As it is now six months since the local elections, I thought I would look back on what has been achieved in the Environment portfolio. I would divide things into stuff that has happened as a result of Labour winning the election, stuff that would have happened anyway, and problems that needed to be sorted that the Lib Dems and Tories were ignoring.
The two big projects that are now underway are the waste management strategy and the emissions based parking permits. The Tories have shown complete hostility to the alternate weekly collections that are at the heart of the policy. The Liberal Democrats adopted the legal minimum target of 40% and made no effort during their time in office to raise the recycling rate beyond the current 28%. We are aiming at 60%, so I think that is a pretty big gap between the parties. This is a much bigger deal than our support for free bulky waste collections, and the Liberal Democrats' extraordinary support for keeping the £25 charge, although that got far more attention in the campaign. The emissions based parking permits are something the Liberal Democrats spoke about, but did not have the courage to deliver. Had they been re-elected, I suspect that would have continued being in favour in theory but not in practice. Now, of course, they are simply throwing rocks at a policy that most of them probably believe in. I also believe that the new administration has a much greater committment to becoming a FairTrade Borough, as 17 other London Boroughs already are. I hope shortly, that we will have another big project in further reducing carbon emissions.
On the stuff that would have happened anyway, the Local Development Framework Core Strategy has been passed. That unexciting sentence conceals the importance of getting it passed. The strategy significantly improves things like the environmental performance of new housing so it is very important in influencing the environmental performance of the Borough as a whole. I would also highlight the forthcoming Placemaking guide (formerly called the Urban Design Guide). I also suspect that, had they formed a majority, the Liberal Democrats would probably have voted through the Moving Traffic Offences that they supported in principle in 2009, but again did not have the courage to implement.
What I think of problems that need to be dealt with includes several planning matters that are coming up. The imminent demise of Dollis Hill House may be sad, but it will cease a drain on the Council in terms of both officer times and money. It will also end the blight on the "pleasure grounds" part of Gladstone Park. Forthcoming changes to the Planning Committee procedures should cut costs slightly, but also improve the amount of time given to genuinely strategic issues rather than lots of domestic extensions. Finally, I am hoping to agree some changes in planning enforcement to prevent overload which was a potential threat even before the new Con Dem government imposed its cuts, but which the previous administration ducked.
Of course, we have been doing all this at the same time as dealing with the Tory / Lib Dem government's in-year cuts and preparing for the worse local government settlement anyone can remember.
All in all, I think it is fair to say that there has been more progress over the past six months than during the whole of the previous Tory / Lib Dem administration.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
Emissions Based Parking Permits
Brent Liberal Democrats continue their opposition to our proposals for emission based parking permits here. Personally, I think that Daniel Brown is leading Brent Liberal Democrat councillors out on a limb here and they will come to regret it. Not only are the Liberal Democrat councillors going back on their previous policy, they are also out of line with their colleagues elsewhere (like Richmond).
However, it is interesting that Sarah Teather herself is maintaining silence on the issue. Normally quick to jump on any populist bandwagon, she seems to be leaving this one well alone. Perhaps she has a better grasp of public opinion that Brent Lib Dems' Transport spokesman?
However, it is interesting that Sarah Teather herself is maintaining silence on the issue. Normally quick to jump on any populist bandwagon, she seems to be leaving this one well alone. Perhaps she has a better grasp of public opinion that Brent Lib Dems' Transport spokesman?
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Re Use at Abbey Road
The tip at Abbey Road (The only one Brent has following Tory sell offs in the 1990s) has been started up as a re-use for furniture in the past few weeks. Such re-use sites are common in other parts of London, but the North West has always lagged behind. The idea is that a lot of furniture that people want to get rid of is still useable, and re-using them diverts them from landfill saving on disposal costs.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Paradox of Parking
Thinking back to my tour of Brent Council's Area Consultative Forums (ACFs), it was striking that there was more opposition to our emissions based parking permit proposals in the Wembley and Kingsbury Forums than in the south of the Borough. While I was presenting on the waste management strategy, someone else was doing a presentation on the parking stuff so I listened to it in each case. I guess people in the South are just more used to the whole idea of Controlled Parking Zones, and can see the benefits, whereas people in the North are still used to "free" parking.
What was also striking about it was the level of resentment towards any policy designed to curb car usage, combined with even more resentment of the high traffic levels in Brent. People were extremely critical of the likely traffic generation of the proposed new primary school at Preston Manor, or the existing parking problems caused by parents dropping off kids at the new ARK Academy, but just didn't seem to connect that with the idea of a need to find a way to discourage car use.
What was also striking about it was the level of resentment towards any policy designed to curb car usage, combined with even more resentment of the high traffic levels in Brent. People were extremely critical of the likely traffic generation of the proposed new primary school at Preston Manor, or the existing parking problems caused by parents dropping off kids at the new ARK Academy, but just didn't seem to connect that with the idea of a need to find a way to discourage car use.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Direction in Transport Policy
Christian Wolmar has a lucid piece explaining the need for active promotion of sustainable transport here. Something of a rebuke to the philosophy behind the Brent Cross development.
Brent Council and the CSR: Education
I promised a series of posts on the CSR and Brent, and here is one on education.
Under the CSR we lose the Education Maintenance Allowance, which gives support to young people from poor families to help them stay in education. This will be cut. I gather there are about 4,000 Brent youngsters who will lose up to £1,100 a year. Despite Sarah Teather's promises, SureStart funding will be frozen for four years, i.e. a real terms cut.
Schools will see a 0.1% rise in funding each year, according to the government. The effect of Ms Teather's vaunted pupil premium is as yet unclear, but it is likely to lead to some kind of redistribution within the sector. It may also disguise some real cuts. For instance, the headteacher of Alperton Community School is quoted in the Willesden Times saying that she will be required to divert part of her "pupil premium" to create a "hardship fund" to replace the Education Maintenance Allowance, so even the 0.1% figure may not be a real rise.
Readers of previous entries will know that I have been particularly worried by the replacement to Building Schools for the Future which Teather & co. abolished earlier this year. Ms Teather promised that we could apply for a new Building Fund to replacethe money we had been awarded, but which she decided to take away from us. The CSR cuts education capital spend by 60%, so it looks as if any new fund won't have sufficent funding to replace the old one.
Non school funding is also being cut (by about 12%). This likely to affect things like support for disabled pupils, school meals and early years learning.
Finally adult learning gets a 25% cut. THis will probably lead to BACES charging people more for courses and greater diffculty in adults retraining for work e.g. help with English skills.
I do not recall Ms Teather setting out this agenda during the election campaign.
Under the CSR we lose the Education Maintenance Allowance, which gives support to young people from poor families to help them stay in education. This will be cut. I gather there are about 4,000 Brent youngsters who will lose up to £1,100 a year. Despite Sarah Teather's promises, SureStart funding will be frozen for four years, i.e. a real terms cut.
Schools will see a 0.1% rise in funding each year, according to the government. The effect of Ms Teather's vaunted pupil premium is as yet unclear, but it is likely to lead to some kind of redistribution within the sector. It may also disguise some real cuts. For instance, the headteacher of Alperton Community School is quoted in the Willesden Times saying that she will be required to divert part of her "pupil premium" to create a "hardship fund" to replace the Education Maintenance Allowance, so even the 0.1% figure may not be a real rise.
Readers of previous entries will know that I have been particularly worried by the replacement to Building Schools for the Future which Teather & co. abolished earlier this year. Ms Teather promised that we could apply for a new Building Fund to replacethe money we had been awarded, but which she decided to take away from us. The CSR cuts education capital spend by 60%, so it looks as if any new fund won't have sufficent funding to replace the old one.
Non school funding is also being cut (by about 12%). This likely to affect things like support for disabled pupils, school meals and early years learning.
Finally adult learning gets a 25% cut. THis will probably lead to BACES charging people more for courses and greater diffculty in adults retraining for work e.g. help with English skills.
I do not recall Ms Teather setting out this agenda during the election campaign.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Junction Association award
Congratulations to the Junction Association on their award from the London Health Commission here.
