LETTER: Putting the plight of rough sleepers in context - for the majority it is just circumstances

 Dear Editor,

Despite these war-torn unprecedented times, I appeal to you as winter draws in, to spare a thought for Homeless Rough Sleepers, the Forgotten Ones.

These desperate people do not deserve to be neglected and we should not forget that for the majority it is just  circumstances, falling on hard times, which can happen to any one of us.

Their stories are similar. Most of them have contributed to society and had good jobs, a family, a home. Then they lose their job and cannot find another.  Bills start piling up, the Bailiffs are at the door,  and their house is repossessed.  Many then eventually end up living on the streets.

Please, if you see a homeless person on the street, just stop and have a chat.  It is heartbreaking to be told just how much it means to them when someone stops and says hello!  Perhaps give them some food and money.

They have to pay at least £15 to get a bed for one night in a hostel. They cannot get a job, cannot get benefits, all because they do not have an address. Some may drink or take drugs, but perhaps even you would, if you found yourself on the freezing, lonely streets, so desolate, you just want to die.  This is not a lifestyle choice!

Often due to violence or sexual abuse at home, young women and men are the most  vulnerable. They have been forced out onto the streets with no help or support and nowhere else to go.  Ex-servicemen are also amongst rough sleepers. They have fought for this country, surely they deserve better?

As for the council's responsibility,  it states that councils have no obligation to house homeless rough sleepers, until the temperature falls to below zero!  I do not have to tell you how cold it can get well before the temperature falls to zero.

We do little to stop increasing poverty, with thousands of people destitute and suffering and having to remain on the street, with no realistic hope for any permanent home any time soon.  Your donation to homeless charities this winter will help, as the government has once again cut funding and these charities rely mainly on the generosity of the Public.  So please,  give as much as you can to any homeless charity this winter. (The Salvation Army; St Martin's in the Field; St Mungo's; Crisis; Big Issue; Streetlink; Centre Point; Shelter.)

 

Yours,

 

Zerine Tata

A rebel with a cause at Monday's Full Council debate on Proportional Representation

 

 The Liberal Democrats brought a motion to Full Council this week making the case for Proportional Representation.

Proportional Representation is Labour Party policy, but a policy that the Labour Party  leader Keir Starmer decided to ignore. A policy aimed at improving democracy, democratically decided at Labour Conference,  undemocratically dismissed!

Cllr Tom Miller made a speech saying the for the first time he was defying the Labour whip and would vote for the motion. As I understand it he was joined by Cllr Janice Long. Cllr Robert Johnson and Cllr Liz Dixon abstained.  I would point out that the public watching on the livestream cannot see the voting and numbers are not announced by the Mayor - so I am open to correction.

This is the motion:

This Council believes:

 

The next General Election is an opportunity to take our country on a different course

after years of chaotic Tory rule. This is especially true in the aftermath of the Brexit

referendum, which saw the UK crash out of the European Union, with a bad deal, that

has left us diminished, poorer and less important on the world stage. The next General

Election will be fought under the antiquated First Past the Post voting system.

First Past the Post (FPTP) originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated

parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men. It is not fit for a ‘modern

democracy’.

 

In Europe, only the UK and authoritarian Belarus still use archaic single-round FPTP

for general elections. This produces governments that have typically not had strong

support across the country.

 

Internationally, Proportional Representation (PR) is used to elect the Parliaments of

more than 80 countries. It is a system that works and has fostered a more consensual,

pragmatic way of conducting politics and policy making.

 

PR ensures that all votes count, have equal value, and that seats won match votes

cast. Under PR, MPs and Parliaments better reflect the age, gender and protected

characteristics of both local communities and of the nation. Whilst the UK has taken

leaps forwards in terms of electing a more diverse Parliament, we are still behind many

other countries.

 

MPs better reflecting the communities they represent in turn leads to improved

decision making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions

taken. PR would also end minority rule. In 2019, 43.6% of the vote produced a

government with 56.2% of the seats and 100% of the power. Fair, proportional votes

also prevent ‘wrong winner’ elections such as occurred in 1951 and February 1974.

 

PR is now the national policy of the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party,

SNP, Plaid Cymru and Women’s Equality Party along with a host of Trade Unions and

pro-democracy organisations.

 

There is a growing consensus that the UK’s voting system must change.

 

PR is already used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and

Northern Ireland. Its use should now be extended to include Westminster and

considered at a local level too.

 

Our democracy is in a fragile state, with confidence in politics at a record low.

Changing the voting system to guarantee that every vote counts equally can help to

inspire renewed confidence in our political system, increase participation and ensure

that the electorate are able to elect the type of government that the majority of the

British people want to see.

 

This Council therefore resolves to:

1) Join 29 other local authorities across the country, of different political

persuasions, in supporting calls for a change to the UK’s voting system to

Proportional Representation.

