Whilst this blog concentrates on Barnet, we are intrigued to hear what our former CEO, Mr Nick Walkley is getting up to in Haringey. We have a friend who works for the council and it seems a familiar theme is developing. Mr Walkley has started his policy of weekly emails. This has caused much mirth with my friend and her colleagues, as it has included such pearls of wisdom as congratulating colleagues for having the tidiest desk. My friend also tells how his "relentless drive for efficiency" has involved recruiting some "new executive posts" with staff on £73,000 a year. My friend wonders how this will affect the budget, when these new roles sit on top of teams who's budgets are already under pressure. Apparently Mr Walkley has a different style to the previous CEO, who had a reputation for turning up unexpectedly at all manner of far flung council operations and spending time getting an in depth understanding of how the operation is run. This earned much respect amongst loyal hard working staff. Let's just say that at the moment, Mr Walkley has not quite reached the same level of esteem amongst long standing staff.
It will come as no surprise to Barnet residents to hear that the champion and author of the One Barnet scheme is spreading peace, love and understanding whereever he goes. Perhaps the oddest thing in all of the things I read whilst researching this little blog was this story.
http://www.hamhighbroadway.co.uk/news/haringey_s_new_chief_orders_independent_review_into_accounts_shambles_1_1804520
It seems Mr Walkley has ordered an independent inquiry into the way accounts were prepared. What is interesting is that Mr Walkley strenuously resisted such an independent inquiry for the Metpro scandal at Barnet Council. Has he learned that in house stitch ups dont' work? Or is it more likely that as the inquiry will merely prove embarrassing for his predecessor, he sees a use for it in this circumstance.
One thing is clear from a quick google of Walkleys reign at Haringey is the fact that they don't have the vigorous blogging community we have here in Barnet yet. One wonders if Mr Walkley will change that as his reign unfolds. I wonder if he misses all the fun he used to have at Barnet.
Showing posts with label Nick Walkley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nick Walkley. Show all posts
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Barnet in the eye of a media storm
Six weeks ago, I asked two officials from Barnet Council whether they were aware that more people involved in local, regional and national media lived in the London Borough of Barnet than any other area in the country. They smirked and asked what relevance this had as to whether Barnet Council should negotiate over the Friern Barnet Library reopening.
I suggested that this was the reason that Barnet was the battleground for many policies and this was why they would find themselves under the spotlight, if they were unreasonable. This week we've had yet more national press coverage. Today the Daily Mirror covered the issue of Friern Barnet Library
I suggested that this was the reason that Barnet was the battleground for many policies and this was why they would find themselves under the spotlight, if they were unreasonable. This week we've had yet more national press coverage. Today the Daily Mirror covered the issue of Friern Barnet Library
On Monday we had the Guardian covering One Barnet
What astounds me is the fact that most of the Council officials championing these bonkers plans haven't twigged what this means for their careers. Even more astounding is that the companies such as Capita and BT haven't twigged that Barnet is toxic and it will cause them immeasurable reputational damage if they persist with their plans. They may well make a few quid in Barnet, but unlike the other outsourcing failures in Local Government, Barnet failures will be big news.
The former CEO of Barnet, Nick Walkley recognised how damaging Barnet was to his CV. That was why he left for a lower profile, less well paid job in Haringey. He is clearly hoping that by legging it from Barnet, he will be able to repair his reputation and say "Not on my watch guv'nor" when he gets quizzed as to why he let One Barnet fall to bits. Doubtless he'll say "I tried to warn the numpties on the Council, but they just wouldn't listen and I've been vindicated". Those of us who live here know better, but slippery Nick is no mug. Sadly the mugs have been left behind to try and implement a discredited and unpopular policy.
Who is driving it? It was 100% clear that it isn't Richard Cornelius, The Leader of the Council. He seemed to barely understand the issues when quizzed at the BAPS question time last week (check the video footage if you don't believe me). My sources tell me the stand in CEO, Andrew Travers is a sceptic. Which leaves the question WHO? My sources tell me that the man behind all of this is still Mike Freer MP. He has control of the local Conservative association and is the back seat driver, pushing us over the cliff.
Of course this is speculation. Maybe Mr Freer may like to enlighten us? If he thinks it is such a good idea, I'm sure that there are many people in the media who'd like a chat. If he thinks it is a bad idea, he has a duty of care to say.
Friday, 26 October 2012
Andrew Travers announces to Barnet Staff that the Democratic Process has been subverted
I was sent this joint email from Nick Walkley, the departing CEO of Barnet Council and Andrew Travers (Consultant) who is the interim CEO. It could not be more shocking
I have higlighted the key passage. In the first (in red) It is clear from the use of the words will bring that Mr Travers expects the nodding sheep in the Council chamber and the Leader to do his bidding and implement One Barnet Outsourcing, regardless of the risks.
The second (in Blue), Mr Travers announces policy. It is not the role of officers to do this. It is the job of Councillors to set policy and officers to implement it.
It seems that the new interim CEO doesn't understand his job, or the way the Council is supposed to make decisions. I am appalled.
I will be drafting a communique, possibly with my fellow bloggers, to all 63 Barnet Councillors asking their opinion of Mr Travers decision to grab what vestage of credibility and power they once had.
Pray tell me Council Leader Cornelius, what do you think of this statement?
From: First Team [mailto:First.Team@barnet.gov.uk]
Sent: 26 October 2012 15:12
To: AllStaff
Subject: Weekly message from the Chief Executives
Sent: 26 October 2012 15:12
To: AllStaff
Subject: Weekly message from the Chief Executives
This Wednesday saw the end of the second phase of the Senior Management Restructure with Member Panels appointing Maryellen Salter to the role of Director of Assurance (and Monitoring Officer) and Dawn Wakeling to the role of Director of Adults and Communities (and statutory Director of Adult Social Services). Both Dawn and Maryellen will now work with current post holders to ensure a smooth transition in the new year.
I am sure you will join me in congratulating them and wishing them every success.
Perhaps more significantly, Members also interviewed and appointed Andrew Travers as interim Chief Executive. Andrew will take up his appointment on 1 December following my departure. It’s appropriate that we therefore share this message.
Nick
My first comment, obviously, has to be to repeat that this is an exciting time to become interim Chief Executive in Barnet. The Remuneration Committee that appointed me coincided to the day with the arrival of final tenders from the two NSCSO bidders and I will take up the post of Chief Executive a week before Cabinet debates final proposals. Supervising the changes that both NSCSO and DRS will bring to the council, to the borough and to staff (both those of you who will TUPE to the new providers and those remaining within the council) will obviously be my priority over the coming months.
Next week will see the publication of Cabinet papers that include the next stage in our medium term financial plan. For the first time, this will take the council beyond the current central government spending review and we are predicting that there will be further reductions in the council’s income under the next review. This means that I cannot simply be the ‘continuity Chief Executive’. This council is in a better place than many others because we looked over the horizon and faced up to the difficult challenges coming towards local government. I suspect this week’s announcement from Birmingham gives an early indication of the alternatives.
In practice, this means we will need to accelerate the Wave 2 projects in the One Barnet programme and we will publish details of proposals for waste and street scene in Cabinet papers next week. The changes that NSCSO and DRS will bring will mean that the definition of public sector will to some extent change in the borough as it will encompass those who move to private sector employers. However, the definition of public service will not change and I am delighted to be given this opportunity to work with so many people for whom this remains the central tenet of their working life.
Andrew
----------------------------
I have higlighted the key passage. In the first (in red) It is clear from the use of the words will bring that Mr Travers expects the nodding sheep in the Council chamber and the Leader to do his bidding and implement One Barnet Outsourcing, regardless of the risks.
The second (in Blue), Mr Travers announces policy. It is not the role of officers to do this. It is the job of Councillors to set policy and officers to implement it.
It seems that the new interim CEO doesn't understand his job, or the way the Council is supposed to make decisions. I am appalled.
I will be drafting a communique, possibly with my fellow bloggers, to all 63 Barnet Councillors asking their opinion of Mr Travers decision to grab what vestage of credibility and power they once had.
Pray tell me Council Leader Cornelius, what do you think of this statement?
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Should Barnet Councillors declare Independence?
