Vernon says mental health is now 'core business' for the Met

Patrick Vernon, who is campaigning for Labour's Brent Central nomination has posted an article on his blog  LINK about the Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing in which he took part.

He said:

The inquiry report makes mental health core business for Metropolitan Police Service. At times it was real hard and emotionally challenging to examine and review the 55 cases along with listening to the families’ experiences of the systematic failure leading to the death of their love ones. Respect to all the families who are still fighting for justice and peace

Some of the key findings in the report include:

• In most cases, there were failures in systems, mis-judgments or errors by individuals, resource limitations, poor co-ordination with other services or discriminatory attitudes towards people with mental illness that led eventually to these deaths.
• People with mental health issues complained they were treated like criminals by the police. They also felt individuals with mental health issues were handled with too much force, that the police should engage more with the families, and that police and NHS staff should have more mental health training.
• Many families said they could not understand why there was not better liaison between agencies. Some professionals made similar points in evidence.
• The Commission did have access to MPS files. However paper files and records were incomplete. This is clearly unacceptable for a 21st Century, customer-focused police service.
• Care pathways must be recognised and developed and there needs to be greater operational working together, such as inter-agency working within the NHS, clinical commissioning groups and local government.
• The Commission’s report was based on evidence direct from families over five years, MPS files as well as wide consultation with the public, service users and professionals. The Commission panel was independent and made up of experts who gave detailed consideration to the evidence.

Meanwhile Vernon, along with Muhammed Butt and former Brent South MP Lord Boateng, are involved in a project aimed at mentoring individuals who have been through the mental or criminal justice systemsL

PLIAS Resettlement is stepping up to the mark to fill a gap with the development of a mentoring programme geared towards supporting the over representation of BME individuals who have been through the criminal justice or mental health systems. PLIAS is offering a solution based mentoring and support programme for BME members of the community which aims to reduce re-offending.  This project supports alternatives to custody and diversionary activities by delivering supported care in the community.

The mentoring programme is the cornerstone of PLIAS Resettlement Court Liaison and Diversion Project. By equipping and empowering BME individuals with mental health issues to improve their lives and achieve their vision through personal mentoring relationships, PLIAS Resettlement is positioning the organisation to be a major advocate for BME individuals to guide them into making good choices for themselves

Wembley Connects Forum gets a new chair

Cllr Krupa Sheth

Cllr Mitchell Murray

Cllr Krupa Sheth, (Labour Wembley Central) will take over chairing the Wembley Connects forum from Cllr Wilhelmena Mitchell Murray in the next round.

Sheth, who lives in St Michael's Aveneue, won the Wembley Central by-election in late December 2011 at the age of 20. She will be quite a contrast to the 'tough cookie' Mitchell Murray who controversially stopped discussion of Veolia's human rights record in occupied Palestine at the last Wembley Connects on the grounds that a section of the audience found the topic 'offensive'.

Mitchell Murray has a large personality which, accompanied by a sometimes sarcastic sense of humour, was given free reign at the forum. Krupa Sheth's personality and sense of humour has been largely hidden from public view.

Cllr Sheth was involved in her own spot of controversy when a member of the public accused her of texting throughout a vital Planning Committee discussing the Willesden Green Library redevelopment. She defended herself by saying she was looking up information about the issues under discussion.

Cllr Mitchell Murray has taken over the  chair of the Children and Young  People Overview and Scrutiny Committee from Cllr Roxanne Mashari.

New Committee Chairs and members for 2013-14 approved at Council AGM

Brent Council's Annual Meeting this evening was enlivened by some well-deserved Community Champion Awards which went to a very representative range of Brent's diverse community. Lincoln Beswick,  in an often emotional speech, nominated Bobby Thomas as Brent's first Mayor of Jamaican origin. The significance of the occasion was marked by the presence of the Jamaican High Commissioner and even more by the crowd which came forward to record the moment on cameras and mobile phones.

Otherwise the evening was marked by a considerable amount of mutual political grooming on the last occasion in which the meeting will take place at Brent (formerly Wembley) Town Hall. The move to the Civic Centre will take place in mid-June.

The Executive and Committee positions were confirmed and the members of each of the main  committees is recorded below. The political balance is shown in brackets (Labour/Lib Dem/Conservative). In addition there are first and second alternates. Full details will be on the Council's website.

GENERAL PURPOSE (6/3/1)
Butt (Chair), Hirani, Mashari, J Moher, R Moher (VC), Pavey, Brown, Hopkins, Lorber, Kansagra

SENIOR STAFF APPOINTMENTS SUB-COMMITTEE (3/1/1) Important in light of senior officer restructuring)
Butt (Chair), Denselow, R Moher (VC), Lorber, Kansagra

PLANNING (7/3/1)
Aden, John (VC), Kabir, Kataria, Powney, Ketan Sheth (Chair), Singh, Cummins, Hashmi, CJ Patel, Baker

ONE COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (5/2/1)
Chohan, Harrison, Long, Mitchell Murray, Powney, Ashraf (Chair), Lorber, Colwill (VC)

BUDGET AND FINANCE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (5/2/1)
S Choudhary, Kataria (VC), RS Patel, Ketan Sheth, Van Kalwala, Brown, Hopkins (Chair), HB Patel

CALL-IN OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (5/2/1)
Daly, Jones (VC), Kabir, RS Patel, Krupa Sheth, Ashraf (Chair), Lorber, HB Patel

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (5/2/1)
Aden, Al-Ebadi, Arnold, Gladbaum, Mitchell-Murray (Chair), Matthews (VC), CJ Patel, Kansagara
(There are also co-optees and observers on this comittee)

HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (5/2/1)
Daly (Chair), Harrison, Hector, Hossain, Ketan Sheth, Hunter (Vice Chair), Leaman, Colwill

BRENT CONNECTS FORUMS - Chairs
HARLESDEN: Hector
KILBURN AND KENSAL: Oladapo
KINGSBURY  AND KENTON: RS Patel
WEMBLEY: Krupa Sheth
WILLESDEN: Jones

Reprise: The Battles of Kensal Rise and Preston Libraries

I thought that after today's news it was worth playing these videos again. Respect to the Kensal Rise and Preston campaigners and those from Barham and other libraries.

