Parents of children eligible for Free School Meals will be able to
collect a £15 food voucher from Brent Council to help children get a
meal every day next week.
The council is looking to provide food for at least 10,000 children
in the borough and the support is set to cost around £150,000.
Parents are being contacted through their child’s school with more information about where they can collect their voucher.
Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council said:
It was deeply
depressing to see the Government vote against free school meals for kids
who desperately need them earlier in the week.
Brent Council fully supports the campaign by footballer Marcus
Rashford MBE to end child food poverty and we hope that the Government
will look to change their mind so that we support all children who need
our help and support in these most challenging times.
Editor's note
The information arrived at schools just before they broke up for the half-term holiday but office and other staff moved quickly to inform eligible parents of the arrangements for picking up the vouchers.
The vouchers can be picked up on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday next week from either Willesden Green Library or Brent Civic Centre depending on the location of the school. If families are suffering food hardship on Monday or Tuesday, Brent Council can assist with a Food Bank referral. Parents can contact Brent council on 0208 937 1234 for a temporary urgent food bank referral.
Cuts in children's concessionary fares, insisted upon by the Government in the proposed TfL budget settlement were due to come into effect after the half-term holiday but are likely to be delayed. Meanwhile a campaign against the changes, in parallel with that regarding the Freedom Pass, is well underway.
This is an edited version of the Child Poverty Action Group's press release on the issue published last month:
Londoners are uniting to oppose the suspension of free travel in the
city for 11-17 year olds – as a survey from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
shows the suspension will force some families to cut back on daily living
expenses – including food – while restricting children’s access to family,
friends and out-of-school activities (see Notes to Editors for filming
info/timings).
Children and young people in London have been able to travel around the
capital for free, or at a discounted rate, using a Zip card, since 2006. But in
May the Government made the suspension of free travel for 11-17 year olds (and
18 year olds who turn 18 in their last year of school/college) a condition of
its emergency funding agreement for Transport for London (TfL).
Child Poverty Action Group’s Don’t Zap the Zip campaign commissioned an
online YouGov survey of over 1000 11-18 year olds and their parents. Almost
three quarters (74%) of youngsters surveyed who have a Zip card said they used
their Zip card to get to school or college. But if free travel for 11-17 year
olds goes, only those who live more than two miles from their school or are
classed as vulnerable will be able to travel to school or college for free from
after the October half term. Children aged 10 or under will retain free
travel.*
CPAG says the suspension will hit low income and BME families the
hardest – just as we go into a coronavirus recession – and calls on the
Government to remove it.
The charity’s survey found:
Young people:
A large
majority of children surveyed who own a Zip card (79%) said their Zip card
is ‘very important’ for travelling around London. Fifty eight per cent
surveyed would be worried that they would have trouble paying public
transport fares if they were unable to travel on public transport for free
in London.
Almost
three quarters of children surveyed who have a Zip card (74%) use the Zip
card for getting to school or college.
More
than a quarter of all children surveyed (26%) and more than a third (36%)
of those in low-income families would worry that scrapping free travel
would limit their options for school/college places (or workplaces for
apprenticeship/training placements).**
One
third (33%) would worry about feeling safe getting to school/college.
Thirty eight per cent would worry about being late.
If free
travel ends, more than half (56%) would have to cut back on going into
central London to shops, museums and other attractions; 45% would have to
cut back on seeing friends and family.
79% of
London children surveyed disagree with the planned suspension (85% of
those from low-income families).
The survey findings suggest ending free travel will have a
disproportionate impact on children from BME families who make up almost 60% of
London’s under-18 population:
73% of
children ages 11 to 18 surveyed in BME families who have a Zip card mainly
used their Zip cards to travel to and from school, compared with 61% of
children in white families.
61% of
children in BME families surveyed would be worried about having trouble
paying for public transport fares if they were unable to travel on public
transport for free, compared to 56% of children in white families
Parents:
Over
half (54%) of parents of children ages 11 to 18 in London surveyed said
they would have to cut back on something else to pay fares if the suspension
goes ahead. Of those, 71% said they would have to cut back on daily living
expenses, 41% would have to cut back on food, and approaching two thirds
(62%) said children’s extra-curricular activities would have to be
reduced. Sixty five per cent of low-income parents surveyed said they
would have to cut back on something. Fifty eight per cent of BME parents
said the same.
According to an initial estimate from London Councils***, the suspension
would cost parents more than £80 million per year (ie £37 million for parents
of children who will have to pay for home-to-school transport, £2 million for
young people who are apprentices or not in education or employment and around
£45 million for the cost to parents of all children and young people aged 11 to
17 who will have to pay for bus and tram journeys).
TfL and the Mayor of London oppose the suspension which is subject to
discussions on how it will be implemented.
