Typing this at home before I go to bed, will put it online in my lunchbreak tomorrow.
It was the last budget scrutiny session tonight - housing, education and health/social services. There was a big turnout from the public, as there were proposals to merge two day centres, Winkfield and Haven. They are both well attended and cater largely for different user groups - and the Committee recommended that the Executive do not push through that proposal. Now we wait and see if they listen to us.
There was also a proposal to close the Keston Road centre, and I wasn't happy with the responses about how these services would be provided elsewhere. I asked the Committee to recommend rejection of this proposal too - and happy to say everyone agreed.
Oh, and if you're wondering about the Prefab Sprout lyric in the title of this post... As a new blogger it's been interesting to see where my visitors are coming from. So far they have included some poor soul in Portugal who had done a search for "Berbatov" and just might have been confused/disappointed to end up with my blog. But one of the latest is my friend Colin's girlfriend Megan, who visited all the way from her home in Albuquerque. Hi Megan!
Incidentally, Prefab Sprout always remind me of my friend (and a former boss) Tim Farron, who is now MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale and is a big fan of theirs.
Anyway, it's getting late now, so better stop rambling. Match of the Day is just finishing - and I'm not going to even mention Arsen*l's result...
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Joining UKIP
I know some other Lib Dem bloggers have already posted about this, but this is an extract from an email sent to me from Nigel Farage (he's the chap that "leads" that UKIP lot).
...we intend to build up on local government representation and would welcome a conversation with anyone that might consider working with us or joining us. It is time to stand up and be counted. We give you an absolute assurance that you can contact us on a completely confidential basis.
It presumably has gone to all councillors - hope he remembered to pick out the couple of UKIP councillors before sending, otherwise they might be pretty confused right now.
It appears to have come from his European Parliament account, good to see UKIP actively engaging in the political process where they've been elected and not just worrying about their own dwindling fortunes.
Anyway, the general gist of it is: all political parties are the same, so come join ours. Am I tempted? Yes - tempted to write back "No" in *all* the EU languages.
...we intend to build up on local government representation and would welcome a conversation with anyone that might consider working with us or joining us. It is time to stand up and be counted. We give you an absolute assurance that you can contact us on a completely confidential basis.
It presumably has gone to all councillors - hope he remembered to pick out the couple of UKIP councillors before sending, otherwise they might be pretty confused right now.
It appears to have come from his European Parliament account, good to see UKIP actively engaging in the political process where they've been elected and not just worrying about their own dwindling fortunes.
Anyway, the general gist of it is: all political parties are the same, so come join ours. Am I tempted? Yes - tempted to write back "No" in *all* the EU languages.
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Dirty Pretty Things, Teenagers and CCTV
Sunday night I saw the Dirty Pretty Things in Birmingham. I have got a pretty varied taste in music, it's probably fair to say... the last two bands I'd been to see before the DPTs were the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Take That. And before Christmas I've still got the Zutons and the Charlatans to come - while the first two in the New Year are Kylie and the Killers. Anyway...
Went to the gig with my best mate from uni, Paul. And it wouldn't be much of an exaggeration to say that as we joined the queue we (at 30 and 29) probably increased the average age of the queuers by about 5 years. At least. To be fair though, once we were in and it all got underway, there were actually enough people our age and older to make us not feel *too* much like sad old losers.
The support acts were Hot Club de Paris and Larrikin Love - hadn't really heard anything of HCdP before and only a few Larrikin Love songs. It's always difficult judging how good bands are when you don't know much of the material, but they both had a good sound and I enjoyed them. The Dirty Pretty Things were then awesome - love their album & it sounded even better live. Stayed nearer the bar and left the teenagers to crowdsurf without me though.
Monday night was a meeting at Fortismere School, where I'm a governor (through my role as a councillor). This time it was looking after the educational interests of teenagers rather than watching a gig over their heads. I met a few new governors for the first time and we had very productive discussions on a range of issues. Starting at 7pm, didn't quite get to finish at 9.30 as scheduled - 10.20 instead - but actually it didn't feel that long.
