Would you like to sign Brent councillors' and educationalists' joint letter opposing the goverment's forced academies policy?

Having appealed on Wembley Matters LINK for Brent Council to take a stand on the government's policy on forcing all schools to become academies I welcomed Cllr Jun Bo Chan's initiative in organising a letter to the Guardian on the issue and readily agreed to sign.  The letter was published last week in the newspaper with, as is the custom, only the first signatories included. I publish the full list here so that readers can see which of their councillors supported the letter.

Since tihs article was published some people have indicated that they would have liked the opportunity to sign it. Please feel free to add your name/organisation as a comment.

We recognise, support and celebrate the hard work of students, parents, teachers and educational professionals in all schools. We therefore object to the government’s latest education for all bill, which aims to force all state schools in England to become academies, even those that are good or outstanding. The education secretary’s decision to back down last month from the imposition of blanket academisation represented a victory for campaigners from a wide array of organisations. Nevertheless, this was merely a tactical retreat, and the government’s reaffirmation of “a system where all schools are academies” highlights plainly their continued stubbornness and zealousness. Although the headlines conveyed a ‘U-turn’ on forced academisation, the education for all bill proposes that local authorities are now coerced one at a time rather than all at once.

The government’s top-down plans, which are predicated upon no clear evidence, are a blatant disregard for local autonomy. The undermining of local government oversight of education, the demand that all new academies be subsumed into multi-academy trusts, as well as the forcing of good and outstanding schools to become academies, constitute a centralising tendency which is wholly unnecessary, unpopular and uncalled for. The only certainty is that such actions severely weaken the government’s ostensible localism, continuing a troubling trend towards centralisation in the government’s overall legislative programme.

Moreover, we are concerned that other government proposals as outlined in its earlier educational excellence everywhere white paper, such as the abolition of the national system for teachers’ pay and conditions, the scrapping of the requirement for elected parent governors, and the removal of qualified teacher status, will only impede the urgent business of improving our schools. Popular pressure compelled the government to retreat last month. We will therefore continue to work alongside parents, teachers and other educational professionals, non-teaching staff, politicians, trade unions, governing bodies and other organisations to oppose the plans as outlined in the education for all bill thus far, and work towards persuading the government to channel its energies towards properly addressing the more pressing issues affecting state education: teacher shortage and retention; chaos and confusion in the assessment system; and cuts to education funding.

Cllr Jun Bo Chan Brent, teacher
Dawn Butler MP Brent Central
Melissa Benn Author and journalist
Tulip Siddiq MP Hampstead and Kilburn
Mary Glindon MP North Tyneside
Ian Mearns MP Gateshead
Kevin Courtney Acting general secretary, NUT
Hank Roberts Secretary of Brent Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and past national president of ATL
Lesley Gouldbourne Secretary of Brent NUT
Shyam Gorsia Secretary of Brent NASUWT
Andrew Baisley Secretary of Camden NUT
Cllr Nick Forbes Newcastle City, Leader of Newcastle city council and Leader of LGA Labour group
Cllr Margaret McLennan Brent, Deputy leader at Brent council
Cllr Mikey Pavey Brent, Lead member for stronger communities at Brent council, and Director of Labour Friends of Sure Start
Cllr Matt Bradley Brent, teacher
Colin Adams Retired teacher
Cllr Shama Tatler Brent, teacher
Cllr Pat Harrison Brent, retired teacher
John Bolt General secretary of the Socialist Educational Association
Prof Tim Brighouse Honorary Norham fellow at the Department of Education, University of Oxford
Prof Stephen Ball Distinguished service professor of sociology of education at the UCL Institute of Education
Dr Martin Dewey Senior lecturer at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London
Prof Ben Rampton Professor of applied and sociolinguistics at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London
Dr Alan Fortune Retired senior lecturer at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London
Dr Nick Andon Lecturer at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London
Dr Melanie Cooke Teaching fellow at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London, and executive committee member of King’s College London UCU
Dr Ursula Wingate Senior lecturer at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London
Dr Roxy Harris Visiting senior research fellow at the department of education and professional studies, King’s College London
Prof Diane Reay Professor of education at the faculty of education, University of Cambridge
Prof Keith Taber Professor of science education at the faculty of education, University of Cambridge
Dr Michael Evans Reader in education at the at the faculty of education, University of Cambridge
Dr Christine Doddington University senior lecturer at the faculty of education, University of Cambridge
Dr George Anderson Retired lecturer at the school of physics and astronomy, Queen Mary University of London
Dr Karen Forbes Teacher and researcher
Dr Henry Tam Director of Question the Powerful
Dr Michael Calderbank Co-editor of Red Pepper and Co-convener of Brent Momentum
Sam Sampson Teacher
Mike Phipps Lecturer
Caroline Hill Teacher and Chair of Young Labour
Adam Klug Teacher and National organiser of Momentum
Emma Rees Teacher and National organiser of Momentum
Faduma Hassan Teacher and National committee member of Momentum
Ben Ackland Teacher
Kenichi Udagawa Teacher
Bob Sellers School technician
Jeremy Silk Teacher and NUT representative
Eddie Crust Teacher
Robert Young Teacher
Andrew Duncan Teacher
David Lee Teacher
David Dixon Teacher
Robert Pepper Teacher
Samia El-Ali Teacher
Vivien Sproule Retired teacher
Martin Francis Retired headteacher and governor
Anne Perez Retired teacher
Sarah Sharkey Retired teacher
Karin Barrett Retired teacher
Dr Jayne Lim Geriatric registrar and executive committee member of Chinese for Labour
Dr Tom Dolphin Consultant anaesthetist
Ria Bernard Speech and language therapist, and Vice-chair of the Young Fabians
Dr Martin Edobor Junior doctor and Chair of the Young Fabians
Dr Harriet Nerva Junior doctor
Cllr Wilhelmina Mitchell Murray Lead member for children and young people
Cllr Ruth Moher Brent, Former lead member for children and young people at Brent council
Mary Arnold Former lead member for children and families at Brent council, and school governing board chair
David Lister Chair of the Brent Labour local campaign forum and retired teacher
Cllr Matt Kelcher Brent
Cllr Sam Stopp Brent, Chair of the Labour campaign to end homelessness
Cllr Tom Miller Brent, Hendon GMB political officer and founding member of Open Labour
Cllr James Denselow Brent, Former lead member for stronger communities at Brent council
Cllr Eleanor Southwood Brent, Lead member for environment at Brent council
Cllr Lesley Jones Brent Former mayor of Brent and retired teacher
Cllr Kana Naheerathan Brent, former mayor of Brent
Cllr Sandra Kabir Brent
Cllr Neil Nerva Brent
Cllr Roxanne Mashari Brent Lead member for regeneration, growth, employment and skills at Brent council
Cllr Krupesh Hirani Brent, Lead member for community wellbeing at Brent council
Cllr Harbi Farah Brent, Lead member for housing at Brent council
Cllr Mary Daly Brent
Cllr Amer Agha Brent
Cllr Keith Perrin Brent
Cllr John Duffy Brent
Cllr Jean Hossain Brent
Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi Brent
Cllr Liz Dixon Brent
Cllr George Crane Brent
Cllr Janice Long Brent
Cllr Bernard Collier Brent
Cllr George Crane Brent
Cllr Arshad Mahmood Brent
Cllr Sarah Marquis Brent
Cllr Barbara Pitruzzella Brent
Cllr Aslam Choudry Brent
Cllr Lloyd Duddridge Redbridge
Cllr Naomi Fearon Fleetwood, teacher

