Green activists declare support for Brighton Cityclean workers

The GMB Cityclean picket line this morning

The Green Party has rightly been subject to close scrutiny over the performance of its first Green led (though minority) council in Brighton and Hove. The party has been hampered by an unholy alliance opposition of Labour and Conservative councillors but nonetheless has been able to implement some progressive policies. Its decision to stay in office and implement Coalition cuts has been controversial to say the least and one that I do not support, but some problems have been of its own making, through inexperience or poor decision making.

This is the case with the Cityclean dispute and I support the position put below in an Open Letter by a group of Green councillors and activists in the city:

As concerned Green Party activists, Councillors and trade unionists we feel we have no option other than to write this letter. This is our response to the news that the Council’s Cityclean workforce intend to take industrial action following the collapse of negotiations relating to proposed changes to their pay and allowances.

We are appalled that the situation has escalated to the point where Council employees are forced to take strike action in order to be heard. We are concerned that as activists from a party which has spent years arguing for workers’ rights that on this occasion the argument is wrong.

We continue to oppose the imposition of pay cuts as per the decision of our Emergency General Meeting in May. Further we will show solidarity with the workers affected by this decision.

We are Green Party members because we believe in its core value of social justice. Imposing a reduction to the take home pay of some of our lowest paid workers runs completely contrary to this.

We fully support the difficult process of trying to equalise the Council’s very complex allowance system so that all staff are treated fairly. That said we deplore the fact that previous Labour and Conservative-led councils failed to fix the problem when they had the opportunity.

However, we cannot accept a situation which attempts to impose a settlement on staff without the agreement of all Unions involved. Negotiations should not pit worker against worker.

We remain concerned that as yet there appears to be no satisfactory negotiated resolution which means that balloting has happened and industrial action will occur from 6am this morning for a week.

We ask all sides to urgently find a successful resolution to avert industrial action which we believe could cause all workers, the council and the City considerable pain.

Free workshop space in Wembley - limited offer

Exciting spaces available at Cottrell House, Wembley

Hypnotick Dance, Cottrell House in Wembley

53-63 Wembley Hill Rd, HA9 8BU
Enterprise hub, incubation space, co working space, creative crib, studio, green house, agency, pop up, office. Whatever you want to call it, Cottrell House is a place to start things, make them grow and be inspired. As members of the Coming Soon Club know, Wembley is a well connected and interesting community full of enterprise and a great place to base a new business.

If you are looking for a regular base or a meeting space away from home, Cottrell House has it all. You can see details of the project here or complete a proposal form here. To arrange a time to see the space please email Jessica at jcb@meanwhilespace.com.

New residents have been moving into Cottrell House this week and we are pleased to report that Hypnotick Dance have taken on the event space as a rehearsal room for the summer. The forecourt of the building has become an impromptu stage with spontaneous performances happening at the weekends! Keep your eyes peeled for a spacial performance!

Also this week we welcomed a new resident to the studio space, textile designer Ismaa Arif.

Ball n Ball, Ismaa Arif

"As a surface designer I get excited from experimenting with different mediums mixing traditional techniques with new techniques, creating surfaces that look good. I would say my inspiration kicks off from anything-robots to snowflakes." If you would like to get in touch, please email Ismaa at- ismaaarif@gmail.com

Open: Monday - Friday, 10.00 - 17.00

For all news on how you can make the most of your Coming Soon Club membership please visit the website, http://www.comingsoonclub.co.uk/, or arrange a meeting with Jess, Jess or Desmond by popping into the HQ or emailing info@comingsoonclub.co.uk. 

Not to mention a cafe with wonderful food!

Why it’s important to save a Wembley Lion

Guest blog by local historian Philip Grant

 

Two lion head corbels, partly cut from
the Palace of Industry walls.

