Support for trade unionism wins through at Green Party Conference

 

Two vital motions were passed at Green Party Conference today with overwhelming majorities:

 

Winning Over Workers is Crucial to Fighting Climate Change

 

To win the fight against climate change the GPEW needs to link up with workers and trade unions to promote a Just Transition to a sustainable green economy. The GPEW needs to send the message that it supports workers. 

 

Motion 

 

The Green Party of England & Wales (GPEW) believes that winning over workers and Trade Unions is crucial if we are to have any chance to fight climate change and save the planet. In the UK, 6.35 million people (23.4% of employees) are members of the trade unions as well as millions who want to be in trade unions but are pressured not to. 

 

The GPEW need to win as many of these people to the idea of a Just Transition to a green economy. To not take this seriously would be a serious mistake in the struggle to save the planet. 

 

The position of Trade Union Liaison Officer was agreed by Conference a number of years ago and GPEW does have a good record of active support of workers struggles and supports the repeal of anti-Trade Union Laws. The development of Green New Deals and Just Transition in the trade union movement reflects this progress. So, it would be very concerning if the party is now seen to relegate workers. Removing the TULO position and/or not including the Green Party Trade Union group would suggest that workers are seen as not being important in our work. 

 

Action:

 

That the GPEW builds on the position of the Trade Union Liaison Officer (TULO) and the Green Party Trade Union group in any reorganisation mandated by its own democratic procedures. 

 

That the GPEW ensures that workers and a Just Transition are centre stage in policy formation in respect to our number one remit to save the planet and building the green economy. 

 

 

Emergency Motion on Pay Rise for NHS Health and Care Workers

 

The government proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff is correctly being described as ‘a kick in the teeth’ and ‘an insult’ by workers and their unions (4/3/2021). NHS workers have often reached beyond their contractual duties to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, at great personal risk and sacrifice.

 

With NHS staff nearing the end of a 3-year pay deal, this conference resolves to support the Moving Forwards on NHS Pay campaign led by fourteen trade unions (including Unite, Unison, GMB, RCN) representing over 1.3 million members, to secure a fair pay rise for all health service workers. We believe if the government can award lucrative contracts to ministerial cronies, it can afford a decent pay award for health workers.

 

This conference also resolves to support the demands of the grassroots NHS Workers Say No to Public Sector Pay Inequality and Nurses United campaigns, including a restorative 15% pay rise across the board for all NHS workers on ‘Agenda for Change’ contracts and for outsourced services in the NHS to be brought back in house.

 

Conference urges Green Party spokespeople and councillors to support the fight for a fair pay rise for health service workers, and to make links with these campaigns locally, regionally and nationally. We urge Green Party members to engage actively with NHS workers’ independent trade unions in supporting these campaigns.

 

We instruct our MP, Peers and Leaders to write to the NHS Pay Review Body and make it clear that applause is not enough.

Restored Bridge Road/North End Road junction expected to open to pedestrians and local traffic in late May

 

Works taking place at present

 

A 2019 impression of the completed junction

 

In a statement to Wembley Matters, Brent Council has said that the restored junction of North End Road and Bridge Road, Wembley Park, is expected to open in late May:

We are working hard to complete the works as soon as possible. It is a complex project and there was an unforeseen delay due to discovery of an uncharted gas main and old pedestrian subway. However, we are working at pace to make up time and currently anticipate that there will be access from Bridge Road to North End Road from late May 2021.

 

In the meantime, the existing pedestrian diversion arrangements will remain in place, with access to Michaela School from North End Road near Victoria Halls.

 

We are in discussion with TfL about their signals programme. They are experiencing delays due to staff being furloughed, however, our current intention is to open the road up to local traffic late May.

 

Further to his comment below, local historian Philip Grant has sent me the following aerial photo, taken in 1948, which clearly shows the old pedestrian subway from Wembley Park Station that caused an 'unforeseen delay' in the work:-

Coles Green Tennis Academy returns on April 1st

 

We are delighted to announce we are reopening the club from 1^st April and our coaching providers from Tennis Icon UK have put together their summer course programme. We offer lessons from 4 years of age upward and for all levels. All of our courses are designed to be Fun, Educational & Inspirational helping to give you ‘The Winning Game’. We offer group courses, private lessons, competitive team tennis and social tennis too and pride ourselves on being a super sociable and friendly community club. You would be more than welcome to join us for a trial lesson before signing on as a member. To book a course visit https://www.tennisiconuk.com/coles-green-academy/ or contact our head coach, James Barry via email james.barry@tennisiconuk.com. We look forward to hopefully seeing you on court very soon!