I had a truly extraordinary conversation yesterday. I can't reveal who with, when or where, but it has left me feeling rather disturbed. It has seriously undermined my sense of trust in politics in Barnet. There are two major developments in Barnet politics in the last few weeks. The first is the departure of Nick Walkley to Haringey Council. The other is the news that Barnet Council plans to outsource waste collection, in a joint outsourcing bid with Brent Council.
There is a common theme in these two events. Haringey Council are a Labour Council. Brent Council are a Labour Council. Nick Walkley is viewed as Mr One Barnet. In a quite extraordinary blog yesterday, maverick Tory backbench Councillor Brian Coleman says
Then there is Brent. Again this is a Labour Council. Barnet has jumped into bed with a Labour Council who are already further down the privatisation route than Barnet. Given the struggle in Barnet, you may think Brent would have reconsidered the proposal, but clearly the opportunity to save a few pennies on the Brent Council tax payers bills has taken precedence over supporting the residents questioning One Barnet next door. It was revealed that a Brent Labour Councillor dismissed the idea of an in house solution, even though Barnet Council saved a fortune when they did this in 1992.
Now what I'm about to say will sound like heresy in Barnet left circles. There are three big outsourcing projects on the table in Barnet. There are the two classic One Barnet bids and the refuse collection in a joint bid with Brent. Let's look at these logically. Which one is the least risky to the taxpayer? The two with a completely new organisation, new structure and new companies, who will export jobs to wherever the lowest paid bidder is, or the refuse collection bid, in conjunction with Brent, who have management experience of the process and some sort of track record?
We have identified many risks with the One Barnet projects, but surely Brent have what it takes to deliver real savings? That seems like a reasonably pragmatic view to take. The only problem is that we can't actually say that. Why? Because we have not seen the figures, even more alarmingly, no public sector comparator has been done. Barnet has a very efficient refuse organisation. Many Tory councillors have confirmed this. If this organisation was allowed to bid for the contract, surely this could give us the best of both worlds. I am not asking for special favours, just the chance to see if it is a better option. As we have a Tory Council, it is clear that any award to this organisation would be because it was the best bid. It amazes me that a Tory Council doesn't use the opportunity to say "look how well we run public services".
What alarms me most is the fact that if you take all of the posturing out of the equation, it is pretty clear to me that it doesn't matter whether your council is Tory or Labour, in this day and age, you will get zealots trying to impose schemes which are completely bonkers, have no sound business case and are inherently risky on the public. At a public meeting on Monday night, it became clear that it wasn't the Councillors who new what was going on in Parking, it was my fellow blogger, Mr Mustard. When it comes to outsourcing, it is not the Councillors, but my fellow blogger Mr Reasonable.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation of all though came yesterday. On Saturday, Sury Khatri, a Mill Hill Conservative Councillor made the statement that around ten Conservative Councillors are One Barnet sceptics. I made the point that this means there is actually a majority against the proposal on the council.
What was I told yesterday? Well it appears that I am wrong. Why you may ask? Well my supposition was that all of the Labour Councillors are anti One Barnet. I was informed that this was not the case. I was informed that whilst it is politically useful for them to be associated with the movement against it, some do not fundamentally disagree with the program. I was told that in their alternative budget, One Barnet is included in the figures and they have no plans for a different course of action.
I was also told that the local Labour Party have only committed to the proposal for a referendum on it, because they know the Tories are too stupid to actually go for it and it allows them to focus on an anti One Barnet campaign, without actually saying they will stop/reverse one Barnet. A group of Labour Councillors believe that something like One Barnet is the only way to address the funding crisis at the Council.
So the question I asked was this. If ten Tories crossed the floor of the Council chamber to vote against One Barnet, would Labour stick the knife in the project and vote against it. The answer I got was "Yes, because it would fatally damage the Tory administration".
So let us consider the full facts about outsourcing in local government. Whether you live in a Tory Borough such as Barnet or a Labour Borough such as Brent or Haringey, you are likely to see your public services outsourced. Political control of the council makes no difference. In both Labour and Tory groups you have a Blairite/moderniser faction who see traditional public service provision as an outdated mode of operation. In Barnet this was most aptly demonstrated by Mike Freer, who Brian Coleman correctly identifies in his blog as an archetypal Blairite. What other conclusion can be drawn from this statement in Colemans blog (talking about Walkleys appointment).
This question has been answered for me. There are many people in Barnet for whom Brian Coleman serves a very useful purpose. Brian Coleman stated in a previous blog that he had discovered who his true friends are. It is clear that Coleman is not a fan of Walkley, Blairism or outsourcing. He believes that councillors should maintain control of services and not surrender this in ten year contracts to private companies. When you are on the brink, as Coleman is, the time comes to call in a few favours. I am not in his circle of friends, so I can only speculate as to what these favours may be, but it is quite clear to me that his latest blog is a mere shot across the bows of those who have washed their hands of him and his antics.
But for me, following the conversation I alluded to earlier, it begs a far more fundamental issue. I've spent four years (this blog started on the 11th October 2008 - http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/hello-good-evening-and-welcome.html ) writing this blog. I've done it out of love for the place I live. I now read my early efforts and am shocked at how totally naive I was back then about Barnet politics. I think this may even have been true last week. As readers of this blog will know, I am making a film at the moment. It will have its world Premiere at the Phoenix Cinema next week, on Monday 22nd October at 6pm. It is a fantastic film, even if I say so myself. I was shocked to watch the early cut of it. It made me realise why I write the blog and the power of what the people in our local community can achieve.
We are faced with a situation where our Borough is being dragooned into a highly risky and dangerous set of contracts that will tie us in for ten years to Private companies. Wherever this has happened in Barnet previously it has resulted in massive overspends and legal cases. This will eventually come out of our pockets. It is clear that this is driven by arcane practices, dodgy political intrigue and some rather unsavoury characters. It is not at all clear to me what the Political alternative is.
It is time for Barnet Councillors to discover their conscience and declare independence from the vested interests. My father flew a bomber plane in the second world war to fight for independence from tyranny risking his life in the process. Most of the members of his squadron were shot down and either killed or held as POW's as was he in Rumania. I am not asking anyone to take such a risk, I am simply asking for local councillors to show some courage and stop this madness. One thing is clear to me. The threat used to keep councillors in line is withdrawal of party whip. If a group refuse this, then the administration will in effect lose it's majaority. They will not take this risk. I believe that the sane and decent councillors who care, need to take a risk and stand up. They will not be forgiven if they do not.
If in two years a councillor says to you on the doorstep "I did not support this" but they voted for it, they are a coward and should be dismissed.
There is a common theme in these two events. Haringey Council are a Labour Council. Brent Council are a Labour Council. Nick Walkley is viewed as Mr One Barnet. In a quite extraordinary blog yesterday, maverick Tory backbench Councillor Brian Coleman says
Having been appointed by an Administration lead by a radical and reforming Conservative Leader (Mike Freer) there is a theory that Mr Walkley was not as comfortable with a more traditional Conservative Leader determined not to throw out the baby with the bathwater who is more relaxed with Government at all levels doing less and achieving more .Even more interesting is this description of the relationship between Walkley and Freer
Some less Charitable Conservative Councillors considered him the then Leaders "puppy" no doubt as a result of his habit of nodding his head enthusiastically during the Leaders speechesThe implication could not be clearer. Walkley was "frustrated" by the pace of outsourcing in Barnet. He is going to Haringey to unleash a OneBarnet + program, at a Council where he believes there is the political discipline to see it through. If nothing else it confirms the view that Mike Freer was and still is the driving force behind One Barnet. Without the "Shepherd" to keep the sheep in order, the puppy has found himself a new flock and a new field, with a new master.
Then there is Brent. Again this is a Labour Council. Barnet has jumped into bed with a Labour Council who are already further down the privatisation route than Barnet. Given the struggle in Barnet, you may think Brent would have reconsidered the proposal, but clearly the opportunity to save a few pennies on the Brent Council tax payers bills has taken precedence over supporting the residents questioning One Barnet next door. It was revealed that a Brent Labour Councillor dismissed the idea of an in house solution, even though Barnet Council saved a fortune when they did this in 1992.
