CTPH D-14 Press coverage today in Ham and High

This letter of mine from last week was published in Ham and High. The cartoon treatment in H&H is by Ken Pyne.

CTPH D-16 Humpty Dumpty had a house on Dumpton Place!

Or rather he might have done!

Did you know that Camden Council wishes to change the name of locally much loved charming Dumpton Place located off Gloucester Avenue to the (in the words of local residents that I have spoken to) ridiculous name of Jasmin Mews without proper consultation to the local residents.

The rules state that consultation must be made to people living within a 50 yards distance appeared not to have been made. People clearly are very upset. As your prospective councillor if elected, I certainly would act on your behalf on this and other issues as they appear.

This road name change proposal is being made by developers wishing to build in the area of the old Volvo shed! And have asked for the so the developers think hip and trendy name of Jasmin Mews totally unrelated to its actual history or location!

My Daughter will be really sad to see Humpty Dumpty's place in history taken away!

CTPH D-19 Eco warrior perhaps?

Receiving considerable case work (and I am not even elected as your prospective councillor yet!) from residents as I am calling on you around Camden Town with Primrose Hill.

Apart from universal concerns about the flawed HS2 'Groundhog Day' route through Camden. Other issues are mostly related to roads, policing, housing matters and especially concerns about the massive 8.1% rent increase by Camden this April. That and caretaker service reductions, being brought in under the Rader!

Camden council is imposing from next week a 58% price hike to all visitor parking permits with the exception to the elderly and disabled drivers.

And for all Camden residents wishing to be green and have purchased at considerable expense an electric car (I myself am investigating viability of a new hybrid car design for my own family), Labour have decided to remove the free parking scheme incentives. So where have Camden's Green credentials gone?

With the Eco Champion Alexis Rowell who also used to be a Liberal Democrat last year moving to the Greens and now sadly not in office we have lost a visionary voice for Camden. We need another visionary soon!

I have during the past 6 years been working gently and quietly behind the glare of self publicity to ensure and facilitate that a large estate is as energy efficient as was possible to achieve and that vital fuel monitoring equipment was provided at zero cost to residents by Camden. I lobbied and won the day, saving up to £1000 per leaseholder. And getting the project therefore accepted more readily by the community. It is now helping to save residents energy, by raising awareness.

I have also been active in trying to bring about change with use of low energy lighting on council estates.

In 2006 I took the drastic step to completely have my own property re-wired and equipped exclusively with low energy lighting. My already energy efficient fridge now consumes more than all my lighting switched on! A lower energy fridge is next on my wish list.

Where possible I have also replaced all my office servers and computers with lower energy utilisation replacements. It was not cheap to do. But I have demonstrated that with a £4000 investment I was able to reduce my already impressive CO2 footprint by around another 50%

I accept that the payback to cover the high implementation cost will take several years more to recover.

But if we all do this and can do this with help of more local schemes. We will save the equivalent of up to one power station worth of energy production taken over a large metropolitan area.

So as your prospective councillor and if elected to office by you. I fully intend to expand into fulfilling the now much needed Eco warrior role for Camden, especially as Labour appears hell-bent on removing what few green credentials Camden did have.

I have noticed that a scheme to campaign for Fireworks on Primrose Hill again. Although we all love fireworks and my Daughter especially so. I would just like to remind you that fireworks do add to atmospheric CO2 production gases and therefore are not environmentally friendly.

Photo below was taken by me shortly before decommissioning of the old Southbank CO2 emitter which you will better know as Tate Modern today!

CTPH D-20 invited to attend TRA representatives meeting last night

I was asked a few weeks ago by a TRA representative colleague in my capacity as co-opted member of Housing and Adult Social Care scrutiny Committee to establish the facts relating to Camden Housing reducing apparent levels of local caretaker services of a number of council estate blocks.

It appears that although no caretaker staff reductions are currently planned and in fact around 19 additional caretakers are being engaged there is a proposed change being introduced for ground levels daily 'spot checks' rather than daily cleaning.

Clearly residents are concerned that the definition of what is clean may become an issue of interpretation and the random and sudden change of state from clean to dirty, such as an kitchen oil spill, or other substance which presents an immediate Health and Safety risk can and do occur at any time.

More fundamentally however, is the concern the proposed change away from a weekly clean to all communal areas to a twice a month only clean will make. Naturally, this has created quite a stink with residents!

Although, this is currently being rolled out in Camden, it appears the main perceived reductions to onsite caretaker service is focusing on any estates that are considered too clean! Hence the reported reason for moving some of the caretaker resource over to neighbouring estates within in each of the two districts of the Borough. If there is any good news about this proposal is that blocks with previously less caretakers in Camden may now receive needed extra resources.