Post-review Brent Neighbourhood CIL bids open - read if you have a project to improve your area

 A new bidding window opened on Monday for groups and community organisations to bid for money from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy for project to improve their area.  In previous years this money has been underspent.

The criteria have been reviewed and the theme for this round is 'Recovery' ..from the Pandemic.

Brent is divided into five ‘CIL Neighbourhoods’: Harlesden, Kilburn and Kensal, Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley, and Willesden.  The total available is £2m with Wembley allocated £1m and the four other areas £250,000.  Already questions are being asked on social media as to why Wembley gets 4 times the amount allocated to other areas.  Previously the answer provided has been that the Wembley area's residents have been hit more by redevelopment.

Types of project

 

Help is offered for groups in preparing their bids and it is a good idea to contact your councillor to get backing for your project. APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON MAY 3rd.

 

 This is just a summary, full details and application forms are available on the Brent Council website  HERE 

 Below you can find a line of projects previously funded and completion details. Click bottom right corner for enlarged page.

 

Nature carries on despite the pandemic - frogspawn spotted

 I spotted this frogspawn earlier this week when walking in Fryent Country Park.  It is the first I have seen in the park this year and it is a little later than usual. It came after the few days of warmer weather when the presence of herons in the park indicated amphibian activity. 

This was in the pond at the Kingsbury end of the park close to the Gaderbrook.  The ponds are pretty full at the moment, although past the peak when they were overflowing in the meadows and a contrast to the period last year when many (including this one) were completely dried up.

 

Toadspawn can also be found in the park and is laid in long 'necklaces' while newts attach their eggs singly on vegetation in the ponds.

Bobby Moore Bridge tile murals – you can see some, but what about the rest?

Guest post by Philip Grant ina personal capacity

 

Last week, Martin shared a Brent Council press release with you, which let people know that three tile mural scenes in Olympic Way would be on display between 10 and 28 March. 

 

This is not quite the full 21 days that the Council can request Quintain to uncover these murals during each calendar year, but it is probably the only opportunity for you to see them in 2021. If you live within walking distance of the Bobby Moore Bridge subway at Wembley Park, or have a valid reason to be there (for example, getting your Covid-19 vaccination at the centre in Fulton Road), I would encourage you to go and enjoy them while you can.

 

When I was told the dates (originally meant to be for three weeks from 1 March), I agreed with Brent Museum and Archives to help prepare a short video slideshow to promote the display. This has been shared with schools within a one-mile radius of Wembley Park Station. It lets teachers and students know that the murals will be on display, and tells the stories behind the sporting events at Wembley that the colourful murals celebrate. You can watch that video here:

 

 

In a guest post on 10 February, I wrote about a “dodgy deal” under which Brent Council had extended the advertising lease for the Bobby Moore Bridge by an extra three years, until August 2024. I’m not in a position to comment further on that deal at the moment, but there have been some developments over the question of whether the England footballers (and twin towers stadium) mural scene in the subway can be covered with advertisements.

 

The footballers tile mural, with the lights of “light boxes” just visible at either side of it.

 

I wrote that I had contacted Brent’s Chief Executive, setting out why I believed that a clause in the lease, saying that Quintain’s Wembley Park company were entitled to cover that mural with adverts on many “Event Days” each year, was unlawful. Martin included a copy of my full “legal argument” document at the end of that article. I will ask him to do the same with the response I received from Brent’s Chief Legal Officer on 23 February, and my reply to her. I believe it is right that these are accessible to anyone who wishes to read them, and make up their own minds which view should prevail.

 

The position over the footballers mural has still not been agreed, but I hope it soon will be. I am now awaiting Brent’s reply to the following message, that I sent to Carolyn Downs on 25 February, headed “Resolving the issue over the Bobby Moore Bridge footballers tile mural”:

 

Dear Ms Downs,

 

When I wrote to the Mayor yesterday, to thank him for his warm comments about the heritage tile murals in a Brent Council press release, I mentioned that we need to resolve the point over whether there is consent to cover the footballers tile mural scene with advertisements. I believe that we can resolve that matter, today.

 

I have exchanged thousands of words with senior Council Officers on this issue, so far without agreement. However, there is a picture which answers all of the arguments, and shows what parts of the east wall of the Bobby Moore Bridge subway do, or do not, have advertisement consent:-

This drawing was an integral part of Advertisement Consent application 19/1474. It shows, in light blue, the fifteen 1.2 metre wide panels which are the 'light boxes to the east ... wall[s] of the underpass approved under planning consent 17/3840 for advertising purposes.'

 

That is the consent which Quintain applied for, and which was granted, in 2019, as far as the east wall of the subway was concerned.

