The Bristow Blog

Sweden Visit

I was in Sweden Monday and Tuesday of this week with the Leadership Centre for Local Government.  It was a trip for councillors to see how the Swedes provide local government services.

The Moderate Party (the Conservatives Swedish sister Party) have taken over nationally after years of rule by the Social Democrats.  They have won the battle of ideas in Sweden after running large areas of local government for a long time.  There are plenty of lessons for the Conservatives here - in health, how to put the consumer in control - in education, how to put parents in control.

In Sweden, all parents are given vouchers which are redeemable by the school of their choice.  900 schools have opted out of the state delivery system to become "free schools", which is five per cent of primary schools, 15 per cent secondary. More than 1,500 applications were granted last year for more schools to join.

Many of the applications for new schools are from parents battling with a council which is threatening to close down a local school. Swedish parents don't protest against school closures - they apply to open a rival school.

Not everything will work in the UK and we will need a distinctive British solution to deal with many of our failing schools.  Nevertheless, British Conservatives can learn a great deal from Sweden!

Slaughter bottles it and votes with Government

Below are the names of the 36 Labour MPs who voted with their conscience yesterday against Government plans to lock up terror suspects for 42 days without trial.

One MP conspicuous by their absence is Andrew Slaughter MP - the Ealing and Shepherds Bush MP voted with the Government despite calling the Bill 'barmy' and telling anyone who will listen that he is opposed to 42 days detention.

http://thebristowblog.typepad.com/the_bristow_blog/2008/04/slaughter-will.html 

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2008/04/here-are-just-some-new-anti-terror-labour-rebels/

Much like with Post Offices, Andrew Slaughter is much more interested in trying to impress his Labour masters than standing up for his constituents or voting on principle. 

Diane Abbott Richard Burden Katy Clark Harry Cohen Frank Cook Jeremy Corbyn Jim Cousins Andrew Dismore Frank Dobson David Drew Paul Farrelly Mark Fisher Paul Flynn Neil Gerrard Ian Gibson Roger Godsiff John Grogan Dai Havard

Kate Hoey Kelvin Hopkins Glenda Jackson Lynne Jones Peter Kilfoyle Andrew MacKinlay Bob Marshall-Andrews John McDonnell Michael Meacher Julie Morgan Chris Mullin Douglas Naysmith Gordon Prentice Linda Riordan Alan Simpson Emily Thornberry David Winnick Mike Wood

Consultation with residents about Ravenscourt Park

The Residents' Services team next week are hosting a brief reception to fulfil the condition placed on our licence for Ravenscourt Park.  We want to consult local residents and ask for feedback on activities that are planned for the park over the Summer.  All local residents are invited.

This was a condition we asked to be placed on the licence in order to reassure local people about future use of the park.  We want to introduce local residents to our summer programme which for Ravenscourt Park includes the annual Play Day event and a repeat of last year's very popular and successful Opera in the Park.  Please take a look at our summer programme using the following link - http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Environment_and_Planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Events/98772_ParkLife_events.asp

This follows a similiar reception for Bishops Park earlier this month.

This is not as Opposition councillors would have you believe evidence of our plans to organise many unsuitable events in our parks - why they should spread this irresponsible nonsense is beyond me..... 

42 Days

I have not said anything about the debate on 42 days detention without trial that Gordon Brown insists is needed for the fight against terrorism - however as tomorrow is the day the vote takes place in the House of Commons a blog post might be in order.

To be honest, it is an issue I have struggled to get excited about despite the enormity of the matter at hand.  I remember the initial debate on 28 and then 90 days and for me nothing much has changed.  The arguments are the same and it is debated against the same backdrop of a prime minister unpopular amongst Labour MPs and is vulnerable to a Commons defeat.

In my mind, we should never fall into the trap of simply saying 'if the police want it then we must give them the power'.  It is not the police who are elected and are the 'guardians' of our civil liberties.  If we had elected police commissioners or sheriffs which allowed for direct accountability then I might think differently.  There has to be an overwhelming case before civil liberties are further eroded.  No one has made the case for such a draconian measure as 42 days without trial so I see no reason to go down that route.

It is in this context we get to the more interesting part of this debate.  If there is no clear need for 42 days, why is Brown so determined to go down this path that divides his own Party and risks the very real possibility of losing the vote in the House of Commons?

It has been suggested he wants to make the Conservatives look soft on terror and law and order.  The public support 42 days.  If this really is the plan - it will fail.  One look at David Davis in comparison to Jacqui Smith is enough to convince most that the Tories are better trusted to keep order than Labour.

