London elections: Could Conservative-run Wandsworth become a Labour council? Post Reply

[SW12Pops]

Wandsworth has been a Conservative-run council since 1978.

But as the London elections draw closer, experts warn there is a real chance of Wandsworth Council switching hands to Labour.

We spoke to local residents to get their views on pressing issues in the borough ahead of polling day on 3 May.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england ... ur-council

[SW12Pops]

Looks unlikely now...

Wandsworth, Margaret Thatcher’s favourite council, looks set to remain under Conservative control but with a much smaller majority.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politic ... 24271.html

[Motherslittlehelper]

Whatever anyone thinks of the conservatives, why would you risk changing the lowest council tax and best roads in london? All councils are under financial pressure, we seem to be coping well.

Lambeth pays twice the council tax we do, now is not the time for taking a gamble with new people.

[liverbird in london]

Agreed! I live on the border of Wandsworth and Merton. My Merton neighbours (with their Labour council) over the road pay double the council tax and have recently moved from a weekly to a fortnightly black bag rubbish collection.

[peasepudding]

1. Labour have pledged to keep the council tax at the same rate and not increase the council tax.

2. Merton still has weekly black bin bag collection except in Lavender Fields where the new wheelie bin scheme is being piloted. From October Merton will have wheelie bin collections across the whole borough with recycling and landfill collected alternate weeks. Food waste will be collected weekly (food waste isn't collected in Wandsworth). Wandsworth was came second worst on its record for recycling. Merton also provides free collection of bulky waste.

3. Wandsworth'children's services need improving, Merton's are outstanding.

4. No libraries in Merton have had hours reduced. A new library has been opened in Colliers Wood.

5. No children's centres have closed in Merton.

6. Merton are building a new swimming pool and leisure centre to replace the aging one in Morden. The complex will include a gym and cafe overlooking Morden Park. It will be council owned and therefore subsidised costs.

[Motherslittlehelper]

local parties are very different from voting in general elections.

Wandsworth whilst not perfect, is run very well. I don’t usually vote conservative but do in Wandsworth

The benefit v risk of changing to another party is just not there

[Goldhawk]

Reasons for considering voting for change this week

- Tooting Common Chestnut Avenue felling

- Northcote Library and Chatham Hall redevelopment

- Removal of street bins across the borough

- Failing children's services

[Denwand]

local parties are very different from voting in general elections.

Wandsworth whilst not perfect, is run very well. I don’t usually vote conservative but do in Wandsworth

The benefit v risk of changing to another party is just not there

Broadly agree all experience shows Labour councils are inefficiently run and cost a lot more whereas Wandsworth has an excellent record on both counts.

I lived under a Labour council in Lambeth for 6 years and their services were appaling, the council couldn't care less about complaints and there were lots of scandals over wasted money.

Wandsworth Council has been like paradise by comparison!

Also Momentum activists were taped discussing plans to oust the Labour Council leader if elected and impose their own agenda - which nobody would have voted for - basically soak the rich where the rich = anyone with a mortgage! Garden tax, mansion tax ... who knows?

Here are the Momentum plot recordings from The Standard

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politic ... 00041.html

[GuyD73]

I don't really take a party political view on this because our national Tory government are lying morons and Labour are equally failing to provide any sort of decent opposition.

I find it incredibly frustrating that, despite having voted Labour tactically to alter Parliamentary arithmetic in the last GE, my vote can be interpreted as one for a Brexit supporting party. Given FPTP I'm sure there are many of us that feel politically homeless at the moment.

The vote on May 3rd gives all of us Remainers an opportunity to vote for candidates standing on the platform of a final say on the Brexit deal and a People's vote. So in Fairfield, I will be giving one vote to Renew and the other 2 to the Green and LD candidates.

I hope if sufficient numbers of us are similarly minded, then it will send a strong message to both govt and opposition that there is no mandate for the Brexit they are pursuing/enabling.

