What have Camden's Green Councillors ever done for me?
Across Camden
1. Obtained a commitment through a motion to Full Council from the Council to sign up to the 10:10 campaign and reduce its emissions by 10% in 2009/10.
2. Commitments through the Sustainable Taskforce Reports to refurbish a number of homes to zero carbon standards as exemplars for others to learn from, and a greater focus on reuse and waste reduction in Camden's waste policy.
3. Ensured additional tree planting and protection of trees on the agenda of Environment and Culture Scrutiny Committee meeting, which led to a Council commitment to plant more trees and put in an extra £30k for tree planting.
4. Brought to the attention of the Health Scrutiny Committee the flaw in the procurement process which had led to United Health winning contracts. This led to a recommendation of censure of the PCT. Supporting the Keep the NHS Public campaign activities.
5. Ensured the issue of the London Living Wage being paid to all people working for the council (including contract staff) is on the agenda.
6. Initiatied a Call-in of the Executive's decision on the closure of the Frank Barnes School for the Deaf in Camden, and its integration with another school for the deaf in Haringey. Led to a reversal of the Executive decision after considerable backbench support was obtained, and the school retaining its own identity and teaching methods and remaining in Camden.
7. Raised issue of ethical investment of our pension funds and obtained a commitment to ensure that pension trustees raised these issues with companies with which they invest. Further more far -reaching commitments are still being sought.
8. Asked the new Area Forums to be given some spending powers like parish councils to ensure greater power at local community level - this has now been introduced. Our demands for greater local involvement by implementation of the Sustainable Communities Act have not been taken up and the Council did not unlike other Councils put recommendations in to central government.
9. Ensured greater focus on sustainability issues in planning decisions through raising issues at Development Control meetings, and working with Council officers on drawing up the new local development framework, as well as obtaining a commitment to ensure that new school buildings under the BSF programme are as energy efficient as possible, and built to Passiv Haus standards if practicable.
In Highgate
1. Improved road safety in Highgate Village (the Grove/Highgate West Hill), organising a walkabout for officers and residents to identify changes needed.
2. Worked with Council to ensure action against perpetrators of harassment and anti-social behaviour on a several estates. Eviction proceedings commenced in one case, and flat swap organised in another.
>3. Lobbied Camden Council to ensure matters taken in hand in respect of failing regeneration works, which led to new contractors and architects being appointed.
4. Increased dialogue between local conservation committees and the Council through organizing a series of meetings.
>5. Protected road surfaces in Highgate West Hill to avoid changes that do not fit in with conservation area
6. Worked to ensure that buildings such as the Highgate Library building are properly protected. A missing Victorian urn on the rooftop has been reinstated.
>7. Reduced service charges for leaseholders where residents agreed to allow ball court on their estate to be opened up to the public.
8. Lobbied successfully for developers responsible for works at Fitzroy Park, Highgate were not able to proceed with a construction plan that would involve thousands of vehicle journeys on the quiet roads approaching the Heath used by Heath visitors, walkers and joggers.
9. Reduced waste by councillors by asking for grey plastic delivery bags to be reused as well as recycled if need be.
10. Preventing siting of a bus stop outside door of John Betjeman's old house when it could be located on stretch of road with no homes close to the road.
11. More bicycle stands in Swains Lane, York Rise and Highgate Village.
12. Cleaning of graffitti at York Rise shops.
13. Working with residents to develop community sustainability groups which include Highgate Climate Action Network and Highgate Local Environment Action Forum.