Sarah Teather and Tuition Fees
I wonder how Sarah Teather is feeling about tuition fees these days. In her maiden speech back in 2003, she claimed to be firmly against. Her opposition continued in 2004. It was shared by her mentor Charles Kennedy that year, who she was subsequently to help oust from the Liberal Democrat leadership. She repeated the message before the General Election in 2005. As late as February this year, she was still giving people the impression that she opposed tuition fees.
I have contemplated putting together a list of the Liberal Democrat U-turns and broken promises in the same way I did for the Brent Liberal Democrats, but I am just not sure I could keep pace with their changes in policy.
I have contemplated putting together a list of the Liberal Democrat U-turns and broken promises in the same way I did for the Brent Liberal Democrats, but I am just not sure I could keep pace with their changes in policy.
More on Trip Hazards
As I frequently ask people to report broken paving and other trip hazards, I thought it might be useful to explain the intervention levels (i.e. when the Borough's engineers will repiar the problem).
Whether they do depends on the size/depth of the defect. They will repair 20mm or more defects shopping area footways, but 25mm or more elsewhere. Roadway potholes have to be at least 40mm before intervention.
The contractor should repair defects within 28 days in most cases, but has a 5 to 7 day period where the location makes them dangerous, and same day repair if it is a very dangerous case.
You can report defects on 89375050 or to streetcare@brent.gov.uk. An engineer should then confirm the reported defect within eight hours and issue an instruction to the contractor.
Whether they do depends on the size/depth of the defect. They will repair 20mm or more defects shopping area footways, but 25mm or more elsewhere. Roadway potholes have to be at least 40mm before intervention.
The contractor should repair defects within 28 days in most cases, but has a 5 to 7 day period where the location makes them dangerous, and same day repair if it is a very dangerous case.
You can report defects on 89375050 or to streetcare@brent.gov.uk. An engineer should then confirm the reported defect within eight hours and issue an instruction to the contractor.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Brent Council and the CSR: Housing
I have been asked how Brent Council will be affected by the Comprehensive Spending Review, and the answer is pretty grim. I thought I would cover these in a series of posts: the first on housing.
In housing, the social housing budget is being cut back severely, meaning fewer houses. At the same time, the Con Dem government wants to push up rents for social housing, cut housing benefit in London and cut jobs in the public sector. Unless you share David Cameron's optimism about the private sector generating jobs (and how can the public sector be "crowding out" private sector jobs during a deep recession?), that looks like a recipe for increased homelessness. As the authority responsible for homelessness, Brent Council will be forced to pick up the pieces.
From April 2013, the Con Dem government is also wanting to cut Council Tax benefit. The only good thing I can see is that interest rates look as if they will continue to be low, meaning that people will be able to keep up with their mortgages despite falling house prices i.e. not as many repossessions as in the Lamont years.
In housing, the social housing budget is being cut back severely, meaning fewer houses. At the same time, the Con Dem government wants to push up rents for social housing, cut housing benefit in London and cut jobs in the public sector. Unless you share David Cameron's optimism about the private sector generating jobs (and how can the public sector be "crowding out" private sector jobs during a deep recession?), that looks like a recipe for increased homelessness. As the authority responsible for homelessness, Brent Council will be forced to pick up the pieces.
From April 2013, the Con Dem government is also wanting to cut Council Tax benefit. The only good thing I can see is that interest rates look as if they will continue to be low, meaning that people will be able to keep up with their mortgages despite falling house prices i.e. not as many repossessions as in the Lamont years.
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Barnet and the Big Society
Barnet Council seems to have got into problems with its easyCouncil/Big Society approach failing to deliver savings. If the Barnet Tories didn't have such a rigid ideology insisting that no one in the public sector contributes anything, they might have realised that getting public involvement actually costs money rather than saves it. That doesn't necessarily mean that it is a bad thing to do, just that it is not a route to major cost savings.
Friday, 29 October 2010
Artists Studios in Kensal Green
This morning I am going to an event sponsored by ACME Studios down at the white flats on Harrow Road, NW10. This is a London wide charity that promotes studio space at affordable prices as part of the "planning gain." As it happens I sat on the Planning Committee that made that particular application (on what had been a Travis Perkins Builder's Yard).
Harrow road NW10 really has become quite trendy in the past few years, with the revamp of the Masons Arms, the Behesht restaurant and the various Brazilian/Portuguese places. It also has a series of interesting outlets like Retrouvius, Ammonite and Habibi. Long may the area's renaissance continue.
Harrow road NW10 really has become quite trendy in the past few years, with the revamp of the Masons Arms, the Behesht restaurant and the various Brazilian/Portuguese places. It also has a series of interesting outlets like Retrouvius, Ammonite and Habibi. Long may the area's renaissance continue.
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Harlesden Road Development
I am glad to see this morning that work has started on what used to be Elmwood House at the bottom of Harlesaden Road. Long overdue.
Teather Silent on Housing Misery
One of the issues that will affect Brent badly over the next year is the Tory / Lib Dem cap on housing benefit. This is likely to force very large numbers of people out of their homes. That could create pressures on the Council as we are legally obilged to help people, but I haven't seen any comment on it from Sarah Teather. In the past she has been eager to highlight Brent's housing problems. For example, here and here and here.
How one's priorities can change once one becomes a minister.
How one's priorities can change once one becomes a minister.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Make a Difference
Just thought I should flag up the "Make a Difference" Day on 30 October, which is having a session up at Brent River Park.
Teather Betrays 16 Year Olds
Another broken promise from Sarah Teather: this time on votes for sixteen year olds. Back in 2004, she was all in favour. Left Foot Forward contains more details on the broken promises of Srah Teather and other prominent Liberal Democrats here.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Doorknocking and Sarah Teather
Out doorknocking in the streets north of Wrottesley Road on Sunday. Found the usual streetcare concerns _ broken paving and so on. There was some apprehension about the Tory/Lib Dem cuts programme, although it still seems to abstract for people to get worked up. Nobody mentioned the Lib Dem campaigns on emissions based parking permits or their opposition to alternate weekly collections.
However, it was striking how many people felt let down by Sarah Teather. Looking through the returns, they are full of "I voted Liberal Democrat but ....." type comments. Not so much on specific issues like the VAT increase, but just general dismay. If I were Sarah Teather I weould be far more worried by this general sense that she has betrayed people's trust than I would by opposition on specific issues, not least because I would expect it to be much harder to turn it around.
However, it was striking how many people felt let down by Sarah Teather. Looking through the returns, they are full of "I voted Liberal Democrat but ....." type comments. Not so much on specific issues like the VAT increase, but just general dismay. If I were Sarah Teather I weould be far more worried by this general sense that she has betrayed people's trust than I would by opposition on specific issues, not least because I would expect it to be much harder to turn it around.
Leader's Question Time
My recent tour of Brent Council's ACFs makes me reflect on Jack Beck's recent call for a Leader's Question Time in Brent. The way he raised it was clearly just a point scoring gimmick. It was one of Brent Liberal Democrats' extremely slight election pledges, one which they could quite easily have set up during any point in their coalition.
However, in fronting the Waste Management consultation over the past few weeks, I have effectively been fulfilling his demand. Admittedly, I was talking on a specific topic but personally I think that is better as it gives a more focused discussion. The other advantage of using the established ACFs rather than a special format is greater efficiency. We don't have to increase the consultation budget (as the Tory/Liberal Democrat government cuts our grant), and by including it in a regular series of events we are more likely to attract an audience.
However, in fronting the Waste Management consultation over the past few weeks, I have effectively been fulfilling his demand. Admittedly, I was talking on a specific topic but personally I think that is better as it gives a more focused discussion. The other advantage of using the established ACFs rather than a special format is greater efficiency. We don't have to increase the consultation budget (as the Tory/Liberal Democrat government cuts our grant), and by including it in a regular series of events we are more likely to attract an audience.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Emissions Based Parking Permits Online
Brent Council has finally got its stuff together on putting the emissions based parking permit proposals online. Take a look and give your views.
Dollis Hill House Redux
I understand that English Heritage have decided not to object to the abolition of Dollis Hill House. This is very unusual, and confirms that every conceivable scheme has been attempted to restore the building without success. Assuming that the Secretary of State allows the demolition, it will cost Brent Council about £150,000, although it will also save the Council about £30,000 in the running costs of keeping it as a derelict building.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Waste Consultation
The consultation on Brent's new Waste Strategy has closed, although the results are still being collated, but I thought I would blog on what I picked up whilst doing the rounds of the Area Consultative Forums (ACFs).
