Bennett: What got us into 'this mess' is the fraud, errors and mismanagement of the corrupt and still out-of-control financial sector

Summary of Green Party reactions to the Autumn Statement

·         Caroline Lucas MP on Tax avoidance announcement: ‘This is a small step in right direction - but we urgently need full tax transparency’ 
·         Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett: Problems with Autumn Statement start at foundations - deficit cannot be blamed on government spending and welfare 
·         Lucas on cold homes: No excuse left for the Government’s killer complacency on the cold homes 
·         Lucas on Fracking sovereign wealth fund: ‘It’s a cynical gimmick. The best thing for the economy and the environment is super energy efficiency, properly insulated homes and investment  in renewables,’
·         Lucas on Austerity: ‘The people did not cause the financial crash and they should not be punished for it. It’s time to expose the lie is that there is no alternative to austerity’ 

THE Government has shown what is akin to ‘killer complacency’ on cold homes in its Autumn Statement, Caroline Lucas MP has said.

While she welcomed some announcements, she said the Government’s energy policies had been ‘defined by chaos and contradictions’.

There was no excuse left for the Government’s killer complacency on the cold homes she said.

Lucas, Co-Chair of the All-Party Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Group, slammed news that none of the Treasury’s planned £100 billion investment in infrastructure over the next Parliament would be allocated to measures to tackle fuel poverty, noting that allocating just two per cent of the Government’s current annual £45 billion infrastructure budget to housing retrofit would allow half a million low income homes to be made highly energy efficient every year.

The Government had displayed ‘wilful ignorance of the overwhelming fiscal, human and environmental benefits of energy efficiency* and the consequences for families and the NHS are plain to see’, she said.

She added:

“People are freezing in their homes, and it’s preventable. Cold homes cost lives and cost our NHS – to the tune of well over £1bn a year. The UK’s woefully draughty and energy-inefficient housing stock is an urgentinfrastructure priority. It makes no economic sense to ignore, but it’s exactly what the Government is doing. The Government has grossly failed the public today.

“A nationwide super energy-efficiency drive would lower household energy bills,hugely contribute to job creation and the economy, as well as being essential for carbon targets. It’s a win-win – the Government’s continued inaction flies in the face of all common sense.”

Meanwhile, responding to the Statement, Leader of The Green Party of England and Wales, Natalie Bennett, said:

 "The many problems with this Autumn Statement start with its foundations. Osborne is continuing the demonstrably false claim that our deficit problems can be blamed on government spending and welfare.

"But what got us into 'this mess' is the fraud, errors and mismanagement of the corrupt and still out-of-control financial sector.

"But to admit that would require George Osborne to explain why after more than four years in government he has not delivered the urgent action needed is to tackle the still out-of-control sector, the still too-big-to-fail banks and its hulking dominance of our imbalanced economy that sucks capital and skilled people into the City and away from places where they could be helping to improve the wellbeing of all."

On the Government’s flood defence announcement, Lucas said:

“Families have been devastated by flooding and investment in proper flood protection is critical. But the Government is offering a disingenuous, feel-good fix – dig just a little, and it’s perfectly clear that this spending falls far short of what’s actually necessary to protect homes and businesses from increased flood risk due to climate change. We also need prevention – we need concrete action and investment to tackle the roots of the issue, including climate change. This is just another example of the Government’s persistent failure to climate-proof the flooding budget.” 

Tax avoidance
Lucas said: 

 “The extent of tax avoidance, tax evasion and unpaid tax in the UK economy is staggering. The Government’s apathetic policies on corporate tax avoidance have smacked of elitist double standards. Corporate tax dodgers are allowed to get away with not paying their fair share in society, while workers and small businesses are left paying the price. Today’s announcement is a small step in right direction, but if we’re serious about stamping out tax avoidance, then we urgently need full tax transparency.”

Small business

The Leader of The Green Party of England and Wales, Natalie Bennett, said:

 "Measures to help small business are in principle welcome. Another way in which we desperately need to rebalance our economy is away from the tax-dodging, low-paying multinationals back towards strong local economies built around small businesses and cooperatives.

