The Labour Group voted for Butt by 21 votes to 19 and their decision has to be confirmed by Full Council. It is a very narrow margin...
Muhammed is currently lead member for resources and is councillor for Tokyngton ward.
The way cuts, and particularly library closures, have been handled by Ann John, appear to have been the motivating factor in the challenge. At the meeting Butt said he wanted to mend relations with the local community.
The leadership change, if confirmed, is likely to lead to other changes in the Brent Executive at Wednesday's meeting.
17 comments:
What is Muhammed Butt going to do about library closures and the Willesden Green development?
STOP being distracted by this sideshow. Its the Mayor of Brent you all need to be looking at and understanding his role in the development.
The Local Don.
That sounds like VERY GOOD NEWS indeed, hopefully he'll successfully challenge her, win, and reverse the library closures...
I doubt any reversal of closures is in prospect - he was a member of the Executive that voted through the closures. There may be some concessions on Kensal Rise perhaps. I hear that James Powney survived a challenge for his Executive position from Cllr Claudia Hector.
Thats why I said STOP being distracted by this sideshow, its the Mayor of Brent you all need to be looking at. I think you will all find it interesting what documents the Mayor signs on behalf of you, I mean Brent.
The Local Don.
Much like some of the libraries Ann John was beyond renovation and filled with outdated ideas. Furthermore, she was never a leader, but a sock puppet of the Chief Executive and senior directors. It is no secret that it has been the CE and his corporate management team that has been pushing this proposal for over a decade through all administrations of all political hues.
It was only with Ann John's quisling sub-subservience that the CE Gareth Daniel felt confident enough to finally push it through. With her [Ann John} long overdue departure there may indeed be a opportunity for a leader and an executive of strength and character to challenge the CE and his directors to amend the plans. We shall see.
Meanwhile I look forward to an administration dedicated to enacting policies for the benefit of the people of Brent rather than dedicated to the enhancement of council officers' CVs that was the hallmark of Ann John's leadership, a noun she was woefully incapable of living up to.
The ousting of Ann John as Council Leader (and of George Crane as Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects?) should not affect the outcome of the application to redevelop the WGLC and demolish the 1894 Willesden Green Library building in the process of doing so. This is a matter for the Planning Committee, over which Brent's Executive is prevented by the Borough's Constitution from having any influence (and even if they did try to do so, there would be no evidence to corroberate such an attempt).
It will be interesting to see who is on the new Planning Committee; hopefully councillors who will consider the application purely on how it matches up against proper planning policies. If they do this, there is a very good chance that any application involving the demolition of the Victorian library building will be refused, BUT ONLY if we all make sure that we put in objections making the valid points which show that demolition of this locally listed building is against both local and national planning policies.
Good luck to the Keep Willesden Green meeting on Tuesday evening (15 May)!
With a a vote that close I guess we can look forward to some horse trading and in fighting in the forseeable future. Doubt it will benefit the locals much though.
You are correct to say that the Executive cannot influence the Planning Committee, but it is entirely within the remit of the Executive to order the Council to withdraw the planning application.
This would be correct if, as should legally have been the case, Brent's name was shown as joint applicant on the planning and conservation area consent application forms. As it is, the applicantions have been submitted in the sole name of Galliford Try PLC.
Brent's Assistant Director (Planning & Development) Chris Walker has accepted that the conservation area consent application must be referred to the Secretary of State for a decision, if Brent's Planning Committee are minded to accept the planning application (which assumes demolition of the 1894 library building to make way for the new Cultural Centre). This puts him at odds with his "boss", the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects, Andy Donald, who approved the design which involves that demolition.
What did for Ann John? Well apart from all of the above, her total disregard for the very people she is supposed to serve. That and the complete lack of remorse at the "difficult decisions" concerning library closures. Her arrogance at telling US how wonderful and exciting it all is when we have shown how strong our opposition is to this devastation. Now the library service is trying desperately to keep up its visitor numbers and issues to prove that the the decision was right but the reality is that those figures are falling. Lets see if Mr Butt can listen to what we the people are saying. Not holding my breath though...
Some good information on this page. ONE thing you're all forgetting and thats the fact all local councillors, directors and chief executive work for the london borough of Brent.
What is wrong with that statement? Residents are not BRENT.
The Local Don.
MSG to the Insider, I want to hear more from you.
The Local Don.
Mr Butt is a very good leader and you just have to sit back and let him do the work.
Heard Mr Butt on London Tonight with his comment about the Government illegal immigrants was going back to the the 50s and 60s when there were signs no Asians, no Blacks and No Dogs. Is this historical revisionism deleting the Irish history from Brent for political gains? Yes as everybody knows it was No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, somebody give him a history lesson or he could just talk to the older generation.
Cares so much about having a relationship with the residents that he can't return phonecalls. Have called 10 times now and despite the fact that he says he will call back he never does. Perhaps if I cancel my council tax payments I might get his attention!!!!!!!!!
Does not respond to his calls?
Bring back Ann John!
Too late!
http://litigantsinperson.wordpress.com/help4lips-in-the-local-community/
Brent council, well considering my family have been harassed by noise and banging on our home wall from there social services workers for 2 years followed ridiculed and mentally tortured from this everyday and this all been complaind time and time again without any response or without the matter being dealt with I would say that this council only care about who they choose If this was a housing association complaint the tennents would have been evicted by now, we have given up complaining about this problem as time after time it has only fallen on def ears, well done on your power tripping employers for the next election Mr butt, if only you cared for the home owners or the people who live on the high street of Harlesden and not just shop owners! Business is business but everybody deserve the right to peace in there own home especially when law abiding tax payers for all our life, noise noise noise! Sort your council out and stop harassing the minority of the town!!!!
Post a Comment