Report on Full Council - of 22nd July - News from Camden Conservative Councillors
As a new initiative, the Conservative Councillors Group will be letting all who have subscribed to our e-newsletter, to let you know what happens at these Camden meetings. We want you to understand how we represent you and try to help improve things in the Borough.
These meetings tend to be a mixed bag and Monday's was no exception. A good deal of time was taken up in congratulating the new Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Olszewski for his appointment following the departure of Georgia Gould who has moved to Westminster.
New Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Olszewski
Richard is a serious Labour member with a long service in the finances of Camden. He is a fairly old-school socialist but is not as caught up in dogma as many. Let’s see how this goes.
Debate on Supporting Carers in Camden
The themed debate was on Supporting Carers in Camden and this was, understandably a fairly cross-party affair. Peace can break out at these moments.
The Leader’s Statement
The Leader’s Statement followed where the continual repetition of congratulations for the Labour win in the general election was somewhat tiring but to be expected. It was noticeable that the Labour group focused on what they believe will be delivered by their new Westminster control. From the delivery of many sorts of state education benefits all financed by the VAT imposed on Independent Schools which may well not materialise, to the prospect of funding increases to Camden, their optimism was high. This may well lead to disappointment when reality hits home. The fact that the new Chancellor is committed to following so much of what Jeremy Hunt set up responsibly, will restrict her options for largesse and lose the leadership a good deal of popularity. It won’t help that public sector pay rises already appear to be beyond control. Councillor Olszewski might have been shrewdly suppressing expectations already. Can he see the writing on the wall?
The Lib Dems reply harped on about Ed Davey while never crediting him for his achievements in the Post Office scandal. What a surprise. Come to that they expended a good deal of breath disowning the Coalition Government. How history can be rewritten! None of this will serve to benefit us locally.
I responded to this nationwide reverie by putting forward the point that the Conservative Group would be focusing on matters that directly affect Camden residents not engaging in National Party-Political posturing. We did this yesterday with our Motion on Fly Posting, our Written Question on Adjudications against Camden by the Housing Ombudsman and our plea for better control of E-bike parking. We will continue on this endeavour, to spend time on what can actually be realised, not waste time on posturing.
e-bikes and scooters being dumped
Cllr Andrew Parkinson raised our concerns about e-bikes being dumped on our pavements and not in the designated bays . The relevant Cabinet Member recognised that there was a problem but offered up very little to remedy it. He somewhat passed on the issue letting us know that apparently in future, the control of these vehicles will pass to TfL.
On past record that may make things worse rather than better. Cllr Parkinson, in his follow up question, suggested that fines on the operator should be considered and raised Cllr Stark’s idea that the option for reporting abandoned bikes and scooters should be added to one of the existing apps, Love Clean Streets or FixMyStreet for quick and easy results. It was acknowledged that this was a good idea. We will keep a vigilant watch to see if these constructive solutions are taken up.
Motion on fly-posting
Our Motion on fly-posting was very unfortunately eviscerated by a wrecking amendment from Labour. It was petty that this well-meaning and deeply necessary policy was sabotaged before it saw the light of day. Here is our Motion in full.
The Council notes that in the last year there have been no prosecutions carried out by Camden Council against individuals or organisations for flyposting.
This negative effect on the appearance of the streets of Camden could easily be considerably reduced by taking action against those who repeatedly commit this crime. This is literally an eye-level problem.
From drug dealers to Anarchist Communists; from window cleaners to handymen; from wine sellers to those supporting or denigrating others; the effect of this crime on the borough is becoming too much to accept without action.
The council Resolves to embark on publicly prosecuting those responsible for this nuisance with a view to discouraging the burgeoning increase of this blight.
The Labour response was variously; that there was no problem because fly posts were taken down quickly, that the offenders could not be identified because they worked at night; that CCTV was not effective and that it was all the previous Conservative Government’s fault anyway.
All this despite the clear point that many of these offenders put their contact details on their stickers; that these notices remain on lampposts year after year and that some even include phone numbers on them!
The Labour group boasted about having raised the level of fines for these actions while accepting at the same time that none had been issued in the last year! What is the use of deterrence if it is not used?
After a drawn-out debate on the Lib Dem Motion on the music industry in Camden (again a diversion into matters beyond most of our residents) the scenes between the Lib Dem’s and Labour became a bit like the argument between the Judean Popular Front and the Popular Front of Judea. Loopy stuff.
Predictably, our Motion was not heard and maybe for the best, given the drubbing that a sensible suggestion would have received from the chamber. Never mind, we will now pursue this matter with our In Touch updates, through the press and in every way we can until something is done. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
