It has emerged that the Conservative campaign in the Brunswick Park by-election are distributing a leaflet claiming that Osidge Lane and Brunswick Park Road car parks will remain free, yet Conservative Parking Boss, Cllr Dean Cohen, has refused to confirm this, and no council decision on the charges for these two car parks has been announced.

Labour’s Parking and Environment Spokesperson, Cllr Alan Schneiderman said:

“First Cllr Cohen says he will make an announcement next week, then he announces the charges will be withdrawn from Egerton Gardens, New Brent Street and Quakers Course.  Then he says he won’t confirm any more.  They are so desparate that Cllr Cohen is shooting from the hip like his predecessor – what an omnishambles!

Until the council announce a decision on charges in Osidge Lane and Brunswick Park Road car parks, the Conservatives should not be distributing a leaflet saying those car parks will remain free.  The Conservative campaign in Brunswick Park should withdraw this leaflet immediately – it is deliberately misleading local residents.”

Speech by Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore:

Annual Meeting, 15.05.2012.

Agenda Item 9 - Report of the Special Committee (Constitution Review).

Check against delivery.

Mister Mayor

I congratulate you on your appointment, and wish you a successful Mayoral year.

I feel it’s important to speak on the report from the Constitution committee because it cuts to the heart of local democracy and transparency.

The recommendations before us tonight seek to replace the Standards committee which has 7 lay members of the public on it, constituting a majority, with a purely political panel of the 3 Leaders of the political groups.

This is a completely retrograde step that will lead to a loss of public confidence in the Standards regime.

It fails the transparency test, and gives the impression that councillors are not willing to open themselves up to public scrutiny by ordinary members of the public when it comes to their conduct.

The Standards committee itself unanimously voted to maintain a panel with a strong independent element, where lay members of the public continued to form a majority on the panel, and were involved in decisions about Standards and hearings dealing with complaints about councillors’ conduct, but this was overturned by the Conservative councillors at the Constitution committee.

This is evidence of the continued erosion of democracy and transparency in the way Barnet does business.

Under this administration, Resident Forums and public speaking rights at committee have been reduced, member call-in of decisions has been limited, the ability for staff to be represented by their Trades Unions at committees dealing with staffing matters and the future of local services has been downgraded - particularly with the scrapping of the Corporate Joint Negotiation Committee.

And finally, as the One Barnet programme progresses, services are being sold-off wholesale to the private sector with minimal member oversight due to the Conservative decision to scrap the One Barnet Scrutiny committee.

Once all these services are hived off to the private sector member ability to directly hold the delivery of these services to account will be almost non-existent.

We are on record as opposing this wholesale sell-off of local public services, for which there is still no evidence that it will deliver cheaper, better or more responsive services to local people.

Similarly, the Labour group will be voting against these changes to the Standards regime because we believe they simply will not be in the public interest, and that is, after all the reason why we as elected members are here - to serve the public.

Barnet’s Labour group will be voting against proposals to remove the Standards committee and replace it with a panel of the Leaders of the three political groups, on the basis that the new arrangements are less transparent.

The current Standards committee comprises 7 independent members and 6 back-bench councillors (two from each political group). Following the abolition of the Standards Board for England by the Conservative-led coalition government, Barnet council conducted a review of its own local Standards committee arrangements. The cross-party Standards committee recommended a smaller committee of 3 back-bench councillors (one from each political group), with 4 independent members (the Chair of the committee to be drawn from the independent members).

This recommendation was overturned by the Conservative majority on the Constitution Review committee in favour of standards complaints being dealt with by a panel of the 3 political group Leaders (taking account of the views of an “independent person”).

At the Annual Meeting of the Council tonight, Labour councillors will be voting against the proposal that complaints against councillors be dealt with by the 3 group Leaders for the following reasons:

• The proposal does not contain a strong enough “Independent” element – it reduces the lay members of the public who can be involved in the Standards process from 4 to 1.
• The proposal further weakens the “Independent” element by removing lay members of the public from the decision / voting at Standards hearings and on Standards issues in favour of the Leaders merely “taking account of the independent member’s views”.
• With the reduction of independent members and the removal of their voting rights the process is much more open to political influence.

Labour councillors on the Standards Committee and on the Constitution Committee voted against the proposal to replace the Standards committee with a panel of the 3 Group Leaders.

