99% is ....... The Barnet Eye: Barnet Spring

Showing posts with label Barnet Spring. Show all posts

Saturday, 23 March 2013

Why did nearly 1,000 people walk miles through the snow in Barnet today?

Today close on 1,000 people walked from Finchley Central tube station to Friern Barnet library, to celebrate the Barnet Spring. I awoke at 6am. It was not in anticipation or excitement. It was because our great big stoopid dog was barking at the snow in the garden and wanted to go out and play. As my assumption on hearing the woofing was that it was either a burglar or a plea to go to the toilet, I was obliged to get up. Seeing a couple of inches of snow on the garden filled me with despair at the thought of the march. It didn't bother me, but I was worried that people may be put off, or be physically unable to get there. I was also concerned for the many old and frail people, who unlike me, may find the cold difficult to deal with (I personally rather like freezing cold weather. I lived in Stockholm in the winter of 1981 and always associate extremes of cold with having a great time).

So I made my way to Finchley Central at about 10.30. I'd promised to help coordinate fundraising on the day. The Barnet Alliance for Public Services (BAPS) has a major challenge to fund the activities necessary to bring some sanity into public life in Barnet. This can only be done if we have the money to pay for the leaflets & other incidental things necessary to organise events, to say nothing of funding legal challenges to the insanity.

BAPS have produced a leaflet explaining the need for funds and asking people to pledge a regular amount via a standing order to the campaign. I undertook to distribute as many as possible and handed out over 100 to various people. I also spoke to everyone I gave a leaflet to, explaining how this was the most important thing we could do to fight One Barnet and outsourcing. Of the hundred people I asked, maybe 75% were positively minded and gave me every encouragement that they would complete the form and make a commitment. I asked people if they would seriously consider it and if they seemed uninterested, didn't trouble them further. Two people were hostile. One said to me "Are you so stupid that you don't know why the country is having to make cuts?" I responded "We are not raising funds to fight the cuts, we are raising funds to fight Barnet Councils outsourcing program, which will remove jobs from Barnet and runs a real risk of failure, causing major financial risk to the taxpayer". The man responded "You are just a c*nt". Now in many ways I'd have to agree with him so I responded. "Yes I am a complete c*nt, but setting that aside, have you considered the risks to the Boroughs finances which One Barnet poses". He suggested I had sex and travelled in a kindly manner. An old lady who heard the exchange asked for a form and said "I promise I'll fill it in, you shouldn't have to put up with abuse like that". I replied "It's a free country, I've been called worse".

Another person, who I asked if they would contribute said "No, there is no point, it's a foregone conclusion, this is all pointless". I responded by saying "Barnet have to listen to the judges at the Royal Courts. This can change things". He replied "If you believe that, you are an idiot". The lady standing next to him said "Ignore him, he'd only here because I made him come along".

Perhaps the strangest response of all was from Mr Julian Silverman, who is a BAPS stallwart. When I offered him a form, he enquired in a rather confused manner "Are we in Norfolk?". Julian is a highly intellectual chap, with a very well refined sense of humour, often unfathomable to us mere mortals. I wasn't really sure what he was on about (maybe the cold had just frozen his brain). I said "Isn't that a bit insulting to Norfolk?" He beamed with a maniac grin and gesticulated wildly towards a brick wall. I made a mental note to ask him what he was on about (assuming it wasn't just the cold), next time I saw him.

