No justification for the CPZ price increases

As you doubtless all know a judicial review is planned by a group of residents, led by the Solicitor David Attfield, to fight the unjustified and excessive price increases for Car Permits and Visitor Vouchers in Barnet  borough which came into effect ( for now at any rate ) in April 2011.

Please go to this link http://barnetcpz.blogspot.com/

and donate to the cause as another £6,000 is needed for the battle with the Council.

How do we come to the situation where the Council have increased Visitor Vouchers from £1 to £4 and the permit for the first car in a household from £40 to £100 ? i.e. way above inflation.

Well firstly, the Government this year wanted Councils to freeze Council Tax and they received extra money if they did so, so that was a powerful incentive. ( see link below about the Council Tax Freeze )

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1746641

Secondly, there was less money in the pot and so some services have to be cut over the next 3 years.

Thirdly, the surplus from parking can only be spent on certain categories of expense such as Highway Maintenance, the Freedom Pass ( £11m ) and like items and whatever amount is not raised from Parking has to come from Council Tax in general.

So, if the parking charges had not been put up by the projected £2million+ then either Council tax would have to go up by about £10 per household ( which was not politically expedient ) or some other service would have to be cut by another £2million ( although that should have been the proper course of action - Mr Mustard could easily find you £2m of One Barnet consultants & schemes to chop as well as all those non-job people )

The timing of the Council is unfortunate as the categories of spending on which the Parking Account Surplus have to be spent are as follows :-

Activity	Actual	Actual	Actual	Actual	Budget	Budget
	2006-7	2007-8	2008-9	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12
	(£,000)	(£,000)	(£,000)	(£,000)	(£,000)	(£,000)
Safer Routes	44	176	189	130	89	tba
Highways Investment Programme	2,522	2,719	2,347	1,970	1,600	2,032
Carriageways & Footways Planned Maintenance (Capital & Revenue)	3,045	4,663	4,780	3,286	1,851	1,872
Concessionary Fares	9,747	10,453	10,138	8,366	11,162	11,185
SEN Transport	1,565	1,625	1,780	1,610	1,593	1,293
Highways Maintenance	1,793	2,137	2,682	2,676	2,438	845
	18,716	21,773	21,916	18,038	18,733	17,227

  and the totals in chart form

So there it is: a reduction in spending on qualifying purposes and an increase of over £2million that a small percentage of residents, who just happen to live inside a CPZ, have to pay. Absolutely unjust and hence the Judicial Review.

Please, if you enjoy my blog, or if you live in a Barnet CPZ, donate at least £10 to the cause and help bring justice & democracy back to Barnet.

Barnet CPZ blogspot Paypal account

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

( who has put his hand in his pocket and sent £100 to the CPZ cause. )

A Grand Day Out at the North London Business Park

Here is the Contract between Barnet Council and Halliford Associates Ltd and Mr Andrew Travers for you to read. Mr Travers is the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer.

Please comment below. Mr Mustard will later but has a feeling that comments will come thick and fast and that Councillors will have some questions to answer about why have let the Chief Executive employ an "employee" on a Consultancy basis, not paying PAYE, on a £1,000 a day. Has the time come to rein in the power of Officers and get Councillors who, unlike Officers, are democratically accountable to Council Taxpayers, to keep a closer eye on the spending ?

Consultancy Agreement

Between

London Borough of Barnet

-and-

Andrew Travers

Halliford Associates Limited

12 April 2010

Strictly Private and Confidential

This AGREEMENT is made on the 12th day of April 2010 BETWEEN:

Halliford Associates Limited, [section 40(2) FOIA]; Andrew Travers (“the Consultant”)

and

Nick Walkley, Chief Executive of London Borough of Barnet at Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP (“the Local Authority”)

WHEREAS

The London Borough of Barnet requires an interim Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer (S151) and has identified the Consultant as a professional with the requisite qualifications, experience and expertise to perform that function.

The Parties make this Agreement to record the terms and conditions of the Consultant’s appointment as the interim Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer with the Local Authority.

It is agreed as follows:

1. Nature and Term of the Contract

1.1 This Agreement shall commence on 12 April 2010 in accordance with the letter of appointment forwarded to the Consultant on 30 March 2010 and shall continue unless and until terminated by either party giving such written notice as set out in clause 9.1 below to the other party.

