Bunhill Liberal Democrats

Islington Liberal Democrats have vowed to carry on the fight against Labour after losing control of Islington Council. This month’s combined local and general elections saw Labour take control of councils across London.

The result of the local election in Islington are an example of the flawed first past the post voting system, Labour got 39% of the vote and 73% of the councillors, whilst the Lib Dems got 32% of the vote and only 27% of the seats.

The Conservatives and Greens failed to gain a single council seat in Islington, leaving the Liberal Democrats as the only opposition to Labour in the borough.

The Lib Dems have said they will continue to campaign for residents and will hold Labour to account at the Town Hall.

Islington Liberal Democrat Leader, Terry Stacy, comments:

“This election was nothing to do with the LibDem record of running the council. Labour won control because the general election was on the same day as the council elections.

“Despite Liberal Democrats winning more votes than ever, it is also clear we suffered from the totally unfair voting system. Labour has a stonking majority in Islington yet they only won just over a third of the vote.

“I look forward to beating Labour next time and to seeing Islington become a Liberal Democrat council again. In the meantime, we will hold Labour councillors to account at the Town Hall. We will continue to fight for local people and listen to their concerns to make Islington safer, fairer and greener.”

The Lib Dems have chosen their team to fight for the residents of Bunhill.

Local campaigner Pete Muswell

Pete’s family have always lived in Finsbury where he was born and raised and spent his first few years growing up in a little house in King Square right under where Turnpike House now stands. Over the next 25 years he lived on the King Square Estate, attending Moreland St Primary School, then Dame Alice Owens School (when it was still at the Angel), before getting married in 1979. Peter now runs his own telecoms and IT company based in Clerkenwell in the Finsbury Business Centre.

Read more about the Bunhill Lib Dem team.

Local campaigners are celebrating after the Labour government buckled under pressure from the public and the Liberal Democrats and stepped in to stop the NHS closing the Whittington Hospital Accident & Emergency - for now at least.

Yesterday, the Labour Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, was forced into a humiliating U-turn after months of campaigning and petitioning against the planned closure.  Just a few weeks ago, the Health Secretary stated that closing accident & emergency units was ‘the right thing to do’.

But Liberal Democrats are still concerned that the minister has only told the NHS to ‘go back to the drawing board’ and that he has not ruled out the option of the A&E being shut or the services being reduced. This is in sharp contrast to Nick Clegg’s clear statement that he would not allow the NHS to close the A&E if Liberal Democrats were in government.

Liberal Democrat national Health Spokesman, Norman Lamb, said:

“Andy Burnham’s sudden U-turn on the Whittington Hospital is welcome but it’s difficult to believe Labour’s commitment.”

Islington Lib Dem councillor, Rhodri Jamieson-Ball, comments:

“After months of campaigning by the public and the Liberal Democrats, the Labour government has miraculously seen the light seven days before polling day and halted the closure of Whittington A&E - for now at least.

“This just goes to show we were right all along when we said it was in the Labour government’s power to save the Whittington.

“I just hope that this isn’t a temporary reprieve for our local hospital.  The Labour minister has not ruled out cuts to services at the hospital after the election.  We heard all these promises before in 2001 when the Bart’s A&E was threatened with the axe.  What happened then?  The A&E was closed down and shifted to the London Hospital instead.”

Bunhill’s Liberal Democrat councillors spoke at Islington Council’s Regeneration Committee, which met to write a plan for toughening up how the council and Homes for Islington deal with utilities companies digging up roads and doing work on people’s homes. Cllrs Jyoti Vaja and Ruth Polling won extra guarantees that that the council would fight for better treatment by utilities companies for tower block and estates residents.

Councillor Ruth Polling told the committee about an incident at Rahere House at the end of 2006, when gas was disconnected by the National Grid between November and April – including over Christmas. The National Grid helpline went unanswered, and it took four days for them to provide replacement cooking equipment. National Grid called on residents to ask if they wanted cooking equipment during the day, when most residents were out – and so decided that they didn’t want any, and refused to return to ask residents again. Councillor Polling ended up collecting hotplates from National Grid and delivering them to residents herself.

Councillor Jyoti spoke about a November 2009 water leak at the Stafford Cripps Estate, which knocked the water supply, electricity, and the lifts out of service. Contractors for the utility company refused to deliver water to residents doors – meaning that Cllr Vaja and volunteers had to carry water to residents themselves.