 

£80 spot fines for littering in Brent start on Monday

The 12 month experiment in the use of private contractor wardens to issue fixed penalty fines for littering in Brent will start on Monday.  The scheme came under scrutiny when first suggested earlier this year  LINK    LINK

This is the Council's official press release:

 Litter bugs beware, because as of Monday (13 June 2016), uniformed patrol officers will be on hand to issue £80 on-the-spot fines for waste offences in Brent.

Private security firm, Kingdom, have been chosen to run an innovative 12 month pilot to help keep Brent's streets clean and litter-free.

Dedicated patrol officers will be deployed to hot spot areas in the borough with the purpose of issuing Fixed Penalty Notices to anyone caught in the act of committing a waste offence, including littering, paan spitting and not cleaning up after their dogs.

This scheme will support the efforts of our existing Waste Enforcement Team, who work tirelessly to investigate littering and illegally dumped rubbish offences and prosecute offenders.

We have been working closely with Veolia, our waste and recycling contractor, and both residents and Councillors, to identify particular areas for enforcement activity, known for littering and dog fouling.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Brent Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:

"The vast majority of residents here in Brent love where they live and take great care of our streets and parks. More and more residents are working with us to keep the borough clean by reporting illegally dumped rubbish via the Cleaner Brent app and organising their own clean up days. So it's really frustrating that there are still a minority of people whose actions are spoiling Brent for the rest of us.

"We're determined to take action against this anti-social behaviour. I hope that the possibility of getting a fine will make people think twice before dropping litter or allowing dogs to foul our pavements.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone in Brent to get rid of their waste legally, to recycle more and take greater care and pride in the local area. This pilot scheme is part of our Love Where you Live campaign and sends a clear message that choosing to drop chewing gum or flicking a cigarette butt instead of disposing of it properly will have very real consequences."

Renu Kaul, Vice-Chairman of Sudbury Town Residents Association (STRA), an organisation committed to keeping Brent's streets clean and green, is full of praise for the initiative and said:

"I am over the moon to learn that Brent Council has appointed patrol officers to enforce action amongst litter offenders. I believe that this will make a dramatic difference in Sudbury and the rest of Brent.

"We need to continue to advocate a zero tolerance policy to littering, dog fouling and paan spitting and I really feel that the presence of enforcement officers will send out a positive message to the community that we need to take responsibility for disposing of litter and recycling properly."

