The pair of park workers' cottages purchased by George Irvin in 2011
The four 3 storey houses given planning permission by Brent Council on the site
The decision by Barham Park Trustees Committee, consisting wholly of Brent Cabinet members, to apply to the Charity Commission for removal of the restrictive covenants on development in Barham Park goes to Brent's Resource and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on Thursday April 3rd. Some operational matters will also be under consideration.
The development is of two park workers' cottages purchased by fair ground owner and developer George Irvin for £310,000 in 2011. The property included restrictive covenants designed to protect the park left by Titus Barham for the benefit of the people of Wembley.
Subsequently Irvin put forward several schemes for the redevelopment of the site and the above was approved by Brent Planning Committee - but subject to the covenants.
Barham Park Trustees then negotiated with Irvin on the modification or discharge of the covenants to enable the development to go ahead and agreed a sum of £200,000 to go to Trust funds.
That agreement is subject to approval by the Charity Commissioners.
Opposition parties have called in the issues for further consideration by the Scrutiny Committee which is able to approve one of three possible outcomes:
1. The Committee does not wish to refer the matters back to the decision maker or to the Barham Park Trust Committee, at which point the decision is deemed to be confirmed and takes effect immediately following the call-in meeting; or
2. The Committee decides to ask the Barham Park Trust Committee to reconsider the decisions made, in light of any observations of the Committee; or
3. Having had regard to the advice of the Director of Law or Corporate Director of Finance & Resources, the Committee considers the decision is contrary to the Council’s Budget or Policy Framework, at which point it refers the matter to the next practicable meeting of the Council, subject to the provisions of Standing Orders.
Members of the public at Barham Park Trustees meeting in September 2023 where Chair of Trustees, and Brent Council Leader, Muhammed Butt refused to hear speakers on the development and covenant issues.
Concerns have been expressed that other Brent parks could come under threat of development if this scheme goes ahead so proceedings will be watched closely. The Barham family have supported the campaign against development and 481 people had signed the Support Barham Park petition below at time of publication:
We the undersigned petition the council to listen to local residents, users and supporters of Barham Park and for the Barham Park Trust and Brent Council to respect the wishes of Titus Barham who gifted his home and gardens for our recreation, by upholding the Covenant which prevents the building of extra houses on the site of 776/778 Harrow Road and to continue to refuse any attempts to modify or discharge the restrictive covenants to increase the numbers of homes on the site of 776/778 Harrow Road.
The two cottages were built for the purpose of housing park keepers (gardeners and other staff) working in the Park and not to provide general housing. As the existing houses have not been used for that purpose for years we the undersigned feel there is a valid argument for their removal and for the park land to be reinstated with no valid justification to expand the number of houses from 2 to 4.
The 2011 Land Transfer to George Irvin that includes reference to the covenants:
The meeting will be in the Grand Hall, Brent Civic Centre at 6pm on Thursday April 3rd and livestreamed HERE.
11 comments:
The London Borough of Butt will do as they are told as always. Sod the Barham family, they only gifted the Park to the residents of Brent. They did not gift it to Butt to play with, and Irvin to abuse.
A question has arisen recently with residents due to some dodgy goings on elsewhere. Why does Cllr M H Butt not have any property registered in his or his spouse's name in Brent, nor are any businesses operating in Brent listed. His home where he lives (or at least did) and another one on the same road used to be listed!!!!! but are no longer listed in his declaration!!!!!!
Point "12.4.2.4" says "not to stand or support any vehicle, commercial vehicle trailer, mobile home, caravan, trailer cart or boat on any part of the property" but didn't Irvin have a huge shipping container and other various vehicles on the land? Seems Brent Council left these unchallenged, wonder why?
read the comment above
The shipping Container is still there and has been for years. Brent Planners, Brent Property and Brent Parks turn a blind eye and do nothing. Why not? Why has Councillor Butt as Chair of Trustees not enforced the terms of the Covenant? It is one law for ordinary residents of Brent and another law for friends of Councillor Butt.
Has anyone applied to and lodged an objection to the Charity Commission?
There have been numerous complaints to the Charity Commission about Barham Park. The Charity Commission is under resourced and reluctant to get involved. It is open to anyone to make a complaint if you wish so please do so:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission/about/complaints-procedure
It is less than 48 hours away from the start of the call-in meeting, but I am still waiting to hear whether a request to speak at this 3 April Scrutiny meeting, which I made as soon as it was announced on 13 March, has been agreed by the Chair, Cllr. Rita Conneely.
Is anyone else in the same position?
Even though (because I am still recovering from a bout of ill health and I will not now be able to attend the meeting in person) my two-minute presentation would have to be read to the committee by a friend on my behalf, it is still very close to the meeting to be left unsure of whether my views will be heard, and hopefully taken into account, when the call-in is considered and decided.
I finally received confirmation at 11.20 this morning that my request had been accepted, and that a friend will be permitted to read my statement to the committee at the call-in meeting tomorrow evening.
Please note: 'the meeting is being held at 6pm in Boardrooms 3,4&5 on the 3rd Floor at Brent Civic Centre,' and will be Chaired by Cllr. Daniel Kennelly.
Says here that Cllr Rita Coneeley received a gift from George Irvin ...
"22/04/2023 - George Irvine Funfair. value £19. From George Irvine Funfair"
https://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgDeclarationSubmission.aspx?UID=8858&HID=3594&FID=0&HPID=199151108
How is she now the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee dealing with the call in over the removal of the covenant that benefits him?????????????????????????????
Via Philip Grant: Please note: 'the meeting is being held at 6pm in Boardrooms 3,4&5 on the 3rd Floor at Brent Civic Centre,' and will be Chaired by Cllr. Daniel Kennelly.
If Cllr. Rita Conneely has decided not to Chair, or take part in, tomorrow evening's meeting because of the gift of free admission to and rides at his Roe Green Park funfair in April 2023 received from George Irvin, then I welcome her honourable behaviour.
Her colleague, Cllr. Rita Begum, although declaring a similar gift, was allowed to take part in the Planning Committee meeting which gave Irvin's company permission to redevelop 776/778 Harrow Road, just a few months after her free rides, and to vote in favour of the application!
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