Councillor Hugh Rayner - An apology

I posted this blog earlier in the week - http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2011/03/barnet-council-vs-people-my-letter-to.html - We had a vist from High Rayner today, with my original letter. It appears that a) He didn't leave it at the meeting and b) it wasn't ripped or in any way incomplete.

Hugh accepted that it was photo'd after I had passed it and after I'd left the meeting and was posted in good faith. As ever this blog apologises if we get it wrong. I asked him if he'd let me video the next committee meeting, but in the interests of good taste, I won't print his reply

Barnet Council - A time for common sense and cool heads

Everyone I've spoken today, from Tory Councillors to Trades Union Activists, who attended the Council Meeting last night, were absolutely appalled at what happened. A Jewish Conservative Councillor told me that he hung his head in shame as "Black shirted quasi paramiltary security forces bullied local residents".  Many questions regarding public safety and public order have been raised, which I will not address here. It is now time to step back and look at the real issues. We must formulate a plan as to how we move forward and address the most important issues. This is my view.

1) Private Security Forces in Barnet. There have been many issues raised regarding their behaviour and conduct last night. There have also been questions raised as to the contract with MetPro (the company), their SIA registration (a legal requirement) and the fact their accounts have not been filed. Barnet Unions have asked to see a risk assessment.

Actions for Concerned residents : Contact your councillors, the CEO of Barnet and the Metropolitan Police expressing any concerns you may have.

2) Filming of Council Meetings : It appears that the Council do not know whether they can ban this or not. They clearly have no idea.

Actions for Concerned residents : I suggest that we arrange a "mass filming" of regular committee meetings until such time as the Council sees sense and outlines proper arrangements and protocols. I would suggest that the existing rules cover it already. If people are discreet then it is not a problem. If they unduly disrupt the meeting in a DISORDELY OR THREATENING fashion they can be asked to leave.

3) The Council Cuts. The two issues above are really a sideshow. Anyone who thought the Tories would change their mind regarding their slash and burn program last night was deluded. We can get them to change it and see sense, but only by hard work.

Actions for the people of Barnet :

Bloggers -  Notify each other of issues you are investigating. That way we won't duplicate effort. If we all read the same papers, we are not being efficient. If you start looking at something which will take a few days to get to the bottom of, let the other bloggers know. Other bloggers, please respect this and don't try and "get there first" when you see what someone is investigating. Find something else to look at.

Residents - Sign petitions, attend rallys and marches. Write to your councillors if they are Tories and say you will not vote for them.

Sensible Tory Councillors - Stand up for yourselves.  They can only enforce the whip if they pick you off one at a time. Refuse to be intimidated. Threaten them back. Tell them you will "go public for the sake of the Conservative Party". Whatever you do, end this failed regime in May when you have the chance.  I am not a Conservative, but they are leading you to ruin. An example of Lynne Hillans lack of Leadership qualities is demonstrated here where she blames the fiasco last night on the Mayor - Councillor Tony Finn -

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/8884511.Security__nothing_to_do_with_me__says_council_leader/

Trades Unions, Opposition Parties & local Campaign Groups - Get off your backsides and campaign against this. Make sure everyone in Barnet knows how the cuts will affect them and their loved ones. Leader Lynne Hillan claimed (backed up by Brian Coleman) that "most people won't be affected". This is the maths they've done. Whilst this may be true, it only requires 7% of their vote to be affected and switch for them to lose the council. We have to work to get that 7% to realise they have been let down. That is our challenge. I believe the Tories are helping us achieve this with every day they keep persisiting with Hillan, Harper, Coleman and Future Shape/Easycouncil/OneBarnet.

Barnet Council Budget - The Council meeting from Hell

Friends, Romans,Countrymen, Lend me your ears, I come to Praise Hillan, not to bury her.



So I didn't actually get into the Council Chamber. I'd been tipped off about the security arrangements, but I hadn't really appreciated just how heavy handed these would be. Is this what Barnet Council meetings have come to. Pensioners threatened by thugs in black combat gear. Residents treated like dirt. The Metropolitan police overruled by God knows who. Members of the public lied to by council officials as to available seats.

The public have a right to see what is going on at these meetings. The council could easily have broadcast this live on the web. Unison have managed to broadcast two recent rallys on www.Gotseen.com, so we know it can be done. It cost Unison next to nothing to do this.

The above video is of some scenes outside. I got a calls later in the Evening from friends who were inside the building. It sounded like a scene from some sort of futuristic fascist regime. This is Barnet, for Gods sake.

I started this blog with a rather famous quote. I suspect that some time soon, Lynne Hillan will be saying "Et Tu Coleman". I have spoken to a few Tory councillors in the past few days and hours. They didn't sign up for this. I suspect a few of them actually enjoyed it, but the penny has finally dropped with a fair number. You just can't treat the public like this and get away with it.

Let me tell you  something. When I got given the details of what the Tories were planning, I discussed it with Barnet Unison Leader John Burgess. He didn't believe that Barnet Council would be so heavy handed. I told him they were panicing and had lost the plot. I told John that I was worried that people may get hurt. I hadn't appreciated that the "private security force" would seem to be in charge of the Police and ignore senior officers who would be overruled. I had deliberately decided to film the meeting last night (Monday) as I got the impression that the security would be heavier tonight and it may be harder to make my point. How right I was. Whilst Hugh Rayner was rude and obnoxious, it was nothing compared to what the people who got in experienced tonight.