Petitions started to ban use of glyphosate pesticides in Brent and Harrow

Further to my article LINK on potential health dangers of the pesticide glyphosate marked under various names, including Roundup, by Monsanto petitions have been launched calling for its banning by Brent and Harrow Councils.

Brent petition HERE
Harrow petition HERE

UPDATE: Planning Committee refuses controversial Co-op store application

Brent Planning Committee has turned down the planning application for a Co-operative store to replace a car repair workshop on Burnley Road, opposite the north entrance to Dollis Hill station.

The application had split the local community with the majority of those who submitted an opinion against. LINK

Gladstone Free School throws in the towel having spent thousands without educating a single pupil

Gladstone School, initially a secondary free school planned for the Gladstone Park area in Brent, has thrown in the towel having again failing to find a site and having to tell children expecting to attend in September that they will have to find another school.

On the 'school's' website today (I put 'school' in quotation marks because it has never educated a single child)

It is with great regret that we must announce the end of the Gladstone School project, due entirely to a failure to find a suitable site.

As many of Brent’s parents already know, a change in government policy in 2014 blocked the school’s plans to open in a temporary site at the last minute, forcing us to defer opening. A site was identified for a 2015 opening, but in February last year negotiations with the site owner collapsed, along with our chances of opening that year. Since then, no further site has been found, despite the full support of Brent Council who have long recognised the need for more secondary school places.

Since we first floated the vision of a parent and community led school, we have been met with enthusiasm, interest and support – locally, nationally and indeed internationally. The depth of that support has kept us fighting for a new school for so long. However, faced with the continued absence of a possible site, the decision has been made to cancel the project altogether.

We are very sad that we will be disappointing the many parents and young people who responded so warmly to our ideas, and would like to thank you for all your support over the last four years.  

Maria Evans 

Chair of Governors

Putting aside the issue of the plans for the school, which have not been put to the test, questions have to be asked about government  free school policy when the Education Funding Agency and DfE are unable to find a site for a school but continue funding it.

Brent schools could have used the money well for actual children rather than the cash going down the drain on something that is not much more than a website, illustrated with stock photos of uniformed child models, and a salaried Principal who has no building, no staff and no pupils.

Background from a previous blog HERE

Warning notices installed at Fulton Road/Olympic Way crossing after accident fears

Olympic Way southbound

Fulton Road westbound

Fulton Road westbound

Additional warning signs for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians have been installed on the Fulton Road, Olympic Way junction which was scene of a serious cycling accident last week.

Tony Kennedy, Head of Brent Highways and Infrastructure, had said that they had commissioned a consultants report on the junction to improve accessibility for all road users which should eb with the council by late July.

I suggested to Cllr Margaret McLennan that, meanwhile, before the summer peak, short-term measures needed to be taken so it was good to see the new notices today.

Anne Clements, Planning director, Quintain, told Cllr McLennan, 'We are committed to improving the junctions around our estate and we will be pleased to work with your officers, particularly reviewing Olympic Way / Fulton Road.'


 Brent Cyclcists have a letter in today's Kilburn Times calling for action.

Work starts on mowing Wembley French School's meadows

Flower beds in formr times

Today after the 'meadow' was cut back

Cutting waits to be completed on the south side of the steps

 It was probably a coincidence but following a flutter of comments on Twitter at the weekend, work started today cutting the grass back in the former municipal gardens in front of the Lycee de Londres  previously Brent Town Hall and before that Wembley Town Hall.

It is a rough and ready job and still lots of litter around but let's hope it is the first stage in a restoration of what was once a source of local pride.

Action promised on Fulton Road/Olympic Way accident spot

I am pleased to say several Brent councillors have responded to the email and video link I sent this morning LINK.

Cllr Southwood, Cabinet member for Environment wrote:

Thank you for your email. I too have concerns about safety here, from personal experience and brought into sharp focus by the accident last week.

Some improvements have been made. A 20mph speed limit was introduced last August and earlier this year the speed table was reconstructed, additional warning signs and road markings, tactile paving and anti-skid road surfacing was installed.

Given the development planned for the area, he number of cyclists and pedestrians using this crossing is likely to increase. I absolutely agree with the need for us to actively consider how to make it safer and more accessible. In April we commissioned a study to identify options and this is due to be completed in July.

The recommendations will come to Cllrs for comment but in the meantime I'm very happy to talk with you and others who have suggestions. We will of course be speaking with Brent Cyclists following last weeks accident to get their input into the recommendations.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of the Council said:

I can assure you that this junction is being looked at and we have had a lot of work done recently, and there is always room for improvement.

I have already been in touch with the highways and transport lead and the cabinet member along with the chief exec, about seeing what else can be done to help improve things for everyone.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, deputy leader of the Council responded:

This falls under Ellie Southwood and Environment, however, I have asked officers and Quintain to respond as we too are aware of the issues surrounding this crossing and will be looking to make it more secure and accessible. You can of course understand we have to do this in liaison with the Stadium and local law enforcement. 