 The last remaining building from the 1924 British Empire Exhibition (“BEE”), the Palace of Industry in Olympic Way at Wembley Park, has now been demolished to make way for a temporary car park. Despite a campaign by heritage enthusiasts, both local and from further afield, its owners, Quintain Estates, were not willing to leave even a small section of the external walls standing. However, Quintain did go to the trouble of removing the decorative lion head corbels from this historic reinforced concrete building, so that Brent Council could keep some of them as a physical reminder of Wembley’s past.

One of the lion head corbels at the demolition site.
[Photo by David Glover, Brent Planning & Development]

 Three of the corbels are in a good enough condition to put on display, but the main problems are where they should be “re-homed” and where the money can be found to pay for this. It was hoped that one of the lion heads would go to Brent Museum, but when it was possible to assess them at ground level they were too heavy and awkward for the museum to deal with. Each one probably weighs between one and two tonnes, and they would need to be fixed and supported in a good location if the public are to be able to view them safely.

Are these ninety year-old lumps of concrete worth the effort? For me the answer is a definite “yes” – at least one of these “Wembley Lions” does need to be put on permanent public display somewhere in Wembley. The BEE in 1924/25 was the event which put Wembley “on the map”, both as a desirable place to live and with its stadium which became world-famous. The lion was the emblem for the BEE and became the symbol of Wembley itself, with the stadium’s speedway team from the late 1920’s, and the ice hockey team whose home was at the Empire Pool (now Wembley Arena) from 1934, both called the Wembley Lions. 

 

The flag pole base from the dome of one of the
old Stadium’s twin towers in Brent River Park.

A number of Brent councillors and council officers are supporting the idea of putting at least one of these lion heads on display, but most are expressing caution over the possible costs. One of the potential problems, that several council departments need to be involved, has been deal with by the appointment of a “lead officer” (Sue McKenzie, Head of Libraries, Arts and Heritage) to co-ordinate the Council’s efforts. Hopefully the costs can be shared across a number of departmental budgets, as well as funds or practical help from sources other than our Council Tax.

As far as possible locations are concerned, the ideal place for one would be at Brent’s new Civic Centre. It has been built at the southern end of the Palace of Industry site, in the heart of the area where the BEE was held. I have suggested that one lion head corbel should be landscaped into the gardens at its western side, where it could not only be seen by visitors but could easily become an interesting feature that people would like to be photographed beside after weddings or citizenship ceremonies.

The BEE drinking fountains at Barham Park
(with close-up view).

Other possibilities include the gardens at Barham Park, which are already home to two of the lion head drinking fountains from the BEE, and where some funds might be available from the Barham Park Trustees. A second strong contender is Brent River Park, on the very edge of Wembley, which has another piece of sculptural reinforced concrete, a flag pole base which was relocated after the demolition of the old Wembley Stadium (originally built as the Empire Stadium ready for the 1924 Exhibition). King Edward VII Park would also make a good home for a lion head corbel, close to the heart of Wembley.

Do you agree that at least one of these Wembley Lions should be put on public display? If so, please pass on your thoughts on where they should be located or how the costs of putting them on display should be financed, either as a comment on this blog, or by email to your local councillor or direct to the officer dealing with this: sue.mckenzie@brent.gov.uk .

Brighton Green Party and GMB move a little closer on cityclean dispute

Senior members of Brighton & Hove Green Party have issued statements in response to the GMB's stated intention for their members in cityclean to go on strike for a week starting this Friday 14th June.

Leader of the council and convenor of the Green administration, Jason Kitcat, said:
 
"I am disappointed by the GMB decision to begin industrial action this Friday. I understand the strong feelings involved and am committed to ensuring there is a negotiated solution to resolving the difficult historical equal pay issues for the council's pay and allowances. The council's negotiating team is engaging openly and regularly with both recognised trade unions.

 "During the forthcoming strike week, which starts on Friday, the environmental health of the city and its residents is clearly essential and council officers will continue to meet their public health legal obligations but this administration will not sanction the use of agency or contract workers to do the regular work of legitimately striking council staff whilst those staff are out on strike.