Another thought is that Brown cannot be seen to U turn and dither on this issue.  He has already spent his capital on the 10p tax rate, the general election that never was, inheritence tax and road pricing.  If he was seen to U turn on this after giving it his full support he would look weak and foolish indeed.  However, it cannot not be as bad as he looked on the 10p tax row.

So in conclusion, I do not know.  It may be a rare act of principle and he genuinely believes in 42 days but I doubt it.  Anyone else got any thoughts - answers on a postcard....

H&F Direct

Residents in Hammersmith and Fulham can now visit the new H&F Direct centre to carry out their everyday council-related tasks.

H&F Direct will allow residents to pay their council tax and collect housing and council tax benefits, parking permits, blue badges, freedom passes and education benefits in one place.

The whole thinking behind it is that we continue to help our residents in the best possible way – that means a 21st century approach to customer service in a new and exciting set-up.

Having all these services under one roof makes sense for everyone – it makes it easier for residents to carry out their tasks all in one go and will also mean savings in the running costs of these services of £1.2m a year.

I think the centre is going to be fundamental in improving resident satisfaction and will be a real flagship project.

H&F Direct is open to residents for personal visits from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.  There is late night opening on Thursdays until 8pm only for people with parking permits enquiries.  The centre is open to all telephone callers from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm.  Residents can call 0845 803 1020 to speak to an advisor at H&F Direct.

Parklife

Parklife is the council's summer campaign to get more people into our parks and open spaces and to publicise our improvement plans.

It is only when I watch myself speak I realise my northern accent is still there - the word 'borough' in particular!

Let's have a referendum and abolish the Congestion Charge extension

One of the reasons so many H&F residents welcomed the election of Boris Johnson as London Mayor was he promised to look again at the congestion charge extension.  Hammersmith & Fulham council are now calling on TfL to hold a referendum on the issue.

When the western extension of the zone was imposed in February 2007, Hammersmith & Fulham Council predicted that residents and businesses on the periphery of the zone would be hit the hardest. 

Unlike people inside the extended zone, businesses and residents in H&F are not eligible for a discount. This means that, for the past 18 months, H&F residents have been forced to fork out £8 every time they’ve done the school run, visited the hospital or had to access other basic local services. 

Now a council probe shows that small businesses – like estate agents, dry-cleaners and florists – are losing thousands of pounds each year to make trips of less than a mile. 

The extension has been a body blow for local business and this must be the end of the road for this failed project.

People who live within the congestion zone get a 90 per cent discount, unlike H&F residents and businesses who get nothing. Taxis, buses, motorbikes, and emergency vehicles are fully except as are disabled drivers and vehicles powered by alternative fuels.

Last year, drivers handed over £252 million in congestion charge payments to TfL, which represents just under 10 per cent of its total income. Running the scheme cost £130 million and when administration costs are taken into account, TfL was left with a net income of £89 million from the charges. 

We always questioned whether the extension was more about making money than reducing congestion. When the extension came in, The London Chamber of Commerce demanded an independent inquiry into whether the zone was needed. They called the scheme ‘flawed’ and an ‘inflexible barrier to trade’ and now their view is proving to be correct. 

TfL are expected to have a binding referendum on the issue possibly later this year.

Alcohol ban protests organised by a Fulham man

If I am being honest, when Boris promised to ban alcohol on the tube I was not thrilled. 

I could understand why he was doing it.  People are sick of drunks being a nuisance on the tube and swigging cans of lager is anti social.  Indeed, on my way to work last week the passeanger next to me opened a can of very strong lager and started to drink - at 7.30am! 

However, in my view the real problem is drunk people getting on the tube, rather than people getting drunk whilst on the tube.  I also hoped that this example would not be extended to overground trains.  Who can bear the delays, expense and overcrowding associated with GNER without a beer or two?

Nevertheless, after seeing the drunks and the revellers at the 'protest' over the weekend - once again Boris has got it spot on.  No one deserves to travel (after paying the highest prices in Europe) putting up with drink fuelled anti social behaviour.  The ban is a message that enough is enough and this behaviour will not be tolerated in our city any longer.  If this policy needed some justifaction then this protest provided it with bells on.

It turns out the organiser of the protest was a Fulham man.  The Evening Standard says:

Today Mr Graham, of Fulham who now fears for his job, said he did it because a female friend who worked in a senior position for former mayor Ken Livingstone lost her job following Boris Johnson's election victory.

So we can blame it all on Labour!  Nice one. :-)

New Bus Route in Hammersmith & Fulham

Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled plans to introduce a new bus route, the 288, and to extend the already existing 316, both of which take in the White City area.