Now what I'm about to say will sound like heresy in Barnet left circles. There are three big outsourcing projects on the table in Barnet. There are the two classic One Barnet bids and the refuse collection in a joint bid with Brent. Let's look at these logically. Which one is the least risky to the taxpayer? The two with a completely new organisation, new structure and new companies, who will export jobs to wherever the lowest paid bidder is, or the refuse collection bid, in conjunction with Brent, who have management experience of the process and some sort of track record?
We have identified many risks with the One Barnet projects, but surely Brent have what it takes to deliver real savings? That seems like a reasonably pragmatic view to take. The only problem is that we can't actually say that. Why? Because we have not seen the figures, even more alarmingly, no public sector comparator has been done. Barnet has a very efficient refuse organisation. Many Tory councillors have confirmed this. If this organisation was allowed to bid for the contract, surely this could give us the best of both worlds. I am not asking for special favours, just the chance to see if it is a better option. As we have a Tory Council, it is clear that any award to this organisation would be because it was the best bid. It amazes me that a Tory Council doesn't use the opportunity to say "look how well we run public services".
What alarms me most is the fact that if you take all of the posturing out of the equation, it is pretty clear to me that it doesn't matter whether your council is Tory or Labour, in this day and age, you will get zealots trying to impose schemes which are completely bonkers, have no sound business case and are inherently risky on the public. At a public meeting on Monday night, it became clear that it wasn't the Councillors who new what was going on in Parking, it was my fellow blogger, Mr Mustard. When it comes to outsourcing, it is not the Councillors, but my fellow blogger Mr Reasonable.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation of all though came yesterday. On Saturday, Sury Khatri, a Mill Hill Conservative Councillor made the statement that around ten Conservative Councillors are One Barnet sceptics. I made the point that this means there is actually a majority against the proposal on the council.
What was I told yesterday? Well it appears that I am wrong. Why you may ask? Well my supposition was that all of the Labour Councillors are anti One Barnet. I was informed that this was not the case. I was informed that whilst it is politically useful for them to be associated with the movement against it, some do not fundamentally disagree with the program. I was told that in their alternative budget, One Barnet is included in the figures and they have no plans for a different course of action.
I was also told that the local Labour Party have only committed to the proposal for a referendum on it, because they know the Tories are too stupid to actually go for it and it allows them to focus on an anti One Barnet campaign, without actually saying they will stop/reverse one Barnet. A group of Labour Councillors believe that something like One Barnet is the only way to address the funding crisis at the Council.
So the question I asked was this. If ten Tories crossed the floor of the Council chamber to vote against One Barnet, would Labour stick the knife in the project and vote against it. The answer I got was "Yes, because it would fatally damage the Tory administration".
So let us consider the full facts about outsourcing in local government. Whether you live in a Tory Borough such as Barnet or a Labour Borough such as Brent or Haringey, you are likely to see your public services outsourced. Political control of the council makes no difference. In both Labour and Tory groups you have a Blairite/moderniser faction who see traditional public service provision as an outdated mode of operation. In Barnet this was most aptly demonstrated by Mike Freer, who Brian Coleman correctly identifies in his blog as an archetypal Blairite. What other conclusion can be drawn from this statement in Colemans blog (talking about Walkleys appointment).
I did not serve on the Appointment panel , I do not think the then Leader trusted me to make the "right" decision and there was some disquiet amongst the ruling Group who perceived the new Chief Executive as far too close to the thinking of the Labour Government, he had spent a year on secondment at the Department of Communities and Local Government and far too susceptible to whatever Local Government fad was in favour that week"I find it extraordinary that in the week before Brian Coleman finds out whether he will be charged, he should go on the offensive against the man who he put in Power in Barnet, Mike Freer MP. At a time when Coleman needs all of his friends, why should he set out on a mission to alienate the most powerful of them all?
This question has been answered for me. There are many people in Barnet for whom Brian Coleman serves a very useful purpose. Brian Coleman stated in a previous blog that he had discovered who his true friends are. It is clear that Coleman is not a fan of Walkley, Blairism or outsourcing. He believes that councillors should maintain control of services and not surrender this in ten year contracts to private companies. When you are on the brink, as Coleman is, the time comes to call in a few favours. I am not in his circle of friends, so I can only speculate as to what these favours may be, but it is quite clear to me that his latest blog is a mere shot across the bows of those who have washed their hands of him and his antics.
But for me, following the conversation I alluded to earlier, it begs a far more fundamental issue. I've spent four years (this blog started on the 11th October 2008 - http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/hello-good-evening-and-welcome.html ) writing this blog. I've done it out of love for the place I live. I now read my early efforts and am shocked at how totally naive I was back then about Barnet politics. I think this may even have been true last week. As readers of this blog will know, I am making a film at the moment. It will have its world Premiere at the Phoenix Cinema next week, on Monday 22nd October at 6pm. It is a fantastic film, even if I say so myself. I was shocked to watch the early cut of it. It made me realise why I write the blog and the power of what the people in our local community can achieve.
We are faced with a situation where our Borough is being dragooned into a highly risky and dangerous set of contracts that will tie us in for ten years to Private companies. Wherever this has happened in Barnet previously it has resulted in massive overspends and legal cases. This will eventually come out of our pockets. It is clear that this is driven by arcane practices, dodgy political intrigue and some rather unsavoury characters. It is not at all clear to me what the Political alternative is.
It is time for Barnet Councillors to discover their conscience and declare independence from the vested interests. My father flew a bomber plane in the second world war to fight for independence from tyranny risking his life in the process. Most of the members of his squadron were shot down and either killed or held as POW's as was he in Rumania. I am not asking anyone to take such a risk, I am simply asking for local councillors to show some courage and stop this madness. One thing is clear to me. The threat used to keep councillors in line is withdrawal of party whip. If a group refuse this, then the administration will in effect lose it's majaority. They will not take this risk. I believe that the sane and decent councillors who care, need to take a risk and stand up. They will not be forgiven if they do not.
If in two years a councillor says to you on the doorstep "I did not support this" but they voted for it, they are a coward and should be dismissed.
Monday, 15 October 2012
A message to Barnet Council Staff
Many Barnet Council staff are asking questions about what direction the council will be taking, following the resignation of Mr Nick Walkley, the CEO. It is clear from Mr Walkleys resignation that he has no confidence in the One Barnet program. Barnet Council is the largest Borough Council in London and he has taken a pay cut to go to Haringey. He cites personal reasons. In football terms this would be like Joe Hart quitting the Champions, Manchester City and signing for Stockport County on the grounds that it was nearer his house and he'd get a bit more fun stopping shots.
It has been confirmed to me that this move came as a surprise to both the leadership of the council and his fellow executives. Mr Walkley clearly doesnt' want the One Barnet fiasco on his CV. He can at least say "it didn't go wrong on my watch and I tried to warn the Leadership". For those exec's who are staying, sadly theior careers are about to go down the plughole.
News reaches the Barnet Eye that Richard Cornelius is about to appoint the Deputy CEO Mr Andrew Travers, a contractor on a "tax efficient" contract as CEO. No thought has been given to who will become section 151 officer. Presumably Mr Travers can't report to himself? We hear his contract will take him through as interim head until 2014. This means that Barnet wll not have a proper CEO until the next council elections. This srikes me as bizarre, but par for the course in Barnet.
It is the job of officers to advise councillors as to the most prudent policy. I would suggest that Mr Walkley's action is the most stark bit of advice imaginable. If you can't beat em, leg it !
By the way, Mr Walkley has caused a bit of a furore in joining Haringey Council. Many Labour councillors are rather upset at the move. I would suggest that they should be esctatic to get Mr Walkley. They say we learn by our mistrakes. This means he must be a genuis by now.
One rather intriguing titbit reached me, completely off record, so we will log it as title tattle. Apparently Council Leader Richard Cornelius was not exactly gutted to find Walkley had jumped.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Friern Barnet Library Campaign - The Council sticks it's fingers up at the community
Barnet Council has shown it's true colours and it's complete disregard for the community today.
At a series of recent meetings a number of options were presented to the Council by various local groups. A number of ideas were also raised to increase funds available for improvements to the library service, including setting up friends groups to facilitate fundraising activities at each of the 14 local libraries.
