Tuesday 11 September 2018

Northwick Park Regeneration: Does 'appropriate consultation' mean 'No public consultation'?

Gaynor Lloyd asked a number of questions at the August 13th Cabinet Meeting regarding the proposed One Public Estate development at Northwick Park. Philip Grant left a comment on my original post on this issue LINK but I think it is worth publishing in its own right:


The Minutes of the 13 August Cabinet Meeting are now available on the Council’s website. This is how they report the item on which Gaynor spoke:

’Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, welcomed Ms Elizabeth Lloyd, a Northwick Park resident, to the meeting. In accordance with Standing Order 13 Cabinet heard a public question from Ms Lloyd on the matter of the housing infrastructure bid relating to the Northwick Park Regeneration Programme as set out in the report.

Ms Lloyd stated that Northwick Park was a much loved and well used local facility, highlighting, at the same time, that it had been recognised Brent was deficient in all types of open space and recreation grounds. She felt that the Council therefore had an obligation to protect these areas from inappropriate development, with the report not clearly demonstrating the extent of the regeneration area which would be affected by the project, or seeming to take into account any planning protection designations.

Ms Lloyd felt that there had been insufficient public consultation on the programme to date and noted that there was a growing concern amongst local residents on the likely impact of any proposed development in Northwick Park. As a result she asked for clarification on the following issues:

(a) the boundaries of the regeneration area subject to the grant application,
requesting publication of a plan;

(b) for clarification on the evidence in support of the criteria met under the terms of the grant application; and

(c) an indication of the alternative routes being considered for any access road to the regeneration area.

In response, Councillor Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Planning
and Highways thanked Ms Lloyd for her contribution at the meeting. She stated that the report was part of a wider project seeking to unlock more housing opportunities and improve the local infrastructure. She acknowledged the importance of protecting open spaces in Brent, as set out by the Greater London Authority and reassured Ms Lloyd that no action would be taken without appropriate public consultation.’

However, it appears that Cllr. Tatler’s “reassurance” was rather hollow, as the very next action which Cabinet took was: 
’RESOLVED:-
i. Cabinet agreed to receive grant funding and enter into grant agreements with the Greater London Authority for two Housing Infrastructure Fund bids relating to South Kilburn and Northwick Park regeneration Programmes.’

That means that the Cabinet committed Brent Council to a funding bid grant for a “Northwick Park regeneration programme” on which there has been NO public consultation!

The only reason I can see for why the Lead Member might believe the “reassurance” she gave is that Cabinet thinks ‘appropriate public consultation’ means ‘no public consultation’. 


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

1) 'In accordance with Standing Order 13 Cabinet heard a public question from Ms Lloyd'

2) 'she asked for clarification on the following [three] issues:'

3) 'In response, Councillor Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Planning and Highways thanked Ms Lloyd for her contribution at the meeting.'

Why were no answers given to the questions Ms Lloyd had asked?

Unknown said...

What is it that Brent wants to do on the site? I'm new to this story.

Unknown said...

What is it that Brent wants to do on the site? I'm new to this story.

Martin Francis said...

Hi Stephen. It is a very large regeneration scheme bringing together sites owned by University of Westminster, Network Housing, NW London NHS and Brent Council under the umbrella of One Public Estate. Use the searc h facility for this blog in right hand column for more stories or use this link for one main story from last year: https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2017/04/time-to-let-public-in-on-brents-plans.html

Philip Grant said...

Gaynor Lloyd tried to get more information through a question, and supplementary question, at the Full Council meeting (see Northwick Park blog articles on 17 and 18 September 2018).

In response, Cllr. McLellan, (who now appears to be the Lead Member dealing with this "regeneration programme", and not the Lead Member for Regeneration) promised that there would be consultation before any decisions are made.

But the key decisions HAVE ALREADY been made, behind closed doors and without the local residents being consulted at all! What kind of democracy is Brent Council (which used to claim, and possibly still claims, to be "open and accountable") operating under?