Jyoti said:

“Estates in Bunhill have seen times when there has been an emergency and the utilities companies have got things really wrong, leaving residents in the lurch. The utilities companies don’t seem to have a plan for looking after residents of estate and tower blocks in emergency situations. They have very different from people who live in street properties.”

The Liberal Democrats on the Regeneration Committee are calling for:

- National Grid and utilities companies to draw up a policy for working in estates and tower blocks – and to tell residents what they have the right expect.
- Full compensation for any loss of gas supply, paid to residents in cash.
- Better coordination between utilities companies, Homes for Islington, and the council.
- Emergency contact numbers that work.
- A formal permit scheme for utilities companies working on estates, like the ones the council has recently introduced for utilities works on roads.

Regeneration Committee chair, Liberal Democrat councillor Stefan Kasprzyk, commented:

“People have difficulty holding utilities companies to account – they seem to operate as a law unto themselves. The Liberal Democrats are working on ways for the council to get tough on these companies and their contactors, to hold them to account on behalf of Islington residents and to prevent them from causing unnecessary disruption.”

The Liberal Democrat group on Islington Council is sad to announce that Councillor Donna Boffa, Liberal Democrat member for Bunhill ward, passed away last night.  Donna’s health had been deteriorating for some time after being diagnosed with cancer. 

Donna was elected to the council in January 2003 in a by-election following the death of former Liberal Democrat councillor Rose Wooding. 

A mother of five, Donna was born in Finsbury and lived in the area all of her life.  Her interest lay with everything connected to children.  Before her illness, she chaired the council’s Corporate Parenting Committee which oversees looked-after children in Islington.  Before this, Donna worked as a volunteer at Hugh Myddelton primary school and she was a youth worker at Toffee Park playground where she ran the football team.

Councillor Terry Stacy, the Leader of Islington Council paid tribute to Donna:

“Donna was a fighter right through to the end.  From the day she was elected a councillor, Donna never forgot where she came from or who she was there to represent. 

“Donna was passionate about helping the people without a voice.  She was elected to sort out the council’s housing benefit service when people were getting eviction notices for unpaid benefit. 

“And she always reminded us in her own unique way that we should never forget the many people in Islington struggling daily on benefits.

“But Donna’s big passion was always children, especially her own family.  Her work with the youth service and safeguarding children was a model to us all.

“This is a tragic loss for someone so young and all our thoughts, support and prayers are with her family at this difficult time.”

A group of girls from Finsbury put on a fashion show as part of the Finsbury Arts Festival – with clothes they had made themselves at their sewing club.

The sewing group meets at the Tompion Community Hall on Percival Street, where they have been designing and stitching their outfits in preparation for the fashion show at the St. Luke’s Centre. Local fashion lovers were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at how the girls made their costumes, as well as a catwalk show.

Bunhill ward councillor Jyoti Vaja, who won funding from the Council’s South Area budget to pay for material for the girls’ sewing club, said:

“These local girls are amazingly creative, and definitely have a bright future in fashion if they want. They put on a fantastic show, and I was proud to have been able to support their sewing club.”

The historic laundry at Ironmonger Row Baths is being saved, after Islington Council listened to local people and altered the plans for the £16 million refurbishment of the centre. There has been a laundry at the Baths since it opened in 1931.

The refurbishment wil also:
- improve the main pool, and retain it at its historic length of 32m,
- create a bigger training pool,
- restore the Turkish baths,
- extend the gym area,
- build two new studios for aerobics and dance.

Local resident Adrian Hall commented:

“People love the laundry - it’s a real local institution, where people go to meet, and you can even go for a swim while you do your washing. It’s a London tradition that is well worth preserving.

“Thanks to the Council for listening to local people and making sure the plans for Ironmonger Row Baths reflect what local people want from our leisure centre.”

Bunhill councillor Jyoti Vaja added:

“Lots of people told me during the consultation that they wanted the laundry to be part of the new refurbished baths. I’m delighted that they are included in the refurbishment plans. Ironmonger Row is famous for its Turkish baths and laundry, and it’s important that the renovation respects the historic character of the building while making it into a 21st century leisure centre.”

Bunhill’s Liberal Democrat team gave a helping hand at Finsbury Arts Festival as stewards, helping people get the most out of this fantastic local event. Bunhill’s Lib Dem councillors also secured extra money from Islington Council to help fund the festival’s arts programme.

The Festival saw exhibitions of art by local people, a comedy night, big painting projects, art classes, a photography project bringing old and young people together, singing, drumming, an acting workshop, a belly dancing class, poetry, and much more.

