Manningham & Rhodesway Pools closures - a sneaked consultation

A sneaked consultation

Consultation on proposals to close Manningham and Rhodesway swimming pools, and to limit the hours of opening of the Bingley Pool and Manningham Sports Centre begin officially on Monday April 18 – but no announcement has been made of this.

The list of current consultations, viewable at http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/Consultations, includes the following:

· Older Peoples Joint Commissioning Strategy

· Flood Awareness Consultation

· Local Transport Plan 2011-2026, First Three Year Implementation Consultation

· Bradford Waste Management Development Planning Document: Preferred Approach

But BradLEAKS has obtained a so far confidential document that says that consultations on closures/restrictions of these facilities will run from April 18 to May 21, and that they will only consider “expressions of interest to take on responsibility for the running of one or both of these facilities”.

The document claims that “pools at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Queensbury, Bingley and Shipley are all within nationally recognised guidelines for reasonable travel time to swimming pools and offer capacity to cover demand resulting from the two closures” – but this takes no account of the fact that females-only sessions required by Asian woman and girls will not be possible at those pools, since they are overlooked by windows and balconies.

The document admits that the “planned closures and service reductions have generated significant objections, protests and negative media coverage”.

But it makes no attempt to address the concerns of those who believe that these objections should be met by savings in, for instance, the salary of the Council’s top earner, chief executive Tony Reeves, who took home over £180,000 – £178,476 salary plus £4,095 other remuneration – in 2008/9. If he were paid no more than the £142,500 the Prime Minister receives, the saving would go a long way to covering Manningham Pool’s running costs.

Hundreds of people are signing the petition to keep Manningham Pool open, and this will be presented to the full Council in May. Meanwhile, the hyper-active “Save Manningham Pool” Action Committee has decided to question all local council election candidates in the pool’s catchment area on whether they support its closure.

They are also planning to link up with other groups opposing the sacrifice of faciulities like libraries and swimming pools.

Whoever controls the Council after the May 5 elections, they are going to have a hard job getting their closure plans through.

The leaked document

Here is the full, unedited text of the leaked document:

1. Background

In light of Central Governments public spending cuts Members were asked to make some tough decisions and agree a series reductions in Council Services as part of setting the Council's priorities and budget for 2011/12.

For Sport and Leisure Services implications of the budget included the decisions to close Manningham Swimming Pool and withdraw from running Rhodesway Swimming Pool, and also reduce opening hours at Manningham Sports Centre and Bingley Swimming Pool. These planned closures and service reductions have generated significant objections, protests and negative media coverage.

2. Key Issues

In implementing the decision to close Manningham and Rhodesway Pools a process of consultation will be undertaken seeking expressions of interest to take on responsibility for the running of one or both of these facilities.

It is proposed that the consultation will commence on Monday 18 April with the last date for submitting an expression of interest and business case being Saturday 21 May. The consultation process will be carried out electronically and by request for a paper version, with respondents being asked to provide their proposal via e-mail or via postal services to Ian Bairstow, Strategic Director Environment and Sport.

Completion of the consultation period will be followed by a review process to consider proposals that have been received, and subsequently if required a two week notice period before final closure of one, or both facilities.

3. Implications

The overall provision of swimming pool 'water space' will be reduced if Manningham and Rhodesway pools are closed.

However, pools at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Queensbury, Bingley and Shipley are all within nationally recognised guidelines for reasonable travel time to swimming pools and offer capacity to cover demand resulting from the two closures, with a priority being to ensure continued provision of swimming as part of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 2 and 3.

EXCLUSIVE: Manningham Sports Centre closure hits seniors - AGAIN!

Next door to the closure-threatened Manningham Pool, Manningham Sports Centre in Carlisle Road, Bradford, is to close during the day from April 18.

Though no official announcement has been made, staff at the centre have been told that the present 9am opening is to be changed to 4pm from that date. This will threaten the seniors' exercise sessions, currently attracting about a dozen over-50 keep fit enthusiasts every Thursday morning, as well as the large number of local residents of all ages who use the gym and other facilities during the day.

Schools access to the Centre will still be available during the day, so it is dubious that the closure will have anything but a marginal effect on the Council budget.

Since tickets for the adjoining pool have to be bought at the Centre, it is not known how swimmers will gain access. Perhaps the Pool will be closed on April 18, also.

