WEMBLEY MATTERS

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Barry Gardiner intervenes over Town Hall Library mess

Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North, went and saw the state of Brent Town Hall Library himself after complaints from constituents and my February 9th post on the issue LINK

The Library was in a mess after stock and shelves were transferred from closed down libraries including Neasden.

He saw boxes of books dumped on the floor in disarray and apparently unsorted, stands and shelves with sharp edges unsecured and protruding. He wrote to Sue McKenzie, Head of Brent Library Service to express his concern and remarked that if health and safety inspectors had visited at that time they would have noted several serious health and safety risks.

He requested that the issue be sorted out urgently and also asked what would happen to the books currently being moved from the six libraries, and when they would be available for use by the public. In addition he asked if other options had been considered including dispersal to Brent schools, nurseries or children's centres

I visited the Town Hall Library earlier today and it was a lot tidier, although there are still boxes of unsorted books tucked under the bookshelves. A number of additional shelving units from Neasden are now in use at the Town Hall. A large space has been cleared for the '60 years of Wembley' exhibition which begins at the Library on Saturday. It looks likely that things will be quite congested.

Monday 20 February 2012

Jesus and Mary in trouble with teachers

The Convent of Jesus and Mary College in Harlesden is facing strike action by education unions. The NUT is balloting for a strike and other unions are considering it because they claim the College has not consulted properly over conversion to academy status.

This follows similar issues with Kingsbury High School and Claremont High Schools last year and warning shots over Alperton High School's possible conversion which led to the governing body taking a step back.

The unions are thought to be willing to call off action if the consultation period is extended to allow an independently run secret ballot of staff, all parents to be invited to hear the case against conversion in addition to the arguments for, for the unions to be able to address the governing body about staff concerns, and for them to be allowed to meet with the Headteacher and Chair of Governors in order to negotiate agreed procedures.

The Convent has claimed that it would gain £300,000 from conversion but the unions argue this does not take into account other services, insurance and pensions that the College would have to pay if it converted.

Convent of Jesus and Mary Consultation Page LINK

Sunday 19 February 2012

Willesden Green residents rise in defence of bookshop and Victorian library

Many thanks to BNCTV

BNCTV made this recording of the inaugural meeting of the 'Keep Willesden Green' campaign that was held earlier this week. The letter I read out near the beginning is from Labour councillor Claudia Hector. Liberal Democratic councillor Barry Cheese defends the plans that will demolish the Victorian Building and leave the Willesden Bookshop without premises.

Jeremy Hunt rejects Brent libraries judicial review

Legal advisers at the Department of Culture Media and Sport have comprehensively rejected the request for a Judicial Review of the Brent library closures and the complaint that the department's response has been tardy.

In their letter the Treasury Solicitor Legal Advises say:

(The secretary of State) is minded to conclude in all the circumstances that there is no good reason for an inquiry; and that the implementation of these plans will not place Brent in breach of its section 7 duty. The following matters seem to him at present particularly to support that conclusion:

i) The planned proposals are based on a comprehensive library service review. The manner in which the decision was taken was assiduous in its consideration of all the various interests at play. It was, as the Courts have now confirmed, lawfully taken
ii ) Brent have taken the approach of modernising their library service by concentrating resources on what it judges to be the best located and most used libraries. The libraries that will remain open will afford wide accessibility.
iii) Increased opening hours will operate at some of the facilities that Brent intends to retain.
iv)Improvements will be made to the outreach and home delivery services.
v) Library book stock (including e books and audio downloads) is set to expand.

Margaret Bailey, who had lodged the claim for a judicial review, is given 14 days to make representations on this 'minded to' decision. The letter was dated February 14th Clearly this is a setback to Margaret and other library campaigners who have pursued the issue with such commitment, imagination and vigour. I can only express my admiration for their determination and wish them well as they consider what to do next.

The DCMS motto is 'improving the quality of life for all'...

Full copy of letter HERE

Saturday 18 February 2012

Labour council leaders support Green council on local government finance call

The Labour leaders of Chesterfield and Darlington councils are supporting calls from the Leader of Brighton & Hove council for the government to come clean on their future proposals for local government finance.

