Focus has had a massive response to our petition to get all our elected councillors to have a CRB check (now called a Disclosure and Barring Service – DBS).
Councillors are Corporate Parents to all our children in care and DBS checks should be for all not just a few.
The FOCUS Team says: If you want to click here to sign the petition. You may also see the team in the High Street collecting more signatures.
Leytonstone’s Fire Station
The Fire Station in Leytonstone High Road has been closed, and the FOCUS Team understands that demolition is due to commence in December, with the new station scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.
The Fire Engine and crews are stationed temporarily at Leyton Fire Station.
Facade of the planned new building
The tree stump in Midland Road has finally been removed and the footpath has been reinstated.
Waltham Forest’s Labour run Council has voted to give the Chief Executive of the Council a whopping inflation busting pay rise of £15,000 – an 8% increase.
This makes his salary £195,000! Even the Prime Minister only gets £142,000. Labour councillors said it was reward for overseeing council cuts.
Given that the cuts were a loss of 1,000 jobs plus salary cuts to the rest of the council staff should this have been rewarded?
On top of that, Labour councillors voted to give the redundant deputy chief executive a massive £140,000 pay off.
You can be assured that the staff who lost their jobs did not receive any golden pay offs.
Can you believe the way this Labour Council spends your money. Last year they increased the Deputy leader’s pay by 25%.
Your money down the drain
Focus will keep on reporting the arrogant and wasteful ways that this Council spends your money.
620 High Road
In the face of strong opposition from local residents the Gambling Act Sub-Committee approved the gaming licence for the planning Paddy Power branch at 620 High Road Leytonstone.
As previously reported the Planning Officers, under new legislation, have already refused an planning application for change of use to a betting shop.
Residents have raised the strongest possible opposition to the continued, apparently, avaricious advance of betting offices across Waltham Forest.
The last ditch in this fight will be decided in Whitehall if Paddy Power, as suspected, appeals the decision of the Planning Officers.
Transport for London has recently outlined its vision for the future of the tube which, amongst other things, proposes changes to ticket offices.
As the statutory consumer body representing the interests of passengers in and around London, London Travel Watch wants to ensure that any changes to the way that London Underground operates are in the best overall interests of consumers.
To ensure that this happens, they have been running a six-week consultation on their website to give passengers the opportunity to review TfL’s planned ticket office changes so that they can tell us what tickets they buy, any difficulties they foresee and the mitigation measures they would like to see implemented at their local stations.
London Travel Watch will then feed back the survey results to TfL to give them a chance to make any amendments before the changes are introduced.
620 High Road Leytonstone – site of planned Paddy Power betting shop
This week the council’s Planning Officers, under new regulations, refused the Paddy Power application for change oof use to class A2 (betting Office) for the premises at 620 High Road Leytonstone.
The reasons for refusal included:
- The proposal would result in the clustering of betting shop uses within a limited section of Leytonstone High Road, which would detract from the retail appeal of the area and fail to contribute to the Council’s regeneration objectives for the area thus adversely impacting upon the retail vitality and viability of this are contrary to Policy CS14 of the adopted Waltham Forest Local Plan Core Strategy (2012) and Policy DM25 of the adopted Waltham Forest Development Management Policies (2013).
- The proposed change of use would result in a cluster of betting shops which may lead to anti-social behaviour issues and increased incidents of street crime within the locality which could effect the health and well-being of local residents, contrary to Policies CS13 and CS16 of the Local Care Plan Core Strategy and Policy DM25 of the Development Management Policies.
The FOCUS Team queried the approval of the subsidiary applications for a new shop front, air conditioing and aerials. It appears that planning law does not allow officers to link applications, each has to be treated as individual requests, and there were no reassons for refusal.
It now remains to be seen whether Paddy Power decide to appeal this ruling.
The Liberal Democrats will keep you informed of any developments.
Waltham Forest’s Labour run Council has voted to give the Chief Executive of the Council a whopping inflation busting pay rise of £15,000 – an 8% increase. This makes his salary £195,000! Even the Prime Minister only gets £142,000.
Labour councillors said it was reward for overseeing council cuts.
Given that the cuts were a loss of 1,000 jobs plus salary cuts to the rest of the council staff should this have been rewarded?
On top of that, Labour councillors voted to give the redundant deputy chief executive a massive £140,000 pay off.
You can be assured that the staff who lost their jobs did not receive any golden pay offs.
Can you believe the way this Labour Council spends your money. Last year they increased the Deputy leader’s pay by 25%.
The Liberal Democrats will keep on reporting the arrogant and wasteful ways that this Council spends your money.
Your Money Down The Drain
Waltham Forest Councillors will no longer be the subject of checks to protect our vulnerable children and adults unless they meet them once a week or more than 3 days per month or between the hours of 2am and 6am.
All councillors are Corporate Parents to all of the children in Council care, so they should actively safeguard and protect those who are looked after. Abuse of children has now been shown to have taken place for many years in and out of Council homes across the country.
It is important therefore that residents are confident that all of our Councillors are people who can be trusted with our children.
Abuse of children has now been shown to have taken place for many years in and out of Council homes across the country.
It is important therefore that residents are confident that all of our Councillors are people who can be trusted with our children.
If you agree with our views on protecting our children click here to sign the petition.
Tree Stump on the corner of Midland and Wesley Roads
This tree stump in Midland Road, has been pending removal for nearly a year. The FOCUS Team has been advised by the Tree Officer that the delay has been caused by problems arranging and co-ordinating the moving of cables by the Utility Companies.
It was finally due to be removed on Monday 15 September at 9.00a.m. Unfortunately a car had parked immediately in front of the stump blocking access. Despite knocking on many doors, the Tree Officer was unable to find the driver, and the crew from Virgin Media were unable to shift their cable.
The Tree Officer is once again liaising with Virgin Media and BT to agree a new date to remove the stump and reinstate the footway.
The FOCUS Team will be monitoring progress.