Barnet Council leader “sets expectations low” for Barnet
This evening saw the premiere of a new documentary film about Barnet in which Barnet’s council leader said he had “set his expectations quite low” for the borough.
Tale of Two Barnets, by Charles Honderick, was shown at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley.
The 30 minute film is made up of a collection of interviews with a variety of people in Barnet including blogger Mrs Angry, police chief Neil Seabridge, Father Kevin O’Shea, a pensioner and a disabled man.
All of the participants are shown expressing their concerns about the running, and policies, of Barnet Council.
The screening was so popular that only standing room was left in the cinema, and the audience participated vocally in the post-screening discussion.
In fact, so keen were people to get involved in the discussion that louder members of the audience managed to persuade the organisers to show the film early to allow more time for debate.
Prior to the film screening the producer, Roger Tichborne, Charles Honderick, and three of the interviewees gave a brief talk.
Mr Tichborne said: “I think this is a great film. We did not have a huge Hollywood style budget but I think the stories make up for the lack of technology.”
During the film participants discussed parking charges, shop closures, privatisation of council services and library closures.
They told of tales such as grandchildren not being able to visit their grandparents because of the price of parking, and of disabled people being unable to get to the bathroom because their support workers had been cut.
There was applause from the audience at an interviewee’s comment that the councillors do not seem to remember that they are supposed to be representing residents.
On the contrary, the audience hissed and booed when a councillor said that the council had given people more choices.
Laughter erupted when council leader, Richard Cornelius, said: “I’m not sure there is much I can change about Barnet so I have set my expectations quite low.”
Following the screening there was a discussion in which audience members were able to put across their point of view.
Andrew Dismore, Labour’s London Assembly candidate for Barnet and Camden, said: “I think that what is going on here with the council is an attack on democracy.
“They should not refer to one Barnet but to none Barnet as there will soon be no services left.”
The film was created to mark the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, and to celebrate his role as a social campaigner.
There are currently eight screenings planned, including one at the House of Commons.