2. Responsibilities and Duties of the Contractor

2.1. The Consultant is engaged to provide Interim Management as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer. The Consultant shall perform the duties outlined in the job description attached and exercise the powers which the Chief Executive may from time to time properly assign to him in his capacity as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer. For the avoidance of doubt, the Consultant shall exercise all powers usually assigned to persons employed as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer and in their capacity as an Officer of the Local Authority.

2.2. The Consultant shall carry out the services and perform his duties with reasonable care and skill to be expected of a professional with his experience and expertise. The Consultant shall at all times and in all respects conform to and comply with the proper and reasonable directions and regulations of the Local Authority.

3. Responsibilities and Duties of the London Borough of Barnet

3.1 The Local Authority shall provide for the Consultant a suitably equipped work space at Building 4, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP or at such reasonable location as the Local Authority may specify from time to time.

4. Hours of Work

4.1 The Consultant shall be available for work for the Local Authority for an average of 40 hours per week over five days and shall work any additional hours that are reasonably necessary for the full and proper performance of his duties under this Agreement. The Consultant shall be required when available to respond to any out of hours telephone queries received by him in connection with his duties at the Local Authority and shall perform any work arising from such communication at the daily rate.

4.2 Subject to clause 4.1 above the Consultant’s normal working days will be

Monday to Friday

5. Holiday

5.1 The Consultant shall take annual leave as and when they require but shall agree the duration and the timing of such leave with the Chief Executive at least one month prior to the proposed commencement of their annual leave.

6 Personal Service

6.1 This Agreement is personal to the Consultant. The Consultant shall not assign, novate, subcontract or otherwise dispose of this Agreement or any part thereof without the previous consent in writing of the Local Authority. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Consultant from acting in a similar or any other capacity for any other person provided that that person is not carrying on the same or similar business to the business of the Local Authority.

7. Remuneration

7.1 In consideration of the provision of the services , the Local Authority shall pay to the Consultant a daily fee of £1,000 [one thousand pounds] exclusive of VAT payable monthly in arrears (such fee to be paid against the production of a suitable timesheet and invoice addressed to the Local Authority for the services carried out for the preceding month). Invoices supplied to the Local Authority by the Consultant shall be paid within 14 days of the date of receipt of the same.

7.2 All expenses shall be agreed by the Chief Executive in advance. The Local Authority shall reimburse all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses wholly and exclusively incurred by them in the performance of their duties under this Agreement.

8. Agency

8.1 For all intents and purposes, the Consultant shall be deemed to be an Officer of the Local Authority and shall have all such power commensurate with their position and as required for the proper performance of their obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt the Consultant shall have power to enter into contracts on behalf of the Local Authority and to bind the Local Authority to the performance, variation, release or discharge or any legal obligation with third parties in accordance with her duties and responsibilities. In addition the Consultant shall have dealings with the Members of the Council as that of an Officer and shall be subject to the Constitution of the London Borough of Barnet.

8.2 Abide by the policies and procedures of the Local Authority, with the exception of those that specifically relate to direct employees. All Corporate policies can be found on the Local Authorities Intranet and the onus is on the Consultant to ensure they are familiar with these and have confirmed in writing to their Director.

9. Termination

9.1 This Agreement may be terminated by either party giving one months notice in writing to the other.

9.2 Notwithstanding 9.1 above the Local Authority may terminate the Consultancy immediately upon providing to the Consultant written notice to that effect if the Consultant:

9.2.1 is found to have been guilty of a material breach of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Consultant has failed to remedy the material breach within thirty days of written notice from the Local Authority to the Consultant specifying the said breach and requiring its remedy;

9.2.2 neglects or omits to perform any of their duties or obligations under this Agreement and the Consultant fails or refuses to carry out the duties and obligations reasonably required of them;

9.2.3 is unable by reason of their incapacity to perform their duties under this Agreement for a period of 10 working days.

9.2.4 The Consultant is found to be guilty of any fraud, dishonesty or conduct tending to bring themselves and the Local Authority into disrepute. The Consultant shall immediately notify the Local Authority in writing if they becomes subject to an investigation under the Financial Services, Banking and or Companies Acts or is investigated by the Serious Fraud office, the Police the Department for Trade and Industry; or

9.2.5 is found to be guilty of any gross default or misconduct in connection with the business of the Local Authority.

9.3 Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Consultant shall deliver up to the Local Authority all letters, publications, papers, discs, tapes, reports, documents, keys, software, computer peripherals, communications equipment, electronic documents, data files and other items or property which may have been prepared by the Consultant or come into their possession by virtue of this Agreement or which relate to the business of the Local Authority and all copies thereof regardless of the medium on which such copies are recorded or stored.

