Kingston Conservative Councillors

Recent Press Releases:

29th June 2010

Kingston Magistrates' Court Under Threat Again!

News that Kingston Magistrates’ Court is yet again under threat of closure has been met with disappointment and dismay from the Conservative Group.

The court rooms, which are situated underneath the Guildhall and have been in operation since the building opened in 1935, have been earmarked as one of 157 around the country deemed ‘underused and inadequate’ and could face closure in a drive towards a ‘more modern fit for purpose justice system’

The Borough has three levels of justice operating in Kingston; the Crown, County, and Magistrates’ Courts. The provision of Courts in this Borough goes back at least 400 years. The closure of the Magistrates’ Courts could lead to the disintegration of an efficient administrative unit to be replaced only with extra work and travel for an over stretched police force, and inconvenience for residents.

Were the courtrooms to be permanently closed, cases would be heard in the magistrates’ courts of neighbouring towns and Boroughs, such as Richmond, Wimbledon or Staines, meaning many Kingston residents would face additional expense and inconvenience as they are forced to travel across south-west London in order to see justice dispensed. It could also potentially lead to fewer police officers on the Borough’s streets as they would be required to leave the Borough every time they are needed to attend court.

Conservative Leader Cllr Howard Jones, himself a former policeman, said that the Conservative Group believes whole-heartedly with the principles of localism and the local agenda, and expressed his concern at the prioritising of financial issues, adding ‘we believe in local justice for local people and expecting justice to be at the whim of economic pressures is a slippery slope.’

27th May 2010

Kingston Conservatives Support Tenant-Led Stock Transfer

Kingston Conservatives have demanded that the Executive Member for Housing implement their strategy for tackling the problems affecting Council Housing in Kingston. They further questioned the value of spending over £100,000 on consultant’s fees to test the opinion of residents when a previous, council-led survey had already returned a resounding conclusion.

Last year, the Lib Dems commissioned a consultation on the future of the council’s property stock, in which a variety of outcomes were considered, including a transfer of RBK’s properties to a benevolent housing association with the funds to carry out the immediate major improvements that many of our estates so badly need. Yet, with the returned results, the Lib Dem Administration bottled any further discussion on the options that were then available.

Additionally, the Council ran its own survey of council tenants in which a majority revealed that they would support a transfer to a new landlord if all their tenancy rights were protected and it led to improvements to their homes, this is a position largely supported by the Kingston Federation of Residents Associations.

Kingston Conservatives are determined to work closely with The Kingston Federation of Residents Associations, to ensure inclusive resident representation and support, and to guarantee a fully open consultation on the issues that concern residents most, such as tenancy rights and legal security post-transfer. The Federation of Resident’s Associations under a Conservative administration would have been given resources and expected to play a lead role in ensuring a satisfactory future for all Council tenants and leaseholders.

Councillor Dennis Doe, Shadow Portfolio holder for Housing, said ‘The Administration should be ashamed of the conditions many of its residents live in, and with the ever-increasing number of requests for repairs or urgent renovations, coupled with tightly constrained budgets, an alternative solution must be found. Our Group proposed a coherent strategy for Council Housing in the elections. We offer it to the Executive Member for Housing for implementation immediately.’

April 2010

Traffic Flow Scheme Vetoed by Lib Dems

A permit scheme by Mayor of London Boris Johnson designed to give councils the power to turn down or refuse roadwork schemes has been shunned by the ruling Lib Dem administration in Kingston!

The London-wide scheme makes it a criminal offence to carry out road-works above a certain threshold without permission. Twenty-five London boroughs have already signed up; meaning three quarters of all roads in the capital will be covered by the permits by early next year, allowing for a reduction in the 36% of traffic delays caused by road-works in London.

However, Cllr Bob Steed, Executive Member for the Environment, has said despite the ‘current problems’ blighting the Royal Borough’s highways, he is still ‘not quite sure of the benefits’ of the scheme. He has refused to sign up to the code and said ‘we want to see how it goes.’

The Conservative Group has pledged to re-evaluate the scheme if they are elected in the forthcoming local elections. Leader Cllr Howard Jones said ‘Interminable traffic jams and hold ups caused by road-works result in increased carbon emissions, angry motorists, and damage the local economy. We see no good reason for the Administration’s refusal to sign up.’

London Assembly Member for South-West London Tony Arbour has questioned why the Lib Dems would ‘rather play party politics than join the Mayor in working to cut road-works.’

Kingston Conservatives respond to Age Concern Kingston’s Election Manifesto

Kingston Conservatives have been fierce champions of issues that affect older people in Kingston. Councillor David Fraser has stood up for the users of Hobkirk Day Care Centre in New Malden against personal attacks by the Lib Dem Leader of the Council. We have as a Group also always welcomed Age Concern in Kingston and recognised the outstanding work the organisation does.

