A Boy Named Sue

Earlier this month there was a report in The Times that political parties could be obliged by law to have women-only and BME-only [Black, Minority, Ethnic] lists when selecting candidates to stand for Parliament. Dizzy was spitting blood. The aim is to make Parliament more representative of the people it is there to serve. Harry Harperson says:

“We should take all the steps we can to increase diversity in Parliament, which must reflect the country in which we live and the public we serve.”

OK. I’ve been having a think about this and what I want to know is this. Do the political parties themselves, i.e. their membership, reflect the country they aspire to serve? And more to the point do they actually know if that is the case? I have some experience with membership databases and they are only as accurate as the information asked for, which is not necessarily the same as that supplied – often in illegible handwriting. I have had a peep at the on-line membership forms for a range of parties, from Left to Right as they appear on the B21 political axis.
Green, Labour, LibDem, BNP, Conservative and UKIP.

Only one of them has a field for the applicant’s sex [not Gender, Sex] and asks the ethnic question but not the specifics. Mysteriously the sex question disappears from the printable version but retains the question “are you a member of an ethnic minority”. This would be the Labour Party.

Most of the on-line versions also have a Title field that is mandatory. So this could give an indication – we can reasonably assume that a Mrs is female. But what about Doctors and Reverends? Can we have female Reverends now, I’ve lost track? But look, most people don’t bother to fill that bit in when they are using a piece of paper and a pen and even if they do it is not neccesarily clear as to what they have written. And they have a habit of shortening their First name to things like Chris, Pat or Sam! Even when first names have different spellings like Leslie for boys and Lesley for girls it is not necessarily a guide. Leslie Ash does look like a girl to me. And what’s Wikipedia doing describing her as an “actress”? Don’t they know that is sooo un-Politically Correct? They are now all “actors”, just as we now don’t have WPCs, Waitressess, Headmistresses etc. Then there are the historic records created before these issues and questions were even thought of.

So, having eliminated the literary devices by which we can tell if we are dealing with a male or a female, [because it is the person and not the sex that is important] our politicians have encountered a problem of their own making.

Of course when 25% of the electorate can elect a government with a whopping majority it does make me wonder if there is something much more fundamentally wrong with our “representative democracy” which needs addressing.

Title with thanks to Johnny Cash.

Obstruction

A strange green metal box, almost alien, has appeared on the pavement in Barkingside High Street, see photo below. It’s not a telephone or cable street cabinet, they are usually located discretely and parallel to the road; but this one is at right angles to the kerb. So, what could it be? We were discussing this in the council chamber New Fairlop Oak, and Knowsie reports another one just along the road from the Eva Hart while Freewheeler spotted one in Leyton High Road before Christmas. At first we thought it was a Chicane to slow down elderly pedestrians and stop wheelchairs, prams and mobility scooters from speeding and intimidating drivers of 4X4s who want to park on the pavement.

The consensus seems to be that the green metal box is a temporary structure prior to the installation of a pavement advertising board [like this] or a Bus shelter with an advertising board. There are clear visible pipes at pavement level to supply “services”.

And just when we thought we might be getting rid of these. The much loathed adverstising boards attached to our lamposts have been blank for months since the company went into liquidation. But Barkingside 21 has a constructive suggestion for these lampost peripherals. We put pictures of Christmas decorations in them, you know Stars, Santa, sleighs etc. and turn them on at Christmas time saving us taxpayers £10,000 per year. For the remainder of the year we put pictures of hanging baskets in them with a colourful display of horticultural extravagance supplemented by a nose level fan to deliver a delightful bouquet to the ocassional passing shopper, pickpocket, mugger or drug dealer. In our virtual world we could even project holographic images of trees, happy shoppers and open shops.

Surgical Strike

OK Judith, so to the report from last Thursday’s Coffee Morning where we had Rob Meaker and Adrienne Noone, from Redbridge NHS, as our guest speakers. They wanted feedback, and they got it, no mistake. We had the forthright Cllr Sladden and Bill Howe present. Adrienne did most of the talking and also took copious notes.

