Forum Topic

How could anyone vote against our current Council?

Ignoring Boris Johnson please. Yes I know this is a left wing forum. Can anyone give me a reason why one would vote against what is widely known as the best run council in the Uk?We are basically the envy of the rest of the UK - Cost wise we are half majority of councils and significantly better run. Labour councils either bust or double the cost.Services are phenomenal. You only have to drive round Merton and Lambeth etc to see that roads are full of mattresses and fridges left out for weeks.I've asked for pot holes to be filled. Done within a week. Graffiti on bus stops. Cleaned within 24 Hours. Both times.Free disposal of unwanted large household good as well as refuse collections that are weekly not two weekly!!The High Street that everyone loves to hate. Resurfaced this week. Pavements widened after vast majority requested on a survey. Only for the moaners to say they want something else. Crossings made safer from adjacent roads. De Cluttering of all sign board etc etc. More electric charging points, that everyone wanted but barely anyone uses!Best state schools in London.Councillors with business brains.Councillors that respond to requests.What's not to like?

Nick Gulliford ● 1382d96 Comments

"There must have been an invasion of  “Woke Folk”Into our lovely Borough!"This is a local election, for local people; there's nothing for you here:-https://tinyurl.com/mpf7ryrpOutsiders!

David Ainsworth ● 1347d

Hey Nick!How is it the Liberal Left have now ( MP& Council) taken Putney?There must have been an invasion of  “Woke Folk”Into our lovely Borough!Shame!

Vic Condon ● 1347d

interesting but perhaps not all that relevant to Wandsworth Council elections. In response to the original question, it seems a number of people obviously found it easy to vote against the then current council?

Michael Ixer ● 1348d

"Webbe appealed against the conviction and the appeal hearing commenced at Southwark Crown Court on 19 May 2022. Her appeal was dismissed on 26 May 2022, though her sentence was reduced to eighty hours of community service, and compensation to the victim reduced from £1,000 to £50. The judge found that Webbe had not "made a threat to throw acid over" the woman. The reduced sentence means that she will not be at risk of losing her seat following a recall petition from her constituents." (Wikipedia)"The judge found that Webbe had been “clearly under great stress” at the time she harassed Merritt, who had a close relationship with her former boyfriend, Lester Thomas.Taylor said the court found Webbe had not “made a threat to throw acid over” Merritt.Hundreds of messages downloaded by police from Merritt’s phone, which suggested an intimate relationship with Thomas, had not been disclosed to the defence during Webbe’s original trial.As a result, the appeal downgraded the offence from Category A to Category B3, and a level B fine. There were no costs awarded against Webbe.However, the political career of the former Islington councillor and one-time senior adviser to London Mayor Ken Livingstone still lies in tatters.Even though the reduction in sentence means a recall petition is not triggered, Labour said they would be pushing for one anyway.Social media today was still carrying accusations that Webbe had threatened to throw acid on Merritt, even though there was no evidence offered to support this claim.Webbe was found to have made a large amount of silent calls to the victim, a 59-year-old executive assistant, over an 18-month period after she was consumed by jealousy over Thomas’s relationship with Merritt.Paul Goldspring, the original judge, imposed a 10-week suspended sentence while sitting alone without a jury or any supporting magistrates.Webbe suffered horrific racial abuse on social media throughout the trial."https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2022/05/26/claudia-webbe-loses-appeal-but-has-sentence-massively-reduced/

David Ainsworth ● 1348d

I agree with you Michael (Ixer) I also rate Fleur as an excellent constituency MP from my own experience.

Lucille Grant ● 1370d

I read that museums aren't something that Thatcherite libertarian councils think they should be investing in.  They like to reduce the size of the state as much as possible.It's a shame that Wandsworth don't pay the London Living Wage and is Social Care being fully supported?  I remember the problem being how little Councils pay for it.  Does that include Wandsworth?  I read that there was a local home care company heavily criticised on the front page.  When you don't have enough staff it is difficult to cover all clients. In our experience (elsewhere) time allocated per client often isn't enough and time spent travelling from one client to another isn't taken into account although by law it should be and often isn't paid for.  Then there is the surprise that breakfasts run into lunch when surprise surprise everyone seems to want their breakfast at the same time and their lunch at the same time.  It took a carer one complete hour to wash dress and give breakfast and pills to our aged and mobile but slow parent.  Just imagine how much worse it is if you arrive to find a client has fallen and needs an ambulance!  It's high time that social care was far better funded.  The older carers tended to be far more conscientious than a lot of the younger ones who could so easily be distracted by better offers of a day out and may not turn up. Remember the minimum wage per hour for youngsters is much less than the amount usually quoted which is for older workers.  Many clients did not have landlines which was the system originally used by carers at one time to check in with their HO so that everyone knew that a carer's visit had been carried out,

