Issues+-+Green+Spaces+-+General+News+-+Withdraw+Cuts+call+(Jan+2011)

[|www.haringeyfriendsofparks.org.uk]
 * Haringey Friends of Parks Forum**

Statement, 5th February 2011 - text below, and as attached


 * Are the proposed cuts to green spaces viable or acceptable?**

To all Haringey Councillors

For a number of years we, as the 40 local Friends Groups and the borough-wide Friends Forum, have been successfully working in partnership with Recreation Services to try to protect and improve the borough's parks and green spaces. However there are current proposals to slash a range of parks service budgets and staffing. This includes a massive cut (over 50%) to maintenance, and additional severe cuts to a whole range of related budgets essential to the upkeep of green spaces. The 8 proposals for cuts, if not challenged and withdrawn, could have a very serious impact on each and all our much valued open green spaces.
 * INTRODUCTION/SUMMARY**

We know that you care about parks and green spaces. We are requesting therefore that you question the 8 proposals and - if the proposals are not substantially withdrawn - to lobby and vote against them.
 * WHAT WE ARE ASKING**

On Monday 31st January reps of the Friends Forum held a very constructive hour-long 'crisis' discussion with the Cabinet Member for Parks (Cllr Dogus) and the Assistant Director for Recreation (John Morris). This was followed up that day with a Friends of Parks Forum presentation to the Council Leader (Cllr Kober) and the Overview & Scrutiny Cttee who were examining the Council's proposed budget for the coming year 2011-12. //[Webcast of the presentation/discussion is available for viewing at: www.haringey.ukcouncil.net/site/webcasts.php - fast forward to Question 14, 1hr and 26mins into the recording].//
 * OUR 'CRISIS' MEETINGS LAST WEEK WITH COUNCIL REPS**

We explained that these proposals would greatly damage green spaces and return many if not most of them to the state of neglect they fell into in the 1980s when green space budgets were similarly cut. In the early 1980s there were 300 parks staff, and now there are only 60 (of which a substantial % are engaged in working on the Homes for Haringey housing estates - a protected contract). A workforce of 60 staff, as hard-working as they are, is less than the bare minimum for operational viability. This below-minimum staffing level is is only able to operate by being bolstered by an active policy team (raising and managing crucial extra money from outside sources for essential capital works and regeneration efforts for the many run down spaces), additional 'parkforce' on-site stewarding, the very popular and vital BTCV community engagement workers, and a very useful safer parks team. All are facing serious cuts.
 * THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSALS**

We believe that such cuts would be a disaster and are therefore unacceptable. Its not just that green spaces will inevitably be poorly maintained and managed, but they would be in grave danger of becoming 'problem' spaces with negative implications and actually a long term drain on resources. To ensure green spaces are safe necessitates minimum levels of full-time dedicated and trained staffing. We believe it is madness and counter-productive to cut resources to Haringey's parks.

We are pleased that a number of Councillors have expressed their concern to us, and that the Scrutiny Committee may be making some recommendations (which we've not yet seen) about some of the proposals. We know that you appreciate the extensive partnership efforts by Friends groups and the parks department working closely over the last 10 years to turn many of our green spaces from neglect into safe and attractive spaces, although you will also be aware there is still a 'job to be done' due to the legacy of understaffing, lack of maintenance resources, and buildings in poor repair which has meant that the majority of green spaces have not yet been able to achieve the minimum 'green flag' standards to which the borough has quite rightly been aspiring.
 * COUNCILLORS' CONCERNS EXPRESSED**

We are requesting therefore that you question the 8 proposals, and lobby and vote for them to be withdrawn. Don't allow the good but unfinished work of the last 10 years to be undone.
 * WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE**

sincerely

Joan Curtis and Dave Morris - for the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, supported by the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations

Responses to:  0208 216 9651


 * //Note://** //We are quite aware of the value of all the other public services facing cuts, and as a Forum we have taken a principled decision not to compete with any other services or user groups, but to work alongside them. However, we will continue to speak out strongly about our green spaces, and to insist, lobby and campaign for the resources needed. We call on you to stand alongside the communities you claim to serve in demanding adequate Government funding for Haringey.//