http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats en-GB Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats 2010-07-30T03:02+01:00 United Kingdom http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000080/not_a_good_use_of_council_resources.html I have not needed to attend any meeting in the past couple of weeks. This does not mean I have not been out and about. This is the time of year for garden fetes and street parties. So it has been great to get along to many such events and support local people and to listen to what they have to say. 2010-07-28T22:09+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000079/in_the_court_of_the_red_tsar.html I see our local bloggers and the local press has already given their slant on last night's council meeting. I have never seen any thing quite like it. The Conservatives plumbed new depths. It was not just that they voted their leader and cabinet members an obscene pay rise but their behavior throughout was appalling. 2010-07-14T23:28+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000078/the_eruv_and_mazeltovs_all_round.html Tuesday was "planning night "at the Town Hall. All three planning sub committees met. I learned something new. The three committees rotate between using the Council Chamber, Committee room one, and Committee Room three. Not all on one evening but each four weekly cycle. I do not know which panjandrum thought this one up. 2010-07-08T23:44+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000077/tied_up_in_japanese_knotweed.html Over the past two weeks there has been little to report from Council meetings. But in case it is thought that all a councilor does is attend meetings at the Town Hall I can assure readers there is plenty of what we call casework to get on with. My two ward colleagues Cllr Susette Palmer and Cllr Monroe Palmer and I have been inundated with issues from residents. 2010-06-25T00:03+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000076/cars_penthouses_and_superstores_the_shape_of_things_to_come.html We have a new chairman on the Finchley and Golders Green Planning sub Committee. Or, I should say that the previous vice chairman has swapped places with the previous chairman. Otherwise the make up of the Committee has not changed. 2010-05-30T00:00+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000075/why_do_i_survive.html Now the election dust has settled I am back to provide my take on Council meetings and other local issues. My first Annual Council Meeting was back in 1986. That was before the formation of the Liberal Democrats. There were just three of us. I, Monroe Palmer and Brian Stone flew the flag for the Liberal SDP/Alliance. 2010-05-21T00:00+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000073/back_in_the_usa.html End of term for Councillors. The final full Council meeting of the current term took place on Tuesday. We all said our goodbyes, some will not return (not standing again), and others may or may not return. 2010-04-22T23:55+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000072/win_win_for_the_lawyers.html User nec vi, nec claim, nec prercario- not by force, not by stealth and not by permission. The Planning Committee on Wednesday evening was being asked to determine an application by local residents to register a piece of land as a Village Green. 2010-04-17T00:00+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000071/ufos_and_icelandic_deposits.html Holidays over, and the election gun has been fired. Nominations for the Council Elections closed yesterday. So we political geeks will be straining to find out who is standing where and more important who is not standing. 2010-04-09T00:00+01:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000069/new_style_leadership.html The public gallery at the Town Hall was empty for last night's meeting of the "Special Committee (Constitution Review)". The Committee were being asked to consider amongst other things "Review of Delegated Powers Process", "Amending The Council's Financial Regulations", "Contract Procedure Rules" and "Statutory Officer -Scrutiny Officer". The Public don't know what they are missing ! We whipped through these items, which actually are probably very important but it is difficult to get excited. Only time will tell if we did the right thing. 2010-03-26T00:00+00:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000070/new_style_leadership.html The public gallery at the Town Hall was empty for last night's meeting of the "Special Committee (Constitution Review)". The Committee were being asked to consider amongst other things "Review of Delegated Powers Process", "Amending The Council's Financial Regulations", "Contract Procedure Rules" and "Statutory Officer -Scrutiny Officer". The Public don't know what they are missing ! We whipped through these items, which actually are probably very important but it is difficult to get excited. Only time will tell if we did the right thing. 2010-03-26T00:00+00:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000068/what_its_like_to_be_a_councillor.html Elections beckon, so begins the round of public meetings. Yesterday I joined a panel of local political luminaries to be interrogated by Barnet 55+ Forum. Around one hundred members of the Forum turned out. 2010-03-23T00:00+00:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000067/nuclear_free_hampstead_garden_suburb.html Four evening council meetings last week; Monday I attended the Health and Safety JNCC. This is a meeting of the Unions and the Employers (us Councillors). This meeting is held behind closed doors so I cannot tell you what went on. 2010-03-14T19:23+00:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000066/pretty_harmless_stuff.html The NHS is currently sending out a mail drop. It contains important information about care records. It seems the NHS is collecting data on our medical histories, treatment etc which it says will help deliver better safer care. It is called summary care records. It all sound pretty harmless. Who could argue about Health Professionals having access to relevant data when they treat patients? Especially as the NHS is giving assurances about who will be able to access this information. There is a provision to opt out. But how many of us will want to do that. Over time, the leaflet notes further details will be added to the summary care records. All of this will be stored online using secure website. 2010-03-08T00:00+00:00 http://barnetlibdems.org.uk/articles/000065/were_lumbered_with_it.html Last night's Council meeting cleared one thing up: the Conservatives read this blog. As far as any thing else goes nothing changes. The Conservatives used their majority to vote in the Mayor Designate and again their majority ensured our budget amendment was voted down and the Tory Budget went through. 2010-03-03T20:18+00:00