 

2) Request that the Leader of the Council write to H.M. Government calling for a

change in our outdated electoral laws and to enable Proportional Representation

to be used for UK general elections and local Council elections.

 

3) Request that the Leader of the Council write to H.M Leader of the Opposition to

encourage that the Labour Party include changing the electoral system in their

next election manifesto.

 

Cllr Anton Georgiou

Alperton Ward

 

Well done Cllr Miller and Cllr Long. Rather sad that some of the young Turks in the Labour Group went along with opposition. 

Supporting the motion Brent Green Party said:

The Green Party of England and Wales and Brent Green Party support Proportional Representation as a fairer, more inclusive electoral system for the United Kingdom. Currently UK national and local governments are often elected by a minority of voters. This is grossly unjust, each vote must matter in all elections, and the results must reflect what the people choose.

High Road, Wembley, resurfacing works by March 2024

 The other evening I found it quicker to walk from Alperton to Wembley Park as the traffic was so snarled up along the High Road.  The condition of the High Road is poor and badly in need of resurfacing and fresh road markings, but such work is bound to be disruptive.

There are two sections of the High Road that are currently being considered for works.  The A404 High Road Wembley from Park Lane to Ealing Road is on Brent Council's 2023-24 resurfacing programme and due to be completed by the end of the financial year (March 2024).

Detailed investigations of underlying issues of the Park Lane to Wembey Triangle section are underway and there are some design risks to be mitigated before 'substantial' remedial works can start. Brent Council says these works have not yet been scheduled and will need to be done at a favourable time of the year, probably summertime.

Meanwhile the High Road is inspected each month and any intervention level defects identified for repair according to priority.

Put on your walking shoes!

Autumn Statement fail: 92% of mainstream schools will be unable to cope with cost increases in 2024/25. For 99% of secondary schools and 91% of primary schools, cuts to education provision are now inevitable.

 The Lyon Park Primary School strike is only the most visible sign of the funding crisis in our schools -  more problems will follow in other schools as governing bodies try to balance their budgets.

There was hope that the Autumn Statement might provide cash to help remedy the problem of underfunding  - but no!

Commenting on the Chancellor’s speech, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:   

“The economy is struggling to achieve growth, and the Government has downgraded its own growth forecasts in today’s statement. Investing properly in education is an urgent and overriding economic priority, yet what we have seen today is nothing of the sort.

“Just 3.9% of UK GDP is spent on education, compared to the OECD average of 5%. This was highlighted to Jeremy Hunt in a letter earlier this month from the leaders of four education unions, including the NEU. The Chancellor’s response is completely inadequate and makes a mockery of the Prime Minister’s repeated claim that education is at the heart of this Government’s priorities. 

“It should be of great concern to Jeremy Hunt that 92% of mainstream schools will be unable to cope with cost increases in 2024/25. For 99% of secondary schools and 91% of primary schools, cuts to education provision are now inevitable.

“These schools have already seen years of under-investment, and in far too many cases school buildings have drifted into serious disrepair. The Chancellor couldn’t even bring himself to fund urgent work on the school estate, following the RAAC scandal which has brought such embarrassment to this Government. This would require at least £4.4bn per year.

“With underfunded and understaffed schools and colleges, and school buildings crumbling, the Government must prioritise investment in schools and colleges and fund a fair pay rise for staff next year. Teachers and support staff have seen their living standards hammered since 2010. Our member surveys show that a majority are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ worried about keeping up with household bills. They have been hit even harder by pay cuts against inflation than other workers, creating major recruitment and retention problems.  

“More of the same is not good enough – and it certainly fails parents and young people, too. In order to recruit and retain the teachers that we so clearly need, the Government must demonstrate they value them. That means an urgent, properly funded and major correction in pay, alongside the investment needed to reduce sky-high workload and to make school and college buildings fit for purpose. The Chancellor’s statement does nothing to repair the damage caused by 13 years of Conservative cuts. The Government will pay a heavy political price for continuing to ignore the problems it has created for educators, parents and young people.” 

Morland Gardens – Brent Council reviews its development plans

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

1 Morland Gardens, entrance seen from the Community Garden, 30 October 2023.

 

My guest post on 31 October, Brent’s Halloween Nightmare – its Morland Gardens planning consent has expired!, had an Open Letter to Brent’s Chief Executive attached at the end. I promised to share the Council’s reply to that letter with you, and will ask Martin to attach it at the end of this post (the first of two documents).

 

Although the letter, from Brent’s Director of Property and Assets, is dated 10 November, it mysteriously never got delivered to me, until the Chief Executive sent me a copy on 17 November. The letter is quite brief, but it did include the following important sentence: ‘We agree that the planning application as described below expired on 29th October 2023.’

 

So what happens next? The letter says: ‘Following the expiration of the planning permission, the Council is reviewing its options for the Morland Gardens site, including the Altamira building.’

