Friday, 18 February 2011
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:
Today's meeting of Bradford Council Executive was adjourned until next Tuesday, February 22, 10.30am to consider a motion:
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.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.
- 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.
BE THERE!
Monday, 14 February 2011
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,
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:
We need to consider how to respond to this.
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.
Friday, 11 February 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
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:
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!
Links to the individual assessments are:
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!
Saturday, 22 January 2011
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.
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