Interestingly, alternate weekly collections do not seem to worry people very much. Once they realise that food and garden waste continue to be collected once a week, they seem quite happy about grey bins and dry recyclables on alternate weeks. Similarly, I expected our no side waste policy for grey bins to be a popular objection, but most people seem accepting.
What did seem to concern people was finding space for the new bins in their front gardens, and often the aesthetics of the street, especially in Conservation Areas. Officers are likely to strengthen the Strategy on these areas.
Interestingly, alternate weekly collections do not seem to worry people very much. Once they realise that food and garden waste continue to be collected once a week, they seem quite happy about grey bins and dry recyclables on alternate weeks. Similarly, I expected our no side waste policy for grey bins to be a popular objection, but most people seem accepting.
What did seem to concern people was finding space for the new bins in their front gardens, and often the aesthetics of the street, especially in Conservation Areas. Officers are likely to strengthen the Strategy on these areas.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Another Government Cut
One of the the Con Dem government cuts that won't hit the headlines but which will affect us is to waste management infrastructure. Although it doesn't mention West London directly, it is quite possible we would have used some of the facilities that will no longer be built. Certainly, reducing the waste management capaicity may increase our costs, showing the new "austerity" ethos at its most counterproductive.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Caravan Site
A problem I hadn't expected... The old Willesden Social club has had a caravan put on it. This is somewhat worrying as it may become a target for arson. Yesterday, I went with a Council officer to see if anyone was living there. No one was home when we tried, but they may simply have been out. Brent Council will try to contact the owners of the land to alert them to the problem as, it being private land, we have no powers over it.
Johann Hari
Johann Hari also has a good piece here. I particularly like the quote from David Cameron that his wife is unconventional because she went to a day school.
Krugman on Osborne
Paul Krugman describes the foolishness of the current UK government's economic policy here. What he doesn't mention is that, whereas the Tories are folling their ideological preconceptions, the Liberal Democrats were arguing a much more Keynesian line before taking office. If economic growth does go down, the government deficit may well worsen, and then the Tories and Lib Dems will be faced with a double or quits option: make further government cuts (possibly giving us an even worse economic growth rate and deficit), or reverse the policy with a fiscal stimulus.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Light Columns in Tubbs Road
This is a picture of the corner of Tubbs Road and Station Road. It shows how close the new lamp column (right) is to the defunct one (left). There has been a delay in getting the new column connected and the old one removed although I am not sure why. However, the old column should be gone by tomorrow.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Fabric of a Nation
The Fabric of a Nation Exhibition is being launched in the Willesden Library Centre this evening as part of Brent's celebration of Black History Month. Unfortunately, I can't go as I am doing the last of the Waste Management presentations at the Wembley Area Consultative Forum, but the exhibition looks really good so I will drop in at a later date.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Kensal Green Planning Appeals
There are two outstanding Planning Appeals in Kensal Green, which I thought I would update on.
The first is the appeal on the old service station site on High Street Harlesden, but backing on to Rucklidge Avenue. Submissions were over in August, but a decision is not expected until about four weeks from now. There is no way of telling what it will be until it is given.
The second is an appeal on the old ice cream place next to Furness Road pocket park. That is going to a public hearing on 25 October, although a decision is only likely to come some time after.
The first is the appeal on the old service station site on High Street Harlesden, but backing on to Rucklidge Avenue. Submissions were over in August, but a decision is not expected until about four weeks from now. There is no way of telling what it will be until it is given.
The second is an appeal on the old ice cream place next to Furness Road pocket park. That is going to a public hearing on 25 October, although a decision is only likely to come some time after.
Monday, 18 October 2010
Tory Bureaucracy
One of the ideas promoted by the new Con Dem government is that all public sector bodies publish invoices for spending of more than £500. I think they probably got this idea from the crowdsourcing audits that papers like the Guardian did on MPs' expenses.
Some local authorities have stated to do this, and I understand it is beginning to cause problems with attempted fraud. The reason is that all sorts of information is posted _ like invoice numbers, internal references, VAT registration and so on _ that make someone sound very convincing when they phone up and say they are a contractor who has not been paid. Of course, someone can be employed to redact a lot of this kind of stuff, but that is immensely time consuming.
Whatever the solutions found, it sounds as if the new scheme is leading to an increase in red tape, and possibly fraud. Let us hope that some of this "citizens' auditing" delivers saving to compensate.
Some local authorities have stated to do this, and I understand it is beginning to cause problems with attempted fraud. The reason is that all sorts of information is posted _ like invoice numbers, internal references, VAT registration and so on _ that make someone sound very convincing when they phone up and say they are a contractor who has not been paid. Of course, someone can be employed to redact a lot of this kind of stuff, but that is immensely time consuming.
Whatever the solutions found, it sounds as if the new scheme is leading to an increase in red tape, and possibly fraud. Let us hope that some of this "citizens' auditing" delivers saving to compensate.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Bottle Bank
By the way, I have reported that the bring bank at Victor Road has lost its glass bin. This may be the reason for the bottle bank in High Street Harlesden being full to overflowing (as it is now the nearest). However, I am mystified as to why someone took the Victor Road bin in the first place. What are they using it for?
Water Leak in Tubbs Road
The minor water leak by the emergency access gate in Tubbs Road is finally being repaired, which I think means that there are currently no visible leaks in the ward.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night is being moved to Saturday 6 November this year. The reason is that it coincides with Diwali, and it was felt to be logistically very difficult to manage both events at once. Of course, this will also allow people to go to both.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Brent FoE Campaign
One of the commenters on this post asks about the green zones and the deletion of two Environmental posts. Why were they cut earlier this year? It is a fair question.
The two environmental posts were earmarked as a result of the "Improvement and Efficiency Plan" set in motion under the previous administration, which of course set this year's budget. This was a scheme to get rid of a tenth of Council employees, with a preference for deleting vacant posts, encouraging early retirement and so on. The work of those posts has now been reassigned within the same unit.
However, as I emphasised to Brent FoE when I visited on Tuesday, there are large numbers of Council employees promoting environmental policies even though they are not called "environmental". For instance, all our transport policies are geared to increasing sustainability. Our planning department promotes renewable energy, better insulation and so on through the Planning process. However, it can also affect less obvious sectors like IT, or the Children & Families department.
The reason for the green zones cut was linked to the way green zones were funded. Green Zones were funded from the Performance Reward grant, which was one of those the new government decided to cut part way through the year. In year cuts, which have not happened since the bad old days of the 1990s as far as I know, force the Council to make immediate savings. Since they generally apply to staff costs, they usually involve redundancy costs and other items that take time to implement. In fact, Brent Council had already spent the money which the government had allocated to us, since it was assumed to be reliable. We are currently looking at a possible £5.5 million overspend which has been signficantly increased by the sudden withdrawal of £5.3 million in central government funding that we thought we could rely on. Hence the current clampdown on Council spending.
The two environmental posts were earmarked as a result of the "Improvement and Efficiency Plan" set in motion under the previous administration, which of course set this year's budget. This was a scheme to get rid of a tenth of Council employees, with a preference for deleting vacant posts, encouraging early retirement and so on. The work of those posts has now been reassigned within the same unit.
However, as I emphasised to Brent FoE when I visited on Tuesday, there are large numbers of Council employees promoting environmental policies even though they are not called "environmental". For instance, all our transport policies are geared to increasing sustainability. Our planning department promotes renewable energy, better insulation and so on through the Planning process. However, it can also affect less obvious sectors like IT, or the Children & Families department.
The reason for the green zones cut was linked to the way green zones were funded. Green Zones were funded from the Performance Reward grant, which was one of those the new government decided to cut part way through the year. In year cuts, which have not happened since the bad old days of the 1990s as far as I know, force the Council to make immediate savings. Since they generally apply to staff costs, they usually involve redundancy costs and other items that take time to implement. In fact, Brent Council had already spent the money which the government had allocated to us, since it was assumed to be reliable. We are currently looking at a possible £5.5 million overspend which has been signficantly increased by the sudden withdrawal of £5.3 million in central government funding that we thought we could rely on. Hence the current clampdown on Council spending.