Butt and Pavey refuse to back Copland teachers' action against forced academy status

Well that didn't take long! Brent Council released this statement a few minutes ago:

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council has today urged teachers at Copland school not to go on strike, after they announced their intention to take action at a Governors meeting last night. Copland was placed in special measures by the Department of education earlier this month after it received a ‘failing’ Ofsted report. Under DfE rules, the School most now become an Academy.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council said:

“Nothing is more important than our children’s education. I am a trade unionist myself and hugely supportive of workers’ rights but our children’s education is at risk at Copland and strike action can only make things worse. I strongly urge all teachers at Copland to reconsider and to work together with me, children's parents and the Government to deliver the best possible outcome for the school.”

 Cllr Michael Pavey, Lead Member for Children and Families said:

“I am opposed to forcing Schools which are not failing to become academies, but this is simply not the situation at Copland. Our children deserve a better education than they are currently receiving there and no governance arrangement is more important than that. I urge teachers to stay at work and be part of the solution.”

Testing time for Pavey as Copland strikes against forced academy status

Cllr Michael Pavey, who took over as lead member for children and families at the weekend, has hardly filled up his ink well and manoeuvred his long legs under his desk, but already a big problem has landed in his lap.

Teachers at Copland High School have decided to strike next week on Thursday May 23rd in the first of what could be a sequence of actions over the DfE's decision announced yesterday to force the school into academy status.

Pavey, who has signalled a more robust approach to free schools and academies, will have to decide whether to support the staff, and possibly the governors, in resistance to forced academy status.

On Monday Cllr Pavey had a discussion with the Parent Action Group at Gladstone Park who have fiercely campaigned against a similar move at their schools. An extraordinary meeting of the Gladstone Park Primary School's governing tomorrow will hear a report-back on the recent meeting between some governors and Michael Gove which was held at the DfE.

Brent Labour's 'Spring Clean' continues as Ann John deselected and Powney not short-listed

The Preston Library 'Wall of Shame' demonstrates residents' anger

 It's a bit like one of those property programmes on TV when an 'expert' moves in to help sell a house that hasn't attracted any buyers and proceeds to move out all the old furniture and give it a lick of paint and other cosmetic touches..

This is what Brent Labour appear to be doing, with first the new look Executive replacing some of the tired veterans, and now Ann John has been deselected making way for a new face.  John's demise will appear to many as the result of library closures coming home to roost. James Powney failed to make the short-list for his own Kensal Green ward but could apply for another ward.

Mindful of Harold Wilson's dictum that 'a week is a long time in politics' Labour will be hoping that the electorate will be impressed by their spruced up property when it goes on the market in May 2014.

Certainly the new lead member for Environment and Neighbourhoods, Cllr Roxanne Mashari, will have to do far more than apply cosmetics if she is to deal with the toxic issue of library closures with the campaigns still up and running and the umbrella SOS Brent Libraries group due to meet at the weekend.

National Children's Day celebrated amidst the stress of SATs

 

It is perhaps appropriate that the first National Children's Day UK is being celebrated this week as 7 and 11 year olds are in the midst of their SATs, with the 11 year olds now having just sat the controversial SPAG test.

Many of those teachers and teaching assistants supervising the tests, despite their best efforts to keep things in perspective, are finding that children are stressed by them. I spoke to one Year 6 child last week who told me about waking up from a nightmare where she had been given a W (Working towards) grade rather than her expected Level 5.

National Children's Day is an initiative of the Save Childhood Movement and supported by a diverse group of organisations including  the National Trust, Play England, Play Scotland, Forestry Commission, Community Playthings, Project Wild Things and Leave Our Kids Alone.

Their website states:

  Celebrating the Rights and Freedoms of Children

    "There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace." 
                                                                              -Kofi Annan

We are launching National Children's Day UK on the 15th of May and everyone is invited to get involved. This is our first year - and it will be only two weeks after the launch of the movement - so help us spread the word! You can access our banner and posters here. We then hope to make it a much bigger affair next year.

Many other countries celebrate the rights of children on the 20th of November  - the United Nations nominated day. However, we think that it is really important that British children should be able to get outside on Children's Day, into their neighbourhoods and nature, so we have chosen to hold it at the beginning of the summer.

Childhood is precious. It creates the values, mindsets and dispositions that determine our interaction with the world around us for the rest of our lives. Children, therefore, have one very special right - and that is the ability to be able to develop, naturally and happily, to their full potential. National Children's Day UK is dedicated to helping ensure that this can happen.

The picture on play is mixed in Brent. There are fewer Easter and Summer playschemes and the private ones that exist are often too expensive for low income families. Afterschool clubs find it hard to survive and schools are increasingly providing their own with teacher volunteers.  At the same time the number of holiday, weekend and lunchtime SAT preparation classes have increased and a significant and growing number of children attend after school sessions with private tutors. In such circumstances attempts to put the SATs tests into perspective and reduce stress are doomed to failure.

Under the influence of academies and free schools, Michael Gove is pushing for longer school days and shorter school holidays.

However, on the other hand, some schools are broadening their curriculum and encouraging more outdoor activities such as cycling. The new Chalkhill Park and the planned BMX track nearby are signs that play is valued by some in the council. Brent's Gordon Brown (no relation) Outdoor Education Centre in Hampshire continues to provide residential activites for primary pupils and the Stonebridge Adventure Playground has survived funding crises.