"But the plaster of business rate relief won't heal the gaping wound caused by parasitical multinationals. We need to make the multinationals not only pay their taxes - and it is good to see rhetoric on this, although past experience says the detail of action will need careful examination - but also pay their staff decently and give them stable, secure jobs. And we need to stop big business stamping all over small business suppliers with unacceptable payment terms, and ensure their operations obey the law." 

Lucas welcomed the Chancellor’s acknowledgement that the business rates system wasn’t working but said that whilst a review is welcome news, we also need swift, positive action now.
She said:

 “We need policies with teeth - bold plans that deliver real change for small businesses on the ground.  The vast majority of businesses in my constituency are small or micro-level, and they’re are the backbone of our local economy. As well as forming part of community life, they provide valuable services and jobs. The business owners I meet in Brighton Pavilion tell me they’re struggling with business rates. This Government says it’s pro small business, so that needs to be reflected in its policies.

“We need the local business rates relief to be expanded to benefit more small businesses, who are being crippled by high rents and high rates. The Government has dragged its feet on this for years– and a review is welcome. But Brighton’s businesses need action, now.” 

Fracking

Lucas said: 

‘The Fracking sovereign wealth fund is a cynical gimmick. The best thing for the economy and the environment is super energy efficiency, properly insulated homes and investment in renewables.’

Missing fortnight and missing documents twist in Kensal Rise Library saga

This is the notice of the Disposal of Land listed as an Asset of Community Value (Kensal Rise Library site).

It was only issued on November 27th, two weeks after Andrew Gillick, the current owner, informed Brent Council of his intentions, so there is some contention over the six week initial moratorium, starting from November 13th. Community interest groups have had public knowledge only from last Thursday.

The auction is to be held in just over two week's time on December 17th.

Meanwhile the  Communituy Infrastructure Levy Liability document and the Deed of Agreement  have not yet been uploaded to the Council's planning portal LINK

And, perhaps needless to say, no more has been heard into the police investigation into the alleged fake emails submitted to Brent Council in support of Andrew Gillick's initial planning application.

ASDA consumer 'riot' staged for press and TV?

There is a widespread belief in Wembley that 'Black Friday's' mini consumer riot at Wembley Park  ASDA on Friday was not all it seems.

Forewarned by the store, press and TV were all assembled in advance and wanted a good story of consumer greed. Eye witnesses say they  urged people on to fight for the TVs and other goods to ensure they got shocking footage and photographs for the likes of the Daily Mail LINK

The usual people then had a field day on the Daily Mail website denouncing the 'greed' and 'animal behaviour' of local people.  One Wembley local told me he felt 'ashamed' when he saw the way his community was being portrayed on the news.


The word on the street is that many of the large TVs were returned the next day with customers saying that they were 'rubbish'. Clearly it was a potentially dangerous situation and there are reports that some people sustained bumps and bruises.

In contrast, when the sale continued on Saturday with no press or TV present, everything was quite orderly.

Unconfirmed reports say that ASDA head office were not happy with the coverage.  

Meanwhile in the US workers at ASDA's parent company, Walmart, staged the third of what have become annual Black Friday strikes against low wages, poor benefits and union busting LINK

Cross party letter on council cuts a beginning but we must challenge austerity

Following my posts on this blog about the budget crisis faced by local councils, including Brent and Brighton, it is good to see this cross-party letter in the Observer today signed by leaders of many local councils as well as the Chair of the Local Government Association LINK

Of course a letter on its own won't solve the problem and it is not just a matter of more control of funding but also the total amount. Austerity, which led to the cuts, is supported by the main political parties represented in this letter.

Local anti cuts campaigns, trades councils and trade unions, tenants associations and other citizen groups need to step up their campaigning against what amounts to the destruction of local services under the cover of austerity.

The Observer Letter 

Funding for services provided by councils has borne the brunt of austerity while demand continues to rise. When the chancellor delivers his autumn statement this Wednesday, “more of the same” cannot be an option.