Leader of Barnet Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore said:
“Complaints against councillors should be heard by ordinary members of the public who sit on the Standards committee or panel as well as by back-bench councillors. Tonight’s proposal will make the whole Standards process less transparent to local residents, and we will be voting against it for that reason. “

Standards committee member, Cllr Agnes Slocombe said:“Standards is a cross-party committee with a strong independent element of lay members of the public who hold the majority on that committee. Our unanimous recommendation to keep this arrangement has been overturned by the Conservatives who propose to replace it with a political panel. This is completely a step in the wrong direction, and is more evidence that this Conservative administration is undemocratic, unaccountable and lacking in any transparency.”

Following a hard fought campaign by local residents, Barnet’s Conservative council have withdrawn their proposals to charge in the Church Hill Road car park in East Barnet.

Labour’s Environment spokesperson, Cllr Alan Schneiderman said: “It is excellent news for East Barnet residents, and others, that the Tories have finally withdrawn their crazy plan to charge in this car park. Now what we need is a complete reversal of last year’s draconian parking charge and permit rises that were brought in by Brian Coleman and are killing off our high streets.”

Letter on parking from Labour’s Environment spokesperson, Cllr Alan Schneiderman:

Dear Editor

I’m writing to welcome the news that Barnet’s Conservative councillors have finally seen the light and withdrawn their crazy plan to introduce charges in Church Hill Road car park in East Barnet Village.

It is a great pity that they felt unable to make this decision weeks ago, when local residents had made it so clear that the proposal would kill-off trade to the local town centre. It is also very peculiar that the Conservatives, including the three East Barnet councillors, refused to vote for Cllr Kath McGuirk’s motion calling for the withdrawal of these charges at the April council meeting – if they believed these charges to be such a bad idea, why didn’t they take action then?

By making this decision now, following the defeat of Brian Coleman in the recent London Election polls, and his withdrawal as Barnet’s Cabinet Member for Parking and Environment, the Conservative group are effectively saying he was the impediment to scrapping these car park charges – in which case I am tempted to ask who is really leading the Conservative group – it would seem that Brian was clearly Leader of the Council in all but name.

In a recent open letter to the Leader of the Council, Richard Cornelius, Cllr Alison Moore suggested that new direction in environmental policy was required. Two of her proposals, in addition to the scrapping of the car park charges, was the immediate reversal of last year’s eye-watering parking permit and parking charge rises, and a re-think of the parking regime in town centres, including introduction of more options for payment like credit/debit and smart card machines. The Conservatives hiked parking charges up by up to 300 per cent last year, sparking a legal challenge by the CPZ Action Group that is now going to trial. The council have already spent significant council tax payers’ money defending this completely legitimate legal challenge – they should now listen to local residents and traders, and reverse these charges that are killing off our high streets to avoid wasting any more money. They should also introduce more flexible options for parking payment in town centres to help shoppers and traders. Both this and the proposal to reverse parking charges was in Labour’s fully costed and validated budget amendment at the Council Tax setting meeting in March, which the Conservative councillors voted against, as was the proposal to re-introduce cash parking meters.

Yours
Cllr Alan Schneiderman
Labour’s Environment spokesperson

Labour councillors have launched a petition against any closure of Barnet’s 13 remaining children’s centres. Barnet council have already cut the number of children’s centres by 8 – from 21 to 13 – by removing £2.685 million from the budget in 2011/12.

The council is consulting on proposals to change the funding allocation of children’s centres that will mean 8 of the 13 remaining centres receiving less funding. Five children’s centres will have their funding cut by between 20 and 36 per cent – these are Newstead in East Finchley, Parkfield and The Hyde in West Hendon, Underhill in Underhill ward and the Fairway in Hale. The options for childcare at children’s centres listed in the consultation document include reducing opening hours, increasing childcare fees, privatisation or closure of centres.

The council say that there are a number of government schemes that will continue to support families in accessing childcare like Working Families Tax Credit, the targeted scheme for two year olds that offers 10 hours of free childcare for vulnerable children and the three and four year old free entitlement scheme which offers 15 hours free childcare. But Labour is concerned that the government is limiting Working Families Tax Credits, and thousands of families in need stand to lose these. The 10 and 15 hour childcare schemes have fees set nationally by the government that does not take into account the extra cost in London, so Children’s Centres could actually lose money through offering places under these schemes. In addition, these targeted schemes only offer 10-15 free hours of childcare a week, but to claim Working Families Tax Credits (WFTC) parents need to work at least 24 hours a week or they lose their whole entitlement to WFTC.

