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Posted at 6:18pm Sunday 14th March 2010
Nuclear Free Hampstead Garden Suburb
Four evening council meetings last week; Monday I attended the Health and Safety JNCC. This is a meeting of the Unions and the Employers (us Councillors). This meeting is held behind closed doors so I can not tell you what went on.
Posted at 1:17pm Monday 8th March 2010
Pretty Harmless Stuff?
The NHS is currently sending out a mail drop. It contains important information about care records. It seems the NHS is collecting data on our medical histories; treatment etc which it says will help deliver better safer care. It is called summary care records it all sound pretty harmless. Who could argue about Health Professionals having access to relevant data when they treat patients? Especially as the NHS is giving assurances about who will be able to access this information There is a provision to opt out. But how many of us will want to do that. Over time, the leaflet notes further details will be added to the summary care records. All of this will be stored online using secure website.
Posted at 1:38pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010
We're Lumbered with It
Last nights Council meeting cleared one thing up, The Conservatives read this blog. As far as any thing else goes nothing changes. The Conservatives used their majority to vote in the Mayor Designate and again their majority ensured our budget amendment was voted down and the Tory Budget went through.
Posted at 9:58am Tuesday 23rd February 2010
Deep Freeze
Yesterday I had a night out. Well to be exact I went as spectator to watch the Barnet Cabinet debate their proposed Budget for 2010/11. Palace of Varieties it was not. I think there were two members of the public in the gallery. Council officers outnumbered the Councillors. Curiously none of the Cabinet members had their nameplates in front of them.
Posted at 12:20pm Friday 19th February 2010
Where have all the Cars Gone ?
Just got back from two weeks Rand R. I made the most of it as I suspect life will be hectic from now on. The local council elections are less than three months away. A General Election has to be called before the middle of June.
Posted at 1:30pm Tuesday 26th January 2010
Rudderless
Last night I attended two meetings at the Town Hall. First up was the Policy and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee. I am not sure what this committee does. It meets twice a year.
Posted at 1:36pm Thursday 14th January 2010
"All the Virtues of Man without his Vices"
Yesterday Jake my beloved companion for the past twelve and half years died. It all happened so quickly. He collapsed at home. When we got him to the Vet it was obvious little could be done , so we mercifully put him to sleep. He had a happy life and only that morning he had enjoyed his walk to Swan Lane Open Space. Jake was a rescue dog twice over. His previous owner a young girl died of anorexia.
Posted at 5:50pm Tuesday 12th January 2010
cat napping
I am not allowed to tell you what went on at the Corporate JNCC meeting last night. The whole meeting is held in what’s called part 2. This means the public and Press are excluded.
Posted at 9:13pm Wednesday 6th January 2010
innings closed
I don’t know how many of you have been to North Finchley Post Office recently. They have introduced a “no queue “system. You take a ticket and wait for your number to be called. On Monday I went to renew my Freedom Pass. The last time I was there I had a twenty minute wait, just to buy stamps This time I took my ticket, number 181. The current number being dealt with was 120! Sixty one customers were in front of me. Forty five minutes later and after doing my shopping in the High Road my number came up. The whole set up is almost surreal. You really do need to go there and see for your self. To be fair to the staff they are doing their best. One of them confided they were as fed up as everyone else. This is what happens when all the local post offices close. Another policy this Government has to answer for.
Posted at 11:12am Friday 18th December 2009
The Dowager Leader
The full Council meeting on Monday descended in to farce. I can not recall any Council Meeting under any Political Control that ever ended up in such a shambles. There were so many vignettes that I would be blogging well into the New Year with these delights.
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