Reporting back to you from City Hall: August – September 2014
| 1 Introduction
I start with congratulations to the people of Scotland, on the outcome of the referendum there. The commitments to further devolution must be honoured, and I believe this also opens the debate for further devolution to the regions, and especially London. Dismore welcomes Scotland ‘No’ Vote – now for devolution for London Congratulations also to the Europe Ryder Cup team, retaining the cup with such a comfortable margin over the USA; and as a Yorkshireman in exile, to Yorkshire County Cricket Club on winning the county championship. This month’s London quiz question: (answer at the end): q: what are the longest living station names on the tube?
2 Contents: 3 Housing 4 Transport 5 Policing 6 Health 7 Economy 8 Planning issues 9 Fire Authority 10 Education 11 Assembly annual report 12 Written questions to the Mayor 13 Problem solving and casework 14 Quiz answer Please scroll down to the subjects that are of interest to you. 3 Housing We continue to pursue the Mayor over housing issues at City Hall. I proposed a successful motion (voted against by the Conservatives but supported by all other parties) at the last plenary session on the rights of private renters (text): video links: Motion to protect London renters – London Assembly Plenary 10/09/2014: (Part 1) Motion to protect London renters – London Assembly Plenary 10/09/2014: (Part 2) see also: Dismore secures support for private sector tenants at Assembly plenary I was also signatory to a Joint letter for publication: Councils can solve the Housing Crisis, published in the Guardian. I previously reported on the case of Barnet’s Mayor, Cllr Rayner, and his business as a private landlord. As might have been expected, my complaints about his activities were dismissed by the Council’s Leaders’ Panel, which has a Conservative majority. The papers setting out my case and the other papers before the panel can be found here, for you to form your own views. See also: Rayner investigation: fears of ‘whitewash’ at ‘hearing’ on 3rd September Rayner complaint- ‘Tories’ bottomless bucket of whitewash’
Just one day after Rayner hearing Council disclose crucial email relevant to the case |
| 4 Transport
At the Transport plenary session, I challenged the Mayor over various Barnet delayed transport schemes (I have in the past raised Camden ones): video link: London Assembly Plenary 10/09/2014: TfL waiting waiting waiting for Barnet Council You may find it amusing to view just how badly prepared is the Mayor for these sessions! See also: I have also established some worrying figures, about the Mayor’s plan to cut the ticket offices at tube stations, with loss of station staff. Whist it would be less objectionable if the end of the ticket offices meant more staff available in the station halls and on the platforms, this seems unlikely, given the scale of the cuts: Revealed: TfL secret plans to cut up to 57% of staff at Barnet tube stations Revealed: TfL plans to cut up to 37% of tube station staff in Camden The three escalators in King’s Cross St. Pancras Tube station which connect one end of the Northern line platforms with the lower circulating area immediately adjacent to the Piccadilly line platforms will soon be life-expired. Their design, and the space constraints, mean that TfL need to replace all three simultaneously rather than one by one. The escalators will therefore be taken out of service from Thursday 30 October; the three brand new escalators are scheduled to enter service in early July 2015.