A meeting with staff is planned for Wednesday at 1pm - coinciding with a large-scale demo by schools, churches and others opposed to the closure of the Pool, starting at 12.30pm.

Meanwhile, the action committee campaigning for the Pool to stay open has its inaugural meeting at St Paul's Church, Skinner Lane, at 12.30pm on Friday, April 8, attended by local churches, schools, and individuals . If in fact the Pool is slated to close just ten days later, the campaigners will have to get their act together very fast.

Libraries closure deadline: June 30, 2011

The following document is being handed out to users of Heaton library - and no doubt to the other four libraries that are due for closure. It advises that the closures will be rushed through in the next two-to-three months.
There's also the issue of how long mobile services will survive, judging from what's happening to other places.
If you respond, please copy your response as a comment to this posting.

March 2011

You may have read in the press about proposals for reductions in Council spending in
order to address a funding shortfall of £56m in 2011/12. In 2012/13 the Council will have to address a further £24m, making a cumulative saving of £80million over the two years. This has arisen because the Government’s formula grant to Bradford has been reduced by £35m and specific grants by a further £19m. In addition, Council services have had to find savings to offset service pressures and price increases.


As part of this it has been necessary to review expenditure on the library service and proposals to reduce expenditure on this area of the Council’s service include closing the 5 smallest libraries in the District - Addingham, Denholme, Heaton, Wilsden and Wrose, all of which are open for less than ten hours per week.


The proposal is that these libraries will close from 30th June 2011 and will be replaced initially by the mobile library service. The mobile library will provide a similar level of service – book lending, ICT access and information. It is the intention that each community will receive a similar number of hours of service to their current allocation although the times/days of the service may vary - a timetable will be available shortly for those communities.


All the staff who currently work in these libraries will be redeployed to other libraries in the district.


In conjunction with this the Council will consult with local communities about how best to deliver their library service in the light of the reductions to the library service budget. The Council will also carry out a community needs assessment.


A Libraries Review carried out last year recommended a number of different models for the provision of services including community managed libraries using volunteers, a self-service library offer in another community facility, or in a retail outlet and better use of the mobile library service. The full Libraries Review report can be found on the library service webpages at www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries/ and then click on the Library Reports and Policies link.


We will be consulting widely in the coming weeks but we would welcome your comments at any time during this process. If you include your contact details we will make sure you are kept informed about any future consultation meetings etc.


Please hand in your comments at your local library or send your comments through to the Libraries Manager, Central Library, Prince’s Way, BRADFORD, BD1 1NN or you can email to public.libraries@bradford.gov.uk.

Related articles

• Surrey County Council to close our Mobile Libraries. Bagshot Library under threat too...? (surreyheath-residents.co.uk)

Tiny tremors at NMeM

Problems are brewing at the National Media Museum. So far, only a few tiny tremors are perceptible, but if Bradford is to retain the jewel in its cinematic crown, vigilance is called for.

Bradford's cuts budget goes through on the nod

As was only to be expected, the cuts to public services in Bradford went through on the nod. While there were pious declarations of the "this hurts me more than it hurts you" variety and much crocodile tears, as well as finger-pointing across the house on the question of who was to blame, Labour's last government or the Con-Dem elective dictatorship (answer: both), in the end the only speaker to consider (and reject) the alternative of refusing to set a budget was Dave Green, who said that this would allow the dreaded Pickles to take over and push through even more swingeing cuts.
Of course, they could have set a "no cuts" budget, which would have set them in direct confrontation the Tories and their Lib-Dem lapdogs.
The public gallery was packed, and very vocal they were too, chanting "No Ifs, No Buts, No Public Service Cuts". At one stage the Lord Mayor threatened to suspend the session, if they didn't shut up. So - apart from the occasional heckle - everyone behaved themselves after that.
But if they hadn't, and the session had been suspended, would Bradford have dared to reconvene with the public gallery closed to the hecklers? And if they did, wouldn't that have escalated the issue in the public eyes?
Footnote-1: The Tory amendment would have kept the five local libraries open, but said nothing about Manningham Pool, no doubt because the libraries are in the Tory rural hinterland, and the pool is in a working class area with a large Asian electorate.
Footnote-2: The T&A had a photographer there, but the Lord Mayor didn't notice him until he'd been snapping away for quite a while. Apparently no one from Newsquest had thought to ask for permission. Several councillors appealed to His Honour to let the snapper carry on, but he was adamant. No pictures, please, our proceedings are not for too many of the public eyes to see.
The public galleries hold a hundred seats, while the T&A has 28,839 readers. Wouldn't do to let so many to see what our leaders get up to, now, would it?
It'll be interesting to see if any of his pix get published.

