A 'new look' education authority for Brent?

Following moves by various Brent schools towards Cooperative Trust status or Cooperative Academies, the Children and Families department of the Council  has put forward some proposals to headteachers for a possible  'new look' education authority. This would reduce the services provided  by the authority to a small statutory core with many more being provided through collaborative arrangements between schools. The collaboration could be formalised into a social enterprise.

I understand that this is based on:
1. An expectation of a sharply reduced central education budget.
2. A recognition of the enormous amount of expertise that exists within the schools.
3. A recognition that schools want more autonomy.

Although this addresses the attraction of the Cooperative model's ethos and criticism of the deteriorating quality of some LA services, it does not deal with the short-term financial gain some secondary schools hope to get through academy conversion.

In this week's Brent and Kilburn Times (see below) I called for an open debate on the future of the Brent education system. The initiative from the Council makes this even more necessary.

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Stand Up for Climate Justice Tomorrow

The Brent contingent going to the Climate Justice march will meet at 10.45am tomorrow at Willesden Green Station.

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See you at the Torch tomorrow for biggest Brent strike rally for years

I will be back at the Torch Pub, opposite the ARK Academy in Wembley Park tomorrow, for a rally of education and other public sector workers who will be striking about their pensions.

The rally begins at 9.30am and refreshments will be available. Hundreds of teachers, lecturers, caretakers, teaching assistants, meals supervisors, school secretaries and supporters will hear speeches from several union General Secretaries and Presidents before leaving en masse about 11am for the demonstration in Central London,

It will be bigger and better than the last rally on June 30th as ATL, NUT and UCU will be joined by members of NASUWT, GMB, NAHT and UNISON who will be on striketo protect their pensions.

There will be a prize for the most imaginative placard.

The Torch is at the junction of Bridge Road and Forty Lane. Cross the road at Wembley Park Station and turn left along Bridge Road.

Green Wembley Central By-election Campaign

I will be campaigning in the Wembley Central by-election against the background of the economic crisis, cuts in the welfare state and the deteriorating international situation regarding action on climate change. A huge canvas for a small local by-election so my leaflet concentrates on local issues linked to those broader ones:

Click on images to enlarge

Will anyone who wishes to help in the campaign contact me at martin.francis@greenparty.org.uk   Thanks

I'm on my way to Wembley Central (again)

He was green until Coca Cola came along and turned him crimson

 Well, here we go again. Let's all look forward to a green Christmas!

I'll be standing as the Green Party candidate in the Wembley Central by-election which takes place on December 22nd.

The other candidates are:
Madhuri Davda (Conservative) who was an unsuccessful short-listed candidate for the Brent North parliamentary seat at the last election.
Afifa Pervez (Liberal Democrat) who won the last by-election in the ward but lost her seat in the Labour sweep at the 2010 Council Election
Krupa Sheth (Labour) who at 20 is the youngest candidate.

I am the oldest and the only man, oh well, should be interesting!

Turnout at the 2009 by-election was 29.3% compared with the 2010 Council election turnout of 50%. With polling day in the middle of winter and close to Christmas turnout will be a major consideration.

These are the arrangements for postal and proxy votes:

Anyone not already a postal voter and wishing to vote by post must submit a completed application form to the Electoral Services office by 5pm on Wednesday 7 December.

Alternatively electors may appoint a proxy person to vote on their behalf in which case the deadline for applications to be submitted is 5pm on Wednesday 14 December.

 electoral.services@brent.gov.uk

Labour chooses their Wembley by-election candidate

Krupa Sheth, aged 20,  has been chosen to fight the Wembley Central by-election for Labour. Polling takes place on December 22nd.

The by-election has been caused by the surprise resignation of Labour councillor Jayesh Mistry.

Brent Greens are likely to finalise their selection tomorrow. 

Brent Fights Back at the People's Assembly - Video

Thanks to BNCTV for this footage of last week's People's Assembly

Occupy Wall Street Goes International - Great Video!

Localised business rates a potentially damaging gimmick

The Green Party has dismissed the Coalition government’s plan to “localise business rates” as a superficial gimmick – with potentially damaging effects for local government, small business and the environment.