It is not the best of summer days today but I hope Brent kids will be out and about after school today having fun engaged in play activities

Battling Barratts in Barnet - Save Our Welsh Harp

It's their future environment that is under threat

The petition is unrolled to the Town Hall steps

Cllr Mashari presents the petition at reception

I joined Cllr Alison Hopkins (Lib Dem) and Cllr Mashari (Labour) other Brent and Barnet councillor and party activists, West Hendon and Brent residents and environmentalists at Hendon Town Hall this morning. We were presenting a petition to Barnet Council signed by more than 850 people opposing Barratt Homes' plan for a 'city of skyscrapers' on the banks of the Welsh Harp reservoir.

I was at the Welsh Harp yesterday afternoon speaking to the walkers, joggers, cyclists and families enjoying the open space and they were flabbergasted that such a development could be allowed on such a unique beauty spot and nature reserve. Many said that once one section received approval more applications would follow and it appears that already an application has gone in again for the Woodfield Nursery site in Cool Oak Lane - these plans along with an application for housing on the Greenhouse site in Birchen Grove, Brent were defeated in 2009

There is still time to get your objections to the scheme in to Barnet Council. Go to www.saveourwelshharp.blogspot.co.uk for details or email thomas.wyld@barnet.gov.uk by 9am tomorrow morning. Don't forget to include your name and address to receive an acknowledgement and chase them up if you don't get one.

Tiggers oust the Eeyores in Brent but who's Pooh, Owl and Piglet?

One of Brent's more sophisticated political commentators has suggested that the Executive changes represent a victory of the 'Tiggers' over the 'Eeyores' in the Brent Labour Group.

Which is fine as far as it goes as an analysis but any suggestions for equivalents  for some of the other characters?

Mary Arnold to step down as a councillor in 2014

Following the changes in the Brent Executive it was likely that some of those who have been replaced would review their wider role as councillors. Having done a good stint in her Executive role and recognising that the election results represent a generational change, Cllr Mary Arnold, former lead member for children and families, has decided not to put herself forward as a 2014 candidate for the Kilburn ward.

Before the AGM sources said that James Powney was considering standing for Harlesden ward, where Helga Gladbaum is not standing again, rather than his present Kensal Green seat where he has been increasingly uncomfortable.

Powney, in the wake of the libraries issue, did badly in the election according to a senior councillor. Overall the results were convincing for the challengers who achieved votes in the high 20s out of the electorate of 41.

The Queensbury: A myth buster

Guest blog from the Save The Queensbury Campaign

In this piece we look at some of the serious, outlandish and plainly bizarre myths that have sprung up since Fairview Homes bought the land and The Queensbury pub.
Myth
Fairview Homes own the land and the building and can demolish / build what they want.
Reality
Planning permission is required to change from “drinking establishment” to “residential” use, which is a matter for Brent Council’s planning committee and not Fairview’s decision.
Myth
The building cannot be demolished because it’s in a conservation area.
Reality
Permission is required but that does not mean it cannot be demolished.
Myth
The pub has a short lease and will close soon.
Reality
The pub has a 10 year lease, with 4 still to run. The pub has gone on record to clear this up here.
Myth
A pub on this site is not viable.
Reality
Fairview Homes were asked to substantiate these claims but have not. Actually the pub is thriving, as would be expected from any pub in such a prime location. The pub owners have gone on record to refute this myth here.
Myth
The building is old and will fall down soon.
Reality
The building is consistent with others in the conservation area and will stand for years if maintained properly. It is also used other than as a pub (an office is let to another tenant).
Myth
Fairview carried out a comprehensive consultation with the community and residents are supportive of their plans.
Reality
Fairview’s own Planning Statement claims community support. But Fairview (by their own admission) did not consult those who use the pub, either via Busy Rascals activity or pub goers. They did write to some local residents but in those letters, did not mention that The Queensbury would be demolished as part of their scheme. In fact they didn’t mention the pub at all. Fairview have so far refused to release the contents of the 22 comments received during their “consultation”.
Myth
The pub has debts and are looking to quit their lease with Fairview Homes to clear them.
Reality
The holding company of The Queensbury (London Gastropubs Ltd) has a historic debt listed at Companies House. To say they are looking for a way out via a deal with Fairview Homes is a big leap. The pub owners have gone on record to refute this here. (A holding company’s level of debt is not an indication of profit and loss).
Myth
The lease between the landowner (Fairview Homes) and the pub (The Queensbury) are not planning matters.
Reality
Details of the lease are their business and are not our concern. But retention of a pub on this site, be it the Queensbury or another pub, is most definitely a planning matter.
Myth
The Busy Rascals toddler group has been offered a new venue by Fairview Homes.
Reality
No alternative space has been offered to Busy Rascals and they are very happy where they are.
Myth
Brent needs more houses – 56 in this scheme would help.
Reality
Brent needs Affordable, Social and large houses for families on their waiting list. Only 4 of the 56 meet these criteria (and could easily be built at the side and rear of the existing building).
Myth
If the pub closes, the deli will close too.
Reality
The sustainability of the deli would be seriously threatened because 1) they share management costs and 2) produce from the Deli is sold in the pub during Busy Rascals activities six mornings a week.
Myth
Fairview are asking for a 10 storey building knowing that they’ll end up with 4 or 5 storeys instead.
Reality
Whether it’s 4, 5 or 10 the pub will still go!
Myth
Foxtons/Cameron Stiff have signed a deal to sell the flats, once built.
Reality
Without permission to change use, there are no flats to agree to sell!
Myth
A replacement pub is not possible in a new development.
Reality
Not true. There are plenty of pubs with residential above. Developers tend not to like pubs at the foot of their apartments because it limits their potential for profit.
Myth
If considered an Asset of Community Value the pub cannot be demolished.
Reality
The reality is that the legislation does not mean ACV status overrides everything else. Planning processes have to be followed but national guidance suggests that ACV status should be a consideration. We are expecting a decision on the building being an ACV in June 2013.
Myth
Save The Queensbury is run / funded / driven by the pub.
Reality
Pretty insulting and wholly untrue. The campaign has spent less than £150 to date, on a website and leaflets and has been funded by community donations. Planning advice, legal advice, petitioning and political lobbying has been carried out for free by members of the community. The pub owners and managers do not attend our meetings nor have any input into them. The only support from the pub has been a petition on the bar and use of a table to hold our meetings (those attending even pay for their own drinks!)

