Barnet Council - Cabinet Members Christmas report

As we approach Christmas, I think it is that time that we review the performance of those people who we elected to serve us. As we pay their wages and get the opportunity to sack them every four years, I think we should regularly review their performance and try and ascertain whether they are doing a good job. The comments in this report are based on what I've observed locally and what I think the should be doing. I've tried to be as objective as possible for someone with my clear bias! See what you think and please add any comments or observations.

Councillor Mike Freer
Leader of the Council, Chairman & Cabinet Member for Resources

Performance :

Well as the Council Leader, he's ultimately responsible for everything. As head of Resources he's responsible for the management of finances. This year, the Council lost (or should that be mislaid) £27.4 Million in Icelandic Banks. They've overspent on Aerodrome Road, they've spent £1.4 million on semi obsolete laptops, many of which went straight into storage. They've spent tens of thousands putting tellies on desks of top Council officials.

Areas for Improvement:

Take responsibility for mistakes. Ensure that proper scrutiny of decisions is performed. Stop wasting money on vanity projects (Leaderlistens.com). Hold senior officers to account for their mistakes.

Overall Mark : F (failed)


Councillor Matthew Offord
Deputy Leader
Cabinet Member for Investment in Learning

Performance :

Well I have three children at three different schools in the Borough. I have seen continual improvements at all three schools, with development of facilities. Performing well in Cabinet Position. Unfortunately must share some of the blame for poor overall decisionmaking in role as deputy Leader

Areas for Improvement:

Enhancement of physical education facilities in Borough. Provide more robust advice to leader as deputy

Overall Mark : B+ (learning) F (Deputy Leader)

Councillor Lynne Hillan
Cabinet Member for Community Services

Performance :

Stories abound of Rat infested estates with leaky roofs abound. Meals on Wheels services ran up huge debts due to system failure, causing much distress to elderly & disabled residents. Meals on wheel's food quality is extremely poor.

Areas for Improvement:

Sort out meals on wheels. Sort out the failing Barnet Homes team.

Overall Mark : D (below average)

Councillor Melvin Cohen
Cabinet Member for Planning & Environmental Protection

Performance :

A trip around the Borough shows many ugly monstrosities appearing where nice dwellings used to be. Builders are concreting over gardens and putting up disguised developments with no action taken. Areas such as Sanders Lane nature walk are under threat.

Areas for Improvement:

Get to grips with developers. Start taking firm action on environmental damage.

Overall Mark : D- (Below average)

Councillor Brian Coleman
Cabinet Member for Community Engagement & Community Safety

Performance :

The man who is responsible for Community safety, happily writes a column for a paper subsides by the Sex industry. Many girls are held as virtual slaves, having been brought over to Barnet under false pretences. If the member for community Safety doesn't care about human trafficking and sexual slavery, what does he care about?

Areas for Improvement:

Open your eyes to the damage caused by the sex industry in Barnet and insist that the Barnet Press removes the adverts or loses Barnet Council advertising.

Overall Mark : F (Failed)

Councillor Andrew Harper
Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport

Performance :

There seems to be a crossover here with Councillor Cohen. Who is responsible for protecting the envionment? I will give Councillor Harper the benefit of the doubt. At a leader listens session, Councillor Offord announced that over 300 cars per day were monitored performing an illegal turn onto Mill Hill Broadway from Goodwyn Avenue. Nothing has been done. There have been no road safety initiatives in Barnet since the Tories came in. Many friends have commented that much needed resurfacing has been done, so the picture is not all bad. Some road junctions have also been improved, so Councillor Harper is at least dealing with some nitty gritty issues.

Areas for Improvement:

Start making Road Safety a priority. Address the issue of Children travelling to school more urgently. Force compulsory travel plans on recalcitrant schools

Overall Mark : C (Average)

Councillor Anthony Finn
Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Development

Performance :

Again there seems to be a crossover with Councillor Cohen. It is not surprising that decisions are dodged when there is no clear supremo for planning & decisions fall between two stools. The plans for regeneration are a plan for destruction of the the essence of Barnet. Schemes such as the Montrose Park Road, Sanders Lane, Stonegrove etc are not going to improve the environment and there is already huge pressure on Schools and other Infrastructure.

Areas for Improvement:

Scale back development and regeneration to a sustainable level. Improve the standard of Rabbit hutch flats.


Overall Mark : E (Poor)


Councillor Fiona Bulmer
Cabinet Member for Children's Services

Performance :

As I mentioned, I have three children in the Borough and I am more than happy with the provision of services for them. There are many innovative schemes such as the Finchley Music School etc.

Areas for Improvement:

None that I know of.

Overall Mark : A (Excellent)


Councillor Helena Hart
Cabinet Member for Public Health

Performance :

Given that MRSA has virtually disappeared and C-Diff is down by 30%, I guess that Councillor Hart has done a good job.

Areas for Improvement:

Get rid of the Other 70% of C-Diff.

None that I know of.

Overall Mark : B+ (Very Good)


Councillor Richard Cornelius
Cabinet Member for Policy & Performance

Performance :

Well I disagree with most of the Council's policies and think that overall their performance has been pretty poor. I suppose he'll site his 4 *'s but I am not at all convinced by this. In a spirit of fairness I'll give him an average in recognition of the 4* Mark, but through very gritted teeth.

Areas for Improvement:

Ensure rigorous monitoring of investments and criteria is introduced as a matter of urgency. Develop some proper policies on personal and community safety and kick Brian Colemans butt if he doesn't implement them.

Overall Mark : C (Average)

Councillor John Marshall
Mayor

Performance :

I'd love to give him an F for his actions in selling Playing fields,but he's actually not too bad a Mayor. Certainly an improvement on Maureen Braun who was useless.

Areas for Improvement:

Buy a new Joke Book !

Overall Mark : B (Good)

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So our star performer is Fiona Bulmer. I guess as she's named after a brand of Cider I'm probably more inclined to like her than some other Councillors, but they are doing a good job with Childrens services. I am not sure which one is responsible for the playing fields & leisure centre's in the Borough, but whoever you are, deduct a mark for the lack of Sand at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre on Sunday, which meant my son had to play in Goal in a terrible quagmire. Attention to detail is the secret of success in any organisation and such things are indicative of failure.

Overall, I must say that I find the job titles confusing and misleading.It looks to me as if there are several positions where responsibility is less than clear. I think this could well be the cause of many of the problems. Over to you, what do you think?