We believe that the Lib Dems are wrong once again in not recognising the increasing elderly population of the borough. They failed to see the increase in birth rate and now they ignore the growing number of older people. They say we are getting younger in Kingston, many may wish that to be true but when you exclude our ever expanding University population, the remainder both at school age and those in retirement is on the increase.

We need to be more imaginative in how we work with older people and organisations like Age Concern. We need to help people stay independent and able to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. We also need to plan for a new generation of Care Homes to replace Hobkirk House and Newent House that are now showing their own age and need updating. We also want to address the growing problem of older single people not having access to places where they can socialise with others. One local doctor said “There are far too many single older people, waiting behind their front doors to die”. We need to address this and provide more activities in Kingston and not less for older people.

We have addressed your concerns as expressed in the spring edition of Agenda:

Health and care

Age Concern say: Increase investment in preventative measures now, thus saving money on treatment and care in the long run. In addition to this, more funding should be put into

dementia research. Join up health and social care services to create a fully integrated, accessible service and support the voluntary sector to help people to stay independent and in their own homes for longer.

Kingston Conservatives say: We support your views on more preventative care and research into Dementia. We will on a local level look to merge more of our social care services with those of NHS Kingston. In the Long Term we believe NHS Kingston should become part of the Council which would allow us to develop even better services and reduce costs that can be reinvested in new and innovative support to our residents. We passionately believe that everyone should be given the support they need to stay independent and in their own homes for as long as possible and we will support the voluntary sector and work with NHS Kingston to achieve this aim.

Society for all ages

Age Concern say: Create more opportunities for contact and support between the generations in order to strengthen community cohesion and tackle negative perceptions and stereotypes. The balance also needs to be redressed to make older people as much of a priority as the younger generations.

Kingston Conservatives say: We welcome this suggestion. We will invite Age Concern and the Youth Council to meet with the Conservative Executive Member for Community and Well Being to discuss how we as the Council can work to with both Age Concern and the Youth Council and other organisations in the borough to address the issues raised.

A Councillor will be appointed as an advocate for older people’s concerns and interests and will be charged with raising awareness of the issue and to make sure that the Council acknowledges the needs and gives the same priority as shown to other members of the community.

Support for voluntary sector

Age Concern say: Local authorities should more actively support voluntary organisations such as Age Concern Kingston to enable them to support older people and the local community.

Kingston Conservatives say: We have already pledged in our Manifesto towork more closely with the Voluntary Sector and help build capacity to meet the demands that will be made upon it.

Retirement age

Age Concern says: Scrap the default retirement age and replace it with a flexible, phased approach to retirement. Forced retirement is ageist and leads to a loss of skills and talent.

Kingston Conservatives say: We understand this point of view. Councillor David Fraser is 82 years old and has no plans to retire either from the Council or his job with Surrey County Council as a social worker.

Carers

Age Concern say: Increase support and benefits for carers of older people and older carers and improve access to treatment for early stage dementia, which severely affects carers.

Kingston Conservatives say: The Conservative Party has national policies that address these concerns for carers. We have always been supportive of the Kingston Carers Network and will do all we can to support carers of older people and older carers.

We will review the access for early treatment for early stage dementia and work with NHS Kingston to make any improvements that can be made.

Pensions

Age Concern say: Increase the state pension and link it to national average earnings.

Kingston Conservatives say: This is our national policy and we understand the financial pressures on older people’s incomes. We will do all we can on a local level to freeze the costs of services for older residents and work with Age Concern and others to expand the access to services that can be enjoyed and are affordable to use.

Information and advice

Age Concern say: Support people to make their own choices by improving access to advice and information.

Kingston Conservatives say: We will develop a new day care service for our older residents. It will have as its aim the provision of places to meet, talk, relax, and be entertained, but also somewhere to seek advice and help to enable the enjoyment of life in retirement. We want elderly residents to live independently for as long as possible.

Housing

Age Concern says: Kingston council housing stock is very old and private housing is expensive. Affordable, quality housing is desperately needed to ensure people have the choice to remain living independently.

Kingston Conservatives say: We agree that our Council owned housing stock condition is poor. Working with development partners we have plans and we will seek to address this issue in the next four years.

End discrimination and abuse

Age Concern Say: Bring the ban on age discrimination in the NHS into immediate effect rather than waiting until 2012. Tackle ageism in the workplace and in the media and bring the campaign against elder abuse into the mainstream.

Kingston Conservatives say: We will add our voice to this concern locally and we will also look to how the Council behaviour and how the Council can provide leadership to all local employers on this point, stopping age discrimination in the Royal Borough of Kingston.

Improve public transport

Age Concern say: Create a more accessible, joined up transport system and better and more reliable door-to-door and community transport through consultation with older people, as set out in the winter issue of Agenda. The withdrawal of Capital Call and the Kingston Enterprise has had a severe impact on older people’s mobility and has increased their sense of exclusion and isolation and needs to be tackled urgently.

Kingston Conservatives say: Conservative Councillor Ken Smith has been actively reviewing the provision of specialist transport for older people. We will work with the Mayor of London to ensure we have the best possible services.

