Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Press launch of the scrutiny into the Met Police's use of stop and search - for which I was the vice-chair.

There had been a fuss at the last minute because Sir John Stevens, the Met's Commissioner, said he would only agree to accept the 50+ recommendations if we changed the first one. The first recommendation said the Met Police Commissioner was committed to removing racial bias where it was found. He wanted it changed to 'if' it was found. I had a big problem with this, as the findings of the whole report was unquestionably that there was racial bias in stop and search - and the change to 'if' would make it seem as if there was a possibility that this was not the case.

Anyway, when I got there, Cecile Right - who was the chair - told me what a terrible week she had had with powers that be trying to stop this and that. I gave her a hug - told her off for not calling me - and in we went.

She was great. I adore Cecile and am sorry she is leaving the MPA at the end of this term in a couple of weeks. The press conference went really well and the really good news is that a GOLD group (special action group with top status) is to be set up to steer the recommendations through. Cecile will be on this (and hopefully me too).

The full report if you're interested is on the MPA website.

Labels: mpa

Surgery at Muswell Hill Library. One of those scary experiences you have from time to time if you are in public service. As I arrived at the library, the librarian tells me that there is already someone in my room waiting. As I go in, I see he is booting up his laptop obviously to show me something.

Without going into details, it is very clear very soon that this person is suffering from a severe mental disorder. Over the years I have dealt with a great many people, some of whom are indeed strange and some of whom have been driven mad by Haringey Council. However, this was different and severe. I placed myself between him and the door and listened.

As it went on, I was wondering what to do next. So I excused myself for a moment and went out to the library and told the librarian what was going on and to keep an eye out for me. She, very sensibly, came to the door and told me (and him) that there were two other people waiting and that she had to close at 7pm. He said fine and packed up his laptop and went.

I made enquiries through the Chief Exec's office the next day - and he was well known to them (as is often the case).

Labels: muswell hill library

Go to speak at the Muswell Hill and Highgate Pensioners Action Group in Tetherdown, Muswell Hill.

I love speaking to this group - none feistier in London. Transport and policing are the issues of the day - and as ever top of the list for pensioners are bus driver behaviour and not being able to get through to the local police when you need to. Two of my favourite campaigns.

The man who runs the group is no fan of the local Labour party (although real old Labour himself) and always wants me to put a bit in about the lack of democracy in Haringey. So I oblige by telling them tales of Labour's misdoings. Last week it was the abolition of the Crime Committee at Haringey Council without consultation with anyone.

People would not believe what Labour do to stop us standing up for the residents of Haringey. They certainly wouldn't vote for them ever again if they witnessed it. In fact, when residents come to full council or the executive meetings about an issue and see how Labour operate - we love it - because they always come out saying they can' believe how Labour have behaved!

Canvassing in Hornsey for the London and European elections. Simon and Ken are neck and neck on the doorstep - no one even mentions Norris. Fantastic weather to go out door knocking. So different from the Stroud Green by-election in January - but I'd like the same result: 30% swing from Labour to us - that would do it!

The fabled trial bus service from Muswell Hill to Swiss Cottage (via Highgate and Hampstead) is back in the news again.

Labour have performed another u-turn - after turning down a full service and then attacking the use of public funds for the trial, they now say they're back in favour of the route after all. Who knows what further change of heart next week might bring!

Anyway, to add to the pressure to expand the service to a full one I've been running an SMS poll on the issue. It seems to be very popular with kids who use the service - lots of votes coming in!

(If you want to vote yourself - text BUS YES or BUS NO to 07795 328 405 to vote on whether or not you think the service should be expanded to a full one. Only one vote per phone number will be counted.)

Labels: 603 bus

Simon Hughes (Lib Dem Mayoral candidate), Wayne Hoban (GLA Enfield and Haringey constituency candidate) and myself went walkabout in the borough.

I took Simon to Crouch End first to have a look at the Town Hall - the big issue in the area. Then a walk about. Simon went into practically every shop and talked to every passer by. Then on to Queens Lodge (or what is left of it) the building that fell down in Queens Avenue and on which Labour has refused an inquiry into why the council didn't stop this happening.

Then a walkabout in Muswell Hill. I particular liked the man who Simon introduced himself to but responded - I want to talk to Lynne!

Then lastly to Haringey Heartlands - where Haringey Council is not working particularly well with local residents - surprise! Whenever residents point out that the housing they are hoping to put on the site will need an infrastructure and may be too much - they simply throw their hands up and say the Mayor of London says so.

Of course, if Simon wins, he too wants lots of housing, but his targets will include any residences being brought back into use counting towards those targets (e.g. empty properties or flats above shops). That will really help the boroughs resist developers who simply want to shove non-affordable housing on backland sites.