Philippa Bond ● 1370d

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-we-get-wrong-about-local-elections"It's the bins, stupid" !Bill Clinton

John Hawkes ● 1370d

Yup, (sadly) agree.  Very tempted to vote against the current Council but to "shoot oneself in the foot" locally to try and get a message across to the National Government seems a little daft and counterproductive.  Anyway, I suspect that enough voters in other Boroughs will get the `anti-Johnson` feedback to Westminster but perhaps at relatively less sacrifice of their local Council advantages!

Roscow Lucas ● 1371d

HiLocal authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2021 to 2022 budget  - Government statistics But it appears people don't care how it's funded !!

Lynne McNulty ● 1372d

Interesting essay from Clapham Junction Action Group:-https://cjag.org/2022/03/14/understanding-the-lowest-council-tax-slogan/#more-10461which links to another article by them:-https://cjag.org/2021/08/05/property-developer-contributions-are-a-cash-cow-for-wandsworth/#more-9635

David Ainsworth ● 1372d

Message removed following complaints by other users

Thomas Jones ● 1372d

I can't find numbers on this either but I'm not convinced that business rate retention is the key reason for council tax being so low in Wandsworth. Low rates predate the reduction of councils being allow to retain some of the business rates collected.Wandsworth obviously got a leg up when the current council tax system replaced the rates as an exemplar council but has retained the low rates due to good financial management/swingeing cuts in services (delete as appropriate). I don't believe central government has too many levers to pull to 'punish' Wandsworth's voters for switching to Labour.

David Parker ● 1373d

"Surely the highest quality services at the lowest cost is what we all want."And we don't care where the money comes from? Sadly, you may be right.

David Ainsworth ● 1374d

Mr Ainsworth"Don't care where the money comes from as long as I pay as little as possible". Then you must be a Conservative voter.---------------------------------------------In the local Council election I probably will be for the reasons I have pointed out and as you note above.But by your logic does a Labour voter want to pay as much as possible !Surely the highest quality services at the lowest cost is what we all want.

John Hawkes ● 1375d

Mr Hawkes. Just to clarify: I was only referring to Wandsworth issues and the three Labour MPs we now have in Wandsworth: Fleur Anderson, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Marsha de Cordov. I have noted before that although those standing described themselves "local" Conservatives I haven't heard them explain what that means. I don't recall them dissociating themselves from Johnson or saying that they'd resigned from the national party when they spoke at the recent hustings? The cynic in me suspects it's "blue washing" for electoral purposes? :-) What I was suggesting was that (without clarification that they were different from the central party), firstly, there could be an influence over the local councillors in the same way that Ms Greening was seemingly forced out of her position as a candidate in Putney; secondly, organisational culture is normally set at the top, so a positive dissociation from Johnson's Partygate activities by those standing as "local Conservatives" would be helpful. I think it's what marketing people describe as limiting brand damage?

Michael Ixer ● 1375d

"Don't care where the money comes from as long as I pay as little as possible"Then you must be a Conservative voter.

David Ainsworth ● 1375d

Hello Lynne,I cannot find information that confirms your statement.  Could you please let us have the source of your information, please?Thank you

Ivonne Holliday ● 1375d

Mr WinstanleyDon't care where the money comes from as long as I pay as little as possible for quality services.And I feel even less guilty as over the last 50+ years I have paid all the income tax, VAT, NI and other such taxes that I was required to.

John Hawkes ● 1375d

Mr IxerYou seem to be claiming that local Conservative councillors act in the same way and to the same standards as does Boris Johnson.Do you have proof of this ?In fact did I not see that they seem to be distancing themselves from him by calling themselves 'Local Conservatives' ?Surely in any election one should vote on the issues that the authority in question can actually influence.For me, not a natural Conservative, that means the local issues and how effectively and efficiently services are delivered.Everyone knows that Wandsworth under the Conservatives delivers better services for half the cost to the electorate than does adjoining Labour run Merton or Fulham.So why on earth jeopardise this by being involved in a pointless protest vote against Johnson ?And as regard an 'excellent crop of female Labour MPs' does that include Claudia Webbe, suspended from the party whip in September 2020 after being found guilty on 13 October 2021 of threatening to throw acid at her boy friend's new lover . It was reported that District Judge Paul Goldspring, the Chief Magistrate, said her evidence was "untruthful", and that her defence was "vague, incoherent and at times illogical".