Related articles

• Eric Pickles: Public enemy number one? (guardian.co.uk)
• Fighting talk from NUJ as Newsquest revolt spreads (newstatesman.com)

Victorian Society urges: Keep Manningham Pool open

From: Katie Gunning (The Victorian Society) [mailto:katie@victoriansociety.org.uk] 
Sent: 23 February 2011 17:18
To: Katie Gunning (The Victorian Society)
Subject: National heritage group urges council not to close historic Bradford pool

For immediate release                                                                                23rd February 2011

National heritage group urges council not to close historic Bradford pool

Councillors in Bradford must vote to keep the city’s listed Edwardian swimming pool in use, according to the Victorian Society, the national charity campaigning for the Victorian and Edwardian historic environment. 

Plans to close the Grade II-listed Manningham Baths on Carlisle Road will be discussed at a Bradford City Council meeting tomorrow afternoon.  Council spending cuts mean that its future looks bleak. It is thought that closing the baths would save in the region of £120,000.

There are more than 50 listed Victorian and Edwardian pools in the country but only 14 remain in use and open to the public for swimming. One of those rare survivors is Bradford’s Manningham Baths.

They were designed by Bradford City architect, Frederick Edwards and opened in 1904.  The pool building remains remarkably intact and has its original changing cubicles, and the pool itself still has ceramic spittoons at regular intervals and a so-called scum channel down each side.

‘It would be a huge loss if Bradford couldn’t find a way to keep this important part of our heritage open and in use’, said Dr Ian Dungavell, Director of the Victorian Society. ‘I've been swimming in historic pools all around the country, but virtually none are left in this intact state.  It is truly extraordinary to swim in Manningham Baths. Historic pools like this are an endangered species, and we need to look after them.’

In July 2008 Dr Dungavell swam 105 lengths of Manningham Pool to commemorate its 105 years as a public swimming pool.

The full meeting of the City Council will take place at 4pm on Thursday 24th February.

-ends-

For further information please call:

Katie Gunning

Campaigns Officer

Direct line: 0208 747 5897

Notes to Editors:

1. In August 2008 the Director of the Victorian Society, Dr Ian Dungavell visited all 14 listed Victorian and Edwardian public swimming pools in England and swam a length for every year each pool has been open.

2. The Victorian Society is the national charity campaigning for the Victorian and Edwardian historic environment. It fights to preserve important Victorian and Edwardian buildings and landscapes so that they can be enjoyed by this and future generations. It provides expert advice to churches and local planning authorities on how Victorian and Edwardian buildings and landscapes can be adapted to the way we live now, while keeping what is special about them. It also advises members of the public about how they can help shape the future of their local Victorian and Edwardian buildings and landscapes. It provides information to owners of Victorian and Edwardian houses about how they can better look after their precious buildings. It helps people understand, appreciate and enjoy the architectural heritage of the Victorian and Edwardian period through its publications and educational programmes.

3. The Victorian Society, 1 Priory Gardens, LONDON W4 1TT
Telephone 020 8994 1019
Facsimile 020 8747 5899

www.victoriansociety.org.uk

What is the point of the Executive?

Ian Greenwood’s performance at Tuesday’s Executive meeting in attempting to shout me down and denying me the opportunity to raise a point of order about the proposed closure of Manningham baths forces one to ask: what, exactly, is the point of the Executive? If, as he says, the decision on the baths – and, presumably, on all the other cuts recommended in the proposed budget – has already been taken, then it appears to be just a rubber stamp.

But the absence of People’s Coalition members from the public benches raises another question: what is the point of the Coalition, if it cannot muster attendance as the cuts bureaucracy rumbles on to automatic endorsement at tomorrow night’s full Council meeting?

Possibly they feel, with some reason, that the answer to my first question is that attendance at this rubber-stamp body serves no useful purpose. Of course, this is what the Labour cabal would like to happen. But, logically, we could go further: since there’s unlikely to be any meaningful opposition to the proposed cuts, is there any point in our turning up at the full Council, either?

