Labour Friends of Palestine condemn government's attack on local authority ethical policies

I don't normally publish press releases from the Labour Party but this might be of interest to readers and local councillors in the context of previous postings on this blog regarding proposed government curbs on the rights of councils and other public bodies to make ethical choices regarding procurement and pension fund investments.

This statement was released today by Labour Friends of  Palestine and the Middle East:
 

This week the Cabinet Office (17/2/2016) published new government guidelines intended “to stop inappropriate procurement boycotts by public authorities.”

Principally aimed at the Palestine supporting BDS campaign it intends to remove the freedom from local authorities and other bodies to refuse to buy goods and services from companies involved in the arms trade, fossil fuels, tobacco and other products.

The change in policy has been condemned by politicians, charities, campaigning and church groups and in the press. Many pointed out that these rules, as intended, would have blocked many groups from supporting the campaigns against Apartheid South Africa.

A spokesperson for Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn MP stated:

People have the right to elect local representatives able to make decisions free of central government political control. That includes withdrawal of investments or procurement on ethical and human rights grounds.

During the General Election LFPME asked candidates to sign up to our 6 election pledges, one of which was - ‘Illegal Settlements: Call for a complete freeze on illegal settlement growth in order to save any hope for a viable two state solution, and end all trade and investment with illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.’

Boycott campaigners have reacted to the new guidelines as simply re-stating existing policy, which will not stop groups from following an ethical procurement policy that discriminates against companies based on their human rights record or compliance with international law.

Grahame Morris MP Chair of the Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East said:

We have reached a contradictory situation in which we in the International Community economically sustain a major obstacle to peace—the illegal settlements.

Settlement products are the proceeds of crime. They are illicit goods, the product of a brutal occupation and the exploitation of the occupied and their resources. By trading with those who produce them, we financially encourage them.

Those settlements are built on the foundations of immense suffering—that of the Palestinians who have seen their homes destroyed, have been expelled from their own land and are living under brutal oppression—yet we make the illegal settlement enterprise profitable for the occupying power.

That seems to me a gross injustice.

Commenting about the BDS movement, Mr Morris added:

 

We should not have to boycott settlement goods; we should not be allowed to buy them in the first place. I am appalled that the government are more focused on preventing boycotts and disinvestment from the illegal settlements rather than attempting to end settlement trade.

This undermines their commitment to international law, human rights and resolving the conflict.

Other job vacancies in Brent (NOT £111k pa)

For balance, having advertised the £111k jobs with Brent Council here are some other opportunities locally


EVENT STEWARDING & CUSTOMER SERVICE

AP Security are recruiting approximately 200 stewards aged 19+ to work on event days of choosing. This very much a customer service job and training is provided. Pay is £7.51 an hour. Aged 19+
Apply preferably by 21st February by emailing hr@apsecurity.co.uk including your postal address and a CV if you have one to receive an application form. You may be given a time to attend a recruitment event at the Yellow Pavilion.

CARE & SUPPORT WORKERS (x10)

Metropolitan is a leading provider of integrated housing services, care and support and community regeneration. We manage over 38,000 affordable homes for rent and sale to those with greatest need, along with a range of care and support services.

We are currently recruiting for a team of care and support workers (on a full time and part time basis) for a new Extra Care contract in Brent.  The service is expected to open in on 1st April 2016 and we are looking for enthusiastic and experienced care and support workers to join the new manager in providing a high quality extra care service our customers aged over 50 years old.

The service is a purpose built 99 unit extra care service located near central Middlesex hospital. We are looking for people who have a good understanding of how to deliver a personalised flexible service and demonstrable skills in enabling people to maintain their independence  to live a fulfilled and happy life. You will identify with understanding the importance of the whole person, ensuring their wellbeing, as well as their direct care needs are met fully. We are looking for flexible people who are creative in their approach to care and support and a “can do” attitude.

Essential criteria

* Experience of delivering personal care with dignity and respect in a  similar setting

* A desire to work with Older persons to maximise their independence and wellbeing

* A “Can Do” attitude and a positive approach to problem solving.

* Excellent communication, team working and report writing skills (incl IT)

* Flexible approach and an ability to work a variety of shift patterns

* Demonstrable understanding of Safeguarding legislation and guidelines

* Demonstrable understanding of working within CQC legislation and outcomes.

* Experience of creating and reviewing support plans & risk assessments

Desirable criteria

* NVQ level 3 in health and Social Care

Key Accountabilities

* Enabling customers to live as independently as possible in their own homes

* Delivering personal care in a dignified and personalised way in line with their support plan

* Creating and reviewing support plans in line with the customer’s needs

* Working to all Metropolitans policies and procedures

* Alerting and recording all safeguarding concerns and incidents in line with all local procedures

* Maintaining your own personal development to remain skilled to fulfil the role

* Working as part of a team to ensure the safe and effective delivery of the care and support to the customers

* Working flexibly to meet the needs of the service including working weekends, bank holidays.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary
• 25 days paid annual leave plus eight public holidays
• Full training and support
• DBS paid for by us
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to our benefits portal providing discounts on a variety of products and services, including the ability to choose your own flexible benefits package including dental insurance, health cash plan and critical illness cover

The closing date for this role is Sunday 21st February 2016 at 11pm

Face to Face interviews will take place throughout February, March and April as there is a large number of roles available.