John Hawkes ● 1375d

A cynic might suggest that the threat of higher council taxes is genuine, since if Wandsworth turned Labour, a Conservative government would not make it such a favourite for central government cash.People forget (if they ever knew) that across the country, three quarters of council funds come not from council tax but from central government - and thus from income tax, VAT, NI and other such taxes.

Michael Winstanley ● 1375d

does rather depend on which bit you live in - and which bits of the council you've engaged with/read about. Can you tell me why they get the 2nd highest 'retained income from the rate retention scheme' in London? They do like to heap praise on themselves for low CT but neglect to mention this.

Lynne McNulty ● 1375d

Sue, it's not a question of hating Johnson or not understanding the difference between local or national elections. I was just stating realities. I did not wan Johnson as PM because his track record of deceit meant there was a strong likelihood of a scandal occurring such as Partygate; one could also argue that he lost the Putney constituency to Labour because he hounded out a good constituency MP, Ms Greening (not that I care as we have another excellent MP in Ms Anderson who I know from experience with a specfic matter is working extremely hard for constituents); finally, for all the bluster, he hasn't completed Brexit: the Northern Ireland situation hasn't been resolved, visas for musicians and other artists touring Europe is still a problem, and Rees-Mogg has just delayed - possibly abandoned - import controls on goods from the EU, which seems to give an advantage to EU exporters? Agreed, not a local issue but it doesn't give one a warm feeling about overall competence of Johnson's party, does it?

Michael Ixer ● 1375d

It seems to be a recurring theme in posts here about the local elections that people are apparently "too stupid" or "do not have a brain" to realise that the local election is not the same as a national election.I posit that those keep saying this are pretty stupid themselves. Any voter is perfectly capable of telling the difference and perfectly capable of deciding for themselves on what basis and upon what issues they will choose to cast their vote.My own view, as I have made clear previously is that the so-called "local" Conservatives remain a part of the national party, whose leader is the serial liar Boris Johnson. I do not "hate" him, viscerally or otherwise, it is simply that he is unfit for office and continues at almost every step to demean that office. Whilst Johnson remains in office I will take every opportunity to vote against his party (in my lifetime, I have voted Conservative more often than any other party). This is the only language his party will ever understand. The so-called "local Conservatives" have every opportunity to disassociate themselves from his leadership and call for his resignation themselves. Absent that, they are tarred with the same brush.Once he is gone, I can vote Conservative if I choose in future in local elections if my weekly bin collection is withdrawn or if my council tax should creep up - though given that a local referendum is required if councils seek to raise these above a tiny threshhold*, this might be a long time coming.*NB Some people might be too "stupid" to tell you about this.

Michael Winstanley ● 1375d

Unfortunately Vic there are many people who are too stupid to separate local government from central government issues or will let their visceral hatred of Boris influence their vote. I know of at least one on this forum.

Sue Hammond ● 1375d

This thread is interesting. It shows that the Conservatives are seriously worried they're going to lose Wandsworth to Labour. That does seem quite likely given the shift to Labour in recent parliamentary elections, which seems to have resulted in an excellent crop of female MPs.  If they were worried about it they should have ditched Johnson when it first looked like he was misleading parliament? It may be a local election but we all know those lower down follow the ethics of their "leader" unless they've been vocal about opposing him. 

Michael Ixer ● 1375d

"a “Get Boris out” Thong!"A very apt way of campaigning, I'd say. It would get attention.

David Ainsworth ● 1375d

Bravo Nick, if Voters are  that stupid  to Vote Labour in, they will be throwing their hard earned Money down the Drain.We are SO Lucky to have the best Council in England. PLEASE don’t blow it , it’s a Council Election Folks , not a “Get Boris out” Thong!

Vic Condon ● 1375d

Nick, I agree that Wandsworth Council offer great value and do not think that a Labour-run council would be better value, but let's not kid ourselves that Putney is perfect. The new wider pavements are a huge improvement but inadequate cleaning leaves them a grubby, sticky mess. Wandsworth councillors should be sent on an awareness course to Europe (virtually anywhere would do), to see what a clean street looks like. To see the sort of town that also offers residents and visitors 24-hr public toilets, without relying on McDonalds to do that for them.

