Copland staff fear hidden site sell-off agenda

I publish below a Guest Post from someone involved with current events at Copland Community School. The views expressed are those of the guest blogger but I publish it because I believe that the public should know what some of the staff are experiencing and thinking. I will be happy to publish any alternative perspectives.
 

An increasing number of Copland Community School staff suspect that it is Brent’s intention to let the school die. The evidence?

New Head Richard Marshall and new Deputy Head Nick John have spent their few weeks in office

·         cutting whole courses and subject areas

·         narrowing the curriculum

·         demanding that department heads nominate staff for redundancy

·         threatening any who refuse with redundancy themselves

·         reducing heads of department to tears

·         wasting Brent HR officers’ time calling them in to interview staff about legitimate and certificated sickness absence (including ones following operations and motor accidents)

·         cancelling Sports Day and another planned Activities Day at short notice

·         refusing any joint consultation with staff

·         refusing to furnish a definitive list of staff leaving in July citing ‘equal opportunities’(?)

·         adding to the 30 plus staff leaving for voluntary redundancy (sometimes under threat of future non-procedural and bogus capability action) by making working conditions for remaining staff so bad that they are desperate to leave as well

·         making the school curriculum offer to prospective Yr 7 parents, and to Year 11 students considering staying on for A levels, as unattractive as the appalling physical conditions students will work under

·         boasting about how ‘tough’ they are prepared to be in carrying out more of the above

Everyone knows how extensive and attractive the Copland site would be for developers. It certainly wasn’t lost on former Head (now awaiting trial on fraud charges) Sir Alan Davies.  Many at Copland now believe that the only explanation for the imposition of yet another clueless management regime on this long-suffering school community can be that Brent want to reduce the roll to  the point where they can declare the school unsustainable, close it down  and flog off the land to a supermarket chain and a residential developer.

Looking for the X Factor at Brent Civic Centre's first Executive meeting

Well not really! The X Factor was filming outside the Civic Centre in Arena Square and Cllr Krupesh Hirani was quite overcome by seeing Nicole Scherzinger strutting her stuff, but inside Boardrooms 4 & 5 the X Factor or almost any other factor was decidedly absent. The photograph should be evidence enough.

A discussion on parking charges went on for ages and nearly made me rush out and throw myself off the Boardroom's balcony thoughtfully provided by the Civic Centre designers  for any Brent residents who can't stand it any more.

The parking discussion, where actually there appeared to be no major disagreements, was about ten times as long as the discussion on two major housing reports which will have a much more serious impact on families and individuals forcing some of them to leave Brent and others to choose between paying their rent or buying food for themselves or their children.

As Robin Sivapalan of Brent Housing Action pointed out from the floor, the report on Supply and Demand almost seemed to welcome the Coalition's Bedroom Tax as a way of shifting tenants from 'under occupied'  housing, while other actions appeared to reduce demand only by redefining overcrowding or disrepair rather than by  providing actual housing. The second report promised action to build new affordable housing but lacked detail while action was promised both to tackle poor landlords but also to encourage more landlords to rent out properties.

Michael Pavey in an outbreak of left rhetoric called private foster agencies exploitative but then seemed only to want to get a better (cheaper) deal out of them, He also suggested primary school expansions were preferable to the 'anarchy' of free schools.

Muhammed Butt was very tetchy and lost his cool on at least two occasions, giving the impression that opposition councillors had no right to disagree with him.

'Color (sic) Run' invades Wembley

I got back to Wembley yesterday evening after spending the day at the wonderful Kilburn Festival to find remnants of the so called 'Color Run' still out on the streets. Immediately irritated by the US spelling and the Dulux sponsorship I looked in vain for any evidence that it raises money for a good cause.

It is an international phenomenon which started in the United States where winning is not the objective - instead runners get covered in coloured powder after each kilometre and take part in a party and clean up at the end.

I prefer the Kilburn Festival. (grump)

Butt unwelcome at Tulip victory

Tulip Siddiq won a decisive victory in the Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party selection vote today.

Her victory was preceded by the ritualistic(and highly symbolic)  head-butting of a housing protester, who was wearing a Unite T-shirt, by someone who was thought to be a member of the Labour Party.