After a 40% reduction in funding during this parliament, our efficiency savings are coming to an end. Further reductions without radical reform will have a detrimental impact on people’s quality of life and will lead to vital services being scaled back or lost altogether. Services such as libraries, leisure centres and road maintenance continue to buckle under the strain of cuts and the ever-rising cost of caring for our growing elderly population. Failure to address this will not only jeopardise other services, but will pass costs on to the NHS, which will have to pick up the pieces if we cannot protect adult social care or provide the services that keep people healthy.

Last week, the Smith commission set out a better deal for Scotland, granting more control over funding and recognising the importance of devolving power down beyond Holyrood. It’s England’s turn now.

There is compelling evidence that taking decisions closer to the people affected achieves better results and saves money. It is vital that the autumn statement sets out a new settlement for England, which puts powers beyond Westminster, and shares out tax and spending across the UK on a fair basis. The people we represent, who look north of the border with envy at the greater control Scots are to get over their everyday lives, will expect nothing less.

Guide Auction Price of £1,150,000 For Kensal Rise Library

Further news is coming in regarding the sale of Kensal Rise Library by Andrew Gillick. The building has appeared on Zoopla LINK for auction on December 17th. It has a guide price of £1,150,000.

This gives very little time for Friends of Kensal Rise Library or any other community interest group to make up their minds and enter a bid.  As there is supposed to be a six week initial moratorium before sale to allow an organisation to signal their intention to bid for an Asset of Community Value the question arises as to when Brent Council were first informed by Gillick of his intention to sell.

Will the Pavey review of HR win the confidence of staff?

In this week's Kilburn Times,  Brent Green  Party candidates for the forthcoming general election reiterate the Party's call for an independent inquiry into Brent Council, This would not only cover the human resources issues, including working conditions,  but also the appointment of a permanent Chief Executive and  the restructing of the senior managment team. We felt that an independent investigation was the only way to gain the confidemnce of staff and wanted to involve residents, associations,  voluntary organisations, teneants; groups and trade unions.

Philip Grant in this Guest Blog gives his personal assessment of the  more limited internal review being conducted by Michael Pavey:

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Councillor Pavey’s Review of Brent’s HR and Equalities practices and procedures

Anyone who has been following the story of the Rosemarie Clarke Employment Tribunal case will be aware that when Brent Council announced on 26 September that they would be appealing against the judgement, they also said there would be a review. The Council said that its Deputy Leader, Cllr. Michael Pavey, would ‘take stock of our [Employment] policies and practice’, ‘to ensure that we learn lessons from this case’. 

I did wonder at the time whether this was just a PR smokescreen, to draw attention away from Brent’s unfair and unreasonable decision to appeal. However, I have recently exchanged some emails with Cllr. Pavey which leave me a little more optimistic, and (with his permission) I would like to share some of the correspondence with you.

Andrew Gillick to 'dispose of' Kensal Rise Library building

The Friends of Kensal Rise Library have announced on their website that they have been informed that the owner  of Kensal Rise Library (Andrew Gillick) has notified Brent Council that he intends to dispose of the building LINK

The FKRL assure supporters that the D1 space, set aside for community use, is protected in any disposal by the owner because All Souls College retains control and disposal includes the 'encumbrance' of the Planning Committee's decision. Any new owner who wanted to change that decision would have to submit a new planning application.

Butt suggests combined West London Authority as 40% central staffing cuts sought in Brent budget

The  Report for the First Reading Debate on the Council Budget LINK was up on the Council website by 23.45 last night. It includes a section on the Borough Plan Consultation which is fast work as the consultation only closed at 5pm yesterday.

Full Council was changed from November 17th to December 8th ostensibly to enable a report on the Borough Plan to be made.

The report states (4.3)

Between 16 September and 28 November the council, with its partners undertook a major consultation exercise to gather information on local people's views of:

• The area where they live
• Their aspirations for the future of the borough
• Their spending priorities, including those services they felt should be protected and areas where they felt we could do less
• What more they, the community group, or others could do to help build strong communities in Brent in the context of shrinking public resources