ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 14 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER NOV 2019 ELECTION A look ahead to the general election in Enfield's three parliamentary seats P . 3 FEATURES The Southgate resident campaigning for people with cerebral palsy P . 5 COMMENT How merger of five local NHS groups 'limits ability to scrutinise authority' P . 8 ARTS & CULTURE What audiences can expect at Chickenshed this festive season P . 12 Enfield-based charity The Felix Project rescues good food that cannot be sold and delivers it to charities and primary schools across London – enough to make 6.5 million meals in a year. The charity is now recruiting volunteers at its Enfield depot ahead of the busy Christmas season; anyone interested should visit thefelixproject.org A M E E Become a M M member of Enfield Dispatch and get Row over affordability as O the paper delivered to B your door each month E C – find out more R E on Page 16 major homes deal sealed B BY JAMES CRACKNELL attempts to tackle the housing crisis. Charith Gunawardena, a Labour showing how it will impact these The news comes as the council councillor in Southgate, said it was issues, you are building housing that ew data on the afford- prepares to sign off on its first unclear how Meridian One would mostly benefits the few.” ability of housing sug- major deal for new homes at its help reduce the borough's housing While Cllr Gunawardena blames gests Enfield residents Meridian Water redevelopment waiting list and high numbers of peo- the current government for exac- enfielddispatch.co.uk on the lowest incomes project in Edmonton, with more ple in temporary accommodation. erbating housing problems in Nare able to rent just one in 50 homes 'affordable' housing now being Cllr Gunawardena told the Dispatch: Enfield, including a recent decision available on the open market. promised. Developer Galliford Try “More than half of households in to increase the borrowing rate of the @EnfieldDispatch Research by Bureau Local, a project Partnerships has agreed to sell not the borough have a total income Public Works Loan Board, he says supporting local investigative journal- more than half of the new homes of less than £34,000 per year – this the council should be doing more /EnfieldDispatch ism, revealed that of 1,548 two-bed on the open market at Meridian is very low when you consider the with development schemes on its homes available to rent on a single One – a key part of the first phase average house price is £400,000. own property, such as at Meridian day in Enfield and neighbouring of the promised 10,000 homes due “There are a whole host of hous- Water where the local authority has [email protected] areas, just 31 – or 2% – were deemed to be built over the next 20 years. ing issues in Enfield – temporary spent £157million purchasing land. to be affordable to people claiming However, the deal is being called accommodation, overcrowding, “At Meridian One the level of 'afford- housing benefit in the borough. With into question by some councillors low-quality housing, rent-led debt able' housing has been increased, many estate agents also refusing to let concerned that even the cheapest – and Meridian Water is a fantastic but it is not in context with local to benefit claimants, it shows the dif- housing won't be affordable to the opportunity to tackle these prob- ficulty Enfield Council is facing in its poorest people in the borough. lems. But without a precise strategy, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 NEWS No.14 NOVEMBER 2019 ENFIELD DISPATCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 negotiating with developers such and we are confident that phase as Galliford Try. “The devil is in one will benefit local people first incomes. What is the point in the detail,” he told the Dispatch. and foremost – £200,000 will be Bike lessons building so many private homes “They should be trying to offer spent in the upper Edmonton area choolchildren will receive free ED. on public land? The council could more affordable housing – but on safety and cleaning and I am cycling lessons, paid for by decide to build the homes itself you can't do it if you're not an also pleased that the development SEnfield Council. and keep hold of its public assets, experienced negotiator.” agreement includes provision The lessons will see all children in o instead of giving them away.” Council leader Nesil Caliskan of a skills academy, to amplify specific year groups in primary and N .14 Another Labour councillor, Tolga defended the Meridian One deal, opportunities for residents on the secondary school receiving coaching Aramaz, has gone further in which includes a number of doorstep of Meridian Water.” sessions. As part of efforts to make the NOV 2019 suggesting that all homes built