Bill Christie ● 1376d

"Anyone using their vote politically is an idiot or someone who has loads of money"If local council elections aren't political events, why do the candidates represent political parties?Anyways, I expect those people who have brains will be able to decide for themselves on the issues as they see them. Were you expecting people without brains also to read you post?

Michael Winstanley ● 1377d

Local councils determine the quality of our lives, the efficiency of the rubbish collection and garden refuse, ease of parking, noise pollution AND cost of same.  Anyone using their vote politically is an idiot or someone who has loads of money.Go visit friends out of the borough and listen to the horror stories in Twickenham (Richmond) of the petty rules about recycling or the massive expense of Merton.  I wanted to move to Richmond but that was a decider for me to stay with Wandsworth council.  Vote Tory if you have a brain!

Jenny Featherstone ● 1377d

This government treats everyone with the same contempt as 19th century mill owners viewed their workers ... first the Windrush group wait for compensation,  now the Post Office sub postmaster waiting for compensation,  Sunak doesn't care about the peasants while the energy bills rise,  he's ok ... https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252516273/Post-Office-scandal-victims-still-waiting-for-compensation-a-year-after-convictions-overturned

Michael Ixer ● 1379d

Michael,There is a good article here from 2019.It depends what model they use. Some just setup a new company and the staff retain their existing often poor renumeration packages.Others bring in-house including benefits. I would image the former is more common but no idea. The article gives an example of each.It is difficult to work out true savings with outsourcing as lots of costs are hidden and quality needs to be considered. Also outsourcing just like relocation may just be used as a means to reduce staff on preferential benefits such as indexed pensions.So I think we agree on some stuff perhaps just not the Blair legacy :)https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/29/bringing-services-back-in-house-is-good-councils

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

The Tories are so 19th century. Return to Dickensian times. And you worked in innovative work practices as well. Why don't you come out & scream I haven't got over brexit & spare us the rest of your drivel about your supposed working life?

Paul Rolink ● 1380d

I think you are just agreeing with me. Though it would be interesting to see any actual examples of in-sourcing. The local council isn't going to re-emply bin-men on index-linked pensions any time soon, nor do the voters want ths.

Michael Winstanley ● 1380d

A bit more detail here on outsourcing 2000-2010:PPP DATABASEStrategic Service-Delivery Partnerships• ICT and corporate services• Planning and design• Highway services• Waste and environmental services https://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ppp-strategic-partnerships-database-2010.pdf

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

"For sure the Labour party would not have pro-actively pursued a policy of out-sourcing council services over the last 30 years and we would have paid more council tax as a result."Michael the trend now in both Labour & Conservative council is to bring some services back in house. Probably more to do with the Carillon collapse than ideology.But outsourcing happened under Blair and obviously increased under the coalition."The legal attack on inhouse local government provision was simply a supporting instrument in the broader ideological assault on government, trade unions, regulation, and public services. In 1997, with the election of Tony Blair, some new conditions were placed on outsourcing. But the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) locked in central governments to long-term government contracts, with surprisingly scant evidence ofeffectiveness.The Local Government Act 1999 introduced a ‘best value’ framework, which required local councils to achieve “continuous improvement” in functions.22 It allowed for the Secretary of State to make an order clarifying that a matter considered by local government should no longer be deemed a “non-commercial consideration”, and it repealed aspects of the compulsory competitive tendering regime. But it also authorised ongoing contracting-out could by local authorities."https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Democratising-Local-Public-Services.pdf

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

Just having a quick peek at wikipedia, the majority of London councils are Labour controlled, as are the majority of metroplitan borough council throughot England.The amount of council tax will partly be a function of the demographic make-up of each andneeds of borough, along with the efficiency of the local authority in providing services.The idea though that somehow a Labour controlled council would be incapable of discharging its duties efficiently though I find rather quaint. How come nationwide, in metropolitan areas, other populations have not recognised these unique administrative abilities of Conservative Party members and voted them in with huge majorities.For that matter, how come our local Conservative councillors, possessed as they are of such amazing adminstrative abilities are not working at the highest level in various management consultancies and London-based multinationals? The truth is they are a bunch of Tory party hacks. For sure the Labour party would not have pro-actively pursued a policy of out-sourcing council services over the last 30 years and we would have paid more council tax as a result. The cupboard though is now fairly bare. Services are cut to the bone. This isn't so bad for the typical Wandsworth voter as we are a very affluent area. But unless the Labour Party is proposing to cancel contracted out services or something and re-employ bin-men on index-linked pensions or something, they are hardly a threat to my way of life. Johnson on the other hand..............