Cllrs Shafique Choudhary, Ruth Moher, Carol Shaw and Helen Carr have also responded.

Councillors urged to act on Wembley Stadium Fulton Road accident danger

I have sent a link to this video to Brent Councilllors with the following message: Dear Councillor, You are probably aware that there was an accident in which a cyclist was seriously hurt last week at the Fulton Road/Olympic Way crossing. Concerns have already been voiced about this crossing, not least by some councillors, and because of its proximity to Brent Civic Centre and the stadium’s national profile, has the potential to reflect badly on the borough if there is an accident. Yesterday I took a short video about 4pm in the afternoon which I think shows the dangers. At this time there is a mix of tourists, shoppers going to the LDO and children and young people going to Wembley Library all crossing Fulton Road. Currently there are roadworks and the usual 2 lane traffic is down to alternate one lane controlled by lights. This may in fact be safer although drivers were confused by having to obey lights and signs indicating they should give way. I would urge you to ensure that action is taken by Brent Council/Wembley Stadium/TfL to make this crossing safe.

Brent Lib Dem councillor poses questions for Cllr Oladapo investigation

Brent Councillors have been invited to submit evidence to Richard Penn's investigation into issues surrounding the death of Cllr Tayo Oladapo.

This is the submission by Brent's only Liberal Democrat councillor Dr Helen Carr:

God Bless Cllr. Tayo. I did not know him, but I am saddened his untimely death has triggered this unpleasant, but necessary enquiry.

Cllr. Tayo. Facts and Questions to be answered.

The facts are, according to my understanding, that Cllr. Tayo Oladapo had not attended Full Council for more than one calendar year. This was known, accepted and voted upon by Full Council.

The Labour Group had known about his illness for some considerable time.

His death in January was allegedly not known by the Labour Party until March.

The Labour Whip will have been responsible for moving the vote to excuse Cllr. Oladappo from attending Full Council.

Questions to be answered:

Within any political party (Labour in this case), what are/what is the nature of the procedures to report an absence?

At what point is an absence sufficient to effectively terminate a Councillor’s duty?

Who is the person responsible for checking, monitoring, regulating and reporting when there is an absence :

1. Within a political party?
2. Within Brent?

Within a political party, who and what are the procedures to report and pass on information regarding an absence, illness or death?

Are there any (in this case, within the Labour Party), if so, were they met? If not, why not?

At what point should or could a bi election have been called? What should/would have triggered the call for a bi election? Attendance and death is obvious and measurable, but what of sanity? Ill health – at what point and who decides if a Councillor is Fit for Purpose? (the definition being ..?).

Was information withheld? By Whom? When? Why? How? What evidence is available?

In this particular case, is the Labour Party responsible for procedures, or Brent Council’s Chief Executive? Where does the burden of proof lie? Or do the political parties have no responsibility for identifying and passing on such information?

Should Brent follow Hammersmith & Fulham and replace glyphosate

I am well aware that dangers to public health are often under-estimated or dismissed only to be cited decades later as the cause of illness and perhaps early death. As an NUT representative at a school in Fulham in the early 70s I discovered asbestos, claimed to have been safely removed over the summer holidays, stuffed behind classroom radiators.  The borough Medical Officer of Health at the time was  not particularly sympathetic. Now the effects of exposure to even small amounts of asbestos dust  is well documented.

Currently concerns over the weed killer glyphosate are being similarly down-played.  When I informed Brent Council about the TUC's concerns about safety concerns for workers who use the spray LINK

The TUC report said:

There is no question that weed killers containing glyphosate are dangerous. If it gets on the skin it can cause irritation and dermatitis. It can also cause oral and throat discomfort if it is breathed in. Eye exposure may lead to mild conjunctivitis. If swallowed it may cause corrosion of the throat and can lead to kidney or liver failure.

It is also believed that it can cause cancer. In March 2015 the International Agency on research into Carcinogens (IARC) announced that glyphosate probably caused a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This was based on a study of agricultural workers who were exposed to the chemical, although it was backed up by tests on animals. However it is not known whether the cancer is being caused by contact through the skin or through breathing it, or both. It is therefore necessary to try to prevent any workers coming into contact with glyphosate.

It advocated action to protect workers:

Given that the risks to the skin, lung and eyes have been known about for many years, employers should already have been taking action to prevent any contact to glyphosate, even before there was evidence it causes cancer

Now that there is new evidence that glyphosate is likely to cause cancer, all employers must review their risk assessments, including their COSHH assessments. Where possible they should consider alternatives to the use of herbicides, but if that is not possible they must investigate whether there are safer alternatives. If there are alternatives then they should be introduced, regardless of whether they are more expensive. However they should not rush into substituting another herbicide for glyphosate without ensuring that they know the risk from the substitute. All herbicides are likely to have some dangers to humans.

If they are going to continue to use glyphosate then they should look at whether there are alternatives to how it is used now. Often it is sprayed from backpacks (which often leak) and are filled in an enclosed space. The employer must consider alternative ways of applying it and also look at how containers are filled, cleaned and the chemical stored and disposed of. They also need to provide training and information to the workers about the risk.