additional spending pledges for Conservative councillors, mean- borough carbon neutral by 2030, the at Meridian Water should be for Edmonton. She said: “Builders while, say that the level of afford- policy will encourage young people to Enfield Dispatch is the social rent, the cheapest type of will be on site before Christmas, able housing at Meridian Water use sustainable forms of transport and borough's free community housing. Cllr Aramaz, who is part which demonstrates that delivery is too high and risks putting the give them the skills and confidence newspaper. We publish of new campaign group Meridian is being accelerated. council deeper into debt. to ride safely. monthly and distribute for Council Homes, points out that “Enfield Council’s priority since It is the first major announcement to 10,000 free copies of the lowest rents at Meridian One taking back control of Meridian The 'Meridian One' scheme, emanate from the council’s new 'Cli- will still be 70% more expensive Water has been to ensure it ben- for up to 910 homes, includes: mate Change Task Force', whose chair each issue to cafés, pubs, · 50% available on the open market, community centres, than social homes in Enfield. efits local people and helps tackle with a three-bed home likely to cost Ian Barnes, the deputy council leader, libraries, GP surgeries, Alan Sitkin, a former Labour the housing crisis. While always at least £340 per week to rent; said: “The roll-out of free cycle training councillor who was the lead ensuring council finances are safe- · 25% available at 'London Affordable across schools will play an important schools, hair salons, and Rent' levels, with a three-bed home outside railway stations. cabinet member for Meridian guarded, we make no apologies for costing £173.37 per week; role in reducing reliance on cars.” Water prior to the 2018 local putting local people before profit. · 25% available to buy as 'shared Publisher ownership' homes, discounted election, says it is crucial for “We want Meridian Water to be from the market rate but subject David Floyd the council to be “tough” when an extension of the community to minimum income requirements. New ward Editor James Cracknell boundaries Designer Care workers strike over pay he Boundary Commission has Jonathan Duncan revised its proposals for new ward boundaries in Enfield and Project Manager BY JAMES CRACKNELL T given local people until Monday 25th Anna Merryfield taff at a care home for peo- November to have their say. Contributors ple with learning disabilities Following negative feedback on pre- Simon Allin, Emma have been going on strike in vious plans announced in May, new Livingstone, Chris Kennedy, S a dispute over low pay. wards called Bush Hill Park North and Farah Alam-Mirza, Members of the Blue Chip Staff Asso- Bush Hill Park South have been drawn Monty Meth, Clare De ciation (BCSA) decided to walk out for up, with previous ideas for wards called Silva, Emma Friddin, Kevin one day per week in October after 'Raglan' and 'Kingsmead' now ditched. Metchear, Jo Johnson, employer Care Management Group Final recommendations for the Anne-Marie Sanderson, (CMG) refused to raise their wages. borough will be published in February Andrew Warshaw The staff work at a care home in 2020. To view the plans visit lgbce. Pembroke Avenue that offers a org.uk/all-reviews/greater-london/greater- CONTACT specialist supported living service london/enfield and to have your say Call 020 8521 7956 for people with profound and email [email protected]. multiple learning disabilities. They Workers at a care home in Pembroke Avenue look after people with Email EnfieldDispatch@ severe learning disabilities but are only paid the minimum wage socialspider.com had been demanding an increase in pay from the national mini- getting £10 per hour. It is appall- would also want the same level of Post Salisbury House, Bury Top leader Street West, Enfield N9 9LA mum wage of £8.21 per hour to ing that they only get £8.21. transparency from service providers the London Living Wage of £10.55 “The last thing I want to do is take with their staff, so when an organ- esil Caliskan has been ADVERTISING per hour, which is a rate tied to the people out on strike, it is a last isation continues to increase their nominated for 'Council cost of living in the capital. resort. Our members work hard profits, I don't believe it is unreason- Leader of the Year' in the Contact Klaudia Kiss: N But pay negotiations broke down to deliver care and without them able that staff should also benefit.” LGiU Councillor Achievement Awards. Call 020 8521 7956 after CMG, an Enfield Council these patients would not receive A CMG spokesperson said: “Our staff Enfield Council's first female and first Email klaudia@ contractor, argued their budget the quality of life that they deserve.