Lynne Featherstone

Today is 10 years since Victoria Climbie died. As Leader of the Opposition in Haringey  I remember the beating of breasts by the then Labour leader of the Council about how lessons would be learned and how this must never happen again. And then it did. Eight years later - Baby Peter died another dreadful death - with over sixty visits to the home by Haringey Children's Services and other agencies.

And again the phrase 'lessons must be learned' were uttered.

It is clear to me that when Victoria died - lessons were not learned. Only the social worker at the end of the food chain took the punishment - everyone else walked away free - and nothing much changed. That is why it did all happen again eight years later.

But this time - the law had changed as a result of Victoria's death. For the first time in legislation, two positions were named as accountable for what happened in Children's Services - the Director and the Executive Member. That was a direct result of Victoria's death and Lord Laming (who conducted a public inquiry) recommendations.

That is why when Baby Peter died it was so important that the two people in those two positions - now accountable in law - lost their jobs. If no one, now the law had changed, lost their jobs - then again - nothing would have changed.

But this time - changes have been brought in. Scrutinised closely every month and under new Director and Senior Management - the latest Ofsted report this week - found that Haringey is finally improving. It has a long way to go - but nevertheless - let's hope that this is a real sign of progress and that, thanks to Victoria Climbie and the changes to the law that have now had effect - we really have learned the lessons this time.

Haringey leaseholders will soon pay less than half of the originally proposed cost to get digital TV, after a successful campaign by local Liberal Democrats and leaseholders.

Reports published recently detail a u-turn by Haringey Council and a notable victory for leaseholder groups and local Liberal Democrats on a change to the scheme which charged up to £1,000 for the installation of new TV aerials in housing owned by the Council.

Haringey Council’s Cabinet should agree to a new plan this week which will see full consultation, a cap on costs to leaseholders of £400 and a retrospective payment to leaseholders who have already had to pay up to £1000.

Liberal Democrats launched a campaign against the extortionate costs in June last year after it emerged that Haringey’s leaseholders had to pay up to ten times more than leaseholders in neighbouring boroughs.

After the decision was made by the Labour Cabinet to go ahead with the aerials scheme in July, Liberal Democrats forced a rethink of the scheme through Hraingey Council’s watchdog committee.

Local Liberal Democrats have today expressed concern at the fact that leaseholders and tenants still have to pay four times as much as some neighbouring boroughs to watch TV, and are now calling for the cost to be cut further.

Cllr Matt Davies, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, comments:

“I’m glad that finally the signal from local leaseholders and Liberal Democrats has got through to Labour loud and clear. Leaseholders did not want to have expensive, diamond encrusted aerial systems imposed upon them without any say.

“Unfortunately it took action by the Liberal Democrats and local leaseholder groups in July last year for Labour to realise their error. I am glad that our pressure will mean leaseholders get to pay less but it’s still quite a bit to fork out to watch TV. I know that leaseholders are still worried about the excessive cost, and the battle continues.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“The digital aerial scheme fiasco is a prime example of how badly Labour runs Haringey Council. It fails to consult, it imposes an expensive system without considering the implications and only after intervention from Liberal Democrats and residents does it change its mind.

“I’m glad they have dropped the price but it’s still four times the price leaseholders in neighbouring boroughs pay  and we’re making that concern clear to the Council.”

Commenting on the Ofsted update report on safeguarding in Haringey Council's Children's Service,  Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, says:

"Clearly, a lot of people have been working hard, so that Haringey can achieve the basic service of protecting children.

"I tentatively welcome progress, but stuck in my mind is the fact that Ofsted gave this Children's Service three stars weeks after Baby Peter died.

"There are clearly, still, significant shortcomings in key front-line services and I will continue to press for more openness and transparency, so we can have lasting confidence that they are getting it right."

Councillor Robert Gorrie, Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats, adds:

"I can only thank the committed efforts of the staff who are desperately trying to get this service up to scratch.

"However, I remain deeply concerned that only one in three vital checks of children at risk are happening on time.  To me, this is deeply unsatisfactory and not of a high enough standard to prevent another child falling through the safety net."

The second inspection of Haringey's Children's Service has now reported. Last time they found that Haringey was not improving fast enough. This time - the report finds that they have done better. Given the staff are working very hard to improve things and there is a new Director - I would hope that this is the case.

The only question mark is really over how much confidence we can have in Ofsted. This is the inspectorate that gave Haringey 3 stars during the period that Baby Peter was falling through the Haringey net - and when it went public - gave them 1 star.

Hopefully - Ofsted too have improved their inspections and would not be fooled again by doing a desk inspection where Haringey provide (as they say happened last time) false information.

But I am very glad if, at last, things are getting better - both for any children at risk in Haringey - but also for those staff who have had to come through one of the most demoralising and difficult work situations that can be faced.

Haringey Council agreed last night to implement Liberal Democrats plans that will provide new green incentives and better recycling in the borough.

Liberal Democrats proposed that Haringey Council provides new battery recycling services in libraries, community buildings and schools, and new green incentives for local traders and residents to move to ‘greener’ vehicles by reducing parking fees for the least polluting cars.

The new measures will be paid for by freezing allowances for councillors.

