The Barnet Eye Weekly News Round up

All part of the service. Here's a few news items and stories which caught my eye this week.

One that caught my eye was a story detailing the appalling way that the NHS treat elderly patients. Click HERE. This is a national scandal and credit to the Express for an excellent story.

On the local scene the Times reports of another car crash, the fourth since Partingdale Lane reopened. Click HERE. I suppose that Brian Coleman will be back in the news blaming the residents for having the audacity to park outside there own homes or some such other nonsense.

In the Barnet Press we have a story detailing how the £27.4 million lost (sorry I mean mislaid) in Icelandic Banks is going to affect the Barnet Schools rebuilding program. This is possibly the first tangible effect of this monumental cock up. Click HERE

Probably the most important local campaign is the fight against the Future Shape of The Council. This remarkably stupid scheme plans to "outsource" all of the council provided services. Avid readers of this blog know how good our council are at drawing up contracts (Underhill), managing Contractors (Aerodrome Road) and Outsourcing (Meals on Wheels) so I'd suggest you come along to the mass lobby of the Council Meeting. Here's a link to a video of the TUC public meeting on the 11th. It is well worth watching. A fine explanation by Professor Dexter Whitfield of what is going on. This is probably the best explanation of the process I've heard. No matter what side of the political fence you sit on, this will really help you understand what is going on. Click HERE. There is a great report from the Times HERE.

One interesting thing on the Barnet Council website. The Mayor and Mike Freer staged a reception for leaders of the Muslim Community. Click HERE for details. It seems this follows on from a reception for Cypriots and Hindu's. Am I being stupid in thinking it would have been better to get all of the various groups together for a reception, rather than holding separate events. This way divisions could be discussed and solutions to problems found. I don't think that giving a few top dignitaries a sausage roll really serves any useful purpose, whatever their denomination.

Anyway I'm off to do my Brian Coleman impersonation. Yes I've been invited for a free dinner at AWANA, London's finest Malaysian Restaurant in Sloane Avenue, near South Kensington. Joyce and Eddie who run it are good friends and they are celebrating it's third Birthday. Click HERE to find out how London Eating rates it.