 

Quintain's application, and its supporting documents and drawings, also made clear that 'a 9.4m long section of the original tiled mural referencing Olympic Way and the game of football located on the east wall is left uncovered.' 

 

 

That is the mural scene shown in the drawing, with 7 light boxes on one side of it and 8 on the other. Nowhere in the application was there any suggestion that this tile mural would be covered for part of the time, let alone any application for consent to cover that tile mural with advertisements.

 

I hope that Brent Council will now agree that Quintain / Wembley Park Ltd do not have advertisement consent to cover the footballers tile mural with any advertisements, at any time. The "entitlement" under clause 10.3 of the advertising lease does not exist without that consent.

 

I would ask you to ensure, please, that Quintain / Wembley Park Ltd are informed of those facts without delay, so that they do not make the mistake of entering into agreements with advertisers which would involve covering that tile mural illegally, either for the Euros football tournament in June / July this year or at any other time.

 

I would be grateful if you would let me know, please, with copy to the Mayor, that Brent Council's tenant in respect of advertising on the Bobby Moore Bridge has been informed of those facts. Thank you. Best wishes,

 

Philip Grant.

 

 

I will, of course, let “Wembley Matters” readers know the outcome of this dispute, although I think it is pretty clear, from the information and picture in my email message above, what the outcome should be!

Philip Grant

 

The emails - click bottom right for full page 

Boxpark advertising – public safety or profit?

Guest post by Philip Grant

As I am “staying at home”, and not out and about to notice what is going on, I usually have a quick look at the “Legal and Public Notices” in the online edition of the “Brent & Kilburn Times” each week. One entry in the planning notices last week caught my eye; an application (ref. 21/0379) for ‘Removal of condition 13’ from a planning application (ref. 17/4877) which was approved in February 2018.

 

Google aerial view, showing the site location, from a planning application document.

 

The location turned out to be the Boxpark building, at the junction of Olympic Way and Fulton Road. But what was the planning condition they wanted removed?

 

‘Condition 13: Moving images shall not be displayed on the Fulton Road façade and the northern section of the Olympic Way façade of the building (within the area marked as ‘Zone A’ on drawing no. A00_MIC_01 P2007903) at times when Fulton Road is open to vehicular traffic, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.’

 

The applicant, Open Outdoor Media Ltd, wants that condition removed, so that it can display ‘full-motion advertisements’ on the large LED screen mounted on the north-east corner of the Boxpark building all of the time. At the moment, the screen which they installed there in 2019 can only be used to display static advertisements, apart from 90 minutes before and after major Wembley Stadium events, when Fulton Road is closed to vehicular traffic. 

 

The LED advertising screen (‘I AM JD’) at the corner of the building, from an application document.

 

Why was that condition there in the first place? The answer is clear from the Report to the February 2018 Planning Committee meeting:

 

‘Highway safety: The Council’s Transportation Officers have expressed concern about the highway safety implications of displaying moving images readily visible to drivers using adjacent roads. In response to their concerns, a condition is recommended to ensure that moving images are not displayed on the Fulton Road façade and the northern section of the Olympic Way façade of the building at times when Fulton Road is open to vehicular traffic.’

 

So what is different now? Planning agents on behalf of the applicant have submitted a glossy report by the Manchester-based S-C-P Transport consultancy (‘Driven by the desire to help clients achieve their goals’). This looks at the highway safety aspects of the latest application, both at the Fulton Road crossing, and with case studies of other sites (mainly in the North and Midlands) where full-motion advertising screens have been installed near roads.

 

Their thorough review includes research, such as this:

 

‘In order to identify critical locations on the network with a poor accident record, the personal injury accident data has been obtained from the online resource CrashMap for the most recent 5-year period, ending December 2019.’

 

They found that, during that five-year period, only ‘one accident took place at the Fulton Road / Olympic Way crossing, which resulted in “serious” severity injuries.’ Their conclusion was:

 

‘Whilst all accidents are regrettable, the evidence … suggests that the area in the vicinity of the site does not have any recurring highway safety problems that could be affected by the development proposals.’

 

Their report does admit that the LED screen was only installed at the end of June 2019, and then was not displaying any moving adverts while vehicles were using Fulton Road during the six months to December 2019. However, as the serious accident on the crossing took place during the previous 4½ years, they claim it demonstrates that the LED screen advertisements ‘have not led to any material increase in accidents.’

 

The view along Fulton Road towards the Olympic way crossing, with the bright LED advertising screen (‘JD WE’RE BACK’) on the corner of the Boxpark building, from the S-C-P report.