 

TfL says the new 228 route has been developed in partnership with local councils, to meet a long-standing request for new transport links in the area.

 

The proposed route would operate between Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, and Elgin Avenue in Maida Vale, running through White City, Ladbroke and Harrow Road.

 

TfL says it is also planning to extend the 316 route, which currently operates between Cricklewood (Edgware Road) and St. Charles’ Hospital in North Kensington.  The plans involve extending the route from St. Charles’ Hospital to White City, along St. Mark’s Road and St. Ann’s Road.

 

TfL says the extension will provide a high frequency link between North Kensington and the areas around Latimer Road and White City, as well as providing links from Queen’s Park, Kilburn High Road, Brondesbury and Cricklewood.

 

It is envisaged that both routes will use single-deck buses and provide new bus links to White City and the new Westfield development in Shepherd’s Bush.

 

Leaflets with details of the proposals will be sent to around 30,000 local residents, including those living in and around the White City and Ladbroke Grove roads to be served by the proposed changes.

 

The consultation period runs from 26 May until 11 July 2008

Youngest Mayor in the UK in H&F?

Last night my fellow Fulham Reach councillor Andy Johson and long standing friend from university was made Mayor - he is thought to be the youngest Mayor in the UK.

Below is a picture of Andy, myself and Cllr Gavin Donovan, the 3 Fulham Reach councillors taken last night (they made us wear the rosettes!)

Andy took over from Cllr Minnie Scott Russell who served two terms as Mayor and did a brilliant job!

Age really is no barrier to success here in Hammersmith & Fulham and Mayor Johnson is proof of that. This council has ripped up the rule book by cutting tax year after year when the majority of other councils are raising taxes every year. We have now broken the mould again by electing a young, dynamic Mayor who is full of energy and ideas.

Andy has said he believes the role of the Mayor is to provide a sense of unity for the borough and its citizens and as such wants to focus his year as Mayor targeting groups and events who may have been overlooked in the past. He also intend to focus on seeking to highlight those individuals and organisation who do so much good work within Hammersmith & Fulham, yet do not get the recognition they deserve.

As I said, Andy and I go back years when we became friends at university.  Below is a picture of some our friends who went to university with Andy and I who came to see him made Mayor last night.

The Mayoral results ward by ward

If the recent Mayoral and GLA elections were replayed at a local election or at a general election it would a very good night indeed for the Conservatives and a disaster for Labour. 

The result of the election that took place earlier this month has been broken down ward by ward.  Some of the highlights include:

• Shaun Bailey would become the new MP for Hammersmith beating Andy Slaughter by over 1,000 on the Mayor's 1st preference vote and by over 2,000 on the Assembly Party vote.
• The Conservatives would take Hammersmith Broadway ward increasing the number Conservative councillors to 35/36 - Labour leader Cllr Cowan would lose his seat.  It will be interesting to see if he will fight his marginal seat or decide to move to less challenging seat next time.
• 10,535 extra people voted Conservative in the Assembly elections compared to 4 years before - and over 15,000 more people voted for Boris compared to Steve Norris in 2004.
• Labour were completely blown away in Fulham (polling less than 5,000 votes overall for Livingstone in the Mayoral vote and barely 3,500 for Labour) and would be wiped out in Hammersmith leaving them with only a handful of councillors in the far north of the borough.
• On a personal note, the Conservatives pulled further ahead in Fulham Reach - 500 ahead in the Mayoral vote and 600 for the Assembly.

The lessons from this election are:

• Shaun Bailey is making excellent progress against Andy Slaughter for the Hammersmith parliamentary seat and is on track to win - though it will be very close and every vote will count.
• The key battlegrounds at the next council election will be in Hammersmith Broadway, Shepherds Bush Green, and Askew wards.  This is where the two party's are running neck and neck.
• The Lib Dems have made no progress whatsoever and will not win any significant support at the general or local council elections.

Violence erupts in Fulham Broadway after Chelsea defeat

There were battles between police and Chelsea fans following the defeat in the Champions League last night.  No doubt alcohol fuelled Chelsea fans rioted after an accident with a fan and a police car.

I know fans must be bitterly disappointed, but there is never any excuse for the scenes at Fulham Broadway last night.  Reports claim many innocent bystanders were caught up in the trouble which must have seemed very frightening. 

H&F is unique in having three professional football clubs.  They are an important part of our borough.  However scenes like this give ammo to those dislike the presence of these football clubs. 

Our Parks are Safer

Parks in Hammersmith & Fulham are safer than this time last year thanks to the sterling work of the borough’s Parks Constabulary.