It was explained to me in my telephone interview with the Camden officer responsible that this is planned proposal is to be implemented across ALL estates in two districts of the Borough.

I will continue to question this proposal to verify that a more uniform and fair level of estate cleaning and caretaker services is provided throughout all of Camden estates.

It should also be noted that a vital and often forgotten function of the caretaker is the social care that they can provide by keeping a watchfull eye on some of the older and more vulnerable residents, when I challenged the responsible officer for this proposal he conceded to me that the change to 'spot checks' would reduce on site caretakers ability to provide this level of duty of care to those residents.

UPDATE: Saturday 14th April

I have had a very useful and detailed conversation with Cllr Julian Fulbrook Camden Housing Cabinet member late this afternoon on the above concerns. Although Cllr Fulbrook has just returned from travels, he was very surprised of the proposals and stated that he knew nothing of such a proposal or change, but if it were an operational decision that could well be the case. But as the above aforementioned caretaker situation sounded more like a strategic plan and proposal that he should have been informed.

He has assured me that he will contact the responsible Camden officer first thing on Monday to establish the full facts.

Councillor Fulbrook shares with me a complete surprise that an estate can ever be too clean!

He also supported my observation that the current duty of care by caretakers keeping a watchful eye on the elderly and vulnerable would clearly not be there if the on-duty daily caretaker is being removed from an estate because it was determined to be too clean.

Footnote: This article has changed from its original form to more generic non specific form at the request of TRA representatives of the estate now entering sensitive discussions together with the ward councillors and Camden council senior officers. Naturally, on the request of my fellow TRA colleagues I have been more than happy to make the required blog changes to keep the basis of the caretaker reduction article intact.

Photo of Clarence Way Estate located in Hawley Road, CTPH.

CTPH D-21 Help create the most democratic ward in Camden

During these next weeks I will be calling on you the residents of Camden Town with Primrose Hill to give you an opportunity to ask me how I will serve your best interests here as your prospective councillor.

Naturally it is your choice, it is the people's choice. I have already been serving you well and hard for more than a decade here.

In my youth I served you whilst working in my local Chalk Farm Library. For the last six years I have served you as a member and vice chair of a local SNT police panel. And have made many suggestions on how to make our neighbourhood a safer place to be.

In education I have served you as governor of our local Primrose Hill School and take an active part in the working school places group. To help the 130 children in 2009 and 2010 get a local place. A bulge class was created allowing up to 20 or so children to be here at Primrose Hill School.

In housing I have represented locally a large community of leaseholders and tenants on a very large (more than 2200 people) for six years as a co-opted member of an outstanding model TRA that is a pleasure to affiliate with.

On Camden council I am a co-opted member of of the Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny (HASC) committee now in my second year. I have made many deputations to HASC prior to this in previous years representing the interests of the Camden community.

Yes I have made a big difference already. Changed a multimillion pound PFI project in its treatment of its residents, got the works changed to be the way the residents wanted and saved leaseholders around £1000 in costs in energy monitoring projects. The council wanted to charge installation, I went to the directorate, and won on behalf of all residents to waive that crazy fee.

With HS2 I was actively campaigning on behalf of the Primrose Hill and Belsize Park area and knocked on a very many doors in the local area that would have been potentially blighted back in 2009 and 2010. And since the so-called consultation process started 18 months ago I have been an active voice for common sense at the very many consultations meetings in and around Camden during this time. Only a few weeks ago I attended yet again another so-called consultation meeting. At that meeting I coined the phrase 'Groundhog Day Talks' if you have seen the movie then you will understand the irony!

I have been asked if I support the Legal Challenge from Camden on HS2. What I do support is common sense and if this requires a legal challenge to obtain common sense then I do.

As a local representative of the local people naturally I have a duty of care not to rush to support 'knee jerk' legal challenges that will cost every Camden resident money out of the Camden coffers. However, as I have said if a legal challenge is required to spurn a fundamental change in a flawed plan then I always believe that common sense prevails.

I am working here for you now.

Last night my fellow co-opted members and myself at the HASC Scrutiny committee were honoured and thanked by the chair and member councillors for our contributions over the past two years.

I have cross party respect and support here. So with the highly respected Cllr Pat Callaghan (Labour), Cllr Chris Naylor (Liberal Democrats) and prospective Cllr Nigel Rumble (Conservative) all serving you here in Camden Town with Primrose Hill you will have the most democratic ward in the whole of Camden, self scrutinising with no political gimmicks, equal representation of all political views. Just three people who passionately care and have demonstrated their caring to you the local community.