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Tubbs Road Pocket Park
Work has started on the Tubbs Road Pocket Park, as you can see from the photo (above) I took the other day. I am immensely relieved that, unlike Bramshill Open Space, this park has gone ahead despite Sarah Teather's abolition of the Playbuilder fund.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Homelessness and Migration
The economist has a piece here about homelessness and migration in Slough. This is also an issue that effects Brent, although in our case it is likely to be made even worse once the cuts in Housing Benefit come into force in April. Brent will be losing about £9 million, making us one of the worse effected Authorities in the UK.
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Brent Friends of the Earth
I am going to Brent Friends of the Earth this evening, which is in the Labour office at 375 Willesden High Road. I am not sure what is on the agenda, but possibly the waste management proposals may figure.
I think it is fair to say that Labour is the only party to commit to really increasing Brent's recycling rate. At the last Council meeting, the Tories explicitly moved that we not introduce alternate weekly collections, which is really the cornerstone of the policy and the main mechanism for increased recycling across all the UK's best recycling authorities. Brent Liberal Democrats sat on their hands. I am sure that many of the Liberal Democrats claim to sympathise with the green agenda, but if they are not prepared to vote for it ,what is their sympathy worth?
Personally I would have more respect with outright opposition like the Tories, than the Lib Dems' rather cowardly hypocrisy.
I think it is fair to say that Labour is the only party to commit to really increasing Brent's recycling rate. At the last Council meeting, the Tories explicitly moved that we not introduce alternate weekly collections, which is really the cornerstone of the policy and the main mechanism for increased recycling across all the UK's best recycling authorities. Brent Liberal Democrats sat on their hands. I am sure that many of the Liberal Democrats claim to sympathise with the green agenda, but if they are not prepared to vote for it ,what is their sympathy worth?
Personally I would have more respect with outright opposition like the Tories, than the Lib Dems' rather cowardly hypocrisy.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Powerday at Willesden Junction
Some residents think that there is a smell problem coming from the Powerday recycling site at Willesden Junction. I haven't noticed this myself, and I have checked that Brent Council have not logged any complaints. If they did, I am not sure what could be done beyond exhortation. The Powerday site has planning permission from Hammersmith and Fulham, and I don't know if there is a technical fix, or even if it really is the Powerday site causing the problem.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Route 18 Bendy Buses
Boris Johnson's abolition of bendy buses is due to reach the Route 18 in November. Apparently, 52 double deckers have been bought (to allow for four off the road) at who knows what expense. Everyone knows that these buses will take longer to load and offload, causing delays and overcrowding on a route that isn't exactly free of them anyway. However, I only recently learnt that the new double deckers will have space for only one buggy. Anyone who uses the 18 route knows that there is frequently more than one buggy on the bus. Are mothers just going to be forced to wait until a free bus comes along? I suspect that some of them may be forced into alternative transport (i.e. cars) instead.
All this inferiour service at an exceptionally high price because London Transport are buying out the Bendies before the lease arrangements are up, and paying for the new vehicles. It is a lot to pay for helping Boris Johnson's "routemaster" vanity project.
All this inferiour service at an exceptionally high price because London Transport are buying out the Bendies before the lease arrangements are up, and paying for the new vehicles. It is a lot to pay for helping Boris Johnson's "routemaster" vanity project.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Transport Costs
Paul Krugman has a typically sensible view on transport subsidies here. The Liberal Democrats are rather desparately trying to attack our plans for emissions based parking permits as a tax on motorists. I would be interested to hear them tackle the point that the road network is actually a vast subsidy to motorists, let alone the costs of congestion and pollution.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Comprehensive Spending Review
Left Foot Forward explains why the hairshirt approach isn't working in Ireland. I can understand why George Osborne is so committed to early and swingeing cuts in spending. It is part and parcel of his anti-state ideology, but I do find it hard to get why the Liberal Democrats are going the same way. If Liberal Democrats like Vince Cable and Chris Huhne believe in what they said during the election campaign, they must be expecting the sheer size of the cuts to drive us back into recession, and make the deficit worse not better. Then they will be faced with a double or quits option: make even more cuts to balance the Budget a la Philip Snowden, or attempt a much bigger stimulus than they would have needed if they were taking a gentler approach to deficit reduction now.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Tubbs Park Work Starts
I am glad to hear that work will start on Tubbs Road Pocket Park on Monday 11 October. Fortunately, the project was sufficently advanced that Sarah Teather's cuts to PlayBuilder funding (whioch partly funds it) don't apply. However, Sarah Teather has succeeded in cutting the scheduled work to Bramshill Park a short walk away. I hope that the electorate make their gratitude clear to her at the next election.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Big Society Deflates
According to the Guardian, the Tories have had to abandon a series of meetings to promote the "Big Society". Apparently, the first one they had was dominated by people complaining about all the spending cuts the new government has imposed. I can't feel very much sympathy for the Tories or their Liberal Democrat sidekicks here. They are really the victims of their own ideology that the public sector plays no useful role, whereas if they paid attention to how things work, they would know that actually the voluntary sector is often underpinned by all kinds of support from the public sector.
Ironically, the "Big Society Network" that the Con Dem government has set up appears to be an example of this. Five of its staff are civil servants on secondment, and they appear to use Department resources for communication. If the government resources are cut by 25%, that will feed into the supposedly separate voluntary groups, and David Cameron will end up undermining his own campaign.
Ironically, the "Big Society Network" that the Con Dem government has set up appears to be an example of this. Five of its staff are civil servants on secondment, and they appear to use Department resources for communication. If the government resources are cut by 25%, that will feed into the supposedly separate voluntary groups, and David Cameron will end up undermining his own campaign.
High Speed Link Through Old Oak Common
It looks as if the Tories are accepting both the need for the high speed rail link to Birmingham and the route using Old Oak Common. If so, that could mean a major regeneration opportunity for the area around Willesden Junction, including Harlesden Town Centre.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Made in Dagenham
Germaine Greer has a somewhat grumpy piece in the Guardian on Saturday about the Made in Dagenham film. Made in Dagenham covers the story of a strike for equal pay by women at the Ford plant in 1968. I wonder whether there will ever be a film about Brent's Grunwick Strike. This was a strike by mostly Asian women in protest against their sweatshop conditions, and was a cause celebre at the time as Union support came in from all over the country. The site of the old factory is up by Dollis Hill Tube, and has now been redeveloped for housing.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Harlesden Town Team Tonight
The Harlesden Town Team are meeting this evening at the Salvation Army place in Manor Park Road. Unfortunately, I cannot go because I am presenting on Brent Council's new waste management proposals in South Kilburn this evening, but I hope anyone who is free makes it.
Child Benefit Means Tested: A Lib Dem Victory
George Osborne has pledged to introduce means testing for child benefit. This idea was floated by Nick Clegg in his "Savage Cuts" interview before the election, although he subsequently back tracked. Sarah Teather also has form in this area of course. However, I suspect that the cuts in child benefit will not feature in many of Sarah Teather's leaflets to the voters of Brent Central.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Ward Working
I have blogged before about Neighbourhood Working, which is now changing back to its old name of Ward Working. Lots of people used to get confused between Neighbourhood Working and Neighbourhood Watch. This is the scheme where ward councillors are allowed a small fund to spend on community projects in their ward. We still have some money so if you have any ideas let me know.
Incidentally this is another example of a Paul Lorber U-turn. In opposition, the Brent Liberal Democrat leader declared "Scaling down ward working is not enough; it must be scrapped." Once the Liberal Democrats and Tories formed an administration in 2006, he cut the budget for each ward to 20,000 pounds and changed the name to Neighbourhood Working, but allowed the project to continue across all wards in Brent. It is almost as if he felt honour bound not to do whatever he promised the voters he would.
Incidentally this is another example of a Paul Lorber U-turn. In opposition, the Brent Liberal Democrat leader declared "Scaling down ward working is not enough; it must be scrapped." Once the Liberal Democrats and Tories formed an administration in 2006, he cut the budget for each ward to 20,000 pounds and changed the name to Neighbourhood Working, but allowed the project to continue across all wards in Brent. It is almost as if he felt honour bound not to do whatever he promised the voters he would.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Health and Climate Change
A European report has been published reminding us that improving pollution is not just about climate change but also public health. In fact, the savings from reduced medical spending are likely to cover a significant proportion of the cost of the pollution reduction.