In the past 12 months, the constabulary, which receives £1million in funding from the council each year, has detained 12 suspects, recovered 25 stolen motorcycles, dispersed over 1,000 anti-social drinkers and responded to 97 per cent of all reported incidents within 30 minutes. 

The constabulary work 365 days a year from 6am to 1.15am during the summer and from 6am to 10.45pm in the winter. And with a state-of-the-art fleet of vehicles in use, the Parks Constables can now be easily spotted across the borough’s 54 parks, open spaces and cemeteries.

Everyone has a right to feel safe wherever they are and that is what the council's Parks Constabulary deliver in our green spaces. 

The parks constabulary provide uniformed patrols in parks and open spaces to help reduce crime. They work in close cooperation with the police and develop effective partnerships with other council departments and external agencies to combat anti-social behaviour.

During the last year, the constabulary has detained a dozen people for a range of criminal offences including robbery, assault, drug offences and theft.

I know that residents are always pleased to see the highly visible constables on their beat and that is why we invest so much money in the parks constabulary. The force is going from strength to strength and will continue to ensure that are parks can be enjoyed by everyone who visits them.

Exhibition for Tasso Road development

After a campaign led by local residents and ward councillors, the planning application for a 3 storey development at the end of Tasso Road was withdrawn.  See - http://thebristowblog.typepad.com/the_bristow_blog/fulham_reach/index.html

Developers have now promised to consult local residents and councillors on new proposals before another application is submitted - these are currently being drawn up.  There are plans to host an exhibition on Thursday 29th May from 6.15pm to 8pm. 

The intention is present ideas in the form of "early concept drawings" which can provide a platform for local feedback. 

The exhibition will take place on site at the far end of Tasso Road.  I shall be there with fellow Fulham Reach ward councillors Andy Johnson and Gavin Donovan. 

Let's hope that the new plans are more in keeping with the Victorian cul-de-sac and not as large and overbearing as the previous scheme. 

Sunday in Crewe & Nantwich

After being away on business for a few days I got back to London on Saturday to be confronted with acores of emails in my inbox urging me to Crewe for the by election.  Conservative HQ clearly believe that the first Tory by election victory since the early 1980s is possible.  So my girlfriend and I took the car up the M40 and the M6 to Cheshire.

Much has been made in the media of the nastiness of the Labour campaign - however, it really does need to be seen to be believed.  Labour activists have been handing out leaflets calling the Conservative candidate Edward Timpson a liar and a con man, portraying him as a millionnaire toff, and resorting to nagative tactics such as ringing electors at 4am pretending to be Conservative telephone canvassers and driving around council estates in 4 x 4s with blue balloons. 

The Lib Dems are not much better.  Both parties seem to think that just because Edward Timspon's family run a successful business and have money, this some how disqualifies him from being able to represent people in Crewe.  So much for one Britain!  This is class warfare pure and simple and really quite an objectionable aspect of left wing politics.  Aspiration, getting on, and doing well are all admirable qualities.  As is the Timspon family record of fostering and giving to those less fortunate than themselves. 

I hope we do not see this sort of politics in Hammersmith & Fulham.  Andrew Slaughter put out a leaflet that tried to portray Conservatives as fat cats on the White City estate a year or so ago.

My thoughts on Crewe & Nantwich:

• The Conservative campaign is extremely well organised and optimistic - we were allowed in the camapign office for all of 5 mins before we were given leaflets and sent on our way.
• Everyone wants to be part of a victory - on a Sunday afternoon I saw CF activists, parliamentary candidates, CCHQ employers and at least 3 or 4 MPs.  This was just where I was dispatched. 
• Plenty of posters up for all three parties.  Started off in tradional Labour territory where we did see Labour posters and a few Lib Dems.
• Voters are SICK TO DEATH of leaflets.  In a leafier part of Crewe quite a few Conservative voters were actually getting quite cross.
• Labour are working their socks off too - there were plenty of Labour canvassers in the council estates where I was delivering in the afternoon.    
• Despite the 10p tax issue - crime was the number one concern on the doorstep.

---------- and

James Purnell cannot take a joke.  I saw the Cabinet Minister canvassing in a council estate where an elderly woman was loudly pledging her support whilst explaining she was housebound and that she did not have a postal vote.  He offered to arrange a lift on poll day but she said she could not get to the door. 

As I walked past I commented 'bad luck' where he snapped 'she is voting for us'.  I said 'but she can't leave the house' and the reply immediately came ' she did not say that, just she can't get to the door' - I replied 'what are you going to do on Thursday?  Carry her out of the window?'  He was not amused....