London Councils and London boroughs are concerned about how the proposal
will be implemented, the implications for young people and parents,
particularly for those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. There are also
real concerns about the financial, resource and legal implications for councils
at this already challenging time.
Child Poverty Action Group is concerned that although the Government
describes the removal of free travel as ‘temporary’, it has not clarified how
long it will last nor what the fare structure will be for different age groups
(11-16, 16-18).
CPAG’s London Campaign Manager Alice Woudhuysen said:
Low-income London families have been under huge financial strain
because of the pandemic and, for many, things could get worse rather than
better as furlough ends and unemployment rises. Now is not the time to pull the
plug on vital help with children’s travel costs. This proposal is a blunt tool,
the full impact of which has not been properly considered.
Many journeys are unavoidable and, as our survey shows, if the Zip card
goes, many low-income parents will face additional costs and find it even
harder to provide for their children in very uncertain times.
We live in a big expensive city where travel is necessary to get about,
go to school and take advantage of opportunities that are not on our doorsteps.
Young Londoners have already lost so much to keep everyone safe – it isn’t
right to limit their lives further as the city comes back to life. Therefore,
we are calling on the Government not to “Zap the Zip” because London’s children
and young people deserve better.
The Government’s stated aim in removing free travel is to reduce the
number of young people using public transport in order to aid social distancing
during the pandemic. But there are already maximum passenger numbers on buses
to enable social distancing – as well as additional ‘school services’ buses
from TfL, staggered opening hours and arrival times, plans for cycling support
and reduced cohorts of students in schools. And more positive methods of
encouraging children to walk or cycle to school which do not involve placing a
financial burden on their families could be adopted, such as walking
initiatives, bikes and cycle training.
Some families with children who started secondary school or college this
September will have chosen a school on the assumption that their child’s Zip
card will cover the journey. If the school is within a two mile journey but
beyond walking distance from their home, families will have to cover fares to
school unless they are eligible for free travel because the children are
vulnerable.
Other families who have chosen a secondary school or college
further than two miles from home will have to apply for free travel – although
the Government has not said how the applications process will work.
Families
also have to make secondary school applications for 2021 places before the end
of October, and sixth forms usually start accepting applications in September.
So it’s possible that students choosing between a secondary school or sixth
form that is within two miles of their home and another that is further away
will be making that decision this month based on little information about
long-term travel costs.
In a matter of days we will find out
if Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card concessions will be further reduced or even
cut entirely. You may have seen the story in the news as part of the coverage
around conditions attached to the next funding deal between the government and
Transport for London.
We started the
campaign to protect older Londoners' travel concessions back in June butthe next few days are vital. The
government need to know the impact that this will have and they need to hear
from those most affected.We have
until 31 October to stand up for older Londoners and keep transport affordable.
Affordable
transform is not a luxury it's a lifeline and can transform lives.Taking travel concessions away from
older Londoners who live in the city with the worst pensioner poverty rate in
the country and some of the highest living costs in the world will drive up
poverty and exacerbate the capital’s social isolation crisis.
Please help
spread the word
Once yousend your email
(which you can personalise)you
will see an option to share the campaign on Facebook or Twitter. You can also
forward this email on to all those that may be interested.We need to get as many people emailing
the Secretary of State as possible.
We are very
concerned that the 60+ Oyster card may be most at risk. If you are a 60+ Oyster
holder or know someone that is, it is particularly important to be heard.
Time is
against us. The next funding deal will be announced by 31st October. Now more
than ever, let's raise our voices!
Volunteers have been working with the charity Thames21 to restore the habitats of the River Brent which flows through the borough from the Welsh Harp to the North Circular.
This video is a fitting tribute to their dedication and their vision.
Video of Gerry Ansell's summing up re the proposal and councillor's reasons for voting against
The Planning Committee of October 14th was notable as the first the be chaired by Cllr Matt Kelcher following the Labour and Council AGM, for its length and for the way in which the themes that emerged during the discussion of the application to redevelop the site of the Willesden Green PoliceSstation revealed some of the conflictions and contradictions in Brent Council's planning policies and guidance.
This is the Council's recording of the decision:
Although the lack of affordability housing in the development took up a great deal of time in the discussion, and was cited as a reason for rejection by some councillors, they were 'cautioned' by Gerry Ansell, Head of Planning and Development Services, that when it came to professional advice on viability there was no viability in this scheme. Independent professional advice was that if the scheme was to be financially viable for the developer all 28 units had to be sold at market rates and no affordable housing could be provided. Planning Officer David Glover said that the concerns over affordable housing could be recorded in the Minutes of the meeting but not in the reasons for refusal.
Ansell said that there were particular factors in this development that reduced viability. It was in a sensitive location with a building of quality with associated costs for its retention and restoration that reduced land values.
