tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20314165658122316732024-02-20T22:13:39.889-08:00Brent FightbackCampaigning against cuts and privatisationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-14154606156099605132015-09-03T11:08:00.000-07:002015-09-03T11:09:12.295-07:00Rage Against the Tories Manchester Oct 4th Book your coach seat now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-30203461943107033892015-04-27T07:04:00.002-07:002015-04-27T07:05:02.038-07:00Mansfield calls for scrapping/suspension of Shaping A Healthier Future<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVSFXWIN28GbjAI6RvPrRtUk0xfNnEIb227ojGLEXBoci1QkXrmBpdXq3HcJfEWWg6wC41SPmudfraKOt0Cu5zmLdy5Tp3i6h3Pr0oKiCDo9mO8c-6D5q8FLbnSUE1RyhCFTzGKZ1ffmX/s1600/whitehall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVSFXWIN28GbjAI6RvPrRtUk0xfNnEIb227ojGLEXBoci1QkXrmBpdXq3HcJfEWWg6wC41SPmudfraKOt0Cu5zmLdy5Tp3i6h3Pr0oKiCDo9mO8c-6D5q8FLbnSUE1RyhCFTzGKZ1ffmX/s1600/whitehall.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Mansfield Commission's Interim Report into the Shaping A Health<span style="font-family: inherit;">ie</span>r Future consultati<span style="font-family: inherit;">o</span>n states of the <span style="font-family: inherit;">pro</span>gram<span style="font-family: inherit;">me</span> that would rsult in the closure of four of the nine acute hospital sites in the North <span style="font-family: inherit;">Wes</span>t London area and the loss of Central Middlesex A&E:</span></span> <style><!--
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The SaHF programme in our view was a preconceived
solution that was imposed on the North West London health system without there
being any clear problem that it was designed to solve. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
In particular there was no proper assessment of
the needs of the whole area to which the health and social care system would
respond.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The following reco<span style="font-family: inherit;">mme</span>ndations are made:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>We recommend that the
SaHF programme is abolished / suspended, thereby saving a considerable sum at
one fell swoop. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>We recommend that an
independent review of the North West London health system is undertaken under
the auspices of a joint health and local authority initiative that builds its
case on a thorough assessment of the needs for health and social care of local
populations, at local levels. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>There must be no
presumption that so-called ‘reconfiguration’ of acute services is the solution
to what may not be a problem at all. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>In addition there
must be no presumption that the solution will involve a top-down approach
across the whole area as SaHF assumed; there should be an openness to
consideration of local solutions possibly at the borough level where these can
be shown to work. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>The NHS and local
authorities must agree to work together to achieve a joint aim to provide good
accessible health and social care to all local populations within a sustainable
financial model. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>We recommend that the
attempt to close Ealing and Charing Cross hospitals is immediately stopped;
that a guarantee is given to sustain acute health services on these sites –
with no more double talk from NHS leaders – until the above review is complete
and any associated business cases are taken through to Full Business Case
level, which is likely to be at least five years. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">7.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>We recommend that in
the light of current failures in the system in North West London there is an
independent review of the emergency system under the auspices of the above
joint health and local authority initiative; and that this as a matter of
urgency examines the closure of Hammersmith and Central Middlesex A&E
departments with a view to opening these, if that is what the review suggests
is needed, and what local people want. Local people must be given honest and
genuine choices; the opportunity cost of retaining these sites as A&Es must
be made apparent. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">8.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>We recommend that
there is a review of primary care services in the region, and that following
this review, immediate steps are taken to rectify any issues. However any
investment must be based on a clear business case that relates costs and
benefits to changes across the whole system. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">9.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Likewise we recommend
that there is a review of OOH services in the region, to establish a clear case
if it exists for OOH acting as a way of reducing demand for acute services, and
also as a way of reducing total system costs. Following this review, any
investment in OOH services must be based on a clear business case that relates
costs and benefits to changes across the whole system. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">10.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>In the case of
changes that take place in primary care and OOH services as a result of the
reviews outlined above, there must be a clear business case presented that
makes a clear case for system- wide improvement arising out of these changes,
and this should be consulted on with the relevant local populations; there
should be no assumption that this is the population of the whole of North West
London. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The full report can be read here: </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="288" scrolling="no" src="https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=D524A61DAE3D76CD&resid=D524A61DAE3D76CD%214883&authkey=AOXAplaFjkzh7ck&em=2" width="476"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium; line-height: 100%;"><b>The
commission's
final public
session will
be held at the Brent Civic Centre on Saturday 9 May 9am-5pm. Brent
Trades Council and Brent Fightback are among those who have submitted
evidence. It would be good to have as many health campaigners as possible at this </b></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 13px;"><b>session. More evidence will be heard</b></span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-56447395914650624572015-03-01T07:13:00.001-08:002015-03-01T07:13:52.559-08:00Brent Council Budget protest Monday 6.30pm Civic Centre<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-1630940402408957992015-02-20T05:08:00.002-08:002015-02-20T05:09:18.943-08:00Brent fighting back against the cuts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe width="480" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VkFF0dkI2Hw?list=UUMQdWx1-B7B-VRfD2-uETRw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-19770944998708505232015-02-19T09:18:00.002-08:002015-02-19T09:18:15.536-08:00Claim Back Our Cash - Reclaim Our Services<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-90283015427353529942015-02-19T09:15:00.002-08:002015-02-19T09:15:08.744-08:00Challenge the cuts at Cabinet on Monday February 23rd<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Monday's
Cabinet will be approving the budget to go to the Full Council on March
2nd amidst press coverage of the row over the leadership refusing to
take account of the vote of the Labour Group in favour of a Council Tax
rise.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile residents, and particularly the young and parents, have got togather to challenge some of those cuts.<br />
<br />
The
Cabinet will be receiving an unusually high number of petitions,
accompanied by speeches from the petition organisers, which indicates
the strength of feeling in the borough.<br />
<br />
I am sure they will welcome support from the public at the meeting which starts at 7pm in the Civic Centre. <br />
<br />
These are the petitions:<br />
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<h1>
Cabinet – 23 February 2015 </h1>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Petitions have been received in the following terms in
response to the budget proposals: </div>
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1)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Keep Stonebridge
Adventure Playground Open “We the undersigned insist that the redevelopment of</div>
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Stonebridge School and the new housing, includes
keeping the Stonebridge Adventure Playground open.” </div>
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<div class="MsoMessageHeader" style="background: #CCCCCC; mso-pattern: gray-20 auto; mso-shading: windowtext;">
From:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brent
Play Association </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoList">
2)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Keep Welsh Harp
Environmental Study Centre open This petition comprises numerous letters from
individual children at Chalkhill Primary School. </div>
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From:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Chalkhill
Primary School </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoList">
3)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Save our youth service
(paper and e petition) </div>
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“Youth services are vital for young people as well as the
community and we </div>
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believe there will be an adverse effect if the service no
longer exists. This will </div>
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put added pressure on statutory services such as the Youth
Offending </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Service, the police and social care. We call on Brent
Council to consult with young people effectively before making any cuts to any
youth provision in the borough. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
We call on Brent Council to scrutinise existing provision
to ensure that these </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
resources are appropriate and effective. The young people
of Brent are willing and able to assist Brent Council with this important task.
