Residents First

Boris toasts Royal couple

 

A better site for Cambridge School

Cllr Georgie Cooney reports

Amongst my many roles as a local councillor for Hammersmith and Fulham, I have the pleasure of being a governor of three schools. I am very proud to have been accepted onto the board of governors for Cambridge School and have learnt an enormous amount both from the students and the staff, in a short period of time. One thing which really stands out is how passionate the staff are about the future for each and every pupil educated there. The school is determined to prepare these young people for the future which lies ahead for them, which as we all know, can be a very daunting and challenging place.

I was therefore rather stunned to be approached by one of my students (I am also a teacher trainer); who had been informed that the Council had apparently forced Cambridge School to move up to the north of the borough without having consulted parents or listened to the voices of the students. This was a shocking accusation to have heard, so I made sure that this student of mine was very clearly informed about the truth as there was no question of coercion. Hopefully the following might help throw a light on the process.

Both the Headteacher of Cambridge School, Olivia Meyrick and Sir William Atkinson, the Executive Headteacher of the Phoenix Canberra Federation, share the same vision for their pupils and families. Partnership between the two schools had already been established through small integration projects, and both schools felt ready to develop their working through use of the specialist facilities that Phoenix High School offers and the specialist SEN knowledge that Cambridge staff has to offer.

This partnership can only serve to support the vision of Cambridge School.

Michael Gove praises H&F Council in the House of Commons

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday Education Secretary Michael Gove gave robust response to Andrew Slaughter's dishonest claims that Hammersmith and Fulham Council was closing Sure Start Centres.

He said:

We were told by the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter) that we would see a reduction in the number of children's centres in Hammersmith and Fulham, but actually, as the right hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) almost acknowledged, not only are all the existing Sure Start children's centres being protected but a new one is being built. There is an increase in the number of Sure Start children's centres in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Then he continued:

The consequence of the Government's actions is that we have ensured, as both Anne Longfield and Anand Shukla have pointed out, that there is enough money to maintain that network. In addition,
under Conservative leadership, Hammersmith and Fulham has been singularly successful in reducing the council tax burden on its ratepayers, and in diversifying the sources of funding it receives to support education and care for children and young people. It is a superb local authority. Instead of continually talking down the service that is provided by public servants in Hammersmith and Fulham, it would be nice to hear from the hon. Gentleman some sunny, uplifting words, rather than grim predictions of disaster, which, as we have just heard, turn out never to be true. 

Andy Burnham's Sure Start hypocrisy as Labour Wigan threaten closures

The Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham spoke in the House of Commons yesterday attacking my Counciil of Hammersmith and Fulham over our plans for Sure Start Children's Centres.

via conservativehome.blogs.com

Council saves the day for street parties

With 34 street parties on Friday in Hammersmith & Fulham, no one is perhaps as excited as Javon Parnell, organiser of a royal celebration bash in Pearscroft Road, Sands End in South Fulham.

It seemed that, at the last minute, Mr Parnell’s months of hard work organising a barbecue, music and games to celebrate the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, would be all for nothing and that
the party would have to be cancelled – because the road was on a main London bus route.

But with another street party taking place in Broughton Road, on the same number 424 bus route, H&F Council sprang into action to save the day. Council bosses made sure the parties went ahead, negotiating with Transport for London and London Buses that the bus should travel down other roads. London Buses agreed and the route has been changed for one day only.

St George's Day celebrations

Residents of Hammersmith and Fulham celebrated England's national day in the sunshine this bank holiday weekend.

St George's Day fell on a Saturday and in the middle of a four day weekend this year, which coupled with the glorious weather made for a perfect combination. On the banks of the Thames and in the various
borough parks and open spaces, people were out in force to celebrate being English and proud of it.

Cllr Harry Phibbs, H&F Council's cabinet member for community engagement, said:

"This year the sun truly shone on England on St George's Day.

"Celebrating being English and all that goes with it is an important part of our culture and our heritage, and here at the council we always fly the flag of St George on the town hall to mark the special occasion.

"I'm sure the pride and pleasure residents took in celebrating St George's Day will be matched this   for the Royal Wedding."

Andrew Slaughter backs tube strikes

In the House of Commons yesterday the Conservative MP Dominic Raab proposed a change in law. He proposed:

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit strike action in the emergency and transport service sectors unless a majority of employees in the unionised workforce has voted in favour of such action; to make procedural provision in relation to balloting for industrial action; and for connected purposes.

In his speech he said:

The number of strike ballots carried on a minority of members is increasing at a rapid rate. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, led by Bob Crow, is one of the worst offenders. A third of members supported his tube strikes in the autumn of 2010. The current ballot, for which results are due tomorrow, seeks to escalate previous strike action on the Bakerloo and Northern lines that carried just 35% and 20% of support from members.

Should commercial users of parks contribute to maintenance costs?

Hammersmith and Fulham is a small borough where most residents don't have gardens of their own and so our parks are especially precious. Thus we try to keep a check on those who use them commercially by charging.

The Daily Mail this morning reported how Personal trainers are being charged a £350 annual licence fee for using the parks - although contrary to the report this does not apply to nannies, paid dog walkers or nursery school teachers.

Cllr Greg Smith took to the airwaves today explaining the policy. "The lawns don't mow themselves," he told listeners of Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show. Link here- the item in the second hour starting about 1.07 just after Kenny Rogers sings Don't Take Your Love to Town.

Several rang in to express support saying that the parks had to avoid being overrun by fitness training taking place on an "industrial scale."

Laour Group leader Cllr Stephen Cowan has expressed opposition - without saying what he would cut  to cover the revenue that would be foregone by waving the charge. He also seemed to be unaware of it until today. Cllr Cowan picks up an extra £17,874 a year on top of his basic councillor's allowance of £8,940. Does he not bother to read the Council Agenda? It was on page 86 of the proposals put forward at the Budget Council in February. Not a peep out of him at the time.

Cllr Cowan just relies on reading the Daily Mail. 

Eric Pickles: The tale of two town hall Pravda's

By Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles. This week I want to let you in on a tale of two parties, two councils and two town hall Pravda's… On one hand, the Conservative-run Hammersmith and Fulham, who axed their £150,000 a year freesheet, agreeing to place any essential adverts or statutory notices in their local commercial newspaper instead… On the other, the leftist hotbed of Tower Hamlets, who are clinging onto their “East End Life” so-called newspaper with its eye-watering £1.5 million yearly budget. They say they are taking time to “consider” if producing this is in the best interests of their community. How much is there to consider? I would have thought it was obvious by now that this council needs to focus its efforts and resources on creative ideas for protecting local services rather than wasting it on creative writing for the paper.

via conservativehome.blogs.com

Andrew Slaughter keeps up dishonest attack on free schools

Labour MP for Hammersmith Andrew Slaughter has kept up his dishonest attack on free schools - despite local parents welcoming the extra choice.

In his newsletter he says the Ark Conway School opening in Shepherd's Bush in September will have "25 applications for places at the school originally intended for 410 pupils." But in its first year of entry it is only for children in Reception. Then as the years go by it becomes a primary school for children up to Year Seven. That is the normal way new schools are established. Does Andrew Slaughter not understand that?

The reality is there are 30 places and it is full with a waiting list. In fact there were 63 applications so it could have had two form entry. The reduction in size was due to concern from neighbouors about the size of the building, not lack of demand. So contrary to it being a "bad neighbour" it is being a "good neighbour."