10. Tax Status

10.1 The Consultant shall have the status of a self employed person and shall not be entitled to receive any pension, bonus, holiday pay, sick pay or other fringe benefits from the Local Authority.

10.2 It shall be the sole responsibility of the Consultant to make full payment of all income tax liabilities and national insurance or other similar contributions or liabilities arising in consequence of the consultancy or otherwise.

10.3 If for any reason the Local Authority pays any income tax, national insurance or similar contributions on the Consultant’s behalf, the Local Authority is entitled to demand and the Consultant shall give a full and immediate indemnity in respect of all such payments made.

11. Confidentiality

11.1 The Consultant is aware that in the course of their assignment they will have access to and be entrusted with information relating to the business, transactions and affairs of the Local Authority and other third parties all of which information is or may be considered confidential. Both parties shall take all necessary steps to ensure that all confidential information is treated as confidential and not disclosed or used other than for the purposes of this Agreement.

11.2 The Consultant shall not, save in the proper course of their duties, during or at any time following the period of their engagement under this Agreement, disclose to any third party or otherwise make use of any confidential information of the Local Authority without the prior written consent of the Local Authority.

11.4 All notes, memoranda, other documents and confidential information regarding the business of the Local Authority acquired, received or made by the Consultant during the course of their assignment shall be the property of the Local Authority and shall be surrendered by the Consultant to the Local Authority at the termination of their assignment or at the request of the Local Authority at any time during the course of their assignment.

12. Intellectual Property

12.1 Subject to the provisions of the Patents Act 1977 and the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, if at any time during her engagement under this Agreement, and while working for the Local Authority, the Consultant makes or discovers or participates in the making or discovery of Intellectual Property relating to or capable of being used in the business being carried on by the Local Authority, the Consultant shall grant the Local Authority a non­transferable, perpetual license to exploit the intellectual property solely for its own use. At the request and expense of the Local Authority the Consultant shall give and supply all such information, data, drawings and assistance as may be requisite to enable the Local Authority to exploit the Intellectual Property to its best advantage within the terms of the license. The intellectual Property will remain the absolute property of the consultant, to be exploited as they see fit.

13. Professional Indemnity Insurance

13.1 The Consultant shall effect for the duration of the term of this contract, with a reputable insurance company, a policy or policies of such professional indemnity insurances as are necessary to cover liability which may arise under this Agreement in the sum of £500,000 and shall produce the relevant policy or policies or other evidence confirming the extent of the cover given by the policy or policies together with a receipt or other evidence of the payment of the latest premium due thereunder.

13.2 At the end of the Term, the Consultant shall provide evidence to the Council that its professional indemnity insurance shall continue to indemnify the Council for a period of not less than one year after the end of the Term.

14. Gratuities

14.1 The Consultant shall immediately report in writing to the Chief Executive any offer of gifts or services to them by clients, suppliers, distributors and other such persons having a similar connection with the Local Authority. The Consultant shall not accept or agree to accept such offers without the prior written agreement of the Chief Executive. This applies to any gifts or services, commissions, gratuities, rebates or discounts directly or indirectly from any person, firm or company with whom the Local Authority conducts business or may conduct business.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Should any dispute arise in relation to this Agreement, it shall be raised in writing, and the matter discussed at a meeting with Chief Executive. If no resolution can be reached this Agreement will be severed and the notice period stated in clause 9.1 will apply.

16. Audit

16.1 The Consultant shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate records of all material relating to the charges and expenses in relation to the contract, all invoices submitted to the Local Authority in relation to work completed by him and all services provided to the Local Authority.

16.2 The Consultant shall grant to any authorised representative of the Local Authority the right of reasonable access to any premises of the Consultant which are used in connection with the performance of the Consultant’s obligations under this Agreement together with a right to reasonable access to all records referred to at clause 17.1 above.

16.3 The Consultant shall provide or procure all reasonable assistance at all time during the term of the Contract for the purposes of carrying out an audit of the Consultant’s compliance with this Agreement as well as an audit of all activities, performance and security in connection therewith.

17. Notices

17.1 Notices may be given by either party by letter addressed to the other party at its registered address or in the case of the Consultant, their last known address and any notice given by letter shall be deemed to have been given at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post or if delivered by hand, upon that delivery.

18. Publicity

18.1 The Consultant shall not make any press announcements or publicise this Contract in any way without the prior written consent of the Local Authority.