We call upon Brent Council to consider the voice ofyoung people in the light of
these savings!” </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
E-petition: started by Roisin Healy (Brent Youth
Parliament) </div>
<div class="MsoList">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a>4)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Save
School Crossings Patrols </div>
<div class="MsoListContinueCxSpFirst">
“Brent Council is under a legal duty to
promote road safety and to promote sustainable transport, such as walking and
cycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Road traffic accidents are the
biggest killer of children in the UK (they peak when children start primary
school and secondary school). 2011-2020 is the United Nations Decade of Action
for Road Safety. School Patrol Officers are an integral partof the community,
ensuring the safety of our children and they encourage children to have
independence. Many schools in Brent are on busy roads (e.g. Salusbury Primary
School and Islamia on Salusbury Road in NW6) which are only going to get busier
with new housing developments with a new influx of cars and residents. Our
roads should become safer places for our children, not more dangerous. And
children should be encouraged to walk and cycle to school rather than be
driven.” </div>
<div class="MsoListContinueCxSpLast">
E petition started by: Michelle Goldsmith on
behalf of local residents .</div>
<div class="MsoList">
5)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Leopold Primary School
- save our School Patrol </div>
<div class="MsoListContinueCxSpFirst">
Officer </div>
<div class="MsoListContinueCxSpLast">
“Brent Council is considering removing our
Lollipop crossing patrol at Hawkshead Road. The School is surrounded by several
busy roads. We believe this is unacceptable and will directly put our children
in danger of a road traffic accident.”</div>
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<div class="MsoMessageHeader" style="background: #CCCCCC; mso-pattern: gray-20 auto; mso-shading: windowtext;">
From:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the
Parent, Teachers and Friends Association of Leopold Primary </div>
<div class="MsoMessageHeader" style="background: #CCCCCC; mso-pattern: gray-20 auto; mso-shading: windowtext;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>School
</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoList">
6)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Keep Bridge Park
Community Leisure Centre Open </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListContinueCxSpFirst">
“The centre provides a venue for many members
of our<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>local community and plays a vital
part in our leisure time. Many of us use the facility on a weekly basis to play
football, use the gym, relax in the steam and sauna and meet friends. The
centre hosts children education, courses and activities th at are beneficial to
their development. The centre serves as a venue where rooms can be hired to
many different groups who hold meetings, training and celebrations. Closing
Bridge Park would affect all of us in different ways. We need this Centre to
remain open so that our young people have a place to meet and do sports in a
safe environment. </div>
<div class="MsoListContinueCxSpLast">
Stonebridge is a deprived area and we feel
that crime and unsocial behaviour will increase if the centre is closed. Unlike
a few years ago the centre now is used by men and women of all ages and faith.
People come to Bridge Park to get fit and improve their health. Although we
understand that the council funds are limited, the cost of dealing with health
and antisocial behaviour will far outweigh the cost of operating our leisure centre.
We have signed below to show our opposition to the closure.” </div>
<div style="background: #CCCCCC; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-pattern: gray-20 auto; mso-shading: windowtext; padding: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt;">
<div class="MsoMessageHeader" style="background: #CCCCCC; mso-pattern: gray-20 auto; mso-shading: windowtext;">
From:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr
Adam, Tordjok, local resident. </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-5342814526780415712015-02-12T08:03:00.004-08:002015-02-12T08:03:58.801-08:00Extra time to write to the Independent Healthcare Commission about health cuts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Independent Healthcare Commission set up by four boroughs and
chaired by Michael Mansfield QC to look into the effects so far of the
implementation of the Shaping a Healthier Future proposals has extend
the deadline for submitting evidence to February 24th. This is the
evidence Brent fightback has submitted:<br /> <br /> In addition to the
points made in the BTUC submission which Brent Fightback endorses, we
would like to add that effective out of hospital care, care in the
community, cannot be provided if social care provided by the Council is
slashed. <br /> <br /> Brent Council's funding has been drastically cut and
among their proposals to achieve a balanced budget are many cuts which
will severely damage the quality of care available - in particular the
reduction in time from 30 to 15 minutes for carers' visits which has
been widely criticised by elderly peoples' charities as ineffective and
dehumanising. Also the closure of the (ironically titled New Millenium
Day Centre which caters for 80 plus people with complex mental and
physical needs - the group SAHF proposals are supposed to focus on.<br /> <br />
Also the withdrawal of any provision for rough sleepers who have a high
level of unmet health needs and already a disproportionately high level
of A&E attendances because they lack alternative means of care.<br /> <br />
At the other end of their residents' lives, Brent Council proposes to
close ten of its seventeen children's centres. As well as providing
facilities for play and education, children's centres often host health
services for under-fives including baby and child clinics and advice on
health and diet for parents and their small children. Brent has a very
poor record on child immunisation, dental health, child mental health
and obesity. If these facilities are lost, the NHS primary care services
will be put under even more strain.<br />
<br />
<b>This is the Submission made by Brent Trade Union Council</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over many years the Brent Trade Union Council
has campaigned with other concerned organisations and the local trade union
movement about the cuts to the local health service.Our colleagues in the
health service unions warned us that the removal of services from Central
Middlesex Hospital (CMH) would lead to the eventual closure of A & E. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Central Middlesex Hospital was rebuilt and
extensively modernised at a cost of more than £62 million, reopening fully in
2008. This modernisation was funded in large part by PFI and was specifically
designed for emergency medicine. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In spite of this, over the intervening years,
many services have been moved from CMH to Northwick Park Hospital in a far more
prosperous area. Services were transferred without consultation, because there
was no obligation to consult since the two hospitals were part of the same
trust. Staff were often given only a few days' notice that they were required
to transfer and eventually Central Middlesex was left without the back up
services needed for its A & E to remain viable. So we have a situation
where management moved the services, then used it as a justification for saying
that A & E was no longer safe or effective as maintaining an A & E
service is dependent on the full range of hospital services being available to
patients. Yet, right up to the day of its closure the A & E department at
CMH was still being sent patients from the overstretched departments at both
Northwick Park and St Mary's. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having moved so many services to Northwick Park
and closed the A & E at Central Middlesex, the CCG is now responsible for a
splendid modern building which they will have to pay for until the end of the
PFI contract and the dilemma of how to make use of it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout these years, Primary care services
have been severely overstretched and continue to be so despite the Shaping a
Healthier Future organisation and the local CCG having a “vision” of improving
those services by investing to prevent illness, lessen the need for hospital
admissions and shorten the length of time patients need to spend in </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">hospital. Of course the BTUC supports
improvements in primary care, but promises were made that these improvements
would be in place before radical changes were made to hospital services.
