Neasden protest against Universal Credit

Photo: Aisha Maniar

Despite the cold Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group took part today in the nationwide demonstration 'Stop and Fix Universal Credit.'


 

Brent Council's projected financial position worsens. Another 3.99% rise in Council Tax next year.

Brent Council expects its financial position to be worse than expected in 2019/21 as a result of the borough's  tax base slowing from an expected growth of 4.4% to 2.5%.  Although finance officers describe the financial situation for local government as 'inherently uncertain'  at +/-20% due to a lack of clear national direction, this would mean cuts/increase in charges increase of  £19m rather than the previously expected £13m in 2019/20 and 11m in 2020/21.

The incoming administration after the May2018 elections would need to start working on the 2019/20 budget in Autumn 2018.

The 2018-19 budget will be as consulted on as part of the 2017 process with cuts and service price increases of £12.9m already published. (Details HERE)

The Council proposes a further 3.99% increase in Council Tax bringing the total for Band D to  £1470.87

Butt attempts to answer questions about his meetings with developers and ex Council leader poses some of his own

Kilburn Times front page last week

Cllr John Warren has received answers to the questions he sent to Cllr Butt, Leader of Brent Council, over Butt's meetings with developers. This is what Butt had to say about the issues raised on Wembley Matters and in the Kilburn Times. Note the claim that the FoI response was erroneous:

I’m sure you’ve already seen Debra Norman’s response to Phillip Grant. Please find a copy attached, just in case.

As suggested therein, if you have a complaint you should contact the borough’s chief legal officer immediately. If that is not the case then I’ll kindly ask for confirmation at your earliest convenience that you do not in fact endorse these baseless accusations. Until then, answers to your questions are as follows:

1. What was the purpose of these three meetings,and in broad terms what was discussed?

•    An error was made in responding to the FOI on which your questions are based. The meetings to which you refer occurred at least a year earlier than reported. Clarification and an apology is in the process of being issued. Nevertheless, those meetings were to discuss much needed inward investment and the building of essential new homes.

2. Why were no minutes of these meetings taken - so as to follow LGA guidance?

•    I have attached the relevant information so you can read for yourself what is recommended for which type of meeting.

3.What meetings have you held with other developers in Brent -particularly Quintain- since 2014?

•    With regard to Quintain, we meet and correspond at a range of levels on a number of issues on a regular basis. More generally, I along with officers, meet and communicate with numerous active and potential developers on a regular basis regarding, as above, inward investment and the building of new homes.

4. Please confirm , for the record, that you have not attempted to influence the votes of any member of the planning committee ?

•    Whether as a member of cabinet, or as a local councillor, joint working, both formal and informal, and dialogue with members of the planning committee is recognised as a legitimate reality of local government life. For the avoidance of doubt I can confirm that I have done just that as both leader of the council and ward councillor.

With regard to the final question, are you suggesting that it’s not a part of our role to comment on, support, or oppose relevant applications? Either way, are you saying that you’ve never sought to influence a planning decision?

I have also asked Debra Norman the chief legal officer to make some additions to the planning code of practice to reflect current guidance and practice in respect of s not on the planning committee which will help clear up any confusion ,  a copy of which is attached.

Muhammed Butt

Former Liberal Democrat and Brent Council leader Paul Lorber has also waded into the issue in a letter sent to Carolyn Downs, Brent Council Chief Executive:

 Dear Ms Downs

I am extremely concerned at the front page story about the unminuted Meetings between the Leader of a Brent Council and a large developer who was in the process of having their Planning application considered.

Were you aware of these meetings, did you attend and did you authorise them?

You will be aware that the Alperton Masterplan was subject to public consultation, including with residents, and that the height of the buildings in the area were restricted "to up to 17 storeys".

When did the Council change the Masterplan or its policies to breach this commitment to local people and allow buildings of 26 storeys?

What exactly was the purpose of the meetings with the developer, who initiated them and was the height of the buildings they propose and any financial contributions discussed?

You will be aware that Brent Council subscribes to Open Government and that involvement of the Leader of the Council with Developers at a time when their Planning application, in breach of the Masterplan height limits, is being considered is of justified public interest.

What discussions about this Developers Plans took place in the regular Leadership/Officer meetings and how did any of these influence the planning process? Did any officers from Planning or any Councillors on the Planning Committee attend any of these meetings?

