Brent Fightback

Next Brent Fightback meeting is Monday 4th April 7.30 pm at Brent Trades Hall
375 High Rd, Willesden NW10 2JR
Below information about the
likely effect of the Housing Benefit caps on Brent. It is likely to be one of
the worst affected boroughs.The housing benefit caps come into effect in April
i.e. VERY soon.This info came from Cllr Van Kawala via Graham Durham, who
attended the Housing Emergency demonstration on Wednesday
morning.:
I> From: cllr.zaffar.vankalwala@brent.gov.uk
> To: cllr.zaffar.vankalwala@brent.gov.uk>> Please see
attached for my recent article in the Brent & Kilburn Times on housing
benefit caps. > > I've also attached the Budget and Finance
Committee Report which gives details (Page 9) of the number of local residents
that will be affected by the changes.> > Brent will be one of the
worst affected areas in the country. The council is expecting caps on the Local
Housing Allowance (LHA) to affect 1,988 households and the reduction of the LHA
to the 30th percentile calculation to affect 6,270 households. Furthermore , the
reduction to Council Tax benefit by 10% from 1 April 2013 will affect a
staggering 34,327 households.> Next Meeting for all London's local boroughs anti-cuts
alliancesWednesday 4th April, 7pmCamden Town Hall - Judd Street, WC1H 9JE (near Kings Cross):
Room 4 - venue fully accessible - NOTE NEW VENUE.To promote
communication, solidarity and co-ordination. Reports of local anti-cuts
campaigning, plus local angles on London-wide anti-cuts struggles (eg NHS,
housing, welfare, related industrial disputes etc). Active members and reps of
all London's local alliances and coalitions, and supporting organisations, are
welcome.
LONDON'S LOCAL ANTI-CUTS
ALLIANCEShttp://falseeconomy.org.uk/campaigns/london/all/t1www.hapsnews.net/londons-borough-wide-anti-cuts-alliances
NHS
NW London Hospitals are running into deficit. The merger
between Central Middlesex, Northwick Park and Ealing Hospitals and between
Brent, Harrow and Ealing community services is going ahead, The news that £180m
is to be given to Northwick Park for a new A & E department suggests that A
& E at CMH (still closed at night although the trust claim that they are
trying to recruit a doctor so that it can open again) is at risk of permanent
and complete closure. Brent, Ealing and Harrow Trades Councils are trying to
organise a joint public meeting - suggested date April 18th so that we can
ensure that changes made as a result of the merger protect jobs and result in
improved services for patients, provided where they are most needed. For useful
information about the background information that shows where there is most
need, you can access the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment from the Brent Council
website www.brent.gov.uk . The area
profiles (links along the side of the JSNA) give more detail ward by ward and GP
practice by GP practice. The policy that has been followed by NW London
Hospitals Trust in recent years of moving services from CMH to Northwick Park,
moves them away from the areas of greatest need in many
cases.
EDUCATION
The fate of the central
services provided to schools by Brent Council is still uncertain and more
schools all the time are feeling under pressure to change to Academy
status.
ACTION TO DEFEND
PENSIONS AND PUBLIC SERVICES
Brent
Fightback supported the teachers and lecturers taking strike action on
Wednesday. The Fightback banner was on the picket line at CNWL, Dudden Hill,
then on the march from Malet St to Westminster. Fightback supporters visited
other picket lines to show their support before joining the demo. The increased
pension contributions for public service worker will be stolen from their
salaries from April.
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL TO DISCUSS, SO PLEASE TRY TO COME
ALONG.