Does this report REALLY tackle Brent's housing crisis?

Click on image to enlarge

A report going before the Brent Executive on Monday July 15th lays bare the extent of Brent's housing extent and how it has been exacerbated by the Coalition's changes to benefits.

The graph shows that Brent has been much more affected by landlords ending tenancies than our neighbouring boroughs. 47%of homeless acceptances in 2012-13 were homeless due to the ending of a private letting in the wake of the changes in the Local Housing Allowance. The private rented sector itself continues to grow with 31,784 households living in private rented accommodation in the 2011 Census, compared with 17,043 in 2001. The sector accounted for 28.8% of Brent households.

Unmet demand for housing assistance stands at 10,366 households. This excludes those on Band D who are assessed by the Council Allocations Scheme as having no housing need.

Current demand on the Housing Register, including the homeless in temporary accommodation and those on the Transfer list is just over 19,000 households. In contrast the Council expect to make just 844 lettings of permanent social housing tenancies by the end of 2013-14.


These are allocated thus:

Looking ahead the Report notes the pressures that will be experienced:

1. Local Housing Allowance changes will continue to impact and make it harder for the Council to procure private rented accommodation as landlords will be unwilling to 'engage with tenants in recipet of benefits'.
2. The changes in LHA payable to single people under 35, which limits payment to a single room in a shared house, will mean they will find it increasingly difficult to find accommodation in the private rented sector.
3. From 12th August 2013, over a five week period, the Overall Benefit Cap will limit the total amount of benefit payable to a non-working couple or a single parent to £500 per week, and £350 per week for a non-working single person. The OBC was expected to impact on 2,700 Brent households, but some have taken measures so as to be exempted and the DWP assesses the total as 2,267 now. The bulk of these are in temporary accommodation or the private rented sector.
4. The Bedroom Tax will reduce benefit for rent  for social housing tenants by 14% (average £17.50 pw) with one 'spare room; and 25% (average £32.66 pw) for those with two 'spare rooms'.
5. Many households will be making a minimum contribution of Council Tax for the first time when they are also faced with  financial pressure from other welfare reforms.
6. The DWP is predicting that approximately 40% of claimants currently receiving Disability Living Allowance will not qualify to receive the replacement Personal Independence Allowances. The report notes: 'these claimants will be a high priority for receiving support from the council to cope with changes in circumstances' as receipt of DLA by a member of a household previously exempted them from  the Overall Benefit Cap and Council Tax charge.

The consequences of all this, the report says, is that families are likely to live in over-crowded and poor quality accommodation in the borough rather than move out to cheaper and better quality accommodation outside Brent. 'Unscrupulous' landlords may take advantage of families affected by Welfare Reform by refusing to deal with disrepair issues, knowing that the families will be reluctant to report them for fear of losing their accommodation. Brent Council has therefore drafted a Private Housing Action Plan to deal with these issues.

The report confirms actions already approved by the council including:

1. The introduction of fixed term tenancies by the council with partner housing providers determining their own policies as long as they are 'broadly consistent with the council's priorities'.
2 To use Flexible Tenancies (fixed term tenancies at either social or affordable rent) on the same basis as approved for other social landlords.
3. Introductory or starter tenancies of 12 months will be used for all new tenants in concert with fixed-term tenancies as relevant, 'Five years normally but with shorter and/or longer periods for specified groups/circumstances'.
4. Changes in the Allocation Scheme which means the residence qualification is established through living in Brent at the time of application and continually throughout the last five years. (NB this is a tightening of the previous proposal of living in Brent for three of the last five years).
5. The definition of 'living in unsuitable accommodation', which gives priority under the Alllocation Scheme will be tightened so that 'households with only minor disrepair issues are not being given priority for rehousing'.
6. Households who are over crowded by 'just one room' should not automatically be given priority in the new scheme - each case will be considered 'on its individual merits;.

The Mutual Exchange scheme, originally aimed at providing an incentive to 'under-occupiers' to downsize as as a result of the bedroom tax, will be extended to cover for example those over retirement age who are not affected by the current benefit changes.

