Vote for the real alternative this evening!

Thanks to Coalition of Resistance

Brent library visits and issues plummet

The results of a Freedom of Information request by library campaigners on the number of visits and issues at Brent libraries since the closure of six of them have now been released. 

The March figures fit very squarely into the pattern which library campaigners described at last month's meeting with civil servants - usage rose (compared with March 2011) at the two libraries (Kilburn & Town Hall) with increased opening hours, but actually fell at all the other libraries. Total visits and issues at all Brent libraries both fell by some 30% compared with March 2011.

Campaigners now have figures for six months since the closures in October 2011. In those six months, Brent libraries had 20% fewer visits and 21% fewer issues than in the preceding six months. From October 2011 to March 2012 there were 18% fewer visits and 26% fewer issues than in the same months of 2010/11.

Click on righthand bottom corner to see full table Kilburn Library will soon close for 16 weeks for refurbishment at a cost of £650,000.

Ann John cleared of misconduct

The following statement was issued by Brent Council today:

Councillor Ann John OBE, Leader of Brent Council (Lab) was yesterday (2 May 2012) given the all clear by the council's Standards Committee. This follows her exoneration by an independent investigation looking into an allegation that she breached the council's code of conduct on a planning issue.

A formal complaint and request for the Committee to investigate Councillor John was made last January by Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Paul Lorber (Lib Dem). This followed his receipt of a leaked email from Labour Councillor Dhiraj Kataria sent to Councillor John and others.

In the leaked email, Councillor Kataria alleged that Councillor John had attempted to interfere with the council's planning process by seeking to influence a planning decision.

A detailed investigation into the allegation was conducted over a 12 week period by independent solicitor, and former Director of Casework for the Standards Board for England, Hazel Salisbury.

A report detailing Ms Salisbury's findings was presented to the council's Standards Committee yesterday (2 May 2012) for consideration. Ms Salisbury's report states that she found no evidence to corroborate any of the allegations made against Councillor John.

The council's Standards Committee was satisfied that Councillor John had not breached the council's code of conduct and unanimously agreed to release the report.

School budgets under pressure

Brent Council has written to local schools regarding budgets over the next few years. It is clear that there are difficulties ahead in terms of maintaining staffing and resourcing and  therefore the overall quality of provision:

The current economic climate and government announcements point to the fact that cash-flat funding settlements are likely to continue for schools over the foreseeable future. I would like to alert all schools of the need to construct budgets for at least the next 3 years on the assumption of cash flat settlements in order to identify any financial difficulties over the short and medium term.

The DfE requires under the Schools Financial Value Standard, that schools should be producing a 3 year budget forecast. Ideally, you should be using some kind of budget forecasting tool, to highlight any potential deficit issues, so that governors can start to implement, at the earliest opportunity, any possible cost reductions that may be necessary to maintain a balanced budget. If at any time you think there may potentially be deficit issues at your school, then you should contact the Schools Finance Team.