Why Barnet is leading the way in protests against the cuts

I get rung up all the time these days by TV companies and researchers wanting to find out about the protest movement in Barnet, what Barnet Council are up to, what I think of the protests etc. This blog is proving to be a rich source of material for  people doing documentaries, putting news items together. I was asked a really interesting question today - "Why has sleepy old Barnet, become such a hot bed of activism at the leading edge of protest against the cuts". The answer was simple. Whilst many other Boroughs are being hit by cuts, the people of Barnet have been under the cosh of Tory stupidity for many years now. Whilst the 2002-2006 period was one where residents suffered huge tax increases and bonkers schemes, such as Brian Colemans war on roadhumps, Mike Freer took over as leader in 2006 and declared war on everyone. The Future Shape program was launched, to privatise the whole council and a bunch of useless lackey placemen were given cabinet jobs, with a brief to slash costs without regard for the consequences.

As a result we had Lynne Hillan (then in charge of adult social care) declaring war on the residents of sheltered housing, with her plan to abolish the wardens. Sadly, in the rush, they broke the law and had to back down. All sorts of other stupid ideas were floated. The one good thing was that sane people on both left and right, recognised this. Blogs started springing up, groups started getting together and people started talking to each other. As a result, Barnet was prepared. Everyone else is catching up.

I have a massive file of national TV and Press coverage of Barnet local politics. Totally unprecedented. Compare it to Harrow, Camden or Brent and you'll see we have about three times more coverage than our neighbours put together. Let me list just a few recent firsts for Barnet

* Save the Libraries campaign. When I started the campaign last September in Barnet, no one was organising. It is now a massive national campaign (a model of local organic growth). I don't wish to claim much credit, but the seed was planted here on this blog. We've got over 6,000 signatures and the online total topped 1,000 this week. It just keeps growing

* Barnet against the Cuts rally. With a slate of speakers and The Foundations leading the music line up, we made national TV news. The Tories were  horribly shaken by the depth of the support.

* Campaign against CPZ charges. This campaign is a sign of the spread of unrest to normal Tory heartlands. Brian Coleman has rudely dismissed the complaints as "The chattering classes of Garden Suburb, upset because they have to fork out for their nannies". Given that Garden Suburb is a Tory ward, with the deputy leader of the Council as one of it's representatives, a truly amazing attack.

* Unprecedented resident action at the Cabinet Budget meeting. All sections of society were represented. The allotted 30 minutes of questions was exceeded and uproar ensued. The Tory Council Cabinet managed to insult everyone. Council Leader Lynne Hillan was duly dispatched to give a face saving interview with the Hendon Times today, in which she claimed she had "empathy with residents". Anyone who attended the meeting will know this is complete rubbish. She was rude, arrogant and hostile to all and sundry. She was far more aggressive towards the nicer and more well mannered residents. She was actually quite polite to me.

The Barnet Eye is in the process of making a documentary of our own about Barnet and its politics. I have received some interest in my concept. We are going to make a documentary rather like this blog. It will be  across between Father Ted, Trigger Happy TV, Question Time and Morecombe and Wise. We also have a great soundtrack by some of Barnets very best bands. I am looking for a Brian Coleman lookalike, and I will pay £50 for a mornings filming. We will launch the film at a special gala launch Party, just as soon as it's ready. One of the advantages of having your own studio is the fact that you can do these things.

The wit and wisdom of Councillor Andrew Harper

A quote from yesterdays Evening Standard about Monday nights Barnet Council Cabinet meeting

Barnet's deputy leader, Andrew Harper, said: "There were two groups of people; those residents genuinely concerned about changes to public services and those people who just came along to shout."

 Harper neglected to mention the third group of people, the one he belongs to. The ones who turn up to pocket huge allowances. One of my regular commenters asked which of Harpers groups I belong to. I'm proud to say, that I am a staunch member of both. I shouted at Harper and his cronies because I care and if he's too thick to realise that he's in the wrong job.

Apparently he was rather keen on the picture of "Model X" that I put on my previous blog. Well just for you Andrew, here's another - this is what you get if you google ANDREW HARPER PORN STAR
using the search for images.

