Other+issues+-+2010+elections+-+LibDem+response+to+HFRA+Qs

a. oppose and remove advertising hoardings YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Residents’ Questionnaire for candidates **
 * "We have answered these questions in the spirit in which we assume they have been asked. That is, as part of a desire for an open and honest sharing of views and intention. **
 * We have not been privy to forty years of secret arrangements, plans and actions by the Council and its Labour administration so cannot be sure of the restrictions or issues that already exist and which may frustrate some of our ambitions. We can also not be sure what the future challenges for the Borough and especially as regards the expected pressure on funding which could similarly frustrate some of our ambitions. **
 * The Manifesto and our six published election pledges represent our only formal public statement of commitments against which we would expect to be held accountable by residents in 2014." **
 * Haringey Liberal Democrats **
 * If elected on May 6th 2010, I will: **
 * __1. Improve the borough’s street scene__** - by taking all possible steps to…

b. remove large lamp-post banners YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats have a manifesto commitment to remove these as soon as possible**


 * Liberal Democrats have a manifesto commitment to remove these as soon as possible**

c. ensure estate agents remove unlawful signage YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___

d. drastically reduce fly-tipping YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats would ensure that existing legislation is swiftly acted upon.**

e. promote widespread additional street greenery & trees YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrat have pledged to install 200 new litter bins and give every neighbourhood a ‘Clean Streets Warden’ to tackle issues like dumping, graffiti, dog mess, make sure roads are swept and refuse collectors clean up after themselves**

f. introduce a 20mph ‘default’ speed limit for all residential streets YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats would introduce a ‘Greener Streets Fund’ to transform local high streets**

g. reduce traffic whilst promoting sustainable travel options YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Many wards have pledged to ask local residents whether they would like 20mph limits in residential roads in their neighbourhoods – we would consider looking at proposals for a borough-wide (where allowed) 20mph zone.**

a. oppose over-development YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ b. oppose inappropriate development YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * __2. Ensure development and regeneration is what residents want and is for our benefit__** - by taking all possible steps to…

c. protect all buildings & sites of historic or social interest YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ d. protect and respect the positive character of local areas YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats have continued to oppose ‘inappropriate’ developments on behalf of local residents. There will be a continuing need for local residents to be involved in the decision making process whether they believe the development to be inappropriate or not.**

e. ensure the LDF rules out high-densities and residential tower blocks as inappropriate for Haringey YES___ NO X DON’T KNOW___
 * c and d) Liberal Democrats including Lynne Featherstone have continually stood up for local areas such as Highgate, the Noel Park estate and Myddleton Road in Bounds Green to protect local conservation areas and sites of importance. The actions of Cllr Oakes ensured that Bounds Green tube station will now be listed by English Heritage and protected for future generations.**

f. promote the maximum % of housing for those who most need it, ie social housing, in all new developments YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * High density development is not suitable for the majority of Haringey however it might be appropriate as an element of some developments.. What is key is to have a ‘one size does NOT fit all’ approach to ensure proper consultation with residents and dialogue within communities of what is right and best for their area**

g. protect, enhance and expand all ‘informal’ green spaces YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Additional social housing is a priority. We will ensure that wherever possible social housing targets are applied.**

Local residents h. support community-led regeneration & proposals for contested sites YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___

i. support the Wards Corner Community Coalition’s renewal plans YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats believe that over the past decade, millions of pounds has been wasted on top-down regeneration, rather than working with local communities and businesses to improve the borough. Our Greener Streets Fund is aimed at community led regeneration for our high streets**


 * The Liberal Democrats have, from the outset, supported a community based solution to the Wards Corner development**

a. get the resources needed to improve facilities & conditions YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * __3. Protect, improve and expand Haringey’s open spaces__** - by taking all possible steps to…

b. ensure dedicated staffing on-site in all substantial green spaces YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Local residents will be able to access ward based funding under the Liberal Democrats ‘Neighbourhood Improvement Fund’ to improve ward facilities**

c. expand the number of allotment sites and community gardens YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * The Liberal Democrats are committed to increasing a presence in parks during the summer holidays so all residents can enjoy the borough’s parks safely**


 * The Liberal Democrats are committed to indentifying unused land to turn into allotments and community gardens in a bid to get more children learning about health eating and living**

d. expand the number of nature conservation areas YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___

e. ensure the LDF adopts GLA & nationally-recognised minimum standards for open space provision - // eg. that ‘deficiency’ is defined as more than 400m from a local park (>2ha) // YES___ NO___ DON’T KNOW X
 * We will look to protect any additional pieces of land that need protecting, but have not set an arbitrary target. We have a strong history of standing up for nature areas such as the Parkland Walk.**

f. support local ‘Friends of Park’ groups YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * We will make sure that this issue is highlighted in the review of the LDF**


