Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Bad news folks. The Making the Difference bid failed :(
Have just received a letter informing me that we will not be getting any of the Haringey gold reserves for the following reason;
"The Council is unable to provide specific funding to support individual or local community structures including the the provision of privately owned and run website. The Council provides wide access to its own official Haringey website which already provides a strong link with its community. The Council has also established a number of local structures and opportunities for effective community engagement"
WHAT?!
So people getting together and forming their own community in which to engage with local issues is not acceptable. So,only things started and run by the Council are acceptable, even though we have (most) of our local councillors on the site and reps from most of the local residents groups?
So much for supporting grassroots, bottom up initiatives from the community
Sorry folks, we'll have to find alternative means of financing this community which at present is heavily subsidised out of one person's pocket: maybe some donations at the next drinks, selling advertising space...
Anyone got any other ideas?
"The Council is unable to provide specific funding to support individual or local community structures including the the provision of privately owned and run website. The Council provides wide access to its own official Haringey website which already provides a strong link with its community. The Council has also established a number of local structures and opportunities for effective community engagement"
WHAT?!
So people getting together and forming their own community in which to engage with local issues is not acceptable. So,only things started and run by the Council are acceptable, even though we have (most) of our local councillors on the site and reps from most of the local residents groups?
So much for supporting grassroots, bottom up initiatives from the community
Sorry folks, we'll have to find alternative means of financing this community which at present is heavily subsidised out of one person's pocket: maybe some donations at the next drinks, selling advertising space...
Anyone got any other ideas?
Tags for Forum Posts: HOL, Haringey Council, donations, finance, fundraising, making the difference bid
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by empyrean_aisles on
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I'm utterly gobsmacked by this decision. This site has been an incredible force for community good, as just about everyone I've met through it has commented. It's helped people form connections with their neighbours, it's been a channel through which local businesses have been able to communicate with residents (Cafe Lemon; Baldwin's; the Big Green Book Shop), and - this is the thing that really amazes me - it's been a tool through which residents have been able to come together to find solutions for problems that the council would otherwise have to deal with!
Tea dances for the elderly and dog shows etc are all very well, but so many of the previous projects funded by this scheme were one-offs - nice, happy, feelgood events but not ones that might have that many lasting effects. This site actually provides a sustainable infrastructure on which to build further things. Residents can form networks with those interested in the same things (gardeners; cyclists; book club), learn about good local resources (Muna's; the bike repairman at the Castle; the Japanese supermarket in Crouch End), join together to organise for things that benefit the whole community (cleaning the dog mess from the Passage, doing something about overloaded trucks illegally driving down Ladder roads before everyone's houses start falling down). Just one example from off the top of my head - I learnt about a rubbish removal scam on this site - not the council's, though I read it and Haringey Accord's site thoroughly on more than one occasion - and no doubt saved myself a massive headache and a lot of money. Blowing off this site as 'a privately owned and run website' is an absurd example of doublespeak. Take a bow, whoever you were who penned that letter. (Name, Liz?)
I'll stop now before the top of my head blows off.
It's always disappointing to put effort into applying to things like this and then to have them go nowhere. Thanks, and commiserations, to those who spend time and energy trying to make Harringay a little better for all of us through this bid.
Birdy_Too has it right. The council aren't going to fund anything they can't control, and as a site like this generates healthy dissent from and critique of the council's actions in addition to all the things I've listed above, it's evidently too much to ask that they might offer it a tiny amount of money.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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I won't tell you who sent the letter because I suspect he was only writing what he was told to write and we should not shoot the messenger. I think we should assume that his words represent the view of the Council on this site and what it represents to them.
We do have the support of some councillors, the SNT, some local residents groups as well as committed individuals some of whom have already donated to the site and are keen to do more work on inclusion and spreading the word. The council may not like but it is the future... indeed, by this decision they have also given their verdict on what they really think of community led initiatives and grassroots community involvement. Dinosaurs... (and we know what happened to them!)
