Press Release - Barnet Council risk register shows quality of life in Barnet at risk from right wing Council policies

Today the Barnet Eye sent the following press release to local and national news outlets, drawing attention to the shocking revelations in the Barnet Council risk register as detailed yesterday.

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Date 30th December 2013.

 

On the 16th December, Barnet Council published a risk register on the Council website. This report, tucked away in a pack of committee reports, details nine areas where the policies of the Council are putting the economic wellbeing, the quailty of life and the infrastructure of the Borough at risk. The report details nine significant areas of risk, brought about by Council policies.  The areas concerned are

 

Risk 1. Homelessness in Barnet.
Risk 2. Waste management and sustainability.

Risk 3. Demographic Change and Population growth.

Risk 4. Welfare and Benefit reform.

Risk 5. People. (Lack of competent staff following the One Barnet outsourcing program)

Risk 6. Financial Position.

Risk 7. Information Management.

Risk 8. Barnets position as a prosperous suburb.

All of the above risks are High or Medium High.

 

There is one further risk, which is "Medium Low",
Risk 9. Resident engagement.

 

You can view the risk register here http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s12085/Appendix%20E%20-%20Corporate%20Risk%20Register.pdf

 

The Barnet Eye has given a commentary on these rsks at this site - http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-barnet-council-corporate-risk.html

 

It is clear from the risk register that the Council has failed in its duty of care to the people of Barnet and by admitting that all of the above areas are at significant risk, the Council has shown that the extreme right wing policies of the Conservative adminsitration are putting the prosperity of the London Borough of Barnet at risk. Even more worrying is the complete lack of a plan to mitigate these risks. The Council clearly released this report in the run up to Christmas, hoping that it would be missed in the excitement of the ferstive season.

 

The Barnety Eye believes that this is a major news story. There was widespread media coverage earlier in the year of Barnet Council claiming that the One Barnet program had transformed the finances of the Council and put the council on a sound financial basis. This report, prepared by the Council, exposes this a complete myth.

 

The Barnet Eye calls on all media outlets, local and naational, to investigate this issue and ensure that the dangers of persuing such ideologically driven policies is properly examined in the run up to the 2014 election. As the media are looking forward to 2014, we should be doing everything to inform about the risks we are facing.

 

Yesterday the Barnet Eye emailed every Councillor in the London Borough of Barnet for comment. We have had 27 read acknowledgements, but not a single response about the report.

 

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The people of Barnet speak in A Tale of Two Barnets

Press Release : 11th March 2012                                                               The People of Barnet are given a voice A Tale of Two Barnets World Premiere Monday 19th March - 6-8pm The Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Road, East Finchley, London N2 9PJ A DOCUMENTARY about the way people in Barnet are coping with life in 2012 has been commended for giving the people of Barnet a voice. Filmmaker Charles Honderick spent six months interviewing people around the London Borough of Barnet and has made a film which is powerful, moving and funny.

Charles said “We hear all the time about reality television, but we never hear the views of ordinary people. “ Some of the people who appeared in the film gave their views on the experience, why they appeared and what they hoped the film would achieve. Here’s what they had to say:

	Stan Davison, war veteran, member of Barnet 55+ forum. The film's title "A Tale of Two Barnets" has a good local touch, yet relates to the national scene, the message is clear, 'broad campaigning  in unity' is the message. As a war veteran, trade unionist and campaigning pensioner in the community that suits me fine. We are in a people's fight. I am glad to be part of this action.
	Bernard Cochrane – Operator Bushey Mill Care facility I got involved to express my concerns and raise awareness of issues. I specifically wanted to make people aware of the issue of The London Borough of Barents 'independent' LATC [Local Authority Trading Company] and how it affects independent care providers.
	John Sullivan – Parent Carer I wanted to appear in this film because the voice of  those with a disability and the elderly are not being heard. I hope this film exposes to the general public the misinformation being distributed by Barnet councillors, wherein they are saying that everything in the garden is rosy and everybody has been meaningfully consulted  on the privatisation of support services when that  is simply untrue.
	Tirza Waisel-Cohen – Social Worker Old, disabled and ill people are the ones who are most voiceless simply because they are burdened by their particular vulnerability. They have so many problems and issues to take care of at a time when they most lack energy and confidence precisely because of their illness, frailty or disability - and the fact they are the ones picked on is an injustice that screams volumes and must be urgently rectified. That's completely besides the fact that any of us who are lucky to be able bodied and healthy can become vulnerable in that way any day. Not the point - but worth remembering and reminding ourselves….

Award Winning director, Ken Loach has given the film his full backing. He says “In the film you will hear some of the stories about the privations people are undergoing. It’s particularly savage if you are disabled, if you don't have much money, if you are old, and if you are young.” -  See Ken Loach talk about "A Tale of Two Barnets" in an exclusive interview.

The film has made the front page of the Barnet Press, a leading local paper in the London Borough of Barnet 

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=Jo5106Kn2k1S&PBID=f8297918-4e99-4dfb-9199-5ba5cfd6d926&skip=

Official Film Website : http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/