Showing posts with label Barnet Counci. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barnet Counci. Show all posts

Saturday, 14 May 2016

The Saturday List #88 - The Top Ten fiascos from Barnet Council

As everyone knows, Barnet Council cocked up the 2016 Mayoral elections. You may think that this omnishables is a one off. Think again, here is our top 10 shambles from our flagship Tory Council!

1. Mayoral/ GLA election 2016. Voters disenfranchised for up to four hours due to incorrect lists being cieculated. Voters turned away from polls, even though registered to vote.

2. General Election 2010 - Dismore denied victory by poling station cock ups.

3. Icelandic banks scandal - Council loses millions of taxpayers money in dodgy investment schemes.

4. Aerodrome Road scandal - £12 million Bridge renewal project goes over budget by £11 million.

5. Metpro scandal - Council employs unlicensed security company for security of vulnerable people.

6. Catalyst care homes - Legionella outbreaks and suing the council for not making enough profits (you couldn't make this one up!).

7. SAP project - Council spends £24 million on an IT system that was only supposed to cost £6 million.  

8. Your Choice Barnet - Council outsources adult care and a year later has to bale out the private company running it with millions.

9. Barnet CPz fiasco - Barnet hiked the cost of CPZ zones. Residents took them to court and had the decision overturned. Barnet had to pay millions back to residents and hundreds of thousands in legal costs. 

10. Abolition of Pay and Display parking. Barnet Tory parking svengali Brian Coleman was on the rampage in 2011. Bouyed by the Tories election victory in 2010, he embarked on a war on motorists. He took on residents with the CPZ price hike (see item 9 above) and High Street retailers in the Borough by abolishing pay and display parking. Coleman paid the price losing the plumb job at the GLA in the 2012 election and pay and display meters reappeared. The council lost millions on the cost of scrapping the old ones and installing new one.

There are plenty of other cock ups, but these are the top ten. Every Barnet resident has been affected by the ineptitude of the Tory administration. The millions lost could have been spent on many things to improve our Borough, the business damaged by the CPZ problems could have employed hundreds of local residents and the vulnerable, disabled and elderly could have had a better quality of life. All rather sad, isn't it>

Monday, 19 March 2012

A Tale of Two Barnets - The big day arrives.

I can't believe it. It is almost exactly a year since the idea for A Tale of Two Barnets, the film about life in Barnet it 2012, as first mooted. The director, Charles Honderick plays in a great band called  "The Hamptons" who use my music studios. Charles made a music video for an artist I work with, talented Sudanese singer Connie Abbe. I was having a beer with Charles and we got to discussing reality TV and how it wasn't reality, as it always seemed to involve changing the reality. We mused on the fact that there were all sorts of ordinary people who had interesting stories to tell, but these never get heard. The name  A Tale of Two Barnets came about when Charles learned that the famous workhouse scene in Oliver Twist, was based on the Barnet workhouse. As it is Dickens 200th birthday this year, he mused on how Barnet had changed and how it stayed the same. Returning to the previous theme, he pointed out that Dickens novels in some ways were the equivalent of todays reality TV shows, such as secret millionaire.

Who but Dickens would have thought that one of the most iconic moments in both film and literature could possibly be about a small boy in a workhouse asking for a bit more gruel? Charles wanted to broaden his film making experience. He mused on whether it would be possible to interview a few people in Barnet about "life in 2012, the year of the London Olympics, and two hundred years after Dickens birth". Through my blog and my community contacts, I introduced him to a couple of people.

We started filming in October. The plan was to interview four or five people, shoot some images around the Borough and then submit it for a few documentary film festivals. I agreed to step in as producer, which mostly involved driving Charles around, helping him make arrangements and then helping promote the film.

