Local News 
Conservatives in Hertsmere consider the elderly a low priority [June 7th 2005]
Leon Reefe, the Labour Group Leader in Hertsmere, twice asked the Conservative led Borough Council to make the provision of services and
facilities to the elderly a higher priority. Twice the Conservative group has declined.
Every council is required by law to publish a "Best Value Performance Plan" which enables them, and the community it serves, to monitor the
quality of services provided by the Council and allowing comparisons with local and national targets. This is a basic statement about what the Council will do, and how well it does it.
Whilst discussing this year's performance plan, the Labour Group noted that the provision of services and facilities to the elderly in Hertsmere has been omitted. It is clear that the Conservative led Council wish to renege on many of their election promises by considering this group "not quite important enough".
Whilst "Customer Focus and Communications", "Performance Management and Learning" and "Vision, Corporate Priorities and Organisational Improvement Areas" are included in the Performance Plan, the Council's ability to provide services to the elderly in Hertsmere, and the courage to be judged on their performance is not.
Although the term 'elderly' is uneccessarily homogenous, we should expect the Council that shares the responsibility to provide for the most vulnerable amongst us to have the courage to be judged on its merits.
At election time all Conservative candidates have professed a deep desire to help the elderly in the community. Once elected they seem to find this particular section of the community the easiest to forget.
The Labour Group in Hertsmere calls on the Conservative Councillors to live up to their promises and include facilities and services to the elderly as a key priority in the forthcoming performance plan.
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