Friday, 1 October 2010
The End of the £25 Charge
Today is the day that Brent Council ceases to charge £25 for bulky waste collections. We are going back to the old (pre Liberal Democrat) system of up to three collections each year, each collecting up to five items.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Brent: Fairtrade Borough?
I hope that we will soon have a firm timetable for Brent to become a Fairtrade Borough. We have been trying to this for ages, since Peter Lemmon was Mayor, but (as with so much else) progressed slowed to a crawl under the Lib dem / Tory administration.
The most difficult parts are likely to be getting more schools to register an interest, getting a wide range of religious organisations on board, and finding at least one big employer to sign up.
The most difficult parts are likely to be getting more schools to register an interest, getting a wide range of religious organisations on board, and finding at least one big employer to sign up.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Brent Recycling
Currently, I am doing a lot on Brent Council's new waste strategy. Indeed, I will be doing a presentation at the Harlesden Area Consultative Forum this evening on the subject. One of the issues people have asked me about is a reuseable nappy scheme. The Strategy has that as an option. the two things we need to find out more about are the costs, and how we would engage enough parents to make it worthwhile.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Fortnightly Bin Collections
I see Brian Coleman is denouncing fortnightly bin collections as a potential fire risk, but I don't see why. Our proposal is to replace the green box with a much bigger recycling bin, keep the grey bin and the organic bin (introducing a new food waste bin for those household currently without. Why would vandals be more likely to set fire to a larger bin than a green box?
Incidentally, the reports on Brian Coleman's comments make the common mistake of assuming that savings from the scheme are driven by fewer bin men and vehicles. In fact, the savings come from diverting waste from landfill disposal (the most expensive way of getting rid of it) to recycling (much cheaper). I don't think the total number of vehicles and bin men will be much different.
What will be different is that the proportion of waste that is recycled will go up enormously. If you look at the most successful recycling authorities in the UK, they almost all use some version of a fortnightly collection. Thus, Tories like Eric Pickles and Brian Coleman are denouncing the only policy that has been shown to be really successful in increasing recycling. At the same time, the Tory government has kept the landfill tax in place, forcing local authorities to recycle more. Of course this may just the Tories being muddled, not understanding that their policies are going in opposite directions, or it may be more Machiavellian. They may will the end of greater recycling, but want to put any political flak on to local authorities.
Incidentally, the reports on Brian Coleman's comments make the common mistake of assuming that savings from the scheme are driven by fewer bin men and vehicles. In fact, the savings come from diverting waste from landfill disposal (the most expensive way of getting rid of it) to recycling (much cheaper). I don't think the total number of vehicles and bin men will be much different.
What will be different is that the proportion of waste that is recycled will go up enormously. If you look at the most successful recycling authorities in the UK, they almost all use some version of a fortnightly collection. Thus, Tories like Eric Pickles and Brian Coleman are denouncing the only policy that has been shown to be really successful in increasing recycling. At the same time, the Tory government has kept the landfill tax in place, forcing local authorities to recycle more. Of course this may just the Tories being muddled, not understanding that their policies are going in opposite directions, or it may be more Machiavellian. They may will the end of greater recycling, but want to put any political flak on to local authorities.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Urban Design Guide
Some time ago, Brent was going to pass a new urban design guide to give consistent standards in improving the public realm. Unfortunately, this has been delayed through another round of consultation, but it should come back in time for the October Executive, no doubt full of "naked streets" and "shared surfaces" type ideas.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Elms Court Allotments
Paul Lorber and his Liberal Democrat colleagues have reputedly been protesting about the de-designation of the Elms Court allotment site for housing. What makes this odd is that they were the ones who withdrew its designation, back in May 2009. You can find it in 2.10 of the report. Both Paul Lorber and James Allee are noted in the minutes as speaking on the report. The only deviation of the current decision that springs to mind from their decision is that replacement allotments have now been identified. Could it be another case of Brent Liberal Democrats doing one thing in office and the opposite in opposition?
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Tubbs Road Clean Up Day
It had been planned that Tubbs Road would have a clean up day on 2 October. Unfortunately, the logistics mean that has to be postponed. We are still keen to do it, just at a later date. This is supported by the three Kensal Green Councillors through Ward Working funding (formerly Neighbourhood Working). There was quite a successful clean up in Rucklidge Avenue a short time ago, and this is the same sort of thing. It also gives us an opportunity to publicise the abolition of the £25 charge, which will no longer be charged from 1 October.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Littering
I was told recently of a Keep Britain Tidy survey that found that only 4% of people admit to littering at any time. This is interesting as it does indicate a widespread acceptance that littering is wrong, with almost everyone being ashamed to admit to it.
Alternatively, if all the litter really is being left by only 4% of the population then they must be a dedicated group of people who spend hours doing it, like Flanders & Swann's Broken Bedstead Men.
Alternatively, if all the litter really is being left by only 4% of the population then they must be a dedicated group of people who spend hours doing it, like Flanders & Swann's Broken Bedstead Men.
Liberal Democrat Economic Policy
Larry Elliot has a reminder of the Liberal Democrats' previous record European economics. What this indicates to me is not so much a wrong analysis as a tendency to follow fashions whithout analysis. During the election, the Liberal Democrats were similarly following a fashion in arguing for a fiscal stimulus. In government, it suddenly became fashionable to go for austerity, although I would have thought the weakness of the Eurozone and the petering out of Obama's stimulus actually strengthened the argument the other way. One could go back further to when Nick Clegg was calling for "savage cuts" only to backtrack later on.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Video on Flytipping
I went to see a video by BTSWC, working with Groundwork, on flytipping at the Unity Centre on Church Road. It is now online, and you can see it here.
HMOs
The Con Dem government is apparently taking another retrograde step. Landlords will now be able to create houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) for up to six people without planning permission.
This is likely to create much lower living standards for the tenants. Just before the election, the Planning Committee considered a case in Dennis Avenue in Tokyngton where the landlord wanted to convert to a HMO. The application was refused because he wanted to give some of his tenants as little as half the space normally allotted to people living in flats.
My colleague Cllr Lesley Jones has long been fighting HMOs in Willesden. She is particularly interested in how they change the character of an area, leading to fewer residents with a long term stake.
This is likely to create much lower living standards for the tenants. Just before the election, the Planning Committee considered a case in Dennis Avenue in Tokyngton where the landlord wanted to convert to a HMO. The application was refused because he wanted to give some of his tenants as little as half the space normally allotted to people living in flats.
My colleague Cllr Lesley Jones has long been fighting HMOs in Willesden. She is particularly interested in how they change the character of an area, leading to fewer residents with a long term stake.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Harlesden Town Charter Now Online
The Harlesden Town Charter is now available online here. I gather this is a temporary address for it. Not quite sure why it has taken Brent Council so long to get it on the web site, but at least you can see it now.
More Liberal Democrat Confusion
Following my post of Monday, I was reflecting on the difficulties of the Liberal Democrats in their coalition. Nick Clegg explicitly rejected the idea of playing out Tory / Liberal democrat differences in public, although that appears to be exactly what Sarah Teather is doing as she struggles to justify herself to voters who thought she was a leftwing alternative.
Her piece in "First", the Local Government Association newsletter, argues that the pupil premium is a "real Liberal Democrat achievement". My understanding is that there is real fear that it could end up in Brent getting less money for its pupils, in which case Sarah Teather will no doubt declare it was all down to the Tories.
At Conference, Clegg rightly claimed that the two coalition parties constantly claiming credit for the good, and placing blame for the bad on each other would "poison" the coalition. I think he is right. I also think that, being two rival parties one with a history of permanent opposition, they won't be able to help themselves.
Her piece in "First", the Local Government Association newsletter, argues that the pupil premium is a "real Liberal Democrat achievement". My understanding is that there is real fear that it could end up in Brent getting less money for its pupils, in which case Sarah Teather will no doubt declare it was all down to the Tories.