19. Severability

19.1 If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed and the remainder of the provisions in this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as if this Agreement had been executed with the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision eliminated. In the event of a holding of invalidity so fundamental as to prevent the accomplishment of the purpose of this Agreement, the Local Authority and the Consultant shall immediately commence good faith negotiations to remedy such invalidity.

20. Law and Jurisdiction

20.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England.

Signed on behalf of London Borough of Barnet Name: Nick Walkley

Title: Chief Executive

Date:

Signed on behalf of Halliford Associates Limited Name: Andrew Travers

Title: Director

Date:

No paragraph 11.3 in the original document.

Yours frugally 

( Barnet Council will have to look up the word frugal I think )

Mr Mustard

Here is an easier link to the blogpost that Jaybird mentions below.
http://s.coop/1jpb

Full Council Meeting - 12 April 2011 - more BarnetOneSpeak translations

Here are some more of the questions and answers from the Full Council Meeting of Tuesday evening, before democracy was dealt a further blow this evening in no uncertain terms:-

Question 8                                                                                                     Councillor Kath McGuirk

Would the Cabinet Member confirm if there are any areas which benefit from a free initial period on pay and display in Barnet?

Answer by Councillor Brian Coleman

There are two areas that benefit from a free initial period of 30 minutes. The first is Mowbray Parade in Edgware HA 8 and the second is Hampden Square N14. No other such schemes are envisaged and I am reviewing why we have these two.

Possible translation
There is a big hole in the budget and here is another idea in how to fill it. Local traders will suffer further misery but I've got a permit that lets me park anywhere or I take a taxi at your expense.

 Question 20                                                                                                  Councillor Alex Brodkin

Could the Leader advise if she will support the webcasting of council meetings, as well as a firm policy to enable the public to blog, tweet or otherwise record council meetings in future, and if not, why not?

Answer by Councillor Lynne Hillan, Leader of the Council

The decision not to allow filming in the Council Chamber was taken, not by this Administration, but by this Council. However, we are currently looking at the options and suggestions will be brought back to this Council for full debate.

Possible translation
A1. That's a trick question which I won't answer directly. I suppose that we will have to do what Eric Pickles MP says in the end but in the meantime we will just have to look stupid and then quietly allow it when no-one is looking as if we agreed all along what a good idea it is..
A2. We will spend £250,000 on a web broadcast system that doesn't work very well and for which we forgot to sign a DPR.

Question 22                                                                                     Councillor Alan Schneiderman

Will the Leader confirm: a) what the latest position is regarding Barnet being granted priority status on frozen Icelandic deposits; b) what the financial risk is of not being granted priority status; and c) if the relevant risk reserve fully covers the Council in the event priority status is not granted?

Answer by Councillor Daniel Thomas

On 1^st April 2011, the Icelandic courts upheld the priority status of UK Local Authority deposits. This decision is subject to appeal. The budget report suggested that the cost of non-priority

status would be approximately £14m and this is the sum that we are building up in the risk reserve for 2011/12.

Possible translation

That's £14m up the swanny that could have been spent on maintaining front line services.

Question 24                                                                                                  Councillor Alison Moore

Would the Cabinet Member confirm what the status is of the implementation of the new revenues and benefits system?

Answer by Councillor Daniel Thomas

The new system went live on 18.2.11, it then had to close down for another week in order to recast benefits and set up the 2011/12 billings etc. The system came back on line 14.3.11. We are working with the various partner organisations to clear the issues that inevitably occur with a complete change of systems.
Possible translation

Other Councils have managed to change their systems at short notice without great problems but this is OneBarnet where things are different ( and not better ). Your guess is as good as mine as to when all Council Tax bills will be correct.

Question 28                                                                                                  Councillor Claire Farrier

Would the Cabinet Member please confirm that there is an agreement with out of borough allotment holders, that they pay the same charge for allotments in Barnet as Barnet residents. Would he please confirm the date of this agreement, and that it has not been rescinded.

Answer by Councillor Brian Coleman

The new charges for allotments which will be in effect from the 1^st April 2012 include an increased charge for non-Barnet residents. This in line with charges for other services in the borough where residents are charged less than non-residents. I think it is right and proper that Barnet Council tax payers should receive a better deal on allotments than those residents of other Boroughs whose authorities have often sold their allotments for development.
Possible translation
I have increased rents for residents from £6 to £17 per pole and for non-residents, who might just happen to have moved to Potters Bar to retire and kept the allotment they have worked on for 40 years, from £12 to £34 per pole. That will teach them not to be disloyal and move out of Barnet. This is OneBarnet you know. They should have put their name on the 5 year waiting list at their new abode 5 years ago when no-one wanted an allotment and before they knew they were moving.