Butt 'excited' about 'dynamic,energetic and talented' new Executive

In a statement released this morning following the Brent Labour Group AGM, Group and Council leader Muhammed Butt said:

I want to thank the outgoing Executive Members for the dedication to Brent and commitment to public service that they have shown. I am incredibly excited about starting work on Monday morning with our dynamic, energetic and talented new Executive. 

The Government has caused a recession, a dramatic fall in living standards for our residents and are implementing cuts to welfare that will devastate our community. We still have a lot of work to do to protect the people of Brent from this onslaught and I am confident that we have the best possible team to do so.

The new Executive now has 50% of its members from a Black and Ethnic Minority background compared to 30% previously and the average age has reduced to 46 from 60.  However three women lost their posts in the election and only two gained posts.

It is unclear whether there will be any political change of direction as a result of these changes and Muhammed Butt's statement concentrates on dynamism and energy rather than policy. It does appear to be more of a generational change than a shift to the left. However some Labour sources hope for a more robust approach to children's centres,  free schools and forced academies from Michael Pavey and a more proactive and sympathetic engagement on housing issues from Margaret McLennan. Michael Pavey will be talking to parents and carers at Gladstone Park Primary school tomorrow who are fighting forced academy status in a meeting arranged before Saturday's AGM.

New look for Brent Council Executive after AGM

Muhammed Butt was elected leader of the Labour Group on Brent Council unopposed today at the AGM. Contenders for the various contested positions were all elected changing the age profile and ethnic composition of the Executive to younger and more diverse.
 

Cllr Powney was defeated by Roxanne Mashari for Environment and Neighbourhoods;  Lesley Jones by James Denselow for Customers and Citizens; Janice Long by Margaret McLennan for Housing and Mary Arnold by Michael Pavey for Children and Families.

Aslam Choudry took the Crime and Public Safety post defeating Wilhelmina Mitchell-Murray for the position vacated by Lincoln Beswick.

The first meeting of the new Executive will be on Monday May 20th 7pm Brent Town Hall.  The agenda can be found HERE

Margaret McLennan - Housing

Roxanne Mashari - Environment

James Denselow - Customers

Michael Pavey - Children

Aslam Choudry-Crime

Don't let Barratt's wreck the Welsh Harp - act this weekend

3-4  tower blocks twice the height of the one on the right are planned

If you do just ONE thing this weekend apart from football, gardening, clubbing, drinking, eating and amusing the kids THEN make it submitting an objection to the Barratt Homes planning application to vandalise the wonderful Welsh Harp SSSI, nature reserve and bird sanctuary.

See the Save Our Welsh Harp blog LINK for ideas on what to say but make it personal - what does this development mean to YOU?


ONLINE
Go to the Barnet Planning site LINK and type H/01054/13 into the Search Box. Make sure you give a name and postal address and email address to get an acknowledgement.

E-MAIL
email the Barnet Planning Officer dealing with this application quoting the above reference number:

tom.wyld@barnet.gov.uk  Make sure you give your name and postal address and email address to get an acknowledgement. 

CLOSING DATE MAY 14TH

Brighton Green Party calls for Green councillors to 'take back' control of pay review process

This Green Party press release sheds more light on the current situation in Brighton and Hove

A meeting of the Brighton & Hove Green Party earlier this week overwhelmingly agreed that it could not support any Brighton & Hove City Council pay offer now being made that would leave staff worse off.

The council's pay offer, which it suggests will affect about 10% of staff, varies from employee to employee, so each offer is now being individually communicated to staff members by their managers during a 90 day 'staff consultation'.

Hundreds of staff face a drop in take home pay, offset by one-off, lump-sum compensation packages; the council has stated that, as a result of allowance changes and the compensation, some affected staff will be better off while others have to decide whether they feel the compensation is enough to offset their overall loss. This is an individual decision.

Much play has been made on social media that individuals may lose up to £95/week, or more than £4,000 a year. However, unofficial sources have recently revealed that a reduction of that level applies to just three employees and does not take into account their compensation package, which is worth about three years' losses.

Most staff face lower reductions and lower compensation, generally worth between two and three years of loss, sometimes a little more.

The complete picture is not this simple but it seems clear that once the compensation is gone, low paid staff will be living on even lower weekly take home pay. This has angered staff and it's unacceptable to the Brighton & Hove Green Party, which has resolved to campaign against it.

BHGP chair Rob Shepherd said:

“The party's made it clear it cannot support a final offer that appears to leave council staff with a cut in their consolidated take home pay. These include some of the city's lowest paid workers and we understand how they must be feeling.

"We recognise that the offer particularly benefits women who, it seems, have not been treated fairly under the existing payment structure. It goes without saying that women should be paid the same as men in comparable situations and we support creating a fair and gender-balanced pay structure. But it is not right if low paid people of either sex end up with a loss of income to achieve that balance.

"We're also disappointed with the council administration's decision to delegate pay negotiations entirely to council officers, meaning the administration now has no say in what's being proposed. This is a council offer, not a BH Greens offer. If there are pay cuts on the table, they are not in our name.