Safety and security

Age Concern say: Improve safety and security for older people both inside and outside the home by tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and improving the environment to reduce the risk of falls and increase accessibility.

Kingston Conservatives say: We share your concerns and have several pledges to address the issues you raise. We will have one Conservative Councillor in charge of Crime Prevention, Licensing and Enforcement, something the Lib Dems refuse to do. We will work with the Local Police and Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, to increase the number of police on our streets. We will respond to the wishes of local people and tackle anti-social behaviour as a priority. We will improve the security of our Parks and Green Spaces. We will show zero tolerance toward those who spoil our neighbourhoods with graffiti.

Adult education

Age Concern say: Redress the balance to make adult education as much of a priority as youth education and make lifelong learning accessible and affordable for all.

Kingston Conservatives say: In our Manifesto we have already pledged to protect and develop our Adult Education Services to ensure access for as many residents as possible. We agree that it has to be given a greater priority both locally and we will lobby for better funding from Central Government.

The Conservative Housing Policy for Kingston: Our Council Owned Homes

Kingston Conservatives believe that the last eight years have been the worst in living memory for our residents who live in council-owned homes. The Kingston Federation of Residents Associations, which represents all council tenants and leaseholders in the borough, recently highlighted the Council’s own admission that nearly one in three of all its council homes are in such a poor condition that they fail the Government’s own very lowly ‘decent homes’ standard.

Conservative Councillors have campaigned for years for action to be taken. The Lib Dems have repeatedly blamed the Labour Government but have done nothing to resolve the problem. Their failure to work with our tenants and leaseholders has resulted in endless meetings without any progress being made.

Last year, the Lib Dems spent over £100,000 on consultant’s fees testing the opinion of residents before bottling any further discussion on the options that are currently available, such as transferring its properties to a benevolent housing association with the funds to carry out immediate major improvements. Yet the Council’s own tenants’ survey revealed that, when asked if they would support a transfer to a new landlord IF all their tenancy rights were protected and it led to improvements to their homes, a MAJORITY said they would!

Following next month’s election, a Conservative Administration will immediately open negotiations with the Federation to agree a timetable for them to jointly put together a business plan that will support a tenant-led stock transfer. We will also consider a funding package that will give them the resources they need to build up inclusive resident representation and support. This funding will be linked to achieving agreed milestones on a path to the ultimate transfer of housing from RBK being completed during 2012/13.

We will not exclude anyone from the process and guarantee to consult openly and fully on the issues that concern residents most, such as ensuring the maintenance of all tenancy rights including their legal security to continue living in their homes after ownership is transferred. This process will be led by tenants and fully supported by a Conservative-controlled Council.

Councillor Ian George, Shadow Housing Spokesmansaid: “We cannot go on like this. It’s a disgrace and heart breaking that so many of our council tenants are asked to live in such poor housing conditions. It is also disheartening for our officers who do their best to handle the ever-rising tide of requests for repairs and renovations when their budgets are so tightly constrained.”

Councillor Paul Johnston, Chair of the Housing Consultative Committeeadded: “We need to work with council tenants and leaseholders and listen to them more. Both we and the Federation are determined to help residents take the lead in resolving their own housing needs. The question of future ownership has to be resolved if we are to unlock the much needed investment that is available through other social landlords, before we see our council estates crumble into even further decay.”

Kingston Conservatives announce Kingston Olympic Festival 2012 (27^th July – 12^th August 2012)

The 2010 London Olympics will be a once in a life time opportunity to our residents and for the borough to enjoy the experience together. The Kingston Conservatives have been working on two proposals. The first proposal is to make sure every school child gets to visit either the Olympics or the Paralympics once and the second proposal is to stage “A Kingston Olympic Festival”. We will discuss and develop our final proposal with the Kingston Youth Council and other community organisations and consult with residents on which of the Borough’s Parks we would be the location for the Festival. Parks to be considered are Fairfield Park (Kingston Town), Victoria Park (Surbiton), King Georges Park (Tolworth) or Manor Park (New Malden) Recreation Ground. The London Olympic Games Organising Committee wants to work with all London Boroughs. We hope theseOlympics will make Kingstonians feel good about themselves!

The Kingston Olympic Festival 2012.

For the duration of the London 2012 Olympics, the chosen Park would become known as Kingston Olympic Festival Park during the Festival. Within the park we propose:

· The Kingston Olympic Festival Screen & Stage - a large mobile LED screen backing onto the central pathway. Our proposal would be to use a mobile big screen unit with stage that can drive into the Park.

· The Kingston Olympic Festival Arena - a central track/field for activities

· The Kingston Olympic Festival Quarter - a walled, temporary structure along the boundary of the park

· The Kingston Olympic Festival Activity Area – a series of Exhibition / trade stands running along the park boundaries

There will be events for residents every day of the 17 days of the London Olympics. We would hope people of all ages and abilities will take part, from nought to ninety. We will aim to ensure all events are fully inclusive and accessible, we will work with any groups of individuals or organisations who would like to submit entries or teams.'