If, after that, any workers are still likely to come into contact with glyphosate, they must provide protective clothing. That may include gloves, masks and protective overalls. This must be done free of charge, and arrangements need to be made for them to be stored and cleaned. The safety representatives should be involved in any discussion on the best protective equipment.

Employers should also be monitoring the health of all those who use glyphosate (or any pesticide).

 In my email to Brent Council I said:

 I would like to draw your attention to the latest advice from the TUC re Health and Safety and the use of glyphosate  based weed killers which was issued last month.

With many schools out-sourcing grounds maintenance I wonder if a warning could be issued to them as well as clarifying the situation with Veolia.

Samantha Haines replied for Brent Council:

I have spoken to our contractor and the public realm department here at Brent and they have told me that our contractor are aware and adhere to these practices.

This did not address the issue regarding school contractors and of course some schools may have their own premises staff using the chemicals.   Apart from the danger posed to the workers concerned there is also that of exposing children to the herbicide.

Last week Hammersmith and Fulham Council responded to a 38 Degrees petition on the use of  glyphosate.   Wesley Harcourt, the cabinet member for environment, said:

As is the case at almost all local authorities, glyphosate-based herbicides are currently  used by Hammersmith and Fulham council contractors, Quadron-Serco.

However we have been working with contractors for some time to replace these with chemical  alternatives, such as hot foam and steam.

In May a group of 48 MEPs volunteered for a test to detect levels of glyphosate in their urine. The average was more than 17 times the safe limit and the lowest double the limit. at 0.17ng/ml LINK

Jean Lambert, MEP for London, a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee whose personal test results show a glyphosate contamination level of 0.67 ng/ml, said:

It is genuinely frightening that glyphosate is everywhere in our everyday lives. These test results show that no matter where we live, what we eat, or our age we cannot escape exposure to this toxic substance. With glyphosate widely used in cities, in urban parks and public spaces, on streets and pavements, the European Commission must bow to public pressure and put the safety of people and the environment ahead of the profits of chemical industry giants.

The general public using herbicides in their gardens, need to be aware that popular weedkiller Roundup, on sale in garden centres and other outlets, contains glyphosate.  Manufacturer Monsanto is fighting a public relations battle against critics of its product LINK

In May campaigners claimed a minor victory when the EU decided to delay re-approval of the use of glyphosate in the EU.  The Monsanto backed Glyphosate Task Force  complained about ' acute politicisation of the regulatory procedure' while Pekka Pesonen of the main European Farmers' Union deplored the fact that a ban on glyphosate ban would put them at a 'competitive disadvantage'.

The battle continues.

 The 38 degrees petition can be modified for any local authority and can be found HERE

NHS Kill or Cure? STP knowns and unknowns - some key questions

So much creeps up on NHS 'reform'  and realisation of its true repercussions known only to a few who can penetrate the jargon, that I am pleased to publish this early warningby Robin Sharp and Peter Latham  taken from the website of Brent Patients Voice


 Sustainability & Transformation Plans (STPs) being prepared across the country on the orders of NHS chief Simon Stevens. There is a plausible view that they present the greatest threat to the NHS since the 1948 settlement. Although there is much that we don’t know, veils are removed almost every day.

This is a brief account of what we have so far gleaned. We don’t think we should delay further sharing it with our readers. What follows is based on a note we sent to Brent’s Chief Executive, Carolyn Downs, for a meeting she kindly offered us on 1st June about the process for preparing these plans. She is the local government lead for the 8 NW London boroughs.
Overall the national STP process as well as its local iteration appears to be radical and internally self-contradictory, but moving forward in semi-secrecy at an unacceptable speed. If it was clear that clinicians and other professionals who deliver care, as well as the wider public, were going to have a proper input before STPs were finalised and implemented we would be content to wait for our turn. However this does not seem to be the case.

By virtue of the NHSE National Planning Guidance for 2016/2017 NHS CCGs and Trusts are required to produce and submit STPs in outline (checkpoint) form by mid-April and in full by the end of June, with implementation beginning in October. Local authorities, though not subject to NHSE jurisdiction, are to be engaged in the process of production. Clinicians and patients are to be involved, presumably after the full STP has been submitted. STPs cover newly-created areas called “footprints”. In the case of our area the footprint consists of the 8 boroughs already grouped together for the purpose of 'Shaping a Healthier Future', 'Whole Systems Integrated Care' and 'Transforming Primary Care'.

The main purposes of STPs are 
to speed up implementation of the changes in ways of working between hospitals, GPs and community services outlined in The Five Year Forward View and;
to eliminate financial deficits, i.e. spending above budgets, in short order.

The Guidance makes no reference to current NHS shortcomings, pressures, staff shortages or population growth but strongly asserts that in the short term better services can be delivered with fewer resources. It has a list of questions to be answered which seem likely to provoke cynicism among front line staff.