Please set out the protocol dealing with the issue of the Leader or any Councillors meeting Developers at a time when their major Planning applications are under consideration.

There is now a new Planning application for a 28 storey building on the site of the Boat pub in Bridgewater Road/Ealing Road. Can you advise what meetings involving Councillors or Officers took place discussing a proposal over 50% taller than the 17 storey Alperton Master Plan limit?

I would appreciate a full and early reply hopefully without the need to invoke a Freedom of Information.

Yours sincerely

Paul Lorber

Newsquest makes Christmas cuts & redundancies as boss pockets £1million plus

As readers will know the local press is in crisis. The Wembley and Harrow Observer went over to on-line only with extremley limited coverage of local news and the Brent and Kilburn Times is much reduced in size and coverage as a result of staff cuts.

Now Newsquest, publisher of local newspapers is making staff redundant as this press release from the NUJ reports:

Newsquest’s chief executive Henry Faure Walker’s pay and perks have passed the £1m mark, but scores of journalists face being made redundant just in time for Christmas. Others have been told their meagre overtime and anti-social hours’ payments will be pared down.  

Newspapers throughout the group have been told jobs will go and payments for working bank holidays and weekends and mileage rates will be cut. This follows a year of job losses, title closures and cuts which have all taken their toll on staff, as a group-wide stress survey has shown. Reps said the latest round was “potentially hazardous to health – both physically and mentally”.

The Newsquest November cull has become such a regular feature that it has been given its own festive hashtag of #Scroogequest

Union reps met on Monday 27 November to discuss the situation. Newsquest refuses to consult the union on a national level, despite it being obvious that all its newspapers are controlled centrally by the group. One rep called the latest round of cuts “insane” since it will be impossible for the remaining staff to take on the extra work.

Staff at Darlington have decided to ballot for industrial action and the ballot will start on Thursday 7 December.

In York, where The Press, Gazette & Herald, York Herald and Yorkshire Living are published, three staff jobs are at risk of redundancy, including the popular arts editor, and no editing staff will work on Sundays. At the Bradford Telegraph and Argus the five roles are at risk with three newsdesk jobs to be cut to one, and an edition dropped, while the number of journalists on the Craven Herald and Ilkley Gazette will be reduced from three to two. In south London the staff’s work-to-rule is one year old. A sub-editor and freelance photographer have recently been cut. In Glasgow, several long-serving staff have agreed to leave, with some negotiating freelance contracts with Newsquest. After the editors of The Herald and Evening Times step down in December, Newsquest's flagship titles will be run by a single editor-in-chief, Donald Martin.  

Newsquest plans to shut the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard’s office in Cirencester with two editorial roles at risk of redundancy. The company also plans to reduce the number of sports editors working at three sister titles – the Standard, the Gloucestershire Gazette and the Stroud News & Journal – from three to two. Consultations will be completed at the end of the month and the Standard’s office will close at the end of December if the proposals go ahead. Fears that cuts would inevitably follow the sale of the Isle of Wight County Press have proved correct – Newsquest has called for voluntary redundancies four months after it bought out the independent publisher.

The Newsquest NUJ group chapel said: “Reps from around the group met and relayed an appalling array of job cuts in key areas of the newsrooms and arrogant moves to strip away the small recognition staff get for the sacrifices they make for working bank holidays and weekends.

“The cuts are relentless and pitiless and are potentially hazardous to health – both physically and mentally – as the comprehensive NUJ stress survey completed just a few months ago showed.

“We demand that senior managers carry out their legal duties and take a grip on the clear safety concerns that are flashing red throughout the group. They cannot be Pontius Pilate and wash their hands of the implications of their demands to local managers to meet unrealistic financial targets. Our members deserve safe and healthy workplaces where they have the resources to produce quality journalism and have enough pay to support themselves and their families. This cannot be too much to ask when their boss has just celebrated his pay package yielding £1 million with the meter still ticking and the year-end still a month away.”

Chris Morley, Newsquest NUJ group co-ordinator, said: “Newsquest is addicted to cuts in a way that gamblers are to fixed odd betting machines. This is no strategy for the short-term – never mind the long-term. Savage cuts have not worked in the past 10 years, so why do they think it will turn the company’s fortunes around now? We strongly urge senior management to take matters in hand. Give long-suffering staff the break they so desperately need and reverse the strategy into one of investment. With no debt, the company can clearly afford this, but what it can’t afford is a broken and demoralised workforce that is driven into the ground.”