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Permalink Reply by Anette on
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We were also turned down for the new banner on the bridge idea. Because:
"The cost of redesigning and replacing the existing banners exceed 10K and that the banners have only just been upgraded. For your information, The Green Lanes Strategy Group has the strategic responsibility for the management and maintenance of the banners dispayed on the bridge. the new designs have recently been upgraded and are in line with the agreement reached with Network Rail and are in compliance with the Council's Communication Strategy.
In view of the above, if you have any proposals / suggestions regarding these banners these should be submitted to the Nighbourhood Manager in order that the Green Lanes Strategy Group may consider them when the next review / replacement is being considered"
So misrepresenting the area is in line with the Council's Communication Strategy. Interesting. I suppose we should be happy it's not saying "welcome to London", just to make it even more general and less local...
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We kind of knew we were on a loser with that one though, didn't we? The application was an implicit criticism of what exists.
I am curious as to what exactly the Council's 'Communication Strategy' is(what strange language these organisations use!) and how that bloody awful website entry for St Ann's and Harringayon the Haringey website "complies" with it!
Wonder if John got his cycle lockers?
and, please, let no well meaning person organise a tea dance for me when I'm elderly with or without a Council grant (unless the music is hot salsa!).
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I know. Won't be able to stop the tea dance though, I'll be as old as you.. :D
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Permalink Reply by Bartolus on
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Municipal government spending taxpayers money on a biased, privately owned website?
Sorry guys, can't disagree with the council on this one.
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Much better to spend it on a magazine like the Haringey People perhaps?
Perhaps last years bling bling dog show improved responsible dog ownership? Do you think so?
Biased? Are you being ironic? If not, what do you mean? It would be interesting to know what viewpoint you think the website has, given that the content is generated by local residents and not by political parties. I would suggest that the website steers clear of promoting a particular viewpoint but if you see different explain why.
The website is financed by one resident who took that on as a way of getting started but who really shouldn't be expected to foot the bill much longer and moves are afoot to find ways to make the website a community funded website. Feel free to contribute but, of course, unlike your council tax bill you will not be obliged.
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@Bartolus, what do you mean by biased?
@Chico - indeed, it would be very interesting to see which projects they chose and why.
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I would like to see where the money went and the reasons supporting the decisions
Don't you?
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For the MTD, the Area Assembly (3rd June) is an opportunity to see the shortlist and express a preference. I'm sure if you contact the council they will tell you which projects received money.I'm not against the idea, at least two things in Harringay have benefited to my knowledge; North Harringay have had their bell restored and history leaflets on the Harringay Passage have been put up. I believe money was also granted for a street party locally. These are all worthy projects. As Marc said, the fact this website has no physical presence probably counts against it, the reasons we were turned down are outlined above.
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Bartolus, I think you really need to come back and clarify that 'biased' comment. I know too well that irony in a brief comment is always open to misinterpretation. If it wasn't ironic, all I can say is this site doesn't seem to me to set out to be either cosy or biased, though attempting to engage with some of those who stand to represent us can occasionally defeat even the most objective of contributors.
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Pardon my mordant comment. No irony intended whatsoever.
Liz, I do not expect my council to dissipate taxpayers money whatever the circumstances. Whether on dog shows or private websites inter alia, I find the councils use of my tax money and your tax money pretty uncopacetic.
It seems that you think funding the Haringey People and "bling bling dog show" is a waste of money. Couldn't agree with you more. Funding private websites is a waste to.
Bias can be described as a term used to describe a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective, ideology or result. All information and points of view have some form of bias. A person is generally said to be biased if a reasonable observer would conclude that the person is markedly influenced by inner biases, rendering it unlikely for them to be able to be objective.
This website is biased. Maybe not towards a particular party, but towards certain points. The vast majority of people on this website are against, for example, more betting shops opening on Green Lanes. That is a political decision.
People on this website would not be happy if the council funded another website which advocated for more betting shops to open.
This site tries to influence political opinion and decisions. Therefore it should not receive funding.
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