I do not take this view. Of course, in the last analysis, we need to take opposition on to the streets, making it clear to Labour councillors that their very presence in the Council chamber itself will be at risk next May if they do not show some political muscle. Already opposition to library closures is growing, and this grassroots movement needs to be bolstered by the active support of People’s Coalition members. There is a dangerous tendency in the localities for opposition to focus on the possibility of local volunteers taking over the role of the local authority in running the libraries threatened with closure. This option should not be rejected. At the last People’s Coalition conference, I urged a two-pronged reaction to the attacks on social services: opposing cuts but also putting in place autonomous alternatives when the cuts are being bulldozed through.

But, basically, the danger of majoring at this early stage on the possible role of volunteers' filling the gap when the Council abdicates its responsibilities is to endorse the big lie of David Cameron’s Big Society scam.

What was notable at yesterday’s Executive was the absence of trade union representation on the floor of the chamber, since issues raised, like the need for an Equal Opportunities Assessment, were dealt with in the huge amounts of documentation distributed to all those present. There were also summaries of trade union representations (though, for some reason, these were marked “private and confidential”; I do not feel bound by this embargo, and I have hard copy versions available to any trade union reps who wish to consult them, if only to see if their views have been summarised accurately).

We must not allow our opposition to be worn down by the bureaucratic red tape, whose only function, it seems to me, is to render the proceedings opaque and unaccountable to the electorate while, at the same time, piously proclaiming their adherence to democratic principles. We should not surrender the pass to them so readily.

We are working for the fullest possible local representation on the big TUC demo in London on March 26, and this is correct. But the defeat of the cuts strategy will not be achieved by walking through Westminster under the benign eyes of the authorities. A much more important point of struggle will be two days earlier, at the full Council.


(Note: Please see author's correction in the comment, below.)

For the benefit of those who do not know what I’ve been on about in all the foregoing, I shall summarise the issues I attempted to raise on the Executive, and how I dealt with the chair’s diktat.

1.     As I have already reported, the budget recommendations include a proposal to close Manningham pool, at an estimated saving of £119,000. These recommendations were distributed after the last meeting of the Executive, on Friday, February 18, had been adjourned until Tuesday, February 22, and were therefore never discussed, in general or in detail.

2.                 On Monday, I emailed Ian Greenwood, and the three Manningham councillors, as follows:

As a Manningham resident and regular user of Manningham Pool, I seek an opportunity to address the executive on the question of its closure.

I am concerned at the fact that a number of elderly swimmers (myself among them) use the pool every Tuesday morning and there is clearly an important health issue at stake if this facility is withdrawn.

I am concerned that there has been no consultation with local people about this proposal and I plan to raise this at the Parochial Church Council of St Paul's Church, Manningham, of which I am an elected member, suggesting that we should approach other churches in the area through the Manningham and Girlington council of churches, to make a joint approach to the council on this matter.

I should emphasise that, at this stage, I speak for no one but myself as an individual. I am a supporter of Bradford People's Coalition Against the Cuts, but I hold no office in that organisation and do not speak for them on  this or any other matter.

Nevertheless, I feel that as a concerned local elector I should have an opportunity to question the thinking behind the proposed closure.

3.                 Ian Greenwood replied as follows:

The decision to recommend closure was taken last week so it is not before the committee today.  It is not appropriate therefore for anyone to address the committee.  We recognise that consultation has been limited because of the provisions of the Section 188 notices.  There will be a consultation exercise after full Council takes a view on Thursday.

4.                 In view of his statement that the decision had already been taken, I rose at the beginning of yesterday’s Executive to raise the following point of order:

"Before you continue your meeting, chair, I wish to raise a procedural point of order.

"Yesterday I advised you that I wished to address this meeting in opposition to the proposal to close Manningham Baths because of the impact of closure upon the health of elderly clients who regularly use the baths for the senior session every Tuesday morning.

"Today you have advised me that there would be no point in my addressing this meeting because the matter has already been decided.

"What therefore is the point of this Executive? Is it merely a rubber stamp for decisions taken by some cabal outside the democratic process? And how can such a decision be taken without consultation with the people concerned?"