The reforms are driven by a study that showed that if you take the train from Westminster and travel East, the life expectancy of the local population is reduced by 1 year for every station. B21 is considering increasing its life expectency by 20 years by relocating as Westminster 21 subject to suitable hostelries being available. We were also told that the proposals are driven entirely by clinical needs and not finance, and that there will be a heavy emphasis to prevent people getting ill in the first place. Ummm!

On that last point cue me. The thing is that for most of us, the only time we get to see a hospital [barring visiting, assuming there is no outbreak of Norovirus] is when we are very young, pregnant or old. You can’t prevent people being born, getting pregnant or getting old. Most of the stuff the NHS deals with is related to these areas. We are all living longer [on average] and age related conditions and illness are a major drain on resources. Prostate conditions for men and Osteoarthritis for women means broken bones are common, especially when it snows.

We also learnt that the King George Accident & Emergency facility is not an A&E after all. It’s a walk in clinic. All Major Traumas go to the London Hospital and any heart conditions go straight to the Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green. Now I’m gonna be controversial here.

I’ve seen a major local trauma, a road traffic accident. The London Air ambulance touched down in the field opposite. I’ve also seen it in the car park by Gants Hill library, [I advised the pilot he needed to get a ticket from the machine] and in the middle of the crossroads at Angel Islington. I’m also aware of a local heart attack who was stabilised by the paramedics before being whisked off to Bethnal Green. If these things work, and they appear to, then I do not necessarily object to KGH A&E being downgraded.

The other thing here was a well placed comment from JW, who observed that “we” are not clinicians and don’t necessarily know the difference between an emergency or not, so are likely to err on the side of caution, which does rather stretch A&E resources. Take me. I’m bitten by a dog. Some people would immediately think Rabies and be off to A&E. I popped into the GP asked the receptionist what I should do, she looked me up on her computer, pronounced my last Tetanus jab was over 10 years ago and told me to sit down. Five minutes later the GP was giving me a Tatanus jab. Sorted. On this we were told that there is to be a concerted effort to educate and inform people on how to use the health services available to them. That would be really good, we don’t want people turning up at A&E because they’ve sneezed, do we?

Finally, almost, KGH is safe [sic!]. The plan is to develop it as a major planned procedure venue rather than an emergency venue.

And to round off, here is the Guardian - NHS to close hospitals across London to cope with spending squeeze. Sometimes the medicine can be rather unpleasant, but it is still medicine.

Note1: we didn’t really get round to discussing Polyclinics, but there may well be another opportunity.

Note2: London’s Air Ambulance [pictured above] is a registred charity and they run a Lottery to raise funds. Fancy a flutter? It's the only one I do.

Note3: For the technical among you the London Air Ambulance site has been built by a *osser by the name of David Carty who thinks he is being clever by designing the site completely using Javascript. This means I can't give you a direct link to the Lottery page. What a *anker. You'll just have to wade your way through the menu system, but you probably won't, will you!

Act Swiftly

Another day, another petition. Tajinder likes Swifts. She wrote a whole post on the subject last May. And now she wants you to sign a petition on the Number 10 website which calls for legislation “to make provision for bird and bat species mandatory within new and existing building developments.”

But do we really need Big Government to tell us to do this? Most people like birds, unlike Foxes and Pigeons. We put nuts and food out for them during the winter months. But builders are a bit more cautious. Not everybody will want Bats or Swifts nesting in their eaves. But we do have a choice. We can have bat boxes or Swift boxes fitted if we want them. So, really we should be saying to peeps, look, these things are quite cheap, easy to install, so why not stick a few up if you want them?

Also, there are Swift Towers [see here] that can be erected in public places like parks or a Town Square. So, maybe we should be asking the council, and the Nature Conservation Team, to be having a look at this? It doesn’t necessarily have to come out of the council budget – there are funding opportunities available. Back to you Tajinder!

Local Climate

Climate Change:

Can we make a difference at the local level?

Date: Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (GMT)
Location: Redbridge Institute, Gaysham Avenue, Gants Hill, IG2 6TD

Sonia Klein investigates the implications of Copenhagen for citizens, communities and councils.