Campaign groups also engaged with the New Carnegie Trust, which has access to billions of pounds of funds, provided by wealthy benefactors committed to improved library provision.
At meetings, Barnet Council confirmed that no sale was likely for approx 12 months. The groups asked for a period of nine months to put together a full proposal to make a workable peoples library. As the building would be sitting empty during this period, it seemed a sensible and pragmatic solution.
Today the council issued this email, showing that the council has not been negotiating in good faith. Local taxpayers time and efforts have been completely wasted.
The Barnet Eye is holding Mr Bill Murphy, Mr Nick Walkley, Councillor Robert Rams and Councillor Richard Cornelius responsible for wasting many hours of peoples time.
We are disgusted with the behaviour of these people. Here is Bill Murphys email. It was doubtless sanctioned by his lord and masters, Walkley, Cornelius and Rams.
------------------------------------------------
From: Murphy, Bill
Date: Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 9:22 AM
Subject: Friern Barnet - repossion of the building
To: friernbarnetcommunitylibrary@gmail.com,
Cc: "Taylor, Julie" , Paresh Mehta , "Doody, Lauren" , "Fahey, Mike"
-------------------------------------------------------
If you want to take part in the community response
-------------------------------------------------------
++++Friern Barnet Community Library++++
Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre. St. Marys Court, Regents Park Road, Finchley Central London N3 1BQ
And Wednesday evening let’s celebrate the PEOPLE’S library with:
Andre Espeut and Didjitalis 8.30pm
At a series of recent meetings a number of options were presented to the Council by various local groups. A number of ideas were also raised to increase funds available for improvements to the library service, including setting up friends groups to facilitate fundraising activities at each of the 14 local libraries.
Campaign groups also engaged with the New Carnegie Trust, which has access to billions of pounds of funds, provided by wealthy benefactors committed to improved library provision.
At meetings, Barnet Council confirmed that no sale was likely for approx 12 months. The groups asked for a period of nine months to put together a full proposal to make a workable peoples library. As the building would be sitting empty during this period, it seemed a sensible and pragmatic solution.
Today the council issued this email, showing that the council has not been negotiating in good faith. Local taxpayers time and efforts have been completely wasted.
The Barnet Eye is holding Mr Bill Murphy, Mr Nick Walkley, Councillor Robert Rams and Councillor Richard Cornelius responsible for wasting many hours of peoples time.
We are disgusted with the behaviour of these people. Here is Bill Murphys email. It was doubtless sanctioned by his lord and masters, Walkley, Cornelius and Rams.
------------------------------------------------
From: Murphy, Bill
Date: Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 9:22 AM
Subject: Friern Barnet - repossion of the building
To: friernbarnetcommunitylibrary@gmail.com,
Cc: "Taylor, Julie" , Paresh Mehta , "Doody, Lauren" , "Fahey, Mike"
Dear Phoenix and
Rosie,
I write further to our meeting on 3
October 2012. There were a number of options presented to the Council as to how
you proposed to run a community library at the former library premises. Having
carefully considered the various options the only viable option would be option
4 i.e. for the community interest group to purchase the
premises.
The premises have been earmarked
for sale and the Council now need to market the premises for sale. Naturally,
the community interest group can put forward offers for the purchase of the
property at the appropriate time and the Council will consider that proposal
along with any offers received from other interested parties.
It was made abundantly clear to the
Council at the meeting by those who attended that the possibility of opening a
community library from Friary House was no longer of interest.
In order to consider any offers for
the purchase of the premises the Council requires vacant possession.
Having now explored all options in
respect of your proposal to open a community library at the current premises the
discussions are now concluded.
The Council now insists
that you give peaceful
possession of the premises so that the property can now be marketed for sale.
Once the premises have been put up for sale you will have the opportunity to put
forward an offer for the purchase of the property.
Bill Murphy
Assistant Director, Customer Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Barnet Eye has responded to this email in the strongest possible terms.
Dear Mr Murphy, Mr Walkley, Councillor Rams and Councillor Cornelius,
For the past month, I have been rearranging my business schedule, often at very short notice, to attend meetings with various employees of Barnet Council, including Bill Murphy, Julie Taylor and Mike Fahey.
I was under the impression that I was negotiating with Barnet Council in good faith. I have spent many hours working to assist the campaign to prepare options for appraisal, as requested by Barnet Council.
I also identified a potential use for Friary House, involving a well respected and well funded local charity. I provided Mr Murphy with my business card and asked for a breakdown of costs related to renting the property. Mr Murphy has not bothered to even acknowledge this offer, let alone provide me with the costs which I sought.
I also enquired as to the status of local friends groups for libraries, which could be involved in fundraising activities. Mr Murphy responded that no Barnet library has an active friends group and that the council was not involved in trying to establish any. I asked Mr Murphy if we could investigate this option as it could meet the funding gap which the sale of Friern Barnet library is designed to address. As any income would be ongoing, this would be far more sustainable.
Mr Murphy agreed to take an action at the last meeting to discuss the option of establishing friends groups. I would have thought that Barnet council would have jumped at the opportunity to establish such a "Big Society" option.
Sadly, it seems that my time has been completely wasted and myself and other local taxpayers have been lead up the garden path. I am truly disgusted that Barnet Council have treated local residents in this manner.
Unlike Council employees and councillors, who get paid a salary or an allowance whatever they choose to do with their time, as a small businessman, my time is precious. I deeply resent having wasted dozens of hours trying to facilitate a solution which would be good for all involved, only to find out that Barnet Council never had any interest in serious discussions.
The tragedy of all of this is that the council have chosen to throw away a huge opportunity to creat goodwill and enhance the national reputation of Barnet Council. It was clear to all involved that there are plenty of options for increasing income and improving fundraising for Barnets libraries.
Following this shameful summary dismissal of the community, I doubt that anyone will bother in any attempt to engage with Barnet Council, until such time as a trustworthy and credible administration takes over. For those of us with businesses to run, it is simply not worth the effort trying to engage with this council anymore.
Regards
Roger Tichborne
Assistant Director, Customer Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Barnet Eye has responded to this email in the strongest possible terms.
Dear Mr Murphy, Mr Walkley, Councillor Rams and Councillor Cornelius,
For the past month, I have been rearranging my business schedule, often at very short notice, to attend meetings with various employees of Barnet Council, including Bill Murphy, Julie Taylor and Mike Fahey.
I was under the impression that I was negotiating with Barnet Council in good faith. I have spent many hours working to assist the campaign to prepare options for appraisal, as requested by Barnet Council.
I also identified a potential use for Friary House, involving a well respected and well funded local charity. I provided Mr Murphy with my business card and asked for a breakdown of costs related to renting the property. Mr Murphy has not bothered to even acknowledge this offer, let alone provide me with the costs which I sought.
I also enquired as to the status of local friends groups for libraries, which could be involved in fundraising activities. Mr Murphy responded that no Barnet library has an active friends group and that the council was not involved in trying to establish any. I asked Mr Murphy if we could investigate this option as it could meet the funding gap which the sale of Friern Barnet library is designed to address. As any income would be ongoing, this would be far more sustainable.
Mr Murphy agreed to take an action at the last meeting to discuss the option of establishing friends groups. I would have thought that Barnet council would have jumped at the opportunity to establish such a "Big Society" option.
Sadly, it seems that my time has been completely wasted and myself and other local taxpayers have been lead up the garden path. I am truly disgusted that Barnet Council have treated local residents in this manner.
Unlike Council employees and councillors, who get paid a salary or an allowance whatever they choose to do with their time, as a small businessman, my time is precious. I deeply resent having wasted dozens of hours trying to facilitate a solution which would be good for all involved, only to find out that Barnet Council never had any interest in serious discussions.
The tragedy of all of this is that the council have chosen to throw away a huge opportunity to creat goodwill and enhance the national reputation of Barnet Council. It was clear to all involved that there are plenty of options for increasing income and improving fundraising for Barnets libraries.
Following this shameful summary dismissal of the community, I doubt that anyone will bother in any attempt to engage with Barnet Council, until such time as a trustworthy and credible administration takes over. For those of us with businesses to run, it is simply not worth the effort trying to engage with this council anymore.