Unfortunately, instead of hearing me out politely and ruling on the matter, he attempted to shout me down and called upon security staff to remove me from the chamber. They came and turned off the microphone and laid hands on me to remove me physically, but I continued my brief point of order then sat down. I was asked by one guard if I would now “behave”, but I did not reply to this.

5.                 Immediately after the meeting, I emailed Ian Greenwood as follows:

“I'm sorry, I could not hear your ruling today because you were shouting me down when I was attempting to raise a procedural point of order.

"You say that 'There will be a consultation exercise after full Council takes a view on Thursday.'

"How will this function? Would I be allowed to speak on Thursday?"

At the time of writing I have received no reply to this request. Meanwhile, I am preparing a local petition on the issue, and will be raising the matter at every opportunity, including a lobby of local councillors’ surgeries.

When is a T&A story "exclusive"?

When it was published on Bradleaks the previous day.

The closure of five of Bradford's libraries was also featured in the Yorkshire Post yesterday (http://bit.ly/YP-libraries).

If the police are happy with the way you're protesting . . .

. . . then you're doing it wrong!

Link to Bradford Council budget

http://bit.ly/bfd-budget.
The recommendations of the schools forum are still not online. Is that why David Berry was not present at last Friday's Executive?

Keep up the Uncuts pressure this Saturday!

Don't let tax evader criminal Philip Green off the hook.

Cabrank idiocy

What idiot placed the Church Bank cabrank on the right-hand side of a one-way street, so passengers have to get out into the road, with their backs to the traffic?

Bradford Executive adjourns till Tuesday

Friday Feb 18:
Today's meeting of Bradford Council Executive was adjourned until next Tuesday, February 22, 10.30am to consider a motion:

That the Executive makes recommendations to the meeting of Council on 24 February 2011 on the consequent revenue budget requirement and council tax level for 2011-12, an indicative budget for 2012/13, borrowing limits and prudential indicators.

Although three Party leaders addressed the issues in general terms, the actual budget document was not distributed until the end of the meeting. A cursory reading reveals the following recommendations which will prompt concern and, hopefully, concerted opposition.

• ADULT SERVICES:Remove subsidy from hot meals provision SAVING £500,000
  Close Whetley Hill
  Close all care homes by 2014 SAVING £600,00 in current year
  Review services for clients with mental health and learning disabilities SAVING £500
  Externalise (ie privatise) learning disabilities day care SAVING £300,000
  Reduce voluntary sector grants by 8.8% SAVING £652,000
• CHILDREN'S SERVICES:
  Reduce extended schools service SAVING £100,000
  Reduce healthy schools service SAVING £100,000
  Relocate family centre service provision from Albion to Parklands as part of "rationalisation" SAVING £700,000
  Cease learning enrichment project SAVING £250,000
  Looked After Children - reduce spend on external placements SAVING £1 MILLION
  Review support to outdoor centres SAVING £10,000
• TRANSPORTATION & HIGHWAYS
  Increase long-stay parking charges from £3.50 to £4 per day REVENUE £50,000 EXTRA
  Introduce on-street parking charges in Shipley, Ilkley, Keighley and Bingley REVENUE £113,000 EXTRA
• LIBRARIES:
  Close Addingham, Denholme, Heaton, Wilsden and Wrose libraries SAVING £70,000
  Removal of 2nd branch delivery van SAVING £20,000
  Close one public floor at Central Library and merge Information, Learning Zone and City Centre departments SAVING £50,000
  Introduce premium rate service charge of £25 per annum and introduce a £1 charge for requests for stock items REVENUE £25,000 EXTRA
• PUBLIC HALLS:
  Close or transfer Holden Hall, Oakworth SAVING £8,000
• LEISURE SERVICES:
  Review swimming pool provision at Greenhead and Rhodesway SAVING £144,000Close Manningham pool SAVING £119,000Reduce opening hours at Manningham Sports Centre SAVING £40,000Increase playing pitch charges REVENUE £5,000 EXTRA"Rationalise" (?) nursery operations SAVING £10,000"Rationalise" subsidy/lease arrangements at Horsfall Stadium, Park Avenue cricket ground, Little Horton Green cricket ground, and Apperley Bridge SAVING £10,00
  TOTAL ENVIRONMENT & SPORT SAVINGS £3.635 MILLION.

