Brent debates anti-semitism

Three meetings are scheduled over the next 10 days addressing in various ways the issue of anti-semitism in the Labour Party and in the wider context.

At a Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party meeting last week last Thursday a motion from the Jewish Labour Movement proposing a rule change on anti-semitism was deferred pending the outcome of the Chakrabati inquiry into anti-semitism in the Labour Party.

That was followed up by an angry blog by Philip Rosenberg entitled  'The great betrayal: Labour members refused to discuss anti-semitism.'  LINK

Rosenberg's account of the meeting was disputed by local activist Ian Saville:

The writer here is being disingenuous to say the least. An inconvenient truth, not mentioned in his article, is that a number of Jewish members supported the proposal to postpone the motion, or any motion on this subject, until after the Chakrabarti Inquiry has reported. This is due by the end of June, so we are not talking of the sort of delay one could expect from a Chilcot type of inquiry. Since an expert inquiry has been set up, with well respected chairs, it would be silly to attempt to preempt its deliberations by bringing in a rule change that proposes disciplinary and other measures which will be covered by the inquiry. The writer needs to calm down and learn some patience. There will be many opportunities to discuss these matters in coming months.

I understand that Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party are now holding a special meeting of the General Committee on Tuesday 7th June at the Kingsgate Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, NW6 2JH at which a motion 'unhesitatingly' condemning anti-semitism will be tabled. The Jewish Labour Movemement are expected to address the meeting and there will also be a discussion about a leaflet given out at last Thursday's meeting which was critical of the JLM.

On Monday June 6th the Brent Momentum AGM will be addressed by Jackie Walker, National Vice Chair of Momentum, who was recently reinstated after being suspended over claims of anti-semitism.

The agenda includes:

Where is Momentum Going?
Does Labour have a problem with antisemitism?
How do we get a Corbyn-led Labour government?

The meeting is at 7.30pm Brent Trades Hall/Apollo Club, Willesden High Road, NW10 2JR

Lastly Brent Stop the War (not affiliated to any political party) has invited Julia Bard  of the Jewish Socialist' Group and Jews for Jeremy to speak at their June 13th meeting on 'Is criticism of Israel anti-semitic?'

The meeting is at 7.30pm at the Brent Trades Hall/Apollo Club, Willesden High Road, NW10 2JR

I think these meetings are a sign of a healthy democratic climate in the borough (and neighbouring Camden) where controversial issues are not shied away from but the subject of open debate.

Brent Cyclists call for Quintain and Brent Council to act to secure safe cycling after Fulton Road/Olympic Way accident

I am grateful to Brent Cyclists LINK for permission to repost this article from their website. Tghis evening football fans will be streaming across the Fulton Road/Olympic Way junction to attend tonight's football match.

Ariel view of Olympic Way/Fulton Road junction

Cyclist injured at Olympic Way junction

We hear a sad report of a hit-and-run collision today at the junction of Fulton Road and Olympic Way, with a 15-year old cyclist injured. These details come from the Brent & Kilburn Times. 

Scene of the incident photographed by our member Charlie Fernandes

While we do not know full details of this incident, it is clear that the design of the junction of Fulton Road, where it crosses the pedestrian and cycle only route of Olympic Way, is very poor. 

Olympic Way has huge pedestrian traffic, which will only increase with the current large-scale building of homes in the area. Fulton Road has fairly low vehicular traffic, yet the crossing is confused with a design that visually implies priority for motor traffic.

Fulton Road and Olympic Way junction photographed late 2015. The junction was then on a raised table, which is now gone, and the new road surface is lighter in colour at the junction, though the painted markings are the same.

As seen in the picture, give-way lines for vehicles on Fulton Road mean that they should give way to pedestrians and cyclists using Olympic Way, but this design is highly non-standard for the UK, motorists do not expect to have to give way to pedestrains without a marked pedestrain crossing (i.e. a zebra), and observation of the junction shows that generally they do not. As seen in the picture, pedestrians are wary of this junction and take it that motorists have priority. The surfacing, tarmac for the road with pink tiling and grey tactile paving for the pedestrian and cycle route, and the presence of the double yellow lines all along Fulton Road, re-enforce the impression that the road is continuous and the pedestrain and cycle route, Olympic Way, is interrupted. The removal of the raised table after utility works this year has further re-enforced the default vehicle priority.

We believe that with the increasing population and activity in this area this junction will be an increasing hazard. It need to be changed: either a wide zebra crossing should be marked through the junction, the full width of Olympic Way, or, better, Fulton Road should be closed as a motor vehicle through-route.