Councillor Jyoti Vaja commented:

“It was an amazing arts festival, with something for literally everyone. We had a great time helping out as stewards, and I was pleased the Lib Dem councillors were able to win some extra funding from the council to make the weekend even more special for local people.”

A late night City Road party venue has had its wings clipped by Islington councillors after a review initiated by nearby residents. Residents of nearby Lexington Apartments hauled Piya Piya managers in front of the review committee after compiling a damning record of poor management and problems for nearby residents.

Piya Piya operates as a bar and restaurant closing at 11pm during the week, but at weekends opens as a nightclub until 2am – and 4am for special events.

Residents from the neighbouring Lexington Apartments building told the committee about antisocial behaviour – including mass brawls – spilling out of the club onto City Road. The licensing committee heard that the threatening behaviour of clubbers was intimidating local people and guests at the nearby Travelodge.

The licensing committee imposed tough new restrictions on the venue:
- All licensable activities are now to cease by 12:30, with the venue closed by 1am.
- Piya Piya is to work with the council’s noise team to reduce the impact of noise spilling out of the venue.
- The club will not now be able to open late over Christmas and New Year, as these late night parties had caused some of the worst problems.
- They must reduce the size of the smoking area, and only allow eight people out to smoke at a time.
- Door supervisors have to patrol outside the club after closing time.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Ruth Polling, who represented local residents at the hearing, commented:

“I am absolutely delighted for local residents. Piya Piya has been a nightmare neighbour, and poor management that has led to a disruption the lives of City Road residents. I thank the committee for recognising this, and hopefully the shorter hours and tougher conditions will mean that the venue and residents can live side by side.”

“Thank you to all the residents who contributed to the log of incidents and wrote to the committee. They built a really strong case and it is great to see the licensing review process working for residents.”

Councillor Laura Willoughby, who chaired the licensing committee, said:

“We had no confidence in the management of Piya Piya, so felt it was appropriate to reduce their opening hours. There can be no doubt that poor management of this club has led to an increase in noise and trouble, and residents deserve a break.”

Islington Liberal Democrats have won their battle to stop local residents’ council tax being put up by Labour for the second year running.

Last year Labour councillors took advantage of Liberal Democrat councillor Donna Boffa being rushed into hospital to force an inflation-busting council tax rise of 2.5% on local residents already struggling in the recession. This was inner London’s highest council tax rise.

Following a Liberal Democrats petition backed by thousands of Islington residents, Labour councillors have now backed down and agreed to Liberal Democrat plans to freeze the council tax this year.

The council tax freeze will form the centre-piece of the Liberal Democrat council group’s budget proposals for 2010-2011. Other proposals include:

• Freedom Pass - Liberal Democrats are stepping in with £750k to ensure the Freedom Pass can continue in its current form for Islington’s pensioners and disabled - despite the Labour government withdrawing £30million from London’s Freedom Pass funding.

• Potholes - following the recent severe winter weather, Liberal Democrats have identified £1million to spend on patching up potholes in the borough.

• PlusBus - Liberal Democrats will be proposing to save this vital service for many of Islington’s elderly and disabled. Labour’s Ken Livingstone, when he was Mayor of London, wanted to axe this bus route.

• Contact Islington - Liberal Democrats believe this is most residents’ first point of contact with the Council so it is important to ensure a decent level of service. Labour wants to cut it, meaning more time hanging on the phone and emails not being answered just like the dark days of Labour running the Town Hall.

• Area Planning Committees - Labour is proposing to abolish the borough’s four area planning committees. The Liberal Democrat budget amendment will save them. Local councillors should make local decisions.

• Estate cycle sheds - putting more money into the hugely popular secure cycle sheds on estates. This will encourage more people to cycle and reduce carbon emissions.

• Pensioners - continuing the £100 discount for over-65s paying council tax.

• Councillor allowances - Liberal Democrats are proposing a cut of £500 to all councillors’ allowances with another £500 from Exec Member salaries.

Liberal Democrat council leader Terry Stacy said:

“I know that residents will be pleased that Labour has finally caved in to pressure from Liberal Democrats and followed our lead on not putting up the council tax.

“It’s only sad that Labour has taken so long to come to their senses on council tax. But it’s better late than never.

“The Liberal Democrat budget will help all Islington residents - council taxpayers and the most vulnerable in our communities as well as continuing the LibDem commitment to helping the environment.

“We know people are struggling still in the recession. So we have been clear that our top priorities should be not putting up the council tax, getting maximum value-for-money for residents and cutting waste while protecting frontline services.”