It has been a year since the Conservative Party regained control of Barnet Council after eight years in opposition. LEIGH COLLINS looks back over a controversial 12 months.

The cheers had barely stopped echoing around the election hall last May when the Conservatives announced three contentious decisions.

Doing their best to scupper plans for North Finchley's artsdepot and Barnet FC's new stadium next to its current one south of Underhill as well as reopening the Partingdale Lane rat-run' between Woodside Park and Mill Hill were policies that appealed and antagonised in equal measure.

The Tory hope was that the voters they appealed to (people who wanted a low council tax, residents around Underhill stadium and commuters from Woodside Park) would ultimately be more important for their electoral fortunes than those they alienated (the liberal arts establishment, Barnet FC fans and residents of Partingdale Lane).

Such divisive tactics proved to be a high-risk strategy.

The Tories had their noses bloodied by the residents of Partingdale Lane when they lost an important High Court case over the reopening of the road.

Cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Brian Coleman, was personally criticised by the judge for not keeping an open mind during the public consultation on the proposal.

The Tories did succeed in blocking Barnet FC's expansion plans but the issue remains a live one.

A minor revolt from the borough's arts community saw the administration back down from their opposition to the artsdepot, citing the prohibitive costs of pulling out of contracts already signed (but only after spending more than £100,000 to see if it would be viable to build a library there instead).

Blood has also boiled in parts of the borough over issues including the possible sale of Burnt Oak Youth and Community Centre to the Lohana community group; underfunding and possible redundancies in the borough's schools, and, of course, the record-breaking 24 per cent council tax hike, which will not have played well to traditional Tory voters.

Despite this, council leader Victor Lyon said his party had made a positive start. "We found a number of difficulties, particularly the financial set-up. We have concentrated on where we were and what needed to be done. We have put the building blocks in place," he said.

"We're now ready to start accelerating the delivery of the promises we made in the election manifesto."

When asked what he thought his administration had achieved over the last 12 months, he said: "The locking of parks with secure perimeters; we have increased the number of CCTV cameras and, in particular, installing the control centre.

"We promised we'd retain the Green Belt in two instances, one at Underhill and the pastures in Long Lane."

He also added that the council had improved help for children with Special Educational Needs, and increased the number of foster carers in the borough.

Does he have any disappointments or regrets over the past year? "I want to see the club Barnet FC stay here. The fact that that's not concluded is one disappointment, and also what has happened over Partingdale Lane."

But asked if he would have done anything differently over Partingdale Lane, he said no.

Councillor Monroe Palmer, the leader of the Lib Dem group, described the Conservative stance over Partingdale Lane as madness.

He said: "They have been very negative and very rarely positive, and they have wasted money on doctrinaire things like the artsdepot reconfiguration and Partingdale Lane."

He supported the Tory achievement of more CCTV cameras around the borough, but added: "It's not coming out of Government money, which is how we managed to do it when in power with Labour. It's coming out of council tax payers' money."

Labour group leader Phil Yeoman said: "The past year has seen the same old Tories breaking their promises, cutting low-paid jobs and services like education, and selling off assets like the Burnt Oak Centre.

"At the same time they hike up the council tax. A 24 per cent tax increase and cuts to services has been an absolute disgrace.

"But the problems haven't just been with what the Tories are doing, but also with their arrogant approach. I have never known a council be so confrontational with residents.

"When the Tories aren't trying to bully residents into submission, they simply ignore them."

As elections draw closer over the coming year, it remains to be seen whether the Tories will want to adopt a more conciliatory approach.

May 6, 2003 15:30