However, they remain, to quote the CCG's own documents, “visions” and
“aspirations”. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a crisis in recruitment of GPs,
community nurses, health visitors and other staff needed to transform these
visions and aspirations into reality, just as there is a crisis of recruitment
for hospital staff and an expensive and destabilising reliance on agency staff.
BTUC believes that the government's refusal to pay NHS staff even the 1%
advised by their own pay review body and the housing crisis which is extreme in
Brent, contribute to the recruitment crisis in the NHS, while cuts to the
Council's budget threaten the provision of adequate social care, essential if
patients' needs are to be met in the community. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The two Brent wards closest to the hospital,
Stonebridge and Harlesden, are some of the most deprived in the Borough. The
Locality Profile for Harlesden makes for grim reading. Harlesden is ranked in
30s for deprivation for England. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite having a young population 32% below the
age of 20 years, in Harlesden ward, life expectancy is 13.4 years for men and
9.6 years for women <i>less </i>than the highest expectancy rate in Dudden Hill
ward. It can be described by a tube train journey. If you take the train from
Harlesden station and travel a few station north you will gain a decade in life
expectancy. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chronic Illness is significantly higher when
compared to London and England figures, the biggest killers are Cancer,
Circulatory and Respiratory diseases. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mental illness affects one in six residents, TB
is the second highest in the Borough and HIV is “considered to be very high”
(Locality Profile). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Too many Children are found to be obese in their
reception year when starting school and teenage pregnancies are also high. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have only outlined a few items from the Brent
Locality Profile for Harlesden Ward but we want to emphasise how completely
unacceptable it is to close the A&E and other services in the middle of a
population that so desperately needs a proper A&E and the important the
general health services that go with it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To compound this misery the facilities at
Northwick Park which is the A&E that is suppose to replace the CMH
facility, cannot cope with the extra load from the CMH and was rated as the
worst A&E in the country. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The near impossibility of using public transport
to go to Northwick Park. The difficulty of taking a sick child in the middle of
the night to the A&E does not bear thinking about. Again the Harlesden and
Stonebridge wards have the lowest levels of car ownership and minicab costs are
prohibitive for those on low incomes. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brent Trades Council also want to support and be
associated with the submission from The Hammersmith and Charing Cross Save Our
Hospital Campaigns. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On behalf of the Brent Trades Union Council
please place our submission before Mr Mansfield. </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Brent Fighback adds:</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="color: #1a1a1a;">In addition to the points made in the
BTUC submission which Brent Fightback endorses, we would like to add that
effective out of hospital care, care in the community, cannot be provided if
social care provided by the Council is slashed.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="color: #1a1a1a;">Brent Council's funding has been
drastically cut and among their proposals to achieve a balanced budget are many
cuts which will severely damage the quality of care available - in particular
the reduction in time from 30 to 15 minutes for carers' visits which has been
widely criticised by elderly peoples' charities as ineffective and
dehumanising. Also the closure of the (ironically titled New Millenium Day
Centre which caters for 80 plus people with complex mental and physical needs -
the group SAHF proposals are supposed to focus on.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="color: #3e003f;">Also the withdrawal of any provision
for rough sleepers who have a high level of unmet health needs and already a
disproportionately high level of A&E attendances because they lack
alternative means of care.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="color: #1a1a1a;">At the other end of their residents'
lives, Brent Council proposes to close ten of its seventeen children's centres.
As well as providing facilities for play and education, children's centres
often host health services for under-fives including baby and child clinics and
advice on health and diet for parents and their small children. Brent has a
very poor record on child immunisation, dental health, child mental health and
obesity. If these facilities are lost, the NHS primary care services will be
put under even more strain.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="UZ-CYR" style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'ArialMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Submissions should be made to: Peter Smith,
Clerk to the Commission, at Hammersmith & Fulham Council. Submissions should be
addressed to him at Room 39, Hammersmith Town Hall, London W6 9JU or sent by
email to </span><span style="color: rgb(0.000000%, 0.000000%, 100.000000%); font-family: 'ArialMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">peter.smith@lbhf.gov.uk</span><span style="font-family: 'ArialMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">. Later submissions will be forwarded to the
Commission but may not be given the same attention as those received by the
deadline.
</span><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-58598759896948949992015-02-10T07:18:00.001-08:002015-02-10T07:18:26.399-08:00Brent Fights Back - Claim Back Our Cash!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoDZ8TQ0UIEaEbmUjKR5lKyzzsyjXGuiw6Zlj75rY3b0EKKr1bpsa8-f0_-RghZsPpi2vbedhiU5zV0AIGdt7AUwYDH9Uq_xEEkDaQDBq_w4H4oQGxcYfUQD0ekvhNR6i1P8xTp6yLTbb/s1600/FightbackMeeting1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoDZ8TQ0UIEaEbmUjKR5lKyzzsyjXGuiw6Zlj75rY3b0EKKr1bpsa8-f0_-RghZsPpi2vbedhiU5zV0AIGdt7AUwYDH9Uq_xEEkDaQDBq_w4H4oQGxcYfUQD0ekvhNR6i1P8xTp6yLTbb/s1600/FightbackMeeting1.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-41792463520722867512014-12-07T12:30:00.002-08:002014-12-07T13:03:09.378-08:00Brent Council's latest savage cuts are intolerable - time to make a stand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Brent Council has now published its draft proposals for cuts in services
that will be considered by the Cabinet on Monday December 15th. The
document is available <a href="http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/s28287/budget-app1.htm"><span style="color: red;"><b>HERE </b></span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Readers are advised to read the
whole document as it is impossible to prove the full detail here.
