The extent of the housing crisis in Brent has broken through some of the 'feel good' election publicity coming out of Brent Labour Party.
Brent Chief Executive, Kim Wright, has written to all councillors detailing changes to the system where they pass on residents' concerns over housing to the Housing Department. Ms Wright says that the 'sheer volume' of members enquiries is taking her colleages away from giving direct resident support and that the temporary moratorium on councillors making enquiries will stabilise support and ensure urgent cases are managed safely.
The position will be reviewed post-election on May 11th.
Furthermore, the council cannot guarantee that it will meet the current 10 working day deadline for enquiries already lodged. Enquiries will be triaged to identify any safeguarding concerns and other urgent issues so they can be dealt with quickly.
The CEO asks councillors to direct resident who need housing help to the Brent Council website. She warns councillor not to try and work around the moratorium by contacting officers directly or contacting the lead cabinet member for housing.
Kim Wright says the service is currently experiencing 'unprecedented' numbers of residents who need help, advice and support with homelessness and housing options. The implementation of the Renters; Rights Act that is due on May 1st is increasing demand, reflecting a rise in private sector evictions.
In addition to the pressures cited I think it is like that existing councillors out on the election campaign trail, knocking on doors, are being confronted with the reality of the housing crisis as residents complain about their housing conditions, soaring rents and charges, and the behaviour of some rogue landlords.
9 comments:
What election is taking place on "May 11th"?
I think the council have been overcome by the number reports about everything. In my ward, after 4 years of total inaction by our Labour Councillors, I have reported well over 100 trip hazards. Many of those reported in Nov-Jan have been repaired, however, in the last week over 40 FixMyStreet reports have been rejected, even though they were as bad as the ones that have been repaired or are scheduled for repair. Our Brent Labour Councillors should hang their heads in shame.
Brent Labour Councillors wear blinkers except during the three months before the elections. What a sad bunch, we look forward to getting rid of most of them, and the wannabees
This is labour’s ‘renters rights’ bill. Sounded alright on paper. However it has made renters more insecure and led to mass evictions of people who might otherwise struggle to he housed without landlords knowing they have a break clause.
Brent Labour may be trying to convince potential voters that they have done a good job on housing, but as my guest post two months ago showed, in response to a Council press release on the Wembley Housing Zone, their "spin" paints a much better picture than the facts actually deserve:
https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2026/02/wembley-housing-zone-brents-latest-spin.html
In 2021, Brent had the chance to build nearly 300 genuinely affordable homes on land they already owned at Cecil Avenue (the former Copland School site) and on the Ujima House site across Wembley High Road, which the GLA had given them the money to buy.
Instead, Brent's Labour Cabinet, in August 2021, rubber-stamped a decision which the then Lead Member for Regeneration, Shama Tatler, had made at least 18 months earlier, with the support of Council Leader, Muhammed Butt. This was to develop the two sites as a joint venture with a private developer, with half of the homes to be for private sale.
That decision meant a delay in awarding a contract for the development until March 2023, with construction not beginning until a year later. When the Wembley Housing Zone scheme is finished, towards the end of 2026, 153 of the 291 homes will be for sale, and only 88 will be for genuinely affordable rent (London Affordable Rent level) to Council tenants.
Brent Labour may talk about their "achievements" in providing affordable homes, but in reality the housing policies of the Party which still claims to be "Labour" were summed up in these words, written by Shama Tatler (now a Labour peer and Labour Local Government housing advisor) about "her" Wembley Housing Zone project: 'a place where home ownership is a reality, not just a dream.’
Poor planning by our Labour Government, our Labour Mayor of London and our Labour run Brent Council :(
Not even the Brent Chief Executive can write in English and neither can the Labour Propaganda Unit.
Never been a fan of Chief Exec Wright - what gives her the power to do this? She isn't elected, she's on a handsome salary and usually walks around with such confidence but probably doesn't step far from the gentrified heaven of the Civic Centre. What if I couldn't guarantee paying my council tax on time, would you grant me the same flexibility Kim? I wonder if our MPs in Brent aren't advocating against this kind of decision?!
Bet Ms Wright doesn't live in Brent either just like majority of the highly paid Council Execs and Officers - they have no real understanding of what us residents face each day!
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