The maximum payment for someone wishing to downsize would be £1,000 plus assistance wit removal costs and access to a handyman service. Full payment would be made for a 'perfect fit' exchange and pro rata for others.

It does seem to me that while the Private Housing Action Plan to protect private rented tenants is welcome much of the report is really fiddling while Rome burns. Changing definitions and tenancy arrangements is not dealing with the underlying issue which is a shortage of social housing and the failure (cf Quintain Wembley Regeneration, Willesden Green Library development, Queensbury development, and the Bridge Park/Unisys development) to build truly affordable housing.

The full report can be found HERE

Gary Younge's censored article: Open season on black boys after a verdict like this

Requests are circulating across the internet for the sharing of this article by Gary Younge that the Guardian has decided not to publish.

Calls for calm after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin are empty words for black families


Let it be noted that on this day, Saturday 13 July 2013, it was still deemed legal in the US to chase and then shoot dead an unarmed young black man on his way home from the store because you didn't like the look of him.


The killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year was tragic. But in the age of Obama the acquittal of George Zimmerman offers at least that clarity. For the salient facts in this case were not in dispute. On 26 February 2012 Martin was on his way home, minding his own business armed only with a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles. Zimmerman pursued him, armed with a 9mm handgun, believing him to be a criminal. Martin resisted. They fought. Zimmerman shot him dead.


Who screamed. Who was stronger. Who called whom what and when and why are all details to warm the heart of a cable news producer with 24 hours to fill. Strip them all away and the truth remains that Martin's heart would still be beating if Zimmerman had not chased him down and shot him.


There is no doubt about who the aggressor was here. The only reason the two interacted at all, physically or otherwise, is that Zimmerman believed it was his civic duty to apprehend an innocent teenager who caused suspicion by his existence alone.


Appeals for calm in the wake of such a verdict raise the question of what calm there can possibly be in a place where such a verdict is possible. Parents of black boys are not likely to feel calm. Partners of black men are not likely to feel calm. Children with black fathers are not likely to feel calm. Those who now fear violent social disorder must ask themselves whose interests are served by a violent social order in which young black men can be thus slain and discarded.


But while the acquittal was shameful it was not a shock. It took more than six weeks after Martin's death for Zimmerman to be arrested and only then after massive pressure both nationally and locally. Those who dismissed this as a political trial (a peculiar accusation in the summer of Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden) should bear in mind that it was politics that made this case controversial.


Charging Zimmerman should have been a no-brainer. He was not initially charged because Florida has a "stand your ground" law whereby deadly force is permitted if the person "reasonably believes" it is necessary to protect their own life, the life of another or to prevent a forcible felony.


Since it was Zimmerman who stalked Martin, the question remains: what ground is a young black man entitled to and on what grounds may he defend himself? What version of events is there for that night in which Martin gets away with his life? Or is it open season on black boys after dark?


Zimmerman's not guilty verdict will be contested for years to come. But he passed judgement on Trayvon that night summarily.


"Fucking punks," Zimmerman told the police dispatcher that night. "These assholes. They always get away."


So true it's painful. And so predictable it hurts.

Copland cull continues

The cudgels are out at Copland Community School as the new head and deputy act fast and furious before the end of the term.

I understand that 30 or so staff have already taken voluntary redundancy, some under the implied threat of capability procedures for not delivering 'Outstanding' or 'Good' lessons, if they did not accept the offer - but now a second front has opened.

Heads of Faculty have apparently been asked to submit names of two members of staff  who they wouldn't  mind losing. As in the best gangster movies when they don't produce the two names it is suggested that they go instead. This appears to have been effective in some cases as teachers have suddenly, apparently without reference to agreed procedures, been invited to Formal Capability Interviews.

The question arises as to whether not following the agreed procedures is itself a capability issue.

How this will leave the staffing situation in September 2013, and again in January 2013, is anyone's guess but resignations and redundancies will produce vacancies that will be difficult to fill in the present climate at the school unless huge incentives are offered.

But then the school has not got the money and anyway  it does not have a very good record in terms of incentives and bonuses...

