The Council’s New Year Resolution should be to pay local businesses on time!
Posted January 19, 2012 * Comments(0)

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that Waltham Forest Council have failed to meet their own targets for paying local businesses within 10 days for 7 out of the last 8 months. And they have only once met their targets for paying small businesses on time since last April 2011.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses the Government estimates that in 2008, 4,000 businesses failed as a direct result of late payment and it costs UK businesses £180 million in debt interest charges. The problem of late payment is not just a commercial one, but it is also ethically wrong. When large businesses or the public sector pay late, it can put small firms out of business.

Liberal Democrat Leader and Finance Spokesperson, Councillor Bob Sullivan said:

“This is a tough time for small businesses and these targets were set to try and help cash flow for local businesses in Waltham Forest.

“For some small businesses, being paid promptly can mean the difference between growing or standing still; between creating jobs or cutting them; between keeping the doors open or closing them for good.”

“It is unacceptable that the council is failing local businesses in this way. Officers and Cabinet members should use the new year to turn over a new leaf and pay local businesses on time in 2012.”

Fire Brigade 999 Service for Sale!
Posted January 19, 2012 * Comments(0)

Residents in Waltham Forest will be put at risk if the Mayor’s plans to privatise Fire Brigade 999 call handling go ahead, warn the borough’s Liberal Democrat Councillors.

Conservatives on the London Fire Authority backed by Mayor Boris Johnson propose to contract out the Fire Brigade Control Room that handles over 200,000 emergency 999 calls a year. They intend to push their controversial plan through before voters get a say in next May’s Mayoral and London Assembly elections, when controversial Conservative LFEPA boss Cllr Brian Coleman risks being ousted.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Farooq Qureshi said:

“I was shocked to hear of this plan. It makes no sense to separate the people answering 999 calls from the rest of the Fire Brigade. There are no private companies with a decent track record in this highly specialised fire safety work. It will just end up costing more money as the Fire Brigade will need an army of staff to check the private call handlers are getting it right. This is all about Conservative dogma rather than what is best for local residents’ safety.”

The Fire Brigade’s Union is also strongly opposed to the privatisation plan.

Commenting on the sell off Liberal Democrat Candidate for Mayor of London, Brian Paddick said:

“As a former police chief I recognise that control rooms are an essential part of the emergency response. Privatising the fire brigade control room runs the risk of providing a second class service at a higher cost to the public.”

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year
Posted December 23, 2011 * Comments(0)

Council puts children at risk!
Posted December 9, 2011 * Comments(0)

A significant number of vulnerable children in Waltham Forest have not been adequately protected and were put at risk of harm due to Council’s failures. This was revealed after an unannounced inspection by the Government’s OFSTED inspectors.

The report said that ‘plans were inadequate leaving them (the children) at risk of harm’. Warnings were not acted upon and management’s oversight of problems was poor.

FOCUS says: Given the terrible case of ‘Baby P’ in Haringey, the councillor cabinet member for Children’s services should have been more aware of the deficiencies of the department.

Councillor responsible for Children’s Services is still in the Cabinet

FOCUS Team member Mahmood Faiz says: “The Director and the Deputy for Children’s Services have left the Council for various reasons. Why is the councillor responsible for Children’s Services still in the Cabinet? Transferring her to Housing does not cover up the fact that her Cabinet position, with pay of £31,000 was to oversee Children’s Services and be responsible for children’s safety. To put children at risk of harm cannot be hidden by putting her in charge of Housing.”

Liberal Democrat candidate for the next Mayor of London
Posted December 9, 2011 * Comments(0)

Brian Paddick campaigning for London

Former Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick has been reselected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London. The election is due to be held on 3rd May 2012, when Londoners will also be voting for the Greater London Assembly.

The Liberal Democrats believe that Brian’s experience is exactly what London needs right now, whether dealing with the aftermath of the riots or corruption in the Police, transport and housing.

Brian will be a credible alternative to Boris Johnson and the faded Ken Livingstone.