At Conference, Clegg rightly claimed that the two coalition parties constantly claiming credit for the good, and placing blame for the bad on each other would "poison" the coalition. I think he is right. I also think that, being two rival parties one with a history of permanent opposition, they won't be able to help themselves.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
The Way of the Future
Ireland shows us the way of the future if George Osborne is allowed to pursue austerity to the full.
Sarah Teather and Free Schools
The Guardian reported on Sarah Teather being given a hard time over free schools at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference early on, and now the Liberal Democrat leadership have been explicitly defeated on the issue. Given the way Sarah Teather is now implementing a policy that she spent the election campaign denouncing, that is hardly surprising. I think it is more or less admitted that the Coalition government is going to pay no attention to what the Liberal Democrat Conference says.
As I see it Sarah Teather's central weakness is that the Tories are determined to push ahead with the free schools policy. The Liberal Democrats can only rebel against such a central policy if they are willing to break up the coalition, which would mean they no longer hold ministerial posts. Of course, had the Liberal Democrats agreed to support a minority Conservative government, they would still be able to oppose the free schools initiative.
I have seen comments from Simon Hughes suggesting that he does oppose Free Schools, even though he voted for them in the Commons as they were part of the coalition deal. I think that position would only seem remotely credible to someone of Mr Hughes' extraordinary level of moral manoeuvrability.
Meanwhile, Teather is stuck in an entirely subordinate position to Michael Gove, implementing a policy that she and her colleagues disagree with. In my imagination, he calls her Teather and she calls him Mr Gove. That is the kind of relationship they have.
As I see it Sarah Teather's central weakness is that the Tories are determined to push ahead with the free schools policy. The Liberal Democrats can only rebel against such a central policy if they are willing to break up the coalition, which would mean they no longer hold ministerial posts. Of course, had the Liberal Democrats agreed to support a minority Conservative government, they would still be able to oppose the free schools initiative.
I have seen comments from Simon Hughes suggesting that he does oppose Free Schools, even though he voted for them in the Commons as they were part of the coalition deal. I think that position would only seem remotely credible to someone of Mr Hughes' extraordinary level of moral manoeuvrability.
Meanwhile, Teather is stuck in an entirely subordinate position to Michael Gove, implementing a policy that she and her colleagues disagree with. In my imagination, he calls her Teather and she calls him Mr Gove. That is the kind of relationship they have.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Teather on her Conference Defeat
In response to her defeat, Sarah Teather has confessed:
"The Liberal Democrats are an open and democratic party and it is right that members should express their views on government policy. Our members respect that in a coalition government some of the policies that go forward will be Conservatives ones and some will be Liberal Democrat and some will be a blend of the two."
I don't recall her putting that on any her leaflets during the campaign: "some of the policies that go forward will be Conservative ones."
Shameless.
"The Liberal Democrats are an open and democratic party and it is right that members should express their views on government policy. Our members respect that in a coalition government some of the policies that go forward will be Conservatives ones and some will be Liberal Democrat and some will be a blend of the two."
I don't recall her putting that on any her leaflets during the campaign: "some of the policies that go forward will be Conservative ones."
Shameless.
Illegal Immigrants in Illegal Housing
The story of a mini-shanty town for illegal immigrants in Strode Road is a depressing reminder of how desperate many people in Brent and elsewhere are for housing.
Good Riddance: A Message from Nick Clegg
Very struck by the Observer's piece on Nick Clegg yesterday and its implications for Sarah Teather in Brent Central. The great one more or less says sod off to those voters who have backed the Liberal Democrats since the Iraq War as being a "left wing" alternative to Labour. The piece quotes him:
"I am not denying that there is a chunk of people who turned to the Liberal Democrats at the height of Blair's authoritarism and his fascination with Bush and Cheney and said "Ha, these Liberal Democrats, they're the leftwing party I want. They're the leftwing conscience of the Labour Party." That was always going to unwind at some point."
The problem for Sarah Teather is that that is what her entire parliamentary career has been based on, positioning herself to the left of Labour. Now she finds herself implementing a Tory programme of savage cuts that goes completely against the more Keynesian approach that the Lib Dems had during the campaign, and a Leader who is explicitly rejecting the core beliefs of virtually all the Brent Central voters who supported her.
I wonder what she will do next?
"I am not denying that there is a chunk of people who turned to the Liberal Democrats at the height of Blair's authoritarism and his fascination with Bush and Cheney and said "Ha, these Liberal Democrats, they're the leftwing party I want. They're the leftwing conscience of the Labour Party." That was always going to unwind at some point."
The problem for Sarah Teather is that that is what her entire parliamentary career has been based on, positioning herself to the left of Labour. Now she finds herself implementing a Tory programme of savage cuts that goes completely against the more Keynesian approach that the Lib Dems had during the campaign, and a Leader who is explicitly rejecting the core beliefs of virtually all the Brent Central voters who supported her.
I wonder what she will do next?
More Water Leaks
Yet more water leaks. The leak at the traffic lights on Harrow Road (junction of Wrottesley Road) are being repaired (see picture above) which no doubt accounts for much of the traffic snarl up this morning. The leak outside Kensal Green Tube station continues, and is overdue for repair, and I am not sure of progress on the leak at the corner of Park Parade and Wrottesley Road.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
St Marks Church Garden
Belated congratulations to St Mark's Church on their new garden (pictured). Hopefully they will soon go ahead with the expanasion of the Church Hall as well.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
ASB Review
As I blogged a couple of days ago, I shall be interested in hearing the results of the Lib Dem / Conservative review into ASBOs. I don't recall Ms May's doubts being voiced during the election. Nationally, the Liberal Democrats did have doubts although here in Brent they didn't do anything about it. It was startling to hear Cllr Paul Lorber at the last Council meeting talking about how terrible ASBOs were as if he had not just spent four years presiding over a Brent Council that issued them fairly frequently.
From the BBC report, the review appears to based on the idea that ASBOs are just quickly approved without any thought. My experience in Hazel Road suggests that is by no means the case. In fact, the police need specific information and times from people, although they don't need to put up public statements in court. Use of ASBOs and Dispersal zones are also usually accom panied by lots of "soft" measures like theYouth work that Ward Working paid for in Hazel Road, as well as non judicial measures, like speaking to landlords, or even just cutting hedgerows back or making minor building alterations.
From the BBC report, the review appears to based on the idea that ASBOs are just quickly approved without any thought. My experience in Hazel Road suggests that is by no means the case. In fact, the police need specific information and times from people, although they don't need to put up public statements in court. Use of ASBOs and Dispersal zones are also usually accom panied by lots of "soft" measures like theYouth work that Ward Working paid for in Hazel Road, as well as non judicial measures, like speaking to landlords, or even just cutting hedgerows back or making minor building alterations.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Slippery Sarah
I haven't posted on the slipperiness of Sarah Teather for quite a while. One of the more recent examples is that she has started campaigning for "Fair Votes". That is a long held Liberal Democrat slogan, but it always used to be applied to proportional representation. Teather is now using it to describe the thoroughly non-proportional alternative vote system that she and her Tory allies are plotting to push through along with a wholesale boundary review next year. To use the same slogan to describe a system that not so long ago Liberal Democrats denounced as unfair shows that sarah Teather is all about spin rather than policy.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
ASB Powers Under Threat
Today's Wembley Observer carries a story about a Dispersal Zone in Wembley. The new Tory / Lib dem government have announced a review into such powers. I can't help but feel the new government is taking an entirely theoritical approach without really considering the reality is these powers were abolished.
Stonebridge Hub Award
Well done to the people who designed the Stonebridge Hub. The Hub has been given a Gold Standard in the 2010 CABE Building for Life awards.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Roundwood Youth Club
Roundwood Youth Club comes up for planning permission today. I have written in support of the application and it is recommended for consent so I expect it will go through without controversy. However, the Con Dem government is still not telling us whether they are going to give us the promised five million pounds that they froze shortly after taking office. If Sarah Teather and her colleagues cancel this project, I hope that local people remember that at the next General Election.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Social Housing
Dave Hill has some striking figures (derived from Karen Buck MP) on the decline of socially rented housing in London, including figures for Brent showing the stock going from 30% to 20% between 1986 and 2006. This kind of fall has all kinds of negative consequences not least on the immigration debate.
