Greens and the Labour left linking up in Sheffield against Blairism PFI and attacks on the local community.
SHEFFIELD MOMENTUM BREAKS WITH LODGE-DORE ON TREES.
Sheffield Momentum tonight became the second local Labour Party group to break with the Dore-Lodge* line on PFI’s and trees.
The staunchly pro-Corbyn group said it “does not support” the SCC-Amey Streets Ahead PFI deal and called upon the SCC Labour Group “to provide a non-confrontational negotiated way of working with concerned residents and Amey plc.”
The PFI deal had “resulted in confrontation in the removal of trees and the failure to meet timescales for road improvements and has resulted in the erosion of local democratic control,” said Sheffield Momentum co-chair Jack Dunne in a prepared printed statement that had been approved by its executive. [See full statement at end.]
Dunne, flanked by other exec members, read out the statement to about a dozen NO STUMP CITY tree campaigners who were conducting a non-confrontational information picket of the Momentum meeting in the city centre. Ten placards held aloft said: “Sheffield Labour – Axe PFIs, not Trees.”
Despite the cold, wind and rain, campaigners were in good spirits from the start of the fun event and one person showed off her new skull and crossbones mugs that had just arrived as a clearance item from Amazon.
One veteran activist reflected afterwards, “you know that was probably the most effective picket line I have ever been part of.”
The initial cracks in the normally armour-plated ranks of the local Labour Party are starting to show. Two weeks ago, Gleadless Valley Labour Party passed an emergency resolution by 30-0 vote calling for an immediate mediated settlement of the trees dispute.
Small victories like tonight have their own ‘back stories’. They very much include those who have been standing under OUR trees for many months and who will be waking up at 4:00 a.m.Thursday to act as sentries against PFI-funded tree fellers. WE SALUTE YOU!
NO STUMP CITY has planned information pickets at four more Labour Party events in February.
+++++++++++++++++++
OFFICIAL MOMENTUM STATEMENT ON PFIs JANUARY 31 2018 – ISSUED TO NO STUMP CITY
Sheffield Momentum does not support the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in Sheffield, which has resulted in confrontation in the removal of trees and the failure to meet timescales for road improvements and has resulted in the erosion of local democratic control. All work carried out in the name of Sheffield City Council should be carried out by council workers. Sheffield Momentum believes that if this work was being carried out in-house there would have been changes to how the work was managed and delivered. The reality is that Amey plc failed on road improvement and has tarnished this city’s image as a green city. Momentum supports the Labour Party Manifesto from the 2017 General Election in the opposition to PFIs and ask our Labour Group on Sheffield City Council to do the same, we also ask that the Labour Group seeks to provide a non-confrontational negotiated way of working with concerned residents and Amey plc.
+++++++++++++++++++
NO STUMP CITY
“Independent political action to save Sheffield Trees.”
no.stump.city@gmail.com
* Julie Dore heads Sheffield City Council; Cllr Bryan Lodge is the SCC cabinet member in charge on trees.
Sheffield Momentum tonight became the second local Labour Party group to break with the Dore-Lodge* line on PFI’s and trees.
The staunchly pro-Corbyn group said it “does not support” the SCC-Amey Streets Ahead PFI deal and called upon the SCC Labour Group “to provide a non-confrontational negotiated way of working with concerned residents and Amey plc.”
The PFI deal had “resulted in confrontation in the removal of trees and the failure to meet timescales for road improvements and has resulted in the erosion of local democratic control,” said Sheffield Momentum co-chair Jack Dunne in a prepared printed statement that had been approved by its executive. [See full statement at end.]
Dunne, flanked by other exec members, read out the statement to about a dozen NO STUMP CITY tree campaigners who were conducting a non-confrontational information picket of the Momentum meeting in the city centre. Ten placards held aloft said: “Sheffield Labour – Axe PFIs, not Trees.”
Despite the cold, wind and rain, campaigners were in good spirits from the start of the fun event and one person showed off her new skull and crossbones mugs that had just arrived as a clearance item from Amazon.
One veteran activist reflected afterwards, “you know that was probably the most effective picket line I have ever been part of.”
The initial cracks in the normally armour-plated ranks of the local Labour Party are starting to show. Two weeks ago, Gleadless Valley Labour Party passed an emergency resolution by 30-0 vote calling for an immediate mediated settlement of the trees dispute.
Small victories like tonight have their own ‘back stories’. They very much include those who have been standing under OUR trees for many months and who will be waking up at 4:00 a.m.Thursday to act as sentries against PFI-funded tree fellers. WE SALUTE YOU!
NO STUMP CITY has planned information pickets at four more Labour Party events in February.
+++++++++++++++++++
OFFICIAL MOMENTUM STATEMENT ON PFIs JANUARY 31 2018 – ISSUED TO NO STUMP CITY
Sheffield Momentum does not support the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in Sheffield, which has resulted in confrontation in the removal of trees and the failure to meet timescales for road improvements and has resulted in the erosion of local democratic control. All work carried out in the name of Sheffield City Council should be carried out by council workers. Sheffield Momentum believes that if this work was being carried out in-house there would have been changes to how the work was managed and delivered. The reality is that Amey plc failed on road improvement and has tarnished this city’s image as a green city. Momentum supports the Labour Party Manifesto from the 2017 General Election in the opposition to PFIs and ask our Labour Group on Sheffield City Council to do the same, we also ask that the Labour Group seeks to provide a non-confrontational negotiated way of working with concerned residents and Amey plc.
+++++++++++++++++++
NO STUMP CITY
“Independent political action to save Sheffield Trees.”
no.stump.city@gmail.com
* Julie Dore heads Sheffield City Council; Cllr Bryan Lodge is the SCC cabinet member in charge on trees.
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