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LISTER
ON PUTNEY
Edward
Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth
Council and a member for Putney's
Thamesfield ward.
 The
council's 'excellent' rating in the first-ever nationwide
league table of town hall services would have been even higher
if ministers had added a rating based on the level of council
tax charged.
Although
our funds are being squeezed by shifts in Government funding
to
northern cities our residents still enjoy the country's lowest
council tax.
So
while the verdict delivered this week by the Audit Commission
- the public spending watchdog - was welcome it still fails
to tell the true story of Wandsworth's achievement.
It's
always a nightmare getting behind the complex formulae used
by inspectors to arrive at their decisions. But the simple
fact is that no council can score highly unless its education
and social services departments are in tip-top shape.
That's
why the news that Wandsworth is now officially 'excellent'
is so important to local people.
Congratulations too to pupils and staff at our Putney schools
who continue to dominate the borough's own league tables.
Eleven
year-olds sitting their key stage 2 tests at Our Lady of
Victories scored 100 per cent in all three subjects. It is
the fifth time in the last six years that the school has recorded
a perfect score.
Hotham
School were hard on their heels in third place with All Saints
at Putney Common just a point or two behind. Brandlehow
and St Mary's also featured strongly at the top end of the
table.
Finally
the news that the council has had to step in to maintain services
on Roehampton's Alton estate will have come as a relief to
many residents.
In
recent months there had been growing concerns from local people
about the services provided by the independent company responsible
for managing the 3,500-home estate. The
council's auditors will now want to get to the bottom of how
the organisation got itself into such serious financial trouble.
For
the housing department the immediate priority is to get on
with the job of making sure estate cleaning and repair standards
are brought back to the level enjoyed by residents in other
parts of the borough.
Edward
Lister
elister@wandsworth.gov.uk
28th
November 2002
A
week of great achievements as both the Council and many of
Putney's schools exceed in their individual grading systems.
Whilst the failure of a resident management organisation (RMO)
gives the Council concern.......Cllr
Lister's Diary
Cllr
Lister is not cheered by the Queens Speech nor the Chanmcellor's
pre-budget statement..........Cllr
Lister's Diary
Cllr
Lister's Diary declares war on fly posters, and draws
our attention to Connexions investment in Roehampton.
anti-third
runway meeting bonfires and planning alert system.........Cllr
Lister's Diary
Busy
October 2002..........Cllr
Lister's Diary .
Redevlopment
of Roehampton Rec, the completion of Ashlone Wharf plus taking
up the baton for a link between the Rail station & East
Putney Tube........Cllr Lister's
Diary .
Local
impact of government housing policy, crime and news on Richmond
Park......
Cllr Lister's Diary .
New
Surgeries - a new ways to meet your councillor plus the Leader
expresses his concerns over the news of gun crimes in Putney
..... Cllr Lister's Diary
Jubilee
celebrations, the 3 star service offered by Social Services
and name change for Lavatory Gardens ...Cllr
Lister's Diary.
The
state of the NHS in Putney and the fight against night flights
....Cllr Lister's Diary
Pedestrian
saftey - especially around schools and Neighbourhood watch
.... Cllr Lister's diary
CAR
TAX DODGERS DRYBURGH RD DEVELOPMENT ROBIN HOOD GATE AND NIGHT
FLIGHTS..............Cllr
Lister's diary
Church
cheer, wharf worries and Richmond Park relief - Cllr
Lister's diary.
Cllr
Lister speaks against the Dryburgh Rd plans, the threat
of clsing Pen Ponds to traffic and litter.
The
Postal Service, Richmond Park and Council Tax changes are
all on Cllr Lister agenda.
Cllr
Lister comments on the current planning furore, pigeon
mess, cctv and policing.
Cllr
Lister writes on Pensioners Freedom Passes, good news
re Hotham School, development progress at Ashlone
Wharf and aircraft noise from Heathrow
Airport.
Recent
visit to the Leisure Centre was less than enjoyable - see
forum.
Cllr
Lister writes on the new school for the area, housing development
and Heathrow.
Cllr
Lister writes on developments at the Putney School of Art
& Design, The Leisure Centre and the excellent league
results for local schools.
Tony
Colman MP for Putney speaks about current local issues
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