Cllr Ed Butcher (Stroud Green), Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson, comments:

“I am glad that Labour have, once again, taken the lead from Liberal Democrats. They followed our lead on the Council Tax freeze and now on new green incentives and recycling.

“It shows that even in opposition Liberal Democrats lead on the green agenda and recognise, in these tough economic times, that councillors should not take more of taxpayers’ money.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“My colleagues on Haringey Council continue to hold Labour to account and provide new ideas that move Haringey forward. If they can do this in opposition imagine what could be done in a Liberal Democrat-run Haringey Council.”

I was asked by London Tonight which was more shocking - the fact that there was another child, who experienced similar failures by Haringey Children's Services as Baby Peter - albeit this time thank goodness not ending in a death - or the fact this had only just come to light - four years after the event.

The first I heard of it was when Andrew Gilligan (Telegraph) 'phoned me to ask my view. My only view - was why was I only now hearing about this case - and from a journalist rather than being briefed by the Labour Leader of the Council or CEO?

Child 'Y' happened at approximately the same period as Baby Peter - yet when the furore over Peter broke - there was no mention to me of another case.

It is not hugely surprising that there was another child being let down by Children's Services at that time. Given the litany of casualness that came to light  surrounding the care of Baby Peter - if those same fault lines were undermining the department - in fact it was inevitable.

So - the shocking thing to me is that, despite all the work going on by a staff who are working their socks off to turn Haringey Child protection around, the leadership still displays an unchanged culture in terms of secrecy and cover up. Why was there no statement, no explanation - only the Executive Summary of the Serious Case Review on Child 'Y' sneaked onto an obscure website?

How many times have I heard the leadership in Haringey say 'lessons must be learned'? Sadly - the leadership has not learned one key lesson - that hiding things just makes it worse.

It looks like the formidable campaign by my LibDem colleague Cllr Matt Davies, the Leaseholders' forum, various local campaigners (and me) will succeed. You can read the full story here. Haringey Council wanted to charge astronomical charges to their council blocks for digital switchover - £1000 to each home - way over the odds. After a long battle it looks like this will now be reduced to £400. That's not as low as it could go - but it's a hell of a lot better than before. Fingers crossed for the meeting next week where this will/should go through.

Local Liberal Democrats have demanded that Haringey Council comes clean on extra costs, after it emerged that the most recent edition of ‘Haringey People’ may have been incorrectly delivered to thousands of homes. Reports suggest that many residents, living in Alexandra ward,received the St. Ann’s and Seven Sisters editions, rather than the normal Muswell Hill edition. Similar delivery errors were found throughout Haringey.

This new revelation puts into further doubt Haringey Council's use of resources for communication.  Last year, the council used £3million of local taxpayers’ money on communication with local residents.

Liberal Democrats have asked the council how many copies of 'Haringey People' have been delivered to incorrect areas and how much the error has cost Haringey Council.

Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) Area Assembly Chair, comments:

“Local residents contacted me, to say that they had not received the correct editions – it is just another example of Haringey Labour failing to get even simple things right.”

Cllr Ed Butcher, Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson, adds:

“This is another nail in the coffin of 'Haringey People'.  For years, local Liberal Democrats have said that this publication is not worth the paper it is written on and that Haringey Council should think of more innovative and up-to-date ways of contacting local residents.

“Now, after this latest mess, Haringey Council has to come clean on how much this will cost local taxpayers.”

Lynne Featherstone,  Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, adds:

“Haringey residents will be appalled that their money continues to be wasted in this way."

Having found out that some older local residents are unaware that they need to renew their Freedom Pass by the end of March, Lynne Featherstone MP is now stepping in and sending out to local residents the necessary information.

The poor information campaign by Haringey Council, who are the local Freedom Pass providers, was brought to the Liberal Democrat MP’s attention by local resident Betty Cairns. Mrs Cairns had spent three hours trying to find out how to renew the pass after spotting a small ad in the local paper about the need for renewal.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP has now written to local residents to let them know how to renew their passes.

Residents who want to find out more about how to renew the pass can go to: http://www.haringey.gov.uk/older_persons_freedom_pass.

Residents who want to get an application form can either pick one up from their local post office, download it from http://www.haringey.gov.uk/older_persons_freedom_pass.pdf, or call Lynne Featherstone’s office for a copy on 020 8340 5459.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, comments:

“It’s appalling that there’s been such a poor effort to let residents know that they need to renew their passes. For those who might not read the local paper regularly, or use the internet, there is very little information out there about the need for renewal, not least since they closed down so many sub-post offices.

“This risks leaving some of our least mobile residents stranded on 1st April - and that is not acceptable.

“Haringey Council should have written to all current Freedom Pass holders to let them know what steps they need to take to avoid being left without a pass. But as that hasn't been done, I felt the need to step in.”

So - another one bites the dust.

Cllr Sheik Thomson, who was Mayor of Haringey for Labour only the year before last, has resigned from the Labour party and become an independent. Last week Cllr Brian Haley resigned from Labour and joined the LibDems. Just before that, Labour Cllr Alan Dobbie resigned from Labour to become a Tory.

They are dropping like flies. With votes now on the casting vote of the Mayor - that would explain why Labour suddenly cancelled the budget meeting that was set for next Monday.

Roll on the local elections of May 6!