The programme will encourage local high level sports achievers, clubs, facilities and schools to come together. We can offer an ongoing opportunity to try, inspire and engage young people who currently see neither the point nor have the opportunity to develop a passion for a particular sport'.

Personal Well Being and Health issues are a growing concern and this Olympic Festival will give the Royal Borough of Kingston a great opportunity to promote sports and other related healthy activities. Holding events throughout the day will also allow people of different ages to take part, from mums and toddlers, to the over 60’s as well as school children and adults.

Holding an event of this sort also provides other benefits such as promoting sense of community and civic pride in your local area. This event could be limited to sports alone, but the scope has been widened to include the arts as well to allow a wider community base to participate.

Cllr Howard Jones said “The Olympics are almost upon us and we felt it was an opportunity not to be missed. There are so many great things we can do together. This could also be viewed as a community cohesion project in which we can share cultures, learn new sporting interests and skills, become a little healthier and enjoy the spectacular of one of the greatest sporting events together; the Olympic Games in London! We have taken advice from professional and experienced event organisers who have reviewed the feasibilities and given us both a plan and a budget for making these proposals a reality.

The Council will have to seek approval from the London Organising Committee but we are confident that they will find our proposals acceptable. Lord Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee said “We have always been clear – we want London 2012 to be ‘everyone’s Games”.

The funding will come from sponsorship, commercial revenues and the use of specific funding for Health, Culture and Sports promotion already allocated in the Council Budgets. We are delighted that subject to our proposals being approved CNM Estates have agreed to be the principle sponsor. CNM Estates have supported the Rose Theatre in the past. CNM Estates support means we can be confident that we can stage this Festival and do so without increasing our budgeted spend on Health, Sports and Cultural funding in 2012/13. This is exactly what we mean about making the most of every opportunity for our borough!”

Wahid Samdy, Chairman of CNM Estates said “This is exactly what I have been advocating for the last two years! I was delighted to see that someone had listened to my plea for Kingston to make the most of having the Olympics in London. We have been pleased to support the Rose Theatre and delighted to announce that we will support the staging of a Kingston Olympic Festival in 2012. I have young children myself and I want them to have wonderful memories of when the Olympics Games came to London. These proposals will help everyone feel part of this great sporting event and I hope have memories to treasure for years to come. I am committed to making Kingston a better place to live and this will be a pleasure to support.”

KINGSTON CONSERVATIVES ANNOUNCE THEY WILL CREATE A NEW CULTURE QUARTER IN KINGSTON

Kingston Conservatives will create a new Cultural Quarter in Kingston Town Centre if elected on the 6^th May.

The area to be designated as the Cultural Quarter will embrace the start of the High Street to the West, the River Thames to the North, St James/ Union Street to the South and Clarence Street to the East.

The Cultural Quarter will bring together the Rose Theatre, All Saints Church, The Coronation Stone, the Ancient Market. Charter Quay and The Guildhall Complex together. We will then work with landowners to develop further cultural uses. These may include specialist shopping, a new hotel, venues for Visual Arts, performance of music as well as further growth in new restaurants.

The Conservative Group will look to relocating the Central Library, Kingston Museum, and the Kingston Art Gallery in the Guildhall Complex and returning our Borough Archive back from the North Kingston Centre to central Kingston along with new facilities for the Voluntary Sector and Adult Education. We would also like to consider moving the Registry Office from Norbiton, so couples can to be married in the heart of Kingston Town. While no location has been identified, the need to bring services together will be part of the Conservative Group’s drive to reduce costs but improve the quality of facilities and services available to residents. The relocation costs would be covered by the rationalisation of the space currently used.

The Conservative Group believe that the Cultural Quarter will help further build a critical mass of cultural and night-time activity to enable the theatre to grow commercially stronger and stand artistically and commercially independent in a new and vibrant heart of all our cultural activities throughout the year

Howard Jones, Leader of Kingston Conservatives said “The Cultural Quarter will help build and strengthen the cultural and night time economy around the Rose Theatre and go some way to helping the theatre increase in popularity. The Council needs to bring our cultural services together. We know that officers would welcome this investment and it will provide space to move other complimentary services together. This is a positive and Imaginative way to bring together all our cultural activities; it will increase access for our residents; and create a true Community Hub for the whole Borough.“

A New Environmental Centre for Kingston: A place to learn, to inspire, to examine, to innovate and change the way we live for the better

In the last decade we have grown more aware of the effects we have on our own environment. This is not just about how much each household recycles but about the way we travel, the designs of our homes, the technology we use to help us achieve more in our work or entertain us when we are home.

The Quality of Life we have come to enjoy in Kingston, with the River Thames, Richmond Park and the close proximity to the countryside, is one of the main factors why people move to our Borough. Understanding our environment better and learning how to protect it for future generations is the very least we can do. If we can foster this growing awareness to reduce still further our energy use, and re-use more of what we currently waste, we will not only make the Borough a better place to live but we will also save money.