Question 31                                                                                                  Councillor Alison Moore

Would the Cabinet Member confirm exactly how much money has been lost to the Council as a result of the failure to advertise the correct charges in statutory notices about parking charge increases?

Answer by Councillor Brian Coleman

It is estimated that £93,000 of income will not be achieved due to the delay. The service will need to recover this sum through other efficiencies during the coming year.
Possible translation

We will issue another 930 parking tickets during the year, but none of them to Councillors with their free permits for every zone.

Question 32                                                                                                  Councillor Kath McGuirk

Following the government announcement that Barnet will receive around £420,000 towards the pothole fund, will the Cabinet Member confirm that he will reduce the proposed parking charge increases in proportion?

Answer by Councillor Brian Coleman

No, because the Government’s grant on potholes ( four times greater than that given to us by the last Labour Government) is an entirely separate matter to the need to return the Special Parking Account to the budgeted surplus.

Possible translation
Brilliant I can stuff CPZ residents for extra money and get some of it from the government as well. Double bubble.

Question 39                                                                                                 Councillor Alison Moore

Will the Leader confirm that speaking rights for all councillors at Council will be maintained?

Answer by Councillor Lynne Hillan, Leader of the Council

No. The Special Committee (Constitution Review) is currently considering council procedure rules on the rights of speakers and we await their recommendations.

Possible translation
All Councillors are equal. Some are more equal than others. Oink. ( see Mrs Angry's and Mr Reasonable's blogs on this subject shortly. I have to confess that being in the pub and coming second in the quiz was possibly a better use of time than sitting though yet another council meeting this evening about the Constitution - and boy do you need a strong constitution for Barnet Council meetings  )

Question 40                                                                                                 Councillor Alison Moore

Does the Cabinet Member’s publicly stated prejudice towards the private sector compromise the integrity of the options appraisal process in the One Barnet programme?

Answer by Councillor Robert Rams  
No

Possible translation
Call the fire brigade as my pants seem to be on fire.

Yours frugally ( with tongue only slightly in cheek )



Mr Mustard

Cash cow yields to be increased

Yesterday evening at the full Council Meeting item 2.1 is questions to the Leader ( who was absent ) and Cabinet Members ( i.e. the inner circle of Councillors who take the big decisions - if your Councillor isn't one of them then he/she doesn't have much power - think Ikea rather than chippendale ! ). There were 40 questions.

For residents who live in or visit a CPZ there is more bad news. Here is the Q&A for you to read for yourself printed in Barnet Council's corporate colour of "wishy-washy blue".

Item 2.1

Council Questions to Cabinet Members

12 April 2011

Questions and Responses

Question 1 by Councillor Lord Palmer

Can the Cabinet Member explain why in Barnet our parking enforcement officers allow motorists to drive off without being issued a PCN after they have been observed committing a parking offence? 

Why has the legislation allowing our officers to issue the PCN by post, after they have started writing it but after the motorist has driven off not been put into effect? 

I have been informed that ‘’whilst the law has been revised it remains an option that has not been endorsed or adopted by this Authority and as such our procedures or systems do not cater for this aspect of enforcement.”

Answer by Councillor Brian Coleman

Councillor Lord Palmer raises a valid issue and I have asked officers to implement with effect from 15^th April following appropriate training for Civil Enforcement Officers.

So will this make the Borough a nicer place to live in or visit; no it won't. Barnet Council are desperate for money from motorists. Squeeze our teets a bid harder why don't you - cows have a well known habit of kicking out when milked too hard and then you will be sorry.

If you are unhappy about this policy then write to your Councillor. You can find a link here.

