating that Haringey is always playing catch-up rather than leading the way like other London boroughs.”

Local MP Lynne Featherstone, along with Liberal Democrat Councillor David Winskill, has met with Whittington Board members to discuss their public engagement programme, and to ask for updates on their Foundation Trust application.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has been pushing the Board to engage fully with the public ever since they announced controversial plans to make changes to the Hospital. Over 2,700 residents have signed a petition, supporting the MP’s call for engagement.

At the meeting, the Board informed the MP about their engagement process, which has involved open weekends, seminars, public meetings and liaison with local community and interest groups.

The Board confirmed that the engagement period would end on the 31st of May, and that their Foundation Trust application would then be reviewed in the following months. They will then release the revised plans.

The Liberal Democrat MP’s petition also calls for assurance that there will be no loss of service and proper consultation throughout this period of change. She has met frequently with the Board since the announcement in order to find out the facts and work constructively to secure the future of the hospital.

Following the meeting, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“There is a growing consensus that some changes must be made to secure Foundation Trust status, and therefore the future of the Whittington Hospital.

“Initially, for instance, Labour called for no changes– yet now one of their own councillors has spoken out and admitted that campaigning against any changes at all will do more harm than good to the hospital.

“All along, the local Lib Dems and I have recognised the need for some changes. However we have campaigned hard to ensure no services are lost and that the Whittington engage with the public and review their plans accordingly.

“I’m very glad that the Whittington Board has undertaken a programme of engagement – though I still feel more could be done to bring the details of the situation to the wider community. I will continue to ask them to do more.

“In the meantime, anyone who has strong views on the plans, and on the future of the Whittington should contact the hospital as soon as possible – as this engagement period will end on May 31st. I will also be emailing my constituents to let them know.”

Lib Dem transport spokesperson Cllr Jim Jenks comments on the Crossrail 2 proposals:

“We fully support the Crossrail 2 regional option which would see Alexandra Palace and Tottenham getting far better transport links. This is the best option for the borough as it would relieve pressure on the Victoria and Piccadilly lines, making the daily commute for local residents much easier.

“The new train links would also make Alexandra Palace more accessible to people across London and improve transport links between Tottenham and the centre of London.

“This is a great opportunity to improve transport in the borough and assist in the regeneration of Tottenham. It is vital that we get have better routes between Tottenham and the rest of London to boost the local economy, help residents access jobs across London and get more people visiting Haringey.”

Much-needed works to improve council homes in Highgate have been seriously delayed due to legal errors at Haringey Council, which means the entire process of selecting a contractor for the work must start all over again. The work would have brought the homes of 140 families up to a decent, modern standard.

Opposition councillors are calling for a full explanation and apology for local residents who were promised that their homes would be brought up to a decent standard this year.  Lib Dems on the Council’s Scrutiny Committee are also demanding a full investigation into the cause of the legal error.

A Lib Dem councillor uncovered the problem when a Highgate resident heard a rumour the work was not going ahead and asked the councillor to find out if it was true. Homes for Haringey confessed there had been a problem with the procurement of the contract for the decent home work across the borough. This means that the work will not happen until at least the 2014/15 financial year instead of this year. Cllr Allison has asked for reassurance that the government grant for the repairs is still safe and won’t be lost as a result of the delay. The councillor has been waiting for a response for from the council for 10 days.

Haringey Liberal Democrats are concerned that the delayed procurement will mean other improvement works to council homes in other parts of the borough will also be delayed.

Home for Haringey’s admission follows on from an issue recently highlighted by the Lib Dems. The council had been due to spend millions on capital projects including on works to homes, much of this money had not been spent this year as planned. This has led to fierce criticism from the opposition who have slammed the Labour council and Homes for Haringey for their poor performance.

The Lib Dems have also raised concerns over the lack of council homes built by the council. The last council home constructed in Haringey was in 1989, nearly 25 years ago. A Lib Dem amendment to the council budget to build 100 council homes in the next year was voted down by the Labour councillors at the budget meeting.

Rachel Allison, local Lib Dem councillor for Highgate, comments:

“This is appalling; people living on the Hillcrest Estate have been dreadfully let down because Homes for Haringey can’t get their act together and ensure a contractor is in place to do the work.

“Homes for Haringey and the council assured me that work to improve homes on the estate would be happening this year.

“Ensuring that there is a company in place to do upgrade works is a pretty basic thing especially when the money is there. The council and Homes for Haringey have known for a long time this work needed to happen, how on earth can they have got this wrong?

“I am really concerned that people on the Hillcrest Estate will not be the only ones in this position as it seems likely that other upgrade work scheduled to happen will also be delayed.”

Cllr Richard Wilson Lib Dem Housing spokesperson adds:

“This mistake smacks of incompetence. It is shocking that the Labour council can’t manage to procure a contract in time to do works to council homes that have been scheduled for a long time.  Hundreds of residents have been let down and are owed a full explanation and apology by the council.

“It’s bad enough that the council lets its homes fall into such a state of disrepair that they need such extensive remedial work but to promise improvements and then not deliver is unforgivable.”