Please post comments drawing attention to anything I have over-looked or
to outline its impact on staff or service users.</span></span><br />
<br />
The cuts are divided up into four categories:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Stopping Services Completely</li>
<li>Leverage in Resources and Income</li>
<li>Building Independence and Community Resilience</li>
<li>Driving Organisational Efficiency</li>
</ul>
The document needs careful study and I will update this posting throughout the day as I go through it but the headlines are:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cessation of all Youth Services in the borough</li>
<li>Close 10 of the 17 Children's Centres</li>
<li>Close Welsh Harp Education Centre</li>
<li>Cease all School Crossing Patrols</li>
<li>Close Energy Solutions</li>
<li>Cease funding for Stonebridge Adventure Playground</li>
<li>Cease grant to Energy Solutions </li>
<li>Close one Leisure Centre </li>
<li>Gradually reduce grant to Tricycle Theatre to zero</li>
<li>Reduce respite care by £450,000</li>
<li>Reduce Day Care by up to 40%</li>
<li>Reduce Connexions to the minimum</li>
<li>End rough sleepers service </li>
<li>No litter clearing in residential roads, no pavement mechanical sweepers, no weekend litter service in parks</li>
<li>Reduce face to face customers service at Civic Centre to 2 days a week by appointment</li>
</ul>
One of the problems in reading this report is the avoidance of
the word cuts and the selling of them in some cases as advantageous for
service users. It would be much better to admit that they are severe
cuts and are going to seriously affect service users. The pretence feeds
into the Coalition's justification for cuts and claims of local
government profligacy.<br />
<br />
How many different ways can you avoid saying cuts? <br />
<br />
Under
the 'Organisational Efficiency' heading there are are a number
strategies that could worsen services or undermine the working
conditions of employees.<br />
<br />
These include in Adult and Social Care The report's terminology):<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Negotiate with Residential and Nursing Care providers to ensure value for money</li>
<li>Reduce service user and carer engagement to a minimum</li>
<li>Close New Millennium and Kingsbury Resource Day Centres</li>
<li>Change Tudor Garden Residential Home to Supported Living accommodation</li>
<li>Increasing the number of Direct Payment personal care assistants</li>
<li>'Transforming' the Mental Health Social Care model to save £750k</li>
<li>Reduce social work staff in Adult Social Care by 20% over two years</li>
<li>Reduce Learning and Development to statutory minimum</li>
</ul>
In Children and Young People <br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Early Years - review future resource requirements in general workforce budgets</li>
<li>Reduce support and delivery costs of the Youth Offending Team</li>
<li>Reduce cost of Special Educational Needs assessments by restructuring staff</li>
<li>Integrate Children's Information Service with other customer services - reduction of 50%</li>
<li>Children's placements - includes some Looked After children
currently in residential placement moved to independent foster agencies</li>
<li>Children with disabilities -end summer playscheme, more direct payments, reduce overall level of support</li>
<li>Reduce managerial posts in Children's Social Care</li>
</ul>
Environment and Neighbourhood Services<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Transfer
management of libraries to an established library trust resulting in business
rates savings</li>
<li>Reduce library book stock to CIPFA bench-marked average </li>
<li>Delete Environment Projects and Policy Team</li>
<li>Stop nearly all Sports Development work including school holiday programmes</li>
<li>Brent Transport Services - end the employment of in-house drivers and attendants</li>
<li>Reduce the Emergency Planning Team by one post - will require arrangement with another borough to maintain 24/7 coverage </li>
<li>Review regulatory services and consider shared services with another borough</li>
</ul>
Regeneration and Growth<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li> Reduce
the number of Housing Options Officer posts by 4, over a two year period from
2016/17</li>
<li> Proposals
will be developed for increased income from the Civic Centre. The additional
income assumed from 16/17 onwards assumes that an additional floor being made
available and a tenant found to occupy the space on a commercial basis from
2016.</li>
</ul>
Human Resources<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It
is proposed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to carry out a major
reconfiguration of the HR service in 2015/16 saving £1.4m by 2016/17. This
will result in the merging of some areas in order to reduce the number of
managers required in the new structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the intention to devolve responsibility for some existing
activities undertaken by the Learning and Development team to HR
Managers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other activities will be accommodated
by a new performance team with a broader remit which will include resourcing,
workforce development, policy and projects.</li>
<li> In addition it is proposed to cap
the existing trade union facilities time allocation awarded to GMB and Unison
to a maximum of 1 x PO1 post per trade union, to move the occupational
health service inhouse saving £60k and reduce the learning and development
budget by £67k. In year 2016/17 further reductions in staffing can be
potentially achieved through shared service arrangements within payroll,
pensions, HR management information and recruitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-82813104106304841742014-10-01T09:03:00.001-07:002014-10-01T09:03:18.013-07:00New Borough Plan will decide our services to be cut over the next 4 years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Christine Gilbert, Interim Chief Executive of Brent Council, has been
kept on to work on the new Borough Plan, according to Muhammed Butt,
Labour leader of Brent Council, <br />
<br />
Although the Borough
Plan sounds innocuous and not a little boring, it would be wise to look a
little more closely. It is really the Council's attempt at embedding
future cuts into a long-term plan. Cuts that many see as meaning the end
of local government as we know it.<br />
<br />
The Borough Plan
will earmark services to be cut as well as to be preserved. As such is
is more important that the annual budget making as the budget making
will be informed by its priorities.<br />
<br />
It basically
signals that the Council will acquiece in the cuts rather than
challenging them and leading the community in campaigning against them.<br />
<br />
We are being asked to tell the Council which of our limbs we want to cut off first.<br />
<br />
The Council makes no secret of this but local residents may have missed the introduction on its website.<br />
<br />
Here it is:<br />
<h3>
The Brent Borough Plan 2015/19 Consultation</h3>
Brent residents are being asked for their views on how local public
services should evolve and what they can do to improve the borough given
the continuing squeeze on budgets.<br />
<br />
The borough plan consultation opens today (September 16) and invites
residents to help shape the future of the borough in the context of
significantly reduced budgets for local public services.<br />
<br />
Over the next four years services in Brent face the most challenging
financial cuts ever. The council’s budget alone is expected to be halved
by 2018.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="btn-tab" href="http://brent.gov.uk/your-council/the-borough-plan-consultation/" id="b_haveyoursayA" title="The Borough Plan Consultation">Have your say now</a></div>
<br />
Brent also has increasing demands on public services with a growing
population, more babies being born, more people moving into the borough
and more people living longer. To meet these challenges some services
will need to be delivered in different ways and some stopped altogether.