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/council/listcouncillorname.asp?intSubSectionID=13&intSectionID=9

The Council's time would be better spent in making sure that all ticket machines are working properly, that all signs and lines are correct ( they aren't ) and that they answer the phone in a decent time - it was 20 minutes on Monday. This new policy will simply lead to more appeals ( lines and signs being incorrect, faded or missing is a good place to start ). The parking "service" is already in a mess - try and cut down the number of tickets not put them up. The point of the CPZs is to control parking, not to make £millions out of motorists who overstay by a minute or two.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Allotments - double digging

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/council_spending_on_allotments#incoming-163310

I really can't do you a better service than link you to the above Freedom of Information request which compares an email from Cllr. Brian Coleman saying that Barnet Council subsidise allotments to the tune of £100,000 a year ( which would be a good thing ) to the figures for 2010/11 which show that Barnet Council made a profit out of allotments of £5,619

Who is wrong ? the FOI officer ( I don't think so ) or Cllr Coleman. Ladbrokes won't take bets on a racing certainty like that.

Being economical with the truth is not good; you get found out. Interestingly the subject of allotments came up at tonight's full Council meeting and all Cllr. Brian Coleman would say there ( in a written answer ) was that residents should be charged less than non-residents whose Boroughs have often sold their allotments for development ( happens all over the place as demand for allotments goes up and down over the decades )

No mention of the £100,000 subsidy Mr Coleman. Very wise as it is not the truth.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Barnet Council - They lie, claim to destroy data and have bad manners - Parallels with Metpro

On Saturday 14 November 09 my friend Mr D. received a parking ticket (PCN) despite being legally parked in a "Disabled badge holders only" space. Here is a photograph of the plate at the bay which is near the Alexandra Pub in Wood St ( near Barnet General Hospital )

On 15 November  Mr D. appealed on the grounds that he parked on a Saturday whilst the bay was not in operation.

On 17 November Mr D. sent a further appeal that the road markings & signs were not in accordance with Regulations ( as they are usually wrong ! )

On 7 December LB of Barnet cancelled the ticket as " due to insufficient evidence recorded by the CEO at the time of the contravention I have cancelled the penalty charge on this occasion"

On 15 December Mr D wrote back to check he can park in that particular bay on a Saturday as his friend is still in hospital and as he always tries to follow the rules. He thinks the wording of the sign is possibly ambiguous.

On 14 January 2010 LB of Barnet wrote back as image above. Two grammatical errors, oh dear.

On 3 February Mr D. wrote again.
He pointed out that use of the word contravention is incorrect; he was legally parked as it was a Saturday.
He points out that the ticket was cancelled due to a lack of evidence and now the Council have produced a photograph taken at the time of his parking.

Mr D. asks for a written apology.
Mr D. also asks the Council to refund all other motorists who have been similarly affected.

On 23 February LB of Barnet write again. There is a page of guff about a full investigation and more training of the members of staff involved. It was only one and all he needs to be trained to do is to read a sign. Management will consider the request for automatic refunds to all affected motorists. Then the apology

"Please accept our apology for any convenience that this may have caused"

"May have caused" of course I have been caused inconvenience and worry but Barnet don't give a hoot.. A bit mean as apologies go but at least Mr D. received one, on request.

On 27 February Mr D. wrote again. He asked for management to write to him in the next 30 days about the unjust enrichment that the Council had enjoyed. In effect they have demanded money with menaces when none was due and anybody with honour would initiate refunds. Mr D. wrote

In the spirit of your slogan "Putting the Community First " I am sure that the Council will be rushing to prepare refunds.

It was not until 19 April that LB of Barnet stirred themselves again, a question of morality evidently being too difficult for them. And this is what they said:

You have stated that others who have parked in a similar manner be refunded monies already paid. The London Borough of Barnet would of course issue a refund to any vehicle that was incorrectly issued a Penalty Charge Notice. I would state that only the Registered Keeper of a vehicle that has been issued a Penalty Charge Notice may write in to formally contest their liability; thereafter the Council would follow the statutory process. 

So having been made aware of a procedural error and taken money from motorists when they didn't owe it the Council think that it is OK to keep it as other motorists are none the wiser. Tut tut.

So what lessons do we learn from this morality tale.

Barnet Council lied about there being no evidence of where and when Mr D. was parked. He never denied being parked there; he just wanted clarification.


If they lie about evidence having been destroyed and then produce a photograph can we believe they have destroyed the Metpro tapes ( how do Barnet know how many tapes have been made since 2006 ? ) And its only when the pressure builds up that Barnet bother to do anything.

They think of all motorists as contravening even when they haven't. What a bad mindset.


Barnet don't think to apologise automatically when they have made an error. They have to be asked to apologise; bad manners on the part of the Council. I suggest if Barnet had to pay out £100 when in error they might become a bit less slapdash at issuing penalty charge notices.


If you hadn't been so badly behaved Barnet, this blog would not have even started.

Mr Mustard