hit by cutbacks

by MATTHEW NIXSON

Key environmental health services have been put on hold because of cuts in council staffing, it was revealed this week.

Barnet's three state-of-the-art air pollution monitors ,, each costing £45,000 ,, have been mothballed along with other vital services because there is no-one to run them.

The report, to Barnet's planning and environment scrutiny commission, also shows a backlog in the council's care and repair service. This means elderly and disabled residents are not getting the promised 'hand-holding service' which assists with repairs and renovations, it admits.

Other key areas, some statutory, on hold include:

æAll environmental promotion;

æConsultation on an air quality review;

æWork on contaminated land;

æResponses to central Government environmental consultation;

æSound insulation tests.

The report blames staff shortages in the environmental health section. Councillor Beverley Pearce, chairwoman of Barnet's environment committee, said it was a result of Barnet's £2.5million budget overspend last year. Hundreds of temporary staff were axed and new appointments were put on hold in order to cut the deficit, the Hendon Times Group revealed in November. Ms Pearce said: 'The whole department is now restructured and normal service will have been resumed. It was only up until the end of the financial year in April.'

However, a council insider said restructuring had not yet taken place and there was little likelihood of new appointments being made. Barnet is also having difficulty attracting high quality staff, he added. Councillor Liz Mammatt, Tory group leader, described the situation as a disgrace, saying it put residents at risk.

'Some of the borough's most vulnerable people are not being helped because poor housing is not being investigated,' she said.

'There is a reported waiting list of 120 applications for renovation, disabled facilities and home repairs' assistance grants.'

mnixson@london.newsquest.co.uk