Labour’s petition says:

“We the undersigned petition Barnet Council to ensure that no more children’s centres in the Borough close. We note that:

Barnet council has already cut 8 children’s centres – a cut of £2.685 million.
Barnet council is now proposing a new allocation of funding for the remaining 13 children’s centres that reduces funding for childcare at 8 centres. Five of these children’s centres will lose between 20 per cent and 36 per cent of their funding over two years, which could lead to their closure or privatisation.
At the same time the government is cutting other forms of childcare support like Working Families Tax Credits.
The council’s options for child care at children’s centres include reducing hours, increasing childcare fees, privatisation or closure.

We strongly believe that many parents in need will therefore be unable to access affordable childcare and may not be able to return to work or work full-time as a result.

We call on the council to ensure that no children’s centres close as a result of this funding formula change, and that sufficient funding is guaranteed to enable children’s centres to provide a full range of services including childcare.”

Labour’s Children’s Services Spokesperson, Cllr Anne Hutton said:
“The financial viability of at least five Children’s Centres is at risk under these proposals, so we are calling on the council to reassure parents that no children’s centres will close as a result of these cuts.”

Leader of Barnet Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore said:

“The Barnet and Camden result was such an overwhelming rejection of Cllr Coleman’s policies that his position as Cabinet Member for Environment is now totally untenable. I have written to the Leader of the Council making it clear that a rethink of parking, road safety and other key environment policies is now required – and this cannot take place with Cllr Coleman in the role.”

Open letter to Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Cornelius, from Cllr Alison Moore:

Dear Richard,

Last week’s result for the London Assembly seat of Barnet and Camden was as much a clear and overwhelming rejection by local people of environment policies being implemented in Barnet – particularly around parking and road safety – as it was a rejection of London-wide policies pursued by the former Assembly Member. We now have a situation where at least six separate and independent community groups are mounting grass roots resident-led campaigns against Barnet’s environment policies – North Finchley Traders, East Barnet residents, the Walksafe N2 Campaign, Barnet Alliance for Public Services, the CPZ Action Group and the Pinkham Way Alliance for example.

Given the strength of feeling displayed by local residents, I believe that the time has come for a complete rethink of council environment policy – particularly on parking, parks, road safety, waste and re-cycling and the sell-off of services like Cemeteries and Crematoria – and it seems to me that this simply cannot be done with the current Cabinet Member in the role.

I strongly believe that new political leadership in environmental services is required and would urge you to consider a change in direction as follows:

1. Parking: Bring forward the parking review that has been promised, to report to committee with options before the summer, rather than in September as originally proposed. The review should include options to reverse last year’s parking charge increases, more flexible methods of payment for parking in car parks and town centres, including cash and credit / smart card payment and scrapping of the proposed introduction of car park charges in the 7 remaining free car parks in the Borough. In addition it is imperative that the council work with local traders to ensure that our town centres remain vibrant (and that their economic footprint expands rather than contracts in this difficult economic climate) rather than damaging their viability with punitive parking charges.

2. Parks: Scrap the proposal for developing the private hire of parks that is so unpopular with local residents.

3. Road Safety: Stop the current review looking at removing traffic lights to increase traffic flows, and develop a proper programme for road safety across the borough working in partnership with residents and consulting them on any proposals.

4. Waste and re-cycling: Implement the options to increase re-cycling and reduce waste going to landfill as early as possible. Implement incentive schemes that will help boost re-cycling and reduce household waste. Find a better location for the waste treatment plant currently proposed at Pinkham Way that will allow bulk transport by canal and rail, for example the Industrial Estate in Upper Lea Valley.

5. Cemeteries and Crematoria: The officer report on Cemeteries and Crematoria states that the option presenting the most value for money is to keep this service in-house, yet Cabinet are now recommending that this be privatised. Cems and Crems should be kept in-house, and the millions of pounds in income they generate should not be shared with the private sector – it should be re-invested in local public services.

This is not an exhaustive list of reforms that are needed, but it is a start in the right direction towards rebuilding trust with local people.

Yours sincerely,

Alison

Cllr Alison Moore

Leader of the Labour Group and of the Opposition

Labour’s parking petition calling for a reversal of last year’s parking charge increases now has over 2,000 signatures. 

By law, a petition with 2,000 signatures automatically triggers an officer review of a policy, and in Barnet this should be heard at the Business Management scrutiny meeting scheduled for 29 February – just six days before the council’s budget is set.