Michael Winstanley ● 1380d

Bell Pottinger was an interesting firm.

David Ainsworth ● 1380d

A merger of this nature takes years to complete and whilst it was started in 2016 there were existing external contracts to complete, staff consultations, TUPE considerations, operational matters, redundancies etc all which take time.One thing about the Councils audit committee is that it is generally an uncontested committee on political grounds and agrees the codes of practice, transparency etc on an annual basis.Protection of whistleblowers is a Council agreement .From a personal point of view one has to be sure whistleblowers are indeed that and not mischievous staff with an axe to grind. But true whistleblowers are protected.

Andy Pike ● 1380d

A planning department with a council attached seems a better descriptionhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/13/home-builders-lobbyist-pushed-council-leader-to-sort-and-speed-planning

Matt Palmer ● 1380d

Thank you Andy for clearing that up I shall have a dig.I just add that the merger did happen in 2016.That said some public limited companies take decades to merger their procedures and some never achieve their intended synergies even after CEO have cashed their shares.But this still leaves a poor transparency E rating concerning planning which is more borough specific.Again, I may have missed it but I'm not seeing anything specific from the opposition to improve this.https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/article/13561

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

It was actually about poor procedures. When the 2 Councils merged services the facilities management at Richmond was outsourcedcatvthat time. To combine the 2 units the outsourced element was TUPE transferred to Wandsworth and a single service set up. The previous private sector ( richmond) management team were installed to manage the overall group.The 5 ( and it was 5) staff members who were suspended had failed to use the established wandsworth procedures on procurement and were actually operating outside of the rest of the council.procedures. the whistleblower from within the group ( a wandsworth employee) brought the matter to the attention  of senior managers and hence the suspensions. Whilst suspended 3 officers resigned and 2 others did so at a later date. There was no evidence strong enough for criminal proceedings but a new management team were appointed and procedures significantly tightened up.All this is availble in the open papers of the councils audit committee meetings.

Andy Pike ● 1380d

Andy the articles clearly state that they  worked for both WBC & Richmond shared services and under the shared management.It is not clear looking back if it was one or serval incidents, as the number of employees seems more to change from from 5 to 3.Fraud is difficult to measure but does cost the UK billions each year.How rare it is is even more difficult to measure but what we can say is prosecutionI'm not saying it would be any different if under Labour. As already said neither party seems to have much transparency when it comes to corruption and protecting whistleblowers.

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

I have never been to a club or voluntary organisation committee meetings.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1380d

It was 2019.

Andy Pike ● 1380d

I could be wrong but I seem to recall this was 2 or 3 years ago. Thankfully it is pretty rare and I recall in thus instance it was Richmond staff that were marched out of ghd building .

Andy Pike ● 1380d

No impartiality in a political situation.these are elected councillors it's somewhat different to a club or voluntary organisation.

Andy Pike ● 1380d

Sorry Ivonne,one pdf was from transparency.org.uk the other was just a media report on the recent audit following the facilities scandals:"Facilities Management Service 'open to error and fraud"https://www.wandsworthsw18.com/page/shared/common/ldrswandcouncil013.htmhttps://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/five-marched-out-over-fraud-claims-at-wandsworth-and-richmond-councils-a4281476.htmlhttps://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/3-west-london-council-bosses-18718434

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

Were the attachments meant to be the same?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1380d

Wandsworth seem to score a poor E (20-39) rating in this document:"Assessing corruption risks in local government planning".(100 being best, 0 the worse)Westminster got a D (40-49).With reports of corruption in the facilities department, I would like to know what the opposition policy is on protection whistleblowers and transparency?Neither party has a particularly good record on encouraging and protecting whistleblowers.Isn't about time that changed?After all we all pay for corruption!"The issues were brought to the attention of the council thanks to a whistle-blower, who remains anonymous."https://www.transparency.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Permission%20Accomplished%20-%20TIUK.pdfhttps://www.wandsworthsw18.com/#!pages/shared:common:ldrswandcouncil013

Ed Robinson ● 1380d

Having broken his own rules, Boris could never legitimise another lockdown as he obviously believes lockdowns don't work.I am not letting the national politics influence my vote locally, doesn't make sense at all

Penelope Becker ● 1380d

Hello Andy,That is news to me.  Of all Committee Meetings I have attended (not Council ones by the way), the Chairman's responsibility is to direct proceedings and guide members whenever need be.  But never votes.Of course the chairman is an elected member of the Committee.  Otherwise, he could not be elected to the Chair.But a Chairman voting blows away the element of impartiality the Chair should maintain.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1381d

How could anyone vote against our current Council? - Simple - all they ned is a sense of decency and an abhorrence of political liars.