"Accordingly, I am able to announce that all agency workers currently engaged in refuse collection and street cleaning will be withdrawn from service by 10pm on Thursday night, the day before the strike is due to begin, and agency workers will not be deployed in these areas during the strike week.

 "The Council continues to invite both recognised unions to negotiating meetings. That offer is being made daily. I urge the GMB to return to the table."

 Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: 

"I know from my postbag that residents in the city are worried about health issues and also about the fair and proper treatment of striking cityclean workers, so I welcome Jason's announcement. This is good news and I hope that now the position on this has been made clear, GMB negotiators will be prepared to return to negotiations before Friday."

On behalf of Brighton & Hove Green Party, chair Rob Shepherd said:

"It is with a heavy heart that I realise industrial action is imminent. But the Greens in Brighton & Hove have been saying all along that agency staff will not be used for strike breaking during next week's strike and Jason has confirmed this unambiguously. With this said, and with the agency workers being withdrawn well before the strike begins, I join Caroline and Jason in encouraging the GMB negotiators back to the table before Friday."

In response the GMB issued this statement:

GMB has welcomed a commitment from the leader of Brighton Council that no agency or contractors will be used during any period of industrial action. The commitment was made in an e-mail from Council leader Jason Kitcat who said:

“This administration will not sanction the use of agency or contract workers to do the regular work of legitimately striking Council staff whilst those staff are out on strike. Accordingly, I am able to announce that all agency workers currently engaged in refuse collection and street cleaning will be withdrawn from service by 10pm on Thursday night, the day before the strike is due to begin, and agency workers will not be deployed in these areas during the strike week.”

As a result of this commitment GMB has confirmed that it will engage in negotiations with the Council to see if a way forward can be found.

Mark Turner, GMB Branch Secretary said:

“This is a small first step for the Council on the way to resolving this dispute. As a result GMB has confirmed that it is willing to attend talks to listen to what the Council have to say.

I will however say that there will need to be substantial movement in their position for industrial action to be averted. Whilst our members do not take strike action lightly, they cannot be expected to accept these reductions to their take home pay. I would like to thank those Councillors in the administration who have supported our members and brought about this decision.”

Mysteries, mavericks and mistresses

The Kilburn Times LINK reports that Carol Shaw, Lib Dem councillor for Brondesbury Park  has defected back to the Conservatives. Shaw hit the national headlines last year when she revealed that she had been mistress of Bob Blackman when they were both Tory councillors.  Apparently the affair began when they were stuffing envelopes together. She subsequently stuffed him in the Sunday Mirror  LINK enraged at his comments on the sanctity of marriage.

Whatever party label she has worn Shaw has always been a maverick and can get on quite a roll denouncing all political parties. She has a good reputation as a case worker and was one of the more responsive councillors to the Save Willesden Green and Save The Queensbury campaigns.

As I reported in a previous blog relationships are pretty tense amongst some of the Lib Dems in the south of the borough and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see another defection, but this time to Labour, by a councillor not intending to stand in 2014. Shaw had said this would be her last term as a councillor but perhaps she will revise that now she has defected. Certainly the present Conservative leadership in Brent could do with a shot of adrenalin - or something more potent!

Education: The battle of the Michaels about control, curriculum and creativity

Michael Gove's ideas on education and schooling have been taken on by two other Michaels this weekend. Michael Rosen's You Tube interview goes to the heart of the issues around competition and curriculum while Scottish Education Secretary, Michael Russel, demonstrates the dialogue with teachers that is entirely missing in England. LINK

SCOTLAND'S Education Secretary Michael Russell  has accused his Westminster counterpart of running a school system in England so centralised that it rivals the control of teachers during the Cultural Revolution in China.

Scottish Education Secretary Michael Russell addressing the AGM of the EIS teaching union in Perth yesterday Photograph: Alan Richardson

Russell's comments, during a speech to the annual general meeting of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union, follow an attack by Westminster Education Secretary Michael Gove on the Scottish school system.