Applicants are advised to apply early as we reserve the right to close a vacancy prior to the closing date if a high number of applications have been received.

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Cut Trident: Welfare NOT Warfare Sat February 27th

 From the People's Assembly Against Austerity

The day for action against Trident is nearly here. CND has called the Stop Trident National Demonstration Sat 27 Feb. Assemble: 12:00PM Marble Arch.

The People's Assembly Against Austerity is please to support the event and say Welfare not Warfare!

Please follow the Facebook Event and share and invite as widely as you can!

CND's Kate Hudson has written this article in which she makes the case for spending money on building a fairer safer society, not on weapons of mass destruction.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY

There are a whole series of events in the run up to the demonstration which will be vital in building for the day. If you're in London tomorrow please join us at The Stop Trident Mobilising Rally, Friends House London Euston, Friday 19 Feb, 6:30PM

 
Speakers include: Tariq Ali • Kate Hudson CND general secretary • Richard Norton Taylor The Guardian • Lindsey German Stop the War • Brian Eno • Shelly Asquith NUS • Bruce Kent, CND vice president • Amelia Womack, Green Party deputy leader

Spread the word and see you on the streets!

The People's Assembly Against Austerity
http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/

Senior jobs at Brent Council available now up to £111,000 pa

Following the latest restructuring Brent Council is advertising the following jobs. A description of the management structure is available HERE

Leading Brent

Brent is a unique, growing and iconic borough, richly diverse and full of possibilities. As a council we take our role as place shaper very seriously and the regeneration of the borough continues at pace.  We want to ensure that this growth, and resulting opportunities, brings about real and lasting benefits for all our residents – young and old.  We have reorganised the council to meet the challenges ahead, reflect a culture of collaboration and improve services even further.  This has created the following senior leadership roles all of which report to our Strategic Directors. 

Children and Young People Services 

Operational Director – Service Integration and Improved Outcomes                   up to £111k

Managing a broad portfolio which includes front line social work, Inclusion, Early Help, Localities and Looked After Children teams you will be a qualified children’s social care professional with a depth of front line practitioner, as well senior management experience.  This is an exciting and challenging role which will drive service integration, better social work practice and improved outcomes for our most vulnerable children, young people and families.   

Operational Director – Safeguarding, Partnerships and Strategy                         up to £111k

This key role will lead our Safeguarding and Quality Assurance service, School Effectiveness and Place Planning, Partnerships and Commissioning.  You will help shape and implement strategies across the service and the council which better prepare us for the future, working with a range of stakeholders including schools, the LSCB and our Children’s Trust. Whatever your background, you will be an effective partnership worker with high level influencing and negotiation skills.   

Community Wellbeing Services

Operational Director – Adult Social Care                    up to £111k

This role will lead adult social care services which include commissioning, assessment support planning and safeguarding, and direct services to vulnerable adults and older people. Delivering high quality and innovation in Adult Social Care is fundamental to supporting and safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community. With senior management experience in a related setting or sector, you will be passionate about promoting independence and choice across the whole health and social care system, both locally and sub regionally. You will bring vision, ambition and an operational focus that will drive the service forward.

For a confidential discussion call our advising consultants at Penna: Maggie Hennessy 07877 004648, Chris Barrow 0203 829 9754, Anita Denton 07725 554802 or Carol Coyle 020 7332 7806.

Closing date for receipt of applications: Friday 18 March 2016

BBC Decision to Exclude the Greens ‘Impoverishes Our Political Debate’

The BBC’s decision not to allocate the Green Party of England and Wales a Party Political Broadcast (PPB) in England fails the electorate and our democracy, say the Greens.

Over recent weeks, the Green Party has written to the BBC three times to appeal the public broadcaster's initial decision to allocate three PPBs to the Liberal Democrats and UKIP each, and none to the Greens.

Over the course of extensive correspondence, Nick Martin, CEO of the Green Party, has sought to demonstrate the Party’s steady and consistent growth in England over the past two election cycles across election types. The Green Party contends that, with this decision, the BBC has failed to fully consider and recognise the pattern and direction of electoral support in England.

In their upcoming Party Election Broadcast (PEB), the Green Party will ensure that the Greens' voice is heard ahead of the London Assembly, Mayoral and local elections in May 2016. The BBC Trusts' decision to recognise the Greens as a major party in the London elections provides the Party with an opportunity to showcase how elected Greens can deliver real change of the common good.

