The Rog T Manifesto

The London Borough of Barnet has many challenges and issues ahead of it. Contrary to what the council are saying, this is nothing new. Councils have always had to run a tight ship and balance spending priorities with value. Given that we are more prosperous than ever, then in some ways this should be easier than it ever was.

What truly alarms me is the total inability of the council to see beyond 1980's ideology and ideas. It seems that the solution to every problem is to privatise services. They seem to forget that Barnet tried this before and it didn't work very well. Only last year, they outsourced meals on wheels to Sodexho. This was a nightmare. I know, the stress nearly killed my elderly, disabled mother. The thing is, the council does need to consider it's future shape, but it needs to do this by consensus. It needs to take into account the views of everyone in the borough, not just a bunch of consultants who have a vested interest in generating work for themselves.

In my opinion, the biggest problem for politicians in Barnet is the lack of trust, we the people, have of them. This needs to be rebuilt. Given the nature of this problem, I was amazed that this isn't addressed in Future shape. They say Turkey's don't vote for Christmas, but unless the issue of trust is resolved, we run a very real risk of parties such as the BNP making headway. This is my greatest fear for Barnet.

It may surprise many people to know that many of our parks in Barnet were the result of bequests from wealthy residents. They left the parks (and often large trust funds to maintain them) for the enjoyment of future generations. We need to rekindle that spirit of civic pride if we are to make Barnet a place where our grandchildren will enjoy living.

As well as our top councillors getting large allowances, we read of senior Council officers such as Leo Bolland getting huge pay rises. This drives a wedge between the ordinary man on the street and the people running the council. There is no accountability, therefore no trust.

There are many groups in Barnet doing great things in the volountary sector. I am of the opinion that future shape proposals take these groups for granted and will ultimately destroy the good will of those giving up there time.

The environment is another major issue. One of the reasons for the choking traffic in Barnet is that parents drive across the Borough to access better schools. The net result is that the best schools thrive and some schools are viewed as failures. This then gives pupils at such schools a severe disadvantage. The only way to deal with this is to take bold, courageous and unpopular measures.

One other issue which greatly concerned me was the lack of consideration for small business in Future Shape. Small firms employ many people in Barnet and would employ many more if rules, regulations and red tape were removed. Local suppliers should always be considered and this should be a major factor in consideration of tenders for council services. Councils could also encourage inclusive employment practises by ensuring these were keystones of Council tenders.

Finally I would like to see road safety become a priority. One idea that has been trialled elsewhere is road safety awareness days. On these days an area of the borough would be targeted. Any motorists caught speeding would receive an instant 2 week ban and a large fine. By having a hugely visible presence on the streets, it would make motorists aware of their speed and have a long term effect on their driving. One of my biggest disagreements with the current way of dealing with speeding drivers is that you get 4 chances and then a long ban that can lose you your job. I'd prefer to see no chances and a ban which you could work around. I'd even let them off the first time if they did a speed awareness course (or suspend the ban for 3 years).

Anyway, here's my Manifesto :-

* All council allowance rises and Council official rises pegged to the general level of rises council staff

* 125% Inheritance Tax relief on all bequests of land for public amenity.

* Establishment of a renumeration committee for all senior posts made up as follows. 1 Member from Trades Unions. 1 Member from Council of local Faiths. 1 Member from Federation of Small businesses. 1 Member from local Council Taxpayers organisation. 1 Councillor. Each member has an equal vote.

* All children must select their nearest school (or nearest faith school if adherent to a religion) as one of their options. If they are offered a place at this school and choose a school further away, then they will have to pay an annual £500 charge. This will reduce car journeys and free up places at local schools.

* Abolish the preference for siblings as a criteria.

* Ensure that any outsourced contract contains stringent requirements for diversity and equal opportunities. Ensure that all contracts pay staff a minimum of the London Living wage. Blacklist any firm involved in any form of employment malpractice for a period of 7 years.

* Have a local supplier preference in the awarding of any outsourced contract

* Establish a vendor selection process which allows Trades Unions a veto for any firm found guilty of poor employment practices anywhere on the planet in the preceding 3 years or any supplier undergoing litigation for poor working practices.

* Introduce a scheme whereby anyone can propose a cost saving efficiency to the council and receive a sum of 5% of all realised savings.

* Have Road safety days where all speeding or other traffic offences result in a 2 week ban and large fine. Have these in limited areas within the borough and have high visibility policing

* Remove all plasma screen TV's from Senior Councillors offices and donate to help the aged.

* Require that all senior council officials spend 1 day per month working on front line services so that they gain aproper understanding of the issues facing their staff.

So let me know. Do you think my version of Future Shape is Excellent, OK or Rubbish. Do you think I'm a swivel eyed Trotsky nutter as Mike Freer seems to or am I Saint Rog of T, the man who saved Barnet? I don't actually think I'm either, but I think all of the above are damn fine ideas.