He said that affordable housing was a core Council policy but issues are 'a matter of balance.' He assured councillors that officers pushed developers hard on affordability.
Cllr Arshad Mamhood was particuarly vexed working out that the market value was about £10m and the developer was only required to contribute £143,000 to off-site affordable housing elsewhere. Councillors were told that this could be used for the equivalent of 1-1/2 units elsewhere in the borough.
Cllr Mahmood asked that councillors be able to look more closely at the detail of Viability Assessments so that they could scrutinise them. He was told that they were available on the Council website before applications came to Committee.
The retained police station with the new development behind
The recently liberated (from Cabinet) Cllr Tom Miller, representing his ward, spoke against the development. He told the Committee:
I feel that with only this proposal on the table, what the Committee are being asked is, 'Would you rather have a development that is out of character with, not just the local area, but a conservation area?' and show we are not serious about preserving that or, 'Would you rather have a proposal that shows we are not serious about having enough affordable homes?'
It's asking the Local Authority to pick which of our policies we should ditch and that for me has 'REJECT' written all over it. It is throwing down a challenge to the Committte, 'Which of these is not important.'
I'd rather not have a conservation area at all then have a conservation area that allows developers to drive right through it.
Both he and fellow Willesden Green councillor, Cllr Donnelly-Jackson said that they had not been approached bu the developers and consulted.
A positive aspect of the discussion was the planners assertion that they had been keen to ensure the retention of the police station and recognised its historial merit depite it not being a listed building. Cllr Dixon spoke about the important historical character of this section of the High Road.
Other issues that came up were carless developments that just meant residents would spill over into nearby streets to park, the development overlooking neighbour's gardens and in one particular case reducing the light entering a neighbour's property to almost zero. The sheer bulk of the property in contrast to the local side streets and the High Road and the lack of proper consultation were major issues - along with the 146 objections to the scheme.
The Committee voted to reject the proposal with Cllr Liz Dixon and Cllr Saqib Butt abstaining.
As the number of high rises proliferate throughout Brent and the cladding issue in many tower blocks unresolved, even as the horrors of Grenfell are relived through the current Inquiry, it is worth thinking about the situation of people with a disability in such buildings.
The London Fire Brigade has said that disabled people should not be placed in any accommodation above the 4th floor. One of the fatalities at Grenfell was a woman who had been told by Kensington and Chelsea Council that she would not be housed above the 4th floor, but tragically, she was.
A disabled pensioner in a Brent Council block has approached Wembley Matters to tell us about his situation.
Since Grenfell he has asked the council to rehouse him on a lower floor and in response they have asked him why he accepted a flat in a South Kilburn high rise above the 4th floor way back in April, 1993.
They have also lost the record of the PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) that he had sent them and demanded proof that he was disabled despite the council's own OT team assessing him last year and installing a wet room and sit down shower as a result. He thinks that this action, in itself, is proof of his mobility needs.
He remarked that the council had found homes for nearly 900 students but had told him that they had no spare home to offer him. A different case of course, and a private provider, but it clearly rankles.
The resident could see Grenfell from his tower block his tower block as he wrote his email to Wembley Matters and reflected that there had been two fires in his block during his tenancy and he had not known about them until he smelt the smoke. His neighbours and fire officers had shouted warnings to leave the building but he had not heard them because of the hearing impairment he has on top of his mobility problem.
He asks how many other disabled people are living in fear of fire in Brent's high rises in the shadow of the Grenfell disaster?
The Director of Public Health, Brent, Dr Melanie Smith, has responded to the transfer of students from Notting Hill Genesis accommodation in Brentford to Grand Felda House in Empire Way, Wembley Park.
Dr Smith said:
I can confirm that a number of students will be transferring this week from Brentford to purpose built student accommodation in Wembley Park.
This morning I reviewed, with Public Health England, the plans to transfer the students and to accommodate them in Wembley Park. I am happy that the risks of COVID transmission have been minimised. Self-isolating students are being re-accomodated with the same flatmates as they have had in Brentford. And, of course, the Tier 2 restrictions mean that students are not permitted to mix with students in other flats.
This is clearly a difficult time for the students who are having to leave their new homes at a time when some of them are self-isolating because of COVID and we have also reviewed the support being provided to the students by their University and accommodation providers.
We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis
The Housing Association, Notting Hill Genesis, is to evacuate a six-block development in Hounslow. University of West London students from the student accommodation on the site will be transferred to CRM's Grand Felda House in Empire Way. UWL told the students that the new accommodation was of higher quality and more modern than their present housing. A shuttle bus will run from Wembley to the UWL campus.LINK
Grand Felda House
Asked about arrangements for students isolating due to Covid the university said:
Notting Hill Genesis are working with a range of specialist professionals to ensure that all guidelines relating to Covid-19 are followed. As a University, UWL is ensuring that comprehensive risk assessments are carried out by Notting Hill Genesis prior to any removals being undertaken.
