Bromley Times
Bromley Times: "Tory: we won't join Ken's clean-up club
19 October 2006
A COUNCILLOR has slammed criticism from London Mayor Ken Livingstone over the borough's failure to join a London-wide clean up initiative.
Mr Livingstone attacked Tory Bromley council for ignoring the Capital Standards campaign at the launch of the scheme's week-long crackdown on graffiti on October 9.
The Mayor accusing them of putting 'party politics before Bromley residents' everyday concerns'.
But Colin Smith, Bromley's environment executive, dismissed the attack as 'ill informed ramblings from the Zone One Mayor for Inner London.'
He added: 'Of course we agree with a cleaner London, but why on earth would we want to join 'Ken's club' and waste Bromley taxpayers' money when it is only advocating doing what we are already doing here anyway?
'We're clearly not perfect, nor will we ever become complacent, but it is a matter of record that we already match and in many cases exceed the performances of other London boroughs across the range of environmental issues.'
Capital Standards was set up to tackle litter, fly-tipping and fly-posting, and shares knowledge across the Environment Agency, London boroughs, the Metropolitan Police and cleaning contractors.
Of London's 33 local councils, 28 are signed up to the scheme.
Mr Livingstone said: 'I want to send a strong message to Bromley council. Their absence from this campaign is just not good enough. Londoners expect a cleaner city.'
His view was backed by Labour leader councillor John Getgood, who added: 'You only have to walk down Penge High Street on a Saturday morning to see how Bromley council is failing to act in its residents' interest. Capital Standards could make a real difference locally but Tory Bromley isn't interested, just because it comes from a Labour Mayor.'
However, Mr Smith said Mr Getgood's criticisms 'captured in a nutshell why council tax rose 36 per cent in the three years his party were in part control and why, since regaining control in 2001, the council has become the lowest taxing in outer London under the Conservatives.
'Councillor Getgood and Mayor Livingstone can jump up and down as much as they like about it,' he added. 'We believe that actions speak louder than words and our position isn't going to change."
19 October 2006
A COUNCILLOR has slammed criticism from London Mayor Ken Livingstone over the borough's failure to join a London-wide clean up initiative.
Mr Livingstone attacked Tory Bromley council for ignoring the Capital Standards campaign at the launch of the scheme's week-long crackdown on graffiti on October 9.
The Mayor accusing them of putting 'party politics before Bromley residents' everyday concerns'.
But Colin Smith, Bromley's environment executive, dismissed the attack as 'ill informed ramblings from the Zone One Mayor for Inner London.'
He added: 'Of course we agree with a cleaner London, but why on earth would we want to join 'Ken's club' and waste Bromley taxpayers' money when it is only advocating doing what we are already doing here anyway?
'We're clearly not perfect, nor will we ever become complacent, but it is a matter of record that we already match and in many cases exceed the performances of other London boroughs across the range of environmental issues.'
Capital Standards was set up to tackle litter, fly-tipping and fly-posting, and shares knowledge across the Environment Agency, London boroughs, the Metropolitan Police and cleaning contractors.
Of London's 33 local councils, 28 are signed up to the scheme.
Mr Livingstone said: 'I want to send a strong message to Bromley council. Their absence from this campaign is just not good enough. Londoners expect a cleaner city.'
His view was backed by Labour leader councillor John Getgood, who added: 'You only have to walk down Penge High Street on a Saturday morning to see how Bromley council is failing to act in its residents' interest. Capital Standards could make a real difference locally but Tory Bromley isn't interested, just because it comes from a Labour Mayor.'
However, Mr Smith said Mr Getgood's criticisms 'captured in a nutshell why council tax rose 36 per cent in the three years his party were in part control and why, since regaining control in 2001, the council has become the lowest taxing in outer London under the Conservatives.
'Councillor Getgood and Mayor Livingstone can jump up and down as much as they like about it,' he added. 'We believe that actions speak louder than words and our position isn't going to change."
posted by AppealNow.com™ at 8:11 PM
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