Kingston is home to some of the most innovate people in London. Through use of new technologies and services we want to create jobs in the Environmental sector that will strengthen the quality of local employment in Kingston and thus reduce the need for travel for those it employs.

The Council can do much more than it currently does. Working with Borough residents, Council employees, partner organisations and suppliers we can lead the way in adopting new working methods and innovations. What is needed is a venue where all those who have a shared interest in protecting our Environment and those who can innovate and use new skills and equipment can come together under one roof.

Kingston Conservatives know that a new centre can only work if it is supported by the all the interested organisations and individuals who care, campaign and are actively seeking to improve our environment. We also know that the Council has an important community leadership role to encourage all of us to make positive changes to how we live our lives. With the Green Budget and establishing a new Environment Centre we will demonstrate how important we believe the Environment is to us.

The first step will be for us to host a conference at the Guildhall this summer to agree with all interested parties what we want from such a new centre. We then need to establish who would be interested in taking an active involvement in its development and form a Project Steering Group to lead the development forward with Council full support.

We believe this “bottom-up” approach is the only way to create something that everyone in the community will feel reflects their own concerns on the environment. It is also key to ensuring that the final organisation created has the support it needs to be sustainable in the future.

The work of The Save the World Club, Kingston Friends of the Earth, The Community Furniture Project and the recently launched Transition Town Kingston all reflect our Borough’s growing awareness for our environment. We hope that all these organisations, and other who are working in the Borough will come together and join us in making this project a reality. We also hope that Kingston University and Kingston College will become involved in respect to developing Research and Innovation programmes. The commercial sector will not be excluded as the creation of new jobs and industry will be an important feature for us to achieve.

The Environment is not just about greenhouse gases and landfill. It is about changing the way we live and finding new ways to do things that cause less harm in the future.

Cllr. Howard Jones, Leader of Kingston Conservatives said “It’s true, my generation have enjoyed ourselves whilst often not realising the effects we have on the environment around us. The debate on climate change often clouds the issue that none of us want to do harm to the world we live in. As a Council we do need to do more and I hope all of you that care about the future of our planet will join us in creating something special that will encourage us all to do more to protect what we often take for granted, our Borough and our Environment.”

Zac Goldsmith, Parliamentary Candidate for Richmond Park said “We can be one of the greenest boroughs. We have strong local environmental organisations, and people here understand the need to protect what’s important. By showcasing the best technology, fuelling research and encouraging a rethink, this Environmental Centre will provide a major boost.”

Have your Say on the Future of New Malden Town centre

Kingston Conservatives want you, the residents of New Malden, to have your say on the future development of the Cocks Crescent. After recent developer-led planning applications, Conservative-controlled Malden and Coombe Neighbourhood wants to bring residents into the debate on how to make the most of this important opportunity, so that together we can strengthen the very heart of New Malden and leave a positive legacy for the future.

Getting your views first, and allowing you to help create a vision for the Council and landowners to work towards, will ensure that the future regeneration of this important area will be achieved with the communities' support, and not at their cost. The Council-owned Crescent Resource Centre and the Causeway Centre are outdated and need replacement. The Council also owns the Blagdon Road Car Park and the Malden Centre. These sites, together with those in commercial ownership, have the potential to create a new and exciting development that will strengthen and reinvigorate New Malden.

To guide and advise us we invited the New Malden-based company of Architects and Master Planners, Mountford Pigott, to look at the opportunities and produce a range of suggestions for residents to consider. The aim we set them was to provide ideas that would start a meaningful debate, and help us all see what might be achieved. These discussions would then help us compile a Development Brief that truly reflected the aspirations of our residents. It would also ensure that the Brief was firmly based on what was possible and not on impossible dreams.

Mountford Pigott has now had the opportunity to look at how the Council-owned land and neighbouring properties in Blagdon Road could be regenerated. They have created three illustrative options for the public to review and debate. A new Conservative Administration intends to begin a process of community consultation based on this work. The consultation will lead to an agreed Community Development Brief which can be used to guide and inform potential developers.

The three options have common links: each includes a new Library and a new Crescent/Causeway Centre (to replace the two outdated facilities), and retains the existing Malden Leisure Centre in its current form. Each option then explores different design solutions, such as converting the former Spillers building into apartments; providing a digital cinema; and building a new food store and other shops and offices.

Cllr Patrick Codd, Chairman of Conservative-run Malden and Coombe Neighbourhood said "This area is at the very heart of New Malden. We have already had one developer-led proposal which we considered unacceptable. We are pledged to keep services in this location, and we intend to honour that pledge, but we consider it vital to the success of any new development that residents have their say, and have it early in the design process. Mountford Pigott are wonderfully talented, and the three options they have devised for the public to debate are excellent and refreshingly innovative starting points. We will encourage potential developers to join us in this process, and work with us in creating a new and vibrant heart for our community."

