You're watching Town Hall TV

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 9, 2010 at 22:05

and surprise, surprise Kent TV bites the dust, thanks to the spending cuts.

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 9, 2010 at 22:27

Thanks for alerting me to that.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on February 10, 2010 at 19:52

Re. Haringey's own shot at TOWN HALL TV: we have our own telly champion, Councillor John Bevan about whom the Leader of Haringey Council made a down-to-earth, practical prediction when she re-jigged her Cabinet Portfolios.

Following the departure of her Executive Member for the Environment, Council Leader Clare Kober placed Brian Haley's sprawling responsibilities onto the shoulders of gritty Councillor John Bevan.

Already the Executive Member for Housing, striding John Bevan bears a much heavier burden now that his Cabinet work-load is doubled. A less brave man, or anyone not already snowed-under with work, might have run a mile.

It may be remembered that it was John Bevan who was courageous enough to select the premium-priced TV system to run in the Borough's flats – and to sell them on to Council Leaseholders too. In defending his derided decision – and in repeating the salesman's claims that his digital TV aerial was "future-proof" – Cllr. Bevan showed his true grit.

Given that it was a *requirement* by the Cabinet Member (with Executive Responsibility for TV-watching), it is just as well that the Council's Leaseholders are so rich and can easily take the hit of up to £1,148 an aerial.

But with respect to the *overall* cost for the satellite telly system (1,100 channels, mainly foreign), did Cllr. Bevan not trip-up?

With an average cost of £1,056 of the telly digital aerials for council *tenants*, the overall bill will be felt by tenants and tax-payers alike, indeed everyone on the ground.

Did the ram-raid into the 'Decent Homes' budget for refurbishing Borough tenants' dwellings not rub salt into the wound? In judging between housing facilities that are desirable and those that are essential, was not the balance lost?

The multi-million pound shortfall puts even heavier pressure on either the council tax or on CPZ-parking fines – this was seen by some as a slip-up.

In addition to his existing Housing Portfolio, Cllr. Bevan is now responsible for road maintenance. Who would disagree with Council Leader Kober when she sagely observed that John Bevan "is well placed to hit the ground running". Given the lack of road gritting, there may well be others who also suffer a fall.

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