Labels: simon hughes, wayne hoban

News reaches me that Labour have abolished the Crime and Community Safety Panel on Haringey Council - the body which scrutinises council actions in this area.

Not only is this a vital committee, but they didn't even tell opposition councillors about the plans. Undemocratic as always. No consultation.

And a move designed, I hear, to remove me from a forum where because I am a member of the Met Police Authority, I am well informed and able to point up the issues obviously too well.

Labels: crime

Urgent meeting on the school places crisis in Muswell Hill. Around 40 children don't have places for next Autumn. Fantastically informed presentations from four of the parents - showing that this year is an exceptional 'bulge' year but that Haringey Council had done no planning to accommodate this even though it was known from the statistics available.

Two extra classes are urgently needed - and there is space at some of the schools in the area to accommodate extra classrooms. In desperation, people have even been talking about portacabins being better than nothing.

The council officers and lead member for education were unwilling to give a commitment to providing these, saying there were legal and other barriers that they would investigate and that there were enough places in the borough elsewhere.

This was cold comfort for parents whose lives are complicated enough without having to travel large distances on top of their daily activities anyway. Moreover, the Government says it wants children to go to local schools and parents to have choice. Well - all three local choices have been refused these children.

And as Chair of Transport at the London Assembly - I spend my time trying to persuade people not to use their cars for the school run. But that means the schools need to be reachable by public transport, and in reasonable time.

Where there is a will there is a way - and I couldn't say why the council lead member for education couldn't at the very least have given a commitment to create the needed extra places subject to agreement by heads and governing boards of the three Muswell Hill schools.

A steering group was set up with four of the parents to investigate the way forward.

Meet local campaigners at West End Green to examine why the 139 bus uses Mill Lane to go out of service back to bus garage. The road seems to be too small for the buses to use.

The campaigners are desperate for it to take another route. Having viewed the - clearly dangerous - manoeuvres required of this double-decker in a road far too small for it, I am even more convinced they are right.

I've got as far as getting the MD of Metroline to agree that a compromise is needed and he has called for a report on this issue. So - hopefully can push this to a happy outcome.

Drinks first before the AGM. It was great to have a chat to everyone and Highgate is such a hotbed of issues - from farmers markets in Pond Square to controlled parking!

Then into the AGM, I was very pleased that the Chair in his speech made reference to the importance of the new 603 bus route from Muswell Hill to Swiss Cottage.

Having campaigned for six years for this - it is great that everyone is behind it. Even Labour, having given no support to my efforts over the years and having attacked it (and the public funding without which the trial would never have been launched), have lately realised that it is popular and have started campaigning with a petition
for its expansion to a full service.

Naturally, I welcome their support, but am underwhelmed by their conversion on the road to political Damascus. It would of course be a bit more convincing were it not for the fact that it was the Labour Mayor who decided not to have the full service in the first place. Strangely enough, Labour aren't mentioning that!

I was also delighted that another of my campaigns - to do with problems of unreported crime - also struck a chord with residents and was supported by a contribution asking members of the Highgate Society to report crimes, however minor.

Labels: 603 bus

Launched the Liberal Democrat campaign for the Mayor, Assembly and European Parliament this morning.

First - the action pictures with Simon Hughes using a new spray gun that removes graffiti. Simon is captured by the media cleaning a wall of graffiti (in workman's overalls) to reveal his slogan 'action not words'.

That went well. Then we all went into a local venue in Southwark for the press conference. We are all very upbeat as the bookies have Simon on much better odds than Norris even though the polls don't yet show quite the same differentials. I expect bookies know a think or two!

Labels: simon hughes

Went to meet the Head of Highgate Wood school to discuss an idea I have about engaging with the local community.

Heads have a difficult time as 'their' pupils are often accused of - and sometimes do - behave badly in the local community. But of course outside of school hours are not truly the school's responsibility.

I want to find a way to bring community and schools together on this. Highgate Wood was my first port of call just because I wanted to see whether a school head would be interested in my idea.

The Head responded really well (I had been nervous because other schools generally in the past have been fairly unreceptive to outside do-gooders) but she was very open and forward thinking. We both have to go back to our 'groups' to float the idea and then we will meet again in a month's time.

Labels: highgate wood school

Chaired a meeting of a new group keen to raise the issue of what barriers exist to black and ethnic minorities in the police.

The idea is to hold an event for young people where we can really examine the truth of what it is like in the police force if you are not white. It isn't only about attracting ethnic minorities into the police - but also tackling the reasons why so many leave - many more than white officers.

This meeting was really still at the early stages of discussing how best to go about it, what were the aims and objective, how could its success be managed and so on.