Brent Sustainability Forum Web Site
You can find the Brent Sustainability Forum web site here, which may be useful if (like me) you can't get to the Forum meeting on 29 September.
Newman Catholic College
Cardinal Hinsley School for Boys is relaunching as Newman Catholic College. It is a shame that as a result of Sarah Teather cancelling Building Schools for the Future, this relaunch will not now be accompanied by a rebuild of the school's 1950s' buildings.
On Sunday, the Sunday Times published a story (behind a paywall unfortunately) criticising Sarah Teather for using her position as a minister to secure funding for the Crest Academies in Dollis Hill when 700 schools have had their building projects cancelled. Ed Balls has weighed in against her here. She is reported in the Sunday Times story as claiming that she was simply doing the best for her constituents.
Well if that is what she can do for her constituents in Dollis Hill, why can't she do the same for her constituents in Kensal Green, who go to Newman Catholic College?
On Sunday, the Sunday Times published a story (behind a paywall unfortunately) criticising Sarah Teather for using her position as a minister to secure funding for the Crest Academies in Dollis Hill when 700 schools have had their building projects cancelled. Ed Balls has weighed in against her here. She is reported in the Sunday Times story as claiming that she was simply doing the best for her constituents.
Well if that is what she can do for her constituents in Dollis Hill, why can't she do the same for her constituents in Kensal Green, who go to Newman Catholic College?
Monday, 13 September 2010
37 Mapesbury Road
Out of curiosity, I had a look at 37 Mapesbury Road, Oliver Sacks' old home. It is enormous, even for a large family. It is now the headquarters of the British Association of Psychotherapists.
Oliver Sacks
I got a copy of Oliver Sacks' Uncle Tungsten at the closing down sale of Kilburn Bookshop. I didn't realise at the time, but it is a local memoir. Sacks lived at 37 Mapesbury Road on the corner with Exeter Road. Apparently in the late 1930s Walm Lane synagogue had a congregation of 2,000. Sad that it is now closed entirely.
I also didn't realise how easy it was for a small boy to obtain dangerous chemicals in those days. At the age of ten, Sacks was apparently able to buy lethal doses of potassium cyanide. He also tells of dropping a three pound lump of Sodium into Highgate ponds to see how it would react.
I also didn't realise how easy it was for a small boy to obtain dangerous chemicals in those days. At the age of ten, Sacks was apparently able to buy lethal doses of potassium cyanide. He also tells of dropping a three pound lump of Sodium into Highgate ponds to see how it would react.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Summer Reading Challenge
I am delighted that more than 5,000 youngsters signed up to the Brent Library service Space Hop Summer Reading Challenge. That represents a substantial proportion of all the children in the Borough and is a real success for the Library service engagement with the public.
Lib Dem Parking Hypocrisy
I see that Brent Liberal Democrats have issued a press release attacking both our new emissions based parking permits and the Moving Traffic Offences decision. They called both into committee, but in neither case did they have an alternative to suggest. In the case of Moving Traffic offences this is not a surpise since it is merely the detail of a scheme decided on in early 2009 (with the concurrence of the then Lib Dem majority Executive). On emissions based permits, they have tossed away their green credentials with nothing to show in their place.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Harlesden Town Charter Published
The Harlesden Town Charter has now been published. This should now be used as a central reference document for the harlesden Town Centre area.
UPDATE
I understand the Charter has yet to go online on the Council web site. When it does, I will link to it, but copies have been printed and should be available from the Brent Council Transport Department.
UPDATE
I understand the Charter has yet to go online on the Council web site. When it does, I will link to it, but copies have been printed and should be available from the Brent Council Transport Department.
Brent Sustainability Forum
By the way, I should flag up the next Brent Sustainability Forum on 29 September at Brent Town Hall. Open to any, the main item under discussion will be the new waste management strategy. Unfortunately, it has been arranged for the same time as the Harlesden Area Consultative Forum (ACF) where there will be a discussion on the same subject.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Black History Month
October is Black History Month as I pointed out in June. I am delighted that Brent will have more than 60 events around the Borough. You can find details at http://www.brent.gov.uk/whatson.
Screen on the Green
Just a quick reminder about the outdoor film screenings put on by Brent Council and the Lexi Cinema in Roundwood Park You can book tickets here.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Waste Consultation Launched
You can give your views on the Brent Council Waste Strategy here. We are looking to massively increase Brent's recycling, and change the collection regime for every household in the Borough so there is a lot to take in. The new system will demand more engagement from the public so please have a look at the strategy and give your advice about what you would like to see.
Teather Defends Herself
The Willesden and Brent Times carries Sarah Teather's defence of her cancellation of Building Schools for the Future, which I find less than convincing.
The main argument appears to be that having been awarded money under the programme that she and her Tory Boss have cancelled we can now reapply for funding under a new scheme. Thanks a lot.
Her two main arguments against Building Schools for the Future don't stack up. Firstly, she points out that it took us a long time to be awarded the money because Building Schools for Future was specifically aimed at improving academic standards and despite all Brent's problems our schools were doing quite well academically. Well, that sounds like an argument about the past (and by they way does she really think it unreasonable to target education spend at improving academic standards?) rather than the present. It certainly does not explain why having been awarded the money last year, it is better to cancel the whole thing and set up a new bidding process that will inevitably lead to more delay. Her second argument is that the BSF programme was too bureaucratic. As far as I know neither Ms Teather nor her Tory boss Michael Gove have had much practical experience of building projects. Had they had some, I expect they would know that planning considerations, design, procurement for multi million pound projects are actually quite complicated.
The final argument she makes towards the end of the piece is that the money simply isn't there. This seems to be directly contrary to a letter I have seen from David Bell, the Permanent Secretary in her own department. To suggest that the Permanent Secretary of your department went along with irresponsible and unfunded spending is quite a bold accusation.
It also raises the question of how much money is actually in the Building Fund that Ms Teather is now forcing Brent Council to reapply to. If Building Schools for the Future had too little funding, I take it that Ms Teather is proposing a cut in spending, in line with her Tory masters' ideology. If the money is the same what was the point of cutting the funding Brent Council had already been given?
The main argument appears to be that having been awarded money under the programme that she and her Tory Boss have cancelled we can now reapply for funding under a new scheme. Thanks a lot.
Her two main arguments against Building Schools for the Future don't stack up. Firstly, she points out that it took us a long time to be awarded the money because Building Schools for Future was specifically aimed at improving academic standards and despite all Brent's problems our schools were doing quite well academically. Well, that sounds like an argument about the past (and by they way does she really think it unreasonable to target education spend at improving academic standards?) rather than the present. It certainly does not explain why having been awarded the money last year, it is better to cancel the whole thing and set up a new bidding process that will inevitably lead to more delay. Her second argument is that the BSF programme was too bureaucratic. As far as I know neither Ms Teather nor her Tory boss Michael Gove have had much practical experience of building projects. Had they had some, I expect they would know that planning considerations, design, procurement for multi million pound projects are actually quite complicated.
The final argument she makes towards the end of the piece is that the money simply isn't there. This seems to be directly contrary to a letter I have seen from David Bell, the Permanent Secretary in her own department. To suggest that the Permanent Secretary of your department went along with irresponsible and unfunded spending is quite a bold accusation.
It also raises the question of how much money is actually in the Building Fund that Ms Teather is now forcing Brent Council to reapply to. If Building Schools for the Future had too little funding, I take it that Ms Teather is proposing a cut in spending, in line with her Tory masters' ideology. If the money is the same what was the point of cutting the funding Brent Council had already been given?
Drugs Raid
Well done to the Kensal Green Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) for carrying out a successful raid on a property in Herbert Gardens NW10.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
A View from the Foothills
I recently finished Chris Mullin's A View from the Foothills, which is the predecessor to Decline and Fall that he is currently publicising.
What is most striking is the sense of utter impotence he feels as a junior government minister, epitomised by getting a document passed on to him to which a Civil Servant has appended "This seems a very priority. I suggest we pass it to Chris Mullin."
