Forum Topic

#Tell Julian

Poor Julian Bell, present leader of Ealing Council needs our help. He needs to identify economies at the Council without cutting services. I told him residents would be glad to make suggestions. I suggest the Council stop publishing About Ealing. Anyone else?

Maire Lowe ● 4436d40 Comments

Did he take his ear plugs out?

Nikki Howard ● 4436d

Let's have a list:1. Reverse the increase in councillor allowances that Labour pushed through after being re-elected.2. Give up his leader's allowance, which was originally given to Jason Stacey because he was doing the job full time (JB still moonlights as Virendra Sharma MP's researcher).3. Sell off the pointless car park created in Southall.

Vlod Barchuk ● 4436d

do us all a favour and resign?

Chris Martin ● 4435d

As extra money has come from Central Government to enable Ealing to step up campaign against unlicensed HMOs and Outhouses, why not see this campaign partly as a Revenue stream? The fine is £3000 per premises isn't it? Plus additional costs may be levied by the Courts. HMOs are homes in multi occupancy #Tell Julian

Maire Lowe ● 4435d

Stop wasting £17,000 on vanity projects like the £17K xmas tree made of recycled plastic bottles when Ealing Council already have an Xmas tree in their stores.

Ed Yelland ● 4435d

Instead of spending a fortune on a trying to bribe people to recycle by offering them a free coffee next time they spend £10 in some cafe, he can save on landfill costs by making recycling easier.  Then the uptake will be higher.For example, I have a green box AND a white sack. Both have to be kept inside my flat because, hey guess what, unlike the political classes, most of us don't get a garden.  It's no wonder only 2 people (me included) in my block of 30 bother to recycle.Why does plastic require its own sack?  Who knows!  It's collected by the same kerbsider as the glass, cans, paper and tetrapaks that all go in the green box!Just some common sense would help them save money.

Ben Smith ● 4435d

in  hammersmith  1  sack takes  all recycle stuff but  i see  the poor and  disabled will be  hit  freedom pass and  their  taxi card and the centre where  they  meet  and  did you  ealing  is the  only bourogh that does  not  have a cab

John Kennedy ● 4435d

Sorry John not quite sure of your point. Is there a suggestion here for Julian? #Tell Julian.

Maire Lowe ● 4435d

Help students to help themselves to clear their accommodation of stuff they no longer want as per the Oxford link below. (Certainly look out for grants for this - that's where much funding comes from either totally or partly eg that moaned about Christmas tree.)Once students have moved out what was household waste and recycling becomes commercial waste and recycling and then rogue landlords, managing agents and builders can be tempted to dump this:http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decER/University_Waste_and_Recycling_occw.htm

Philippa Bond ● 4435d

Nick RobertsCan't you have communal recycling with that number of flats?  Have you asked?  Flats above shops have clear recycling bags but when I last looked it was for far fewer different things than can be put into the green box.  Also look for the bring banks and supermarket banks because these will help you to reduce the amount of recycling and waste that you have together with choosing to buy less packaging.

Philippa Bond ● 4435d

yes marie stop us having to put our recylcle stuff in bags and boxs i bag does all

John Kennedy ● 4435d

Pity Mr Bell didn't admit to being a clueless chump before the council elections.

Peter Millman ● 4435d

Well, it's a bit complex so there are only really 24 flats and the council doesn't get the notion of pragmatism so just says No to communal recycling bins. It also says no to clear plastic bags and, get this, green boxes.  So according to the council, we don't officially qualify for ANY recycling scheme!  Even though we've always had green boxes collected.  No wonder the refuse contract is in such a mess.Same goes with flytipping - people do it because it's easier and cheaper than the council's other options. Then the council wonders why people flytip and spends a fortune clearing it up.

Ben Smith ● 4435d

I believe that LBE were publishing more of these than they should have been.  However they are the only way that some people get to have any idea that the Council does anything other than collect the rubbish.  It would be good if we are to lose this we also have some other way of informing the public other than through newspapers which people won't buy and online which many people can't and don't use or won't because they spend so much time at work online.  How else can you communicate info to people?

Philippa Bond ● 4435d

Sorry last posting was in reply to Maire's first.  I don't why sometimes they go in the right place and sometimes they don't.  I must try and do what I did before and put the name of the person I'm replying to!

Philippa Bond ● 4435d

Bring back FREE garden rubbish collection - more residents will make use of this service, it worked well under the previous administration.This might stop or reduce fly tipping of garden rubbish which then has to be collected by Enterprise.It was a stupid idea to charge for collecting garden rubbish!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4435d

I wrote to Julian Bell before asking him to introduce fines for SPITTING and dropping rubbish, also start fining irresponsible dog owners for letting their pooches foul the pavements.Hammersmith Council have street signs telling residents that they will impose a fine for dropping litter.We should do the same.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4435d

Jean - all very well, but do they actually ever fine people for dropping litter?  It's a bit like saying they'll fine cyclists for cycling on the pavement - has this ever happened?

Nina Battleday ● 4435d

Well Nina it seems to work in other areas why not Ealing?I would ask our Traffic Wardens to issue tickets,(leaving motorists alone for once) or how about the Community Police Officers issuing on the spot fines? ...give them something to do!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4435d

Cutting his own salary and employing more Council Officers to enforce the rules and regulations which would bring in more revenue might help!

Dee Cook ● 4432d

Given he's a part-timer, yes. Or quit his other job so he can do a proper job running the council so there's less incompetence and waste.