I was informed at the meeting that the full budget would be available online, but at the time of writing it is not yet available. Judging by past experience, these cuts will probably be rubber-stamped next Tuesday. The big fight will be at the full council on Feb 24.

BE THERE!

Police warn of crack-down on Uncut protestors

Saturday's Uncut action outside Outfit on Forster Square Retail Park went off peacefully, with great interest in the leaflets about Philip Green's tax avoidance schemes. There was good singing, too.
However, I had a conversation with the police sergeant on the scene, who warned that strong action would be taken if any attempt was made to invade the premises and anyone attempted to do so would be arrested on a charge of criminal trespass.
According to the website,
http://www.desktoplawyer.co.uk/dtl/index.cfm?event=base:article&node=A76076BD34460,

"Trespassing is usually a civil wrong and dealt with accordingly. However, in England and Wales certain forms of trespassing, generally those which involve squatters, raves and hunt saboteurs are covered by criminal law. There are offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sections 61 and 62 of trespassing on land and trespassing with vehicles."

The action of the police in using CS gas on demonstrators and the threat by Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, that police could adopt more extreme tactics means that we need to be prepared to deal with such repressive measures.
There is a lot of expertise we can draw on, for instance, among those who went to Faslane 365 a couple of years ago, and anyone who has confronted Israeli troops in Palestine.
We need to get MPs to sign the early day motion:

"That this House expresses its deep concern at the use by the Metropolitan Police of CS gas spray on UK uncut campaigners protesting at tax avoidance by Boots store; considers that this is a disproportionate use of force on peaceful campaigners; and calls on the Home Secretary to establish an independent public inquiry into this incident with a view to reviewing the guidelines for the use of CS spray by the police."

But resolutions are not enough. Since the next nationwide UncutUK action on Feb 19 (see http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/what-is-a-bail-in) coincides with the People's Coalition rally in Market Street, both actions are likely to encounter repressive police measures.
We need to consider how to respond to this.

Related articles

• Call for inquiry over video showing officer spraying protesters with CS gas (guardian.co.uk)
• A new age of protest: UK Uncut (news.bbc.co.uk)

People's Coalition petition referred to next Executive, Feb 18

Bradford Council Executive considered he petition from Bradford People's Coalition and after pious assurances that they would do everything to protect the most needy, it was referred to next Friday's Executive, February 18, 10.30pm.
Clearly, the powers that be expected a larger turnout than the dozen or so supporters who were there, since the meeting had been moved from a committee room to the Council chamber.
The real crunch will come at the next full Council, however: Feb 24, 4pm. 

Executive Committee documents, Feb 11, 10.30am

The documents to be considered at the Bradford Council EC can be viewed by clicking on this link, and then the links on the page.
Links to the individual assessments are:

• http://bit.ly/bfd-assessment
• http://bit.ly/bfd-workstrategy
• http://bit.ly/bfd-housingstrategy

I am attempting an analysis, but there's a lot of material to evaluate. And I'm not even sure any of this is relevant to our petition, but possibly some of our less economically-challenged colleagues will do better than me.
See you on Friday!

Related articles

• Bradford Council facing £2m bill to repair potholes (thetelegraphandargus.co.uk)

NF targeting Bradford

National Front says it's planning to march in Bradford. This may be an attempt to reclaim the ground from the EDL but cannot be dismissed as just a publicity stunt.

We Are Bradford has been very quiet since we saw off the EDL thugs last year - many of WAB activists are now active in the anti-cuts campaign - but the fascists won't go away.

We can expect even more thuggery as the cuts begin to hit the working class.

Points from Chris Howson for People's Coalition Conference, today (Sat Jan 22)

Chris is not well and won't be at today's conference, but he has submitted the following items for discussion:

1) Cuts & recession = Debts. 12.30-1.30 Thurs 3rd Feb, Impressions Gallery, is a lunchtime event with Alan Thorton from 'Debt on the Doorstep/Church Action on Poverty' and Karen from Bradford Met Credit Union. Come and share your experiences and views on Debt in Bradford. Members of the coalition very welcome (we'll probably hand a letter over to the Provident across the road - asking for a cap on interest rates for the doorstep loans that built their new offices)  

 

2) Jan 30th UKuncut are focusing on Boots, holding clinic and hospital themed demo's inside and outside their stores - if anyone had any props (hospital beds/bandages etc) and ideas that could help show the link between tax avoidance and the cost to the NHS - that would be great.