Speakers:
Jean Lambert MEP (Green)
Murad Qureshi, London Assembly Member (Labour)
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham (Labour) TBC
Peter Durant (US Democrat)
Elizabeth Massey (Liberal Democrat)
Video link to Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Tom Riordon

Discussion Themes: Energy, Electric Vehicles, Green Education, Green Economy

To RSVP please go to http://soniaklein.eventbrite.com/ or Contact Heather Tel: 020 8590 8552 or email.

Chagos Islands

Petition here.

Or you could write direct to Mr Miliband - specimen letter here.

Reasons to visit Barkingside

Following on from the previous post on the Regeneration of Barkingside Town Centre we have a Guest Post from Ray Lloyd - Reasons to visit Barkingside.

1. Bank
2. Tube
3. Fullwell Autos
4. Tescos
5. Card Shops [usually unsuccessfully]
6. Plumbers Merchant
‘ Surface treatments’, tree planting and reduced traffic flow / access would deter me from going, not persuade me.

What would persuade me to go more?

1. Decent pub / restaurant
2. Music / events venue
3. Farmers type market / antique fair

The future of Barkingside is to a great extent linked to that of Fairlop Waters. The nettle must be grasped and Fairlop Waters must be developed in an appropriate way. A pond, a third rate golf course and a wildlife sanctuary do not attract the visitors and consumers that hold the key to the areas future.

The so called refurbishment of Fairlop Waters has given us a Greek restaurant and a marquee sited next to a crumbling fun house, a much needed boost, I think not. We all know the arguments voiced against developments such as the racecourse, hotel complex etc. But such an asset as the airfield site cannot be left unexploited if Barkingside is to become a vibrant thriving centre.

With good transport links, Barkingside could become a successful location for exhibitions, shows and musical or theatrical productions. Country fairs such as those held at Hog Hill would easily transfer and shows like the London Motorcycle Show held recently at the Wanstead Rugby Club could also be accommodated. I know the residents fear congestion and noise and, that bodies such as the residents of Aldborough Hatch had their objections to previous proposals but properly planned and managed, an exhibition centre with facilities for musical / theatrical productions, dining and outdoor events would attract the visitors and locals alike and would regenerate the whole area.

Playing about with the flare of roads approaching a roundabout and changing parallel parking to echelon parking will do nothing to secure the future of Barkingside.

Ray Lloyd

Editor's Note: The graphic of the New Fairlop Oak was chosen by me as Ray obviously does not think it is a "decent pub"?

Barkingslide

“I just think Barkingside has had it!” So says a well known and much loved Barkingside High Street trader who is currently closing down his store. We wish him well in whatever venture awaits him. Where am I going to buy my fat balls now?

Barkingside Home Hardware, Barnes Carpets, and Tootsies the childrens shoe shop are all closing down. The pound shop that recently took over from Harmony has been closed for at least a week. The old Halifax is still vacant and the Estate Agents just along the road has been abandoned. The Chequers pub owners have given up and it is being run temporarily by the Brewery pending a new landlord. Clinton Cards have a massive sale – is that normal? Or are they on the way out too? The advertising hoardings attached to our lampposts have been blank for months. We do though have a new Asian jewellers.

So, what better time to remind everybody that on Monday week, 1st February at 7pm in the Aldborough Room, Fullwell Cross Library, there will be consultation meeting on Barkingside Town Centre’s future.

Chaired by B21 this meeting will have on the panel Keith Prince, Leader of the Council, Mark Lucas and Matthew Maple [Planning Officers] and representatives from the consultants who have conducted a feasibility study. See the flyer here. 4,000 being delivered this weekend in this area.

Note: I nicked the post title from Flesh is Grass, but she used it for a much happier purpose.

Red Faced Fly Tipper

In the polite society of Barkingside, indeed even after a few beers in the New Fairlop Oak, it is simply not the done thing to laugh at another’s misfortune. But in this case we can make an exception.