More widely in the Wembley Park regenation area there is a problem of designs that do not properly recognise the need to have designated space for flows of cyclists. On Olympic Way and the new quasi-shared space of Olympic Park Boulevard, cycling is allowed but mixed up with pedestrain flows. This only does not cause major problems at the moment because the flows of cyclists are low. It is likely to cause problems in the future. We are calling on the developers, Quintain, and Brent Council, to implement adequate dedicated cycle paths within the development area that are clearly differentiated from pedestrian sapce, as well as from motor vehicle space.

'Speak Out' reinstates Leanne Mohamad's video on Palestine

Frome Peace in Our Name

Freedom of Speech on Palestine - A step towards peace

Peace in Our Name

 

2 Jun 2016 — We're delighted to say that Leanne's powerful speech has been added back to the Speak Out Challenge website, LINK:

We received over 7,000 signatures pledging their support. In addition to having the video made visible once more on the Speak Out website, Leanne’s video has been seen by over 55,000 people and been featured on news websites across the world.

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

Leanne's message of birds, not bombs, and an end to apartheid is an important one.

The censorship of her video is indicative of a wider censorship of Palestinian issues and the punishment of anyone who speaks out for Palestine.

To show your support for freedom of speech, please take the time to read, sign and share our new petition addressing these wider issues at

https://www.change.org/p/united-nations-freedom-of-speech-on-palestine.

The Jack Petchey Awards website published this comment when it reinstated the video:

Following temporary suspension to safeguard a minor, we are now able to reinstate the video of our Redbridge Regional Final champion Leanne Mohamad, with authorisation from her family. Please see here for further information.

Leanne Mohamad of Wanstead High School was crowned the winner at the 2015-16 “Speak Out” Challenge! Redbridge Regional Final with a speech entitled ‘Birds Not Bombs’ – Congratulations!

Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! is the world’s biggest youth speaking event! Thanks to funding from the Jack Petchey Foundation, communication skills training is delivered by Speakers Trust – the UK’s leading public speaking charity.

Find out more at www.speakerstrust.org

June activities at the Yellow Pavilion and new venue details

From Michael Stuart at the Yellow Pavilion

I’m very pleased to attach June’s programme of activities for the Yellow Pavilion.  Later this month we are moving to premises on Engineer’s Way -- see the programme for details and look out for an email update in a few weeks.

New this month:
·         Half term arts and crafts for children age 5+ and adults on Wed 1st and Friday 3rd June 2-4pm (£2 including materials)
·         Sing pop, soul and jazz to lift spirits – no audition needed to join this local singing group.
·         Mixed 5-a-side football for adults – come as an individual and we’ll make up teams or enter a team
·         Auditions to compete in Streetdance XXL Championships for age 8-16.

We also have our regular programme including:
·         Jewellery making (now Thursday at 6.15pm)
·         Sunday morning football sessions for 3-8 year olds
·         Friday lunchtime fitness with drumming
·         Women only classes in kickboxing and Cuban boxing
·         Zumba
·         Arts and crafts for adults
·         Mental health support
·         Streetdance for children and young people
·         Basic computer skills
·         Youth Group for 16-24 year olds

mailto: yellowpavilion@wembleypark.com

Survey shows wide disparity in voting registration across Brent

London First in association with Democracy Club has today published a league table of voter registration in London wards LINK

It makes interesting reading for Brent. I have added the percentage of voters between 18 and 25 years old to the table. The figures are based on registrations and ONS ward level population data.

To vote in the EU Referendum you need to register by June 7th. Registration is not required if you voted in the 2015 General Election or the 2016 GLA Election AND you still live at the same address.

Register HERE

 

Ward	% registerd to vote	No 18-25 yrs	% of total voting popn	total voting age popn
Willesden Green	72	1526	11.79	12943
Mapesbury	75	1461	11.24	12993
Kensal Green	75	1248	10.53	11855
Kilburn	76	1403	9.75	14397
Harlesden	78	1491	11.65	12793
Queens Park	79	1028	8.13	12637
Brondesbury Park	81	1052	9.84	10696
Dudden Hill	82	1602	13.24	12100
Tokyngton	84	1725	12.86	13415
Sudbury	86	1184	10.00	11840
Preston	86	1408	11.14	12635
Wembley Central	87	1407	11.13	12639
Dollis Hill	87	1518	14.92	10174
Alperton	88	1528	11.95	12786
Welsh Harp	88	1197	11.29	10607
Queensbury	89	1426	11.25	12672
Stonebridge	89	1928	15.60	12362
Fryent	90	1094	10.74	10190
Northwick Park	92	1849	17.54	10542
Barnhill	92	1261	10.00	12613
Kenton	93	1043	10.43	10003
Average/Total]	84.24	29379	11.62	252892

Butt faces another probe - this time from the Labour Party

Cameron Scott, Regional Director of the East of England Labour Party, has been asked to  investigate 'serious allegations about incidents  following the death of Cllr Tayo Oladapo' to establish the facts.