Ministers recently made comments at public events and in the House of Commons, suggesting that a future review would undermine councils' management of local finances.

Green-led Brighton & Hove began its budget-setting process early, and was the first to declare its intentions at the beginning of December. However 26 councils of all political stripes have since followed after recognising the ‘financial cliff-edge' they face after one year if they accept the one-off grant.

Councillor Bill Randall commented:

"The Green administration published our draft budget early to allow for proper consultation with residents. But how can residents get involved in a meaningful conversation about how to protect services from government cuts if the government threatens to move the goalposts so late in the day?

"It flies in the face of localism to claim to give councils more power, but then apply penalties if they do something the government disagrees with.

"I've asked other council Leaders to join me in demanding that the government come clean on their threats."

The following councils have decided increase Council Tax in order to safeguard services:

Brighton & Hove City Council	Grn	3.50%
Chesterfield BC	Lab	3.50%
Darlington BC	Lab	3.50%
Leicester City Council	Lab	3.50%
Middlesbrough Council	Lab	3.50%
Preston City Council	Lab	3.50%
Redcar & Cleveland BC	Lab	3.50%
Stockton-on-Tees BC	Lab	3.50%
Barrow BC	Lab	3.49%
North Dorset DC	Con	3.49%
Stoke-on-Trent City Council	Lab	3.49%
Gravesham Borough Council	Lab	3.48%
Dover DC	Con	3.45%
Taunton Deane BC	Con	3.45%
Luton BC	Lab	3.44%
Gedling BC	Lab	3.40%
Nottingham City Council	Lab	3.40%
Tunbridge Wells BC	Con	3.30%
Scarborough BC	Con/Lib/Ind	3.00%
Surrey CC	Con	2.99%
Cambridgeshire CC	Con	2.95%
East Cambridgeshire DC	Con	2.95%
Peterborough City Council	Con	2.95%
York City Council	Lab	2.90%
South Hams DC	Con	2.50%
West Devon BC	Con	2.50%
Chelmsford BC	Con	2.46%

Labour selects Dollis Hill by-election candidate

Labour has selected Parvez Ahmed to be its candidate in the Dollis Hill by-election which takes place on Thursday March 22nd.

Krupesh Hirani writes on his blog that Ahmed is a well-known community actvist in the ward but he did not have a high recognition factor among locals I have spoken to.

The by-election should give local voters an opportunity to express their views on the Labour Council's record including their implementation of Coalition cuts and the controversial private partnership which will lead to the loss of the Old Willesden Library building and the Willesden Bookshop.

Ann John wept for bookshop

Leader of Brent Council, Ann John, told the Executive on Monday that she had wept when the Borders Bookshop at Brent Cross closed. She and her Labour colleagues then went on to approve the redevelopment of Willesden Green Library which will displace the Willesden Bookshop and lead to its possible closure.

There are just three days left to sign the epetition calling for Brent Council to allocate this well-loved and respected LOCAL bookshop in the proposed Willesden Cultural Centre.

If you have not signed the petition please do so now HERE and if you have signed please e-mail the link to friends and neighbours and urge them to sign.

Friday 17 February 2012

Supermarkets profit from poverty wages

The Green Party has many environmental concerns about supermarkets including their impact on local high streets and the high carbon footprint of their imports. In terms of social justice their low wages, zero hours contracts and extensive use of free labour via workfare are a major issue.

This BBC report brings home how this exploitation boots supermarket profits. Back in 2010 the Green Party's evidence to 21st Century Welfare commented:

Large employers (e.g. supermarkets) benefit from a wage subsidy via tax credits which they do not need. The effect of this subsidy should be reserved for small firms, by requiring large companies to contribute to a special social investment fund with contributions inversely dependent on the margin of their wage rates above the minimum wage, so that those paying least (and thus depending more on the existence of tax credits/benefits to make recruitment viable) would pay more. This fund would be used for social housing investment and to create jobs in voluntary organisations. Large companies would be encouraged to do these things anyway and to benefit from any associated publicity from their sponsorship.