Then tonight was the second of three budget scrutiny sessions. A 6.15 start and over just after 10pm. Looking at the environment, community involvement and "organisational development and performance" portfolios. Along with my colleagues on the committee, Martin Newton and David Winskill, I raised points on... well, just about everything really. It's also especially good to be able to follow up previous reviews you've chaired and comment on those you're doing at the moment, so I took up several points on the budgets around CCTV and allotments. An ongoing concern we all have is the amount of money spent on IT projects, millions more in the budget for coming years. After the massive Council overspend on the "Tech Refresh" project (budget under £10m originally, ended up nearly £25m) people question whether we're really getting value for money.
Right, busy at work tomorrow and the third budget scrutiny meeting in the evening... must get home for sleep before too long.
Went to the gig with my best mate from uni, Paul. And it wouldn't be much of an exaggeration to say that as we joined the queue we (at 30 and 29) probably increased the average age of the queuers by about 5 years. At least. To be fair though, once we were in and it all got underway, there were actually enough people our age and older to make us not feel *too* much like sad old losers.
The support acts were Hot Club de Paris and Larrikin Love - hadn't really heard anything of HCdP before and only a few Larrikin Love songs. It's always difficult judging how good bands are when you don't know much of the material, but they both had a good sound and I enjoyed them. The Dirty Pretty Things were then awesome - love their album & it sounded even better live. Stayed nearer the bar and left the teenagers to crowdsurf without me though.
Monday night was a meeting at Fortismere School, where I'm a governor (through my role as a councillor). This time it was looking after the educational interests of teenagers rather than watching a gig over their heads. I met a few new governors for the first time and we had very productive discussions on a range of issues. Starting at 7pm, didn't quite get to finish at 9.30 as scheduled - 10.20 instead - but actually it didn't feel that long.
Then tonight was the second of three budget scrutiny sessions. A 6.15 start and over just after 10pm. Looking at the environment, community involvement and "organisational development and performance" portfolios. Along with my colleagues on the committee, Martin Newton and David Winskill, I raised points on... well, just about everything really. It's also especially good to be able to follow up previous reviews you've chaired and comment on those you're doing at the moment, so I took up several points on the budgets around CCTV and allotments. An ongoing concern we all have is the amount of money spent on IT projects, millions more in the budget for coming years. After the massive Council overspend on the "Tech Refresh" project (budget under £10m originally, ended up nearly £25m) people question whether we're really getting value for money.
Right, busy at work tomorrow and the third budget scrutiny meeting in the evening... must get home for sleep before too long.
Monday, 27 November 2006
Alexander Litvinenko
Unexpected news over the weekend - that the Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko who died recently was a resident in my ward.
Traces of Polonium-210 have been found on the street and I believe all residents have been informed. So, without publicising the name of the street on here, you needn't worry that it could be your street, if you live in the area you will already have been told.
Of course, Mr Litvinenko's death is very sad - it's easy to forget the tragic loss, with all the mystery surrounding the circumstances - and my condolences go to his friends and family.
If anyone is concerned about the potential health risks, which I understand to be very minimal, then you can read more information here: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=2086 and if in doubt please call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Traces of Polonium-210 have been found on the street and I believe all residents have been informed. So, without publicising the name of the street on here, you needn't worry that it could be your street, if you live in the area you will already have been told.
Of course, Mr Litvinenko's death is very sad - it's easy to forget the tragic loss, with all the mystery surrounding the circumstances - and my condolences go to his friends and family.
If anyone is concerned about the potential health risks, which I understand to be very minimal, then you can read more information here: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=2086 and if in doubt please call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Friday, 24 November 2006
More NHS cuts - this time close to home
My colleague Cllr Richard Wilson is our health spokesperson and on Wednesday went to the Primary Care Trust board meeting to hear about the latest NHS cuts locally. Fortis Green Clinic (you'll be unsurprised to know by the name that this is in my ward) has been put on the market. No doubt the housing developers will be licking their lips.