Alan Gaskell, Senior Partner of Mountford Pigott, said "Being based in New Malden, it was a revelation to us that there was a park in Blagdon Road. We think there is huge potential in redeveloping this part of New Malden for residents. We have had years of experience with major regeneration projects in other parts of the country and have found the key to success is to engage the public from the very beginning. We are delighted to have helped Councillors and we hope our work will lead to a genuine public debate which will see the beginning of something very exciting for the future of New Malden Town Centre."

31st March 2010

Conservative Support for Kingston Hospital Unequivocal

Kingston’s Conservative Group last night reemphasised its unmovable support for Kingston Hospital by amending a Lib Dem motion which then passed unanimously.

The motion, which came after a report on the Health Overview Panel meeting on 24^th February where the issue of unit closures at Kingston Hospital was discussed, stated that the Council thanks the HOP for scrutinising the issue and calls on NHS London to immediately publish the ‘South West London Strategic Plan’ document. The Conservative Group successfully argued for a fourth point to be added, that ‘We [the Council]unequivocally support Kingston Hospital and we will not support any loss of services, especially maternity and A&E.’

These alterations were accepted by the Administration and when put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

Conservative Group Leader Cllr Howard Jones later said ‘I hope that this finally puts to bed the Lib Dem scurrilous nonsense about the Conservative Party’s attitude to the NHS and our Councillor’s and prospective MP’s support for maintaining services at Kingston Hospital.’

Conservative Shadow Health Member Cllr Paul Johnston added ‘We entirely endorse the motion, as passed with our amendment. We have always unequivocally supported Kingston Hospital and the services it provides, and have never, ever said anything to the contrary. We will oppose anyone who seeks to reduce services or close units at the Hospital and furthermore we have the support of both Conservative Parliamentary candidates, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley and our Party Leader David Cameron, for whom the NHS is an absolute priority.’

24th March 2010

Raven's Ait Scrutiny

At last night’s Scrutiny, it was alleged that the Council accepted an offer of a fifty year rental for the much sought-after Raven’s Ait at a quarter of what they had been offered by other applicants!

The island has been the focus of some controversy since the council decided back in the summer of 2007 that it was ‘surplus to requirements.’ Since then, inadequate security arrangements have led to squatters occupying the Ait for over two months back at the beginning of 2009, followed by an outcry over the amount spent on protecting the island from further invasion, reported in the Surrey Comet as £10,000 per month! [1]

It was also revealed that the buildings and facilities on the Ait are in need of ‘substantial investment’, especially if local community groups and organisations are to make use of the resource after a bid has been accepted.

Conservative Leader and Scrutiny Panel Chairman Cllr Howard Jones said ‘I’m pleased that the Sea Scouts have been given the opportunity to remain on the island and I hope the facilities they use will be upgraded. However, I’m not quite as certain about the community-use arrangements. I would’ve preferred to see something more substantial in place to ensure that the Borough’s Youth and other organisations could be guaranteed the opportunity to use the facilities.’
[1]20 – 26 November 2009 issue, page three

1st March 2010

Too Little, Too Late

Kingston’s Liberal Democrat Administration was criticised by opposition Conservative Councillors at last night’s Budget Council after it was confirmed that an eighth successive council tax hike would be implemented.

Conservative Leader Cllr Howard Jones tabled an amendment that would’ve reduced the Liberal Democrat’s hike from 1.9% to 0.8%; they rejected the amendment. He said that Kingston again has the unhappy reputation for the highest council tax throughout the country. ‘We are still paying the highest Council Tax in London and residents expect value for money; instead we know from surveys that 74% of residents were dissatisfied with services and the Audit Commission found the Council meeting only minimum requirements in managing finances and managing resources. It is certainly a time for change in Kingston”

Questioning why it took so long for them to identify savings and efficiencies, Conservative Cllr David Cunningham said that when it came to the financial aptitude of the Lib Dem Administration, he was firmly in the ‘Too little, too late camp’. ‘Why an examination of potential savings wasn’t initiated earlier is anyone’s guess. This could’ve been started a long time ago – but, unfortunately, this Administration wasted valuable time, and now we find ourselves in a position of too little, too late. I believe they’ve displayed an innate inability to act quickly or decisively in controlling the Borough’s finances and spiralling debt.’

Cllr Nick Kilbyalso responded to a Lib Dem frontbencher’s claims that she found the tabled Conservative motion ‘depressing’, by saying, ‘Residents are the key here. Everything we do should be aimed at them, and I’m more interested in our residents and the financial hardships most are experiencing than I am for the Administration’s depression.’

Cllr Paul Johnston also took the opportunity to remind the council that the 1.9% rise delivered so‘proudly’ by Lib Dem Leader Derek Osborne would have been‘shot to bits’ were it not for the freezing of the London precept by Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson.

Conservative portfolio holder for education, Cllr Dennis Doe, said that inaction is symptomatic of this Administration. He reminded the Chamber that back in 2007 he advised the Executive that a new secondary school would be required in the Borough, but his recommendation was publicly rubbished and he was accused of scaremongering for using such important issues for political gain. Now of course, they have conceded there was a need and a new school is to be built in North Kingston.

