Council climate change post put on hold

Local environmental groups in Brent are infuriated to learn that Brent Council have frozen a new Climate Change Officer post.  Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE), Brent Green Party, Transition Kensal to Kilburn and Local Fruit Harvesters are enraged to find out that the post, which would have would overseen and delivered the Borough’s Climate Change strategy, has been frozen.

Brent’s Climate Change strategy was launched at an event in Wembley in December last year.  A strategy steering group was due to be set up comprising public services, businesses, voluntary sector and community group representatives, but this new post was the only paid one on the committee.  The other places are entirely voluntary, non-expert and do not carry any authority.  The steering group is yet to be set up and the officer post, due to be recruited last year, has been put on hold due to a recruitment freeze across the Council. 

Viv Stein, Spokesperson for Brent FoE and Dollis Hill resident says, “Whoever is responsible for this decision is not looking to the future.  Predictions for climate change are getting worse, and Brent needs to act now to cut emissions and prepare for the consequences.  I can’t see how this strategy will be effectively implemented with no one put in place to take a lead.  Given the urgency of climate change, filling this post should be a priority and be made exempt from the recruitment freeze. 

It seems it is down to voluntary organisations such as Brent Friends of the Earth and Transition groups to help residents fight climate change in the Borough. Brent are cutting corners not carbon.  We’d like a commitment from Brent as to when this post will be reinstated.”

Elaine Henderson, Brent FoE’s Council Liaison Officer and QueensParkresident says, “This is outrageous.  Brent have spent forty thousand pounds of our council tax hiring consultants to come up with this strategy, but have now pulled the plug on any further money to actually deliver the scheme.  What’s more they have made a big deal of signing up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce emissions by 10% in 2010, but this target is actually LESS than the amount they agreed to previously [1].”

Shahrar Ali, Green Parliamentary candidate for Brent Central says, “Acting locally on the urgent global environmental crisis is critical and should be non-negotiable. Brent's Climate Change Strategy requires a full-time officer to work with Council departments, other agencies and the public - today, not the day after tomorrow. Fresh uncertainty over this post is unwelcome and environmentally irresponsible. Brent Green Party calls for a binding commitment from the Council and, ahead of the forthcoming elections, undertakings from the other political parties."

Brent FoE have previously questioned whether the strategy will deliver [2].  Brent Council faces several hundred staff cuts in coming months, whilst Council tax has been frozen for the coming year.

1. In 2007 Brent agreed a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of 20% by 2011.
2. See ‘Brent’s Climate Strategy – More Hot Air?’ Brent FoE Winter newsletter at http://brentfoe.com/brentfoe_winter_2010_newsletter.pdf