Regards
Roger Tichborne
If you want to take part in the community response
-------------------------------------------------------
++++Friern Barnet Community Library++++
Wednesday 10th Oct, 10am – Come and support the occupiers at
COURT:
Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre. St. Marys Court, Regents Park Road, Finchley Central London N3 1BQ
And Wednesday evening let’s celebrate the PEOPLE’S library with:
Andre Espeut and Didjitalis 8.30pm
A
vision in sound! The band that takes dance music to new heights with its
powerful blend of live organic and electronic grooves.
THE
WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING...LINK ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE, TWEET, FORWARD VIA
EMAIL, TELL THE WORLD!!
Monday, 8 October 2012
Friern Barnet Library - The true cost
First, a plug for some live music at Friern Barnet library
Secondly apologies to those of you awaiting info from last weeks meeting between various groups associated with the campaign to Save Friern Barnet Library and the Council. I had promised an update, but due to pressure of work and malfunctioning laptops, I've not had an opportunity to do this.
Let us look at the reasons the council state they need to close Friern Barnet library.
1. The Council want a capital receipt of £430,000 to pay for improvements at other libraries
2. The Council say they need to trim £1.4 million per annum from the library budget.
So, if you are elderly, have limited mobility or you are a young person who needs somewhere withing walking distance of your home to study and you live in Mill Hill, you will get improvements to the infrastructure of your library.
If however you have the same issues and you are a citizen of Friern Barnet library, what then? As far as you are concerned, the council has withdrawn library provision. As an elderly or disabled person, in effect the council has discriminated against you because of your postcode.
The council claimed it had plans for a "replacement library". This is not the case, as for anyone with limited mobility, the library is now too far away.
So for anyone who regularly used Friern Library and now has no library, there is a case to answer, should they seek legal remedy. In Mill Hill, Etz Chaim school has been prevented from moving into premises in the former Wyevale Garden Centre as local diabled residents sought legal remedy when they felt the council had ignored their needs. They used to meet at the cafe in the Garden Centre, which was DDA compliant. As the council facilitated the closure, they took up a legal challenge. The case has not been resolved, but there is clearly a strong enough legal argument to hold up the school.
In the case of the library at Friern, this is a far more cut and dried case.
Last week, the CEO of Barnet Council, Mr Nick Walkley resigned to join Haringey Council. Barnet had claimed that they needed to pay high salaries to attract the best people. Mr Walkley left, taking a pay cut of £11,000, which demonstrates that it is the job, not the salary which matters. Mr Walkley had been promoted internally, so the argument could not be more spurious. The taxpayers alliance found that 47 members of staff at Barnet Council were being paid more than £100,000 last year. If each one of them, followed Mr Walkleys example and took an £11,000 pay cut, then Barnet Council would make a net saving of over half a million pounds. This would easily plug the gap which Barnet Council claim required the destruction of the library service.
It is sickening that so called "public servants" trouser huge paychecks (many not paying the full rate of tax due to "tax efficient contracts") and are prepared to see the old, the young, the sick and the vulnerable lose vital services so they can have expensive holidays in the Maldives.
That my friends is all we really need to know about the true cost of the cuts in Barnet
Didgitalis, featuring Andre Espeut this Weds 10th, following the Court case (10am) - 8.30pm. Free
Please join us for the Court Case & the music.
Secondly apologies to those of you awaiting info from last weeks meeting between various groups associated with the campaign to Save Friern Barnet Library and the Council. I had promised an update, but due to pressure of work and malfunctioning laptops, I've not had an opportunity to do this.
Let us look at the reasons the council state they need to close Friern Barnet library.
1. The Council want a capital receipt of £430,000 to pay for improvements at other libraries
2. The Council say they need to trim £1.4 million per annum from the library budget.
So, if you are elderly, have limited mobility or you are a young person who needs somewhere withing walking distance of your home to study and you live in Mill Hill, you will get improvements to the infrastructure of your library.
If however you have the same issues and you are a citizen of Friern Barnet library, what then? As far as you are concerned, the council has withdrawn library provision. As an elderly or disabled person, in effect the council has discriminated against you because of your postcode.
The council claimed it had plans for a "replacement library". This is not the case, as for anyone with limited mobility, the library is now too far away.
So for anyone who regularly used Friern Library and now has no library, there is a case to answer, should they seek legal remedy. In Mill Hill, Etz Chaim school has been prevented from moving into premises in the former Wyevale Garden Centre as local diabled residents sought legal remedy when they felt the council had ignored their needs. They used to meet at the cafe in the Garden Centre, which was DDA compliant. As the council facilitated the closure, they took up a legal challenge. The case has not been resolved, but there is clearly a strong enough legal argument to hold up the school.
In the case of the library at Friern, this is a far more cut and dried case.
Last week, the CEO of Barnet Council, Mr Nick Walkley resigned to join Haringey Council. Barnet had claimed that they needed to pay high salaries to attract the best people. Mr Walkley left, taking a pay cut of £11,000, which demonstrates that it is the job, not the salary which matters. Mr Walkley had been promoted internally, so the argument could not be more spurious. The taxpayers alliance found that 47 members of staff at Barnet Council were being paid more than £100,000 last year. If each one of them, followed Mr Walkleys example and took an £11,000 pay cut, then Barnet Council would make a net saving of over half a million pounds. This would easily plug the gap which Barnet Council claim required the destruction of the library service.
It is sickening that so called "public servants" trouser huge paychecks (many not paying the full rate of tax due to "tax efficient contracts") and are prepared to see the old, the young, the sick and the vulnerable lose vital services so they can have expensive holidays in the Maldives.
That my friends is all we really need to know about the true cost of the cuts in Barnet
Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble - update
Many people have been asking us how the production of Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble has been going. Do you want the honest answer? It is a nightmare. We interviewed the Friern Library Campaign about the closure and then the Library was occupied and re-opened. A whole new story appeared. We interviewed Helen Michael about her parking campaign, then Brian Coleman was arrested in connection with an alleged assault. We interviewed many people about the CEO, Mr Nick Walkley and last Thursday he announced he was resigning. How can you make a film on a shoestring, when the story keeps changing?
The answer is "with passion and commitment". As well as having to film a whole new set of interviews, we have to rewrite the storyboard and recut the rough edit. On top of that, we have to change our press releases (I'd written a set of four, three weeks ago). Charles Honderick is tearing his hair out. He has been receiving all manner of offers of work since A Tale of Two Barnets was released and yet has committed 100% to make the new film. It has cost him a small fortune in lost opportunities. We are lucky that he feels a debt of gratitude to those who have helped make his name in Barnet. As soon as this project is completed, I believe he has two new ones lined up (that hopefully will actually pay him a living wage).
We have started putting clips together for trailers. the first of these features Ken Loach speaking about outsourcing and One Barnet. It is featured in the sidebar of this blog and is sound common sense. I sincerely hope that our councillors listen to his wise words.
We hope to have the full trailer completed next week. Charles joked to me that the way things are going, One Barnet will have been abandoned by the 22nd when we show the film, so we won't actually have a story to tell.
He has spent the weekend editing footage and compressing the 22 hours of film down to about an hour and a half. Being from Florida and not familar with local council politics, he said "you gotta see some of the town hall insanity and the parade and Theresa (Mrs Angry) and John and Susan Sullivan. I do believe there is a great film lurking in there".
By the time you see it on 22nd, I'll have probably watched the edits as we refine them at least 20 times and Charles about 100 times. For ATOTB, I've seen the film at over 20 screenings, in Barnet, The Houses of Parliament, The Phoenix, Edinburgh Festival, in Bournmouth at the Unison Conference and in Great Russell St at the TUC conference.
I think that it is a good film which stands up. We intend to make a better one.
The answer is "with passion and commitment". As well as having to film a whole new set of interviews, we have to rewrite the storyboard and recut the rough edit. On top of that, we have to change our press releases (I'd written a set of four, three weeks ago). Charles Honderick is tearing his hair out. He has been receiving all manner of offers of work since A Tale of Two Barnets was released and yet has committed 100% to make the new film. It has cost him a small fortune in lost opportunities. We are lucky that he feels a debt of gratitude to those who have helped make his name in Barnet. As soon as this project is completed, I believe he has two new ones lined up (that hopefully will actually pay him a living wage).
