One Year In - Tackling the Housing Crisis

A year since I was re-elected by residents of West Ham for a third term as a Newham Councillor and then appointed by directly elected Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, as Cabinet lead for Housing Services. The most demanding but also the most fulfilling year of my life so far. Put headphone on to listen to video. More to follow.

Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz "Today marks One. Year. In. as the Mayor of Newham! There’s more to do, but we’re already delivering and here’s a message to Newham residents that we published earlier:

​​‘Today marks a year since I stepped into office as Mayor of Newham. I wanted to say thank you for giving me and my administration the opportunity to put you at the heart of everything we do as a Council.​

You’ll be able to see some of the things we’ve achieved from a series of #DeliveringForNewham messages on social media, including the one below on housing. At next week’s Annual Council Meeting on 16 May I’ll also be outlining some of my plans for what happens next.

It’s certainly been a momentous first year, with some real highlights – getting my administration’s first Budget agreed, along with a new corporate plan (the first in several years) and a structure for the Council that will support the delivery of the promises I made to you when I was elected last May. We’ve driven forward an agenda of improving transparency and accountability, alongside involving residents in decision-making through the amazing Citizen Assemblies that we’ve held across borough.

We now have robust plans under way to deal with the housing crisis we face in Newham; I’ve laid down a huge marker about how we intend to deal with the climate emergency; and we’ve made a commitment to become a living wage council. We’re addressing poverty, tackling inequality and sharing economic prosperity through our Community Wealth Building agenda. Which means that investment coming into Newham, and already in the borough, benefits all our residents.

I’ve also announced great news relating to my promise to Newham voters that I would clean up the Council’s budget. A key element of that was to address the scourge of risky LOBO loans taken out before I stepped into office. On Friday, we finalised negotiations with NatWest Bank and I was thrilled to announce that we’ve terminated the RBS LOBO loans taken out under the previous administration, saving us £143 million that can be spent on Newham residents. Over the past ten years that the RBS loans have been in place, it’s cost us an extra £31 million in interest payments, so by terminating these LOBO loans, more money can be spent on services for Newham residents.

You’ll also have noted that my Cabinet and I have put our collective weight behind the children and young people of this borough – we will make sure our young people are safe, coupled with laying down the building blocks for generations to come so that their talent and potential is realised.

Safety of our young people continues to be a big issue for us and that’s why on Saturday, we’ll be holding an inaugural Love Life Gala at The Old Town Hall in Stratford to promote the importance of youth safety in Newham. The Gala promises to be an eclectic evening of food, entertainment and special appearances by renowned artists. All funds raised will be used to provide recuperative programmes and experiences for children and young people in Newham.

It’s also been a year peppered with challenges, which is why we’ll continue to drive changes at the Council so that we improve the way it serves our residents. There’s also been some low points in our borough, which is why I am humbled by the unity and resolve of our community following the horrendous attacks in Christchurch and Sri Lanka. We’re strengthened by coming together and I’m proud that Newham is a place where people embrace our diversity so positively.

When I was elected last year, I thanked Newham residents for putting their faith and trust in me; and in my vision for the borough. We’re already delivering for Newham residents, but there’s a lot more to do.

So I promise you this: as I progress through the second year of my administration, I’ll strive to achieve and deliver the best for you, your family and our community. Because the people of Newham are at the heart of everything I do. ‘

Alternative Futures Group (AFG) workers begin seven-day strike

Company has rejected UNISON’s offer of serious talks over cutting carers’ sleep-in shift payments

Solidarity to AFG strikers hat tip UNISON website

"Over 650 UNISON members employed by the Alternative Futures Group (AFG) begin seven days of strike action on Tuesday over cuts to their income.

AFG has cut back care support workers’ pay for sleep-in shifts. This will cost some staff as much as £2,000 per year. The care support workers are only paid at the level of the minimum wage for their regular hours and many are now struggling to stay in the care sector due to not being paid adequately at night.

