Federation+-+other+info+-+Cllrs+pro-resident+policies?


 * HFRA Statement** – May 17th 2006

=**Residents Federation gets new Haringey Councillors to commit to resident-led policies for the coming years**=


 * //Excellent response to HFRA Questionnaire. Federation to hold them to their promises.//**


 * The majority of all election candidates replied to a special detailed Questionnaire compiled by residents associations timed to coincide with the May 4th election. All candidates standing were grilled over policies to do with key issues affecting the future of local neighbourhoods throughout Haringey. With Labour and Lib Dem Councillors now running the Council, the highly significant responses overwhelmingly commit the Council to back a residents-led agenda to improve the quality of life for the borough's population. Local Residents Associations and the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations aim to ensure that the incoming Council takes effective action, in partnership with residents, to honour the promises and commitments they have made.**

As agreed at a meeting of residents associations from around the borough the Federation put a series of questions to all Haringey 4th May election candidates//.// We restricted the 28 questions to some of the key issues which affect the physical infrastructure and facilities in our local neighbourhoods and our borough. We recognise there are other just-as-relevant issues.

163 candidates responded. The results were noted, and were circulated to the borough's 135 residents associations and their many thousands of members. We intend to keep the responses obtained, and to ensure over the coming months and years that those elected honour the promises and commitments they have made.

The Liberal Democrat Party replied on behalf of all their candidates; the Labour Party drafted a standard response for all their candidates to sign, including George Meehan (the new Council Leader).


 * Are residents setting the agenda?**

We're pleased to report that all elected candidates said they will support nearly all of the measures proposed by the HFRA to:

- improve the borough's street scene - ensure development and regeneration is what residents want and is for residents benefit - protect, improve and expand Haringey's open spaces - protect, improve and expand local community facilities throughout the borough - improve the amount of resources and funding available from local and national sources to achieve the above goals - support and work with the borough's residents' associations and the Federation


 * Real commitments?**

The following examples illustrate some of the more detailed commitments given. There is virtually unanimous support for:

- reducing traffic, and working with residents to reduce traffic speeds in residential areas - removing all advertising hoardings which have no planning permission (ie. the vast majority) - protecting the positive character of local areas, and of all buildings and sites of historic or social interest - aiming to achieve recognised minimum standards for green space provision, to get the resources needed to improve facilities and conditions, and to bring in on-site park keepers - respecting the independence of residents' associations and the Federation, and ensuring that all Council departments treat them as partners

Of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating: effective action is required. These are all commitments that RAs and the HFRA will be holding individual Councillors and the new Council to - over the coming months and years.


 * Battles ahead?**

As well as the need to ensure effective action to achieve agreed policies, there are some sticking points. For example:

- Extremely dense housing developments and residential tower blocks - both main parties say they are against them in pri