The new plans are an example of false localisation, designed instead as a mechanism to further squeeze council budgets and services. While the proposals are portrayed as localism, both business rates and the valuations on which rates are based will be set by central government.

The proposals go further to state that any business rate growth achieved by local authorities below a centrally set growth target – adjusting for inflation – will be kept centrally. Local authorities are actually set to lose out to the treasury – if the treasury’s own targets are not met – placing further strain on the provision of already slashed services.

Jason Kitcat, Green Party Councillor and cabinet member on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “It's absurd to even call the proposals ‘localisation’ when the key variable – the level of tax – will remain out of council control and the growth target will be set nationally for all of England.

“Small innovative businesses, such as new media and sustainability, attract little or no business rates because they are run from home or modest offices. To benefit most under the new scheme, local authorities need to favour large projects like new airports or large shopping centres. This makes a mockery of the Coalition’s pledge to support small business and will further choke an already stalling recovery.

“Business rates need to be set locally so regional authorities can adjust strategies to optimise local talent. Without this, both the local economy and the environment will suffer from corporate cherry picking”

Brent Fightback Protest at Tory Conference

With the Tories digging their heels in and insisting 'there is no alternative' despite rising criticism from economists and some of their own business supporters, the TUC March for the Alternative in Manchester could not have been better timed. 35,000 trades unionists and activists turned up to insist that there was an alternative to the imposition of austerity on ordinary people while casino capitalism carries on regardless.  Brent Fightback supporters were there along with a wide range of other groups:

Europe Against Austerity Conference Oct 1st

EUROPE AGAINST
AUSTERITY CONFERENCE

Saturday 1st October, London

Should Greece default?
Has the euro got a future?
Is there an alternative to cuts?
Are we facing ‘double dip’ recession?

As the European economic crisis worsens and ordinary people are made to pay, hear what the left parties and campaigns across Europe have to say. Take the opportunity to be part of the debate: join us to discuss alternatives and action for change.

Speakers include: Jeremy Corbyn MP; Unite; NUJ; Pierre Laurent, Party of the European Left; Sevim Dagdelen MP Die Linke; Sinn Fein; Olivier Besancenot NPA; Annick Coupe Solidaires, France; Max Banc Attac Germany; Piero Bernocchi COBAS, Italy; Prof Costas Lapavitsas, SOAS; Marisa Matias MEP, Left Bloc, Portugal

Registration: £5 waged / £3 unwaged / £10 delegates from organisations

More info from www.europeagainstausterity.org / coalitionofresistance@gmail.com / +44(0)7939 242229

Conference initiated by Coalition of Resistance.

Green Party calls for government to stop using ATOS

Green Party members yesterday voted to pass an emergency motion calling on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to stop using IT firm ATOS as its assessor of benefit claimants.

Concerns have been raised over the company’s suitability to conduct assessments, ranging from the lack of disabled access at their assessment centres to the shocking fact that 40% of their decisions have been found to be wrong on appeal [1].

Jillian Creasy, Green councillor for Sheffield Central who also works as a GP, said:

“ATOS’s computer-led assessment is far too blunt an instrument to assess a benefit that is vital for so many. For example, the box-ticking exercise is close to useless for assessing a condition such as autism. Not only that, but the number of decisions that have been reversed means that an awful lot of taxpayers’ money has been wasted.

“Disabled people should be afforded the dignity they deserve throughout any assessment process, and should not be presumed guilty or treated like they’re avoiding work. ATOS has no place in such a sensitive area, and we urge the government to sever all ties with the company.”

Jenny Jones investigates Brent cycling issues

Jenny Jones and Shahrar Ali listen to Brent Cyclists' concerns

Jenny Jones, the Green Party's candidate for London Mayor, visited Brent today as part of her fact-finding tour of London boroughs regarding cycling facilities.  Members of the Brent Cyclists' Group and Brent Green Party told her about some of the local issues and took her on a ride from Wembley Park down to Neasden Shopping Centre and Gladstone Park.

One of the central issues was the problems cyclists face in crossing the North Circular at Neasden. The North Circular splits Neasden in half and travelling south the cyclists has the choice between 'Death Canyon'  where the main road goes under the North Circular at the Neasden Stonehenge roundabout and joins another roundabout at the top of Neasden Lane, or the pedestrian underpass to the Neasden shopping centre which is shared with pedestrians. Many users have worries about safety in the pedestrian underpass.  Travelling from south to the north there are even more problems with cyclists having to negotiate fast-moving traffic from a slip road which joins the main road from the left.