If you are a dyed-in-the-wool Tory or Labour voter, then please at least consider just giving ONE of your three votes to a #Remain party. Brexit's not a done deal folks, let's use this opportunity to express our opposition to this unconscionable self-harming madness.

[Newonthis]

Certainly Wandsworth is not perfect and was thinking of giving a chance to Labour, but after one of the candidates came to my door canvassing and provided wrong information, they lost my vote. I found appalling giving incorrect information, which at best the candidate didn't know the area enough or at worst was lying. I understand that they do not know everything, but what about saying that and sending a letter or email later with the right information?

It's also worth considering the Momentum tapes published by the Standard.

[liverbird in london]

I never vote Tory in general elections but they’ll definitely get my vote this week.

I lived several years under the shambolic Labour-run council at Hammersmith & Fulham. Memories of hanging on the phone pleading with them to get our refuse collected while I watched from the window large rats running in and out of a pile of uncollected black bin liners are memories that will stay with me forever. The council tax was two and a half times what we pay in Wandsworth.

Since moving across the river to Wandsworth I’ve found the Conservative council much more efficient. Yes, it’s a shame that the library isn’t open every day but it’s not the biggest hardship to have to choose a day to take your children. Plus, with the £1200 I save in council tax bills I can buy my children their own reading books to treasure and afford to take them on educational trips. They both go to Wandsworth Ofsted outstanding schools and my refuse is collected weekly by obliging council workers.

Maybe Labour-run Merton offers better “free” (a moot point when you consider their council taxes are 100% higher than Wandsworth) services. Their paid-for services which I use regularly (because I live on the border) whether it’s parking costs or firework displays (eg Merton council’s Wimbledon Park v Wandsworth’s Battersea Park), are generally 25 -50% more expensive than Wandsworth.

[BFW]

I never join in on political forums but I agree with some of the previous posters.... having lived both in Lambeth and Wandsworth has made me realise how well run Wandsworth council is.

I did consider voting Renew but decided that its a pointless vote in Local elections.

Having spoken with Peter Dawson, he is committed and knowledgeable and despite my disappointment with his party Brexit negotiations, he will get my vote.

[atbattersea]

Wandsworth council are an outsourced shambles with literally no one with any competence. Look at the disaster that formula-e turned into - weeks of disruption in Battersea Park. Look at the running of Battersea Park now - drains all over the park blocked-up, not for days, not weeks, not months but literally years.

Remember it has been the Tories that have overseen all this building in the borough, and let the developers renege on their planning permission quotas for affordable housing.

No one to take responsibility for anything. Ask them a question and they tell you to deal with their contractors!?

To be honest I'm not sure that the current Labour councillors have any more savvy, but a change has more chance of bringing improvement than the status quo. It'll also send a message to everyone about Brexit - Labour must understand that it's a protest vote.

[liverbird in london]

Not everyone can afford a £6,000 surcharge (approx cost spread over five years of voting for a Labour council) to make a protest statement against Brexit
Either way, it’s going to be a close vote!

[atbattersea]

Not everyone can afford a £6,000 surcharge (approx cost spread over five years of voting for a Labour council) to make a protest statement against Brexit
Either way, it’s going to be a close vote!

Not sure how you can possibly predict it could cost you £1,200 a year more. Can you show us your workings?

I am all for lower taxes, but we're running on fumes here. Personally I think the days of local government, in the form it is now, are long overdue for change. It really does not make any sense for different London boroughs to be charging different council tax rates, some subsidising the cross-boundary activities of others, and residents pretty much subject to a lottery as to what services they get.

The whole system should be re-thought with London-wide charging/consistency.

For example, you've got this utter nonsense of TFL being responsible for some roads, and WBC for others. Then bus lanes run by TFL that allow motorcycles, and those by WBC that don't!? Or the crazy 20mph speed limits on major roads in some areas (absolutely agree with the limits on minor roads/side roads).