The survey, which used a traffic light system to evaluate the levels of stress, took place during the second half of August and September 2017 among Newsquest NUJ members and attracted a strong response with 115 completed surveys.  

In a letter relaying the results to Newsquest, Chris Morey said: “I would hope that you recognise the fact that five of the seven categories of ‘stressors’ - demands, managers’ support, relationships, role, and change - were all red – was extremely serious. Even in the remaining two categories – control and peer support – the amber score showed that there was a ‘clear need for improvement’. Of the 32 questions asked, only one, ‘I have a choice in deciding how I do my work’, was scored lower than red or amber.”

Anonymous comments from journalists taking part in the survey said:

“I often feel stressed, under pressure and don’t take enough screen breaks, or breaks in general. Even taking holidays, because of lack of staff, is a stressful business. I work very long hours. Because I often work remotely, as they closed our office, I am alone and isolated.”

“The lack of organisation, harassment of colleagues and a bullying line-manager have created unprecedented stress levels.”

“Pressure of online demands means working at lightning speed for up to 12 hours a day with no real break.”

“I am concerned that cracks are appearing in my health that are directly linked to the job.”

Chris Morley concluded: “It is a fundamental legal responsibility of management to provide a safe and healthy working environment. It is the NUJ contention that, in many Newsquest centres, the company is at risk of not complying with this legal requirement. To date, we believe the company’s response has not been adequate, particularly as there is a lack of faith that anything positive will be done to address failings locally, given the relentless corporate pressure of cost-cutting and staff reductions.”

Find out how much Faure Walker has made using the NUJ’s pay meter - many of his staff haven’t yet hit £20,000 

https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/proper-pay-matters-meter-is-ticking-on-newsquest/

Stop and Fix Universal Credit - demonstration Neasden Parade on Saturday

From Unite Community

This year Christmas will be cancelled for thousands of families claiming the government’s new all-in-one benefit, Universal Credit. 

Unite is calling on the government to stop and fix Universal Credit before even more families will be forced to use food banks and struggle to heat their homes this Christmas.

The government has also admitted that the Universal Credit helpline for claimants will be closed for the majority of the Christmas period, making life even more difficult for claimants needing advice and emergency help. 

Unite Community members and campaigners will be holding street stalls in 70 towns and city centres across the UK on Saturday 2 December to help raise awareness of who will be affected by Universal Credit.The Brent event, with Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group,  will be at Noon until 2pm on Saturday at Neasden Parade, Neasden Shopping Centre. Other demonstrations listed HERE

As well as the long waits for the benefit there are other problems with Universal Credit such as the complex online-only application process and the housing benefit element not being paid direct to landlords causing rent arrears and in some cases eviction.  

Liane Groves, Head of Unite Community says:

Despite knowing that Universal Credit causes serious problems for those claiming it the government is ploughing ahead regardless while claimants are descending into debt, relying on food banks and getting into rent arrears and in many cases are being evicted from their homes. 

In order to claim Universal Credit claimants need an internet connection which many simply can’t afford. 

Unite is demanding a cut in the long waits to receive money, for people to be able to apply in job centres not just online, better help for people when the system fails, landlords to be paid directly to avoid people getting into rent arrears and losing their homes, and an end to benefit sanctions for people in and out of work. 

In Britain there are currently 505,549 households receiving Universal Credit but a further 1,513,970 will be put on this winter and this figure is expected to reach 5,915,290 once the government has finished rolling it out fully by March 2022. 

Over 1.2 million low paid part-time workers will also be affected by Universal Credit and for the first time ever people in work could face being sanctioned (having their benefits stopped) if they don’t prove to the job centre that they’re searching for better paid work or more hours. 

The Trussell Trust, the UK’s biggest foodbank, says demand in areas where Universal Credit has already been rolled out has increased by an average of 30 per cent and landlords report a huge increase in rent arrears.  

Community members will be handing out leaflets with information and getting people to sign a petition to call on the government to stop the roll out of Universal Credit and fix the problems with it. 

Thames still investigating who blocked the main sewer on Wembley High Road

A Thames Water spokesman said today regarding the sewer works on Wembley High Road:

The removal of the concrete in the sewer is more complicated than first thought, and we’ve had to extend our finish date to allow us to remove it entirely. We’re still investigating the cause of the blockage and who poured it down there, and we’ll be taking further action once we know who it is.