 * Liberal Democrats throughout the borough have been supportive of Friends of Park groups and will continue to listen to their ideas and concerns**

a. protect existing local facilities YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * __4. Protect and improve local community facilities (eg health, education, leisure, playcentres, play areas, local POs & shops, meeting spaces etc) throughout Haringey__** - by taking all possible steps to…

b. improve existing local facilities YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ c. expand the range of facilities in local neighbourhoods YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats opposed Labour’s closure of our local Post Offices, Lynne Feathertsone 10 year campaign for health facilities on the Hornsey Hospital site was successful this year and Lynne continues to fight against the closure of the Whittington A&E.**
 * Liberal Democrats have proposed scrapping the proposed multi million pound Labour plan for a new Civic Centre and would prioritise refurbishment of libraries and community buildings**

d. introduce a Community Toilet scheme across Haringey YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Liberal Democrats are committed to devolving power down to local communities**

a. oppose any cuts to front line public services or facilities YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ b. oppose any steps towards outsourcing and privatisation YES___ NO X DON’T KNOW___
 * A community toilet scheme was championed by Cllr Rachel Allison in her by-election victory in Highgate. Since then Labour have implemented a very small pilot. Liberal Democrats had a fully costed plan for a community toilet scheme in our alternative budget proposals**
 * __5. Protect and improve public services__** - by taking all possible steps to…

c. support the development and empowerment of user groups - // eg. parents & youth groups in schools, carers groups, GP patients groups etc // YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Public Services must be accountable and responsive to the public. We would oppose any steps to reduce that accountability. We have no dogmatic views on the private sector being a being a better or worse provider of services than public sector and will work to deliver the right cost effective services for residents.**

a. ensure all Council homes remain in public ownership YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * __6. Protect the borough’s Council housing__** - by taking all possible steps to…

b. ensure all sheltered communities remain together at their current sites (if the residents so wish) - // including those in Campbell Ct, Larkspur Close, Protheroe House & Stokely Ct // YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * We have no plans to change the principle of the public ownership of Haringey council housing. We believe that social housing needs to be managed in an accountable and transparent way with proper scrutiny from residents and councillors. However, huge improvements need to be made in the management of council housing stock, for the sake of tenants and leaseholders.**

a. ensure the borough carbon reduction targets (currently 40% by 2020) reflect the science and are reached or exceeded YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * In principle the wishes of residents must be at the heart of any decisions to change the current structure of sheltered communities.**
 * __7. Ensure long-term environmental sustainability, and an exemplary contribution by Haringey to the efforts to prevent dangerous climate change__** - by taking all possible steps to…

b. promote maximum possible local food production YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * The Liberal Democrats are committed to investing £5million in green projects to improve, amongst other things, the energy efficiency of community buildings, scrapping the mayor’s gas guzzling car and creating an eco-home to educate local residents about energy efficiency**

c. promote maximum possible local sustainable energy production YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ d. ensure the local economy and workplaces adapt to sustainable, low carbon methods, products and services YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ e. develop a comprehensive re-use and recycling scheme for all domestic/public/commercial buildings YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * As above we are committed to seeking new sites for allotments and community gardens**

f. develop a comprehensive mass insulation scheme for all domestic/public/commercial buildings YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * We will seek to improve the quality and quantity of recycling and, for example, introduce separated recycling, when and where it is feasible.**

g. support the Sustainable Haringey network YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * We are committed to increasing the energy efficiency of the Council's own buildings and to investing £5m in a green investment fund that will be help to improve the energy efficiency of community buildings**

a. lobby central government to increase local funding YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Along with other community led organisations**
 * __8. Improve the amount of resources and funding available (from all local and national sources) to achieve the above goals__** - by taking all possible steps to…

b. access other sources of funding YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * Lynne Featherstone and all Liberal Democrat councillors have led the campaign for fair funding for local schools and will continue to do so. Liberal Democrats will also fight to ensure Haringey receives a fair settlement from central government and that the rest of the Decent Homes funding is provided by the government on time**

a. respecting their independence YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ b. ensuring they are fully and routinely informed, consulted, engaged and empowered over all proposals affecting their area YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___ c. ensuring that all Council departments treat them as partners YES X NO___ DON’T KNOW___
 * We will endeavour to access all funds open to better services in Haringey but will also ensure that the money received is spent wisely and fairly.**
 * __9. Support and work with the borough’s residents associations and the Federation__** - by…

//-// Signed On behalf of Haringey Liberal Democrats Date 22nd April 2010

// Please return by post or email by 22nd April to: HFRA, 42 Falmer Rd, N15 5BA 0208 211 0916 info@haringeyresidents.org //