 

The case studies (as you might expect) show that putting full-motion advertising screens near busy roads does not tend to increase the number of serious accidents or injuries. But although the amount of vehicle traffic along Fulton Road is not as great as a city centre road in Manchester, Liverpool or Nottingham, the number of pedestrians walking up and down Olympic Way, and crossing Fulton Road, is very large. It is also likely to increase even further as more and more Wembley Park developments are completed.

 

It would only take one driver of a bus or heavy lorry coming along Fulton Road, or one pedestrian walking up Olympic Way from the station, to be distracted by a moving advert on that screen at the wrong moment, for a serious accident to occur. In my opinion, even one such accident would be one too many. 

 

As advertising is involved, the screens also had to obtain advertisement consent, and the approval of that application (ref: 18/1796) contained an identical condition to “Condition 13” in the Boxpark planning approval. The agent’s covering letter with the latest application acknowledges the reasons given in the Planning Report for that:

 

‘Concerns were previously raised with regard to distraction of drivers from moving images along the Fulton Road frontage and the northern end of the Olympic Way frontage, with road safety studies undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory highlighting the significantly greater impairment to driving performance presented by moving images, as compared to static displays.’

 

Despite this, the letter goes on:

 

‘The applicant is however of the view that the provision of full motion images on the LED screens would be entirely acceptable in terms of public safety and highway safety and that Condition 13 of 17/4877 should be removed and an amended application for advertisement consent be issued.’

 

That view is unsurprising, because the application would not have been made unless Open Outdoor Media Ltd thought there was a chance that they might get that condition removed. And if it is removed, they will, of course, be able to generate more profits by selling full motion advertisements, rather than just static ones.

 

Surely, this latest application will be rejected, on the same public safety grounds that saw the condition imposed in the first place, won’t it? Having looked at Brent’s planning website, I do have some concerns, including that the expected decision level is “Delegated Team Manager”, rather than the borough’s Planning Committee which decided the original application.

 

A greater concern is the amount of consultation on application 21/0379. The list of those consulted on the application only contains two addresses. The first is Brent Civic Centre (the Council’s Transportation Unit has been asked to comment). The second is 180 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QZ. Puzzled? That is the registered office address of Quintain Ltd (joint owners, through BPQW Ltd, of Wembley’s Boxpark business).

 

On the original application, consultee comments on public safety matters had been submitted by the Metropolitan Police and by Brent’s Public Safety Manager. Why were they not consulted this time? And what about consulting Wembley Stadium, the residents’ associations for blocks of flats whose leaseholders use the crossing on a daily basis, or the owners of student accommodation buildings in the area? It’s almost as if Brent’s planners wish to avoid there being any objections to this application – but that can’t be right, can it?

 

In my opinion, the risk of death or serious injury at this location is too great for this application to be approved, so I have submitted an objection. If you agree with me, you can make your objection on the Council’s planning website for application 21/0379.

Philip Grant.

 

Greens put forward a radical new solution to strengthen local government via a fairer funding system

This is the first of a series of guest posts by Emma Wallance, Brent  & Harrow Green Party GLA candidate.

Harrow Council have announced that they are increasing the 2021/22 council tax by the maximum legal limit amount allowed to 4.99%.  This means that the council has increased Harrow’s council tax rates by their maximum amount year on year, for the last ten years.  In 2011/12 the average council tax rate in Harrow for band D (there are 8 bands, A-H) was £1186.55, in comparison to this year’s 2020/21 rate of £1522.72 for a band D property  LINK .  That is a £336.17 or +28.33% increase in ten years.  In comparison, neighbouring boroughs Ealing and Brent current council tax rates for 2020/21 band D properties are £1239.15 and £1312.74 respectively.  If we look London wide, Harrow residents are paying the third highest council tax out of the 32 London boroughs, with only Kingston and Richmond charging more.  In addition, Sadiq Khan has announced an increase to the Greater London Authority (GLA) council tax precept by 1.99%, or £363.66 for an average Band D property LINK .  This tax is collected by the 32 London councils on behalf of the GLA and consequently means that Harrow’s Council Tax will see a total overall increase of 5.9% next year.

 

This huge increase in council tax next year will come as a devastating blow to Harrow residents, many of whom are struggling with job losses and the increased pressures brought on by the Covid19 pandemic.  

 

Withdrawal of Central Government Funding

 

The increase in council tax must be seen in relation to the withdrawal of central government funding to local authorities that the Conservative government have presided over for the last ten years, reducing funding support in London by £4 billion   LINK  .  Evidence shows that a decade of imposed austerity from central government has resulted in core funding to local authorities being cut by 63% in real terms  LINK . Harrow Council was already one of the lowest funded councils in both London and nationally, with funding being reduced from £52.1 million to £1.6 million in the last ten years – a reduction of 97%  LINK .