Residents are being asked what their priorities are through a series of
surveys and public meetings throughout September and October.<br />
<br />
Residents are being asked how they could play a vital role in their
local community as well as how services should be designed in the
future. In some cases, prioritising one area will mean that something
else has to be cut back, or stopped altogether.<br />
<br />
Leader of the Council, <a href="http://brent.gov.uk/muhammeds-blog/" title="Muhammed's Blog">Councillor Muhammed Butt</a>, says: “Brent has been through tough financial times – which are sadly not yet over.<br />
<br />
“Local public services face the same challenges, those of reducing
income and increasing costs, which many of our residents are facing.<br />
<br />
“For example, by 2018 Brent Council's funding from central government
will have been cut in half. To put this in context, we would need to
more than double council tax next year to start plugging the gap in the
council’s budget and this would still not address the shortfalls in
other local service budgets such as the Police and Fire Brigade.<br />
<br />
“This harsh reality means we will inevitably face tough choices in
the coming months and years and this is why the borough plan
consultation is so important in informing the future of Brent.<br />
<br />
“All of the organisations involved in the consultation want to work
with local people to make sure that our plans are the right way forward
given the limits we are all working with.<br />
<br />
“This is your Brent, your community and your services so please get involved as we are listening.”<br />
You can get involved by responding to the call for evidence before 28 November 2014.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="btn-tab" href="http://brent.gov.uk/your-council/the-borough-plan-consultation/the-challenges-brent-faces/" id="b_challengesA" title="The Borough Plan">Read more about the call for evidence and the challenges Brent faces</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="btn-tab" href="http://brent.gov.uk/your-council/the-borough-plan-consultation/" id="b_haveyoursayB" title="The Borough Plan Consultation">Have your say now</a></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-83190749905684927082014-09-03T07:46:00.004-07:002014-09-03T07:46:37.412-07:00Protest Against closure of A&E at Central Middlesex September 10th 10am<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-32253604491736290302013-12-05T10:20:00.001-08:002013-12-05T10:20:26.067-08:00Latest Actions from Brent Fightback<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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ACTIONS ARISING FROM BRENT FIGHTBACK MEETING OF DECEMBER 4<sup>TH</sup></div>
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<b>Stop TfL Cuts </b>After hearing from Leon of the RMT
about fare rises, safety dangers arising from staff cuts and ticket office
closures, it was agreed to support the campaign. Actions:</div>
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1. Carol will write to local papers about the issue.</div>
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2. Sarah will inform Mencap and Ann MIND about impact on
people with disabilities</div>
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3. Martin and Sarah will contact NUT re impact on teachers
taking classes ontube.</div>
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4. Sarah will try and contact the Harrow-on-the-Hill lift
campaigners.</div>
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5.. Pete will contact Cllr Jim Moher (lead member for
transport) and Navin Shah, Michael will contact Sadiq Khan, Martin Green AMs.</div>
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6. Consider sending questions for Mayor to Navin Shah and
participate in Mayor Question Times.</div>
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7. Distribute own or RMT leaflets on Met Line and hold
impromptu public meeting on the train as appropriate.</div>
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8. Think about more imaginative ideas to get the message
over to build a broad-based campaign to stop the cuts.</div>
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Contact: <a href="mailto:thefuturewebuild@gmail.com">thefuturewebuild@gmail.com</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Copland campaign against forced academy status </b>Teachers
had been on strike again on Tuesday against forced takeover by Ark Academy.
Action:</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Support
picket lines at Copland on December 17<sup>th</sup> if planned strike goes
ahead.</li>
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<b>NHS </b>Campaign continues on several fronts with moves
to set up a Brent and Harrow Keep Our NHS and pressure on SERTIC to organise a
London-wide demonstration late-Spring/early-Summer 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actions:</div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">Meeting
on Future of Central Middlesex Hospital organised by CCG. Thursday
December 12th 6 - 8 pm at the Sattavis Patidar Centre in Forty Avenue
Wembley<b>. </b>We need as many people as possible to attend to find out
what is proposed and perhaps help shape what is being planned for our
hospital.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">London
Save Our NHS are organising a workshop based event in early February, date
to be confirmed, including sessions on workplace organising an campaigns,
what kind of NHS do we want etc.</li>
</ol>
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<b>Council Consultations </b>Following the confusion about
what exactly council reports were proposing on council rents and council tax
support, Sujata will look at how such reports could be made more readily
accessible and understandable.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-19417001495349489622013-12-02T11:00:00.001-08:002013-12-02T11:00:34.242-08:00Copland teachers on strike again on Tuesday <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2 style="margin-top: 2.55pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Staff
</span><span lang="EN-US">at<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Copland</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Community</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">School</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Wembley</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">will</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">hold</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">their third</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">day</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> strike</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.15pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">action</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">tomorrow Tuesday December 3rd against</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>an <span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">attempt</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span>by<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Michael</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Gove
and</span> an<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">imposed</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Interim</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Executive
Board</span><span style="letter-spacing: 2.65pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">(IEB) to</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">force</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">the</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">school</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">become</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">an</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">academy.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Despite</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Cllr
Michael</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Pavey,</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Lead</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">member</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">for Education</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Brent,</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">saying</span> 'it <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">is</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">not</span> a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span>done<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">deal'
</span>so<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>far<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> there had</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">been</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>no<span style="letter-spacing: 2.65pt;"> </span>other<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">option</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">but</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">ARK.
Whatever happened</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Gove's</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">'increasing</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">choice' agenda?</span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; margin-top: 0.05pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 5.7pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Staff will</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> hold<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">rally</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>outside<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">The Torch</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">pub</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Bridge
Rd, Wembley</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">against</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">ARK</span><span style="letter-spacing: 2.55pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">forcibly</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">taking</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">over </span>their<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">school at 10am.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Hank</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Roberts, ATL</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Secretary</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Immediate Past</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">President</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">said, “</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Stanley</span><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Fink,<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: 2.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">leading</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">ARK trustee, </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">the
National</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Treasurer</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Conservative</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">party</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">friend</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.85pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Michael</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Gove.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.4pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">He</span><span style="letter-spacing: .1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">supports</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> Gove's</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">the</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Conservatives</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">policy, </span>as<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">revealed</span> in<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">the</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Independent,</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">handing</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">over</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">state schools</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>be<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> run</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">for</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">profit. They're not</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">in</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">it</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">for</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.65pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">charitable</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">giving.</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">If</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">they want</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">give Copland</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">money we'd</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">welcome
it. Long</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">term</span><span style="letter-spacing: 4.05pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">they're for</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">taking</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> money</span><span style="letter-spacing: .1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">out</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">of</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">the system</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>add<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">many
millions</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">they</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">already</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.75pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">have</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">”.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Tom Stone, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.1pt;">NASUWT</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Acting</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Secretary</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">said, </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">“</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">If</span><span lang="EN-US"> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Brent</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>would<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>only<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>go<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">get</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">the</span><span style="letter-spacing: 2.35pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">money the </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">ex</span><span style="letter-spacing: .1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">headteacher</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">spirited</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">away,
the whole</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">scenario</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">of</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">becoming</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">academy</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.55pt;">
</span>would<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">disappear</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Copland</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">school</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">would</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>be<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">flourishing</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">effective school</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"></span></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 5.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Lesley</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Gouldbourne,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Joint</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"> <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">NUT </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Secretary</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">said, </span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">A <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">recent</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">leadership</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">review of</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.35pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Copland</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">carried</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>out<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">October</span>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">2013</span> <span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">showed</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">many</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">improvements</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">teaching</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span><span style="letter-spacing: 3.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">learning</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">and</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">more
robust</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">financial</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">management. Give</span><span style="letter-spacing: .1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">the</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">school</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">time </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">continue</span><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>this<span style="letter-spacing: 3.45pt;"> </span>good<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">work.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-45501051391175164052013-11-09T11:32:00.001-08:002013-11-09T11:32:06.802-08:00Proposed Brent Budget cuts for 2014-15<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Brent Council Meeting on November 18th will be given a financial report for the 1st Reading of the 2014-15 Budget.<br />
<br />
Below you will find the proposed savings/cuts for each Service Area:<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe src="https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=D524A61DAE3D76CD&resid=D524A61DAE3D76CD%21342&authkey=ALusZeC1iFxPbgQ&em=2" width="476" height="288" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-82788110867663323202013-11-04T02:57:00.000-08:002013-11-04T02:57:07.818-08:00Bonfire of Austerity - Nov 5th Actions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7F5eg5cEHztiKMfC-892LAg33Porm7zy8C3Ac1-xoKd94nYYlIL6L3pfVWQTylTPh_1Rs6JUob5fkS0V_dj7Pj1VLvIBsbbwPC8a8i9u3jFf4mdsRGrQLqIjApq35gpW0g9y5ZYqnefQ/s1600/Bonfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7F5eg5cEHztiKMfC-892LAg33Porm7zy8C3Ac1-xoKd94nYYlIL6L3pfVWQTylTPh_1Rs6JUob5fkS0V_dj7Pj1VLvIBsbbwPC8a8i9u3jFf4mdsRGrQLqIjApq35gpW0g9y5ZYqnefQ/s400/Bonfire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The People's Assembly is calling protests across the country to mark the 'Bonfire of Austerity' tomorrow, November 5th.<br />
<br />
There will be a demonstration outside <b>Willesden Magistrates Court </b>at
9am tomorrow to protest at Labour controlled Brent Council's decisions
to issue courts summonses to some 12,000 people who have not paid their
Council Tax. These are often people already on low incomes who have had
to pay a portion of their Council Tax for the first time this year due
to changes in the Council Tax benefit system which is now administered
by local councils.<br />
<br />
Cllr Muhammed Butt was on the London
section of Sunday Politics yesterday defending the Council's decision.