The Northern line platforms will remain open and no train services will be affected by the work. However, passengers using the Northern line at King’s Cross St. Pancras will be redirected via different routes within the Tube station, which may result in slightly longer journey times. |
| 5 Policing
I again tabled a wide range of questions at MQT concerning policing issues. Whilst overall crime is down, there are some serious issues especially around violent offences, which have dramatically increased as have car thefts. In Barnet this is related more to high value vehicles, in Camden I understand it is moped theft. It is also interesting to note that the ‘MOPAC 7’ offences only comprise about half the total crimes -a lot is excluded from these performance indicators. In the answers, there is quite a lot of data re clear up rates. The overall rate hides the detail: for example the clear up rate for violent offices is high as you would expect, but this masks much lower rates for burglary, when averaged out over all offences. It is also surprising that the police do not keep data for the final product- i.e. convictions in court, which would show how good (or not) the police evidence was for the arrest and charge. I will be raising this at next MQT. I am also pursuing the issue of ‘ I and S’ emergency call attendance times, on which I reported in my last City Hall update – averages hide the fact that some people who have a serious emergency wait too long, for example the knife incident in Camden referred to in the MQT answers above. I continue to challenge the Mayor about this, who to me seems far too complacent: Video: Andrew Dismore questioning the Mayor of London about police numbers and rise in incidents See also Dismore challenges Mayor over Barnet poor police attendance times I also reported last time on the significant increase in domestic violence, which may be the result of better reporting by victims. What I believe is truly appalling is the new proposal from Barnet Council, that victims of domestic violence must declare themselves as homeless before the Council will accept them for rehousing. This means, for example, that a woman who has a secure Council or Housing Association tenancy and who is assaulted by her partner must give up these secure tenancy rights and become an unsecured temporary tenant with no security. This will mean that domestic violence may well go back to being even more underreported, due to the risks to the victim of losing their home. I am supporting the campaign against this- please sign the petition if you agree – , and I will be raising it at next MQT. I have been concerned about an increase in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents. The numbers are set out in the MQT answers above. There has been only a slight rise in Islamophobic incidents, but a significant increase in anti Semitism, which I raised at MQT: videoAndrew Dismore asking Mayor of London about recent anti-semitic incidents – Mayors Question Time 17/09/2014 See also Dismore demands tougher action against anti- Semitism I have been working with both Boroughs’ Safer Neighbourhood Boards, the organisations that are to act as an umbrella body between the community and local Borough police, including holding the Borough commander to account. Both Barnet and Camden SNBs are having finance problems due to MOPAC delays in sorting out their funding. Camden’s public engagement event had to be cancelled due to lack of funds to pay for the room; Barnet’s only went ahead as they were able to get the Peel Centre’s hall for free. I spoke and took questions at the Barnet event, and hope to do so at a Camden one, if they can eventually get the money out of MOPAC to pay for it. I rose the funding of Barnet SNB at MQT (see answers above) the Camden problems will be raised next time. I had a catch up meeting with Camden’s borough commander, Chief Superintendent BJ Harrington. we discussed progress on the issues identified in the Mayor’s answers as needing consideration., including violent crime, domestic violence, vehicle theft, the extent of abstractions of officers for London wide duties, stop and search , and the ‘new ‘ policing model and its impact on officer morale. We also discussed the role of the SNB and ward panels. Mr Harrington has just been given temporary promotion and his role for the next few weeks is being covered by Superintendent Tucker. Finally, at the Labour Party conference, I met up with wildlife charities:
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| 6 Health
I met with Barnet’s CCG chair and attended the Camden CCG annual public meeting. (CCG- clinical commissioning groups- are the organisations that commission health care locally). Barnet’s problems continue. The CCG Chief Executive left in the summer- they expect a replacement by the end of October. They have been given directions by NHS England over the major problem of waiting times at Barnet Hospital. (Also see my last report and below for details) The shortfall as against the targets is as bad as the rest of England put together! (As I reported last time Barnet and Chase Farm has now been merged into Royal Free, whose job it now is to sort out the mess- see below) There is still a substantial financial problem in Barnet CCG, the year starting with a deficit of £15 million. Whilst the priority is to reduce emergency admissions, this is difficult with the rapidly growing population in the borough. Barnet also has no fewer than 100 care and nursing homes, with 3,000 residents. The aim is to improve GP care for them. In contrast, Camden CCG has a surplus of £19 million, the mirror image of Barnet’s finances. Camden is the highest spender on mental health services in total and the second highest per capita spender on mental health. They are also working innovationally on coordinating care for the frail and elderly; and have innovative work on care of children. You can see the papers