Clifford Cowell ● 1381d

Of course the chairman gets to vote he is after all an elected member of the Committee. It happens on all Committees at WBC and at any other Council that I gave ever been to.

Andy Pike ● 1381d

weekly rubbish collection are necessary as long as recycling levels are low.Or is it the other way round?There is a cost element to incinerator as opposed to recycling. Has focus been lost???This is from Feb 2012:"From April 1, this year, it will cost the council £136 per tonne to send waste for incineration, but only £77.50 per tonne to deliver co-mingled recyclables to a sorting plant in Smugglers Way - so every tonne residents divert from their dustbins to the orange sacks or banks saves £58.50."https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/article/11031

Ed Robinson ● 1381d

Ha ha ha!!! Michael W that is very funny!On a more serious note, I do think that WBC is doing very well when it comes to weekly rubbish collection.My problem with WBC is their Planning Committee.I was following one of their meetings on Zoom last year.  The subject they were discussing was put to a vote and, to my horror, the Chairman (yes, it is a man before anybody shouts!) voted too!  Impartiality where?  Needless to say the Chairman is a conservative councillor and the matter had financial implications for the Council.  His vote was not, however, the deciding vote.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1381d

If the Conservative Party is so great at dealing with/disposing of rubbish, why is Boris Johnson still its leader?

Michael Winstanley ● 1381d

"But at least with a labour Council we'll be safe in our nuclear free zone if Russia decides to hit London."But with Boris' Conservative government we are now rather more likely to be involved in such a war with Russia.Which, I agree, is somewhat strange when you remember how recently the Tories and Johnson have been so Russian oligarch-friendly.

David Ainsworth ● 1381d

Barking (where else!),have areas that you can be fined if you are walking a dog but do not have any means of cleaning up. They target specific areas with an issue such as parks etc.Sounds sensible to me. The important thing is they are trying to tackle the problem rather than just putting up signs and saying job done.https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/london-borough-you-could-fined-19086526

Ed Robinson ● 1381d

But at least with a labour Council we'll be safe in our nuclear free zone if Russia decides to hit London.

Andy Pike ● 1381d

What's not to like? Well, for a start is Wandsworth's dismal record on doing nothing about pollution, despite endless boasts about "London's greenest borough" - and I hope no one tries to claim credit for the improvement from hybrid buses, since it was TfL that introduced them, not Wandsworth, despite their dishonest claims. And the improvement from hybrid buses was four years ago, and there's been no significant reduction since then in NO2 levels in PHS, despite their being over 50% above the legal level. As for their action to combat the climate emergency, there isn't any.

Richard Carter ● 1381d

Inclined to agree with you Nick, left wingers hate Conservative successes, rubbish collection is exemplary, and weekly collections are a rarity in most boroughs, only beef I have is Putney BID, do nothing at all except put up a bit of bunting here and there, and the dreadful parklets that have cause huge amounts of anti social behaviour when located in Montserrat Road, BID is unelected and seems ineffective in getting businesses back

Penelope Becker ● 1381d

no comments on their failure to stick to their 2018 manifesto promises then Nick?

Matt Palmer ● 1381d

I thought it was investable that the left wing forum would go on about Boris. Rather than our efficient cost effective council.Maybe we need to get some members of Labour boroughs to explain how they are all in debt or bust to realise just how good we have it .Not one person has mentioned that we have some of the best state schools in UK. Majority of you rabbit on about litter. I make my commute past the road sweepers every morning so you’re talking rubbish! I know you want the bridge knocked down like Labour Hammersmith to solve pollution . So move To Hammersmith and swim to work to save our environment.

Nick Gulliford ● 1381d

Of course, another reason for not voting Tory is that they're so 19th century.  Nadine Dorries doesn't seem to understand the Internet and Res Mogg doesn't get Modern work practices or people management:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61202152#aoh=16507499775998&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24sI first trialled remote working so an investment mamager could advise clients from a beach in Dubai circa 1999; I know many who have worked from home very effectively during the past 30 years (I've done it myself to get reports written without interruption) - and, let's be honest, Steve Shirley of the FI (now Xantra?) was pioneering WFH to promote female equality in the technology industry in the 1970s.Forget Johnson's lies, it seems a vote for the Conservatives is to support Ress-Mogg who doesnt understand the modern knowledge based economy - it's delivered results thst count, not lying around on the office (or parliamentary) benches for eight hours  that counts: he wants to return to Dickensian times!