I think this rather sums Harper up. He's our flexible friend in Barnet, bending over backwards to keep us all happy, but sadly he'll never make it to the top of the greasy pole. My apologies to the rather attractive lady in the picture for the analogy, she at least seems to have a talent for something.

Legionella and the email to Prime Minister from Local Conservative Councillor

I was sent this email today by a local Conservative Councillor (yup, some of them still talk to me 

when their mates aren't looking). He is suggesting that pensioners are jailed and prisoners are

put in nursing homes as pensioners deserve better. Rather interestingly, also waiting for me was 

a leaked letter from Barnet Council to residents of an outsourced nursing home, detailing how they 

are at risk of being exposed to Legionella disease. I have put the full email up on my 

Future Shape website -  

http://barnetfutureshape.blogspot.com/2011/02/barnet-council-tenants-and-care-workers.html -

I've been told that the care homes affected are part of the bundle outsourced by Barnet Council to Catalyst and subject of a recent court case where Barnet was forced to stump up £8 million. The sad truth is that whilst the email is clearly "tongue in cheek" it would appear that our pensioners would actually be safer in Prison than in a Barnet Care home right now. My message to my Conservative Councillor friend who sent me the email is quite simple. Pull your finger out and sort this out. It cannot be right that the senior citizens of Barnet are treated like this. The sad truth is that the care and wellbeing of the elderly of Barnet is not the responsibilty of the Prime Minister, it is the responsibilty of Barnet Council and you could actually fix this and give them a decent quality of life, if you so chose.

Sadly from what I hear, the below email sums up the lives of many people in the care of Barnet Council.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Prime Minister,

Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home. This way
the pensioners would have access to showers, pastimes and walks. They'd receive
unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc
and they'd receive money instead of paying it out. They would have constant
video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly if they fell, or needed
assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and
returned to them. A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring
their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose. They would
have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and
education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on
request. Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise area, with
gardens. Each pensioner could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would
have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The "criminals" would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised for long periods.
Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. They would live in a tiny room and pay
£1200.00 per month for the priviledge with no hope of ever getting out.

We would appreciate your response quickly please, Prime Minster, time is not on our side.

I was told that this is a letter we should all send: = Well I just did

Brian Coleman and treating the public with respect

In September 2009, Councillor Brian Coleman was found guilty of breaching the Barnet Council code of conduct, by the Standards committee. He breached section 3.1 of the code, stating that he should treat members of the public with respect. So he has form. One of the recommendations of the Standards committee was that Councillors should be given training in "treating the public with respect". Step forward to February 2011. Have our Tory councillors learned?

Well, it seems the answer is no. Guess how many of our Tory Councillors are currently being investigated by the Standards committee? I know of three. Two of them are members of Lynne Hillans cabinet. The third one is Mill Hill Councillor, John Hart. It is most interesting to see the difference in the way Lynne Hillans inner circle are treated to John Hart. Lynne Hillan immediately took measures to strip Hart of his role as chairmen of the Hendon & District residents forum (losing a nice big cash allowance in the process). It is no secret that Hart supported Mark Shooter in Leadership contest last year. Hillan displayed a ruthless touch in stating that it "wasn't appropriate" for Hart to continue in the role, whilst the Standards committee were investigating.

What sanction has she taken against her two cabinet cronies (both long term supporters of Project Hillan)? Absolutely nothing. I was speaking to one of our local reporters earlier in the week and was told that the council even refused to confirm the identity of one of these members. Now the Barnet Eye knows the details of both cases, the identity of the councillors and being familiar with both cases, it s pretty clear to me that in both cases, the code has been breached.  Lynne Hillan must also know this. She is the leader. Neither case is frivalous. Both complainants have strong grounds for a judgement. In neither case, they can deploy the excuse Coleman gave which is that I was a blogger and deserved it because I'm not a nice person (an excuse which didn't help him to win).

In the Edgware and Mill Hill Times this week, there is a letter from a member of the public called Elizabeth Filkin, who details yet another offensive email from Coleman (Here's a link to the electronic version - scroll through to page 20 - http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=Y0n42P1bB0q6&PBID=B58E001C-1768-4010-8086-3709A9E597B6&skip=)

My advice to any Barnet resident abused by a councillor is to follow this link and make a complaint. http://www.barnet.gov.uk/councillor-conduct-complaint

I'm sure you are wondering who the Tory cabinet members who can't behave themselves are. Well I'm not going to tell you one, because it's someone elses scoop and I don't want to nick the story and I'm not going to tell you the other because you've probably guessed already.

