Gove has gone but we must widen the battle to take on the GERM

There was delight in Brent schools yesterday when the news of Michael Gove's demotion filtered through to staffrooms and classrooms.

It soon became clear that his replacement might well be 'more of the same' but there is no doubt of the personal antipathy that Michael Gove has engendered amongst teachers and many parents.

Now the campaign must move on to challenging the Global Education Reform Movement, more or less supported by the three main parties, which is responsible for the marketisation of schooling. This is a vehicle for the privatisation of schools, giving away public assets to private companies for profit; the harnessing of education to the needs of the market; the conversion of pedagogy into an industrial process of delivery, testing and grading;  teachers' loss of professional autonomy and creativity and the robbing of children of their childhood.

The Green Party understands this and will be part of that campaign.

South Kilburn regeneration amounts to social cleansing, claim residents and tenants

Developer's perspective & that of residents at odds

A head of steam is building up o the South Kilburn Estate about what residents and tenants see as the 'social cleansing' involved  in the Estate's regeneration.

The motion below was passed at a recent meeting of the Alpha, Gorefield and Canterbury Tenants' and Residents' Association.

We’ve had enough!

Motion to the AGM of Alpha, Gorefield & Canterbury TRA

This meeting notes that regeneration was sold to residents of South Kilburn on the basis that it would provide improved housing and living conditions for all existing residents.

In fact: 

* There are fewer dwellings at social rent than there were before regeneration;

* Some of the new flats are smaller than those they replaced;

* The new flats have been let at higher rents than was the case. 

Rather:

* Flats are being sold and rented at prices which existing South Kilburn tenants have no chance of affording;

* Luxury flats are being advertised on the Far Eastern market, clearly as an investment, rather than social housing;

* Locked gardens are being created, even though they replace what was common green space. 

This all amounts to a “social cleansing” of South Kilburn, with many residents forced to move to other areas. 

There's so much more to an 11 year old than their Key Stage 2 SAT results

As Year 6 children get their Key Stage 2 SATs score a letter from a teacher that reminds us that there is so much more to a child than how they are graded in a one-off test.

Brent Cabinet will meet next Monday afternoon

One of the many changes instituted by the newly elected Brent Labour adminstration was a change to the schedule of meetings.  The Cabinet, which replaces the Executive, now holds alternate meetings during the day.

The next Cabinet meeing is at 2pm on Monday July 21st at the Board Room, Brent Civic Centre.

The Agenda includes changes to recycling which will see weekly collections of recyclables and the introduction of a £40 annual charge for green waste collection, adoption of the Housing Strategy, and vital updates on the Council's financial position.

The full reports pack can be down-loaded HERE and the Agenda is below:

Cricklewood community, religious leaders & councillors unite against nazi threat

The community mobilising against the racists

The SEA on their last outing to Cricklewood

Residents, community associations, faith groups, trade unions and local politicians have united against a demonstration due to be held by an openly nazi group in Cricklewood this weekend.  

 The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden and Deputy Bishop of London, the North West Islamic Cultural Centre,  Rabbi Aaron Goldstein of the Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Brent Trades Council, Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, Andrew Dismore, London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden and Shahrar Ali of Brent Green Party are among those who have signed a statement initiated by North West London United calling on people to oppose the fascist march on Saturday July 19^th, and show them that there is no place for racism in our multicultural community.  

The Brent Labour Group has changed the date of its budget meeting to enable councillors to attend.

The South East Alliance (an offshoot of the Essex branch of the English Defence League) includes Hitler-worshippers and has links to Ulster Loyalist groups. They are vurulently anti-Muslim. They have declared their intention to march to 113 Cricklewood Broadway, which they claim is the UK headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Metropolitan Police have said that the present occupants have no connection with the Brotherhood.

North West London United is asking everyone who is opposed to SEA’s message of hate to join in a peaceful demonstration this Saturday at 12 noon on Cricklewood Broadway. 

 A spokesperson for North West London United said

Cricklewood is one of the most multicultural areas in the UK and we are proud of our diversity. The intention of this fascist group is to provoke hatred and division, something that has no place in our community. A big presence of local residents to oppose the fascist march on Saturday will send a clear signal that their violent racism is not welcome here.

The full list of signatories so far is HERE

Will Sir Bernard give us the latest on Met's Kensal Rise fraud investigation?

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is visiting Brent on Wednesday. The visit is advertised as a chance to 'talk to him, listen to his vision for London and share your thoughts and ideas'.

The meeting is from 6.30pm-7.30pm (doors open 6pm) on July 16th at Alperton Community School, Stanley Avenue, Wembley.

In the absence of any other commmunication from the Met perhaps he can tell us how the investigation into the fraudulent emails in support the Kensal Rise Library development is going?

Urgent call from Gaza civil society: Act now!

Communicated via Unison Active

'We Palestinians trapped inside the bloodied and besieged Gaza Strip call on conscientious people all over the world to act, protest and intensify the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it ends this murderous attack on our people and is held to account.

    With the world turning their backs on us once again, for the last four days we in Gaza have been left to face massacre after massacre. As you read these words, over 120 Palestinians are dead now, including 25 children. Over 1,000 have been injured including countless horrifying injuries that will limit lives forever –- more than two thirds of the injured are women and children.

Diminishing democracy in Brent - an update

At the time of the local elections the Brent Green Party called for an independent investigation into the following issues in Brent Council:

1. Corporate Management Team officers being paid through their private companies rather than normal pay roll
2. The contractual arrangements for CMT officers and interim appointments
3. Previous employment and business connections between senior offices appointed by Brent Council on an interim basis
4. The working culture of the Human Resources department 
5. Brent Council's Whistle Blowing Policy to ensure that it adequately protects whistle-blowers from harassment and retribution

To which a reader added:
6. Instances of council policies, procedures, standing orders, scheme of delegation etc being circumvented.

Secondly, there is the important issue of the appointment of Chief Executive.  Christine Gilbert's acting role was extended by the Brent Executive  until after the local elections on the recommendation of Fiona Ledden, Head of Legal and Procurement. The report stated:

The recruitment process for a new permanent  Chief Executive should be delayed because the current recruitment process for  three other CEs in London boroughs would limit the quality of candidates, to allow the restructuring of council senior management to go ahead smoothly, and  to ensure continuity and reputation management over the move to the Civic Centre and the 2014 local elections.

No independent investigation has been launched by the new Labour administration and no open recruitment process has started for a permanent Chief Executive.