 

“Altamira” is the locally listed heritage Victorian villa (pictured above), so after campaigning since the Council’s planning application, including its demolition, was submitted in February 2020, there is now a second chance to save it. I understand that the review aims to put forward recommendations to the Cabinet meeting in December (perhaps as part of the Affordable Housing Update which is due to be on the agenda?).

 

The third ‘key issue’ from my Open Letter which the Director of Property and Assets identified was not allowing the condition of the empty property to deteriorate further. His reply about the security of the site missed the point. My response reminded him that it was missing slates from the roof (and possibly more of them missing following recent strong winds) which needed the Council’s early attention.

 

Although we will have to wait and see what Officers recommend to Cabinet over the future of 1 Morland Gardens, I do not want that to be a repeat of the 2020 proposals, which have already caused a long delay and wasted several million pounds. When I replied on 20 November, I included my own contribution to the review, as a genuine attempt to help the Council “get it right” this time. I will ask Martin to attach a copy of that document below, so that anyone can read it if they wish to. 

 

Philip Grant

 

Brent Council's reply to Philip Grant's letter of 31st October on 1 Morland Gardens

 

  

Review of Options for Morland Gardens – getting it right this time

 

 

 

ACE environmental coalition challenge Brent Council to work more ambitiously and effectively to reach Net Zero in 2030

 

 Video of ACE deputation and response (BrentCouncil)

 

ACE Brent (Action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Brent), a new coalition of Brent environment groups, challenged Brent Council to step up its climate action at the full Brent council meeting yesterday.

 

 ACE supporters assemble ahead of the Council meeting

 

ACE Brent does not believe that Brent is working effectively to reach Net Zero in 2030. Through their deputation to the council they requested :

 *   A clearer, more measurable, accountable and ambitious Climate Action Plan
 *   Prioritisation of actions that reduce emissions most and that protect the most vulnerable residents
 *   Annual monitoring and reporting
 *   A new Climate and Ecological Emergency Scrutiny Committee
 *   A new Brent Climate Assembly and regular reports to open meetings

They outlined their specific demands covering cycling and transport, insulation and retrofitting, divestment, planning, renewable energy, food, trees and green space.

 

Following the meeting Elaine Sheppard, ACE Brent representative said : 

 

Our approach to the council was welcomed by Cllr Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for the Environment, and other councillors. Whether this results in increased urgency and a new more accountable climate plan waits to be seen.

 

We will be following this up and we encourage any other organisations in Brent who are concerned about the climate and implications for our community to get in touch with us at Ace@Brentfoe.com

 

 

Current members of ACE Brent are Brent Cycling Campaign, Brent Friends of the Earth, Brent Parks Forum, Brent Pure Energy, Brent XR and Divest Brent.

Community gathering for a ceasefire joined by councillors outside Brent Civic Centre

 

A number of Brent councillors last night  joined the gathering outside Brent Civic Centre in Wembley to call for an immediate ceasefire in the current conflict.

Afterwards a candlelit vigil was held for the child victims outside Wembley Park Station. 

 

Third day of strike at Lyon Park School to save support staff jobs and pay. Supporting strikers petition launched.

 From Brent National Education Union

 

This morning's picket line

NEU members at Lyon Park Primary School are to strike in a fight to save support staff jobs which are proposed to go in a huge restructure. PICKET LINE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THIS WEEK 7.45-9.30am!

 

Staff at Lyon Park Primary School will be on strike to save the jobs and pay of their hardworking support staff. Many of these long-serving staff served the school’s community throughout the pandemic and face their jobs either being axed or a situation of “fire and rehire” to drop their pay. Teachers face a loss of support in the classroom and children will lose out on the vital support they need. The school has cited budget difficulties as the reason for the cuts.

 

100% OF NEU MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN THE BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION AT THE SCHOOL VOTED TO STRIKE OVER MULTIPLE DATES THIS MONTH WITH TWO MORE DAYS ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK AND THREE THE WEEK AFTER!

 

Staff and their supporters will protest at a picket line outside the school from 7.45am Tuesday and will continue to try to negotiate with the governors in a bid to reach an agreement. The union has twice attended extra talks with the school management but this has so far failed to address the huge proposed loss in pay for staff. The Executive Headteacher has only recently joined the restructuring talks.

 

Jenny Cooper of the NEU national executive has stated:

 

This isn’t rocket science- if the school agrees to protect staff pay in the restructure, the strikes will be called off. Staff do not enjoy striking- teachers enjoy teaching and support staff enjoy supporting children. If they didn’t they could all get better paid jobs elsewhere!!! Our members should be valued for the highly specialised jobs they do.

 

In the video below the staff explain their contribution to the school and children's education. Outside the school yesterday many parents agreed that the staff were essential to enable their children to make good progess.

 

SIGN A PETITION TO SUPPORT THE STRIKERS HERE