UNISON has offered to meet with AFG for negotiations aimed at averting the strike, but the company has rejected this.

Staff have received great support, with a public petition amassing more than 13,000 signatures.

UNISON North West regional convenor Paula Barker said: “AFG staff and council commissioners are furious that AFG senior managers have refused to negotiate to resolve the dispute.

“AFG’s pay cuts are jeopardising the future provision of care services for vulnerable people, as experienced and skilled care staff are being driven out of the sector.

“AFG’s senior management have been entrusted with providing a very important public service, but their actions are both unjust and reckless.

“AFG need to get back round the table and enter into serious talks to get this matter resolved.”

Merseyside care support worker Emma said: “It is a struggle to get by on the minimum wage and we can’t afford a cut to my income. I love working with the service users, but I’m having to consider leaving because we can’t pay the bills.

“We want AFG to listen and to pay us fairly for sleep-ins. We need this matter to be sorted out now.”

A public rally will take place on Friday 10 May at 12 noon at St George’s Hall steps in Liverpool. It will be addressed by UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis, striking care workers, local MPs and Ms Barker".

Hawarden Park Walk: Gladstone, Dad, Airbus, Bagpipes, Ken Taylor and Bilberry Woods walk...

Off message but a post from a lovely 5 mile Easter walk in North Wales (pathfinder guide walk  5 "North Wales, Snowdon and Offa's Dyke"). 

I was brought up only a couple of miles away in Buckley, but have not been back to this area since, so it was more than a little emotional to visit places I could remember from my youth. Hawarden has the remains of a Welsh/Norman Castle and also the more modern home of  19th Century, British Prime Minister, William Gladstone. As a child I used to go conker picking in Hawarden Park.

A close school friend of mine, Ken Taylor, had a family small farm holding somewhere nearby. But I could not for the life of me remember exactly where? I suspect we walked past it.

Much of the early part of the walk is dominated by the sight of massive Airbus (aircraft manufacturer) factory in Broughton. My father, another John Gray, used to work in the factory in the 1950s and was also an active trade unionist (Assistant branch secretary of the Electricians union - now part of Unite) and a local Labour Councillor.

Seeing the size of the factory and knowing its huge importance to the local economy, you can understand the concerns that many have over its survival if things go wrong over Brexit.

Halfway thorough the walk amongst decayed World War 2 shelters, to our amazement, we could could hear someone playing the bagpipes in the middle of nowhere.  Our path took us away from the bagpipe player, so we were not able to find him (or her).

The latter part of the walk was more rural and isolated. Bilberry wood with its bluebells was lovely.
Due to the spring foliage we could not see much of either the old or new castle, so will return again another time. Hopefully, sometime very soon. 

UNISON Labour Link campaigning for Labour in Kent Council elections Thursday 2 May

On Thursday I went to support Labour candidates standing in the local elections in Kent. There were no London Council elections this year. Our West Ham Labour MP, Lyn Brown (a long standing UNISON member and Shadow Finance Minister) came along with Cara, her Labour attack dog as well as the Chair of West Ham ward, Ian Mills. .

We firstly went to support Lola Oyewusi, who is my UNISON branch assistant secretary who was standing for Labour in Tonbridge and Malling to be a Councillor. She also had support from her fellow Jo Cox Leadership colleague, Olga FitzRoy.  Sadly Lola was not elected in this safe Tory ward but she was elected to her parish council as the first ever Black Female Councillor! Well done Lola!

London UNISON Labour Link had been asked to support Gravesham. Lyn, Ian, Cara and I went door knocking to "encourage" Labour voters to come out to vote.  The local Labour Party was well organised and the lists of Labour supporters who we were targeted to "knock up" and remind them to vote was very accurate. Which is let me say, not always the case.

I carried on the West Ham tradition of buying everyone an ice cream 99 chocolate flake.

Great news that that Labour took control of the Council on Thursday and in that ward, Labour won all of the seats (and the Kent Council by election). Excellent!