from the Camden CCG public meeting here: http://www.camdenccg.nhs.uk/Downloads/ccg-public/News/NHS%20Camden%20CCG%20AGM_170914_Information%20Pack.pdf Royal Free Hospital is investing £25m in a redevelopment of the Royal Free Hospital’s accident and emergency department (A&E) which will start in November. The current A&E was built to care for up to 60,000 patients a year and currently treats more than 93,000 patients every year. The Royal Free inherited a significant 18-week wait backlog at Barnet and Chase Farm (see above and my last report). A large number of patients have been waiting too long for their out-patient review or elective procedure and Royal Free are working to try to get on top of this situation. In the peculiar market system that is now the NHS , Barnet’s mental health services will soon be provided by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who have been awarded the contract to provide psychological therapies service in Barnet, to help people who suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
At the Labour Party conference, I also had discussions with the Anthony Nolan charity Dismore Thanks 79 New Bone Marrow Donors and with Prostate Cancer UK Dismore meets prostate cancer campaigners at Labour Party conference. |
| 7 Economy
The main business at the Economy Committee was a discussion with the Mayor’s Chief economic adviser Gerard Lyons on his report to the Mayor on London and the EU. The Mayor is clearly Eurosceptic, but it is still clear that despite his spin, the highest risk to the UK and London’s economy of all the options would be withdrawal from the EU. The report shows that nationally, every indicator – GDP growth, inflation, employment growth, export growth, and for London, output and employment growth – are all better even within an unreformed EU compared to the consequences of leaving the EU. That is of course without the report considering the social consequences or for example the impact on consumer or workplace rights if the UK were to leave the EU. We had a very informative visit to the Bank of England, where we were given an extensive briefing on the new regulatory regimes. In the Assembly, we also continue to express our concerns over the risk to the Royal Mail’s universal postal service. Plenary motion: Protect universal postal service. With other Labour Assembly members, we also had a briefing from the postal workers’ union CWU on those risks. Another issue which emerged in the discussion was the Royal Mail’s cutting back on the afternoon and evening emptying of pillar boxes- and the problem that many new developments do not have a pillar box in which to post mail at all. |
| 8 Planning issues
The most important issue concerns the Government’s review of Permitted Development Rights. Whilst this may sound esoteric, it is vitally important. This first came to my notice as a result of the problems at Premier House, Edgware and Carlow House in Camden Town, where successful businesses were evicted by the landlords, who are using this planning rule to convert these office blocks to housing without needing planning permission from the Council for this major change of use. Whilst these rules were temporary, the Government has just finished a consultation on making them permanent. The more I have delved into it, the worse it becomes. Not only is planning permission not needed, the developer had no obligation to provide any affordable housing whatsoever; nor does he have to make a ‘section 106’ agreement to contribute to local infrastructure; and the Council cannot even stop the development on environmental health grounds, as Barnet’s chief scientist wanted to do with the Premier House scheme. I challenged the Mayor over this, and I am pleased to say that for once the Conservatives on the Assembly agreed with me and supported my demand for a robust response by the Mayor to the consultation. Video: See also Dismore challenges Mayor over Premier HouseAs for Premier House, Barnet Council has still done nothing to help the displaced businesses and charities, despite my reminders. They have washed their hands of these small businesses. Reminder to Cllr Cornelius – Premier HouseLetter for publication: Premier HouseLetter for publication: Premier House Dismore visits charity facing Premier House eviction I was able myself to help this charity find alternative premises, though! Turning to the Mount Pleasant scheme, as expected Boris Johnson gave planning permission to Royal Mail Group for their Mount Pleasant scheme, after he ‘called in’ the scheme for him to determine. This was despite excellent representations from Islington and Camden Councils (whose planning committees’ decisions the Mayor overruled) and from the Mount Pleasant Association on behalf of the local communities at the hearing. I was not allowed to speak myself but was present throughout the ‘hearing’ and I consider the Mayor’s decision to be against the interests of Londoners and in the interests of property developers’ profits. What is even more bizarre, is that the Mayor had given a grant to the local community to develop an alternative scheme, but completely ignored this plan in the hearing ! See also Boris Johnson’s Mount Pleasant ruling robs London of 111 desperately needed affordable homesMount Pleasant decision shamefulBetter news concerns 100 Avenue Road, Swiss Cottage – the tower block scheme. This was refused by Camden Council, who I am pleased to say listened to local residents’’ objections, unlike Barnet Council’s usual behaviour. I also received notice (click to read) from the Mayor that he does not intend to ‘call in’ the decision and is content to let the Camden Council decision stand. This is of course good news and a tribute to all those who fought hard and made representations to him about it. I suspect this may not be the end of the story – the developer may appeal, or the Secretary of State may exercise call in, but so far so good!