On 15th December 2009 at Redbridge Magistrates Court, one Alan Chant of Potter Bar was found guilty of fly-tipping and Fined £150.00, £15.00 Court Costs, £44.00 Compensation to council and £80.00 Prosecution costs. TOTAL - £297.00.

The interesting part is the location where the offence took place. It was to the rear of a shop in Fencepiece Road. Unfortunately for Mr Chant he failed to spot that the shop was actually a Cop Shop, where our local Safer Neighbourhood Teams are based, and that Police Constable Towler was watching him from an upstairs window, after which he was duly nicked.

Haw, haw, chuckle, chuckle, snort!

Every Little Helps - Sometimes

Ah hah! I’ve just been over to Tescos in Southend Road to recycle my Christmas cards. I had to ask where the bin was. When I found it there were hardly any cards in there. This might have something to do with there not being any notice on it saying “Recycle your Christmas Cards here”.

Anyway, on my way to the Customer Services point I was walking in the opposite direction to that which I normally travel after exiting one of those isles having paid for my beer. And to my surprise I noticed a large bin for recycling domestic batteries and another one for printer cartridges tucked into a corner. I asked how long they had been there, and they didn’t even know they were there.

So, a quick Google search reveals that Tesco rolled out battery collection points in all its stores starting in October and November last year. It seems they, and other main retailers like Sainsburys, are required to do this by next month, February 2010, under the European Battery Directive.

According to Which magazine, last November, Tesco intend to launch a National Campaign next month. Why wait? The bins are there. Let’s go. The campaign starts here!

Mugged Again

Yes, off we trotted to the Kenneth More Theatre yesterday evening for an interview with Boris Johnson. It seems that Boris is keeping to the tradition, started by Ken, of giving away Mugs to the Mugs. This one has the inscription “only boil enough water for the cups you are making”.

Anyway there is a report over at the Wanstead & Woodford Guardian, the Ilford Recorder and on Fight the Flights, a subject that predictably came up. You can listen to the whole thing on podcast by clicking here.

Snippets:

Rebecca scolded Boris for not having any Fairtrade products at City Hall and immediately following that a lady pointed out the bottled water on the top table. Boris assured us that only good old tap water is used at City Hall.

We learned that the Council leader, Keith Prince, does not turn his home heating down because it is not turned on in the first place and that he is a vegetarian. He didn’t mention his Town Hall office heating though!

The potential to generate electricity from the tides up the Thames was mentioned and received favourably.

Gill asked how to encourage cycling and make it safer. Er, stopping cars parking in cycle lanes might help.

Big bit on the draft Waste Strategy, the need to send less to landfill as it is so expensive, so more emphasis on recycling. Everybody it seems would like to recycle cardboard and the Council leader is “working on it”.

Now, one way to tidy up the borough may be to follow the example of Lewisham council and recycle mattresses. I think that could make a big difference here, don’t you?

PolyFella

Last Wednesday at the Health Scrutiny Committee, Redbridge Councillors resolved to question the proposals for Health Care in North East london. Principally they question the closure of the Accident & Emergency facility at King George Hospital, the end of critical care support and acute surgical and medical treatment, plus an end to children’s surgery and maternity delivery in the borough. See Wanstead & Woodford Guardian. See also notes from Bill.

But this is only part of the story. We are moving over to a Polysystem of Healthcare, where there will be 5 Polyclinics each serving a distinct area of the borough. These clinics, the things we used to have back in the 50s and 60s, are to form an additional tier of care between GPs and Hospitals, but there are worries that rather than complementing existing services they will merely result in an overall reduction.
So, for your delight, we have the Polyfella himself, Rob Meaker [chief officer for Fairlop Polymorph] speaking at our Coffee Morning next Thursday 21st January, 10-12noon in the Hainault room Fullwell Cross library where he will explain all the details. Don’t worry about the name “Fairlop”, these are health people; their geography is poo. See the map here.

We will have polybiscuits, polytea and polycoffee for you to nibble and sip during the presentation and ensuing Question and Answer session.