I had to get back to Newham for my Councillor surgery, to be a judge at our borough school public speaking competition then go to a leaving do for a much valued Council officer.

UNISON NEC Elections - Less than 2 weeks to go!!

Less than 2 Weeks to go (ballot papers must be posted back by Friday 17 May)

What’s the election for?

All seats are up for election on UNISON’s national executive council (or ‘NEC") It acts as our union "Parliament" in between our annual conference).

The NEC is a diverse group of 67 ordinary members like you, working in all areas of public services, who make decisions about how our union is run.

When can I vote?

The ballot opened on 15 April 2019 and closes on Friday 17 May 2019.

A ballot paper should have be sent to the home of every eligible member, together with information on the candidates.

What if I haven’t had a ballot paper?

If you haven’t received your ballot paper by now, please call 0800 0857 857.

Who can I vote for?

All UNISON members can vote for regional seats and national seats (if there are vacancies). In the table above and below I have made recommendations for candidates. 

On your ballot paper(s) it will say what candidates you are eligible to vote for, so you could check the tables when making your mind up who to vote for. 

This is a really important election for the future of our union. We want member led, Members voices. Vote for those who care and stand up for you, your rights and our union 

Newham to save £143 million by terminating a big bad LOBO

Fantastic news! Newham will save some £3.5 million interest per year (including £1.5 million extra off our housing loans). Many thanks to all those who fought for justice so long including our new Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, Cllr John Whitworth as well as Newham officers and our advisers. Special thanks also to Joel Benjamin, Abhishek Sachdev and Nick Dunbar. 

NB We still have one wolf to terminate. 

(LOBO is also Spanish for Wolf) 

Newham Council to save £143m after terminating Lender Option Borrower Option (LOBO) loans with bank

"Newham Council has struck a deal with NatWest bank over its Lender Option Borrower Option (LOBO) loans that will save the Council up to £143m, allowing more money to be spent on services for residents.​

​The termination agreement will allow Newham to pay off the LOBO loans at a considerably lower rate of interest, saving the equivalent of £3.5m per year over 41 years, which was the length of time the loans still had to run.

Newham will now enter into agreement with the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) to pay off the loans at much lower rates of interest. The PWLB is the Government body that lends money to councils.

The deal, agreed following lengthy negotiations with the bank, will put the Council in a better position to take advantage of current low borrowing rates.

The Council took out six LOBO loans, each worth £25million, with the bank in 2009. Terminating the loans will remove significant financial risk to the Council. This will improve its financial standing at a time of austerity and enable it to invest in services that benefit the Newham residents.

The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said: “I made a promise to Newham residents in my election manifesto last year that I would clean up the Council’s budget. A key element of that was to address the scourge of risky LOBO loans taken out under the previous administration.

“After just a year in office I have made an important step towards achieving this and it will save us significant amounts of money every year.

“Over the past ten years that the loans have been in place, it’s cost us an extra £31million in interest payments compared to borrowing from the PWLB. That’s money that should have been spent on Newham residents.

“Earlier this year, I made a promise to Newham residents that I’d make every penny count and that’s why this Council filed a claim against the bank in the High Court in February. The deal that we’ve successfully nailed down today means that we’ll be saving up to £143 million for Newham residents, which is a successful resolution of this litigation."​​