Once we started filming, a strange thing happened. I gave Charles a list of five people, who I thought would be interesting subjects for the film. They were Fr Kevin O'Shea, Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart Church, Mill Hill, Mrs Angry - blogger from Broken Barnet, Bill Nugent, a friend who is quadraplegic, following I spinal injury on his honeymoon 18 years ago, Linda Edwards who is a parent carer and works for a disabled charity and David Attfield, the solicitor who spearheaded the CPZ campaign. We quickly added Mr Mustard, another Barnet blogger, when we found Barnet Council had tried to report him to the ICO and silence him.I took the decision not to appear in the film (although I do fleetingly in the interview with Bill Nuigent). I didn't want accusations that it was a vehicle for any future ambitions I may have (it isn't).  Anyway, as I said, a strange thing happened. Word got around that we were making the film and a whole bevvy of people asked if they could also contribute and tell their stories. With each interview, more followed. Then we got word that Ken Loach, the award winning British director wanted to say a few words. In other words, the film got momentum.

As we watched the early rushes, Charles became concerned. He felt that the film would be one dimensional, if we only told the story from one side. He wanted to get someone from the Council to add balance. Fortunately for us, the Leader of the Council, Richard Cornelius is an honest and decent man and readily agreed. He persuaded a somewhat more reluctant CEO Nick Walkley to agree. When we saw the footage, Charles was pleased. He wanted to show the huiman side of the council leader. Richard Cornelius is a good subject for a documentary film maker as he's honest and he's quite funny.

As we neared completion, we invited a select few people for a test viewing. None of these had appeared in the film (we didn't want people who were biased to comment). As a result, we got a phonecall from the Barnet Trades Council. Would we mind if they staged a Premiere at the Phoenix Cinema, as they'd heard about the film and were interested. Of course. Who wouldn't want a premiere at an Iconinc Cinema? Then we got another call. Would we be interested in a screening at the House of Commons? Again, what more could any film maker ask for. Last week, I got a call from the BBC. Could I come into BBC London this morning and do an interview for the Breakfast show? Again, no problem.

In amongst all of that euphoria, a small cloud emerged. Reports reached us that Councillor Robert Rams had banned promotional material from Barnets libraries. How on earth, could such an action be justified?  It couldn't. In a strange sort of way, it helped, because it got us more media coverage, but  to be honest, it was the last thing we wanted. To remove the leaflets from Libraries was petty and spiteful. When the BBC rang up about the arrangements for the interview this morning, they asked if we wanted to discuss the ban. I said "The film has taken up six months of my life and tells some really important stories. The ban is ridculous, I'd rather not if you don't mind". I was somewhat surprised by the response. They said "Oh, I'm so pleased yous aid that. I was worried that you'd spoil a great story with a rant about a silly ban".

So this morning I had a couple of minutes discussing the film on the breakfast show. As  I left I gave Gaby a copy of the DVD. She said "It sounds great, I really hope it is successful". Being dyslexic, I don't prepare for interviews, I just say whatever comes into my head. I'm always worried that I sound like an idiot. I sincerely hope I did justice to the people who's story we are telling.

If you haven't already looked, check out the film website.

http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/

Please come down to the Premiere. It is only £1 to get in. The film is well worth seeing and I'll be happy to have a chat with you. The actual screening time is 7pm, doors open at 6pm.

As we approach the big moment, I'd like to thank everyone who helped. Most of all though I'd like to thank Charles Honderick, for his vision and hard work. Charles previously had only made music videos and corporate films. I am sure he has a bright future as a film maker. I hope to |God that his next film has a producer who can give him a proper budget !

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Barnet Council can afford to splash out on propoganda but not cemetey repairs

Barnet Council just get worse and worse. A day before the council was meant to debate a report which made the shocking statement about Hendon Cemetery
The dilapidations, disrepair and lack of modern, fit for purpose facilities act as a deterrent to using Hendon as a venue of choice.
They posted this video on Youtube, featuring Councillor Daniel Thomas. Now I've no idea how much this cost, but it is clearly professionally filmed, lit and edited. So yet again we see a council which has enough cash for propoganda videos but can't afford to even maintain the final resting place of our loved ones.
In the video, Councillor Thomas says that we are at risk of losing "Libraries, rubbish collection and street cleaning". No mention of highly paid bosses or contractors going. Thomas goes on to say that the overdevelopment in the west of the Borough (a key council policy) has now given them "challenges". Surely only an idiot doesn't realise more flats = more people = more reception places. Thomas misses two obvious points. Firstly, if there are more people, there will be more income from taxes and secondly, you can put tax up if you are not collecting enough cash to meet your obligations. Thomas asks "what are your priorities for Barnet Council". My answer "stop wasting money on gimmicks like this and spend the cash on core services"