It really was sickening

Here are some more clips from alangleben's Video channel - see previous posys


Stop Press : It appears that Barnet Council Officers now recognise that it is illegal to stop people videoing meetings, so long as they are not disruptive - From Adams Twitter Account

A small victory on a truly awful night

adamlangleben

1. @barnetbugle he told me to stop after a signal from #Coleman and then democratic services came over and said I was allowed... Warned him off 15 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone in reply to barnetbugle

Barnet Exposed One

Barnet Exposed Two

Metpro Rapid Repsonse - Barnet Council Security

http://openlylocal.com/suppliers/10743-metpro-rapid-response

http://www.metprogroup.co.uk/Emergency_Response_at_Barnet_House.pdf

Barnet Council Vs The People - My Letter to Hugh Rayner

******* Please note : Cllr Hugh Rayner contacted the Barnet Eye and stated that this story is factually incorrect. He did take the letter and still has it in his possession. It was also fully intact. The photo reproduced here was "photoshopped" to protect the identity of the person taking the picture before being sent to me. I was unaware of this at the time of publishing the blog. I have apologised to Cllr Rayner - see this blog
http://barneteye.blogspot.com/2011/03/councillor-hugh-rayner-apology.html for details. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that what we publish at the Barnet Eye is correct, errors do happen. It is our policy to always issue a correction and apology where this is pointed out ****************

My previous post included a video showing how Hugh Rayner refused to allow me to video a council meeting on behalf of a disabled resident. I penned this letter and asked a councillor on the committee to give it to him. Councillor Rayner couldn't even be bothered to take it with him after the meeting to show his leader or the CEO.

An outraged Conservative supporter, who was disgusted retrieved it. You will see that someone even partially ripped it. A sorry day in Barnet Council (click for a more readable version and sorry for my appalling handwriting)

Barnet Council vs The People - Hugh Rayner - Barnets Tinpot Dictator

If you wanted to know just how out of touch Barnet Council are with the people, watch this video. In it, Councillor Hugh Rayner, chair of the Business overview and scrutiny committee rudely barks at the Barnet Eye for having the audicity to try and make the functions of the committee more accessble. I was filming because I was asked if I could video the work of the committee in relation to Sheltered Housing for a Housebound "victim" of the warden cut. Unlike our councillors, I believe that such people have a right of participation -

(Here is the legal opinion - 
http://barnetalliance.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/110228-barnet-council-redacted.pdf )



As you will hear, Hugh Rayner announces that it is up to the chairman (him) to decide if the proceedings can be recorded and he won't. When I try and explain that I have a legal and democratic right to do this he just keeps shouting over the top. Eventually when he realises that I may have a point he asks a member of democratic services to help him. She gives a non answer. In actual fact, we'd sought legal advice before I entered the council chamber. There is nothing in the constitution which forbids video recording or broadcasting. A letter is being sent to Barnet tomorrow. At tomorrow nights full council meeting, an army of residents armed with recording devices will turn up.

Given that no one noticed I was recording for 7 minutes, there can be no question that I interfered with the process. I only uttered a word when Rayner decided to stop me recording. I tried to be polite and respectful to him ( a courtesy he did not afford me). I handed a letter to the committee explaining that Rayner was a disgrace and that he'd infinged the rights to participate of a disabled resident affected by the cuts. As far as I am concerned Hugh Rayner behaved more like a tinpot dictator than a councillor elected to represent the people. His actions are a graphic example of what is wrong with Barnet Council.

Rayner looked quite pleased with himself. I doubt he will when he realises the voters and taxpayers of Barnet will view his actions differently. This sorry clip is the first time that a Barnet Council meeting has been video'd and put on the internet. It won't be the last. Please join us tomorrow.


This is just one of many clips that will feature in Barnet Eye - The Film - Rayner has the dubious pleasure of being the first Barnet Councillor to embarrass himself in it.

***** Update - If you listen carefully to the comment from the lady who advises Rayner, she says that no motion has been passed allowing recording of meetings. Sadly she clearly doesn't understand the principle of English law that you can do anything you like so long as it isn't banned. More proof of Stalinism at the Council.

A question for Lynne Hillan - What sort of person is respectable?

If like me, you read Lynne Hillans comments about bloggers being unrespectable today (see previous post) in a state of disbelief that she could be so stupid. Anyway, I was musing on the word "respectable" and I guess that Hillan and myself just view the adjective slightly differently. You see if you asked me what made someone "respectable" I'd say honest, hardworking and loyal are qualities I'd associate with the word.

I suspect Hillan has focussed on different ways it can be used.

Here's a few examples :-

"Brian Coleman gets over £115,000 from the taxpayer for doing a series of non jobs - thats a well respectable wedge"

"I drank three bottles of bubbly last night and I've got an extremely respectable hangover for my troubles"

"Mrs Beans-Dugdale-Smith is a Lapdancer, when she does the business you get a well respectable reaction in your underpants"

So I guess when Ms Hillan says I'm not respectable, I really need to know what context she means?

P.S Should there be any Mrs Beans-Dugdale-Smiths in the Borough who aren't lapdancers, apologies for any embarrassment caused. Also if there are any Brian Colemans in the Borough who don't get over £115,000 per annum for a series of non jobs, apologies to you as well.