 

This decimation in central government funding has left the current Labour administration in Harrow council in an untenable situation, having to bridge next year’s funding gap by almost £31 million LINK .  This has resulted in ever increasing costs being pushed on to local residents, whilst the council provide fewer and fewer services.  As Councillor Adam Swersky, responsible for finance at Harrow Council has stated, council tax has effectively become a ‘national stealth tax’ “with the Government shifting responsibility to local authorities to compensate for a lack of financial support.” LINK      

Lost Local Public Services

 

We have seen savage cuts to our public services in Harrow over the last ten years, from housing, education, public health, as well as both environmental and community services.  Street cleaning has seen repeated cutbacks, with, for example £172 000 cut from its budget in 2014, reducing the frequency of our street cleaning  LINK .  The Council’s waste collection services have also diminished over the last ten years, seeing in 2015 the introduction of the very unpopular £75 garden waste charge, a service that used to be included in our council tax.  It has since been revealed as one of the highest garden waste charges in England LINK    This lack of investment in street cleaning and waste services has continued for many years, with the now infamous 2017 footage, capturing rats swarming around bin bags in a Harrow car park LINK . 

 

We have also seen the closure of four of our ten public libraries in 2015 (the Bob Lawrence, Hatch End, North Harrow and Rayners Lane libraries), cutting a local service that provided a lifeline to many who are isolated or in need of library services.  In 2018, our two local Harrow MPs debated the issue in Parliament, with Harrow West’s Labour MP Gareth Thomas highlighting the unrelenting cuts and calling for the council to be “better funded”.  Mr Thomas highlighted the rise in violent crime in the borough and how youth services had been cut by more than 75% since 2010.  Conservative Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, responded by accusing the council of not being business friendly enough and needing to work together to apply for additional grants. LINK

 

The Impact of Demographic Changes and Covid

 

The reduction in central government funding, can also be seen in relation to a demographic change in London over the last ten years, with Harrow’s population increasing by 7.6%  LINK . The increase in residents, coupled with an aging population, has resulted in ever greater pressures being placed on our local services.  This can be seen most acutely on our social care services, where demand has increased across all age groups.  Social care is an area which must be ring fenced by 3% in the councils’ budgets every year, with the council this year applying for an additional social care grant to help with the increased pressures on brought on by COVID-19.  Indeed, the unprecedented situation caused by the pandemic has placed a huge strain on council budgets, with increased demand on an array of services LINK  .  Whilst the Tory government assured councils’ that they should do ‘whatever it takes’ to support residents through the pandemic, promising ‘Emergency Funding’ to councils, this has not been fully realised and the amounts have not been enough to cover all costs incurred.  As a result, there is now an even bigger funding shortfall than there was before the pandemic started  LINK  .

 

Harrow Council consequently is in a situation of ongoing funding reduction from central government, changes in demographics and the resultant increased pressure on services, whilst also dealing with the impacts of Covid.  This is tragically resulting in an even bigger reduction in the services provided by the council at a time when we need them more than ever.  

 

The Green Party’s Vision for the Future

 

The pandemic has revealed how years of under investment have resulted in local communities being exposed and vulnerable to the health and social realities brought on by this crisis.   Whilst we have seen incredible local voluntary initiatives over the last year, with people coming together to help and support each other, it is not a long term sustainable solution.  Local government needs to be properly financed to ensure Harrow is a healthy and safe place for residents to live and thrive in.  The Green Party have progressive plans to invest in local communities and our vital local services, believing that Council Tax needs to be radically overhauled.  We would like to see council tax and business rates replaced with a Land Value Tax (LVT) or ‘developers’ duty’, which will capture the value of the land not the property.   The current council tax band system is out of date and unfair, based on property prices from when the tax first emerged in 1991.  It favours wealthy home owners and landlords, with costs often bypassing the owners of rented properties, passing instead to tenants.   As joint leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley states, “Council tax is regressive and it’s the past”  LINK    .  The LVT will be a proportionate and locally controlled property tax – “a single tax (replacing the multiple taxes that currently exist) which will capture the real value of land, and the increased value arising from improvements to it.”  LINK    

 

Green Party Sian Berry has also just pledged to set up a People’s Land Commission if she becomes London Mayor in May, helping to restore and revive local communities.  It is local communities who best understand the areas they live in, and they are the ones who should be consulted “to transform their own high streets, plan a low carbon future, and create community infrastructure and new homes.”  Read more HERE.