It's all part of the fiasco around the Hornsey Hospital site - closed years ago, long awaiting redevelopment. The theory is that the services provided to local residents at Fortis Green Clinic can be provided at Hornsey instead. You've probably already spotted the flaw here... whether that is a desirable way forward or not, the services certainly can't be provided until the Hornsey facility is open.
There has been a slow undermining of the Fortis Green service. The family planning and sexual health clinics were scrapped earlier this year, despite being well used. At a previous meeting where the PCT put forward the idea of transferring services to the Hornsey site in the future, I specifically asked them if this would happen before or after the facilities at Hornsey were in use. I was assured that while money from selling the Fortis Green site was a part of the funding proposal for Hornsey, the money would not need to be received in advance and so the clinics in my ward would continue at the very least until alternative provision (Hornsey) was available.
This is at least one local mess we can't blame on Haringey Labour. But we can, and should, blame it on the Labour government. Despite them pumping record amounts of cash into the NHS - and, yes, making some improvements on the lean and mean years of the last Conservative government - the NHS is clearly in crisis. Certainly not helped by endless restructuring, setting up health and patient bodies then reorganising and scrapping them - one "initiative" after another.
Richard has called for the PCT's decision to be brought to Overview & Scrutiny - where we do have the power to refer their decisions to the Secretary of State. You can rest assured that we will be doing all we can to try and make sure local residents aren't shortchanged by the NHS deficit crisis - where our local PCT is being forced to bail out other PCTs who have not managed their accounts as well.
If you'd like to add your name to the protests against the proposed sell-off of Fortis Green Clinic, then please e-mail me at matt.davies@haringeylibdems.org
I'll leave the last word to Richard: "Why is it that they move so quickly when it comes to closing and selling health facilities but so very slowly when it comes to building them?"
It's all part of the fiasco around the Hornsey Hospital site - closed years ago, long awaiting redevelopment. The theory is that the services provided to local residents at Fortis Green Clinic can be provided at Hornsey instead. You've probably already spotted the flaw here... whether that is a desirable way forward or not, the services certainly can't be provided until the Hornsey facility is open.
There has been a slow undermining of the Fortis Green service. The family planning and sexual health clinics were scrapped earlier this year, despite being well used. At a previous meeting where the PCT put forward the idea of transferring services to the Hornsey site in the future, I specifically asked them if this would happen before or after the facilities at Hornsey were in use. I was assured that while money from selling the Fortis Green site was a part of the funding proposal for Hornsey, the money would not need to be received in advance and so the clinics in my ward would continue at the very least until alternative provision (Hornsey) was available.
This is at least one local mess we can't blame on Haringey Labour. But we can, and should, blame it on the Labour government. Despite them pumping record amounts of cash into the NHS - and, yes, making some improvements on the lean and mean years of the last Conservative government - the NHS is clearly in crisis. Certainly not helped by endless restructuring, setting up health and patient bodies then reorganising and scrapping them - one "initiative" after another.
Richard has called for the PCT's decision to be brought to Overview & Scrutiny - where we do have the power to refer their decisions to the Secretary of State. You can rest assured that we will be doing all we can to try and make sure local residents aren't shortchanged by the NHS deficit crisis - where our local PCT is being forced to bail out other PCTs who have not managed their accounts as well.
If you'd like to add your name to the protests against the proposed sell-off of Fortis Green Clinic, then please e-mail me at matt.davies@haringeylibdems.org
I'll leave the last word to Richard: "Why is it that they move so quickly when it comes to closing and selling health facilities but so very slowly when it comes to building them?"
Thursday, 23 November 2006
Useless Channel 5
Finally, the highlights of the Spurs match against Leverkusen are on Channel 5. Still, suppose I should be grateful that they are even bothering to show the highlights at all. You see, Channel 5 bought the exclusive UK rights to screen the game and then decided to show it... only on their website. Marvellous. Fiver a pop - and I believe it was limited to 5,000 viewers as well. I could post the response I got from Channel 5 when I emailed them yesterday to whinge - but essentially it just said that they were a big corporation and they could do what they wanted*.