We have started putting clips together for trailers. the first of these features Ken Loach speaking about outsourcing and One Barnet. It is featured in the sidebar of this blog and is sound common sense. I sincerely hope that our councillors listen to his wise words.
We hope to have the full trailer completed next week. Charles joked to me that the way things are going, One Barnet will have been abandoned by the 22nd when we show the film, so we won't actually have a story to tell.
He has spent the weekend editing footage and compressing the 22 hours of film down to about an hour and a half. Being from Florida and not familar with local council politics, he said "you gotta see some of the town hall insanity and the parade and Theresa (Mrs Angry) and John and Susan Sullivan. I do believe there is a great film lurking in there".
By the time you see it on 22nd, I'll have probably watched the edits as we refine them at least 20 times and Charles about 100 times. For ATOTB, I've seen the film at over 20 screenings, in Barnet, The Houses of Parliament, The Phoenix, Edinburgh Festival, in Bournmouth at the Unison Conference and in Great Russell St at the TUC conference.
I think that it is a good film which stands up. We intend to make a better one.
Saturday, 6 October 2012
The Saturday List #18 - The disasters of Mr Nick Walkley ex CEO Barnet Council
As Mr Nick Walkley, Barnet Council CEO, has decided to do a bunk and leg it to Haringey, I thought I'd collate a list of the high points of his rule in Barnet. Unfortunately there weren't any, so here are the disasters instead.
1. Metpro Security. No contract, No CRB checks, No SIA accreditation, No Tax paid and £1.4 million of your cash. Kerching !!
2. Tax Dodging Contractors. At a recent Parliamentary hearing, a GLA spokesperson said that there were only 13 people in the UK working for local authorities on tax dodging contract. Funny that we know of 14 in Barnet.
3. SAP Procurement. Started in 2006 (pre Mr Wankley) with a budget of £6 million, costs have now risen to £24 million.
4. RM Countrysides Ltd. Barnets favourite charity. £2.4 million in work, no proper contracts and no control.
5. Helen Michaeal reported to police for producing a poster campaigning against parking charges.
6. One Barnet. So far £9 million spent on consultants (as best we can ascertain). Total savings £0.
7. NSL parking contract. The first One Barnet project. Losses so far £1 million.
8. Friern Barnet Library shut and reopened by Anarchists (Please note Mr Wankley is an admirer of the Sex Pistols motto "Anarchy for the UK")
9. Your Choice Barnet. Another Wankley special, set up to deliver care packages. Over half a million in the red since April.
10 My Favourite, the installation of his mini me, tax avoiding deputy, Mr A. T. Ravers as his deputy and replacement.
They say you learn by your mistakes. If this is true, then Haringey Council have got the cleverest new CEO on the planet. Thanks Mr Wankley for your efforts in Barnet. We hope you have spent the £700,000 we've given you for presiding over this period of unprecidented and unmitigated disaster well. We hope you've had lots of fun at our expense and you look back on your time at Barnet Council with warmth. We hope this because no one else here will.
1. Metpro Security. No contract, No CRB checks, No SIA accreditation, No Tax paid and £1.4 million of your cash. Kerching !!
2. Tax Dodging Contractors. At a recent Parliamentary hearing, a GLA spokesperson said that there were only 13 people in the UK working for local authorities on tax dodging contract. Funny that we know of 14 in Barnet.
3. SAP Procurement. Started in 2006 (pre Mr Wankley) with a budget of £6 million, costs have now risen to £24 million.
4. RM Countrysides Ltd. Barnets favourite charity. £2.4 million in work, no proper contracts and no control.
5. Helen Michaeal reported to police for producing a poster campaigning against parking charges.
6. One Barnet. So far £9 million spent on consultants (as best we can ascertain). Total savings £0.
7. NSL parking contract. The first One Barnet project. Losses so far £1 million.
8. Friern Barnet Library shut and reopened by Anarchists (Please note Mr Wankley is an admirer of the Sex Pistols motto "Anarchy for the UK")
9. Your Choice Barnet. Another Wankley special, set up to deliver care packages. Over half a million in the red since April.
10 My Favourite, the installation of his mini me, tax avoiding deputy, Mr A. T. Ravers as his deputy and replacement.
They say you learn by your mistakes. If this is true, then Haringey Council have got the cleverest new CEO on the planet. Thanks Mr Wankley for your efforts in Barnet. We hope you have spent the £700,000 we've given you for presiding over this period of unprecidented and unmitigated disaster well. We hope you've had lots of fun at our expense and you look back on your time at Barnet Council with warmth. We hope this because no one else here will.
Friday, 5 October 2012
The Resignation of Barnet's Chief Executive: a statement by the Barnet bloggers
The following letter was sent by email today to every Barnet Councillor, in the wake of the resignation of Barnet Council CEO, Mr Nick Walkley.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Councillor
It was announced yesterday that Mr Nick Walkley, the Chief Executive of Barnet Council, is leaving in order to take up a position in Haringey.
This unexpected development immediately raises the most serious questions regarding the progress of the controversial £1billion One Barnet programme which is due to outsource the majority of our council services to the private sector: a hugely over ambitious project which bears the risk of being a spectacular failure, and having a devastating impact on the lives of residents in our borough.
We have a right to know why Mr Walkley, the architect of this programme, is leaving at this crucial point in the proceedings, just as the procurement process reaches its conclusion, and the successful bidders are chosen.
We note that this departure arises in the wake of the revelation that the council leader, Councillor Richard Cornelius, admits that he knew nothing about a decision by the senior officers of the council to change the outsourcing model of the DRS service bid from a strategic partnership to an even higher risk Joint Venture. This is a decision which has been taken by officers acting with consultants and bidders, without oversight from the elected members of this authority, and is therefore an action taken in open defiance of the democratic process which us supposed to safeguard the best interests of residents of this borough.
We question the unrestricted expenditure of millions of pounds on unaccountable consultants acting as "implementation partners" for what is, at best, the biggest risk undertaken by any local authority with the money and trust invested in them by residents and tax payers: a scandalous waste of our money at what is supposed to be a time of austerity, and when we have seen savage reductions in council spending, leading to widespread hardship and the loss of community resources such as the much loved local library in Friern Barnet, and the Church Farmhouse museum.
As residents, tax payers, and local bloggers, we call for an emergency session of the full council in order to discuss the implications of Mr Walkley's resignation and for the immediate suspension of the One Barnet programme pending the outcome of an external and fully independent audit of the risks involved in this £1 billion gamble with our money, our services, Our Barnet.
Yours faithfully
Derek Dishman
John Dix
Vicki Morris
Theresa Musgrove
Roger Tichborne
The best Nick Walkley resignation rumour in town
I have spoken to a friend of the outgoing CEO of Barnet Council, Mr Nick Walkley and he told me that Nick had one comment about leaving Barnet. He said "I won't miss the obsessive bloggers or Brian Coleman". Now personally I can't believe that Nick would have said such a horrid thing about poor old Brian, but hey ho.
Ever since I first met Mr Walkley, he's been threatening to buy me a pint and discuss our mutual interest in Punk Rock. I think I had better take advantage of the offer soon, don't you? I must say that I have been disappointed as to how little Nick has done to encourage the punk scene in Barnet in his 3 years in office. He may not have created "Anarchy in the UK" in his time here, but he leaves us with just a little taste of it in Friern Barnet library. Strangely, the locals have rather taken to it.
Please note that Nicks friend may just have been having a bit of fun in quoting him. It is a great quote though ! Strange as it may seem, even Council CEO's have mates with senses of humour (probaly just as well).
Ever since I first met Mr Walkley, he's been threatening to buy me a pint and discuss our mutual interest in Punk Rock. I think I had better take advantage of the offer soon, don't you? I must say that I have been disappointed as to how little Nick has done to encourage the punk scene in Barnet in his 3 years in office. He may not have created "Anarchy in the UK" in his time here, but he leaves us with just a little taste of it in Friern Barnet library. Strangely, the locals have rather taken to it.