Michael Ixer ● 1381d

It's also interesting that Justine Greening was replaced by Fleur Anderson who, if I remember correctly, was also pro remain and supported Sir Kier in having a second referendum once the lies about Brexit were becoming apparent. Still that's all history ... until we rejoin :-) I see some Brits are complaining about being blocked from crossing from Gibraltar to Spain: what don't they understand about controlling borders? I suppose they may have voted to remain but all they need is a return ticket or to prove sufficient funds to get through Spanish immigration controls. (I believe some UK regions have also received less in support grants from the UK government scheme to replace the EU  one: sad ...

Michael Ixer ● 1381d

I agree with you Michael.  I believe Putney (and Wandsworth on the whole) voted overwhelmingly to Remain (as did most of London for that matter). I remember clearly that Justine Greening was unhappy with Theresa May's deal as she thought it was unworkable.Justine Greening always remained true to her convictions and those of her constituents, at least, the majority of them.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1381d

To be fair, I don't think Ms greening ever went "anti Brexit", I think she was always for remaining in the EU and just kept with her belief in it.

Michael Ixer ● 1381d

I had great admiration for Justine Greening ahe helped me when no one else was interested  However when she went anti Brexit that was a step too far, for myself and for many others

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1381d

Another storming environmental record, annual recycling league table for England - 330th out of 338!https://www.letsrecycle.com/councils/league-tables/2020-21-overall-performance-2/

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/8364955.Boris_Johnson_celebrates_museum_opening/Blighted from the start.

David Ainsworth ● 1382d

"How much would it cost to gave an enforcement officer in every road"I would assume they would be mobile like the new radar speed signs :)You target an area - prosecute then move on to the next problem area.It is strange how they can ticket a car without have one for every street.

Ed Robinson ● 1382d

I agree. But what happened to cameras?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1382d

But the council promised in it's 2018 manifesto to bring in new enforcement measures.

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

EdHow much would it cost to gave an enforcement officer in every road to catch the speeders, the dogs crapping, the fly tippers , the double parkers  the illegal parkers etc.You bang on about enforcement but you'd need a private army in every borough.

Andy Pike ● 1382d

It would be nice to look up at the trees as you walk.Unfortunately you have to look where your feet are going.There is dog crap on the pavements everywhere - no enforcement as usual!When was the last WBC prosecution I wonder??

Ed Robinson ● 1382d

Well at least someone is happy, I am not. The High Street is revolting, the fixes sometimes take months, not days, Putney is not a very safe area anymore etc.But hey, I don't fancy the labour taking over at all. Which is now a distinct probability.

Marc Blanchard ● 1382d

How can anyone?Put an X next to any candidate from any party not led by Boris Johnson. It is the only way they will ever start to listen.A majority will.

Michael Winstanley ● 1382d

So one needs to be able to drive there with bulky items - not very green or fair on those unable to drive?

Michael Ixer ● 1382d

PaulIf you wont vote for a party that supported lockdown it's only the raving looneys that are left.

Andy Pike ● 1382d

Oh thanks Nick.How much is a time machine btw 🤔

Ed Robinson ● 1382d

Nick. Ms Anderson seems to be doing an energetic job as our local labour MP. I know she's doing a great job, including engaging in cross party liaison, on the cladding issue and I've no reason to believe she isn't making great strides on the other issues she's pushing for. So if those standing as Labour council candidates do an equally good job I'm feeling positive. Of course, Ms Greening was also a good constituency MP but wasn't she pushed aside by Johnson and his rabble thus losing Putney to Labour? The Tory party just needs to accept having a duplicitous liar for a leader is bad news, as it is for the UK. Some of us did point that out before the last general election. Just get a leader with integrity and the arguments will be about policies.

Michael Ixer ● 1382d

Andy. Haha your a funny guy…. whens your next performance. P

Paul Beer ● 1382d

See my post about the 2018 manifesto Ed

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

"How could anyone vote against our current Council?"Sticking up 20mph signs and then telling people on their web site that they are not going to enforce them. Madness.Wait - pledge two for West Putney Ward. Double the signs that displays you speed that will apparently tackle rat runs and speeding across the ward. How does that work? What nonsense. Why put 20mph signs up if they do not believe in making the speed 20mph?Sounds like they have run out of ideas.

