Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
'NO' to Ending free bulky waste collections and closing the recycling centre
Haringey's current budget proposals will see the end of free bulky and green waste collections and the closure of one of the recycling centres.
These changes are likely to spell real trouble in this borough. It will inevitably lead to a significant increase in dumping with the poorest areas being hardest hit.
Research has shown that introducing a charge can lead to a drop in demand for collections of 50-75% on previous levels. Fly-tipping will increase as a result.
An alternative approach to introducing a collection charge would be to limit or reduce the number of items accepted for free, and/or the number of free collections allowed per year.
An alternative to closing the recycling centre would be to control who uses the centre and make a small charge as appropriate.
The cabinet meets to decide on this issue in two weeks' time. Whilst the consultation is now closed you can still email the cabinet member responsible (peray.ahmet@haringey.gov.uk) and copy your councillor.
Budget proposals: http://www.haringey.gov.uk/local-democracy/policies-and-strategies/...
Survey (CLOSED 22 JAN): http://www.haringey.gov.uk/survey/budget-2017-18
Tags for Forum Posts: rubbish, waste collection, waste collection charges
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Please press on, Wood Greener. The CounciI are asking us about budget cuts. The money spent on advertising is clearly a small but nonetheless important factor.
There are few channels for citizens to get accurate information about how our money is spent and sometimes wasted. Freedom of Information requests are one important channel.
In my experience both as former councillor and a resident with contacts with Council staff, they are mostly more than happy to have an open dialogue with local people. For example in local forums which remain, in visits to residents' associations, and other events and meetings.
I found and still find that frontline staff especially are proud of what they do and willing to talk and share their knowledge.
I've found that willingness with all sorts of staff - from street cleaners to teachers (I was a school governor); from planners to pest control staff who visit homes; from carers to park and parking staff. And with many many others.
An open, frank, mutually respectful culture is, in my view, a positive benefit for everyone. We can all learn. And 'how you do it is what you get'.
The Supreme Court has made some very clear and helpful rulings about local councils giving information and running genuine consultation.
Organisational leaders who encourage an open culture are probably more important than judges.Though I would repeat with approval the words of one judge, Louis Brandeis. "In a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizen". -
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Permalink Reply by Antoinette on
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Well I do. And I speak as the Head of FOI for a large London Council. I consider someone submitting an FOI request in order to settle an online argument about the Council wasting money to be far more shocking than the cost of a few truck stickers. That might at least serve some purpose for the money.
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So what benefit do the rest of us get from the cost of satisfying your curiosity?
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I'm not trolling. I'm pointing out that you are complaining about wasting Council money whilst doing the exact same thing yourself.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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@ Wood Greener
But if you venture an opinion, but avoid answering the questions that it elicits, isn't that trolling ?
I say again, if you find out who paid for it and how much, what are you going to do with that information ?
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Hi Antoinette
This post was deleted by site admin since the behaviour towards another member it contained broke out terms of service. The member was also suspended.
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John D, Your question is fair. Let me suggest an answer of sorts.
And I'll begin saying that I've no problem with the text on the boards on the Veolia waste trucks. "We're proud of where we live. Please don't dump rubbish"; seems a sensible message. (With the threat of prosecution in smaller typeface.)
I've also suggested these - in effect mobile advertising panels - could carry useful information. To me, telling people about the free collections of some bulky items seems a better use of severely limited funds than the wasteful vanity of new Logo.
Does this work? Well commercial firms seem to think so. vehicles branding and "Truck wraps" don't appear to be going out of favour.
But I'd add what I see as a fundamental reason for people being encouraged and comfortable to ask Freedom of Information Act questions - especially when the answers are publicly available and persist. (Which is why I now make any F.O.I.s through the free website WhatDoTheyKnow.)
My reason is that - in contrast to the willingness of many individual staff to talk to their customers and service users - that may not be the overall organisational culture.
As has long been observed, for bureaucrats who control organisations, secrecy is a source of power. As a result it is defended, sometimes fanatically. Senior bureaucrats seek to increase the superiority of the professionally informed by keeping their knowledge and intentions secret.
Freedom of Information is a counterbalance to that. It can also act as a check on abuse by increasing the risk of being found out. If not immediately then in the future.
A final reason for defending Freedom of information. Anyone with doubts about the F.O.I Act should note that Tony Blair wrote that he was a " naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop" for introducing it. Admirers of Blair may see this as subtle irony. I tend to think it's what he now thinks. Which should be a clincher.
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Wood Greener, I've often had the same thought. And as I always try to offer suggestions as well as criticisms, I made one about the spot opposite River Park House. I never got a reply.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanstanton/4334764061/
To be fair, Wood Greener, we don't know who does the reporting which gets each pile cleared. However, one thing which has always bothered me is how some problems either aren't reported or are perhaps reported and then ignored by the powers-that-be. Sometimes for months. For example graffiti 'tagging' on a council-owned building. Or overgrown or littered street planters.
Seems to me this may indicate a mindset. For some people these problems are invisible. Menial scutwork. Someone else's 'department'.
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Every council issued mobile phone comes pre-installed with the app. That is fact. They are given that functionality for a reason.
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You've stated that twice. Can you please give me the source for that information? Thanks.
As I understand (perhaps misundertand?) You've said that the Council has no record of whether reports are made by staff or others. In which case there's no way of knowing whether anyone issued with a mobile with the app pre-installed actually uses it.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Not too sure. Yesterday I whipped out my phone and started to report some dumped rubbish on my street (big rubble bag of household items - expect more once the free service ends) and the app showed that a report at that location had already been made. Could be more about the speed with which the report is acted upon.
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I partly agree Michael. It's pleasing when the Veolia truck arrives before I've had time to report some dumping.On the other hand, in some well established 'hotspots' new stuff is regularly added. It becomes a sort of "magnet". A place where the garbage elves will magically appear.
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