Labour’s Environment spokesperson, Cllr Kath McGuirk said: “In only a few weeks 2,000 people have registered their protest against these horrendous parking charges by signing our petition – clearly, local people do not think they are being “hysterical“, “over the top” and “rude” in opposing these increases: as your Conservative GLA Member / Environment Cabinet Member, Brian Coleman once said.

“We hope the review will make him see sense and finally change his mind and reverse last year’s draconian charges to give our local residents and traders some respite in these difficult times.”

To sign the petition go to: http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/parkingcharges/

Read our previous press release on this issue here:

Parking charges may still go up by 5 per cent

Tories refuse parking amnesty meeting

At the 24 January Full Council meeting, Labour councillors will be calling for Barnet’s Conservative administration to drop their proposals to promote the private hire of local parks.

The Opposition Policy Item which will be debated at the 24 January meeting says:

“Council notes the administration’s proposal to promote private use of Barnet’s parks for a fee on the rather cynical basis that “this should improve usage of parks”.

“Council does not agree with any private annexation of public community space in parks in order for the Council to make money, and asks Cabinet to remove these proposals from their budget.”

The Conservative Cabinet are proposing that the council make at least £30,000 a year from the private hire of space in the following parks across Barnet:

Highland Gardens (EN5)

Victoria Park (N3)

Hendon Park (NW4)

Scratchwood (NW7)

Edgwarebury Park (HA8)

Oak hill Park (EN4)

Lyttleton Playing Fields (N2)

Princes Park (NW11)

The Events policy document that is currently out for public consultation says “Should there be demand for additional sites then further consultation will be completed” and although the expectation is that most of these events will take place during the summer (between 1 April and 30 September), the document says that “Consideration will of course be given to events outside this core period”.

Many residents have raised concerns about reduced public access to parks, damage, litter and noise nuisance.

Labour’s Environment spokesperson, Cllr Kath McGuirk said: “We have been inundated with emails and phone calls from local residents who are up-in-arms about the private hire of parks.

“The policy is proving to be deeply unpopular with residents living near to the pilot parks, and with people who regularly use these parks.

“We are clear that parks are for the community, and their access and enjoyment should not be lessened so that the council can make money.”

The Labour Group of councillors have submitted a motion to the 24 January Full Council meeting calling on Barnet’s Conservative administration to renew efforts to help Barnet Football Club stay in the borough.

The text of the motion from Cllr Alison Moore is:

“Council is deeply saddened by the announcement that Barnet Football Club may be leaving Barnet and recognises all the work that the Club does for the benefit of the local community and young people across the Borough.

“Council asks that the Leader and Cabinet do everything they can to secure the Club’s future in Barnet for the good of the local community, and all the supporters.”

Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore said: “The Club does great work in the local community and to help young people, and it would be a very sad loss were it to leave the borough – particularly given that the council is slashing the youth service by 75 per cent.

“Labour councillors are ready and willing to work with the council administration to try and secure the future of the Club in Barnet, and I hope the council debate will be the start of some cross-party working to that end.”

Hundreds of people have signed Labour’s petition calling for inflation-busting parking charges to be reversed in the first few days since going live on the Barnet Council e-petitions website last Thursday. 288 signatures have already been logged on the e-petition online, with paper copies of the petition also distributed to local shopkeepers.

The unpopular parking charge increases, and recent changes to cashless parking have already had an adverse impact on Barnet’s town centres, and attempts to introduce cash payment options have fallen flat with PayPoint locations too far away from parking areas, and scratch cards too expensive to be taken up by local shoppers.

The cost of parking has been the subject of vociferous complaint by local residents and traders alike, who believe that high streets and town centres have already become deserted as a result of cash-less parking. Photographs show empty parking bays in East Finchley town centre.

Labour councillors would like to see a more flexible and cheaper scratch-card system, and they support a two week Christmas amnesty on parking in Barnet’s Town Centres, but launched their petition to try and get action on the underlying problem of inflation-busting parking charge increases that are the source of the problem.

Labour’s Environment Spokesperson, Cllr Kath McGuirk, said:

“Barnet’s Tory Leader and his colleagues are completely clueless about the harsh reality that ordinary people face.  The Tories only introduced the pay-by-cash scratch cards a few weeks ago and they are already proposing to increase the cost of them by 5 percent. This year we have seen other increases in parking charges across Barnet up to 300% – this has to stop. We need action to help small businesses and relieve hard-pressed residents of this new Tory poll tax.”

You can sign the petition here  http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/parkingcharges/