 

3) A day of action, perhaps focusing on the Barclays and/or Topshop/Arcadia is still planned for the 12th Feb, (maybe with a valentines day theme - with drums) thoughts/ideas welcome. For these events, someone who can effectively 'tweet' would be helpful.

What Chris doesn't say is that his book, A Just Church, is being launched at Waterstones on March 1, 5pm at University bookshop, 6pm at the Wool Exchange Branch. Be there!

A thought from 1994

"From that moment on, I was no longer a liberal, a believer in the self-correcting character of American democracy. I was a radical, believing that something fundamental was wrong in this country - not just the existence of poverty amidst great wealth, not just the horrible treatment of black people, but something rotten at the root. The situation required not just a new president or new laws, but an uprooting of the old order, the introduction of a new kind of society - cooperative, peaceful, egalitarian."

-Howard Zinn, from his 1994 memoir, "You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train"

------------------

I'm using Opera Unite to post audio of my songs, poems, interviews etc on the web. With all the recordings I've done over the past half century or so, it's a lot of sorting out to do, but check out this link to lend an ear to this work in progress. The page opens with some miscellaneous items, followed by a series of folders which you can use for navigating through the clips.

Go well.

Karl Dallas

Please get posting

Thanks to all those who have posted. But we need more contributions. What do you know that they're trying to cover up? Blow the whistle!

Executive members

Members of the Executive, which will consider the People's Coalition petition on Feb 11 are as follows:

Cllr Ian Greenwood (Chair) (01274 432084, ian.greenwood@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Ralph Berry (01274 770869, mobile 07976 382993, ralph.berry@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Paul Flowers (01274 575477, paul.flowers@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr David Green (01274 773661, mobile 07876 038279, david.green@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Amir Hussain (01274 483778, mobile 07958 551756, amir.hussain@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Imran Hussain (01274 432085, mobile 07765 220894, cllr.imranhussain@bradford.gov.uk)

Cllr Ghanzanfer Khaliq (01274 660459, mobile 07889 967647, ghazanfer.khaliq@bradford.gov.uk)

Cuts Cafe in Leeds opening soon

Cuts cafe is going to be an occupied space in the city centre that we’ll put to use with workshops, talks, art spaces, actions and entertainment. It’ll be open all week with tea and a space to chill as well as ongoing activites to engage with to help us explore the way the cuts are affecting Leeds, how we use public services and what the government spends our money on.

There will be a timetable of events published nearer the time which will include talks about the NHS, housing in Leeds, education and benefits, discussions on how we can learn from past and present resistance movements, a film night, games night, live music and a poetry slam. There will also be spaces to talk about how to organise collectively in Leeds.

Words sharp as razors comin’ at ya like David Cameron’s favourite pair of scissors…

Slam the Cuts Open Poetry Slam

2nd February, Cuts Cafe, Central Leeds
6.30 Food, 7.30 start

Guests include:

Pete the Temp

Susie Showers

Reclairethestreets

Danny Chivers

A poetry slam is a live poetry competition where random members of the audience are made judges giving scores to a series of 3 minute spoken word perfomances.

Sign up to take part in the slam on the door!

The Cuts Cafe is a week long occupation with music, art, films, discussion and workshops against cuts and privatisation

www.cutscafeleeds.wordpress.com

Watch out for cuppa VAT rises

VAT went up to 20 per cent accompanied by rises all round. They should be going up by roughly 2.1p in  the pound, so a formerly £1 cuppa should now be no more than £1.05, say. According to a BBC presenter, prices in the Corporation's own canteen have risen by 25 per cent for a cup of tea and 7.1 per cent for a bag of chips.
Please let us know of the most outrageous price rises, and not only for cafes either.

Plans to reopen mothballed Little Horton school dealt a severe blow (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Plans to reopen mothballed Little Horton school dealt a severe blow (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus):

According to the report, "lead ha[s] been ripped from the building, pipes and roof slates ha[ve] been stolen and there was evidence that the outdoor toilets were being used for 'inappropriate liaisons'".

Of course, the report hints at the usual suspects. But why was this quite serviceable building mothballed in the first place.

Council leader, Ian Greenwood, who's the chair of governors for the school, has some questions to answer.