“We hope that, as a result of the party's intervention, the Green administration will find a way to take back control of the process and ensure the council will look again at any offers that result in consolidated pay losses."

Green MP Caroline Lucas said:

"Since the negotiations began, I have made my opposition to any cuts in take home pay very clear.

"I am therefore disappointed that, whilst some will gain from this process, a number will face a reduction in the money they have to live off each week.

"This is unacceptable. I know from the many constituents who have written to me about this issue that they agree.

"So too does the Brighton and Hove Green Party, whose members have voted to condemn the offer and also express dismay that responsibility for the pay negotiations was handed to council officers.

"With the support of the local Green Party, I have pledged to campaign against proposals made to workers that will lead to a loss of pay, in accordance with the local and national party's democratically agreed anti-cuts and anti-austerity policies."

Rob Shepherd added:

"We also condemn the city's Labour and Conservative parties for creating the mess that the council is seeking to manage. They are quick to criticise the Green administration yet they created the problem.

"Going back decades, both parties have presided over agreements which look blatantly unfair to some parts of the workforce and especially women. Both parties permitted what look like unethical, unequal deals. And both parties were warned time and again by council officers that they needed to sort it out but they bottled it in fear of industrial disputes.

"Whatever the current state of the pay offer, it is utterly hypocritical of Labour and Conservatives to say anything other than 'sorry'."

"However, it’s more important that all politicians now pull together in the interests of some of the city's lowest paid workers. These people must be at the heart of whatever we do."

Responding to the party’s decision, council leader Jason Kitcat said:

"I very much understand and sympathise with the concerns expressed in the local party motion.

"Members of council staff have just received the council's offer to create a fair and clear system of allowances which completes the final step of the ‘single status’ process. There is now a 90 day consultation period for staff to consider the offer, how it will affect them and respond to their managers with their views.

"I believe it is important to not prejudge that consultation, how staff may consider the proposals, nor any negotiations which I hope will follow.

"During this consultation period I am confident that the council continues to be open to any suggestions from staff and unions that could further improve the offer whilst ensuring it remains legally and financially viable."

No 'bedroom tax' eviction policy comes into effect in Brighton

Green-led councillors in Brighton & Hove yesterday fulfilled the party's pledge to introduce a policy saying that no city council tenant should be evicted from a council-owned home just because they cannot afford to pay their bedroom tax.

Brighton & Hove was the first city in the country to see such a declaration and yesterday afternoon it continued to lead the way on bedroom tax evictions when its plans become council policy.

It is two months since the housing committee chair, councillor Liz Wakefield, made a commitment to introduce the policy, describing the so-called 'spare room subsidy', or bedroom tax, as "immoral and harmful legislation from this morality-free coalition government".

In her final meeting as chair of the committee, before the post moves on, councillor Wakefield saw the commitment fulfilled when fellow councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty proposed the Green's no eviction policy, which was seconded by all Green councillors present and then approved unanimously by the Green, Labour and Conservative councillors serving on the committee.

The policy ensures that the council may continue to use all usual means to pursue non-payment other than bailiffs or evictions.

Councillor Wakefield said: "The Green council is proud to lead the way in fighting the bedroom tax and pleased to make it clear to our council tenants that we will not send the bailiffs round to evict them solely because they are unable to pay the coalition government's unjust, unscrupulous and often unaffordable bedroom tax."

Councillor Mac Cafferty said: "The bedroom tax is one of the cruellest components of a cruel coalition attack on the poorest and most vulnerable people. As Greens, we could not stand by while people might face eviction as a result, so we've taken a national lead with this new council policy. We urge other councils to join us and make this government's plans unworkable."

Caroline Lucas MP added: "I congratulate councillor colleagues on taking such a principled stand against this heartless government policy which is both immoral and unworkable."

Speaking for the Brighton & Hove Green Party, chair Rob Shepherd concluded: "This is a radical policy from a radical party, telling the coalition government it cannot have its own way on bedroom tax and welfare restructuring. And it’s a policy that offers reassurance to many council tenants across the city at a time when they desperately need it. No other party would have brought such a relief to Brighton & Hove residents."

The policy takes immediate effect.

BRAVO! Caroline's concise amendment to the Queen's Speech

Line 5, at end add ‘but respectfully request that your Government recognise that its programme fails to address either the worsening climate crisis or that austerity is failing; call on your Government to heed warnings that urgent and radical cuts in emissions are needed to prevent global temperature rises of 4℃ or more by the end of the century; urge your Government to recognise that, to fulfil its own commitment to keep warming below 2 degrees, around 80 per cent of known fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground; further call on your Government to end austerity and instead reduce the deficit through an economic programme that prioritises investment in jobs, especially in labour-intensive green sectors and that pursues a goal of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050, with policies for rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; and further call on your Government to lift the council borrowing cap to promote council house building, to tackle the cost of public transport starting with bringing the railways back into public ownership, to end cuts to welfare and take other steps to build a resilient and stable economy.

Caroline Lucas, Brighton and Hove

Kitcat calls for 'legal, fair and affordable' suggested solutions to Brighton pay cut crisis

I posted an item on the situation in Brighton and Hove where the local Green Party and Caroline Lucas MP have condemned the Council's pay modernisation which involves a pay cut for a minority of workers and increases for others.

Jason Kitcat, Convenor of the Green Group of councillors has responded to the criticism with this article on the Liberal Conspiracy website:

My colleagues and I on Brighton and Hove Council have led this country’s first Green local authority since May 2011, although as a minority administration we can (and do) get over-ruled by Labour and the Tories when they choose to work together.

There’s much we’ve done over the last two years which has been widely welcomed including introducing the Living Wage, building more affordable homes, protecting third sector funding, becoming the world’s first One Planet City and progressing a City Deal, but it’s fair to say that staff pay has been the most controversial issue we have had to deal with.