Pointing out the dangers at Neasden roundabout

Jenny promised to look into the possibility of a road level crossing at the North Circular for north-south transit and any interim improvements that could be made. I told her that this had been cited as a possible route for children cycling from the south of Brent to the Ark Academy and remarked that this seemed to be a way of reducing the pupil population of Brent!

Other issues covered included the lack of cycling routes in the north of the borough and the intensive use of cars in that part of Brent, the impact of the Brent Cross Regeneration on cyclists and concerns about the changes being suggested for Staples Corner.

Link to Brent Cyclists blog HERE

Calling all Brent cyclists - meet Jenny Jones and tell her about local issues

Jenny Jones, Green Party candidate for the London mayoral elections,  will be coming to Brent on Friday to meet cyclists and investigate with them how cycling could be improved.

Her visit will start at Wembley Park station at 10am on Friday August 19th where anyone interested should come and meet her. She will then be able to cycle to any spots in the borough which give cyclists particular difficulties.

Could everybody who decides to come respond to Collette.Bird@london.gov.uk with their telephone number in case of any emergencies or delays.

Brent disturbances round-up

Also see this speech made by local black woman in Hackney yesterday calling for youth to fight for a cause (strong language) LINK

Here is a round-up of news appearing on the Willesden and Brent Times website LINK

A pawnbrokers on Harlesden High Street came under attack yesterday afternoon and most of the neighbouring shops had closed defensively by early evening. In Wembley early this morning a policeman was run down when a group attempting to rob the Comet store drove away in haste.

The England-Holland match scheduled for Wednesday at the Stadium has been cancelled. It appears likely  that Brent  police may impose Section 60 powers in the borough. This will enable them to stop and search people without having to state any grounds. There are dangers that used  insensitively such powers could make matters worse.

Ann  John, leader of Brent Council said:

If this is the young people of Brent telling us that they are angry about unemployment or poverty in the area then we are prepared to listen. But if this is just organised criminals using new technology to commit mindless act of opportunistic theft then that needs to be investigated and got to the bottom of a soon as possible.

Only a few days left to comment on Brent's Green Charter

There are only a few days left to comment on Brent Council's proposed Green Charter which stems from Labour's manifesto at the local elections. The Council sets out the brief as follows:

Brent Council’s administration is seeking to deliver a ‘Green Charter’, in consultation with local residents and other stakeholders, with the aim of the Council reducing its impact on the environment and helping residents to do the same.

Developing Brent into a greener borough needs to be done collectively with our partners, people who live, work and study here, public and private sectors and voluntary groups.
 
All the work that we do and our travelling to work or school has an environmental impact. As a Council, we need to have the policies in place to reduce our impact as much as we can and to create a better vision for the future. The Green Charter brings together all the work the Council is doing to improve, enhance and protect the environment and asks those who live, work or study in Brent, to be more sustainable in their way of life.  It also makes suggestions how this can be achieved.
 
This Charter sets out how the Council takes the environment into account in all of its work and sets out a vision of how residents and the Council can work together. In this way we can best respond fully to the challenge of climate change and reduce our carbon footprint.

 The proposed Charter can be seen HERE

 Comments should be sent by August 4th to:
Green Charter comments
Marion Hofmann
Brent House
3rd floor Brent House
349-357 High Road
Wembley HA9 6BZ

Email: environment@brent.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8937 5380

Brent: London's dirtiest Olympic borough

I chatted to a couple of street sweepers yesterday who had known nothing about Council plans to cut back on street sweeping with the potential loss of up to 50 jobs. This is the full statement I made to the local newspapers after Monday's Executive decision.

After these cuts Brent will be London's dirtiest Olympic borough. Once again the Council is sacking the lowest paid but most socially useful of its employees. Autumn leaves are beautiful and fun when they first fall but as they rot on pavements soon become unpleasant and slippery. Covered in a sheen of ice they are lethal. Brent Council may end up paying out an arm and leg to ambulance chasing solicitors.