Monday, 13 June 2011

Mike Freer's reaction to Richard Cornelius winning the leadership race

Mike Freer twittered this - his first reaction, to Richard Cornelius


Mike Freer MP
 
Note the tone. Do we detect a lack of chuffedness at the result? I would suggest that Cornelius would be well advised to give Freer a nice cup of tea, a biscuit and then ask him why he left the council in such a mess

Monday, 11 April 2011

Barnet Council : Metpro Scandal - Time for Lynne Hillan to go

Apparently at last weeks meeting of Conservative Councillors the subject of Metpro Rapid Response was discussed, Leader Lynne Hillan reassurred her flock that "it is under control" (or words to that effect - 3 different Tory Councillors have given me three slightly different quotes).

Tonight the Evening Standard detailed how the Council have given the company £1.2 million pounds. They had not bothered to check whether the company was legally licensed to provide the service. Apparently the company had assured them that the licenses were in place. It rather reminded me of a court case I read about where a man stated that the girl he'd had sex with had assurred him that she was 18, when in fact she was 13. His defence? "She looked 18". What is Barnet Councils defence for using this company? They looked like a proper security company? Now whilst my little analogy might seem frivalous, let us remember that I recently attended a Council meeting where Councillor Andrew Harper discussed the "corporate parenting strategy" that the Council were developing. You see Barnet Council is the Corporate parent to many vulnerable people. One such site where  is Barbara Langstone House in Finchley. Young and vulnerable people are housed here. This was one site which Barnet Outsourced the scurity of to MetPro.

Now I've no idea whatsoever how this arrangement worked, but the bottom line is that vulnerable people were guarded by a company, at great expense to the Barnet Taxpayer, who were operating illegally according to the Standard. On theMetpro website, they advertise that they wear CCTV recording equipment. They have stated that this has been used on Barnet Council duty.

It is also known that children were video'd without consent at the Council meeting where this whole scandal came to light, by MetPro staff fitted with hidden cameras, without consent. When requests were made to see this footage, Barnet Council claimed it had destroyed it, although they didn't state whether they had any evidence or logs to prove that all footage had been destroyed or only the footage in their possession. Who knows if other copies exist or not (like the phantom SIA registrations).

As I stated above, Barnet Council are a corporate parent to a large number of vulnerable people. They have both a moral and legal duty to safeguard the people who are in their care. By failing to develop proper procedures to ensure safeguarding measures are in place, they have failed those people. Barnet Council Leader, Councillor Lynne Hillan is where the buck stops. There are two massive scandals currently affecting Barnet. Metpro, where a firm of private contractors have not been properly managed, potentially placing vulnerable people at risk. There is also the Legionella outbreak at Barnet Care Homes. Again this is down to Private Contractors not being properly managed, with the net result that vulnerable people have been put at risk. With two such extreme examples of corporate failure, you would think that Barnet Council would be undertaking a root and branch review of their procurement procedures. On the contrary, they are rushing through a mass program of outsourcing, in some cases even bypassing the scrutiny process.

What has happened at Barnet Council can only be described as corporate failure. The Leader of the Council has done nothing to address it in five weeks. She has not taken her role as corporate parent seriously. She has done nothing to regain public trust. The only way forward now must be for Lynne Hillan to resign and Barnet Council to have a public enquiry under an independent chair. The council needs to be sorted out. The processes and procedures need root and branch reform. Metpro was not a small company, Barnet paid them £1.2 Million. They were not involved in trivial matters, they were on the front line dealing with residents and vulnerable people. The council has engaged a company who may or may not have been operating illegally and without the proper safeguards and protections. Barnet Council only found out because of  a concerted campaign by local residents, through the blogs. The very people that the Leader of the Council described as "not respectable residents". It should not be a job for bloggers to ensure that Barnet discharge their legal responsibilities. She has to go and go now, before any more damage is done.