The NHSE publication: General Practice: the Five Year Forward View issued on 21 April 2016 with Introduction by Simon Stevens describes a major transformation of NHS GP practices that Sarah McDonnell for Brent CCG recently described at the Brent Health and Wellbeing Board as a 'cottage industry', and Dr Sarah Basham characterised as 'getting more corporate'. This is set out in Chapter 5 at page 49.

The vehicle proposed for this transformation is the new 'Multispeciality Community Provider'(MCP) contract:

"Today the range of services funded within general practice owes much to history rather than optimal working arrangements for GPs or patients. The MCP model is about creating a new clinical model and a new business model for the integrated provision of primary and community services, based on the GP registered list, but fully integrating a wider range of services and including relevant specialists wherever that is the best thing to do, irrespective of current institutional arrangements. At the heart of the MCP model the provider ultimately holds a single whole population budget for the full breadth of services it provides, including primary medical and community services."

So-called Accountable Care Partnerships, including GP federations with patient lists averaging 170,000, would be formed to provide these services in place of the old model of care with the individual GP practice at the centre, going back to the 1948 origins of the NHS. These would still need to address the long-standing problem as to who pays when long-term residential care is needed for individuals who should not be in hospital but cannot care for themselves at home. The current shortfall in social care funding, even when supplemented by the Better Care Fund, only exacerbates this dilemma. These deep issues are not going to be solved by a series of hastily written and implemented STPs.

Moreover this is the point at which the STP process becomes self-contradictory. The major change in primary care, the “new model of care”, has not begun to be sold to GPs and the public, far less designed and accepted. It will need time and a good deal of money to be tested and to demonstrate its advantages. This is completely inconsistent with a requirement to eliminate NHS deficits in a couple of years or even less.

The trend in NHS Trust deficits is moving sharply downwards from a surplus 4 years ago to £800m in 2015 and £2.45bn this year (though experts say the true figure is closer to £3bn). Rising demand, higher costs of agency staff because permanent staff are not available and over-use of management consultants are factors. There is no evidence that this trend can be significantly reversed over the five-year planning period without reductions in the care delivered. Most key care outcome indicators are already on a downward trend.

Some questions and issues:

Is not a candid analysis of the current situation and immediate prospects the essential basis for realistic STP planning?

Can such planning be done without full involvement of medical and social care professionals?

Does not the recent dispute with junior hospital doctors just highlight the deterioration in relations between core staff and political leadership, whereas trust between these two elements in the system is essential for successful reform?

Why has the national political leadership made no effort to justify to Parliament and the public the major changes in GP/patient relationship envisaged by the Five Year Forward View proposals for transforming primary care?

Is not the structure of the footprints (and regional leaders above the footprints) where official representatives are meant to have delegated powers to commit their organisations an attempt to sidestep the legislation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 with its devolved and GP-led commissioning by a centralised top-down planning system without any recourse to fresh legislation?

How can the secretive and rushed process for STPs ordained by Simon Stevens end up securing any measure of public consent? When is serious public and clinical engagement going to begin?

Is it not the case that projects to group GPs into federations working with other providers to deliver packages of care in the community or “out of hospital” will not deliver savings in the short term – even if GPs manage to understand and approve of them – with the consequence that closing acute hospital beds and A&E departments (in NW London 500 beds and two more A&E's) becomes once again the preferred method of acceding to HM Treasury demands?

Bearing in mind that outline STPs already submitted are not in the public domain and that local authorities are party to them, have elected Brent councillors seen and approved them or authorised officials to proceed without reference to them? Will the final STP submissions be considered in public before submission at the end of June?

Should we not recognise that the health and social care workforce is going flat out and that there are no more large “efficiency savings” to extract under the present financial settlement? Is not the underlying question here how much the UK taxpayer wishes to spend on health and social care as a proportion of GDP if the NHS 'free at the point of delivery model” is to be preserved? Or is the intention of this Government initiative to facilitate an extension of commercial provision of NHS medical and local authority social care?

Robin Sharp and Peter Latham
Brent Patient Voice
31st May 2016
 

Brent MIND: 'Get talking' as first step towards recovery

Get Talking is a Mental Health campaign which focuses on talking as a first step towards recovery. It features Adam Deacon, Trevor Nelson & James Rhodes and service users from Brent.

Brent debates anti-semitism

Three meetings are scheduled over the next 10 days addressing in various ways the issue of anti-semitism in the Labour Party and in the wider context.

At a Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party meeting last week last Thursday a motion from the Jewish Labour Movement proposing a rule change on anti-semitism was deferred pending the outcome of the Chakrabati inquiry into anti-semitism in the Labour Party.