26th February 2010

Conservatives Call for Elevation in Status of Kingston Youth Council

Conservative Shadow Member for Youth Participation, Cllr Nick Kilby, today called for the official meetings of the Kingston Youth Council (KYC) to be added to RBK’s official timetable of Council meetings for 2010/11.

He said 'We should give the Kingston Youth Council the same status that all official committees of the Council are afforded. If we are asking the younger members of our community to take politics seriously then we need to show them that we take them seriously.'

One of the principle aims of the KYC is to enable young people, living in RBK, and aged between 13-19 to discuss current themes and issues that are relevant to them.

Cllr Kilby was joined by Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Howard Jones when they took part in the recent Youth Council Shadowing programme, which they hoped had been as beneficial to the 'shadows' as it had been to the Councillors.

23rd February 2010

Scrutiny of Ravens Ait Sell-Off!

After the Lib Dem Executive’s recent decision to dispose of Ravens Ait, the Conservative-run Scrutiny Panel has declared its intention to call-in and examine the process.

At last week’s Executive meeting, it was announced that council officers were to be authorised and instructed to complete the matter as soon as possible, by leasing the property, with vacant possession, to Stewart Marine who run Hart’s Boatyard opposite the island.

This comes on the back of a botched deal, dating back to November last year, when local hotel chain Hotel Antoinette reduced its original offer then backtracked on the revised amount and offered a sum significantly below the lowest bid received when the island was first marketed.

The Scrutiny Panel will look into the disposal process used by RBK, question whether the Executive considered relocating the popular Albany Park & Sailing Centre to the island, review the island’s proposed use, and, crucially, scrutinise the process which resulted in the Executive accepting a lower financial offer than many received from some of the interested parties.

The Panel will issue the call-in on the basis that the papers circulated at the Executive lacked the required detail on which a decision of such importance would be made. The island is an asset owned by the residents of the Borough and it is essential, in the interests of transparency, to ensure the very best of value is achieved, both financially and in terms of community-benefit.

Conservative Cllr Nick Kilby said ‘I would question whether we have done all we could to explore the opportunities. If the whole package has this level of community use then it is a very different financial deal than what was proposed originally.’

20th January 2010

Conservatives Endorse Business Rate Retention Bid

Conservative Leader Cllr Howard Jones last night threw his support behind the suggestions submitted to the Local Government Authority under the Sustainable Communities Act on behalf of the Council. Speaking after the full council meeting last night, Cllr Jones emphasised the Conservative Group’s support for the proposals to keep a proportion of the business rates collected which could in turn be ring-fenced for investment elsewhere such as in programmes that contribute to economic and social sustainability locally. He said ‘We welcome this proposal which has been made on behalf of the Royal Borough. We see this as an important move which also fits in well with our localisation agenda. Indeed, we have been pressing the administration to do something about business rates in the Borough for some time.’

Cllr Jones was also keen to commend the Act itself, which was introduced to Parliament by then Shadow Local Communities Minister Nick Hurd. It was seen as a response to growing concerns that community decline was in acceleration following the loss of key local provisions and ever-increasing government centralisation.

Cllr David Cunningham, Shadow Portfolio holder for Planning & Regeneration added ‘If the council is successful in its bid to keep some of these rates, it will allow extra funding to be ring-fenced for local needs. I support the proposal and feel fortunate to be able to bid through the Act to begin with.’

20th January 2010

Administration Finally Concedes Need for New North Kingston School

For at least the past two and a half years, the Conservatives have been calling for a new school in North Kingston, a campaign started by Cllr Dennis Doe and supported solidly by local parents.

In 2007, Cllr Doe produced irrefutable evidence that, in the north Kingston area alone, the foreseeable population growth required a new school. His figures were rubbished by the Lib Dems. In conjunction with concerned local parents, they even petitioned the Council’s Executive as far back as January 2008! Now, more than two years on, they agree that 16 new Secondary Forms of Entry are needed across the whole Borough.

It has now been confirmed that a new Co-ed, non-Selective Secondary School will be built in North Kingston, and that the priority for capital to finance the building has been agreed by Government. This school will take the majority of the new pupils in North Kingston, who will need the school in a few years time, and others who live nearby will have the choice of joining a revamped Grey Court Secondary School, with whom Kingston officers are working closely. Local help is also forthcoming, and will be offered by the neighbouring Tiffin Girls School. Finally, the entirety of the school will be on the North Kingston Centre site, not split with older pupils attending a 6th form block which would replace the Hawker Centre. Cllr Doe felt congratulations should be offered to the Council Officers who have got us this far, at long last, and added that the only concern is that we would prefer the school to be limited to 6 forms of entry per year.

Parents, residents, and Cllr Doe have all been left wondering, ‘Why did it take so long?’