We inherited a deeply flawed and muddled pay and allowances structure from previous administrations, and indeed from predecessor defunct local authorities.

The lowest paid were not getting a living wage and the work on resolving single status for employee take-home pay (regardless of gender) was incomplete.

The Tory-Lib Dem cuts to local government have also hit us hard: in fact, they are the second steepest faced by any council of our type. Furthermore, we cannot raise Council Tax beyond a level Labour or the Tories would support. Although senior management pay is down to its lowest level for over ten years, the budget is exceptionally tight.

So we’re consulting on a proposal that will bring in fair pay and allowances for all who work for the council.
Building on the Living Wage we’ve already introduced for the lowest paid, we now are seeking to complete the final step of ensuring single status for all council employees.

It is very clear that this is not about budget savings and not about ‘austerity’. In fact, based on the offer under consultation, the pay bill is likely to go up slightly. Which other Council in the country can claim that?
What is the offer then? The offer includes three key aspects:

1) A new fair and simple set of allowances which is easy to understand and helps the council meet the needs of our citizens.With these new allowances 90% of staff will see very little or no change at all in their take home pay. Of those that do, the majority will actually see an increase and a minority will see some detriment. Most of those seeing detriment will, it is estimated, lose less than £25 per week. I recognise even that is a lot to some people, but not the headline figures being used by some individuals.

2) Anyone who is unfortunately suffering detriment will be generously compensated for that loss with a lump sump payment. For example someone losing between £1,001 and £1,250 a year is proposed to receive £3,550 in one-off compensation.

3) We are keen to provide new opportunities for staff. We hope that, if agreed at a future committee, changes like Bank Holiday working can increase opportunities for waste and recycling staff whilst improving services to the city by eliminating changing collection days every time there is a Bank Holiday.

Some staff will regrettably see allowances reduced, but we can see no legal and affordable way merely to increase everyone’s pay up to those levels – and we therefore propose a lump sum to compensate those staff, worth very roughly about three years’ worth of any reduction.

We have to resolve these allowances now. To do so without any detriment to any member of staff would sadly be totally unaffordable, even with Council Tax rises that would certainly not be supported by Labour and Conservative councillors.

I know this process has been controversial and could have been communicated better. Some colleagues locally have concerns about it, to say the least.

I would therefore welcome suggestions from them, as well as from staff and the unions, on how to improve these proposals in any way which is legal, fair and can be afforded within the tight budget limits effectively set by the government as well as our Labour and Tory opposition.

—
For more on the proposals, see Jason’s blog here.
Jason Kitcat is a Green City Councillor. He is writing in his capacity as Convenor of the Green Group of councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council.

Mary Arnold praises Gladstone Park parents' 'exemplary work' for the school and its children

Gladstone Park parents sent a copy of their letter delivered yesterday to Michael Gove, to Cllr Mary Arnold, lead member for children and families.

Cllr Arnold replied:

Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter and for all your parents ' collective and exemplary work for the school on behalf of the children and their best interests.

I sincerely hope Michael Gove takes on board the significant improvements and recognises that changes to the management would have a disruptive and adverse effect on the school.

The local authority and  your councillors are fighting for the best outcome for pupils and parents and we trust Gladstone Park will set the example for a local solution, based on the voice of reason and avoid a forced conversion.

Crucial day for future of Gladstone Park Primary School

Gladstone Park Primary School parents yesterday presented a letter to Michael Gove at the Department for Education, backed by 572 petition signatories, calling for the school to be allowed to continue its current improvement strategy without being forced to become a sponsored academy.

They backed the request up with data evidence that showed the strong progress now being made in years 3-5 where Ofsted had previously found weakness and HMI's and the local authority's approval of the strategy now in place. Any change in school status would disrupt this progress to the detriment of the school and its pupils.

Today some of the Gladstone Park governing body will be meeting with Michael Gove to discuss the school's situation and I understand that Sarah Teather MP will also be attending the meeting. Sarah Teather lost her position working with Michael Gove in the last government re-shuffle and has since distanced herself from some Coalition policies, particularly those concerning welfare.

Caroline Lucas to join striking Brighton Council workers' picket line following proposed pay cut

The minority Green Council in Brighton recently handed over negotiations for the 'modernisation' of pay and allowances to officers of the council.

As a result about 10% of council staff  have received a settlement offer which means that while some gain, others will lose pay. City Clean workers are to strike against the pay cut and today Caroline Lucas, MP promised to join them on the picket line. The Brighton and Hove Green Party have voted to condemn the offer and expressed dismay at the decision to hand negotiations to officers.

This is Caroline's statement:

Yesterday around 10% of Brighton and Hove council staff received a settlement offer as part of a process designed to ‘modernise’ pay and allowances.

Since the negotiations began, I have made my opposition to any cuts in take home pay very clear.

I am therefore disappointed that, whilst some will gain from this process, a number will face a reduction in the money they have to live off each week.

This is unacceptable. I know from the many constituents who have written to me about this issue that they agree.

So too does the Brighton and Hove Green Party, whose members voted at a meeting last night to  condemn the offer and also expressed dismay that responsibility for the pay negotiations was handed to council officers.

With the support of the local Green Party, I have pledged to campaign against the offer made to workers, in accordance with the local and national party's democratically agreed anti-cuts and anti- austerity policies.

I plan to join striking City Clean workers and continue to stand up for workplace rights – as I promised to do when I was elected and have consistently prioritised in Parliament.

Greens should never be in the position of reducing workers' pay and to do so at a time of austerity with rising food and energy costs and benefit cuts is totally indefensible. The Green group on the council must act quickly to right this wrong.

