Hour consultation is not enough
I UNDERSTAND the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime’s (MOPAC) touring show came to Harrow for one hour on Thursday last week.
I glean significant local anxiety about the nature and shortness of this event, which MOPAC brands as ‘consultation’.
Would one hour provide adequate opportunities for healthy discussion and Q&A, especially at a time of serious local concerns which include:
? These MOPAC sessions, mostly presentations, are experimenting to see if the public finds this type of ‘police consultation’ adequate, so that London boroughs under the London Community Policing Partnership could be told that they will no longer need the funding received in the past
? The future of the Community Engagement Groups (CPEGS), including in Harrow, after April 1, 2013
? The opportunities under the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and through the local initiatives for the public to become meaningfully involved in local policing matters have been systematically reduced or undermined
? That the dramatic fall in police numbers in Harrow is most likely to adversely affect Harrow residents – for example, in Canons ward, the local safer neighbourhood panel has suspended all panel meetings for many months because the agreed ward priorities could not be carried out due to the shortage of police officers, and similar concerns exist elsewhere in the borough
? That crime rose by more than 10 per cent in Harrow this autumn, according to the latest Metropolitan Police figures
COUNCILLOR HUSAIN AKHTAR
Independent councillor for Canons ward
Harrow Council
Counting the cost of clean water
AT A time when our utility bills are outstripping our incomes, the last thing we need is for the European Commission to push up prices even more.
Yet that is precisely what will happen to Londoners’ water bills if the European Commission gets its way and adds more substances to its list of what must be cleaned out of rivers and lakes by the water companies.
While we all want water that is safe to drink, any new rules must be based on evidence.
Conservative MEPs have called for the European Commission and the Labour Party to produce more rigorous scientific evidence of the benefits of removing traces of commonly used medicines such as diclofenac from our lakes.
The requirement to remove chemical traces from water is going to cost the industry hundreds of millions of pounds, which hard pressed households will end up having to pay.
I am also appalled that the implementation costs are not being taken seriously. The Conservatives will oppose these completely disproportionate requirements.
SYED KAMALL
Conservative MEP for London
Cold snap a hot issue for the UK
AS A TV weather presenter who has reported on some the coldest winters experienced in the UK, I am sincerely very worried for the many thousands of people who won’t be able to heat their homes this year.
Even before this winter’s energy price rises increased the average energy bill by seven per cent, nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of people on low incomes, surveyed by charity Turn2us, said they were unsure whether they could afford heating and electricity without enduring financial hardship this winter.
The Turn2us survey also revealed that at least seven in 10 (70 per cent) people were unaware of how they might get help, while four in 10 (41 per cent) said they would resort to cutting back on essentials such as food if they could not afford to heat their homes.
With recent estimates suggesting that 300,000 more homes will be pushed into fuel poverty this winter, we are urging people to see what help is available as a first port of call if affording bills becomes difficult.
Visit www.fuelpovertymap.org.uk, and see what financial help you may be able to get for yourself or loved ones.
SIAN LLOYD
ITV Weather presenter and ambassador for the Turn2us Acting on Fuel Poverty campaign
Is council tax rise really fair on all?
I NOTE that you have reported that Harrow Council intends to defy Local Government Minister [Eric] Pickles and raise council tax by two per cent against his advice (‘Council likely to seek £30 tax rise’, Observer, December 20).
One would have to wonder whether that is legal or not, since Minister Pickles claims that the grant has been increased so that domestic payers do not bear the brunt.
The two per cent has shrewdly been arrived at, as above that per cent increases have to be submitted to the local electorate for authority.
If that referendum was limited to those who pay council tax, then they shrewdly realise, they ain’t gonna win.
One can also expect a rise in the expenses claims by the councillors who voted for this increase.
As like their confederates at Westminster, they consider they are entitled not to pay taxes they foist on others.
I will also forward this email to Eric Pickles’ department and the Local Omsbudsman department for their comments.
According to the coalition and the Labour opposition, ‘we are all in this together’.
Some more than others it would appear.
For those on fixed incomes or pensions and those who work, don’t worry, pull the belt in somewhere for us.R SIMMONS
Pinner
? Harrow Council’s portfolio holder for finance, councillor Sachin Shah, said: “Harrow Council is to put up council tax by two per cent for 2013/14 so it can protect the services residents care about, including our children’s centres and libraries. The council will also invest in the services that protect our residents who are most in need by increasing the number of social workers and investing in elderly care.
“The Tory government singled out local government for the largest of cuts (28 per cent) while cutting taxes for millionaires. I think this is the wrong choice, and I hope the government will change its mind.
“Harrow has one of the lowest government grants in London, we would have £420m a year more, if we had the same grant as Brent, and that is why we are launching our fairer grant for Harrow campaign, to lobby the government to give us our fair share.
“Increasing the council tax has been a really difficult decision, and not one made lightly. That is why we kept the increase to 47p a week, which has allowed us to keep open the services people tell us are important, while dealing with the huge and unfair cuts from the Tory government.”
Save tax benefit councillors’ votes
I AM appalled that Harrow is proposing that councillors in receipt of council tax benefit should not be allowed to vote!
Sadly we seem to be going back to the notion that only those with money should have a say in how the borough is run.
Surely, most right thinking people will agree that this is unacceptable.