Having not bothered to wear a hat, gloves or a vest after a while I started to feel rather cold. My ears felt like cardboard and my brain started to tell me I wasn't really being very sensible. I pondered whether I too was in Norfolk. The cold can do that to you. Luckily sometime Barnet Eye guest blogger John Sullivan sprang to the rescue and said "You look cold, can I buy you a tea". We adjourned to Greggs and I took great delight in munching through a sausage roll, courtesy of Johns generosity. I've met many people in the struggle to see sense, but I have met none who I hold in as high esteem as John Sullivan. If there were twenty John Sullivans in Barnet with his honesty, fight and drive, the insanity of One Barnet would have been defeated years ago. Sadly we only have the one and he sometimes seems to me as if he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. John is not only generous but wise and funny. He is a pleasure to be with. We walked some of the route together chatting about the struggle. John is the carer for his adult daughter Susan. His greatest fear is what will happen to Susan if and when he and his wife Ida pass away. He believes that the current regime in Barnet are the epitomy of evil as he believes that they have no compassion or care for people with disability. Try as I might to find it, I see little evidence to contradict Johns appraisal of Susans prospects in the current climate in Barnet. I wish John could sit back and enjoy his twilight years with Ida and not have to worry. I have three children and as a parent I know that anything which threatens my children would be resisted to my dying breath with all my might and will. John feels that the current regime in Barnet are throwing his daughter to the lions and only he and Ida really have any prospect of delaying the day when her quality of life is completely destroyed in the name of budget cuts. If someone said to me they were going to take one of my children, remove all quality from their life and put their happiness and wellbeing in the hands of contractors who's sole motivation is to make a quick buck from getting the contract, I would react exactly as John has. I get it, but unlike John, I don't live with that fear and I am not reminded of the stomach retching awfulness of the situation every single day. All I can do is write this blog and hope that sooner or later, people who have exhibited little empathy for their fellow, less fortunate, human beings see sense.

For the latter part of the march, I walked with GLA rep Andrew Dismore. The more I see of Andrew and the more I talk to him, the more I like him. He shared some of the gossip about the GLA with me. He spilled the beans on what really gets Boris's goat. He also gave me a few interesting pointers about Tory Fire supremo James Cleverly. I had formed an impression of James from his tweets and writings. It is interesting to see how good an insight into someones personality this can give. Andrew also cast a little light on the dilemma of the GLA Lib Dems and their "nuffink to do with me guv'nor" attitude to the coalition". Sadly I don't think any Lib Dem should try that one. You are either in a coalition or you are not.

We arrived at Friern Library to be greeted by warmth, tea and cakes. It was the 79th birthday of the Library. It was packed. I feel I played a role in saving it and that is a matter of some pride to me. If all of the people who helped wage the campaign hadn't bothered, then maybe right now a block of flats would be going up on the site. One BBC London there was a report stating "only 20% of Londoners use libraries". Scant word that this 20% is the most needy 20%. Students, children and old people make up the majority of the client base. That is why such figures are so misleading. Someone asked me about that figure and I said "Listen 0.0% of the country go to Eton, but the cabinet is stuffed full of people that went there. Every one of that 0.0% in the cabinet never has used a library out of necessity. Are we so foolish that we'd restict the ability of people to develop and grow their intellects purely because they can't afford books".

My eldest daughter is 17. During the week I attended a session at her college, where lecturers from Oxford and Cambridge spoke about the benefits of going to their respective universities. The lady from Oxford said "Oxford and Cambridge Universities have the finest libraries in the country. This means that our students have the greatest opportunities to learn. I would urge every one of you to read as many books as you can. This is the best way to develop your intellect". Sadly it seems that some people in our society believe that such opportunities should only be open to the elite.

The right always talk about "the politics of envy" when institutions such as Eton are discussed. I have no issue with anyone going to Eton or wishing to send their child to Eton. I do however have a massive issue with the concept that if a child has the potential to be the next Einstein, they are statistically 200 times more likely to get to Oxford to study if they are born to a family that will send them to Eton as if they are born to a single mum on benefits and sent to the local state comprehensive. To me that is not envy, that is unfairness.

That is why so many people turned out in the snow.

Monday, 18 March 2013

Barnet weekly news round up

John Sullivan who is seventy years old, and father of Susan who has down's syndrome, sent an open letter to Tracey Lees, CEO of the Barnet Group and Kate Kennally, LBB Director of People who is in charge of Adult Social Services, expressing his concerns for the well-being of his daughter. He simply asks for his and his wife's peace of mind back:

“Like many other parents I am growing old and whilst I had peace of mind with in-house services about the future of support services for my daughter and her peers, that peace of mind has now been destroyed. I now like many others fear for the future, now profit has become king along with the fact to "be more competitive in the market place" is the benchmark rather than quality of care.

