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►Update 21 January 2011

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Original Message -----

From : Alan Stanton To : Julie Parker, Director of Corporate Services Sent : Monday, January 24, 2011 3:04 AM Subject : LBH/85228 (Continued) - Couch, sheet of glass, small pile of masonry - forecourt Unit 1 Rosebery Trading Estate

Dear Ms Parker,

I apologise for bringing this to your attention again. I realise it's extremely minor compared to all the other tasks you currently have. However, it seems to be one more symptom of a systemic malaise in Property Services which you as Director may want to know about.

Also, I’ve repeatedly gone through the “proper” channels and got nowhere. So can I please ask you to read the emails below and view: § My photos [above] posted on Flickr on 21 January 2011. § Photos taken on 12 December 2010 and posted here. § Then photos taken on 5 December 2010 and posted here . § And here. § And lastly the photo on 4 November 2010 here.

As you'll see, the navy sofa, sheet of glass and small pile of masonry are still in place and - on 21 January - had not been cleared as promised. (I did wonder if they were taken away and later brought back; but until 1 April this seems very unlikely.)

You'll realise that in writing me emails [your staff person] refers generally to the Rosebery Industrial Estate but not, it seems, to the specific problems of the forecourt of Unit 1 - which faces into Rosebery Avenue. I gather that [some staff] don't have personal access to my photos on Flickr. Obviously it's a disadvantage if [they] are prevented from using the Internet to get practical information as and when needed.

[Your staff] passed on my last request to remove the couch, sheet of glass and masonry to "the Property Helpdesk" who "organised for the fly tipping to be removed". I assume staff at this HelpDesk don't have access to Flickr either. Otherwise I'm sure they'd have sent contractors to remove the right items from the location where I photographed them.

As the management writer Peter Drucker said: "There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all’.

In this instance, it was not only useless, but time wasting and costly. Even if the council's contractors were not paid when they failed to do the task, nearly three months later there is still a continuing failure to do something straightforward and fairly simple.

Thanks

Alan Stanton Tottenham Hale ward councillor

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Original Message -----

From : Alan Stanton Sent : 14 December 2010 02:34 To : Haringey Corporate Resources Department cc.: Head of Property Services; ward councillors; Director of Corporate Services Subject : Fly Tipping Rosebery Industrial Estate LBH/85228

Please would you look at my photos on this Flickr page. Plainly, at least until 12 December, your contractors had not removed the couch. I hope you didn't pay them.

Just as plainly, nobody has monitored this forecourt and spotted: (a) the up-ended couch; (b) a large pane of glass propped against the office wall; and (c) some pieces of masonery left on a ledge in one of the walls. Fortunately, neither were the masonry and glass spotted by someone looking to smash a window or two.

I appreciate that over the years there was a great improvement in how this forecourt is managed and kept clean. Also that funds are scarce and getting scarcer. But one very effective way to save money is to have systems which work first time.

Alan Stanton, Tottenham Hale ward councillor

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Original Message -----

From : Haringey Property Services To : Cllr Alan Stanton Sent : Monday, November 22, 2010 9:25 AM Subject : Fly Tipping Rosebery Industrial Estate LBH/85228

Dear Cllr Stanton,

Thank you for your email

The issues you have raised comprise in summary: 1. More dumping - a navy couch and some broken white board - on the forecourt outside Unit 1 Rosebery Avenue N17. 2. Can you please tell me what monitoring arrangements are in place for this forecourt? 3. Would you please confirm that routine reports from members of the public about dumping here are quickly and efficiently passed to Property Services for action?

Dealing with each of the points I would comment as follows

1. We have arranged for the fly tipping to be removed by a contractor. 2. We have in the last 2 months erected “No Dumping” signs that have been placed around the estate. The cost of having a permanently manned presence on the estate is prohibitive and would cause an unaffordable escalation in service charge costs to the tenants.

We are investigating the installation of CCTV cameras which will cover parts of the estate. There are a number of issues with installation of CCTV such as how it will be monitored and where the recording equipment will be based. There is also the need to replace tapes recording frequently. A more comprehensive solution will have to be found and consultations with relevant advisers will be programmed to take place. However, costs are an issue in the economic climate we are currently operating in both in terms of the Council’s ability to provide services and the need to keep service charge costs down for the occupying tenants.

Greater vigilance from occupying tenants will also help reduce the incidence of flying tipping as we will be re-letting units which have recently become vacant following tenant defaults to present a greater occupier presence.

3. We confirm that we will ensure that fly tipping reports are quickly dealt with by Property Services.

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So did Haringey's Property Services team get the dumped items cleared soon after my email above? Click this blue link to find out.

Hint. Can a fish win the Tour de France?

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