Scott has been asked to undertake the investigation because London Region staff are under pressure due to the Tooting by-election and the EU Referendum.

The Labour Group has been told that there is no intention to suspend anyone and 'this investigation implies no assumption of guilt ot wrongdoing' but it has to investigate allegations that have been received.

Councillors in the Labour Group have been asked to submit 'information or evidence they understand to be relevant to the allegations about the incidents.'

Cllr Butt already faces an independent inquiry by  Richard Penn, a former local authority CEO.

Is another Europe possible? What do you think?

It has been hard for the anti-capitalist Left to insert itself into the EU Referendum debate on either side. The choice of associating with the neoliberals and big business  of the Remain campaign or the neoliberals and  racists of the Out campaign has left many of us out in the cold.

My main feeling is that we have been dragged into a nasty debate as a consquence of the internal war in the Tory Party and Cameron's attempt to deal with the UKIP challenge.

The Another Europe is Possible campaign is an attempt to make a progressive case for Remain but faces the charge of dewy eyed complacency about the real nature of the EU.

I submit Caroline Lucas' speech as a contribution to the debate and welcome people's views.

Co-op store proposal divides community near Dollis Hill Station

 

 

76 Burnley Road

A proposal to replace a vehicle repair workshop with a Co-operative food store opposite the Burnley Road entrance to Dollis Hill Station has divided local residents. Brent Council planners have recommended rejection of the application:

In contrast to Brent Council's advocacy of the retails jobs provided at the London Designer Outlet at Wembley Stadium, Planning Officers state:

With regards to on-site employment, the Applicant has submitted information stating that there would 
be a net increase in employment on the site as a result of the proposal. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Employment Densities Guide (2010) sets out that Use Class B2 (General Industry) requires 36sqm floorspace per employee. This equates to a capacity, for the existing use, of approximately 8 employees, whereas the proposed retail store could create 20-25 jobs. It must be noted, however, that up to 20 of these employees for the retail unit are proposed to be ‘part time’ employees. Furthermore, your officers consider that the jobs associated with defined employment uses are more likely to be skilled jobs than those associated with a retail use. Therefore, whilst acknowledging there would be a net increase in employment on the site, your officers conclude that an employment use has a greater beneficial impact on employment, with higher skilled personnel with the potential of apprentice schemes, than the proposed retail use. 

Petitions both for and against the proposal have been submitted as well as individual comments. The majority are against:

Against 


35 comments 
Petition Against - The second was an organised petition from 680 addresses with 992 signatures - including 175 signatures that did not have a full address. The objections are that the introduction of the local convenience store will damage the local shops and their business. 
       Your officers are also aware of a change.org petition against the proposal titled Help Protect Our Shops, with 103 objectors, on the grounds that the Council should support local community stores 

For 


5 comments 


Petition For 1)- Petition consisting of approximately 95 names. Many of these did not have full addresses. The generic supporting reason was the positive addition of a convenience store on Burnley Road. 


Petition For 2) 5 individuals from 5 different addresses who support the application based on new jobs and groceries at fair prices. 


Click on image to enlarge

A number of councillors called in the proposal so that it would be  decided by the Planning Committee rather than by officers and their reasons varied:

   

Name of Councillor 

Councillor Harrison

Date and Reason for Request

17/04/2016

Details of any representations received

We understand that the Co-operative Group proposals will result in the employment of 20-25 people with priority given to recruitment in the local area.

Name of Councillor

Councillor Nerva

Date and Reason for Request

17/04/2016

Details of any representations received

We understand that the Co-operative Group proposals will result in the employment of 20-25 people with priority given to recruitment in the local area.

Name of Councillor

Councillor Collier

Date and Reason for Request

18/04/2016

Details of any representations received

We understand that the Co-operative Group proposals will result in the employment of 20-25 people with priority given to recruitment in the local area.

Name of Councillor

Councillor Shahzad

Date and Reason for Request

20/04/2016

Details of any representations received

Should be heard at Committee so residences can expressed their views to the committee.

Name of Councillor

Councillor Hirani

Date and Reason for Request

22/04/2016

Details of any representations received

Concerned about the impact on local independent shops;
Concerns with the increase of traffic and spaces for loading vehicles.


Name of Councillor
Councillor Choudry


Date and Reason for Request
22/04/2016


Details of any representations received


Concerned about the impact on local independent shops;
Concerns with the increase of traffic and spaces for loading vehicles.


Name of Councillor
Councillor Patel


Date and Reason for Request
20/04/2016


Details of any representations received
 

Request that the application be discussed and decided by the Planning Committee only. 

Any person wishing to inspect the above papers should contact Robert Reeds, Planning and Regeneration, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ, Tel. No. 020 8937 6726