Lynne Featherstone MP has expressed her concern as Department of Health figures revealed that measles cases In London have doubled in the last three months.

The Liberal Democrat MP and the Haringey Lib Dems began making enquiries following the outbreak of measles in South Wales.

In response to questions, Haringey Council stated that there was an adequate supply of the vaccine, and that Haringey had 88-90% vaccination coverage. They also stated that Public Health England was closely monitoring the situation, and that there was no evidence of measles spreading to the wider community in South Wales or in Haringey.

However, figures released by the Department of Health and Public Health England now suggest that Haringey has the fourth highest number of new cases in London, and only an 83% uptake of the MMR vaccine.

The Department of Health has now officially advised parents to get their children vaccinated.

Cllr David Winskill, Haringey Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, comments:

“The public are understandably worried about having a measles outbreak in Haringey because of the recent epidemic in Wales.

“It is very important that vaccination levels don’t drop here and we are calling on the council to carefully monitor the situation here in Haringey and take what steps they can to prevent an outbreak in the borough.

“We have asked for and received assurances from Haringey Public Health that adequate supplies are available to meet demand for vaccinations.”

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone commented:

“It is very concerning to hear that cases of measles are on the rise in London, with Haringey Borough in particular experiencing a number of new cases.

“17% of people in Haringey are not immunised against measles, despite their being an adequate supply of the vaccine. We need this percentage to decrease, in order to prevent measles spreading.”

Local people have long complained to local councillors about the state of the road surface, pavements and lighting in Inderwick Road.  Lib Dems councillors in the area jointly organised a petition with local resident Ben Myring to force the Labour council to take long-overdue action to fix up the road following years of neglect.

Inderwick Road is just one of many streets in need of repair; the council recently admitted that more than half of the footways in the borough need maintenance work.

Nearly 100 residents of Inderwick Road signed the Lib Dem petition to get the road fixed. Cllr Richard Wilson also recently brought the new Chief Executive of Haringey Council to Inderwick Road so he could see for himself how bad the road is, with potholes, uneven pavements and dilapidated lampposts.

As a result of the petition and pressure on the Labour council, the council has agreed to fix the pavements, resurface the road and improve the lighting on Inderwick Road.  The improvements will be made as part of the scheduled maintenance work due to take place over the next year.

Cllr Katherine Reece, Lib Dem councillor for Stroud Green, comments:

“Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and helped to make this happen. We will continue to work with residents and the local Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone to make sure that the Labour run council makes the improvements needed in Stroud Green and across the borough.

“It is a shame it was necessary to do this petition in the first place. The Labour council should be making sure that local roads and pavements are well maintained and not allow them to get into the state that Inderwick Road has gotten into.

“When residents are paying one of the highest council taxes in London they expect that basic things like fixing the streets and roads will happen.”

Haringey Lib Dems have slammed the council for its woeful planning performance following a report which reveals the council planning department has barely met government targets. The damning report also revealed that last year 26% of people who used the service were either fairly or very dissatisfied with the service and that complaints have quadrupled in the last 3 years.

The main reasons for complaints were:

• Failure to carry out building control site visits
• Lack of communication and not responding to emails quickly
• Not responding to phone calls
• Not keeping clients informed of the progress of their application
• Not taking timely enforcement action against people who had not followed planning requirements

The report, due to be discussed on Tuesday (30^th April) at a special meeting of the Regulatory Committee of the council, sets out the poor performance by the planning department and recommends a radical shake up.

The Labour council’s performance on the processing of major planning applications was so poor the local authority was in danger of failing to meet the government target of 30% of application beings processed within 16 weeks, the council barely scraped past this target processing 31% of applications within the required time over the last 2 years.

If the council had failed to meet this target the Government could have intervened and insisted that major planning applications be determined by the Planning Inspector instead of the local authority at the applicant’s request.

The Labour run council still has 5 major planning applications on the books which are over 26 weeks old and the Lib Dems have previously raised concerns about the council’s ability to deal with major projects such as Hornsey Depot which has been blighted with delays for over a decade.

Following the dire performance the planning department will be re-organised and an Interim Head of Development Management appointed to tackle the issues identified in the report. 4 temporary staff had to be hired over the last few months to clear the massive backlog of 700 applications. 3 agency staff in the department will be replaced by permanent staff members. More training of staff will also take place.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem leader of the opposition, comments:

“This damning report will come as no surprise to people who have submitted a planning application or tried to get more information about an application.”

“Residents have been complaining to local councillors for years about the poor service. The Labour leadership of the council should have taken action long ago to tackle the poor performance. Their failure to do so is another example of their inability to run the council effectively.

“The poor performance on planning applications raises questions about how many developers have been discouraged from investing in the borough due to the council’s failure to get the basics right, communicate progress to applicants and just pick up the phone.

“I am also worried that in a desperate bid to improve performance the council will start waving through bad planning applications rather than take the time and effort to scrutinise them properly. Residents of Haringey pay one of the highest rates of council tax in London and they deserve a better service than this.”