Help Labour Win Today - Unions together

You have until 10PM

Hi John - Today there are important local elections in many parts of England. Do you have a spare hour to help get the Labour vote out? Click below to find today's campaign events near you using the Labour Party's events finder: https://events.labour.org.uk/ Local government has been damaged by years of Tory cuts that have hit working people and their families hard. We can all see the impact in our local communities - crime is rising, town centres are suffering with shops closing down and decent jobs disappearing. Local councils are starved of funds, struggling to deliver the basic services that we all rely on. Under the Tories, for too many people work is insecure and pay isn’t enough to make ends meet. It’s harder than ever to get a decent home. The NHS and social care have been pushed into crisis, it’s harder to see your GP and waiting lists are growing. Schools are facing huge cuts and class sizes are rising. Only a Labour Government can rebuild Britain for the many not the few. Have you already voted Labour today? Let your friends know on Facebook by clicking the button below. https://www.facebook.com/unionstogether/ We need to put Labour in charge in Town Halls across the country, and send a message to this Government that after 9 years of cuts and decline, their time is up. Labour will rebuild our country by investing in services and communities so they can thrive once again. All the best, Helen Reproduced from an electronic communication sent by Helen Pearce on behalf of TULO, both at Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

May Day!

Happy May Day to all the Workers in the World!

Greater London UNISON Labour Link supports Kent candidates in Gravesham and Chatham Thursday 2 May 2019

There is no Council elections in London this year so we asked our next door regional UNISON Labour link comrades to recommend where London UNISON members could go on Thursday.

So far 2 requests both in Kent :-

1."London Labour Link Colleagues,

We have been asked to help out on election day in Gravesham in South East Region.

If you are free on 2 May and are able to travel to Gravesham you will be picked up and dropped off from the station.

They will be out door knocking from 9am until the close of poll, and any time during the day that you are able to help would be appreciated.

We can cover any travel expenses you may incur, and food and drink will be laid on locally.

If you wanted to travel directly there by car the committee rooms that have been booked are at the following locations; the Northfleet and Gravesend West Committee Room is 62 New House Lane, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 7JN which will be the key focus as they also have a Kent County Council by-election. The 2nd address for Gravesham East is 4 Kenia Walk, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 4HN.

Contact details for the day will be Shane Mochrie-Cox 0782 455 2520.

If you are able to help out on this day, please reply with the following info;

- What times you could help (eg. From 11am – 2pm)

- Whether you would prefer to travel by train and will need picking up, or if you will travel by car

- A contact number for you, so you can be contacted on the day if necessary"

2. Also my UNISON branch assistant secretary Lola is also standing near Chatham:-)

"You can get trains directly from Kings cross St pancreas platform 11 high speed to Chatham station and then take a taxi to the address. Bus 155 also from Chatham not that reliable takes you to the village. You can get trains from Victoria & London Bridge station to Chatham. Not an Oyster route . We don’t have a campaign coordinator we are doing everything by ourselves.

330 pilgrims Way Wouldham ME1 3RB. Park the car towards the Borstal end of the lay-by opposite. Up the steps in the middle (call me when you arrive if you need help climbing them). It’s the dark green one. Lola”

Not received your ballot papers yet? Call 0800 0857 857 UNISON NEC Elections 2019 #UNEC19

If you have not received your UNISON NEC 2019 ballot papers yet to your home postal address then ring 0800 0857 857 to ask for another set of ballot papers to be sent out.

You do not need your UNISON membership number and you still have time to ask for replacement ballot papers and to return them.

UNISON members can vote for their Regional candidates (e.g London if you work here),
their Service Group (e.g Community is you work for a housing association or voluntary sector)
and Self Organised Seats (e.g Black and Disabled members)

Once you get your papers my personal recommendations are :-

Regional Seats

Service Group Seats

Health - General Seat - James Anthony; Female Seat- Pat Heron; Female Seat - Jenny Forbes-Reid; Male Seat- Gordon McKay

Local Government - General Seat- Maggie Griffin; Female Seat- Maxine Rowden; Female Seat- Kati Conway; Male Seat- Peter Crewes

Community - General Seat- John Gray; Female Seat- Denise Thomas

Higher Ed - General Seat- Dan Beard; Female Seat- Katie Hall

Energy – Tracey Wainwright

Black members seats

Male Seat- Ash Dobi
Female Seat- Manjula Kumari
Female Seat - Sandra Okwara

Disabled members seats

Female Seat- Katrina Murray

Young members seats

Female Seat - Kendal Bromley-Bewes