He said that Council officers will be present at court to help those who
have been summoned.<br />
<br />
His appearance can be seen here at 53mins <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03fd0k3/Sunday_Politics_London_03_11_2013/"><b>LINK </b></a><br />
<br />
The Campaign for Renationalisation of the railways will be leafleting at<b> Ealing Broadway station</b> from 5.30pm until 7pm.<br />
<br />
The London focus in the evening includes Anonymous in Trafalgar Square and Block the Bridge at Westminster Bridge:<br />
<br />
<strong>Block Westminster Bridge</strong> – Assemble at Jubilee Gardens at 6pm, contact office@thepeoplesassemblyorg.uk/ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/210482052457970/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<br />
Bring your energy bills: we will be burning our energy bills on the
bridge to highlight the massive rise in energy prices which have left
people choosing between heating and eating.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-69151800642488878112013-11-01T09:05:00.001-07:002013-11-01T09:05:53.936-07:00NHS Brent Clinical Commissioning Intentions 2014/15 (Draft)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<iframe src="https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=D524A61DAE3D76CD&resid=D524A61DAE3D76CD%21322&authkey=APXziqKQlXTKPcw&em=2" width="476" height="288" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-84150306729188773482013-10-30T11:28:00.001-07:002013-10-30T11:28:08.196-07:00People'sInquiry into NHS even more important after Central Middlesex announcement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpc4nCF0FcSJ9sfAYyChhh_tClij0txf9BA04WYfFA5DOez3sBEslIa7F9CzYQmp4QynZ7xe1arVrck0RMbxhJV8PXM2vKwNcEuJ9ylCpICbNth1l0R1uaa9KqedkfkMe6Fcpke7Lhw5QP/s1600/Fightback+NHS+March.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpc4nCF0FcSJ9sfAYyChhh_tClij0txf9BA04WYfFA5DOez3sBEslIa7F9CzYQmp4QynZ7xe1arVrck0RMbxhJV8PXM2vKwNcEuJ9ylCpICbNth1l0R1uaa9KqedkfkMe6Fcpke7Lhw5QP/s400/Fightback+NHS+March.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Brent Fightback on NHS March</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jeremy Hunt's<span style="color: red;"><b> </b><span style="color: black;">announcement</span></span>
today that Central Middlesex Accident and Emergency ward is to be
closed will come as a bitter disappointment to Brent health campaigners,
particularly after the euphoria which greeted the Lewisham Hospital
campaign's court victory yesterday.<br />
<br />
Hunt's decision
shows that that the Tories have absolutely no understanding of the needs
of an area such as Harlesden/Stonebridge and the social and health
inequalities that make an easily accessible local facility so important.<br />
<br />
Campaigners
will be considering next steps along with those fighting for Hammermith
hospital but meanwhile after the announcement it is even more
important that as many people as possible submit evidence to the
People's Inquiry into the London Health Service. Details<span style="color: red;"><b> <a href="http://www.peoplesinquiry.org/index.php">LINK</a> </b></span> and attend the local meeting of the Inquiry which will be held. Send your views using this <a href="http://www.peoplesinquiry.org/contactus.php"><span style="color: red;"><b>LINK </b></span></a><br />
<ul class="frontlist">
<li class="hearings"><b>Friday Nov 8</b>: 2pm-7pm, Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway, Ealing, W5 2BY. <a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=W5+2BY&hl=en&sll=51.5661,-0.134078&sspn=0.002561,0.003616&hnear=W5+2BY,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=16">View map</a>:</li>
</ul>
This is the trenchant evidence to the Inquiry submitted by Harlesden resident Sarah Cox:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am a 76 year-old retired early
years teacher. I worked
for more than 30 years in Brent schools and have lived for
more than 40 years
in Harlesden. I am also an outpatient at Central Middlesex
Hospital. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As such, I was extremely
concerned about the likely
effect of the changes enshrined in the Shaping a Healthier
Future consultation
and also about the consultation itself.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I followed the consultation
carefully, read the
documents and attended meetings called by NHS NW London and
public meetings
organised by local health campaigns. Overall, the
consultation was more like a
public relations exercise. Its questionnaire was designed to
reach a desired
conclusion rather than to look at the real health needs of
the vast area it
covers.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am very concerned about
accountability. NHS NW
London made the decision to go ahead with the changes, but
went out of
existence before the process of introducing them had even
begun. Who will be
accountable if they turn out, as many of us believe they
will, to result in
damaging cuts to our health services, rather than
improvements?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I will concentrate on
the
likely effects of changes to the area in which I live, I
believe that all
the changes will have knock-on effects on neighbouring areas
and I am strongly
opposed to the whole package. My husband was referred from
Central Middlesex
Hospital where he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, to
Charing X where
he was expertly treated. The co operation between the two
hospitals was
exemplary. Cuts to any of the hospitals will increase the
strain on the others
and on the ambulance service.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that the case for
fewer specialist
hospitals further apart has been made for stroke, heart
attacks and some
serious injuries and services have been developed in line
with that. Ambulance
crews know the best place to take such patients and expert
paramedics are able
to stabilise them before transporting them to the best
hospital. However, I do
not believe that the extrapolation to other conditions such
as serious
asthma attacks, is justified. The surgeons want a
concentration of
expensive high-tech facilities in fewer, larger hospitals.
What they
ignore is the vital importance to patients' recovery of
being in a setting that
is accessible to friends and relatives. There has been a
great deal of
publicity recently about poor standards of care on
understaffed wards. The best
insurance against inadequate care is the vigilance of
patients' families. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, although we are told
that the plans are
based on clinical evidence, they are really based on a
desire to cut costs. It
the plans go through, nearly 1,000 beds and 3,994 clinical
jobs will go from
hospitals in NW London, saving £1billion over three years.