Please note that Nicks friend may just have been having a bit of fun in quoting him. It is a great quote though ! Strange as it may seem, even Council CEO's have mates with senses of humour (probaly just as well).
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Nick Walkley leaves Barnet Council - One barnet in Tatters - Update
I have just been looking at my blog stats today, we've seen a huge number of hits, and it appears that many people associated with Companies making a fortune from the One Barnet program are putting in a late shift tonight. They clearly see the Barnet Eye as the only reliable news source at the moment.
Here are some statistics about hits on my blog since five pm (you'll be amazed at what you can see about our visitors).
For thos of you unfamiliar with blog stats. this tells me which page the vistor is looking at, what google search they did to find it and how they arrived. If it says "no referring link" it means they knew what to type in. If you see Google and some words, that tells me what words they were searching on. These are just a few of our vistors. Could it be that bidders have been slightly disturbed by the sudden departure of Nick Walkley? Sorry for those of you who are non technical, I find this stuff fascinating
Here are some statistics about hits on my blog since five pm (you'll be amazed at what you can see about our visitors).
For thos of you unfamiliar with blog stats. this tells me which page the vistor is looking at, what google search they did to find it and how they arrived. If it says "no referring link" it means they knew what to type in. If you see Google and some words, that tells me what words they were searching on. These are just a few of our vistors. Could it be that bidders have been slightly disturbed by the sudden departure of Nick Walkley? Sorry for those of you who are non technical, I find this stuff fascinating
Trowers And Hamlins Llp (213.146.147.190) [Label IP Address] 0 returning visits
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Leader of Council confirms that CEO Nick Walkley is leaving Barnet Council
The CEO of Barnet Council, Mr Nick Walkley is leaving his job. He was interviewed for a post at Haringey Council and ha apparently accepted the job. This has been confirmed by official sources at Barnet Council to the Barnet Eye
More to follow.
More to follow.
Monday, 3 September 2012
The Official One Barnet Anthem
On a swampy Barnet evening, as summer dies and a harsh winter sets in, The Barnet Eye has officially declared the winner of the competition for a One Barnet Official Anthem. There were many candidates, but only one song truly sums up the awful project. The winner is Death Sound Blues by Country Joe and the Fish.
Sadly, I suspect that this song will prove all too true for the careers of all those who are blindly,deeply and madly in love with this bonkers project. It is strange because every time I see Nick Walkley, his demeanour bcomes more and more like an undertaker. I think this song suits him rather well.
Here's a live version from '68
Here's the lyrics
Sadly, I suspect that this song will prove all too true for the careers of all those who are blindly,deeply and madly in love with this bonkers project. It is strange because every time I see Nick Walkley, his demeanour bcomes more and more like an undertaker. I think this song suits him rather well.
Here's a live version from '68
Here's the lyrics
Death Sound Blues
by Country Joe and the Fish
I hear that death sound, baby,
Oh, like an echo in my brain.
I hear that death sound, baby,
Oh, like an echo in my brain, brain.
Well, there's a part of us dying,
You know that things will never be the same,
Ah, never be the same!
I feel the black nails a-poundin' now,
Yes, into the coffin of our love.
Hear the black nails a-poundin' now,
Yes, into the coffin of our love.
Well, like a black shrouded hunter now,
Don't you know that I have killed a snow white dove,
Oh, I've killed the dove.
Well, the time sands keep a-fallin' now
On towards our ending day.
Yeah, the time sands keep a-fallin'
Towards our ending day.
I see the minutes chasing the hours,
Yes, to the words that we should say,
Ah — we should say.
Oh, like an echo in my brain.
I hear that death sound, baby,
Oh, like an echo in my brain, brain.
Well, there's a part of us dying,
You know that things will never be the same,
Ah, never be the same!
I feel the black nails a-poundin' now,
Yes, into the coffin of our love.
Hear the black nails a-poundin' now,
Yes, into the coffin of our love.
Well, like a black shrouded hunter now,
Don't you know that I have killed a snow white dove,
Oh, I've killed the dove.
Well, the time sands keep a-fallin' now
On towards our ending day.
Yeah, the time sands keep a-fallin'
Towards our ending day.
I see the minutes chasing the hours,
Yes, to the words that we should say,
Ah — we should say.
Monday, 27 August 2012
Is this Barnet's next big scandal?
I have just fired off an email to the Leader of the Council, Richard Cornelius and the CEO Nick Walkley.
Why you may ask? Well it looks to me as if they are trying to be rather sneeky. I will say no more until I get the clarification, but for those of you who like a puzzle, read this DPR
#MPSBarnet other crime figures. Domestic
violence up 3% Youth violence down 18% Racist/Religious crime down 15% &
Knife crime down 1%
Why you may ask? Well it looks to me as if they are trying to be rather sneeky. I will say no more until I get the clarification, but for those of you who like a puzzle, read this DPR
And consider this tweet from the Metropolitan Police on 18th June
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Believe nothing you read about Barnet Council in the Barnet Blogs !
Today the horrible truth dawned on me that I've wasted the last four and a half years of my life writing this stupid blog. Over the past week, it has become patently clear that no one in Barnet Council really has a clue what is going on. The senior officers says one thing, the Leader says another and the Deputy Leader says something different again. The Barnet Eye has our own little cabal of employees and councillors who tell us the odd snippet of information, and we get envelopes stuffed full of interesting papers through the post occaasionally.
The point is that if the organisation itself hasn't got a clue what is going on, what on earth is the point writing a blog about it? I rather feel that it is like the football pundits in the Sun. If Manchester United play Manchester City, one will predict United to win, One wuill predict City and one will predict a draw. That way, the Sun can always say "It woz the Sun that got it right" and print highlights from the article.
So is Pam Wharfe right that One Barnet is now going to be a joint venture? Is Richard Cornelius right when he says that No decision has been taken and it would need a pretty convincing case to change tack? Is Dan Thomas right that a Joint Venture is safer?
Search me. Here is my best guess though ** Pleae read this with caution ** I believe that the bidders are getting cold feet. They are worried about the reputational damage. they know that the Barnet bloggers have the ear of Eric Pickles and they know that Barnet is a media hotbed. Why on earth would Capita and BT want to run the risk of destroying their reputations? They have been religiously checking this blog on a daily basis several times, re reading old blogs etc. They can see the future, even if Barnet can't. They know that a joint venture guarantees profit and minimises risk. As there is no risk at all, they can experiment with no fear of losses. Who are the bidders actually in dialog with? Not Richard Cornelius, he's been on holiday and he only works one day a week at NLBP. Not Dan Thomas, why on earth should they bother with him? Nope, they've been talking to Pam Wharfe. So who would you trust to know their intentions and desires?
That is why I believe that even though Ruichard Cornelius doesn't know it yet, that is what Nick Walkley will tell him to sign off on. And I believe that is what will happen unless something rather unexpected happens, like a certain well known councillor, wiith a reputation to build, stabs dear old Richard in the back and nicks his job. And of that happens, anything could happen. So don't believe a word you read here.
The point is that if the organisation itself hasn't got a clue what is going on, what on earth is the point writing a blog about it? I rather feel that it is like the football pundits in the Sun. If Manchester United play Manchester City, one will predict United to win, One wuill predict City and one will predict a draw. That way, the Sun can always say "It woz the Sun that got it right" and print highlights from the article.
So is Pam Wharfe right that One Barnet is now going to be a joint venture? Is Richard Cornelius right when he says that No decision has been taken and it would need a pretty convincing case to change tack? Is Dan Thomas right that a Joint Venture is safer?
Search me. Here is my best guess though ** Pleae read this with caution ** I believe that the bidders are getting cold feet. They are worried about the reputational damage. they know that the Barnet bloggers have the ear of Eric Pickles and they know that Barnet is a media hotbed. Why on earth would Capita and BT want to run the risk of destroying their reputations? They have been religiously checking this blog on a daily basis several times, re reading old blogs etc. They can see the future, even if Barnet can't. They know that a joint venture guarantees profit and minimises risk. As there is no risk at all, they can experiment with no fear of losses. Who are the bidders actually in dialog with? Not Richard Cornelius, he's been on holiday and he only works one day a week at NLBP. Not Dan Thomas, why on earth should they bother with him? Nope, they've been talking to Pam Wharfe. So who would you trust to know their intentions and desires?