“Like many other parents and carers and people that truly care for those whose lives and future are in the hands of a very financially weak and shaky privatised LATC. I want my peace of mind back and the only way that can be achieved is to fight for the right to have the affected services brought back in-house, as was agreed from day one in the event of failure. I simply want LBB YCB to honour the agreement and undertaking quoted in my question number one above.

“Like all parents blessed with a disabled child the first concern you have is "what will happen when I die", and all I am asking is for some clarity some meaningful consultation some openness some honesty some integrity, the democratic right to be heard. That will hopefully put us on the path of the restoration of the peace of mind my wife and myself and all parents of a disabled child need, and answer my simple and very direct question "what will happen to her when I die"

John Burgess the branch secretary of Unison, is no less worried: “the [one million] loan is not enough, ‘Your Choice’ submitted a proposal which if implemented would decimate low paid care workers terms & condition.”

What you can do about the collapse of Your Choice Barnet:

Put a comment of support on John Sullivan’s letter.
Use our Email Action to send a letter to the cabinet members, demanding the council to bring Your Choice back in-house.
Sign the petition on the council's website.
Help us distribute information leaflets about it on the march and afterwards.
Come to the public meeting organised jointly by Your Choice Care Workers Campaign & BAPS on Thursday 11^th April, 7pm, at the Greek Cypriot Centre, Britannia Road N12.

* * *

One Barnet on trial

Tuesday 19th March, 9.30am-1.30pm
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Please join us outside the Royal Courts of Justice to support Barnet resident Maria Nash who is challenging Barnet Council’s decision to outsource a large group of public services without properly consulting Barnet residents, the so-called One Barnet programme. Read more...

* * *

And the do not forget:

Barnet Spring Count Down !

Barnet Spring is almost here. We have been working to make Barnet Spring march the biggest demonstration in North London against privatisation, cuts to services and benefits, against the austerity and against the unprecedented attack on our hard fought rights and the welfare state. This is our chance to say to the government in one strong and clear voice - Enough is enough!

Join the march, next Saturday, the 23rd, from Finchley Central station (11 am), to Friern Barnet people's library. A double decker bus will be available for those who find it difficult to walk, but please note that the bus has no ramp. Wheelchair users will be buddied up with supporters – there will be stewards to assist with this at the assembly point.

Among the confirmed speakers: Tony Benn, John McDonnell MP, Owen Jones, Christina McAnea, Shirley Franklin, Andrew Dismore and Jenny Jones. More...

What you can do to help promoting the march?

Leaflet and put up posters – last push for these this week, please email or phone for leaflets or posters, or collect from 48 Queens Ave. N3 2NP.

Like us. If you have a facebook account, you can like us – it's easy, we are very likeable. Just press this link to go to our page. And then share the page on your timeline.

Forward this e-mail to anyone you think may be interested.

Storm twitter - If you are on Twitter, then twit us with hash-tag #BarnetSpring and the link to our website: http://barnetalliance.org.

To make it even easier, we prepared a list of possible twits (below). If you like one of them – or some of them – click on that link, and it will connect to twitter and append the text. All you have to do is to login to your twitter account and click the tweet to send.

So just Click 'n Twit

What you can do to help during the march?

We need:

Stewards
help with fund raising collection
help with distribution of leaflets
help with decoration of the bus
putting up posters along the march route
various other jobs.

If you can help please let us know how or just turn up at 9 AM outside Finchley Central tube station.

* * *

2E2 again

Apparently the council took a financial stability survey of 2E2, the data centre provider which went into administration, the same month it collapsed. The report stated unequivocally that the company is sound and safe just weeks before it went into liquidation. Makes one wonder about the robustness of those carrying out the survey on behalf of the council, and whether these are the same ones who advised the councillors on the financial viability of One Barnet as a whole...

To make things even worse, instead of hiring the laid off (and unpaid) support staff of 2E2, who are familiar with the council's equipments and procedures once 2E2 collapsed, the council decided to take Capita ITS - which is not doing brilliantly either – without any tendering and on higher charges. Read the Barnet bloggers shared statement here.