The spokesman confirmed that Thames have extended their permit for the sewer works on the High Road until December 22nd.

Imperial CEO Ian Dalton resigns to go to NHS Improvment with NW London NHS in turmoil

Sir Richard Sykes, Chairman of Imperial College Healthcare Trust, shocked those attending the Imperial Board meeting yesterday when he announced that CEO, Ian Dalton, was leaving his post after less than 5 months in the job. Imperial, which runs west London hospitals, will now have to begin the long and costly process of finding yet another CEO.

Ian Dalton has now moved to NHS Improvement as their new CEO. NHSI is the body that, only last month, knocked back capital investment plans to reconfigure health delivery in outer NW London on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence that these plans would work. This was the initial bid for capital funds to develop services which, local health bosses claim, would enable the safe closure of Ealing Hospital.

Dalton’s resignation followed almost immediately the well-attended and highly successful open event organised by Imperial management at Charing Cross Hospital. At that event Dalton outlined the excellent work being carried out at the hospital and gave an assurance that Charing Cross could not be closed in the foreseeable future without damaging public health. However, long-term closure plans have not been withdrawn by the CCGs in NW London: what we have is a ‘pause’, not a guarantee of the long-term future of Charing Cross as a major acute hospital.

The resignation occurs at a time of particular turbulence in upper management levels of the NW London NHS. Several key managers have left in recent months and other posts remain unfilled. Managers are caught between a government demand to cut costs even further and, among health professionals, a recognition of the growing need for better funded health services for a fast expanding population.

Merril Hammer, Chair of SOH, said she was stunned by the sudden departure of Ian Dalton. At the Imperial AGM held at St Pauls Church Hammersmith in September, he had outlined ambitious plans for engaging with the local health community.

Ms Hammer said:

I am, of course, pleased that Imperial has now declared a ‘pause’ on the closure but given the unprecedented pressure on the facilities at Charing Cross and the highly skilled committed staff there, health bosses need to stop long-term closure plans and not just ‘pause’ them.

Please support Sufra NW London Winter Appeal - without your help where will Khalil sleep tonight?

From Sufra NW London
 

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Last Friday, Haseena called me asking if we could help 19-year-old Khalil who had been sleeping rough for the past two weeks. A friend of a friend who worked at McDonald's had got in touch with her after noticing him picking leftovers from customer trays. I told her to send him over immediately.

Khalil tells his story in a short film here.

When I first set eyes on Khalil he was slumped against a table, his head buried in his arms. What made it worse was that he didn’t look like a 19-year-old - I wouldn't be surprised if he were actually much younger. Pulling out a chair, I sat down opposite him and asked what had happened.

Khalil is a refugee from Afghanistan, who came to this country 3 years ago with his younger brother. The siblings were orphaned when they were 4 and 6 years old. On arrival they were granted humanitarian leave and had been living with a man who was apparently their 'uncle'.

Following a dispute, the 'uncle' kicked them out of the house. His brother was taken into care, while Khalil was left to fend for himself. For the past two weeks he has been sleeping on a bench in the park, not far away from Sufra NW London.

"I sleep in the day", he said to me.

"It is too cold at night and it's dangerous." When I probed him further he told me that he was regularly propositioned for sex by seedy characters who roam the park at night.

"You have to watch carefully", he continued.

Today, we launch our #WinterAppeal to help Khalil - and others -  find refuge during these cold nights, whilst we arrange permanent accommodation. The winter months are the busiest time at Sufra NW London. Last Friday, over 70 people attended the Community Kitchen and we ran out of food!

But it isn't just rough sleepers at risk; countless families must choose between putting food on the table or heating their homes. Even a winter coat is unaffordable.

This winter, we don't want to turn anyone away. But to ensure that we can support every individual and family during the festive period and beyond, we need to raise £10,000 to maintain our emergency front-line services.

You can donate here.

Khalil was a drama student before he became homeless. He has an amazing sense of humour despite his misfortune. And he definitely doesn’t fit the (rather unfair) stereotype of a homeless guy begging for money to buy drugs or alcohol. He's desperate to work and has downloaded the Deliveroo app, but he can’t get a job until he has a roof over his head.

Without your help, where will Khalil sleep tonight?

Please open your heart and donate generously towards our #WinterAppeal here.

And finally...

If you're doing your Christmas shopping online, please use this link to direct you to your favourite retailer. A percentage of your shop will be donated to Sufra NW London. At no cost to you.