UWL provided support at a number of Microsoft Teams meetings. LINK
However, Construction News today (October 20th) reported student uncertainty and anxiety over the arrangements for quarantined students. LINK
The news comes on top of widespread concerns over cladding and the plight of people in leasehold and shared ownership properties who are unable to move because they cannot acquire the necessary fire safety certificate. There are six buildings in the affected development, one of which is 17 storeys high.
This is today's press statement:
Notting Hill Genesis, one of London’s largest housing associations,
is to undertake a comprehensive safety review across a six-block
residential development in London following expert advice that the
construction of the buildings may be putting residents at risk.
Following
expert advice provided by consultants employed by Notting Hill Genesis,
all residents living in Paragon – about 1,000 people in total – will be
asked to leave immediately in order to protect their health and safety
while further investigative work is undertaken.
Paragon is a
development of six blocks containing a total of 1,059 homes in
Brentford, Hounslow. It was developed by Berkeley First, part of The
Berkeley Group plc. The estate was owned initially by the former
Presentation Housing Association, which became part of Notting Hill
Housing – now Notting Hill Genesis – in 2009.
Notting Hill
Genesis said that it would ensure that all residents living in the
Paragon Estate were able to access safe alternative accommodation this
week. It will also work with residents to find a longer-term solution to
their housing needs where necessary.
The further investigations
will establish the full extent of the structural and fire safety issues
that have been uncovered at the development and identify next steps.
Notting Hill Housing group, which became part of Notting Hill Genesis group in 2018, acquired Paragon in 2009.
Earlier
building performance issues, together with fire safety issues related
to the cladding and the subsequent new Government guidance since the
fire at Grenfell Tower, triggered a series of safety checks at Paragon,
undertaken by technical consultants, which have each revealed further
problems with this development.
Notting Hill Genesis has taken
action to address these risks as they have arisen, including
establishing waking watches and temporary alarms, and introducing
simultaneous evacuation procedures, but the latest advice has prompted
the group to act in order to protect its residents.
Kate Davies, group chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, said:
“First,
I want to say how sorry we are to residents that we have had to take
this action and disrupt their lives. But, as a not-for-profit housing
association, our priority is to provide safe, affordable housing. We
always ensure the wellbeing of our residents, so while we are incredibly
disappointed to have to make this decision, we believe that we have no
choice but to ask people to leave their homes on the Paragon estate.
“I
understand that Paragon residents may feel angry or alarmed by this
news, as they have every right to be. This is a very distressing time
and we are genuinely sorry for the huge amount of disruption and
uncertainty that this situation will cause.
“This is a complex
situation and we don’t yet have all the answers. We are working to
uncover the full extent of the issues at Paragon so that we can provide
residents with clarity about timescales, next steps and options as
quickly as possible.
“We are doing all we can to support people
who live in Paragon through this difficult situation. We have identified
safe accommodation for everyone to move into this week and are
providing financial as well as mental health and wellbeing support to
help them do that. We are also giving everyone a dedicated caseworker to
discuss their specific needs both now and for the longer-term where
necessary.”
There is no suggestion that any other buildings in the Notting Hill
Genesis portfolio will require a similar approach to the one being taken
at Paragon. Buildings are being investigated and prioritised based on
factors such as height, external materials used and evacuation
procedure, and residents informed if further investigation or remedial
work is required. Where necessary, and in consultation with fire safety
assessors, interim safety measures such as simultaneous evacuation
procedures, supported by 24-hour patrols and temporary alarms are in
place.
Paragon
Paragon is a scheme that was
developed for Presentation Housing Association Limited and Touareg
Trust, which was originally a subsidiary of Presentation Housing, by
Berkeley First Limited. Presentation transferred its engagements to
Notting Hill Housing Trust in 2009. Paragon comprises eight blocks that
reached practical completion 2006. The development comprises six blocks
of residential and student accommodation, plus two commercial buildings
that are not owned by Notting Hill Genesis group.
The six blocks consist of the following: • Block A - a five-storey building consisting of 41 units of intermediate market rent. •
Block B – three interconnected buildings of four, five and nine storeys
with 107 shared ownership leasehold units and 72 intermediate rent. •
Blocks C, D, E and F - 17, 12, 12 and five-storeys respectively, hold a
combined 839 units of student accommodation which is occupied by
students nominated by the University of West London.
The freeholds of Blocks C through F are owned by Touareg Trust, which
is a registered charity and is a subsidiary of Notting Hill Genesis.
Blocks A and B are owned by Notting Hill Genesis. Notting Hill Home
Ownership Limited, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Notting Hill Genesis,
holds a long leasehold interest at Block B where the shared ownership
homes are located.