Saturday, 9 April 2011

Barnet Council Scandal : Metpro update - Who else is spying?

I have today submitted the following FOI request to Barnet Council.


----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Tichborne
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 11:21 AM
Subject: FOI - request

Dated 9th April 2011
 
Dear Barnet Council,
 
Please provide details of all external contractors involved in the following activities on behalf of Barnet Council.
 
1) Filming residents/employees/councillors without their permission
2) Recording residents without their permission
3) performing any other covert survelliance of residents
4) Monitoring personal blogs/twitter/facebook pages on the internet
 
To minimise cost, please provide details from April 2010.
 
Please summarise the cost to the taxpayer of Barnet for these services.
 
Please specify which senior officers and councillors accessed to this information.
 
Please specify who signed off the contract at Barnet for the provision of these services and when this contract was signed.
 
Regards
 
Roger Tichborne
 David Miller (AKA retired/resting blogger Don't Call Me Dave) submitted a whole string of FOI requests regarding activities conducted under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) act. As I recall, Barnet Council stated that they were not covertly filming anyone. It is abundantly clear from the Metpro scandal that people have been covertly filmed by contractors working for Barnet Council. The question which no one else has asked is this - Who else is spying on us for Barnet Council?


As several Barnet bloggers have experienced all sorts of odd activities on their IT equipment this week, I also submitted this FOI request


 
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Tichborne
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: FOI - request

Dated 9th April 2011
 
Dear Barnet Council,
 
 
Please provide all details of Council employees or contractors working on behalf of Barnet Council employed in the following activities :-
 
1) Electronic hacking activities (ie accessing the IT equipment of third parties without their permission)
 
2) All council emails regarding hacking activitites, either of Barnet Council computers or of other computers where Barnet Council has been involved
 
3) Any details of third party IT specialist engaged by Barnet Council who have been involved in the disruption of third party IT equipment
 
4) Details of any phone tapping activities undertaken by Barnet Council
 
5) Details of which Council Officers and Councillors were aware of this activity and who had access to any information derived from it.
 
To limit costs please limit the enquiry for the period from 1st January 2010 to present.
 
Regards
Roger Tichborne

It should be interesting to see what the responses are (if we ever get them).

Monday, 28 March 2011

Barnet Council - Report & video of meeting of the Cabinet Resources committee

Tonight Barnet Council Cabinet Resources Committee met at 7pm to discuss the business case for the Future Shape / OneBarnet / BarnetTrack project. This is the project that Council Auditors Grant Thornton said was required before the project could proceed. The document is 161 pages long and contains a report submitted by Unison detailing serious flaws in the case presented. Eight detailed questions were posed. You can download and review the document here.

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=10206

I turned up to the meeting with my video camera to record the meeting for posterity. Due to childcare & traffic, I arrived at 7.20pm, twenty minutes after the meeting began. Guess what? The committee had finished the meeting. The business case was signed off. There was no debate about the Unison questions and no discussion of about the issues raised. The Committee stated that it was not their job to comment on issues raised by the Union.

So there you go. No video and no proper report. I had a nice chat with fellow Blogger Mr Reasonable. Can you get Councillors surcharged if they don't do their job properly and it ends up costing the Taxpayer a lot of money?  I hope so. I was told that Leader of the Council, Lynne Hillan wasn't there. She was in Spain on holiday yet again.

I went to the Claddagh Ring and had a pint of Guinness. That was probably the highlight of the evening.

You can read Mr Reasonables report here :-

http://reasonablenewbarnet.blogspot.com/2011/03/five-minutes-four-men-and-270-million.html

Unlike me, he made it on time. Could you make it up?