Those who know about the hard fight for true democracy, may recall that in 1432, only male owners of land worth at least 40 shillings, or a freehold property, were eligible to vote.
The Reform Act of 1832 extended voting to male householders who rented property of a certain value. It was only in 1837 that all male householders were allowed to vote regardless of the value of their property. The rest of us had to wait.
In 1918, with the Representation of the People Act, men without property and women over 30 were allowed to vote.
Progress was made slowly and many now take for granted the freedom to exercise our democratic rights which was refined as recently as 1969. The current proposal at the council is to prevent elected members in receipt of council tax benefit from voting on it.
Those making the proposal seem to forget that councillors are on a basic allowance of £8,000 approximately a year and for those without other means, the benefits system ensures they have a minimum income.
Far from being scroungers, councillors who take their role seriously easily put in 20 hours a day.
It is not unusual to find councillors dealing with emails at 2am.
Suffice to say that those with an agenda to limit representation of the working poor are taking us back to the spirit of 1432 when only those with certain means could vote.
It is frightening that moves to disenfranchise voters are taking place with little protest. It is important that we challenge this appalling right wing agenda to prevent poorer members of society from having a voice, and to demonise those in receipt of benefits.
AMANDA KERR
via email
Drivers should take note of code
THERE is nothing wrong with the junction at Pinner Green (‘Road junction that drivers fear to use’, Pinner Observer, January 10) if the drivers followed the Highway Code using right side to right side, which they recommend as the safest method.
The main problem is some drivers have no patience and must try to gain a few seconds.
The trouble with left side to left side is your eye line is obstructed by the vehicles facing you.
Many cars travelling down Pinner Hill Road appear to jump the lights, which you cannot see if you are left to left – I know from experience at this junction and am very cautious at similar junctions, despite being honked!
My advice to all drivers is to read the Highway Code (instruction 181) and not expect the council to paint white lines on the road unnecessarily.
MK GRIFFITHS
via email
More trails blazed by Lord Popat
THE news that Lord Popat is to join the government as a Whip is to be enthusiastically welcomed.
As the first Gujarati to represent the Conservatives at Parliament, he is very much a trailblazer, and after many hugely successful years in business, politics and community relations, he was rightly awarded a peerage in 2010.
His life story is also the epitome of aspirational conservatism; famously arriving in the UK with next to nothing, and working his way to the top.
Colleagues and friends will know that none of this praise will go to his head because Dolar is also one of the most modest, thoughtful and kind-hearted men you could ever meet.
It has been an immense pleasure to work closely with Dolar in Harrow politics over many years, and we wish him every success in his new role.
COUNCILLOR SUSAN HALL
Leader of the Conservative group
Harrow Council
Don’t take away our musical lifeline
I AM a grade six violinist from the music school Harrow Young Musicians (HYM) and I’m writing to let you know that the council is proposing to stop funding us and we will have no choice but to close down.
I have been at HYM for nearly a year and I still look forward to every Saturday where I can play.
Harrow Young Musicians organises musical activities for young people who live in and around Harrow.
It has gained an enviable reputation for music making to a high level in a lively and friendly atmosphere.
Everyone who plays at HYM have been privileged to receive the honour of playing for The Queen at the Royal Albert Hall, abroad in opera houses and to the Mayor of Harrow. Each of our concerts are wonderful with a variety of beautiful pieces.
HYM gives both boys and girls an open mind and an education to music. Children as young as five or six are playing in HYM and they are given the opportunity to learn the beauty of music.
All of the teachers there are friendly and they give you the chance to learn amazing pieces and you honestly learn something new every week.
Music means everything to the people who come to HYM. That’s the reason why we get up early every Saturday to come at 10am.
People think that HYM is just a music school, they think that it doesn’t actually mean anything, but I want to make a stand, I want people to know that HYM is important, that it is worth saving.
HYM is possibly the best thing that’s ever happened to me, as I’ve been able to improve my playing skills and make new friends while doing that. I’ve learnt from my new friends and I’ve expanded my community.
At the music school of Harrow Young Musicians, we are all family. No matter what age, no matter what gender, no matter what instrument we play; we are family, and if HYM falls, we will fall down with it.
SOPHIA WADHWANI-BRAZAO
via email
Parking’s a problem across the borough
WHAT IS happening on Brent’s roads? Neighbouring boroughs in Camden and Barnet have one-hour restricted parking in their controlled parking zones, but not Brent.
In Brondesbury Park, there is no uniform controlled parking zones, even in some adjacent roads. It is irritating that in two adjacent roads one has a CPZ of 8am to 6.30pm and immediately next door it is 10am to 3pm.
This is not because one resident pays more council tax to cover these longer hours and to get permits. Nor is it to pay traffic wardens to patrol a nearly empty road. Neither are the longer hours to deter commuters as some of these roads are nowhere near Tubes.
So what is the reason behind these anomalies? To make the life of motorists easier? I don’t think so. To defer commuters? There are none or very, very few.
There is always a solution. If you cannot park outside your house due to alleged illegal traders using residential permits, you can always drive to our high street round the corner where those little CCTV camera cars are waiting to give you a hefty ticket.
Even though they are only supposed to be present if the warden cannot get to the specified area by foot, they are another ever increasing unnecessary illegal expensive hazard.
Continue this plight and join the fight.
COUNCILLOR CAROL SHAW
Liberal Democrat
Brondesbury Park