The remaining hospitals
will not be able to cope, the ambulance service will not be
able to cope,
the 111 service is already inadequate and yet we are told
that it is crucial to
the success of providing alternative services in the
community. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>One of the declared aims of
the Shaping a Healthier
Future strategy was to reduce health inequalities,
but moving health
provision away from the areas of greatest deprivation and
lowest life
expectancy, will in fact increase health inequalities</b>. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a resident of Harlesden Ward
and having
worked on the Stonebridge Estate, I am most concerned with
the loss of
services at Central Middlesex Hospital and the impact on the
people of
Harlesden, Stonebridge and the surrounding area. The Brent
Joint Strategic
Needs Assessment and in particular the Harlesden Locality
Profile (accessible
through the Brent Council website <a href="http://www.brent.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.brent.gov.uk</a>) shows that Harlesden and
Stonebridge wards are
among the 10% of most deprived wards in the country. They
have high levels of
unemployment and of long term disease and disability. They
also have a
higher than average birth rate, and a larger than average
percentage of young
children and large families and higher rates of teenage
pregnancy. Yet the
maternity and paediatric services have been taken away. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Areas of poverty and poor
housing like these have,
it is widely recognised, higher levels of respiratory
disease and mental
health problems among other health problems. The government
welfare cuts will
increase these problems.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>If health inequalities are to
be overcome, health
services should be provided where the need is greatest. If
access to health
services is difficult, people living in poverty and facing
many other problems
are less likely to seek help and relatively minor problems
can become more
serious. </b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the reasons why it is
wrong to close A
&amp; E departments at CMH and Ealing (these arguments apply
to other hospitals
in areas of deprivation):</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·
A &amp; E
services are the first port of call for patients with mental
illnesses and they
are likely to find it harder to travel further for help.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.8pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·
When
patients attend A &amp; E, other problems e.g. cancer are
often detected and
can be treated before they become more serious.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="text-indent: 2.4pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">· There is no simple public
transport link from the
Harlesden or Stonebridge areas nor from Central Middlesex
Hospital to
Northwick Park and cabs are far too expensive for people
dependent on
benefits, so people who are taken ill or have an accident
themselves or whose
children are taken ill or have an accident will be forced to
call an
ambulance adding to the pressure on the ambulance service. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">· Transport difficulties not only
affect patients,
they make it hard for family and friends to visit patients.
Support and
care from family and friends are important for helping
patients to recover.
Negotiations with TfL even on the simple extension of the 18
bus route to
Northwick Park Hospital have been unsuccessful, so patients
and their families
and friends from the area around CMH will continue to find
access to Northwick
Park extremely difficult.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Northwick Park is already
struggling to meet
targets and ambulances are being diverted back to CMH from
there and from St
Mary's. If all the proposed closures go through, how will
Northwick Park
cope with the added burden on A &amp; E maternity,
paediatric services, surgery
and intensive care?</span></span> </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How will the ambulance service
cope with the extra
demand? It’s struggling already.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Has there been consultation with
the Fire Service about
the effect of the proposed changes? </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Schools were not consulted by
the Shaping a
Healthier Future team, yet during the school day, thousands
of children become
their responsibility and if any are taken seriously ill or
have
accidents, school staff will have to go with them to an A
&amp; E
department further away. </span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Out of hospital care</b></span></span> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course it is always best to
keep people out of
hospital if appropriate alternative care and treatment can
be provided in
the community and of course we need more preventive
services. We are promised
all sorts of out of hospital care to take the place of the
lost hospital
services, but will the resources really be there? There is
already a
shortage of trained, skilled community health workers,
health visitors,
midwives and specialist nurses as well as GPs. Will the CCGs
really be able to
train and pay for those we need when they are facing
constant budget cuts? Successful
treatment and care for patients out of hospital demands
integration with decent
social care services, but the swingeing cuts to Local
Authority budgets mean
that social care services are at best barely adequate and
unlikely to aid
recovery and recuperation for patients who have been treated
out of hospital or
discharged early from hospital.</span></span> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting
information about the CCG’s commissioning decisions before
they are made is
extremely difficult. There are massive documents with
quantities of acronymic
alphabet soup and a hierarchy of meetings, some useful, most
completely opaque
to the interested patient or campaigner and suddenly, before
you know it,
another service has been outsourced and privatised. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However
often we are assured that the changes to the NHS are
clinically driven, it
seems clear that the real drivers are financial the
transformation of the NHS into
a cash cow for the private sector so that even if it remains
free at the point
of use for patients, it will be run for profit.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sarah</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cox</span></span></i></span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-72527961772339548102013-09-30T04:10:00.002-07:002013-09-30T04:10:30.053-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispcxoyMKphoTYO1BMJ6a4Le66tcD1xzv4jHaQhzh71lfkOEasl-28pMr3UgYedupZqE1uUWh13y5fJFmCbrEL2s68qodW1VtMY5XdFYDpXpvfavJvNdURHnWuuTQbPX4QnfcdVwi-UBE/s1600/Manchester+demo+29.9.13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispcxoyMKphoTYO1BMJ6a4Le66tcD1xzv4jHaQhzh71lfkOEasl-28pMr3UgYedupZqE1uUWh13y5fJFmCbrEL2s68qodW1VtMY5XdFYDpXpvfavJvNdURHnWuuTQbPX4QnfcdVwi-UBE/s320/Manchester+demo+29.9.13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Two pictures from<br />Sarah Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03598928447357687665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-53998500596342708282013-09-19T00:31:00.000-07:002013-09-19T00:31:49.901-07:00West London People's Assembly tonight in Hammersmith <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Brent Fightback is supporting this meeting:<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-19873603175018243872013-09-13T00:49:00.003-07:002013-09-13T00:49:19.588-07:00<div>
<span style="background-color: yellow;">Brent Fightback is calling a
protest at the Civic Centre on the coming Monday (16th September) from 6.30 to
protest at the proposal that Brent Council hand over the delivery of the meals
on wheels service to “a range of local charities, communities and
businesses”.</span></div>
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<div>
Currently, the meals on wheels service is outsourced. However, rather than
a proposal which would cut out the profit-makers, this proposal is purely about
cutting cost (by 50%). This decision will lead to cuts in quality of the meals,
and pay (are the charities/community groups using unpaid volunteers?), the
council's own risk assessment evaluates "Lack of market capacity leads to
service users going without meals" = High!</div>
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<a href="http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/s19140/asc-community-meals.pdf">http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/s19140/asc-community-meals.pdf</a></div>