Ed Robinson ● 1382d

Ed, Bring your bulky rubbish for free to our Mega SkipsPublished: Friday, February 18, 2022Mega Skip day is back this month due to popular demand from residents. On Saturday 26 February residents can throw out any of their large household waste items at nine locations across the borough for FREE.

Nick Gulliford ● 1382d

2018 manifesto — for discussion.
No clue on the affordable homes promise — anyone know? Electric car charging points on every road — erm, well that didnt happen — although to be fair i'm not sure anyone expected it and they have indeed expanded a lot.
Safe roads — not sure on the first two points but as Ed has often pointed out there's still zero enforcement of the 20mph zone.
Great schools — admit i don't know — anyone?
Greening neighbourhoods — 1,000 trees ever year!? As i recall the last published figures (2020 i think) were 500 new trees planted but 400 mature trees felled. Extra support — judging by comments from parents that i've heard it sounds like services for SEN kids have been cut across the board — happy to be corrected though Low tax — yup ok. Improved air quality — air pollution certainly dropped during the pandemic when people weren't travelling. They did spend £20k on the 'tree' on the high street that according to the Putney society has 'had no noticeable effect on air pollution'. The current pollution levels on PHS are 6 times the WHO legal limit and the council is refusing to publish the data on 2.5 particulate levels till after the election....hmmm

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

"Free disposal of unwanted large household good"Nick WBC website seems to disagree unless I have misread it?"For residentsCharges for residents:Minimum charge (up to four items): £20.60Each additional item: £9.20. Up to three standard sized refuse sacks will be charged as one bulky item"https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling/bulky-waste-and-diy-waste-collections/standard-bulky-item-collection/

Ed Robinson ● 1382d

Been like this for weeks now, photo doesnt really capture the depth but you really have to avoid it when cycling as it's a real hazard. Was reported to the council over 6 weeks ago by a neighbour who co-incidentally spoke to a crew that was filling a pot hole elsewhere. They told him that they had been cut from 6 teams down to 1.

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

Still not one person has given me a reason as to how Labour would do better.The council have worked extremely hard getting the BID and undertaking all the work that the local public Survey requested! The M and S is due to go to a retailer sometime this year . Watch this space. Please no mention of Boris as stated!

Nick Gulliford ● 1382d

You may well ask. Someone did ask at about the possibility of a new museum in Wandsworth opening at the recent Thamesfield Election hustings, only to receive an indeterminate reply from Councillor Locker. The previous Museum at Wandsworth shut several years ago and all the items apart from the De Morgan artifacts which are now at the Watts Museum are in a basement in Westhill. Should you feel like jumping off a dolls house when reading this explanation which clearly gestures to a the lack of interest in the history of arts and culture displayed by the Council there are a number of dolls houses amongst the items that are stored at Westhill!

Miles Thompson ● 1382d

Why is Wandsworth one of only three London Councils without a Museum?

Caroline Whitehead ● 1382d

So its the raving loony party for you Paul.seems apt.

Andy Pike ● 1382d

It is all or nearly all too wonderful... However, what about the the much commented upon lack of 'convenience's that our High Street suffers from? Which ever party wins the coming Council Election could delight and indeed relieve Putney residents by partitioning off those troughs of dead ivy which flank the front entrance of the old Marks & Spencer building. An eye catching sign could then be placed above said M&S entrance - 'Urinals This Way.' (This idea was inspired by the use that was made of the old Halfords doorway opposite M&S a few years ago.)

Miles Thompson ● 1382d

Why did Wandsworth council support the unlawful lockdown rules closing schools, and businesses, I can’t vote for any party that supported the emergency covid act it did nothing but harm….

Paul Beer ● 1382d

The reality is, Nick, that the Conservative Party will interpret (or maybe spin) any positive results for Conservative candidates in these elections as a vote of confidence in Boris Johnson. Here are some quotes from the Daily Telegraph: "Local elections also give a good indication of the general mood of the country towards the current government and the Prime Minister." "You can rest assured that Boris Johnson will anxiously await the results of the local elections to see how his party is performing at a grassroots level."and finally..."The big litmus test for Boris Johnson this year will be the London borough council elections."So if the Telegraph isn't ignoring Boris Johnson, why should I?

Jim Cleary ● 1382d