There may well be a case to modernise pay structures which are often out-dated in local government. In one of the schools I worked in the schoolkeeper was still getting an allowance for humping scales of coal in the boiler house when the boilers were gas fired!  More seriously there are often gender inequalities involved and disparities between different groups of workers which need to be smoothed out. Modernisation may involve a narrowing in  historical differentials but in such cases there is usually short-term protection and a longer term tapering of increases so that no one ends up with less cash in their pocket this week than they were earning last week.

I understand that Brighton Council's overall wage bill is actually go up slightly as traditionally low paid workers get increases with the payment of the living wage and additional allowances and the group of workers affected by the pay cut is comparatively small.  It should be possible to sort something out quickly.

Another Brent Executive post challenged ahead of Thursday's hustings

Margaret McLennan

A  further Brent Executive post is to be contested this week with Housing, currently led by Cllr Janice Long, joining the list which includes Children and Families, Customers and Citizens, Environment and Neighbourhoods and Crime and Public Safety. The Housing challenger, Cllr Margaret McLennan (Northwick Park) is not someone normally associated with the so-called 'Young Turks'.

The hustings will be held at Neasden Methodist Church, Neasden Lane (on the roundabout) at 8pm on Thursday and the vote  takes place on Saturday May 11th at the Annual General Meeting.

Although it is generally expected that Muhammed Butt's supporters will do well with allies of former leader Ann John in rather a rut at the moment, one Buttite  member of the current Executive was less confident, remarking that Labour councillors 'are a funny old lot' and hard to predict.

Meanwhile the selection process has begun for Labour's  councillor candidates for 2014 and I have heard that there are 150 expressions of interest for 63 posts, although that has  not been verified.

If it is the case, this is quite remarkable considering the gloomy outlook for local government with the Coalition slowly strangling it in terms of finance and political power.It will be hard to argue next time that 'I didn't come into politics to make cuts'.

Significantly one backbench councillor recently remarked that s/he was seriously thinking about whether they had been more politically effective as a local activist than as a councillor.

Deadline nears to object to Barratt's vandalism of the Welsh Harp

Things are moving fast as the May 14th deadline nears for the huge West Hendon 'City' planning application by Barratt Homes.

The FORAB residents' organisation in Barnet has come out against the proposal and Patrick Vernon, a candidate for Labour's nomination for the Brent Central nomination,  has written an article on the public health aspects of the proposal, both on the Save Our Welsh Harp blog.  LINK

Meanwhile it is essential that as many individual objections as possible are sent to Barnet Council by the May 14th deadline:

ONLINE
Go to the Barnet Planning site LINK and type H/01054/13 into the Search Box. Make sure you give a name and postal address and email address to get an acknowledgement.

E-MAIL
email the Barnet Planning Officer dealing with this application quoting the above reference number:

tom.wyld@barnet.gov.uk  Make sure you give your name and postal address and email address to get an acknowledgement. 

CLOSING DATE MAY 14TH

Lucas: Shaker Aamer has to come home

Social cleansing through redevelopment in Barnet?

I popped down to the Barratt Homes Sales Office at West Hendon (oops, sorry it has been rebranded hendon WATERSIDE) on Saturday.  I was told that there was just one apartment left in the recently completed block for £340,000 and Shahrar Ali making a similar visit was told that in addition there was an annual service charge of  £1,700 and a binding contract with a single water and energy provider.

The salesperson made it quite clear that the private apartments would be at the waterside with uninterrupted views of the Welsh Harp (see brochure illustration below) and that the replacement social housing would be away at the back of the site near the A5.

 

Leaving the sales room and going on to the West Hendon Estate top speak to the tenants whose homes will be abolished under the scheme was entering another world.

The first issue was that many did not know the details of the proposed scheme that will go to Barnet planning committee later this month and communication from the council had been poor. One resident commented that there was an issue of how representative the views were that the council had sought. She said that there had been silence from the council and Barratt homes as to their futures.

One mother said she had heard nothing and wanted to stay in her present house while another woman who uses a wheelchair had been told she couldn't  have a ground floor flat in  the new development.

The recent build (12 storeys) can be seen in the background of the estate

There was little doubt that the estate (above) had been neglected and some residents felt this was deliberate in order to justify demolition. They said windows and doors were badly fitting and let in the draughts and described water cascading down the walls.

However, the possibility of getting a better home through re-development was received with scepticism. They said that the likely rents (and the water and energy bills) would be too high for them to be able to afford and that many existing tenants would be likely to have to move out.

What was clear from a brief tour and chats  with residents that this works as a community and it is one that is soon to be violently disrupted and split up.

A mural on the estate

It appears that eventually there will be middle class professionals enjoying their views of the Welsh Harp on the banks of the reservoir, those few  tenants who can afford the higher rents in the social housing blocks and the poor displaced somewhere else - a model of social engineering (or social/ethnic cleansing?) that Lady Porter would have applauded. Only 20 of the 2,000 housing units will have 3 or 4 bedrooms when there is a great need for family housing.

The existing open space (below)  will be much reduced in the proposed development and this is something that also concerned the existing residents. The open space that is being sold to the private purchasers is the Welsh Harp itself with pedestrian bridges across to the other side of the reservoir. The development itself will be high density.

The illustration of prospective residents from the Hendon Waterside brochure tells us much about the sort of people that Barratt Homes (and perhaps Barnet Council?) are seeking to attract.

It's a wonder they didn't throw me out of the Sales Office!

Challenge: I will not let an exam result decide my fate

The examination season starts soon with the Key Stage 2 SATs for Year 6 in primary schools. Here's a challenge worth considering.

Brent unites against Barratt Homes' 'vandalism' of the Welsh Harp

This was first published on the Save Our Welsh Harp' blog LINK

Shahrar Ali, Muhammed Butt, Roxanne Mishari and Navin Shah

The audience

A meeting held at short notice about the regeneration of the West Hendon Estate on the banks of the Welsh Harp was well attended this afternoon.

