Lib Dems Demand Explanation Over Labour Council's Refusal to Consult

12.43.00pm GMT Fri 30th Sep 2005

Lib Dem councillors in Muswell Hill and Crouch End have called for an explanation from the Council as to why they have not been consulted over the skateboard provision in Priory Park, N8.

The calls come after Lib Dems learned from an outside source on Thursday (29th September) that the decision to approve the development of a new skateboarding facility in Priory Park is being sent to the Executive on Tuesday night (4th October). This is despite persistent requests from Lib Dems, who represent the area, to be informed and involved in this project.

This is the latest in a six- month catalogue of failures by the Council to inform ward councillors, and involve them in meetings regarding this planned development and its progress.

Lib Dem councillor for Muswell Hill, Gail Engert and Cllr Dave Winskill of the neighbouring Crouch End ward have been inundated with letters, emails and phone calls from residents wanting to know what is going on.

They say that despite meeting with the Council and successfully seeking assurances that they would be kept informed the council has failed to honour this and for the last week have simply failed to respond to phone calls from Councillors requesting information on the planned development.

Cllrs Engert and Winskill say that with over 70% of residents bordering the park being against the scheme it is simply another example of a worthless consultation exercise by the Council. They say that by shutting-out ward Councillors the Council have shown their desire to play politics rather than carry-out a meaningful consultation.

Cllr Engert comments: "Yet again the Council has failed to take community consultation seriously, even choosing to exclude ward councillors whilst making important decisions affecting their wards."

Cllr Winskill adds: "Labour have adopted the mantra of "consultation" without really understanding what it means or how to actually do it. I offered to serve on the working party over two years ago and was met with a flat "No" by Councillor Quincy Prescott. Many of these problems could have been avoided if Labour were prepared to listen - but we can't really expect that from a control freak Council like Haringey."

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Details of Council¹s failure to consult with Lib Dem ward councillors over Priory Park:

In April the Council had a meeting with members of the Friends of Priory Park and Cllr Dequincy Prescott (Hornsey ward) to discuss skateboard provision in park. Meeting held at an address in Muswell Hill ward, but no MH ward councillors informed.

14/04/05 Article in a local newspaper alerts ward councillors to issue.

18/04/05 Lib Dem leader Cllr Neil Williams writes to Chief Exec to complain about non-involvement of ward councillors, which is in breach of officer protocol.

07/06/05 Neil re-writes to Chief Exec as received no reply.

27/07/05 After months of pushing the issue, Cllrs Engert and Winskill finally meet up with Council to discuss what the proposals are for a skateboard facility in the west of the Borough.

13/08/05 Cllr Engert sends out the draft minutes from that meeting to all LD councillors asking for feedback.

16/08/05 Cllr Engert sends out amended minutes to Council and all LD ward councillors. These state emphatically that affected ward councillors should be kept informed of progress by being shown the proposal document at every stage.

12/09/05 Council write back and assure Cllr Engert that it will comply.

Cllr Engert hears no more and leaves messages but gets no response from the Council

29/09/05 In her capacity as Lib Dem Spokesperson for Education and Youth, Cllr Engert receives a telephone call from a local newspaper asking for her opinion on the skateboard proposals outlined in the Executive papers. Councillor Engert and other Lib Dem Councillors had not received Executive papers.

Cllr Engert phones the Council to complain both about the non-receipt of the papers and the failure to be kept up-to-date on ward issues.