Ben Smith ● 4432d

What is needed is a full time Leader of the Council who knows about how money works. The previous Conservative one was excellent.  So, how to get rid of this Labour lot, who have no idea..... it is a pity his Executive Directors (permanent Council Officers) don't put pressure on him.But perhaps, although they are not supposed to be of any political persuasion they are leaning towards the left........!!!

Dee Cook ● 4432d

Let's be clear here. Julian and his colleagues won the last election and will run the Council for the next four years. Fact. We need to look forward and find ready suggestions which will help them find savings where we think them acceptable. One thing that seems vague is whether Mr Bell is full time or part time. Allegedly he takes a full time salary and has done for four years. However he is said to work part time for Mr Sharma. Both statements cannot be true. Perhaps someone could clarify?

Maire Lowe ● 4431d

That was precisely my point.

Ben Smith ● 4431d

Re Jean's posts. Warnings of Fines and Fines. I agree that people should have an idea of boundaries (it is obviously no different with adults than it is with children nowadays).  Councils set up rubbish and waste collections and people should do their best to use these. The party political stance on this can work (it did with the last Conservative Council putting their plans into place fast with regards to this BUT can also spectacularly fail.  The current LBH Council promises to have clean streets but this is failing because people are failing to make best use of the systems provided and instead taking advantage of the cleaner streets policy and selfishly dumping their waste.  Without education and enforcement as well as the well publicised collections it fails.  Teamwork is very important.

Philippa Bond ● 4431d

I would suggest that Mr. Bell, if he is unable to run the Council's finances, then he should resign and let's get someone in post who can.He is being paid to do this task, which he is obviously unable to do so, thus he is asking 'lay' people to give him some help.Perhaps a prize for the best ideas might work?

Dee Cook ● 4431d

Fair play here Dee. He didn't ask. He just keeps saying how difficult it is to manage the budget. It is my idea that residents are happy to make  helpful suggestions. Keep them coming. We can make a list. As Mr Bell lives in Acton, I sure he sees this forum. Would he like us to ask Ealing residents also? We just want to be useful.

Maire Lowe ● 4431d

Nick RobertsJust re-read your reply re lack of recycling facilities.  Have you taken this up with your local Councillor ie gone further than just contacting the Council?  There does seem to have been an attempt to shrink the size of the contract (which would suit the contractor) but I think that you probably deserve better.  There should be a solution.

Philippa Bond ● 4430d

On line is cheapest and easiest for the majority, but doesn't reach certain groups. Texting works well for about a third of the population and rising rapidly. Julian uses Twitter himself.Noticeboards in municipal buildings like libraries and swimming pools and outside the Town Hall.Inserts in routine communications like council tax bills tenant account statements, housing benefit statements.All cheaper and more targeted than a quarterly magazine. #Tell Julian.

Maire Lowe ● 4430d

MaireI think there is also a gap in education so that people do not realise what the Council does other than collecting the waste and recycling - about which the loudest outcry can be heard from the vociferous able whereas closing Day Care Centres and cutting respite care happens because they are used by fewer and less able and vociferous people - people who need advocates. Definitely agree about more posters inside/outside municipal buildings.  Can/will this still happen when the running has been handed over to a private company?When visiting Beaconsfield I noticed the www.lovefoodhatewaste.com campaign being advertised on the banners hanging from lampposts.  These sorts of banners should be government subsidised and could be shared between boroughs if necessary.

Philippa Bond ● 4430d

Nick RobertsHave you checked out your address on this site recently in case the situation has changed?http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200970/recycling_services

Philippa Bond ● 4430d

I cannot believe that the Leader of the Council, who is in charge of millions of our pounds actually said'how difficult it is to manage the budget'.As Mr Bell is therefore unable to do the job for which he is paid, can I suggest that he resigns immediately in order that someone can take charge who knows what they are doing.To think that residents, who too are unqualified for such a task, can come up with some practical solutions, is asking rather a lot.That is why the last Labour Government got the Country into such  mess.  No qualifications to do the job successfully = financial diaster.

Dee Cook ● 4429d

'how difficult it is to manage the budget' is code for "it would be easier if we had more money from central government".

Ben Smith ● 4429d

Suggestions from someone in East Acton ward who doesn't type so well but enjoys the forum.Reduce the overall number of councillors in the Borough. Wards where residents don't contact their councillors so often could lose a seat she thinks. Councillors who don't reply to their residents could also be prevented from standing for election. Those wards could also manage with fewer councillors she thinks.#Tell Julian

Maire Lowe ● 4428d

Excellent ideas,particularly the latter!

Nina Battleday ● 4428d

Even less chance of you getting elected Maire. Unintended consequences and all that. Oh and please no more unsolicited emails thank you.

Colin Carroll ● 4428d

Oh there you are Colin! I heard you weren't well. Every good wish for your speedy recovery.

Maire Lowe ● 4428d

And you wanted us to elect you? Your reply speaks volumes.Still bitter about being rejected by the local electorate I am sure you'll get over it.Remember Maire no e-mails please.

Colin Carroll ● 4428d

Julian Bell wants to know the nearest urgent care centre to his house. I told him it was at Central Middlesex. I hope he is alright. #telljulian.

Maire Lowe ● 4417d

Julian Bell wants to know the nearest urgent care centre to his house. I told him it was at Central Middlesex. I hope he is alright. #telljulian.

Maire Lowe ● 4417d