I'm The Leader Fly Me (Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats)

Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats <info@barnetlibdems.org.uk>

I'm The Leader Fly Me

August 28, 2009 12:00 AM
By Cllr Jack Cohen in Hendon Times

I was intending to write something about Wednesday's Planning and Environment Committee. It was cancelled, because of lack of business. So I thought I would comment on a couple of newspaper items that caught my eye.

The Hendon Times reported that some people found themselves locked in a park. The incident took place in Cherry Tree Woods. Apparently the Council Employee had failed to check if any one remained before locking the gates. Glad to report that the Spirit of the Blitz prevailed and they all eventually climbed out with the help of the Fire Brigade.

One resident is quoted as suggesting that perhaps the person responsible for locking the gates could ring a bell to warn of the imminent closing. I suspect that in this high tech world the Council might find this splendid idea too taxing. Actually if I recall, years ago it was standard practice for a bell to be rung.

The second item appeared in the Guardian. I am grateful for my colleague Cllr Macdonald for bringing it to my attention. Cllr MacDonald did a splendid riposte to the article on live radio this morning. The Guardian Headline is "Tory controlled Borough of Barnet adopts budget airline model"

Apparently Barnet is using the business model of budget airlines Ryanair and Easy Jet to inspire radical reform of public service provision. What all this will mean is not of course clear. But just like the budget airlines I suspect the real cost will be in the small print. And like some budget airlines when things go wrong, like for example the other week when seven hundred Ryanair passengers missed their flights don't expect any satisfactory explanations or compensation. And have you ever tried telephoning these airlines (on often premium rate line) to complain?

Actually budget airlines are not that cheap. Recent studies have demonstrated that with all the extra small print add ons the cost of travel can be more expensive than the major carriers.

A spokesman for the council has unofficially dubbed the project "Easy Council". The Leader of the Council cites the Ryanair example and promises "some things will be cheap and cheerful and in other area we will provide complete services" Eh!

All of this is part of the Future Shape project. It is supposed to save millions of pounds a year. Don't hold your breath, I say.