Cllr Roxanne Mishari, Labour councillor for Welsh Harp,  introducing the meeting,  outlined the main aspects of the scheme, its height, high density, its closeness to the wildfowl reserve, lack of infrastructure and impact on Brent.

Navin Shah,Labour London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow spoke about the planning aspects and the role of the Major of London. He said he had arranged a delegation to the Barnet Planning Committee which would consider the application which breached the Council's own planning guidelines. He described the plans as 'no more than vandalism of a critical site. Only 20 of the 2,000 homes would be 3 or 4 bedrooms when the need was for family housing. Only 25% would be social housing.

Shahrar Ali of Brent Green Party and a local resident showed a video taken this morning at Barratt's marketing office for the 'Hendon Waterside' development. The sales team clearly expected the development to go ahead and described it as a partnership with Barnet Council. The remaining 8th floor two bedroom property in the recently completed 12 storey development was offered at £340,000 plus £1,700 service charge and an agreement with the water and energy supplier of Barratt's choice. It was clear that the private flats were on the waterfront and the social housing behind close to the A5.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Labour leader of Brent Council, said that he was 100% behind the campaign which he described as 'over-excessive'. He read out the main objections submitted by the Brent Council planners and said these would be made available on this site. The proposed 2 form entry primary school would not be big enough and Barnet Council was riding rough-shod over its own planning policies which stated that buildings should be no more than between 8 and 20 storeys high.. School provision, wildlife and transport would all be affected with repercussions for Brent residents.

Cllr Alison Hopkins and her fellow Lib Dem councillor Javaid Ashraf sent the message which Martin Francis conveyed to the meeting, which appears on the Welsh Harp blog in full.  LINK They  particularly drew attention to the social housing tenants being placed alongside the traffic pollution of the A5. They had opposed the development in their roles on the Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee which includes Barnet representatives. Attempts to arrange a site visit had not been successful.

There were many contributions from the floor and among the issues raised were:

1, Why does Barnet keep developing on the borders with Brent which affects our own infrastructure (while they collect the Council Tax from the developments)
2. A youth officer from the West Hendon Estate said they had collected 500residents'  signatures on a petition against the development and the loss of their green space andwere going to protest at the planning meeting.
3. Barnet Council should declare their relationship with Barratt Homes.
4. We should see if Euoropean legislation can be used to oppose the development.
5. We should examine the public health repercussions for people, and particularly children, in the area.
6. The high-cost luxury flats gained a beautiful view across the Welsh Harp to the opposite bank but people on that bank would see a hideous new high-rise development.
7. The West Hendon Estate had been run down for years but the tenants would be unlikely to be able to afford the rents in the new development.
8. We should get someone like Bill Oddie to champion our cause for the bird life, the waterfowl refuge and the SSSI.

Save Our Welsh Harp - Public Meeting May 4th

SAVE OUR WELSH HARP

PUBLIC MEETING SATURDAY MAY 4TH

5-7pm BRENT TOWN HALL

The new Chalkhill Park opens in time for the Bank Holiday weekend

 

Chalkhill Park

Builders' fences were removed from Chalkhill Park today after a final surge of activity to get the park ready for the Bank Holiday.

News reached Chalkhill Primary School at lunchtime and spread like wildfire around the playground to cheers from the children.

The weekly School Walking Club were the first to officially use the new facility.  A landscape gardener, stripped to the waist and pushing a laden wheelbarrow, stopped me and said, 'This makes it all worthwhile. The children's faces as they swarmed into the park were wonderful. It was amazing It was worth all the work.'

Parents and children rushed to the park after school and there was widespread praise from the former for the design. Children were too overcome with excitement and breathless from trying everything out to say very much but their big smiles told their own story.

Battle likely at Copland following critical Ofsted report

Following Ofsted's designation of Copland High School as Grade 4 Inadequate and requiring special measures battle lines are being drawn over the possibility that the DfE will attempt to force the school to become an academy.

Unions representing teaching staff are overwhelming in favour of industrial action against any such move. School support  staff have still to reach a decision but they are the group of workers most likely to suffer a deterioration in conditions of service on academisation.

There are reports that Ark Schools, already running the Ark Academy in Wembley and negotiating to take over Kensal Rise Primary, have their eyes on Copland which is the last remaining secondary school in Brent which is neither an academy or faith school. 

Copland governors are unlikely to favour Ark as a sponsor.

The views of parents are mentioned but only 11 parents completed the on-line Parent View and there are 1,487 pupils in the school.

The report LINK gives an Inadequate grade to achievement of pupils, quality of teaching and leadership  and management and a Requires Improvement grade to behaviour and safety of pupils. In summary it states:

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school.

Ofsted acknowledge the difficulties the school has been through following the allegations of financial mismanagement against the previous headteacher, deputy head and other staff and terms it 'an extraordinary turbulence in leadership.'

Significant weaknesses in the quality of senior and middle management remain. A number of senior staff, subject leaders and pastoral managers are currently absent or subject to capability.

Other background factors have not helped the school including the scandal of its poor buildings:

The building remains in very poor condition. This was also reported in the 2006, 2009 and 2010 inspection reports. Some classrooms provide a completely unacceptable environment in which to teach and learn. The budget deficit has been reduced significantly over the past two years, but still stands at around £1 million. The reduction in student numbers has meant that further budget cuts are necessary. The building and the budget are adversely affecting the school’s capacity to provide an adequate education for students.

Significantly, apart from eliminating the budget deficit and action on the  building, the role of the local authority is scarcely mentioned.The local authority's response to the Ofsted report and any support and improvement plan it puts into place will be of vital importance in resisting forced academy status