Caroline Lucas: "I'll be on the picket line tomorrow"

Commenting ahead of the public sector strikes across the country tomorrow, Brighton Pavilion MP and leader of the Green party of England and Wales, Caroline Lucas, said:

“Many teachers and other public sector workers have contacted me over the past week to express hope that striking wouldn't be necessary – that the Prime Minister would start taking their pension concerns seriously. Sadly the Coalition Government’s relentless attack on this country’s public servants has left them with no choice.

“We know that public sector pensions are affordable – this is really about piling the UK’s debt burden onto the people who did the least to create it. I believe that fair pensions are worth fighting for, so I will be joining the picket lines in solidarity with my constituents who have been abandoned by the other main Westminster parties. 

“This isn’'t something I do lightly. I regret the disruption caused by industrial action and think it must only be used in special circumstances – and would urge trade unions to work hard to ensure support from the wider public.

“Yet when teachers are being expected to pay 50% more in pension contributions, work longer and get less pension when they retire – and when negotiations are failing – targeted and considered action is clearly necessary.”

Invisible menace threatens children's health

The North Circular at Neasden

I spent more than 10 years teaching at a primary school which was close to the North Circular in Brent. In contrast to other schools where I had taught there were high numbers of children on medication for asthma at the school. Classes often had 6-8 asthmatics compared with only one or two per class where I had taught before. Sports Day could be a nightmare. Although  local GP prescribing policies  may have contributed it appeared that the high level was down to the proximity of a very busy main road.

The impact of London pollution became clearer when we took children on residential trips. Children who had used an inhaler daily at school were able to do without them almost within hours of arriving at the Gordon Brown Outdoor Education Centre in Hampshire or the Youth Hostel in Epping Forest.As the coach reached the borders of London they began to request their inhalers.

New research by the Campaign for Clean Air has found that 1,148 schools in London are within 150 metres of roads carrying 10,000 or more vehicles per day and a total of 2,270 schools are within 400 metres of such roads.

This revelation comes at a time when new scientific research indicates that children exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution at school and home may be at increased risk of developing asthma. Scientists say living near roads travelled by 10,000 or more vehicles per day could be responsible for some 15-30 per cent of all new cases of asthma in children; and of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and CHD (coronary heart disease) in adults 65 years of age and older.

Jenny Jones, the Green Party London Mayoral candidate says:

* parents and teachers must be told when there are high pollution days
*  the Mayor of London has to act immediately to lower fares and reduce the total number of cars on our roads.
* create a very low emission zone which only allows the very cleanest vehicles to enter central London.
*  the Mayor must stick to the promise that all new buses will be hybrids from next year
* reinstate the plans for hybrid taxis which he dropped last year.

A map which shows the schools affected across London, and enables you to see Brent in details can be found  HERE 
or you can download a PDF listing the schools 150metres from a road carrying more than 10,000 vehicles per day HERE

Among the Brent schools listed are Copland High, Gower House, Jewish Free School, Oliver Goldsmith Primary, Our Lady of Grace (Dollis Hill) Our Lady of Lourdes (Stonebridge), Park Lane Primary, Preston Manor High, St Augustine's Primary (Kilburn), Stonebridge Primary,

Simon Birkett, director of Clean Air in London, said:

The government and Mayor Johnson must tackle an invisible public health crisis harming as many people now as we thought during the Great Smog in December 1952.

We need one or more additional inner low emission zones that ban the oldest diesel vehicles from our most polluted roads, and a massive campaign to build public understanding of the dangers of air pollution with advice on how people can protect themselves.

Glossy new buildings in Brent and Brussels

The new Europa building in Brussels (£215m approx)

Brent's new Civic Centre (£100m plus)

Many thanks to JC for pointing out the irony of David Cameron's criticism of proposals for the Europa building in Brussels (top above) in the context of Brent's new Civic Centre. UK taxpayers will contribute about £25m to the Europa building, one quarter of the cost of Brent's Civic Centre.

Cameron's comments may ring a bell:

I am less enthusiastic about the presentation we were given on the new building for the European Council. When you see a document being circulated with a great glossy brochure about some great new building for the European Council to sit in, it is immensely frustrating.

You do wonder if these institutions actually get what every country and what every member of the public is having to go through, as we cut budgets and try and make our finances add up.