Help create a truly democratic ward today;

Vote Nigel Rumble on 3rd May

CTPH D-25 Wet Easter Monday

May have been a cold wet windy day but the reception on the doorsteps was very warm. Discussed the Big Issues for local residents. HS2 very much a key concern.

But actually what most people want to know is about the values and integrity of how I would represent the local residents on whatever has or may crop up in the years to come as your prospective councillor.

I have never been a professional politician. In point of fact I started as an accidental politician. I simply had strong beliefs that things around me could be better, so I set out to try and make a local difference, which I am frequently told by my community that I did on matters of housing, school places and safer neighbourhoods as part of my involvement with my local SNT police panel.

It is for my local community to judge my abilities. I value most highly what local people say to me.

One of my principles in life is know your own strengths well but know your weakness better.

This I have been putting to good use on matter of HS2 consultation for the past 18 months.

I am a information technologist and management consultant and know a thing or two about consultation methodology.

You hopefully would have read my brief recently published letter on HS2 consultation in last weeks local press, CNJ and H&H.

The manner of my scrutiny of HS2 Ltd is on public record. But suffice to say. The current HS2 consultation is the most ineffectual that I have ever witnessed and I have sought and obtained from HS2 Ltd admission into this ineffectual consultation process.

As your prospective councillor I am here to represent the collective wishes and concerns of residents and local businesses. That I pledge to do and will do if elected.

Those that I have met today a warm thank you for taking the time to discuss with me on this Easter Bank holiday Monday.

CTPH D-29 Press coverage today in Ham & High and CNJ

This letter of mine was published in Ham and High and CNJ. However, it received excellent cartoon treatment in H&H by Ken Pyne.

CTPH D-32 postscript

Resident Camden tenants are so very unhappy about the rent hike of 8.1% this year and over the past two years a whopping 15.2% increase. Even traditional labour supporters find that hard to swallow.

Photo is Copyright © 2007. University of Cambridge.

CTPH Deep Rooted in Camden and D-32 Evening update

To all the residents that I met today, thank you so very much. The warmth given to me is simply amazing. I know Camden has always been my home for over 50 years and now I can feel that my family roots are so deep here. They say trust is earned and I know why because I have worked hard to earn that trust.

My late mother was the longest serving member of Camden Libraries and worked over 40 years rooted in Camden and based in Kentish town Library, a part of that legacy remains with me.

My late Father and his surviving twin Brother, my Uncle were both D-Day WWII veterans and several generations of my family are also rooted in Camden. The spirit of the Rumble family is so deep in Camden.

For I am a true Camden local and always will be. NW1 has so much variety, which is what makes this unique ward so special.

Picked up some pretty serious and compelling case work today. One I will be addressing to Frank Dobson MP due to its potential wide ranging impact the other direct to the next Housing and Adult Social care scrutiny committee where I have been an co-opted member for two years.

So a very special thanks for those folks taking time to discuss such far ranging issues.

I have been serving you already in Camden now for more than a decade and hope to do so as your next councillor.

The photo is me together with my young daughter, family is a wonderful gift.

Meeting Boris today at launch of 9 point plan for Greater London

It was very interesting to meet Boris Johnson today at the Welcome Collection conference center in Euston Road for the launch of the '9 point plan for Greater London'

Even though Boris had a very pressing schedule diary he took time out for a photo call with me as candidate for the upcoming by-election in Camden Town with Primrose Hill on 3rd May. He hopes that he will be able to visit the voters there later in the campaign. Especially as I happen to be School Governor of his old Primary!

Camden, Cuts, The Cabinet, Smiles and taking ownership

Like all councils up and down the country cuts have been imposed by central government. It is entirely up to the locally elected council administrations to decide on how best to proportion out belt tightening measures.

This is after all what every citizen of Great Britain does every month when balancing earnings against expenditure. Is it not reasonable that if “the people” have to make cuts not only to essential things as well as any luxury items and foods just to make ends meet every month.
Unfortunately some folks get caught up in the easy use of that flexible friend the credit card, much like the Labour government under Gordon Brown did with the treasury of our country. But we know where that leads to, in the case of a government a fall from grace, and in the case of the individual the loss and repossession of homes.

So against this backdrop, is it not reasonable that the Camden Labour administration accepts it’s responsibility to implement hopefully a fair and well thought out measures of cuts and that balances the financial books of the very affluent borough of Camden.

