Slashing Green Zones and Environment Posts ‘Will Cut Other Council Services and Ignores Climate Change’

Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE) are furious that Brent Council have reneged on ‘green’ promises by cutting two Environment posts and their flagship Green Zones scheme last week. At last Monday’s Executive Committee Council Officers and Councillors approved plans [1] to axe Brent’s Green Zones scheme and blatantly defended cutting the Climate Change Strategy Officer post.  Brent FoE member, Elaine Henderson, and Green Zones’ founder, Lorraine Skinner, addressed the committee, arguing that these cuts are a false economy and will impact on other services, besides reducing capacity to fight climate change.  Their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Following a recent protest by “Brent Campaign against Climate Change” over cutting an Officer post, which would have would overseen and delivered the Borough’s Climate Change strategy, this latest decision to axe Brent’s award-nominated [2] Green Zones scheme, that educates residents on recycling and sustainable living, is a further blow.  Brent FoE believe that in making these decisions Brent’s new administration have wasted money spent previously on developing the strategy, will be forced to cut other services or raise Council Tax, and are paying token attention to recycling and climate change.  Central Government funding for Green Zones has been cut, and Brent Council have chosen not to find money from elsewhere.  Brent’s Climate Change strategy is also behind schedule and yet to be implemented.  Members of Brent’s Sustainability Forum have also expressed concern over the cuts.

Elaine Henderson, Brent FoE’s Council Liaison Officer, Green Zones board member and Queens Park resident says, “Despite my protestations to the committee, a Council Officer told us they will ‘reprioritise to get the Climate Change Strategy group launched’, but ‘can do nothing’ about the loss of the Officer post.  This is clearly nonsense.  Of course they can do something if they had the political will and courage to follow it through – which they clearly do not.

 “I have argued that the Council don’t need a new ‘Green Charter’ when we already have a Climate Change strategy [3] that has so far cost Council Tax payers over forty thousand pounds.  We still haven’t been told when the strategy will be rescheduled and the steering group will be set up [4].”

Lorraine Skinner, Kensal Rise resident, and founder of the Green Zone scheme says, “I am mortified about the Council’s short-sighted decision to cut the Green Zones scheme.  It makes no economic sense whatsoever, besides its disregard for climate change.  Brent now no longer has a recycling incentivisation scheme, or any means of changing residents' behaviour towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

“It costs 89p to send one kilo of waste to landfill. Last year Brent Council spent £6.2 million of our Council Tax on landfill tax. Landfill tax is increased year on year by Government.  If Council Tax is frozen next year and the amount Brent sends to landfill doesn't decrease significantly, more landfill tax will have to be paid, and other services will be cut to pay for it.  The Green Zones scheme offered a way out of this cycle of cuts.”

Viv Stein, Green Zones leader in Dollis Hill, and Brent FoE spokesperson says, “We have just witnessed the sudden death of Green Zones.  A few weeks ago I was promised green incentives for my street, but have now been advised that my project will be closed, and it is not clear if we will get the incentives or rewards that I was told had been set aside.

“I also fear the Council’s strategy will be ineffective at a time when climate change is the most important environmental issue we face.  Brent’s Mayor has stated that tackling climate change is a ‘key theme’, and James Powney, Lead Member for the Environment, assures us that ‘Brent remains committed to tackling climate change’.  But what does it mean when they are saying all this and at the same time cutting this scheme and the position?  What message does it send to the of millions of people already affected by climate change, this week in Pakistan, West Africa and elsewhere, if we don’t take the urgent measures politicians are talking about but not acting on? ”

Roger Kelly, Chair of Brent Sustainability Forum says, “I express the deep concern of Forum members about how expenditure and staffing cuts within the Council are impacting on its ability to deliver the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. The implementation of the Strategy is of critical importance in Brent meeting its obligations to both reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change, but without the necessary staff resources in place this will not happen.

“The Forum fully supports the Council in all its efforts to tackle the issue of climate change as part of the creation of a more sustainable Brent, but with the limited resources at its disposal cannot be a substitute for a properly staffed team within the Council structure. I am urging the Lead Member for Environment to use every effort possible to reverse the decision not to appoint a full time Climate Change Officer and to ensure that this vital area of the Council’s work is properly resourced.”

Brent FoE are still seeking talks with Brent Council about these decisions.  A petition asking Brent Council to reverse the cuts is at  http://brentfoe.com/brentjobsemail.

Notes

1. In 2008 Brent was declared one of only six Zero Waste Places [5] in the country due to the Green Zones scheme.
2. Brent’s Labour administration’s Green Charter, still under development, includes improving recycling rates, but it is not clear how this will be achieved.
3. Green Zones was one of the mechanisms by which the Council would raise awareness about climate change [6].

References

1. http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=1257&T=10 appendix H, p155.
2. In 2009 Green Zones was a finalist in the Future Friendly awards.  The award recognises people who are making a real difference to their local community by championing sustainability and inspiring others to do the same.
   Green Zones was one of only five to be short listed and the only London based project.
3. Brent’s Climate Change strategy can be seen at http://www.brent.gov.uk/directorate.nsf/Climate%20change/LBB-12  The strategy was launched at an event in Wembley in December last year.  A 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 Officer post, due to be recruited last year, was put on hold due to a recruitment freeze in the Spring and has now been axed.
4. The steering group was originally due to be set up in January 2010.
5. In October 2008 DEFRA awarded Zero Waste Places status to six locations in the UK, with the aim to go as far as possible in reducing the environmental impact of waste at home, in the workplace or in the community.  Brent was awarded this status on the basis of the Green Zones project.
6. Personal communication from Brent Council.