Gathering of the Clans

There’s nothing like an external threat to bring opposing factions together in a common purpose. So someone once said, or words to that effect. So it was that the Redbridge Political Clans gathered in front of Redbridge Town Hall last Saturday lunchtime. Red, Yellow, Blue and Green. Spot them in the photograph below. More photos here.
It was a protest meeting over the proposed downgrading of King George Hospital and the potential closure of the Accident & Emergency Facility there. The severe weather limited numbers, so don’t let that fool you. This one was organised by Wilson [never leaves home without his Megaphone] Chowdhry and apparently they collected over 500 signatures on their petition, many of whom didn’t even know about the proposals. If you missed it don’t panic.

There is a March in February this year. Lee Scott and Mike Gapes will lead the march from King George Hospital at 1.15pm on Saturday 13th February for a rally outside Ilford Town Hall at 2.15pm. More details on Facebook if you have an account. If you can help distributing leaflets please phone Andy Walker on 07956 263088.

Postscript: Whilst the neighbouring member for Barking has not exactly covered herself in glory I am at a loss to understand why Blogger maestro Iain Dale criticises her for supporting this campaign in much the same way as members of his own Party.

Local Works Update

Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill:

Please lobby your MP for support

Great news! - we were successful in seeing the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill introduced into Parliament - Alistair Burt MP has agreed to adopt it as his Private Members’ Bill in December last year. Thank you very much for your help in making this happen.

Since then we have been doing well: Over 260 MPs have already signed Early Day Motion 143 in support and our negotiations with government Ministers and officials have so far been constructive.

However we face a very tight time frame with the election due in May. We need more MPs to sign up and we need all MPs to urge the government to give the Bill the Parliamentary time it needs to become law. The Bill’s Second Reading is set for Friday 26th February and we will need government support by then.

Steve Shaw
National Co-ordinator
Local Works

Ah! Right. If you live in Redbridge there’s no need. Lee Scott, Harry Cohen and Mike Gapes are all signed up. Iain Duncan Smith very rarely signs EDMs. You could though just drop them an email to say you approve, or not as the case may be.

But if you are an ex-pat living elsewhere in the country, or just a casual visitor you can find out who your MP is and their contact details here and check the link above to see if they are signed up.

Keeping Trim

One of the joys of running a community blog is you get lots of emails from people who want you to advertise their stuff. Mostly I don’t. Simply because most of them clearly have not read the blog and have no idea what it’s all about. Take the most recent. A website for London’s Gyms. Hmmmm? They obviously didn’t spot this.

Frankly I can’t see the point of riding a bicycle that doesn’t go anywhere. Unless it’s hooked up to a dynamo supplying electricity to grandma’s heated slippers. I just don’t get it. People spend loads of money designing exercise out of their daily lives and then spend loads of money designing it back in again.

So, instead of advertising them, I’m going to advertise something else.

The Epping Forest Outdoor Group

"We arrange activities most weekends with walking and cycling being our most frequent activities but we also go canoeing, indoor rock climbing, orienteering and anything else our members put on the programme."

Redbridge Nature Conservation Team

These people organise all sorts of events throughout the year for all age groups. Programme.

Triton Cycles

This local shop sells bicycles that will actually get you somewhere. And they have a whole new range of additions on discount. Mind you, I don’t like the look of those saddles.

The Weather

OK, so it’s got milder and the snow is thawing. Better late then never and it means I can just copy and paste next time we get severe snow.

Redbridge domestic refuse and recycling collections have resumed today [Monday] but you will have to wait for your next scheduled collection as advised before Christmas. Grit stocks are low so it is being concentrated on main roads. Another grit round is due this evening according to the Council’s Twitter account. All this and more, like which schools are open for business, can be found on the award winning Council website.

Elsewhere we can get some good advice on Driving in the Snow.

BBC: How to drive in snow and icy weather

Highways Agency: Winter Driving

DVLA: Winter driving

And let’s not forget our feathered friends in the garden. Many people are reporting seeing different birds in their gardens during this cold, snowy weather. Here are some Redwings in Essex Girl’s garden. But if you see Penguins, you are allowed to Panic!