Gove, who was schooled in Scotland, accused the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) reforms of lacking rigour and urged Russell to remove the "Nationalist blinkers", and learn from what he described as an international trend in education towards more testing.

Describing the attack as a "badge of honour", Russell said criticising the CfE was tantamount to attacking everybody in Scottish education who had been working so hard to deliver it over the past decade.
"His definition of the word 'rigour' is essentially systematised rote learning in which you politically decide the content of the curriculum and apply what one might describe as 19th-century teaching methods to it. That is not where we are going in Scotland and it doesn't work," he said.

"A lot of his approach is based on a misunderstanding and he doesn't even know how the Scottish system works. It has changed quite a lot since he was in Aberdeen."

Russell said the approach to CfE in Scotland was collaborative, which he contrasted with the top-down model in England where there has been continual conflict with teaching unions.

"Conflict doesn't work and we know that too clearly from looking south of the Border. Two weeks ago my counterpart condemned the English teaching unions as Marxist because they opposed his education reforms, but I fear even the most ideologically driven education system in the world – that is probably in the Cultural Revolution in China – involved less prescription."

The row with Gove came as Russell became the first education minister to address the EIS annual general meeting for 167 years.

This week, EIS delegates backed strike action before the end of the year to protest over their growing workload associated with the roll-out of CfE, and Russell was attacked in a number of speeches.
However, he was greeted with respectful applause when he stood up to deliver his landmark speech and only a small minority of members briefly heckled him on the issue of workload, with one shouting "rubbish" when he told them support materials were in schools.

Russell, who said later that he did not think strikes were helpful, went on to promise that "needless red tape" would be stripped from teachers' workload.

He also told the meeting in Perth that the Scottish Government would work closely with the EIS and other key players as part of a new group to identify the key issues and come up with ways to reduce "needless workload and bureaucracy".

"My ambition and the ambition of the Scottish Government is to allow teachers the flexibility to plan and deliver high-quality learning and teaching," he said.

"The Curriculum for Excellence is about freeing up teachers to deliver the best-quality education to help young people succeed in the global workplace and assisting in the development of skills. It is not about burdensome paperwork."

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan welcomed the commitment, saying: "Much of what he had to say was well received by teachers and lecturers in the hall and we welcome his comments on bureaucracy and pension negotiations.

"Overall, although delegates clearly did not agree with everything that the Cabinet Secretary had to say, it is positive that he was willing to speak to teachers and lecturers directly and also to listen to their concerns about education in Scotland."

Professor: academies are failing black students

An interesting article from Voice on Line LINK which gives pause for thought as the academisation of Brent secondary school nears completion:

A LEADING academic has said that black pupils achieve worse GCSE results in academies than in local authority schools with a similar intake.

Professor David Gillborn, director of the centre for research in race and education based at the University of Birmingham, pointed to the Government’s data which revealed that while other ethnicities performed better, attainment among black pupils leaves much to be desired.

According to the Department for Education’s Equalities Impact Assessment: Academies Bill published in 2010, 37.1 per cent of black children enrolled at academies achieved five top GCSEs including maths and English.

But in local authority-run schools with similar characteristics, that figure was 41 per cent among children of African and Caribbean heritage.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “These are not the most up-to-date figures. In fact, results in sponsored academies are improving at a faster rate than in other state-funded schools. Analysis published by the department last year shows that, in 2011, the proportion of black pupils achieving five good GCSEs including English and mathematics was 2.5 percentage points higher in sponsored academies than in similar council-run schools.”

For other ethnic groups including white and Asian, this pattern was in reverse with both groups performing slightly better.

Academies tend to have a higher proportion of black pupils than other ethnic groups. Gillborn, a guest speaker at the annual London Schools and the Black Child conference, said: “The Government claims that academies are going raise standards for everyone but, actually, its own data suggests academies are bad news for black students.

“When compared with similar local authority schools they do worse...this has not stopped the policy being rolled out across the country. [The Government] has taken no steps whatsoever to identify where this problem might be arising from, let alone taking steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen in every single new academy.”