It’s not a hippy peacenik thang, it’s a rock hard revolutionary thang

A useful guide for how to behave during demonstrations can be viewed at http://libcom.org/organise/demonstrations/articles/guide-public-order-situations.php. Among the useful advice, we read:

• Don’t be tempted to stand around and fight – get to where you can cause disruption without the police around.
• Keep moving, as a group and individually. Fill gaps. Never stand still – chaos puts the police off.
• Nip police attempts to form lines or divide the crowd in the bud.
• Don’t be intimidated.
• Do everything in small teams, prepare in advance.
• Think defensively. Protect each other and escape routes.
• Always face outwards, ie. away from us and towards them.
• Link arms as often as possible, form barriers, use your body.
• Move quickly and calmly, never giving the police time to react.

Related articles

• Letters: The right to protest and police tactics (guardian.co.uk)

Bradford's National Media Museum is the jewel in  the crown of the city's culture, and the regular Tuesday and Thursday morning pensioners' film shows are one of the museum's most successful events.
Instituted by Christine Schofield when she worked for the nearby (and sadly neglected) Odeon, they have been widely copied, though never so successfully.
One of the innovative aspects of the shows has been the informal discussions after the Thursday showings, which the museum has facilitated with free coffee for all participants.
However, NMM is of course a branch of the Science Museum in London, and thus at risk from the Government's cuts. Hitherto, the pensioners' discussions have been facilitated by a member of staff, but someone has decided they can't afford this, so volunteers are being called for.
No probs, so far. Often, when the discussion has not been announced before the film show, members have gathered for a chat anyway, coffee or no coffee. The sort of people who attend are well able to handle themselves in this sort of discussion.
But, being part of what is effectively a Government department, nothing is ever as simple as that. Here's an extract from the official call for volunteers.

Volunteers should be able to research information to assist with the facilitation of the film discussion, keep the group focused and ensure group participation.

Recruit new people to join in the film discussion group, and promote film related events.

Requirements for role Commitment:

We envisage 4 volunteers working on a 4 week rota for this role, We would ask each volunteer to commit to approximately 3.5 hours every 4th week. 1 free ticket to see the film for facilitator. Regular meetings with line manager.

Report discussion group figures and group feedback.

Skills:

Applicants for this role should have the following skills: 

• Professional outlook

• Enthusiasm for film

• Public speaking

• Friendly, approachable and helpful manner • Good time keeping

• Be flexible and motivated Training:

• To attend an induction course

• To attend all relevant Health and Safety training including passing NMSI E-learning H&S test

• To attend internal and external training as required

• To pass a 3 month trial period

Please note that we are unable to reimburse travel expenses.

No surprise with that last qualification then.

The whole thing seems to be bureaucracy gone mad. Some current attenders have pointed out that they are entirely entitled to gather together in the museum caff for a chat after the show without any of this Health & Safety malarkey.

Some media students from Bradford Uni are rumoured to be applying to be interviewed for the post. We don't fancy their chances if the attenders start flexing some Grey Power muscles.

Jan 22 Anti-cuts conference - venue

Venue for Saturday's an ti-cuts conference will be Student Central (Communal Building) on  Bradford University campus (flyer illustrated at left), from 10am to 3pm.
See map below for way to the Communal Building (marked in red).

Ilkley imposes first ASBOs - for drunken behaviour

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) have been issued in Ilkley for the first time.
George Mckenzie, of Ilkley, and John Bulmer, of Langbar, have been banned from getting drunk in public, acting in a threatening manner and begging for money.
Ludicrously, they are allowed to do these things as long as they stay on licensed premises.

Ilkley could lose museum and loos

Fears Bradford will sell buildings (From Ilkley Gazette):

Ilkley is at risk of losing its museum, leisure facilities and public toilets under plans being drawn up by Bradford Council.

That is the stark warning from district and Ilkley councillor Mike Gibbons, who told fellow parish councillors on Monday that he had “grave” concerns about the future of services in the town as local authority cuts begin to bite.

At a full meeting of Ilkley Parish Council, Coun Gibbons said he understood lists of possible savings included all public toilets in the district, and that the Manor House Museum and swimming pools were not safe.

He later said all the town’s public buildings were at risk, including the King’s Hall and Winter Gardens, the lido and the library.