Cold comfort for garden birds, click for tips on feeding from the RSPB.

Now, just in case there any Daily Express readers or Richard LittleJohn [Ithink this is an American term for what we know as a child's potty] fans out there who think this cold snap means the end of Global Warming, this next bit is for you. Go over to The Third Estate and have a proper read and pay particular attention to the maps of the north Atlantic. The reason for this weather is that for some reason the Gulf Stream did a sharp left in Mid-Atlantic and instead of popping over here and keeping us warm went up Greenland’s left flank instead.

File It!

Down at the Central Library in Ilford Town Centre there is rather good facility known as the Local Studies Library. I have used it myself. Lots of interesting stuff about the history of this area, and books written by Local historians who probably did some of their research at that very place. We know some of them. There is Peter Lawrence [ex-councillor], Georgina Green and the late Norman Gunby.

But this well-used service is now under threat. The proposal is to reduce the number of staff from six to one and be available by appointment only. The Ilford Hysterical Historical Society are not pleased. And neither is Ron Jeffries, author of Just an Essex Lad. He writes:

Dear Councillors,
I learned yesterday from the ILFORD RECORDER that next Monday's Cabinet Meeting will be considering a proposal to make the five fulltime members of staff of the Local Studies Library redundant from next April, replacing them with one member of staff who will see residents by
appointment only. If this goes ahead it will be a sad retrograde step. The Local Studies Library is a valued resource which many residents use. I have used the library in connection with research for writing material about St. Peter's Church in Aldborough Hatch. I have amassed a considerable amount of material about Aldborough Hatch, St.Peter's and Fairlop Plain. It was my intention to ensure that this material was passed to the Local Studies Library on my death. I will have to reconsider this if the plan to curtail the Library goes ahead.
My wife and I are pensioners. I mention this because when I was invited to comment on the Redbridge Budget I made the point that in my view the Council Tax should be increased in line with inflation or slightly above, rather than reduce services. May I urge Councillors not to reduce services, but to apply an increased Council Tax. Those who can afford to pay will do so willingly if services are not cut. Those who are unwilling to pay should be taken to court and dealt with there. Councillors need to set a strong lead and not fluff about trying to appease the few who complain about the Council Tax. Please keep as many services as possible.
Ron Jeffries

Plan for big cuts to library archiving service – WW Guardian

Fears over access to borough archives – Ilford Recorder page 5

And just to show it is not confined to Redbridge, similar proposals are being considered in Brighton.

I wonder if it’s a national trend?

Report It!

A few years back I was having a walk along the Roding Valley Way when I noticed a huge pile of fly-tipped builders rubble. When I got home I telephoned the Council to report it. Two days later it was gone. Blimey, I thought, that was quick and I mentioned it to a Councillor of that ward. Apparently it had been there for six weeks all of which time he had been trying to get it dealt with. Those were the days before Redbridge-i.

On Sunday last I used the 'Report It' section on Red-i for the first time. A missing bollard and a hole where it should be. These things are made of heavy duty plastic and are hollow, so when they get sheared off at pavement level by a collision it leaves a hole. I was duly notified on Monday by email that the report had been received and added to the work queue. Yesterday, Tuesday, the hole had been capped off, see photograph below.

So, I and any other registered member of Red-i who happens to have a postcode within a 1Km radius of that missing bollard can see on Red-i that it has been reported, when it was reported, who reported it and that it is being dealt with.

However, if you happen to live outside of this council imposed 1Km bubble you will not be able to see the report, so you won’t know. If you happen to be passing by “My Neighbourhood”, and spot anything else that needs reporting like a defective street light, dead animal on the road, missing bollard, dangerous pavements etc. you will not be able access the local 'Report It' section that will tell you if it has already been reported.

Likewise, if I venture outside of my exclusion zone, having been scanned on the border for sarcastic words and bearing my Council issued postcode ID card, to visit say a park, a Mansion, a library, a Town Centre or most likely a pub and happen to notice something that needs reporting, so too, I will not be able to access the 'Report It' section to see if it is already being dealt with.