That was followed up by an angry blog by Philip Rosenberg entitled  'The great betrayal: Labour members refused to discuss anti-semitism.'  LINK

Rosenberg's account of the meeting was disputed by local activist Ian Saville:

The writer here is being disingenuous to say the least. An inconvenient truth, not mentioned in his article, is that a number of Jewish members supported the proposal to postpone the motion, or any motion on this subject, until after the Chakrabarti Inquiry has reported. This is due by the end of June, so we are not talking of the sort of delay one could expect from a Chilcot type of inquiry. Since an expert inquiry has been set up, with well respected chairs, it would be silly to attempt to preempt its deliberations by bringing in a rule change that proposes disciplinary and other measures which will be covered by the inquiry. The writer needs to calm down and learn some patience. There will be many opportunities to discuss these matters in coming months.

I understand that Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party are now holding a special meeting of the General Committee on Tuesday 7th June at the Kingsgate Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, NW6 2JH at which a motion 'unhesitatingly' condemning anti-semitism will be tabled. The Jewish Labour Movemement are expected to address the meeting and there will also be a discussion about a leaflet given out at last Thursday's meeting which was critical of the JLM.

On Monday June 6th the Brent Momentum AGM will be addressed by Jackie Walker, National Vice Chair of Momentum, who was recently reinstated after being suspended over claims of anti-semitism.

The agenda includes:

Where is Momentum Going?
Does Labour have a problem with antisemitism?
How do we get a Corbyn-led Labour government?

The meeting is at 7.30pm Brent Trades Hall/Apollo Club, Willesden High Road, NW10 2JR

Lastly Brent Stop the War (not affiliated to any political party) has invited Julia Bard  of the Jewish Socialist' Group and Jews for Jeremy to speak at their June 13th meeting on 'Is criticism of Israel anti-semitic?'

The meeting is at 7.30pm at the Brent Trades Hall/Apollo Club, Willesden High Road, NW10 2JR

I think these meetings are a sign of a healthy democratic climate in the borough (and neighbouring Camden) where controversial issues are not shied away from but the subject of open debate.

Brent Cyclists call for Quintain and Brent Council to act to secure safe cycling after Fulton Road/Olympic Way accident

I am grateful to Brent Cyclists LINK for permission to repost this article from their website. Tghis evening football fans will be streaming across the Fulton Road/Olympic Way junction to attend tonight's football match.

Ariel view of Olympic Way/Fulton Road junction

Cyclist injured at Olympic Way junction

We hear a sad report of a hit-and-run collision today at the junction of Fulton Road and Olympic Way, with a 15-year old cyclist injured. These details come from the Brent & Kilburn Times. 

Scene of the incident photographed by our member Charlie Fernandes

While we do not know full details of this incident, it is clear that the design of the junction of Fulton Road, where it crosses the pedestrian and cycle only route of Olympic Way, is very poor. 

Olympic Way has huge pedestrian traffic, which will only increase with the current large-scale building of homes in the area. Fulton Road has fairly low vehicular traffic, yet the crossing is confused with a design that visually implies priority for motor traffic.

Fulton Road and Olympic Way junction photographed late 2015. The junction was then on a raised table, which is now gone, and the new road surface is lighter in colour at the junction, though the painted markings are the same.

As seen in the picture, give-way lines for vehicles on Fulton Road mean that they should give way to pedestrians and cyclists using Olympic Way, but this design is highly non-standard for the UK, motorists do not expect to have to give way to pedestrains without a marked pedestrain crossing (i.e. a zebra), and observation of the junction shows that generally they do not. As seen in the picture, pedestrians are wary of this junction and take it that motorists have priority. The surfacing, tarmac for the road with pink tiling and grey tactile paving for the pedestrian and cycle route, and the presence of the double yellow lines all along Fulton Road, re-enforce the impression that the road is continuous and the pedestrain and cycle route, Olympic Way, is interrupted. The removal of the raised table after utility works this year has further re-enforced the default vehicle priority.

We believe that with the increasing population and activity in this area this junction will be an increasing hazard. It need to be changed: either a wide zebra crossing should be marked through the junction, the full width of Olympic Way, or, better, Fulton Road should be closed as a motor vehicle through-route.

More widely in the Wembley Park regenation area there is a problem of designs that do not properly recognise the need to have designated space for flows of cyclists. On Olympic Way and the new quasi-shared space of Olympic Park Boulevard, cycling is allowed but mixed up with pedestrain flows. This only does not cause major problems at the moment because the flows of cyclists are low. It is likely to cause problems in the future. We are calling on the developers, Quintain, and Brent Council, to implement adequate dedicated cycle paths within the development area that are clearly differentiated from pedestrian sapce, as well as from motor vehicle space.

'Speak Out' reinstates Leanne Mohamad's video on Palestine

Frome Peace in Our Name

Freedom of Speech on Palestine - A step towards peace

Peace in Our Name

 

2 Jun 2016 — We're delighted to say that Leanne's powerful speech has been added back to the Speak Out Challenge website, LINK:

We received over 7,000 signatures pledging their support. In addition to having the video made visible once more on the Speak Out website, Leanne’s video has been seen by over 55,000 people and been featured on news websites across the world.

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

Leanne's message of birds, not bombs, and an end to apartheid is an important one.