One thing I will tell you is this. Lynne Hillan is not fit to be the leader of Barnet Council. The primary job of anyone in such a position is to make sure that the people under you discharge their duties with dignity. If you were at the Council meeting on Monday night, you would have been under no illusion that none of them have a shred of respect for the tax-paying voters of Barnet.

Offord calls for Jihad to save Christians abroad

Matthew Offord has urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to launch a Crusade to protect Christians abroad - From his Twitter

HendonMP
Sandwich lunch with the Archbishop of Canterbury while pressing him on greater defence of christians abroad. about 16 hours ago via web

Let me remind Mr Offord of what Jesus had to say on the issue

"Blessed are you when people persecute you in my name". 

Edwyn Collins at the Shepards Bush Empire

Absolutely F***ing brilliant. Nuff said

A blog just for Councillor Andrew Harper

At the Council Meeting on Monday, Councillor Andrew Harper announced he was "going with model X". I googled Model X Barnet Harper and got this. No wonder he had a smile on his face

Twitter Update - Home Secretary "Talks To" Hendon MP about bad Behaviour

It seems that the Home Secretary has "talked to" our local MP, Matthew Offord about "anti social Behaviour" and "crime concerns" in the constituency. I wonder what sort of behaviour he means? Getting drunk and having scuffles? Insulting respectable members of the constituency? People who keep their neighbours awake with the sound of smashing crockery? Anyway, full details are on Manuel Offord, Hendons MP and best loved soup waiters twitter site

http://twitter.com/HendonMP

This is what he actually said :

HendonMP

Private meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss anti-social behaviour and crime concerns of constituents 11:19 AM Feb 14th  via web


You've got to love good old Manuel, haven't you. Whilst the rest of the World seems to understand what a "private meeting" is, he broadcasts it to the whole world via his Twatter account (well to the 4 people following him).

Perhaps even more interesting is this post :-

Just released the first tropical fish I have bred.  
11:46 AM Feb 10th via web

I do hope that when he says he's just released the first tropical fish, he doesn't mean into the wild, where they will freeze to death. I don't know Soup Waiter, Tropical Fish Farmer, whatever exciting thing will we learn next. Of all the local Tories, I like Manuel the best. Not only is he out of harms way on the back benches, where he can't do any damage (unless you are a mug), but he gives us a constant stream of entertainment on his Twitter site. He may only have four followers, but one is the Dalai Lama, so respect where respect is due.


I had a look at the Dalai Lama's Twitter and do I detect a message for Lynne Hillan, Brian Coleman et all


http://twitter.com/DalaiLama
 
When we are motivated by wisdom and compassion, the results of our actions benefit everyone.  
12:51 AM Jan 27th via web 
 

Brian Coleman Barnet Parking Special : The Peasants are Revolting !

There are many things which I could have blogged about regarding the Council meeting last night. I wish I'd filmed the whole sorry episode for posterity. I've been to rowdy public meetings, I've seen politicians given the bird before. I've seen members of the public insult elected officials. I've seen bolshie lefties get upitty with twatty Tories. Last night though, I saw something new. Last night I saw a Conservative Council insulting Middle England. I expect them to be rude to me (actually they're not, I suspect they are too scared). I expect them to be rude to VickiM (who is a known trades unionist). What I really didn't expect was the sheer boorish behaviour with which they treated the general public of Barnet.

I sat next to Dr Deborah Linton and her husband Nigel Linton as we awaited our turn to ask a question. I've never met the Lintons before, but they struck me as very nice, decent people, who were genuinely concerned about the massive cost increase that the parking charges will bring. Dr Linton approached the issue by being perfectly reasonable and explaining the massive increase in cost for her, due to the system. As Dr Linton tried to make her point, Council Leader Lynne Hillan butted in, purely to throw her off her stride and asked her if she actually had a question. Dr Linton continued, Hillan butted in again and told her to "get on with it". Dr Linton got her question out (all credit to her), and Brian Coleman summiraly dismissed her as if he was talking about something stuck on his shoe. Dr Linton walked back, looking visibly upset. Her husband (who had clearly been riled by his wifes treatment), tried again, he was civil and reasonable. He needn't have bothered. Coleman again spoke to him as if he'd escaped from Broadmoor.