Well alright, I could, and so could you, by changing my [your] postcode, but that’s cheating and not exactly a user–friendly facility.

Reactive Maintenance team – Gold Star.
Web site usability – Raspberry.

Bleak House

Not sure what’s going on here. It may just be a storm in a teacup, I hope so. These are hard times, we know that, we know that sacrifices will have to be made and tough decisions taken. I understand that most charities are suffering from the current economic mess. But helping people to help themselves and thereby play as full a part in society and the economy as they can is surely not a place to make "savings"?

Disabled charity's future under threat – Ilford Recorder

An outline of the Redbridge Disability Association on this site in October 2008.
　
Petition: click to view signatures and/or sign.

We the undersigned petition the London Borough of Redbridge to rescind its decision to stop funding Redbridge Disability Association's information advice and advocacy service. Redbridge Disability Association is a front line disabled person led non profit organisation with 42 years experience. Disability creates massive challenges - we want to solve real issues together. The London Borough of Redbridge has decided to stop funding us and have not actually said why. We are at risk of closing but last year brought £500,000 into the Borough and have been rated as excellent by the Legal Services Commission.

What is a Disability?

UPDATE: LBR Press Release 7th January

Redbridge Disability Association are currently contracted by Adult Social Services to provide services to Redbridge residents.
The contractual relationship has been in place for 10 years and this current three year contract is due to expire in March 2010. As with all contracts of this value and size, the Council has a legal requirement to put the contract out to tender.
Redbridge Disability Association, alongside any other qualifying organisation, is welcome to tender for this contract.
This contract is one of many contracts the Council's Adult Social Services has with voluntary organisations to provide services to residents. These contracts are not grant funding but contracts of work and are in place to provide consistent service delivery, which is monitored and evaluated against the needs of the Redbridge population and specific outcomes.
When the current contract for Redbridge Disability Association was last formally reviewed it was made clear to them that the Council would require a different specification that focused more on Advocacy as well as some information and advice. The Council have a duty to look at who can provide these services through the tendering process.
Council Officers have met with representatives of Redbridge Disability Association and have discussed in detail this process and what is required of them over the interim period. We are currently awaiting a proposal from them on how we could work in partnership to deliver an extended advocacy service.
The allocation of money for this contract is available and will be used to fund priority services through a provider who meets most closely the changing needs of Redbridge residents.

And here is the ReDA January Newsletter:

We have received the following from LB Redbridge.
“As previously indicated LBR no longer wish to commission the information and advice service from your organisation.
We are prepared to commission an advocacy service from ReDA covering people with a physical disability but only on a short term basis prior to going to tender for a longer contract.”

So what does LBR mean by "advocacy" that is different from what ReDA already do? And why only physical disabilities? Does anyone know?

Physician Heal Thyself

Redbridge LINk is an acronym which stands for Local Involvement Network. It is all about having patient forums that provide a "link", get it, between service providers to the NHS, the NHS itself and patients?

Trouble is the link seems to be broken, or it is only operating on a one-way basis. Because our local NHS Trust do not appear to be listening to the residents and keep coming up with the same proposals we fought against last time.

Mind you they do make a good show of appearing to listen. But then they are obliged to have a “consultation”.

So, as well as our coffee morning on 21st January these Link people have set up 3 more meetings with a 4th to be decided.

• Thursday, 14th January 2010, 6pm-8pm – Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broomhill Road, Woodford Green
• Thursday, 21st January 2010, 1pm-3pm – RedbridgeCVS, 3rd Floor, Forest House,16-20 Clements Road, Ilford
• Thursday, 28th January 2010, 1pm-3pm – Fullwell Cross Library, 140 High Street, Barkingside
• February 2010 – King George Hospital (date and time TBC)

Take your pick, take a megaphone, and make sure you write it down in triplicate in BIG letters.

Inside Out

EXCLUSIVE: The design of the new toilet at Fullwell Cross has been leaked. Outside view on the left, inside view on the right.

That’s correct. It’s made of one-way glass!