green+spaces+-+bits+and+pieces+-+more+staffing


 * Haringey Friends of Parks Forum**

30.11.07

=**We need more staffing in our parks!**=
 * - Parks' Friends groups call for parks resources to be redirected from an ineffective and costly constabulary to the popular on-site park keepers everyone wants in the borough's parks**

At the end of November the Council proposed a review of the parks constabulary service leading to a //"reduced function in terms of current constabulary service but resources redirected into specific open space wardening and rangering service".//

This follows 2 years of extensive lobbying by the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum (the network of 30 local Friends groups) and the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations (the umbrella organisation for the borough's 150 local residents associations) for on-site staffing in parks. At the moment very few parks have any on-site staffing due to swingeing cuts made over the last 20 years, and a skeleton service is provided by teams of roving gardeners, cleansing operatives and parks constables. Where on-site staff exist the parks are much better maintained, more widely used by the public, and generally safer.

Recognising the need to improve on-site staffing the Council, like many other local authorities throughout London and the UK, has signed up to the national __Parkforce Pledge__ recognising //'the value of having staff on site during daylight hours in every significant park'// across Haringey. As a result, the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum have been participating in a detailed review of staffing, including questioning whether the money spent on parks constabulary (currently 11 staff) could be better spent on additional on-site staffing during daylight hours. In any case, there are now Safer Neighbourhood Teams with a remit which includes park patrols.

The Forum's position is summed up in the correspondence with the Council last March, and this week (see enclosed below).

To quote from this week's statement by the Forum to all Cllrs, the Council //'must ensure that any resources saved from reducing or scrapping the parks constabulary [which are more expensive than parks staff] must be redirected into additional front-line parks staffing/wardens. The Council need to publicly guarantee and explain that if the proposal goes ahead then this is what would happen, and that this would therefore be an improvement and a cause for celebration.'//

//'I don't understand why the Lib Dems are trying to make this a party political issue. Everyone knows that our parks need a daily presence by park keepers in order to ensure good maintenance, management, public liaison and general safety. In contrast the parks' police service is ineffective, inefficient and an unnecessarily expensive chunk out of the parks' budget. The resources need to be refocused where they are most needed - on the ground. A great example is in my own local park, Lordship Rec in Tottenham, where thanks to pressure from the Friends group the Council finally brought in 2 dedicated gardeners this summer. And what a difference they have made!'// Joan Curtis - Secretary, Haringey Friends of Parks Forum

To: Nilgun Canver, LBH Executive for Community Safety cc: Paul Ely, John Morris and Don Lawson - Recreation services; All Haringey Friends of Parks Groups From: Dave Morris and Joan Curtis, on behalf of the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum

19th March 2007

1. The Haringey Friends of Parks Forum understand that you are currently reporting on or reviewing the work and value of the Parks Constabulary.

2. Please note that LBH Recreation Services have been conducting a Parkforce Review of Staffing In Parks (now near completion). The HFoPF have discussed this matter extensively at recent Forum meetings.

3. Although the minutes of the most recent HFoPF meeting (3.3.07) are not yet available, we are currently drafting them and are sending you our agreed position from that meeting on the matters set out above. See specifically points 4.e. and 4.f. (below) regarding Parks Constabulary.

4. The Haringey Friends of Parks Forum:

a. are pleased the Council has signed up to the national Parkforce Pledge recognising //'the value of having staff on site during daylight hours in every significant park'// across Haringey. b. are pleased that a Parkforce Review of Staffing In Parks is currently in progress c. are calling for dedicated on-site staffing by Recreation Services in all substantial parks and open spaces. We are convinced that this is a pre-requisite for effective monitoring, management and caretaking, maintenance, community liaison and general security in such spaces. Such staffing is urgently and desperately needed. d. believe that this is mostly achievable through a re-organisation of existing parks staffing, accompanied by additional training and upgrading as appropriate. e. believe that the Parks Constabulary are of very limited use in most parks and certainly no substitute for on-site staffing. There should be an immediate Review to consider if they are value for money, and whether the LBH funding for them would be much better spent on the on-site staffing everyone agrees is needed. f. point out that officers of the Metropolitan Police and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams have a continuing responsibility for any necessary enforcement issues in local parks, just as they have throughout all areas of local neighbourhoods.

Please confirm receipt, and keep us informed of any developments on this issue.

Sincerely

Dave Morris //HFoPF minute-taker for the 3rd March meeting// Joan Curtis //HFoPF Secretary//