Your Choice Barnet

During staff consultation meeting held at Flower Lane for Your Choice Barnet staff, it came to light that “in a procurement exercise YCB had established they could find a cheaper IT provider. LBB stepped in to say that IT should remain as provided through the Council (Capita) and YCB need only pay the amount they had established through their procurement exercise. LBB will make up the difference (!)

“In other words LBB is prepared to subsidise a service when it means securing a contract for Capita, but this would then seem to be at the cost of staff working for YCB!” The full report is here.

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Barnet Spring march - We need you to help !

On the 23rd March, there is a march to protest about the destruction of public services in Barnet. At present there are a number of legal challeges in the offing, in a desperate last ditch attempt to stop the madness of wholesale outsourcing.

These legal challenges desperately need funding and the Barnet Alliance for public services have committed to help meet these financial commitments. Contrary to misguided comments by various Conservative members of Barnet council, BAPS is not funded by the trades unions and these funds need to be raised by the general public. I have been asked to coordinate fundraising activities on the day. We anticipate a minimum of 1,000 people will attend the march, each person will be motivated by a desire to stop the madness.

We desperately need a team of fundraisers who will commit to working at the the march to help raise funds. There are four activities which we need people to commit to. We want as many four person teams as we can get. Can you put a team together. Each team will need the following members.

1. A team coordinator to organise members and coordinate with other teams and assist the other team members.
2. A cash bucket collecter, who will have a bucket to collect cash.
3. A standing order pledge collector, who will distribute standing order forms. We are asking people to commit to donating £5 a month for six months to fund the legal challenges.
4. Another team member to dish out leaflets, collect signatures for the petition and generally explain what things are all about.

If you want to be a member of a team or can put a team together, contact me via the email link at the side of this blog. The team which collects the most cash on the day, will be treated to a slap up lunch at Cafe Buzz courtesy of me. What more could you possibly want? We need details of teams ASAP. We need to connect with as many of the 1,000 people on the march as possible so it is a major task.

If you want any other information about the March, please visit www.barnetalliance.org

Friday, 20 July 2012

Barnet Council ban cup cakes, music and childrens activities from Our Barnet Torch procession finale

Is Barnet Council really run by idiots? The Barnet Alliance for Public Services have organised an alternative torch relay through the streets of Finchley tomorrow. The metropolitan Police are happy with the arrangements. That should be the end of the matter. Sadly as this march does not support the political ideology of ~~Joseph Stalin~~ Richard Cornelius with regard to ~~Kremlin~~ Council politics, the council have decided to be rather spiteful and try and knobble the plans. Given that they can't actually stop it, they have written to the organisers to say that they are not allowed to have cup cakes, music and childrens face painting at the culminating point in Finchley's Victoria Park.

So rather ingeniously, the ~~muppets~~ Council have managed to ensure that everyone attending will be really pissed off and inspired to fight even harder against the One Barnet program than they were before. All they've managed to do is remove the pleasant activities, which help build a bit of community cohesion.

The letter was sent at 6pm, allowing no time for discussion or to challenge the legality of the decision. This is not without precedent. I received a legal warning about a leaked document a while back. It arrived at 6pm on a Friday. Interestingly the paper copy was posted at 4pm. I have emails from the council claiming that the timing was "purely coincidental and was not designed to be intimdatory".

The net result of this stupid ban will be more bad publicity for the council and more lies and deceit on their part. They assume the public are stupid and believe the old crap they get told. Sadly, every lie, every bit of intimidation and every distortion simply helps build the Barnet Spring movement.

Just ask yourself this. What sort of council feels threatened by fce painting for children?

A little tool to help you defeat the invisible men

I've added an IP address lookup tool. If you get an email or you have a stats counter on your blog, you can see who it is and where they came from using this. If you've got an email from someone, view the email. Click on File, then click on properties, then click on details. Now click on message source

You will see some text as follows :-
X-Originating-IP: [1.2.3.4]

Where I've put 1.2.3.4, cut and paste this number into the IP lookup and hey presto, you know where the email came from.

If it says it's from your bank, but the IP address is Freds chipshop, you know it's a scam.