6th January 2010

LGO Report Exposes Administration’s Cover Up

Lib Dem leader admitted at last night’s Scrutiny they drastically need to improve on their handling of complaints.

Response times are a great deal longer in Kingston than most other authorities in the UK with an average response time of 78.8 days. The actual response time should be 28 days!

The Conservative led Scrutiny Panel made it clear this situation was not acceptable and people need a speedy resolution to any complaints they have made. Cllr Nick Kilby said The resources of the organisation must meet the demands put upon it.

The Local Government Ombudsman said he had no alternative but to consider certifying that the Council’s Chief Executive is in contempt of the High Court where the significant delays amount to obstruction of his investigations.

Conservative Leader Cllr Howard Jones said The Lib Dems have never brought the Ombudsman’s report before the Executive, never mind full Council. This is yet anotherexample of an incompetent administration, incapable of efficiency. This report only came to light because of the diligence of a Conservative Cllr.

Lib Dem Leader Cllr Osbourne then performed an embarrassing u-turn as he pledged to ensure that future reports and letters from the LGO will be put before the Executive.

This move was welcomed by Conservative Cllr Kilby who added It should never have taken this long, but we are happy that these important performance indicators will become shared information in future rather than simply be buried to avoid the negative publicity.

14th December 2009

Full Steam Ahead for Station Cleaning

Local Conservative Councillor Mary Clark last week met with the South West Trains (SWT) Estate Manager, Area Manager and the London Travel Watch Liaison Officer at New Malden Station to inspect the outcome of her complaint regarding the issues of poor cleanliness and public safety at the Station.

Consequently, SWT has now stepped-up their twice-daily cleaning regime which also includes a deep-clean every three months. SWT will ensure that the edge of each step is brightly painted after Cllr Clark also raised concerns over the poor visibility on the stairways. They will also repair a leaking canopy to prevent puddles forming on the platform.

The station management team have further pledged to notify the Council when their bins in the car park area need emptying as they pose a possible fire hazard with the build-up of litter that Cllr Clark witnessed on her visit.

Cllr Clark pressed the station management on the installation of a lift to the northbound platform and she has now been assured that New Malden is included in Transport for London's Access for All Scheme and the proposal date for installation will be discussed next year.

Cllr Clark has secured a follow-up meeting in two months time where she can check on the progress of these priorities and ensure their successful completion.

8th December 2009

Kingston Council Receives a 'Red Flag' Warning for Housing Needs

Kingston Council has received a Red Flag warning for meeting Housing needs, as part of their Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) produced by the Audit Commission.

Councillor Ian George, the Conservative Housing Spokesman, said: It is very disappointing that Kingston has received a red flag for notmeeting housing needs, although not surprising. At the last full Council meeting, the Lib Dem Leader gave his assurances that there would be no red flags for Housing.

The writing has been on the wall for some time as far as the current Administration’s management of Housing is concerned. They have failed to address problems for over 7 years now and it shows. Not only have they failed to meet Decent Homes standards, but they have failed to provide enough affordable housing and temporary accommodation to meet the needs of local residents. Consultation with residents has also been woeful, with residents not being properly informed or consulted.

Their recent press release on the Housing red flag, highlights their thinking. The Lib Dems seem intent on working with the Audit Commission to get the flag removed rather than concentrating on improving the service that they provide.

2nd December 2009

Lib Dems Late for School

At the Executive of 1 December we learnt that the Government, through the Partnership for Schools, would fund Kingston’s new school in North Kingston, - in principle. Officers now need to tender for the education provider who would run the new school and, in 12 months, present Kingston completed case to the Treasury to release the funds. This is marvellous news and all credit to our Council officers who have kept up a continual dialogue with the Civil Servants, then learning this week that their work has been successful. Councillor Dennis Doe, Conservative Education spokesman, praised the officers at last night’s Executive meeting.

But he demonstrated to the Executive that the North Kingston parents and he had petitioned the Executive to tender for the education supplier of a new co-ed school in North Kingston two years ago. At the Executive of 22^nd January 2008 that requested was rubbished. One reason given was “there is no local sustainable demand for additional secondary school places based on pupil numbers projections”. Now, 22 months, the Council believes it needs 15 new Forms of Entry across the Borough, not just the 4 or 6 the parent requested back in January 2008. If only the Executive had responded positively 22 months ago! We might have been a whole academic year ahead of where we are now. But we shall never know, now.

Cllr Dennis Doe also protested that the Executive agenda made no reference to Grey Court School just over the border in Richmond. One of the reasons for refusing the parents at the January 2008 Executive was “rebuilding Grey Court School as cross-border movement of pupils is key for Kingston’s future plans and provision” Cllr Doe argues that Grey Court is an important extra supplier of places for North Kingston pupils. Why was no mention made at all? Even Mrs Kramer, the Richmond Park MP, agreed that Grey Court should be considered. After last night I am convinced that our Education in Kingston is in good professional officers’ hands. But I question whether it is in safe political hands whilst the Liberal Democrats are the Administration.