Shahrar Ali, Green Party Deputy Leader, who, alongside Deputy Leader Amelia Womack, handed in an appeal letter to the BBC Trust (3), said:

Our public broadcaster’s decision to freeze the Greens out of the Party Political Broadcasts impoverishes our political debate. Ahead of this May’s elections, the Greens stand on a fresh, distinctive platform. We are the only party who place environmental sustainability at the heart of everything we do; we are united in opposing Trident; and only the Greens are presenting a viable alternative to our stuttering economic system which is insecurely grounded on unequal pay and long hours.

Womack said:

The BBC’s decision means over a million people will not be given the opportunity to hear from the party they voted for last May in a PPB in 2016. While this decision is bitterly disappointing and does a disservice to our democracy, Green politicians, members, activists and supporters will continue to work tirelessly to make sure our voice is heard and that Green values and policies are widely shared.

NUT call on the next Mayor of London to defend education and help teachers create a just society for all.

The NUT will be holding a London Mayoral Hustings on Monday March 7th 6pm at the union's headquarters at Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, WC1H 9BD, near Kings Cross,  off  the south side of Euston Road.

The meeting will be introduced by Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary.

The flyer advertsing the event lists the issues that matter to London teachers:

London's schools are under threat
London is a city full of creativity, talent and potential. Our schools and teachers are amongst the best in the world. Yet this sucess is under real threat.

Spending cuts
School budgets across London face 12% cuts under Government spending plans. In some boroughs, the losses could be over 20%. That would mean understaffed schools, bigger class sizes, more children's needs unmet and a narrower curriculum.

Teacher shortages
Talented, hardworking teachers are being driven out of London's schools by excessive workload, the lack of affordable housing and an exam factory culture which demoralises both staff ansd children.

Poverty and unaffordable housing
Almost 4 in 10 children in the capital grow up in poverty. Unaffordable rents force too many families into unsuitable housing. These conditions impact heavily on children's education and their schools.

Lack of school places
London needs 113,000 more school places to meet demand. Yet our Councils have neither the funds nor the legal powers to open new schools.

Stand Up for London's Education
The NUT belives that every child deserves the best. We have produced a Manifesto for London's schools calling on the next Mayor of London to defend education and help teachers create a just society for all.

Help stand up for education
Come along to our hustings and other local campaign activities across London. Distribute our manifestpoand talk with friends, colleagues and candidates about our demands.

Mail manifesto@nut.org.uk for the NUT's Manifesto for London's schools and colleges

NUT call for 2016 SATs to be suspended as ministers fail the 'test of competence'

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I have been hearing concerns from local primary teachers about the new SATs that are due to take place in May so I am not surprised to hear that the NUT is calling for them to be suspended.

This is what the NUT said today:

Nicky Morgan’s new system for testing and assessment of KS1 and KS2 pupils has come apart at the seams. As a result the NUT is calling for the 2015/16 SATs to be suspended.

In early February the DfE published its requirements in relation to teacher assessments of children’s writing standards. These have come far too late in the process. The detail in the exemplifications of the required standards and the number of separate pieces of evidence required for each individual assessment mean that they are impossible for teachers to deliver in the few months between February and June. Since these exemplifications are ‘interim’ and only for this year, they could also change completely again next year.

These proposals add to a chaotic heap of other demands. The reporting date for teachers’ assessments has been brought forward. The ‘expected standard’ that children are required to meet has been pushed upwards, beyond the reach of far too many pupils. The consequences of this shift on the requirement on schools to meet floor standards have not been thought through.

Ministers have failed the test of competence. Nicky Morgan’s pledge to give a year’s notice of substantial changes has been revealed as just a hollow promise.

The NUT is calling for the 2015/16 SATs to be suspended and will be meeting other teaching unions on Thursday 18 February to discuss a joint response.

Only 224 take part in Brent's budget consultation

Much has been made of Brent Coucil's consultation on the budget and so it is interesting to see how many 'self-selected'  people have participated in this budget round. 'Engagement' is clearly an issue.  The numbers and themes are included in the report going before Full Council on Monday:

That is a total of 214 via attendance at meetings plus 10 on line. This is equivalent to fewer than 1 in 1000 of the population of Brent. I am not sure what the cost works out at per person when you take into account cost of room hire and officer overtime. The 7 who attended the Grand Hall consultation at the Civic Centre could have been accommodated in the Leader's office!

I was concerned about the low number of people responding to my on-line poll on the Council Tax rise but it appears that only 3 people had a view on the Council's  own on-line consultation.

These are the new basic Council Tax rates for 2016-17 by band (the usual comparator is Band D)

The plans for 2017 and 2018-19 are HERE. It is worth noting that by 20% more than half of the Council's spending is predicted to be on social care.

Cuts of 20% in full time equivalent posts across Brent's eight services are included in the proposals.