Channel 5 aside, the good news is that Spurs won 1-0, Berbatov against his old team. All in all five wins out of five in the UEFA Cup... just got to take that consistency to places like Reading in the Prem. Anyway, already qualified for the knockout stages and the Spurs go marching on. Get in.
(*please note, this is a personal interpretation of the Channel 5 response, others who are more legally minded may even interpret it as a perfectly reasonable response)
Channel 5 aside, the good news is that Spurs won 1-0, Berbatov against his old team. All in all five wins out of five in the UEFA Cup... just got to take that consistency to places like Reading in the Prem. Anyway, already qualified for the knockout stages and the Spurs go marching on. Get in.
(*please note, this is a personal interpretation of the Channel 5 response, others who are more legally minded may even interpret it as a perfectly reasonable response)
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Technical genius
Well, it's been nearly a week and I haven't quite managed to get a photo up on here yet. I thought I could just add a photo from a computer and I was just having problems doing that, but I think that I've figured out I need to have whatever photos hosted somewhere else first and link to them. Maybe.
Anyway, what have I been up to since that first post... Actually, maybe this isn't a bad start as it could give you a rough idea of a typical few days in my life:
Unusually, the weekend involved no politics at all (except for a few e-mails here and there), which made a nice change. During the day on Saturday I was at the AGM of my new employers - Transport 2000 - which included an excellent presentation from a lady called Lynn Sloman who used to work for T2000 and has published a book called 'Car Sick'. Some really interesting data in there, including backing up her 40:40:20 theory (read the book for the full detail, but basically 40% of current car journeys could be easily done on existing public transport, 40% could be done with a little encouragement and small changes to existing public transport and only 20% represent the journeys where a car is really the only sensible way of travelling).
Then I got a train up to Stafford for Saturday evening, to visit my old housemate from when I used to live in Coventry (also called Matt - and when I moved to London, another Matt moved into my room). Had a few beers and caught up on what we were both up to - then I got away with sleeping most of Sunday morning while Matt actually went and played football. Then the main part of the visit arrived, the trip up to Blackburn to watch Spurs play...
Matt is actually an Everton fan, but had promised to come to this match with me as a belated birthday present. Two sendings off, two disallowed goals, two goals (one a penalty and one a wonder goal) - I think he got his money's worth as a relative neutral. The crowd there was pretty small (cue chants of "have you ever filled your ground?") but there was a really good turn out from Spurs fans for a 4pm Sunday Sky match (who does this timetabling? Oh, yeah, Sky) and we were in pretty good voice too. Would have probably settled for a point before the match, but was disappointing not to win with a man advantage most of the second half. Still, all round was a much more enjoyable experience than the previous week's trip to Reading.
Got home very late in the end, as train was delayed and arrived in Euston after the tubes finished. Still, went on a couple of interesting night buses...
This week, however, has been pretty full of Council so far. Monday night was the first of three Overview & Scrutiny sessions of the budget. We kicked off with a run through of how it would work at 6.15 and then the meeting ran (as usual) from 7-10pm. My colleague (and fellow Finance Spokesperson) Cllr Robert Gorrie attended the whole meeting too (although not on the Committee) and made his usual excellent contributions to the debate.
Tuesday night I was chairing one of the final meetings of the Scrutiny Review Panel I have been doing into the use of CCTV in Haringey - for community safety purposes, rather than parking. I don't think residents are left in any doubt as to the effectiveness of the parking cameras by the large number of fines being issued, but they do have serious (and understandable) doubts about the effectiveness of the cameras dealing with crime. The panel will publish its report in January, making recommendations to the Executive about the way to improve the usefulness of our CCTV systems - but in the meantime I have also raised urgent issues about the operation of the CCTV control room with the Labour Executive, which came to light at our meeting last night and need to be addressed immediately.
Right, that's a quick flavour anyway - I think I've probably already broken whatever rules there are in blogging world about the length of each post... But I expect it won't be the last time... Actually no Council tonight, but I do need to go and get a few leaflets through letterboxes - but just for an hour or so, then I plan to get home and just have a beer and maybe watch a film.