Harrow Green Library – latest news
Posted December 4, 2011 * Comments(0)

Can you help this community project?

Harrow Green Library - now axedLocal campaigners fought hard to save Harrow Green Library as it is, with paid staff and current opening hours. Regrettably the council refused to change their plans.

The residents therefore intend to run it themselves. A lot of volunteers will be needed.

Would you like to help? Even a couple of hours a week would be invaluable. You don’t need experience. Training will be arranged.

If you would like to volunteer, please write to: 15 Matcham Road, E11 3LE. You can also contact the group at helpharrowgreen@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 07930 634210. Please give the following details:

  • Your name

  • Postal address, including postcode

  • Email (if any)

  • Land-line phone (if any)

  • Mobile phone (if any)

RUBBISH – Collection fiasco!
Posted November 27, 2011 * Comments(0)

Many residents’ rubbish and recycling has remained uncollected for weeks.

The Council says it is caused by teething troubles experienced by their new contractor, Kier. Residents have been complaining to the FOCUS Team that they have had to wait three or four weeks to get their bins emptied, but even when the rubbish bins are emptied the recycli9ng has been left. Many residents have said that they had phoned the Council only to be fobbed off with excuses.

The FOCUS Team says: The Council’s co0ntractor is being paid millions to collect our rubbish and recycling. The Council should make sure rubbish and recycling is collected regularly and on time. There shou8ld be no0 excuse for such an abysmal service.

Local Police Stations not open 24 Hours
Posted November 23, 2011 * Comments(0)

The only Police station open 24 hours in Waltham Forest is Chingford. The others are closed most of the early hours.

The following are the opening times of Waltham Forest Police stations Monday to Sunday:

Chingford – 24 hours
Leyton – 0700 – 0300
Walthamstow – 0700 – 0300
Town Centre office – Tuesday – Saturday 1000-1800
Waltham House (Leytonstone) – 0700 – 1900

Remember – In an emergency you need to phone 999

Labour Council ignores residents and closes Harrow Green Library
Posted October 27, 2011 * Comments(0)

Harrow Green Library axed by Labour CouncilLast Thursday the Labour Council voted to close down Harrow Green Library. Residents had raised a petition of over 5,000 signatures and local Lib Dems had also raised a petition of over 1,1000 signatures to save the library.

Despite these petitions, fierce local residents’ opposition to the proposal and impassioned speeches, Labour Councillors voted to close the Library. The Tories abstained and the Liberal Democrats were the only party to vote against the closure. Even local Labour Councillors, whose residents had campaigned to stop the closure, voted to shut down Harrow Green Library.

Local Lib Dem Cann Hall Ward Councillor Liz Phillips, who has been leading the campaign in the council said:

“Local residents worked hard on this issue and took time out of their day to come and speak in the debate in good faith, only to find that the Labour Party had stitched up the result in advance.

“I’m not surprised that some residents walked out in disgust. Labour has refused to listen to local residents all along and this council meeting was no different.

“The Labour councillors can’t use a cut in the budget to hide the fact that it is them who are closing down our local library.”

The closure was based on the widely criticised libraries’ review and despite the consultation process, two petitions and recommendations from the council’s own scrutiny panel that no libraries needed to close, the Labour leadership refused to change course.

Lib Dem Leader Councillor Bob Sullivan said:

“The Libraries’ Review has been widely criticised and appears to have been a foregone conclusion from the start.

“The questions asked in the consultation were clearly misleading. For example, residents were asked if they would like their library to start opening on Sundays, but weren’t asked if they minded other libraries closing for this to be achieved.

“Of course residents suggest improved services, but if they knew that the council were robbing Harrow Green to pay for those services I believe they would think again.

Footbridges over the Central Line
Posted October 19, 2011 * Comments(0)

Transport for London (TfL) has clarified that the covers of all three footbridges are due to be replaced.

The works at Dyers Hall/Norman Road footbridge were brought forward, and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

The other bridges will remain open while these works are taking place.

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