The only time this changes is when he becomes minister for Africa in the Foreign Office, which allows him to travel around meeting Prime Ministers and the like. It perhaps helps explain why many of our politicians get sucked into foreign policy, where they get a much greater sense of their own importance. One way of looking at our history over the past century is as a declining power desparately trying to behave like a Great Power, but only able to do so on a smaller and smaller scale.
What is most striking is the sense of utter impotence he feels as a junior government minister, epitomised by getting a document passed on to him to which a Civil Servant has appended "This seems a very priority. I suggest we pass it to Chris Mullin."
The only time this changes is when he becomes minister for Africa in the Foreign Office, which allows him to travel around meeting Prime Ministers and the like. It perhaps helps explain why many of our politicians get sucked into foreign policy, where they get a much greater sense of their own importance. One way of looking at our history over the past century is as a declining power desparately trying to behave like a Great Power, but only able to do so on a smaller and smaller scale.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Brent Triumph at London in Bloom
Brent triumphed at the London in Bloom awards on Friday. Brent got a Gold Standard award for Roundwood Park, Fryent Country Park and Mapesbury Dell as well as a Silver Gilt award for Gladstone Park. Brent also got a Best in Category Award for the Large City Award. This covers not just the park service but also the public realm in general.
Roundabout Leak
I have asked Council officers to enquire about the persistent water leak at the roundabout at the bottom of Harlesden Road and Wrottesley Road. It seems to get patched from time to time and then reappear.
By the way, ThamesWater have informed me that the leak in front of Kensal Green Tube Station is being repaired.
By the way, ThamesWater have informed me that the leak in front of Kensal Green Tube Station is being repaired.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Teutonic Efficiency
Interesting comparison between the German and the UK approach to waste management. The Germans produce much less greenhouse gases despite have similar levels of municipal solid waste. The reason is that they have a far higher rate of recycling, and almost no landfill. As a result, their emissions from MSW are a fifth the level of ours.
Surely there can't be any reason that whatever technologies or methods they are using can't also be used in the UK.
Surely there can't be any reason that whatever technologies or methods they are using can't also be used in the UK.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
More Spending Cuts
Although coping with the Con Dem government's spending cuts over the past few weeks has been pretty difficult _ green zones, free swimming grant, performance reward grant and so on _ it is worth pointing out that things can only get worse. On 20 October, the new government will announce the local government spending settlement for the next four years. All the signs are that it will include the worst cuts in local government funding since Thatcher.
What makes it all the more incredible is that the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have no electoral mandate for imposing this Thatcherite agenda, and the Liberal democrats explicitly campaigning against it during the General Election (although that now seems to have been mere point scoring like the VAT increase campaign).
What makes it all the more incredible is that the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have no electoral mandate for imposing this Thatcherite agenda, and the Liberal democrats explicitly campaigning against it during the General Election (although that now seems to have been mere point scoring like the VAT increase campaign).
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Street Trees
Here is a picture of a damaged street tree I found blocking the pavement in Buckingham Road a couple of weeks ago. You can report these to streetcare@brent.gov.uk, who are responsible for keeping the pavement clear
Friday, 3 September 2010
Dumping and the Twenty Five Pound Charge
Brent's new Labour Administration will abolish the twenty five pound charge for bulky item collections from the 1st October. Amazingly, Paul Lorber and Brent Liberal Democrats still want the charge to remain and have suggested that our plans for its abolition should be scrapped. So I guess it makes sense to go through the arguments again.
Brent had free collections until July 2007. The introduction of the charge by the Lib Dems saw an immediate fall in the number of people using the service. Special collections fell by two thirds and have drifted down further since. This meant that the expected income from the service never materialised. The initial estimate was 275k and the actual income was about 53k in the first year. I don't think it has ever gone higher than that, so in fiscal terms the charge was a failure.
One also has to ask where all these items that the Council used to collect are now going. The Council reckons that even the 25 charge was a more or less subsidised rate. If so, any private contractor who offered a lesser rate would be trading at a loss. Of course, this would only remain true if the contractor got rid of the item legitimately. If the private contractor drives round the corner and dumps it somewhere, he is effectively getting the Council to pay for disposal, and pocketing whatever the householder gave him. This, I suspect, is what has been happening.
Brent had free collections until July 2007. The introduction of the charge by the Lib Dems saw an immediate fall in the number of people using the service. Special collections fell by two thirds and have drifted down further since. This meant that the expected income from the service never materialised. The initial estimate was 275k and the actual income was about 53k in the first year. I don't think it has ever gone higher than that, so in fiscal terms the charge was a failure.
One also has to ask where all these items that the Council used to collect are now going. The Council reckons that even the 25 charge was a more or less subsidised rate. If so, any private contractor who offered a lesser rate would be trading at a loss. Of course, this would only remain true if the contractor got rid of the item legitimately. If the private contractor drives round the corner and dumps it somewhere, he is effectively getting the Council to pay for disposal, and pocketing whatever the householder gave him. This, I suspect, is what has been happening.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Changes to the NHS
One of the startling changes that I don't recall featuring in the General Election Campaign are those to the NHS. They are beiing floated in the typically chaotic way that characterises the Con Dem government.
In terms of local authorities, we are being told that we will be given responsibility for "public health" but not being told what is included in that, or what the resources will be. We are also being told that the PCTs are being effectively abolished, and replaced with GP consortia. I doubt whether handing over billions of pounds to consortia with little or no experience of commissioning is going to be a problem free exercise.
This government really does look as if it is heading for a car crash.
In terms of local authorities, we are being told that we will be given responsibility for "public health" but not being told what is included in that, or what the resources will be. We are also being told that the PCTs are being effectively abolished, and replaced with GP consortia. I doubt whether handing over billions of pounds to consortia with little or no experience of commissioning is going to be a problem free exercise.
This government really does look as if it is heading for a car crash.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Without Question
Just thought I would air my frustration that Brent Council does not allow one to search for members' questions on its web site. Aside from the information in the answers, it is also a much better way of assessing whether non-Executive members are active than the fairly useless statistics on attendance at committees. After all, you can turn up to a committee meeting and say nothing, but putting a question at least implies some sort of interest in the topic at hand.
Just on principle, constituents should be able to find out what their representatives have said.
Just on principle, constituents should be able to find out what their representatives have said.
Unity Centre
Very good meeting at the Unity Centre on Church Road by BTSWC, with a video by young people on flytipping. Hopefully, lots of people will start responding to our consultation on waste management over the next few weeks, and we can start to reduce flytipping.
The - ling Suffix
Some days ago, I referred to Sarah Teather as Michael Gove's underling, and it has set me thinking about why that suffix is almost always perjorative. Of course, defining someone by an unattractive quality like "weakling" or "underling" is automatically insulting, but I can't think of any words with the good old Anglo-Saxon ending of ling that aren't.
Had I referred to Ms Teather as a hireling, it would also sound pretty bad, as in Doctor Johnson's definition of a state pensioner. Although all it actually means is someone paid for what they do.
Similar the two uses of groundling I have come across are also quite disdainful. Shakespearian scholars always assume the groundlings in his audience (who stood before the stage and were poorest) were the stupidest and crudest, although I don't see why they can't have been as able as some of the people in the stalls. I recently came across a more unusual use of "groundling" in Max Hastings' Korean War history. Again it described the air force pilots as looking down on groundlings who couldn't fly.
The only exceptions I can think of are Tolkein and CS Lewis referring to themselves as Inklings (more of a joke) and a 16th century use of "homeling" to refer to indigenous people.
Perhaps, it is inherently insulting to define someone by one quality and no other.
Had I referred to Ms Teather as a hireling, it would also sound pretty bad, as in Doctor Johnson's definition of a state pensioner. Although all it actually means is someone paid for what they do.
Similar the two uses of groundling I have come across are also quite disdainful. Shakespearian scholars always assume the groundlings in his audience (who stood before the stage and were poorest) were the stupidest and crudest, although I don't see why they can't have been as able as some of the people in the stalls. I recently came across a more unusual use of "groundling" in Max Hastings' Korean War history. Again it described the air force pilots as looking down on groundlings who couldn't fly.
The only exceptions I can think of are Tolkein and CS Lewis referring to themselves as Inklings (more of a joke) and a 16th century use of "homeling" to refer to indigenous people.
Perhaps, it is inherently insulting to define someone by one quality and no other.