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ie. most vulnerable, elderly and sick could be left without access to
meals!</div>
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Pete Firminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14384894592271716201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-50806174730978132232013-09-07T14:39:00.000-07:002013-09-07T14:39:03.391-07:00Brent coach to the demonstration outside Tory Party Conference in Manchester Sunday 29th September<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoakU6aI9Nox3urJgo8uPgRMfHs4vi1ruV0Dev4OoSFbuYVeNoG_-5J9N3g1qy3wWFu9f2hNIVb3fWzJIcaCLCFrbRoIkxMMZFRpJtIcHX72EtQbONecpp6j24L54XU1W3NCVSy-9KxQ/s1600/Brent+coach+to+Manchester+29.9.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoakU6aI9Nox3urJgo8uPgRMfHs4vi1ruV0Dev4OoSFbuYVeNoG_-5J9N3g1qy3wWFu9f2hNIVb3fWzJIcaCLCFrbRoIkxMMZFRpJtIcHX72EtQbONecpp6j24L54XU1W3NCVSy-9KxQ/s640/Brent+coach+to+Manchester+29.9.13.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Book your place soon. Join us on this demonstration which was initiated by the Unison and Unite Trades Unions, is supported by the TUC, the People's Assembly and a multitude of anti-cuts groups, campaigns against the attacks on our NHS, on welfare, on people with disabilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>HAD ENOUGH? JOIN US IN MANCHESTER AND TELL THE TORIES.</b> </span></div>
<br /><br />Sarah Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03598928447357687665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-9252399352043528272013-09-05T07:39:00.000-07:002013-09-05T07:39:04.081-07:00Actions from Brent Fightback Meeting of September 4th<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>EDUCATION – </b>Struggle at Copland continues with one
third of staff new to the school this term. Consultation over academy status at
Gladstone Park Primary will continue as the new term begins. <b>RALLY FOR
EDUCATION</b> for teachers, parents, governors and pupils Saturday September 14<sup>th</sup>
, Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster 11-12.30pm <b>NATIONAL
TEACHERS’ STRIKES</b> The London strike will be held on October 17<sup>th</sup></div>
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<b>DEMONSTRATION AT CIVIC CENTRE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9<sup>TH</sup>
11.30 am . </b>Demonstration against Barry Gardiner’s invitation to Narendra
Modi to address the House of Commons organised by South Asia Solidarity and
supported by IHRC, Brent Trades Council and Brent LRC. Further information:
http://www.wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/gardiner-faces-demonstration-over-modi.html</div>
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<b>BRENT HOUSING ACTION – </b>Critique of Council’s housing
asset management plans is being prepared. Next meeting on Tuesday evening at
MIND, Willesden High Road</div>
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<b>KENSAL RISE LIBRARY – </b>formal consultation deadline
has gone but still time to submit before Planning Committee regarding the
change of use of the building and the inadequate space offered for a community
library. Information on http://www.savekensalriselibrary.org/news/<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>submit views to <a href="mailto:ben.martin@brent.gov.uk">ben.martin@brent.gov.uk</a></div>
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<b>WEST LONDON<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (SEE BELOW) </span></b>We have
agreed to support the meeting on Thursday September 19<sup>th</sup> 7.30pm at
Polish Centre, King Street, W6 Hammersmith or Ravenscourt Park tubes. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">DEMONSTRATION
AT CONSERVATIVE PARTY CONFERENCE Sunday 29<sup>th</sup> September</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unite coach will
leave Kilburn 7am, Willesen Green 7.15am and Wembley Park 7.30am £20
solidarity/£10 waged/£5 unwaged – returnable to Unite Community</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">members and benefit claimants</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. </span><span class="usercontent"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Book your place by emailing
Brent Fightback at brentunited@gmail.com or ring/text Sarah on 07951 084 101.</span></span></h5>
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<b>CIVIC CENTRE OFFICIAL OPENING ALTERNATIVE EVENT </b>–
Sunday October 6<sup>th</sup> 12 noon. Details to be discussed next time.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-29246758259462743602013-09-04T02:09:00.001-07:002013-09-04T02:09:52.796-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Sarah Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03598928447357687665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-43340989062648133252013-08-08T09:08:00.001-07:002013-08-09T02:00:43.309-07:00ACTIONS FROM BRENT FIGHTBACK MEETING AUGUST 7TH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Response
to Home Office GoHome Campaign<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>‘Bust’
cards are being printed available for distribution at short notice in the
event of any raid in Brent. People will be alerted via Twitter and
Fightback Facebook. Distribution next week <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">see your email for details. </span>Several organisations taking legal
action: Rafeh,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liberty plus
inquiry by Equalities and Human Rights Commission. Liberty<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>020 7403 3888 and Migrant Rights
Network 020 7336 9412<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would like
anyone subject to the checks to contact them re legal challenge. Continue
to lobby the PR company who provided the vans (Promogroup. Promobikes,
Promovans are the various names used <a href="http://www.promobikes.co.uk/">http://www.promobikes.co.uk</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>to urge them not to take part again. They have been been used<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Labour Party and some trade unions
inc CWU. Pete to contact CWU. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Housing
– Counihan Campaign 1<sup>st</sup> Campaign Anniversary Rally </b>Saturday<b>
</b>August 31<sup>st</sup> 3pm Kilburn Square</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Bin
Veolia in Brent Campaign </b>– petition has now been presented to Brent
Council. Lobby of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>next Brent
Executive 6.30pm Monday August 19<sup>th</sup> at Civic Centre. BViB will
request to speak to Executive.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Kensal
Rise Library </b>– developer’s plans have now been published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Details on how to comment: <a href="http://www.savekensalriselibrary.org/2013/08/08/deadline-for-responding-to-planning-application-29-aug-2013/">http://www.savekensalriselibrary.org/2013/08/08/deadline-for-responding-to-planning-application-29-aug-2013/</a></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Privatisation
of Education </b>Imposed IEB and new management wreaking havoc at Copland
Community School with victimisations. Many of the staff will have gone by
start of new term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Updates on <a href="http://www.wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/">www.wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk</a>
Gladstone Park Governors are consulting on possible academy sponsor.
Parents group still campaign for no forced academy whilst at the same time
ensuring consultation results in as many assurances as possible about the
future of the school.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Zero
Hours Contracts </b>– any campaign will mainly come through Trades Council
and we will see if any TUs are leading on it. FoI (Martin) for their use
by Brent Council and any out-sourced contractors. Link with ethical
procurement. (See today’s Kilburn Times for statement by Muhammed Butt)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b>Save
Welsh Harp Campaign </b>– Boris Johnson despite cross party appeals
decided yesterday to allow Barnet Council to make the decision, subject to
any intervention by the Secretary of State, and not exercise his right to
refuse the application or take over as planning authority. <a href="http://saveourwelshharp.blogspot.co.uk/">http://saveourwelshharp.blogspot.co.uk/</a></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2031416565812231673.post-32745629150576951452013-08-03T07:26:00.002-07:002013-08-03T07:27:24.025-07:00Light the Torch for Brent Housing Action on Monday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0