My question was next. I had  a completely different supplimentary question lined up. Having seen the way that the Lintons and a whole stack of other residents had been summiraly humiliated (and at this point I must stress that the audience stood four square with the public speakers - heckling as if their lives depended on it), I decided to give them a taste of their own medicine. Unlike many people, I'm used to public speaking. I had a successful career in acting from the age of four, until my mother developed Cancer in the 1970's, in 1978 I formed a Punk Rock band and we've played all over Europe, in some "highly charged" atmospheres. A bear pit is my natural domain, and if people are going to be rude, then so am I. The punchline of my question was "Are the cabinet stupid or do they think the public of Barnet are". As the words came out, a huge cheer went up. The cheer wasn't for me, it was  because someone had given Hillan, Coleman and Co a taste of their own medicine and everyone saw they didn't like it. Hillan floundered and said "I don't think the people around this table are stupid". In other words, the people of Barnet are. Hillan admitted what we all knew. She has nothing but disdain for everyone apart from her Tory cabinet buddies.

There were a couple more questions, then Mr David Attfield, a Lawyer who is leading the campaign against the parking charge rises. Again Mr Attfield is clearly used to speaking in public. He'd seen the crass (and very innaccurate) responses Brian Coleman had given the Lintons. He was prepared and he was up for it. He made the point that Brian Coleman had lied to the Lintons in a public forum and he had a copy of an email Coleman had sent (one I'd handily put on The Barnet Leaks website). Coleman had claimed that 10% of people in Barnet were affected by the CPZ changes. Mr Attfield quoted back Colemans words from his own email, which admitted only 3% were affected. Why is this important? Because that 3% have been tucked up for the cost of the road maintenance program and pothole repairs. As Mr Attfield destroyed every last ounce of Colemans credibility, I realised that Coleman had been done up like a kipper.

The Lintons had softened him up and given Coleman enough rope to hang himself. He duly obliged and Mr Attfield had stepped forward as the hangman. I didn't realise what a great job Mr Attfield had done until I read tonights Evening Standard :-


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23923380-huge-rise-in-parking-fees-sparks-legal-fight.do

It says in the article that "around 40 people are contributing to the costs of a legal challenge". Make that 41. If Mr Attfield contacts me, I'll certainly chip and I'll use this blog to get all of my readers to chip in as well. Brian Coleman has been caught out telling Porkies. Mr Attfield proved this. In the answer to Mr Linton he said "10% of all Barnet Households have a parking permit". In his email to Harper he said "

There are about 10,000 residents Permits in circulation in Barnet roughly 7,000 of our approx 200,000 household
That is 3.5%. Is it OK for the Council to lie to residents? One thing is clear, when Coleman is called to court to give his side of the argument, he will have no credibility, having been shown up for what he is. Brian Coleman said "I've rarely met such rude members of the Public" during one outburst. Prey tell me Brian, how do you expect members of the public to react when you mug them for hundreds of pounds and then lie about it? Brian Coleman thinks that "The peasants of Barnet are revolting". I must say he's wrong. It isn't just the peasants, it's the whole community. This petition now has over 4,000 signatures. If you live in a CPZ area and you use permits, it is vital that you sign this petition ASAP. The time has come to stop these unfair charges and stop the likes of Coleman from shafting the people of Barnet.

There is a report in the Hendon Times detailing how the Cabinet adjourned for half an hour due to the heckling -

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/8853410.Councillors_flee_meeting_due_to_public_outrage/

May I point out to the rude, boorish Councillors such as Hillan, Coleman and Harper that if they treated the public with a modicum of respect, they might get some back.

Courtesy of Notthebarnettimes. A short film about how Barnet Councillors have been caught flouting parking rules, with a preamble from the MP for Finchley and Golder Green, Mike Freer.

Mr Tambourgreedy
Uploaded by BarnetCouncilWatch. - Watch the latest news videos.