Brent FoE lobby Council over cuts

Brent Friends of the Earth along with other environmental groups across Brent angered at Brent Council’s decision to cut key Environment posts held a protest outside BrentTown Hall last night, Monday 12^th July.

Brent FoE members joined Brent Green party and Brent and Harrow Socialist Workers party members and lobbied Councillors in advance of a full Council meeting.  A representative of the 10-strong group had hoped to address the meeting but was not granted speaking rights.  Instead several protestors entered the council chamber with placards stating ‘don’t cut climate jobs’.

Brent Campaign against Climate Change made up of environmental, trade union, political and community groups across the Borough are infuriated that Brent Council have cut two posts in Environment and Culture, including a new Climate Change Officer post.  The campaigners believe the post, which would have overseen and delivered the Borough’s Climate Change strategy, should be exempt from the cuts which will otherwise seriously impede the Council’s work to deliver a sustainable agenda.

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, was put on hold due to a recruitment freeze across the Council this Spring, and has now been axed.  This work is instead being delegated to existing staff, which campaigners believe will severely compromise what can be achieved.

Steffi Gray, of Brent Friends of the Earth 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.

“We want Brent Council to get serious about climate change, but we fear these cuts will put a sustainable agenda at risk.  Given the urgency of climate change, this post should be a priority and be made exempt from the cuts.

"We are now seeking an urgent meeting with Cllr James Powney, Lead member for the Environment, Planning and Culture to urge him to reinstate these posts.”

Ken Montague, Chair of Brent Campaign against Climate Change says, “Brent Council really need to get their heads round the seriousness and urgency of the problem facing us. Climate change is happening now and it won't wait till they've balanced their budgets.  This is a short-sighted decision which shows that Brent is not planning for the future.

"Brent Councillors don't have to answer to us. They will have to answer to their grandchildren."

Shahrar Ali, Brent Green party spokesperson for planning and environment said, “We need to take urgent action on climate change mitigation locally. The Brent climate change strategy called for a full-time officer to work with other agencies and the public - today, not the day after tomorrow. Failure to recruit the post is environmentally irresponsible. We are calling for all newly elected councillors to see sense, for the sake of current and future generations."

Brent Council faces two hundred staff cuts in September, whilst Council tax has been frozen for the coming year.  The decision was made without consultation with community groups who had previously been involved in shaping the Borough’s climate change strategy.

You can send an email to Brent Council by using the form here.