Anyway, what have I been up to since that first post... Actually, maybe this isn't a bad start as it could give you a rough idea of a typical few days in my life:
Unusually, the weekend involved no politics at all (except for a few e-mails here and there), which made a nice change. During the day on Saturday I was at the AGM of my new employers - Transport 2000 - which included an excellent presentation from a lady called Lynn Sloman who used to work for T2000 and has published a book called 'Car Sick'. Some really interesting data in there, including backing up her 40:40:20 theory (read the book for the full detail, but basically 40% of current car journeys could be easily done on existing public transport, 40% could be done with a little encouragement and small changes to existing public transport and only 20% represent the journeys where a car is really the only sensible way of travelling).
Then I got a train up to Stafford for Saturday evening, to visit my old housemate from when I used to live in Coventry (also called Matt - and when I moved to London, another Matt moved into my room). Had a few beers and caught up on what we were both up to - then I got away with sleeping most of Sunday morning while Matt actually went and played football. Then the main part of the visit arrived, the trip up to Blackburn to watch Spurs play...
Matt is actually an Everton fan, but had promised to come to this match with me as a belated birthday present. Two sendings off, two disallowed goals, two goals (one a penalty and one a wonder goal) - I think he got his money's worth as a relative neutral. The crowd there was pretty small (cue chants of "have you ever filled your ground?") but there was a really good turn out from Spurs fans for a 4pm Sunday Sky match (who does this timetabling? Oh, yeah, Sky) and we were in pretty good voice too. Would have probably settled for a point before the match, but was disappointing not to win with a man advantage most of the second half. Still, all round was a much more enjoyable experience than the previous week's trip to Reading.
Got home very late in the end, as train was delayed and arrived in Euston after the tubes finished. Still, went on a couple of interesting night buses...
This week, however, has been pretty full of Council so far. Monday night was the first of three Overview & Scrutiny sessions of the budget. We kicked off with a run through of how it would work at 6.15 and then the meeting ran (as usual) from 7-10pm. My colleague (and fellow Finance Spokesperson) Cllr Robert Gorrie attended the whole meeting too (although not on the Committee) and made his usual excellent contributions to the debate.
Tuesday night I was chairing one of the final meetings of the Scrutiny Review Panel I have been doing into the use of CCTV in Haringey - for community safety purposes, rather than parking. I don't think residents are left in any doubt as to the effectiveness of the parking cameras by the large number of fines being issued, but they do have serious (and understandable) doubts about the effectiveness of the cameras dealing with crime. The panel will publish its report in January, making recommendations to the Executive about the way to improve the usefulness of our CCTV systems - but in the meantime I have also raised urgent issues about the operation of the CCTV control room with the Labour Executive, which came to light at our meeting last night and need to be addressed immediately.
Right, that's a quick flavour anyway - I think I've probably already broken whatever rules there are in blogging world about the length of each post... But I expect it won't be the last time... Actually no Council tonight, but I do need to go and get a few leaflets through letterboxes - but just for an hour or so, then I plan to get home and just have a beer and maybe watch a film.
Thursday, 16 November 2006
Here goes nothing
Well, I decided to start a blog when I turned 30... it's taken me exactly a month to get around to doing it. But I thought this was all supposed to be easy? I can't even upload a photo at the moment - but that's probably a blessing in disguise.
In a pretty inauspicious start to my blog, I'm bored already and I have to get out and deliver some leaflets in my ward anyway.
I guess as long as I don't tell everyone I've started a blog I've got at least a month or so to work out if I'm ever going to be able to find the time to post regularly and make it worthwhile. If not, then we'll just press the delete button and pretend it never happened....
In a pretty inauspicious start to my blog, I'm bored already and I have to get out and deliver some leaflets in my ward anyway.
I guess as long as I don't tell everyone I've started a blog I've got at least a month or so to work out if I'm ever going to be able to find the time to post regularly and make it worthwhile. If not, then we'll just press the delete button and pretend it never happened....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