I sincerely hope that the new Labour Cabinet fully embraces the challenges that face them in these very difficult financial times and uses a positive managerial command of pushing forward rather than just blame central government for having fewer sweets in it’s sweetie bag this year. It must accept as all the people have already accepted and move on in a dignified and positive way to show by the quality of it’s analysis and fiscal management that Camden can become a shining beacon to other councils by way of example.

If the cabinet feels the need of atonement about about dishing out the package of cuts to the residents of Camden they could always make the gesture to reduce their handsome allowances!

The Full Council meets this Monday 28th February at 7pm. Camden residents will be watching!

Author: Nigel Rumble

Powerful Chile Quake 'Shifted Earth's Axis'

"The powerful earthquake that killed hundreds of people in Chile on Saturday probably shifted the Earth's axis and made days slightly shorter, a Nasa scientist has said."

"Richard Gross, a research scientist at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, calculated how much the axis may have changed in position following the the disaster.

If the planet's axis did shift by 8cm during the quake, days would have shortened by 1.26 microseconds, Mr Gross calculated. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.

Earth days are 24 hours long because that is the amount of time it takes the planet to make one full rotation on its axis, so shifting the axis would affect rotation.

The quake shifted the Earth's axis by even more than the 9.1-magnitude tremor off Indonesia that started the deadly tsunami in Asia in 2004, according to Mr Gross.

This was partly because the fault line responsible for the quake in Chile "dips into Earth at a slightly steeper angle than does the fault responsible for the 2004 Sumatran earthquake", he said.

The different angle made Saturday's tremor more effective at moving Earth's mass vertically and shifting the planet's axis, Mr Gross continued.

The 2004 quake in Asia, which killed hundreds of thousands of people, caused the Earth to move by around 7cm.

It chopped an estimated 6.8 microseconds off the length of a day, Nasa said"

This is not a typical Belsize blog, but since this severe event has such significance to world climate, this does serve as a reminder of the fragile world that we inhabit. Who can say if the collective effects of reducing our CO2 emissions in the UK, together in Camden and Belsize will have more or less impact than the loss of 1 micro second to a day.

But one thing is clear the need to reduce climate CO2 and thus helping to prevent a non reversible trend to incresed "global warming". Most scientists agree we have at best less than 10 years to drastically to turn the tide of a non reversible trend. Hansen (NASA).

Author: Nigel Rumble
Quotes: Sky News 2010

Snow again on Primrose Hill- worst for 30 years!

In what is set to be the worst winter conditions for 30 years, here again in Camden,  we have the crazy situation published today in Ham & High that Brent and Camden have RUN OUT OF GRIT.

This is a disgraceful situation, with weather predictions now able to achieve long term viable reporting weeks in advance, this simply is unacceptable.

It is notable that in other countries such as in the USA this apparent luck of grit never occurs, the US government is totally proactive in dealing with sever winter extremes. For example in anticipation of certain states currently being hit hard by sub-zero extreme temperature, energy supply companies that have "cut off" people due to failure of being able to pay utility bills have been ordered to re-connect the most needy in advance of worsening conditions.

Clearly lessons can be learned from across the other side of the Atlantic in the USA of how to deal with bad weather.

Closer to home however, I have been informed by local residents that the luck of grit is not only causing big delays in moving around but is very dangerous.

One local resident has narrowly escaped serious injury or worst when slipping and falling in Fellows Road with an oncoming car out of control unable to break or stop sliding towards the unfortunate pedestrian shouting "Get out of the road I can't stop the car"!

Another resident slipping on ice outside Budgens in Haverstock Hill falling and hitting her head in the process, but escaped serious injury.

We need the gritters out 24/7 NOW and not talk about it as a post review for 2011!

Author: Nigel Rumble (currently on New Year's vacation in USA NOLA)

Advisory to all residents in high rise properties like Chalcots

The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Sir Ken Knight, to provide an independent overview of progress with the fire investigations at Lakanal House, Havil Street, Camberwell on Friday 3 July. Sir Ken will report back to the Secretary of State on progress and emerging findings as a matter of urgency.

Sir Ken’s Terms of Reference for his report include the fire safety matters applicable to this building and operational procedures and practices undertaken by London Fire Brigade at this incident.

Until this work is complete I would appreciate your authority offering some reassurance to tenants.

There are practical measures that you could take such as reminding tenants how to protect themselves from fire, this includes having a working smoke alarm and regularly testing it. If tenants are concerned they can contact their local FRA and the Fire Kills website http://firekills.direct.gov.uk has plenty of up to date fire safety information.