That is why I believe that even though Ruichard Cornelius doesn't know it yet, that is what Nick Walkley will tell him to sign off on. And I believe that is what will happen unless something rather unexpected happens, like a certain well known councillor, wiith a reputation to build, stabs dear old Richard in the back and nicks his job. And of that happens, anything could happen. So don't believe a word you read here.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Barnet council is out of control - what the hell is going on?
On Friday Pam wharfe, a senior executive of Barnet council circulated an email to staff saying the following about One Barnet.
What is going on? Who is running the council? Officers or the political leadership?
Richard Cornelius has been completekly undermined by Ms Wharfe's email. There is only one course of action which we expect him to take. We expect him to get a Gin and Tonic and go to the golf club, pretending everything is fine, like he's done with all of the other problems that have happened on his watch.
We expect Pam Wharfe and Nick Walkley to also do what they always do when such embarrassing situations arise. Piss themselves laughing.
"as a result we have decided to form a Joint Venture organisation with the successful bidder, which provides an effective basis on which the Council can benefit from these opportunities and at the same time it gives the Council greater rights of transparency and control. What this means is that the successful bidder and the Council will form a new organisation in which both have an interest. This new organisation will then contract with the Council to provide the DRS services. The Joint Venture approach does not change the approach to TUPE of staff or weaken any of the commitments given - staff would TUPE into the new organisation rather than to the commercial partner. We shall provide further information on the Joint Venture in the next week however as ever you are welcome to ask any questions you may have regarding this or other elements of the DRS procurement"Today the Leader, Richard Cornelius emailed local blogger Mr Mustard saying about Ms Wharfe's email
No decision has been made. No case for a jv has been made beyond the suggestion that there might be such a case. The decisions will be made by elected members in due courseIn short, either one of them is telling Porkies or there is something highly suspicious going on, with officers making policy and not telling the Leader of the council.
What is going on? Who is running the council? Officers or the political leadership?
Richard Cornelius has been completekly undermined by Ms Wharfe's email. There is only one course of action which we expect him to take. We expect him to get a Gin and Tonic and go to the golf club, pretending everything is fine, like he's done with all of the other problems that have happened on his watch.
We expect Pam Wharfe and Nick Walkley to also do what they always do when such embarrassing situations arise. Piss themselves laughing.
Barnet goes to the Edinburgh Festival
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| Roger Tichborne and Charles Honderick promoting A Tale of Two Barnets on the Royal Mile |
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| Edinburgh Unison offices at Douglass House, where the film was screened |
A visitor from Glasgow told us that their council was a Labour Council and had plumped for the "Joint Venture model" which is now flavour of the month in Barnet. Many of the audience were flabbergasted to hear of the harrassment of Helen Michael by SO15. One visitor later told Charles that he was a former member of Special Branch and was amazed that they would get involved in such shenanigans.
There were questions about how the production was made. The thing which was most interesting to the delegates was the way such a low budget, homespun film could be so powerful. Many delegates recognised patterns within the film. Comments were made as to the arrogance in general of CEO's and also to the inadequate nature of democratic control by councillors. Another common theme raised was bullying.
After the formal debate, most members of the audience stayed for an informal debate. Charles Honderick got chatting to a local film maker, who was intrigued by the film and the support it has received. I chatted to reps from Glasgow about their Labour council. He rather chillingly said"Here Labour is the complacent incumbent power, we don't even consider the Conservatives".
After the debate, many of us adjourned to the pub. As Everton beat Manchester United, this rounded off a great night for me.
Many thanks to the people of Edinburgh for such a warm welcome. I wondered whether a film specifically about Barnet could say something to a wider audience. The answer was a resounding yes. Sadly in 2012, we are not alone and all of the problems affecting us are being repeated across the country. Not for the first time, a member of the audience said "Why isn't Ken Loach Prime Minister", having watched his introduction. Sadly we have a Prime Minister and Chancellor who seem to have no answers at all as the Economy slides further into debt and recession
http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
One Barnet - An article on privatisation that Richard Cornelius really should read.
What newspaper do you think the Leader of Barnet Council reads over his Shreddies in the morning? I would doubt that Richard reads The Morning Star, or even the Guardian. As such, it is unlikely that he gets too much input on the dangers of outsourcing and privatisation as he munches away and sips his Earl Gray.
So what newspaper would Richard read? I'd put him down as a Daily Express man myself. He doesn't really seem to do detail, so that means the Times and the Telegraph are unlikely. He doesn't seem like a Daily Mail man to me either. If he does, I sincerely hope he reads the article on page 12 by Ross Clark, the political commentator. As we all know the Express is rabid right and it's commentators are not socialists. Mr Clark is no fan of unions or nationalised industries. He starts his article in true rabid right form
Expecting a bum for brains article, I read on. What Mr Clark then went on to say, made me realise that even the most rabid Tories are seeing through the myth of private sector efficiency. He later says
As the article goes on, it says many things which have been written by the Barnet bloggers about the One Barnet project. Where have we heard this statement before?
The privatisation of the rail industry was an unmitigated disaster. Commuters have suffered from terrible service performance. Ticket prices have gone through the roof. As Mr Clark shows, the government is aying through the nose in subsidies and yet the private companies make ever more profits.
All of this is something which Richard Cornelius wants to impose on the people who elected him. Why? Because CEO Nick Walkley thinks it's a good idea and Richard lacks the cojones to argue with him. In an interview in the Hendon Times, Richard says "I'm a natural Conservative, I believe in doing nothing". My advice to Mr Cornelius is this. Turn your Daily Express to page 12 and read Mr Clarks article. Then ask yourself whether you still think One Barnet is such a good idea. I suspect that unless he gets off his backside and starts doing his job, after the next council elections, Mr Cornelius will be able to exercise his "natural conservatism" to the full as he'll be out of a job.
Here's the full article.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/339804/The-rail-industry-keeps-letting-its-passengers-down
So what newspaper would Richard read? I'd put him down as a Daily Express man myself. He doesn't really seem to do detail, so that means the Times and the Telegraph are unlikely. He doesn't seem like a Daily Mail man to me either. If he does, I sincerely hope he reads the article on page 12 by Ross Clark, the political commentator. As we all know the Express is rabid right and it's commentators are not socialists. Mr Clark is no fan of unions or nationalised industries. He starts his article in true rabid right form
I briefly worked for British Rail. It was hard then to imagine a worse way of running the railways than this bloated, state-owned monolith. Its trains were rattling, dirty and 30 years out of date. Its bolshie, unionised workforce used every excuse to go on strike and its defeatist management saw its job as managing decline in the least painful way it could.
In 1995, the last year of BR, the taxpayer paid £800million in subsidies. By 2006/07 that had mushroomed to an astonishing £6.8billion. It has since fallen back to £3.8billion but it is still a ridiculous figure given the efficiencies which privatisation was supposed to bring. We are paying through the nose twice over as passengers and taxpayers while fat-cat rail bosses grow rich on the proceeds.
Perhaps the grimmest statement, is what happens when private firms find they cannot make any money from contractsOne of the main purposes of privatisation was supposed to be the transfer of risk from the taxpayer to companies. The profits have certainly been transferred yet all risk seems to remain with the taxpayer.
Surprise, surprise, the company then realised that it could profit by accepting the subsidies then surrendering its franchise before the repayments became due. It has just saved itself £800million in this way. Astonishingly no one in government saw it coming.
All of this is something which Richard Cornelius wants to impose on the people who elected him. Why? Because CEO Nick Walkley thinks it's a good idea and Richard lacks the cojones to argue with him. In an interview in the Hendon Times, Richard says "I'm a natural Conservative, I believe in doing nothing". My advice to Mr Cornelius is this. Turn your Daily Express to page 12 and read Mr Clarks article. Then ask yourself whether you still think One Barnet is such a good idea. I suspect that unless he gets off his backside and starts doing his job, after the next council elections, Mr Cornelius will be able to exercise his "natural conservatism" to the full as he'll be out of a job.
Here's the full article.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/339804/The-rail-industry-keeps-letting-its-passengers-down
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