Overdevelopment in Colindale continues apace: Peel Centre (Police College): a formal planning application has now been submitted for the Peel Centre site. It can be found here: It is for 2900 housing units of up to 21 storeys! It is also not clear what proportion will be ‘affordable’ as the Council have omitted this from the details they have published. I have written to the council to find out, but I am not optimistic they will tell us! If you wish to put forward objections (Click here to see my objections) they can be submitted here:http://acolaidpublic.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/. You should quote Ref H/04753/14 and note the deadline for objections is 1st November.
Barnet College, Grahame Park: There is a revised planning application for this development, after the Mayor’s criticisms of it:http://acolaidpublic.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_BARNE_DCAPR_295484
The affordable housing element in the revised plan is now only 3.5% – just 14 homes out of 396! The amendments also comprise a reduction in height of three blocks to 5 storeys, amendments to the layout, alterations to the proposed accesses and amendments to the external appearance of the buildings. I am writing my revised objections which will be on my website shortly. If you want to object click here. You should quote Ref H/03551/14 and note the deadline for objections is 24th October. |
| 9 Fire Authority (LFEPA)
I reported last time that the Mayor issued a direction requiring the Fire Commissioner to report on ‘locking out’ firefighters for the whole of their shift, if they strike for just an hour or two of the shift. The full Authority meeting considered the report but rejected the proposal (but with Conservative members voting to lock out the firefighters). The impact on public safety would be huge; and the long term consequences for industrial relations was unacceptable. There are constructive negotiations underway between the Government and the FBU (the firefighters union) to resolve the dispute over pensions, and this move from the Mayor was not constructive or helpful, especially when no further strike dates have been announced. We are now waiting to see if he issues a direction to force LFEPA to lock out our firefighters. I have also established that senior officers in the Fire Brigade have only a single half day’s training on industrial relations, which may explain partly at least, why relations between union and management have not been what they should be. Labour LFEPA members also visited the new training centre at Beckton, which was impressive; and which is shortly to be joined by the centre being finished at Park Royal.
Finally, the Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, has indicated he now plans to retire, so we are starting the process of appointing a new chief officer for the brigade. |
| 10 Education
A couple of things to mention: firstly Department for Education statistics, which I was able to obtain show a growing worry aboutclass sizes in Barnet: DfE official figures show primary school class sizes of up to 52 children The City Hall Education Panel has also published a report on London’s school places crisis. The headline conclusions are perhaps not surprising: that free schools won’t solve the problems, that our young people will need to be equipped by their schools for the global labour market, and the current fragmented schools system needs to be accountable.
11 London Assembly annual report The annual report of the Assembly highlights the work over the past 12 months. The 25-strong body is elected at the same time as the Mayor and holds him and City Hall’s agencies – including Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police – to account through public question and answer sessions and detailed investigations. During the past year it’s met on 102 occasions, held 73 investigations, produced 27 reports and issued 16 letters and consultation responses to the Mayor and Government. The annual report sets out key highlights of the Assembly’s work for the year and also describes its investigations into areas that are priorities for Londoners, including housing and the environment. 12 Written questions to the Mayor I tabled a full range of written questions. If you have suggestions for questions that you would like me to ask the Mayor, please email me to let me know. 13 Problem solving and casework Adam Langleben my City Hall assistant manages incoming correspondence, casework and my diary:adam.langleben@london.gov.uk. 14 Finally, the quiz question answer: q: what are the longest living station names on the tube? a: Baker St and Edgware Road, from the original section of the underground opened in 1863 – the other stations on the original line have been renamed
Best wishes Andrew Dismore AM London Assembly Member for Barnet & Camden andrew@andrewdismore.org.uk
Twitter: Andrew_Dismore |