Decision day tomorrow for Tulip, Sally and Sophie in Hampstead and Kilburn contest

Labour Party members in the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency will be voting for the successor to Glenda Jackson as parliamentary candidate. Voters will include some some from Brent wards as the constituency straddles the Kilburn High Road.

Tulip Siddiq has not only been endorsed by Muhammed Butt (photo above) but by other Brent Executive members included Ruth Moher, James Denselow, Michael Pavey and Roxanne Mashari. However this line up is put in the shade by none other than Lord Melvyn Bragg of Hampstead Town who has done so much to bore the nation into submission every Thursday morning on Radio Four.

Clearly mindful of the enormous contribution to local politics and mobile phone sales by  Brent's own youthful Cllr Krupa Sheth (photo above), Bragg says:

Her comparative youth is a great asset to a party which more than ever seeks and needs change. She could be a distinctive presence at Westminster.

Not content with just one Lord, Siddiq pulls in none less than Lord Kinnock (still keen to use five words where one will do)  who says:

Tulip embodies everything that is best about young Labour people – she is energetic,conscientious,highly intelligent,approachable and determined to combat prejudice and injustice anywhere and everywhere.

Her sense of judgement is firm and mature and her commitment to public service is total.

Phew! But I mustn't be prejudiced against her she clearly does have some experience and I have heard that even a grizzled old South Kilburn Estate resident and veteran trade unionist has muttered into his beard that he  might vote for her as the best of  'a poor bunch'! However her claim to have 'saved' Camden's libraries has been controversial among her doubters.
 
I do however have an uneasy feeling that this emphasis on youth in an all-women contest is a bit like the controversy surrounding the BBC and women newsreaders. Youth has become a bit of a fetish with Brent Labour since the victory of the 'Young Turks' in the Executive elections and it could lead them astray.

Earlier this week Siddiq was the subject of an alleged 'smear' campaign when an email was sent around about her family's  involvement in Bangladeshi politics and even President Putin made a guest appearance! LINK

 

In contrast Sally Gimson (above) has no Brent endorsements, unless you include Kate Osamor  who is said to be interested in the Brent Central nomination. She does have one Lord, Lord Willy Bach, Justice Shadow in the House of Lords who knew her when she was parliamnetary candidate in South Leicestershire:

As CLP Chair I was in a good position to see how outstanding a candidate she was; hard working, great with people, articulate on the doorstep, fun to work with, and above all putting Labour’s case across.

Her endorsements are strong on the NHS and education with many having known her through her children from when they were in Reception Class. She clearly has strong roots in the local community in Hampstead.

Luca Salice, Chair of Camden Chairs and Governors Forum says:

Sally and I had our political disagreements which Sally always handled with frankness, good humour, friendship and good sense. Sally is politically astute and conscious of strategic priorities while aware of the personal and emotional implications of individual decisions. I am sure that Sally will be a first-rate Labour candidate for this marginal seat and will work hard to win Labour votes amongst those who never voted for us or who have abandoned us over the years.

Interestingly Pat Callaghan, Camden Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, endorses both of the above candidates.

 

The third candidate, Sophie Linden, from Hackney is endorsed by a Lord, Lord Stanley Clinton, but also by  Margaret Hodge MP and David Blunkett. Linden refers to supporting the anti-apartheid struggle and CND in her youth and is endorsed by Bruce Kent:

I warmly endorse Sophie Linden as a Parliamentary candidate. She has hands on grass roots political experience,plenty of vision and ideals and is a hard worker. We need more of her calibre in Parliament.

Blunkett emphasises her experience as an adviser on Education and the Home Office during the  Labour Government.

Linden is backed by several people from Brent including Larry Adebola who says:

I am backing Sophie because what really matters to the people of Hampstead and Kilburn is the lack of affordable house and unemployment. We need a committed and determined candidate who will tackle these issues head on. When I put these issues to Sophie I was impressed by her knowledge and what she wants to do about the issues."

As a Labour outsider there did not appear to be very much difference between the canddiate sin terms of policies but more can be found on their respective websites:

Tulip Siddiq

Sally Gimson

Sophia Linden