The censorship of her video is indicative of a wider censorship of Palestinian issues and the punishment of anyone who speaks out for Palestine.

To show your support for freedom of speech, please take the time to read, sign and share our new petition addressing these wider issues at

https://www.change.org/p/united-nations-freedom-of-speech-on-palestine.

The Jack Petchey Awards website published this comment when it reinstated the video:

Following temporary suspension to safeguard a minor, we are now able to reinstate the video of our Redbridge Regional Final champion Leanne Mohamad, with authorisation from her family. Please see here for further information.

Leanne Mohamad of Wanstead High School was crowned the winner at the 2015-16 “Speak Out” Challenge! Redbridge Regional Final with a speech entitled ‘Birds Not Bombs’ – Congratulations!

Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! is the world’s biggest youth speaking event! Thanks to funding from the Jack Petchey Foundation, communication skills training is delivered by Speakers Trust – the UK’s leading public speaking charity.

Find out more at www.speakerstrust.org

June activities at the Yellow Pavilion and new venue details

From Michael Stuart at the Yellow Pavilion

I’m very pleased to attach June’s programme of activities for the Yellow Pavilion.  Later this month we are moving to premises on Engineer’s Way -- see the programme for details and look out for an email update in a few weeks.

New this month:
·         Half term arts and crafts for children age 5+ and adults on Wed 1st and Friday 3rd June 2-4pm (£2 including materials)
·         Sing pop, soul and jazz to lift spirits – no audition needed to join this local singing group.
·         Mixed 5-a-side football for adults – come as an individual and we’ll make up teams or enter a team
·         Auditions to compete in Streetdance XXL Championships for age 8-16.

We also have our regular programme including:
·         Jewellery making (now Thursday at 6.15pm)
·         Sunday morning football sessions for 3-8 year olds
·         Friday lunchtime fitness with drumming
·         Women only classes in kickboxing and Cuban boxing
·         Zumba
·         Arts and crafts for adults
·         Mental health support
·         Streetdance for children and young people
·         Basic computer skills
·         Youth Group for 16-24 year olds

mailto: yellowpavilion@wembleypark.com

Survey shows wide disparity in voting registration across Brent

London First in association with Democracy Club has today published a league table of voter registration in London wards LINK

It makes interesting reading for Brent. I have added the percentage of voters between 18 and 25 years old to the table. The figures are based on registrations and ONS ward level population data.

To vote in the EU Referendum you need to register by June 7th. Registration is not required if you voted in the 2015 General Election or the 2016 GLA Election AND you still live at the same address.

Register HERE

 

Ward	% registerd to vote	No 18-25 yrs	% of total voting popn	total voting age popn
Willesden Green	72	1526	11.79	12943
Mapesbury	75	1461	11.24	12993
Kensal Green	75	1248	10.53	11855
Kilburn	76	1403	9.75	14397
Harlesden	78	1491	11.65	12793
Queens Park	79	1028	8.13	12637
Brondesbury Park	81	1052	9.84	10696
Dudden Hill	82	1602	13.24	12100
Tokyngton	84	1725	12.86	13415
Sudbury	86	1184	10.00	11840
Preston	86	1408	11.14	12635
Wembley Central	87	1407	11.13	12639
Dollis Hill	87	1518	14.92	10174
Alperton	88	1528	11.95	12786
Welsh Harp	88	1197	11.29	10607
Queensbury	89	1426	11.25	12672
Stonebridge	89	1928	15.60	12362
Fryent	90	1094	10.74	10190
Northwick Park	92	1849	17.54	10542
Barnhill	92	1261	10.00	12613
Kenton	93	1043	10.43	10003
Average/Total]	84.24	29379	11.62	252892

Butt faces another probe - this time from the Labour Party

Cameron Scott, Regional Director of the East of England Labour Party, has been asked to  investigate 'serious allegations about incidents  following the death of Cllr Tayo Oladapo' to establish the facts.

Scott has been asked to undertake the investigation because London Region staff are under pressure due to the Tooting by-election and the EU Referendum.

The Labour Group has been told that there is no intention to suspend anyone and 'this investigation implies no assumption of guilt ot wrongdoing' but it has to investigate allegations that have been received.

Councillors in the Labour Group have been asked to submit 'information or evidence they understand to be relevant to the allegations about the incidents.'

Cllr Butt already faces an independent inquiry by  Richard Penn, a former local authority CEO.

Is another Europe possible? What do you think?

It has been hard for the anti-capitalist Left to insert itself into the EU Referendum debate on either side. The choice of associating with the neoliberals and big business  of the Remain campaign or the neoliberals and  racists of the Out campaign has left many of us out in the cold.

My main feeling is that we have been dragged into a nasty debate as a consquence of the internal war in the Tory Party and Cameron's attempt to deal with the UKIP challenge.

The Another Europe is Possible campaign is an attempt to make a progressive case for Remain but faces the charge of dewy eyed complacency about the real nature of the EU.

I submit Caroline Lucas' speech as a contribution to the debate and welcome people's views.