Avenue House and its grounds provided a pleasant backdrop to Monday night’s Finchley and Golders Green Resident’s Forum. Lots of local people had turned up to air their grievances. For once residents outnumbered Councillors.

I counted six Councillors in the public gallery. Credit goes to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport for turning up. An ex Conservative Councillor also turned up and had a number of questions. The Council Officers wisely refrained from answering one of his questions concerning the Conservative’s administration failure to carry out Manifesto commitments. But overall it was a disappointing showing by the Administration. The only other Conservative there was the Chair of the Forum. Not sure (again) where the vice chair was or the local Ward Councillors or other members of the Cabinet, but I am sure they had their good reasons.

Pity because they missed a meeting packed with residents who raised many different issues. There was a large contingent from my Ward, mainly from the railway terraces in Cricklewood. They were fired up and had plenty to say for themselves. They drew attention to a parking meter. Apparently some one had sawn through and removed the top! When will this be replaced they wondered.

There main complaint though concerned the installation of double yellow lines along all their roads. Consultation about this had resulted in 27 replies, 25 of which were against this proposal, but the Council had gone ahead any way. To add insult to injury the yellow lines were painted with out any warning. The Council insists letters were sent to residents two days before the line painting was planned to go ahead. Residents say to this day they have not had this letter.

Complaints were made about street drinking in Cricklewood. My colleague Cllr Monroe Palmer intervened to at this point to say he had arranged to escort the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement around the area to show the extent of the problem of street drinking. I am sure everyone present did not misunderstood Cllr Palmer when he said he hoped he could arrange for some drunks to be in attendance when the visit took place, Trebles all round.

The great strength of the Forums and the greatest weakness is that the Councils PR “Boys “have not got hold of the way they are conducted. So they tend to ramble on and unless there is guidance and coordination from the top table, no one is quite sure what is coming next or what any one will say. So it was on Monday evening but it all adds to the cut and thrust.

One resident raised an issue, he remarked he had raised this some time ago. The reply he received was that “it will take ten years to sort out “well this resident replied “The Ten Years are now up can you give me an answer “This proved too much for the top table.

Perhaps the most succinct request came from a feisty lady who had complained about faded double yellow lines in her street. In fact she had been complaining for a long time about it, this meant cars were parkingin the turning circle and it was impossible for residents to manoeuvre their cars out. Couldn’t the Council she pleaded “send someone with a paint brush and a pot of yellow paint and go over the lines.” The audience so used to excuses appeared astonished to hear that yes the Council will do just that.

By this time the room was getting dark, would any one bother to turn on the lights, no but we soldiered on in the gathering gloom. Most of the Councillors had called it a day. The cabinet Member had long gone but did attempt to provide some explanations to various issues whilst he was there.

I enjoy the Forums. These are real people turning up to raise real local concerns. It is a reminder that life exists outside North London Business Park. Residents drew attention to many concerns lets hope it does not take another ten years to come up with answers.